TCW/DW GLOBAL TELECOM TRUST
485BPOS, 1996-12-23
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<PAGE>

  AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON DECEMBER 23, 1996 
                                                   REGISTRATION NOS.: 333-2419 
                                                                      811-7591 
==============================================================================

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

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

                                   FORM N-1A

                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                      UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933                    [X]
                          PRE-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO.                     [ ] 
                          POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. 1                  [X] 
                                     AND/OR
              REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY
                                  ACT OF 1940                             [X]
                                 AMENDMENT NO. 2                          [X] 

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

                          TCW/DW GLOBAL TELECOM TRUST

                        (A MASSACHUSETTS BUSINESS TRUST)
               (EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN CHARTER)

                             TWO WORLD TRADE CENTER
                            NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10048

                    (ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICE)

       REGISTRANT'S TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING AREA CODE: (212) 392-1600

                              SHELDON CURTIS, ESQ.
                             TWO WORLD TRADE CENTER
                            NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10048

                    (NAME AND ADDRESS OF AGENT FOR SERVICE)

                                    Copy to:

                            DAVID M. BUTOWSKY, ESQ.
                             Gordon Altman Butowsky
                             Weitzen Shalov & Wein
                              114 West 47th Street
                            New York, New York 10036

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

  APPROXIMATE DATE OF PROPOSED PUBLIC OFFERING: As soon as practicable after 
                    the effective date of this amendment. 

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

IT IS PROPOSED THAT THIS FILING WILL BECOME EFFECTIVE (CHECK APPROPRIATE BOX) 

[ ]  immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b) 
[X]  on December 23, 1996 pursuant to paragraph (b) 
[ ]  60 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a) 
[ ]  on (date) pursuant to paragraph (a) of rule 485 

   THE REGISTRANT HAS REGISTERED AN INDEFINITE NUMBER OF ITS SHARES UNDER THE 
SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 PURSUANT TO SECTION (A)(1) OF RULE 24F-2 UNDER THE 
INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940. THE REGISTRANT INTENDS TO FILE A RULE 24F-2 
NOTICE FOR ITS FISCAL PERIOD ENDING MAY 30, 1997 WITH THE SECURITIES AND 
EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON OR ABOUT JULY 15, 1997. 
==============================================================================

<PAGE>
                         TCW/DW GLOBAL TELECOM TRUST 

                            CROSS-REFERENCE SHEET 

FORM N-1A 
PART A 
ITEM                         CAPTION PROSPECTUS 
- ----                         ------------------
1. .......................   Cover Page
2. .......................   Summary of Fund Expenses; Prospectus Summary
3. .......................   Performance Information
4. .......................   Investment Objective and Policies; The Fund and
                               its Management; Cover Page; Investment
                               Restrictions; Prospectus Summary
5. .......................   The Fund and its Management; Back Cover;
                               Investment Objective and Policies
6. .......................   Dividends, Distributions and Taxes; Additional
                               Information
7. .......................   Purchase of Fund Shares; Shareholder Services;
                               Repurchases and Redemptions
8. .......................   Repurchases and Redemptions; Shareholder Services
9. .......................   Not Applicable

PART B 
ITEM                         STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION 
- ----                         -----------------------------------

10. ......................   Cover Page
11. ......................   Table of Contents
12. ......................   The Fund and its Management
13. ......................   Investment Practices and Policies; Investment
                               Restrictions; Portfolio Transactions and 
                               Brokerage
14. ......................   The Fund and its Management; Trustees and Officers
15. ......................   Trustees and Officers
16. ......................   The Fund and its Management; Custodian and
                               Transfer Agent; Independent Accountants
17. ......................   Portfolio Transactions and Brokerage
18. ......................   Description of Shares
19. ......................   Repurchases and Redemptions; Shareholder Services
20. ......................   Dividends, Distributions and Taxes
21. ......................   The Distributor
22. ......................   Performance Information
23. ......................   Experts; Statement of Assets and Liabilities

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 
DECEMBER 23, 1996 
    

TCW/DW Global Telecom Trust (the "Fund") is an open-end, diversified 
management investment company, whose investment objective is long-term 
capital appreciation. The Fund seeks to achieve its investment objective by 
investing primarily in a portfolio consisting of securities of domestic and 
foreign companies operating in all aspects of the telecommunications and 
information industries. Such issuers are information transporters (such as 
local/regional telephone companies, long-distance carriers and cable 
television), content providers (such as movie studios, transaction services, 
publishers and advertisers) and providers of enabling technologies (such as 
manufacturers of information-processing servers, software and communications 
products). See "Investment Objective and Policies." 

   
Shares of the Fund are continuously offered at the net asset value per share 
next determined following receipt of an order, without imposition of a sales 
charge. However, repurchases and/or redemptions of shares are subject in most 
cases to a contingent deferred sales charge, scaled down from 5% to 1% of the 
amount redeemed, if made within six years of purchase, which charge will be 
paid to the Fund's Distributor, Dean Witter Distributors Inc. See 
"Repurchases and Redemptions--Contingent Deferred Sales Charge." In addition, 
the Fund pays the Distributor a Rule 12b-1 distribution fee pursuant to a 
Plan of Distribution at the annual rate of 1% of the lesser of the (i) 
average daily aggregate net sales or (ii) average daily net assets of the 
Fund. See "Purchase of Fund Shares--Plan of Distribution." 

This Prospectus sets forth concisely the information you should know before 
investing in the Fund. It should be read and retained for future reference. 
Additional information about the Fund is contained in the Statement of 
Additional Information, dated December 23, 1996, which has been filed with 
the Securities and Exchange Commission, and which is available at no charge 
upon request of the Fund at the address or telephone numbers listed on this 
page. The Statement of Additional Information is incorporated herein by 
reference. 
Dean Witter Distributors Inc. 
Distributor 
TABLE OF CONTENTS 
    

   
Prospectus Summary /2 
Summary of Fund Expenses /4 
Financial Highlights (unaudited) /5 
The Fund and its Management /6 
Investment Objective and Policies /7
  Risk Considerations and Investment Practices  /8 
Investment Restrictions /15
Purchase of Fund Shares /16
Shareholder Services /18
Repurchases and Redemptions /21
Dividends, Distributions and Taxes /23
Performance Information /23
Additional Information /24
Financial Statements (unaudited) 
 November 30, 1996 /25
    

Shares of the Fund are not deposits or obligations of, or guaranteed or
endorsed by, any bank, and the shares are not federally insured by the Federal
Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Federal Reserve Board, or any other agency.

THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION NOR HAS THE SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE
ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS
A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.

TCW/DW GLOBAL TELECOM TRUST
Two World Trade Center
New York, New York 10048
(212) 392-2550 or (800) 869-NEWS (toll-free)

<PAGE>

   
PROSPECTUS SUMMARY 
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The              The Fund is organized as a Trust, commonly known as a         
Fund             Massachusetts business trust, and is an open-end, diversified 
                 management investment company investing primarily in a        
                 portfolio consisting of securities of domestic and foreign    
                 companies operating in all aspects of the telecommunications  
                 and information industries.                                   
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shares           Shares of beneficial interest with $0.01 par value (see page
Offered          24).                                                        
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Offering         At net asset value (see page 16). Shares redeemed within six
Price            years of purchase are subject to a contingent deferred sales
                 charge under most circumstances (see page 21).              
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Minimum          Minimum initial investment, $1,000 ($100 if the account is    
Purchase         opened through EasyInvest (Service Mark) ); minimum subsequent
                 investment, $100 (see page 16).                               
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Investment       The investment objective of the Fund is long-term capital 
Objective        appreciation. 
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Manager          Dean Witter Services Company Inc. (the "Manager"), a
                 wholly-owned subsidiary of Dean Witter InterCapital Inc.
                 ("InterCapital"), is the Fund's manager. The Manager also
                 serves as manager to thirteen other investment companies
                 advised by TCW Funds Management, Inc. (the "TCW/DW Funds").
                 The Manager and InterCapital serve in various investment
                 management, advisory, management and administrative capacities
                 to a total of 100 investment companies and other portfolios
                 with assets of approximately $91 billion at November 30, 1996
                 (see page 6).
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Adviser          TCW Funds Management, Inc. (the "Adviser") is the Fund's
                 investment adviser. In addition to the Fund, the Adviser
                 serves as investment adviser to thirteen other TCW/DW Funds.
                 As of October 31, 1996, the Adviser and its affiliates had
                 approximately $53 billion under management or committed to
                 management in various fiduciary or advisory capacities,
                 primarily to institutional investors (see page 6).
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Management       The Manager receives a monthly fee at the annual rate of 0.60%
and Advisory     of daily net assets. The Adviser receives a monthly fee at an 
Fees             annual rate of 0.40% of daily net assets (see page 6).        
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dividends        Income dividends and capital gains, if any, will be
                 distributed no less than annually. Dividends and capital gains
                 distributions are automatically reinvested in additional
                 shares at net asset value unless the shareholder elects to
                 receive cash (see page 23).
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Distributor      Dean Witter Distributors Inc. (the "Distributor"). The
                 Distributor receives from the Fund a distribution fee accrued
                 daily and payable monthly at the rate of 1.0% per annum of the
                 lesser of (i) the average daily aggregate net sales or (ii)
                 the Fund's average daily net assets. This fee compensates the
                 Distributor for services provided in distributing shares of
                 the Fund and for sales-related expenses. The Distributor also
                 receives the proceeds of any contingent deferred sales charges
                 (see pages 16 and 21).
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Redemption--     Shares are redeemable by the shareholder at net asset value.  
Contingent       An account may be involuntarily redeemed if the total value of
Deferred         the account is less than $100 or, if the account was opened   
Sales            through EasyInvest (Service Mark), if after twelve months the 
Charge           shareholder has invested less than $1,000 in the account.     
                 Although no commission or sales load is imposed upon the      
                 purchase of shares, a contingent deferred sales charge (scaled
                 down from 5% to 1%) is imposed on any redemption of shares if  
                 after such redemption the aggregate current value of an       
                 account with the Fund falls below the aggregate amount of the 
                 investor's purchase payments made during the six years        
                 preceding the redemption. However, there is no charge imposed 
                 on redemption of shares purchased through reinvestment of     
                 dividends or distributions (see page 21)                      
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                       2
<PAGE>

- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Risk             The net asset value of the Fund's shares will fluctuate with 
Considerations   changes in the market value of the Fund's portfolio
                 securities. The market value of the Fund's portfolio
                 securities will increase or decrease due to a variety of
                 economic, market or political factors affecting companies
                 and/or industries in which the Fund invests. In addition, the
                 value of the Fund's fixed-income and convertible securities
                 generally increases or decreases due to economic and market
                 factors, as well as changes in prevailing interest rates.
                 Generally, a rise in interest rates will result in a decrease
                 in value while a drop in interest rates will result in an
                 increase in value. The Fund may invest in lower rated or
                 unrated convertible securities (see page 9). There are also
                 certain risks associated with the Fund's investments in the
                 telecommunications and information industries (see page 9).
                 The Fund will invest in the securities of foreign issuers
                 which entails certain additional risks. The Fund may also
                 invest in options and futures transactions which may be
                 considered speculative in nature and may involve greater risks
                 than those customarily assumed by other investment companies
                 which do not invest in such instruments. In addition, the Fund
                 may enter into forward foreign currency exchange contracts in
                 connection with its foreign securities investments and may
                 purchase securities on a when-issued, delayed delivery or
                 "when, as and if issued" basis, which involve certain special
                 risks (see pages 8-14). An investment in shares of the Fund
                 should not be considered a complete investment program and is
                 not appropriate for all investors. Investors should carefully
                 consider their ability to assume these risks and the risks
                 outlined under the heading "Risk Considerations and Investment
                 Practices" (see page 8) before making an investment in the
                 Fund.
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    

 The above is qualified in its entirety by the detailed information appearing
  elsewhere in this Prospectus and in the Statement of Additional Information.

                                       3
<PAGE>

SUMMARY OF FUND EXPENSES 
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

   
   The following table illustrates all expenses and fees that a shareholder 
of the Fund will incur. The estimated annualized fees and expenses set forth 
in the table are for the fiscal period ending May 31, 1997. 
    

Shareholder Transaction Expenses 
- --------------------------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S>                                                                                        <C>
Maximum Sales Charge Imposed on Purchases .............................................    None 
Maximum Sales Charge Imposed on Reinvested Dividends ..................................    None 
Contingent Deferred Sales Charge 
  (as a percentage of the lesser of original purchase price or redemption proceeds)  ..    5.0% 
</TABLE>

     A contingent deferred sales charge is imposed at the following declining 
     rates: 

 YEAR SINCE PURCHASE PAYMENT MADE       PERCENTAGE 
- -----------------------------------  -------------- 
First ..............................       5.0% 
Second .............................       4.0% 
Third ..............................       3.0% 
Fourth .............................       2.0% 
Fifth ..............................       2.0% 
Sixth ..............................       1.0% 
Seventh and thereafter .............       None 

   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S>                                                                           <C>
Redemption Fees ..........................................................    None 
Exchange Fee .............................................................    None 
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (as a Percentage of Average Net Assets) 
Management and Advisory Fees .............................................    1.00% 
12b-1 Fees* ..............................................................    0.98% 
Other Expenses ...........................................................    0.40% 
Total Fund Operating Expenses** ..........................................    2.38% 
</TABLE>
    
- --------------
   *   The 12b-1 fee is accrued daily and payable monthly, at an annual rate 
       of 1.0% of the lesser of: (a) the average daily aggregate gross sales 
       of the Fund's shares since inception (not including reinvestment of 
       dividends or distributions), less the average daily aggregate net asset 
       value of the Fund's shares redeemed since the Fund's inception upon 
       which a contingent deferred sales charge has been imposed or waived, or 
       (b) the Fund's daily net assets. A portion of the 12b-1 fee equal to 
       0.25% of the Fund's average daily net assets is characterized as a 
       service fee within the meaning of National Association of Securities 
       Dealers, Inc. ("NASD") guidelines and is a payment made to the selling 
       broker for personal service and/or maintenance of shareholder accounts. 
       The remainder of the 12b-1 fee is an asset based sales charge, and is a 
       distribution fee paid to the Distributor to compensate it for the 
       services provided and the expenses borne by the Distributor and others 
       in the distribution of the Fund's shares (see "Purchase of Fund 
       Shares"). 

   
   **  "Total Fund Operating Expenses," as shown above, is based upon the sum 
       of the annualized 12b-1 Fees, Management and Advisory Fees and 
       estimated "Other Expenses," which may be incurred by the Fund for the 
       fiscal period ending May 31, 1997. 
    

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

Example                                                                                     1 year      3 years 
- -------                                                                                    --------    ---------
<S>                                                                                        <C>         <C>
You would pay the following expenses on a $1,000 investment, assuming (1) 5% annual
 return and (2) redemption at the end of each time period: ..............................     $74         $104 
You would pay the following expenses on the same investment, assuming no redemption:  ...     $24          $74 
</TABLE>

   The above example should not be considered a representation of past or 
future expenses or performance. Actual expenses of the Fund may be greater or 
less than those shown. 

   The purpose of this table is to assist the investor in understanding the 
various costs and expenses that an investor in the Fund will bear directly or 
indirectly. For a more complete description of these costs and expenses, see 
"The Fund and its Management," "Plan of Distribution" and "Repurchases and 
Redemptions" in this Prospectus. 

   Long-term shareholders of the Fund may pay more in sales charges including 
distribution fees than the economic equivalent of the maximum front-end sales 
charges permitted by the NASD. 

                                       4
<PAGE>
   
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS (unaudited) 
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

   The following ratios and per share data for a share of beneficial interest 
outstanding throughout the period have been taken from the records of the 
Fund without examination by independent accountants. The financial highlights 
should be read in conjunction with the unaudited financial statements and 
notes thereto which are contained in this Prospectus commencing on page 25. 
    

   
                                          FOR THE PERIOD 
                                         AUGUST 28, 1996* 
                                             THROUGH 
                                        NOVEMBER 30, 1996 
                                        ----------------- 
PER SHARE OPERATING PERFORMANCE: 
Net asset value, beginning of period  .      $ 10.00 
                                        ----------------- 
Net investment loss ...................        (0.03 ) 
Net realized and unrealized gain  .....         0.73 
                                        ----------------- 
Total from investment operations  .....         0.70 
                                        ----------------- 
Net asset value, end of period  .......      $ 10.70 
                                        ================= 
TOTAL INVESTMENT RETURN+ ..............         7.00  %(1) 
RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET ASSETS: 
Expenses ..............................         2.37  %(2) 
Net investment loss ...................        (1.23 )%(2) 
SUPPLEMENTAL DATA: 
Net assets, end of period, in 
 thousands ............................      $103,830 
Portfolio turnover rate ...............           20  %(1) 
Average commission rate paid ..........      $0.0218 
    

   
- ------------ 
   *   Commencement of operations. 
   +   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. 

                       See Notes to Financial Statements
    
                                       5
<PAGE>

   
THE FUND AND ITS MANAGEMENT 
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
    

   TCW/DW Global Telecom Trust (the "Fund") is an open-end, diversified 
management investment company. The Fund is a trust of the type commonly known 
as a "Massachusetts business trust" and was organized under the laws of 
Massachusetts on March 28, 1996. 

   Dean Witter Services Company Inc. (the "Manager"), whose address is Two 
World Trade Center, New York, New York 10048, is the Fund's Manager. The 
Manager is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Dean Witter InterCapital Inc. 
("InterCapital"). InterCapital is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Dean Witter, 
Discover & Co. ("DWDC"), a balanced financial services organization providing 
a broad range of nationally marketed credit and investment products. 

   
   The Manager acts as manager to thirteen other TCW/DW Funds. The Manager 
and InterCapital serve in various investment management, advisory, management 
and administrative capacities to a total of 100 investment companies, thirty 
of which are listed on the New York Stock Exchange, with combined assets of 
approximately $87.9 billion as of November 30, 1996. InterCapital also 
manages and advises portfolios of pension plans, other institutions and 
individuals which aggregated approximately $3.1 billion at such date. 
    

   The Fund has retained the Manager to manage its business affairs, 
supervise its overall day-to-day operations (other than providing investment 
advice) and provide all administrative services. 

   
   TCW Funds Management, Inc. (the "Adviser"), whose address is 865 South 
Figueroa Street, Suite 1800, Los Angeles, California 90017, is the Fund's 
investment adviser. The Adviser was organized in 1987 as a wholly-owned 
subsidiary of The TCW Group, Inc. ("TCW"), whose subsidiaries, including 
Trust Company of the West and TCW Asset Management Company, provide a variety 
of trust, investment management and investment advisory services. Robert A. 
Day, who is Chairman of the Board of Directors of TCW, may be deemed to be a 
control person of the Adviser by virtue of the aggregate ownership by Mr. Day 
and his family of more than 25% of the outstanding voting stock of TCW. The 
Adviser serves as investment adviser to twelve other TCW/DW Funds in addition 
to the Fund. As of October 31, 1996, the Adviser and its affiliated companies 
had approximately $53 billion under management or committed to management, 
primarily from institutional investors. 
    

   The Fund has retained the Adviser to invest the Fund's assets. 

   The Fund's Trustees review the various services provided by the Manager 
and the Adviser to ensure that the Fund's general investment policies and 
programs are being properly carried out and that administrative services are 
being provided to the Fund in a satisfactory manner. 

   As full compensation for the services and facilities furnished to the Fund 
and for expenses of the Fund assumed by the Manager, the Fund pays the 
Manager monthly compensation calculated daily by applying the annual rate of 
0.60% to the Fund's net assets. As compensation for its investment advisory 
services, the Fund pays the Adviser monthly compensation calculated daily by 
applying an annual rate of 0.40% to the Fund's net assets. The total fees 
paid by the Fund to the Manager and the Adviser are higher than the fees paid 
by most other investment companies for similar services. 

   
   The Fund's expenses include: the fees of the Manager and the Adviser; the 
fee pursuant to the Plan of Distribution (see "Purchase of Fund Shares"); 
taxes; legal, transfer agent, custodian and auditing fees; federal and state 
registration fees; and printing and other expenses relating to the Fund's 
operations which are not expressly assumed by the Manager or Adviser under 
their respective Agreements with the Fund. 
    
                                       6
<PAGE>

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE AND POLICIES 
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

   The investment objective of the Fund is long-term capital appreciation. 
This objective is fundamental and may not be changed without shareholder 
approval. There is no assurance that the objective will be achieved. 

   The Fund seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing under 
normal circumstances at least 65% of its total assets in common stocks and 
securities convertible into common stocks of domestic and foreign companies 
operating in all aspects of the telecommunications and information industries 
(the "Target Industries"). The Fund will not have more than 25% of its total 
assets invested in convertible securities. All or some of the convertible 
securities in which the Fund may invest may be below investment grade. See 
the Appendix to the Statement of Additional Information for a discussion of 
ratings of fixed-income securities. 

   The Target Industries are information transporters, content providers and 
providers of enabling technologies. Information transporters are companies 
involved in developing and manufacturing any portion of the so-called 
information superhighway, such as local/regional telephone companies, 
long-distance carriers, cable television, personal communications systems, 
wireless, cellular, paging, direct broadcast satellite and the Internet. 
Content providers are companies providing some of the information content 
that is transmitted via the information superhighway such as movie studios, 
providers of transaction services, manufacturers of games and educational 
programming, publishers and advertisers. Finally, providers of enabling 
technologies are manufacturers of products such as information-processing 
servers, consumer electronics, data and video compression, software, storage 
and semiconductor products. 

   Companies considered to be in the Target Industries will be those which 
derive at least 35% of their revenues or earnings from the Target Industries, 
or devote at least 35% of their assets to activities in the Target 
Industries. Investments in securities of issuers in any one country, other 
than the United States, will represent no more than 25% of the Fund's total 
assets. The Fund will have at least 65% of its total assets invested in 
securities of issuers located in at least three different countries. 

   Under normal market conditions, the Fund will maintain at least 25% of its 
portfolio in securities issued by issuers located in the United States. As 
such, the Fund will have a greater exposure than other "global" mutual funds 
to economic and political events occurring in the U.S. Changes in prevailing 
U.S. interest rates, federal tax rate increases, or adverse changes in 
federal or state regulations or exchange rules may all have a 
disproportionate impact upon the Fund as a result of its concentration 
policy. Moreover, the Fund's concentration in securities of U.S. issuers will 
mean that the Fund's investments are more likely to be responsive, both 
positively and negatively, to declines or advances in the U.S. dollar with 
respect to foreign currencies. 

   The communication and use of information using existing and developing 
technologies is becoming increasingly important to the global economy. There 
are opportunities for continued growth in demand for components, products, 
media and systems to collect, store, retrieve, transmit, process, distribute, 
record, reproduce and put information to use. The telecommunications, 
broadcasting, cable television, media, entertainment and computer industries 
are involved in creating new ways of exchanging information and distributing 
content as consumers and businesses seek to buy packages of services 
including combinations of local and long distance telephone, wireless, cable 
television and Internet services. While governmental regulation may impact 
the Target Industries both positively and negatively (see "Risk 
Considerations and Investment Practices" below), the Adviser believes that 
the enactment by the U.S. Congress of the Telecommunications Reform Act of 
1996 may add to these growth opportunities through increasing competition, 
mergers and other transactions that could fundamentally change the way 
consumers and businesses obtain communication services. All such factors are 
part of the Adviser's overall investment selection process. 

                                7           
<PAGE>

   Up to 75% of the Fund's total assets may be invested in equity securities 
of foreign issuers. Such foreign investments may be in the form of direct 
investments in securities of foreign issuers or in the form of American 
Depository Receipts (ADRs), European Depository Receipts (EDRs), Global 
Depository Receipts (GDRs) or other similar securities convertible into 
securities of foreign issuers. These securities may not necessarily be 
denominated in the same currency as the securities into which they may be 
converted. ADRs are receipts typically issued by a United States bank or 
trust company evidencing ownership of the underlying securities. EDRs are 
European receipts evidencing a similar arrangement. Generally, ADRs, in 
registered form, are designed for use in the United States securities markets 
and EDRs, in bearer form, are designed for use in European securities 
markets. GDRs are issued by a foreign bank or trust company and evidence 
ownership of the underlying foreign securities. Generally, GDRs are in bearer 
form and are designed for use in European and other foreign securities 
markets. The Fund's investments in unlisted foreign securities are subject to 
the Fund's overall policy limiting its investment in illiquid securities to 
15% or less of its net assets. 

   Up to 35% of the Fund's total assets may be invested in investment grade 
fixed-income securities consisting of securities issued or guaranteed by the 
U.S. Government, its agencies or instrumentalities, corporate debt securities 
and money market instruments. With respect to corporate debt securities, the 
term "investment grade" means securities which are rated Baa or higher by 
Moody's Investors Services, Inc. ("Moody's") or BBB or higher by Standard & 
Poor's Corporation ("S&P") or, if not rated, are deemed by the Adviser to be 
of comparable quality. See the Appendix to the Statement of Additional 
Information for a discussion of ratings of fixed-income securities. 

   
   Investments in fixed-income securities rated either BBB by S&P or Baa by 
Moody's (the lowest credit ratings designated "investment grade") have 
speculative characteristics and, therefore, changes in economic conditions or 
other circumstances are more likely to weaken their capacity to make 
principal and interest payments than would be the case with investments in 
securities with higher credit ratings. If a non-convertible fixed-income 
security held by the Fund is rated BBB or Baa and is subsequently downgraded 
by a rating agency, or otherwise falls below investment grade the Fund will 
sell such securities as soon as is practicable without undue market or tax 
consequences to the Fund. 
    

   Money market instruments in which the Fund may invest are securities 
issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government or its agencies (Treasury Bills, 
Notes and Bonds); obligations of banks subject to regulation by the U.S. 
Government and having total assets of $1 billion or more; Eurodollar 
certificates of deposit; obligations of savings banks and savings and loan 
associations having total assets of $1 billion or more; fully insured 
certificates of deposit; and commercial paper rated within the two highest 
grades by Moody's or S&P or, if not rated, issued by a company having an 
outstanding debt issue rated AAA by S&P or Aaa by Moody's. 

   There may be periods during which, in the opinion of the Adviser, market 
conditions warrant reduction of some or all of the Fund's securities 
holdings. During such periods, the Fund may adopt a temporary "defensive" 
posture in which up to 100% of its total assets may be invested in money 
market instruments or cash. 

RISK CONSIDERATIONS AND 
INVESTMENT PRACTICES 

   Given the investment risks described below, an investment in shares of the 
Fund should not be considered a complete investment program and is not 
appropriate for all investors. Investors should carefully consider their 
ability to assume these risks before making an investment in the Fund. 

   The net asset value of the Fund's shares will fluctuate with changes in 
the market value of the Fund's portfolio securities. The market value of the 
Fund's portfolio securities will increase or decrease due to a variety of 
economic, market or political factors which cannot be predicted. 
Additionally, the net asset value of the Fund's shares may increase or 

                                       8
<PAGE>

decrease due to changes in prevailing interest rates. Generally, a rise in 
interest rates will result in a decrease in the value of the Fund's 
fixed-income securities, while a drop in interest rates will result in an 
increase in the value of those securities. 

   Telecommunications and Information Industries. The Fund concentrates its 
investments in the telecommunications and information industries. Certain 
economic factors or specific events may exert a disproportionate impact upon 
the prices of equity securities of companies within a particular industry 
relative to their impact on the prices of securities of companies engaged in 
other industries. Because of this concentration, the value of the Fund's 
shares may be more volatile than that of investment companies that do not 
similarly concentrate their investments. The communications and information 
industries may be subject to greater changes in governmental policies and 
governmental regulation than many other industries in the United States and 
worldwide. Regulatory approval requirements, ownership restrictions and 
restrictions on rates of return and types of services that may be offered may 
materially affect the products and services of these and related industries. 
Additionally, the products and services of companies in these industries may 
be subject to faster obsolescence as a result of greater competition, 
advancing technological developments, and changing market and consumer 
preferences. As a result, the stocks of companies in these industries may 
exhibit greater price volatility than those of companies in other industries. 

   Lower Rated or Unrated Convertible Securities. The Fund may acquire, 
through purchase or a distribution by the issuer of a security held in its 
portfolio, a fixed-income security which is convertible into common stock of 
the issuer. Convertible securities rank senior to common stocks in a 
corporation's capital structure and, therefore, entail less risk than the 
corporation's common stock. The value of a convertible security is a function 
of its "investment value" (its value as if it did not have a conversion 
privilege), and its "conversion value" (the security's worth if it were to be 
exchanged for the underlying security, at market value, pursuant to its 
conversion privilege). 

   To the extent that a convertible security's investment value is greater 
than its conversion value, its price will be primarily a reflection of such 
investment value and its price will be likely to increase when interest rates 
fall and decrease when interest rates rise, as with a fixed-income security 
(the credit standing of the issuer and other factors may also have an effect 
on the convertible security's value). If the conversion value exceeds the 
investment value, the price of the convertible security will rise above its 
investment value and, in addition, may sell at some premium over its 
conversion value. (This premium represents the price investors are willing to 
pay for the privilege of purchasing a fixed-income security with a 
possibility of capital appreciation due to the conversion privilege.) At such 
times the price of the convertible security will tend to fluctuate directly 
with the price of the underlying equity security. 

   
   A portion of the convertible securities in which the Fund may invest will 
generally be rated below investment grade. Securities below investment grade 
are the equivalent of high yield, high risk bonds, commonly known as "junk 
bonds." Investment grade is generally considered to be debt securities rated 
BBB or higher by Standard & Poor's Corporation ("S&P") or Baa or higher by 
Moody's Investors Service, Inc. ("Moody's"). Fixed-income securities rated 
Baa by Moody's or BBB by S&P have speculative characteristics greater than 
those of more highly rated securities, while fixed-income securities rated Ba 
or BB or lower by Moody's and S&P, respectively, are considered to be 
speculative investments. The Fund will not invest in convertible securities 
that are rated lower than B by S&P or Moody's or, if not rated, determined to 
be of comparable quality by the Adviser. The Fund will not invest in debt 
securities that are in default in payment of principal or interest. The 
ratings of fixed-income securities by Moody's and S&P are a generally 
accepted barometer of credit risk. However, as the creditworthiness of 
issuers of lower-rated fixed-income securities is more problematic than that 
of issuers of higher-rated fixed-income securities, the achievement of the 
Fund's investment objective will be more dependent upon the Adviser's own 
credit analysis than would be the case with a mutual fund invest- 
    
                                       9
<PAGE>

ing primarily in higher quality bonds. The Adviser will utilize a security's 
credit rating as simply one indication of an issuer's creditworthiness and 
will principally rely upon its own analysis of any security currently held by 
the Fund or potentially purchasable by the Fund for its portfolio. See the 
Appendix to the Statement of Additional Information for a discussion of 
ratings of fixed-income securities. 

   Because of the special nature of the Fund's permitted investments in lower 
rated or unrated convertible securities, the Adviser must take account of 
certain special considerations in assessing the risks associated with such 
investments. The prices of lower rated or unrated securities have been found 
to be less sensitive to changes in prevailing interest rates than higher 
rated investments, but are likely to be more sensitive to adverse economic 
changes or individual corporate developments. During an economic downturn or 
substantial period of rising interest rates, highly leveraged issuers may 
experience financial stress which would adversely affect their ability to 
service their principal and interest payment obligations, to meet their 
projected business goals or to obtain additional financing. If the issuer of 
a fixed-income security owned by the Fund defaults, the Fund may incur 
additional expenses to seek recovery. In addition, periods of economic 
uncertainty and change can be expected to result in an increased volatility 
of market prices of lower rated or unrated securities and a corresponding 
volatility in the net asset value of a share of the Fund. 

   Foreign securities. Foreign securities investments may be affected by 
changes in currency rates or exchange control regulations, changes in 
governmental administration or economic or monetary policy (in the United 
States and abroad) or changed circumstances in dealings between nations. 
Fluctuations in the relative rates of exchange between the currencies of 
different nations will affect the value of the Fund's investments denominated 
in foreign currency. Changes in foreign currency exchange rates relative to 
the U.S. dollar will affect the U.S. dollar value of the Fund's assets 
denominated in that currency and thereby impact upon the Fund's total return 
on such assets. 

   Foreign currency exchange rates are determined by forces of supply and 
demand on the foreign exchange markets. These forces are themselves affected 
by the international balance of payments and other economic and financial 
conditions, government intervention, speculation and other factors. Moreover, 
foreign currency exchange rates may be affected by the regulatory control of 
the exchanges on which the currencies trade. The foreign currency 
transactions of the Fund will be conducted on a spot basis or through forward 
foreign currency exchange contracts (described below). The Fund will incur 
certain costs in connection with these currency transactions. 

   Investments in foreign securities will also occasion risks relating to 
political and economic developments abroad, including the possibility of 
expropriations or confiscatory taxation, limitations on the use or transfer 
of Fund assets and any effects of foreign social, economic or political 
instability. Foreign companies are not subject to the regulatory requirements 
of U.S. companies and, as such, there may be less publicly available 
information about such companies. Moreover, foreign companies are not subject 
to uniform accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards and 
requirements comparable to those applicable to U.S. companies. 

   Securities of foreign issuers may be less liquid than comparable 
securities of U.S. issuers and, as such, their price changes may be more 
volatile. Furthermore, foreign exchanges and broker-dealers are generally 
subject to less government and exchange scrutiny and regulation than their 
American counterparts. Brokerage commissions, dealer concessions and other 
transaction costs may be higher on foreign markets than in the U.S. In 
addition, differences in clearance and settlement procedures on foreign 
markets may occasion delays in settlements of the Fund's trades effected in 
such markets. As such, the inability to dispose of portfolio securities due 
to settlement delays could result in losses to the Fund due to subsequent 
declines in value of such securities and the inability of the Fund to make 
intended security purchases due to settlement problems could result in a 
failure of the Fund to make potentially advantageous investments. To the 
extent the Fund purchases Eurodollar certifi- 

                                       10
<PAGE>

cates of deposit issued by foreign branches of domestic United States banks, 
consideration will be given to their domestic marketability, the lower 
reserve requirements normally mandated for overseas banking operations, the 
possible impact of interruptions in the flow of international currency 
transactions and future international political and economic developments 
which might adversely affect the payment of principal or interest. 

   Warrants and Stock Rights. 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. The Fund may also invest 
in stock rights. Warrants are, in effect, an option to purchase equity 
securities at a specific price, generally valid for a specific period of 
time, and have no voting rights, pay no dividends and have no rights with 
respect to the corporations issuing them. The Fund may acquire warrants and 
stock rights attached to other securities without reference to the foregoing 
limitations. 

   Repurchase Agreements. The Fund may enter into repurchase agreements, 
which may be viewed as a type of secured lending by the Fund, and which 
typically involve the acquisition by the Fund of debt securities from a 
selling financial institution such as a bank, savings and loan association or 
broker-dealer. The agreement provides that the Fund will sell back to the 
institution, and that the institution will repurchase, the underlying 
security at a specified price and at a fixed time in the future, usually not 
more than seven days from the date of purchase. While repurchase agreements 
involve certain risks not associated with direct investments in debt 
securities, the Fund follows procedures designed to minimize those risks. See 
the Statement of Additional Information for a further discussion of such 
investments. 

   Private Placements. The Fund may invest up to 10% 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, as amended (the "Securities 
Act"), or which are otherwise restricted. (Securities eligible for resale 
pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act, and determined to be liquid 
pursuant to the procedures discussed in the following paragraph, are not 
subject to the foregoing restriction.) These securities are generally 
referred to as private placements or restricted securities. Limitations on 
the resale of such securities may have an adverse effect on their 
marketability, and may prevent the Fund from disposing of them promptly at 
reasonable prices. The Fund may have to bear the expense of registering such 
securities for resale and the risk of substantial delays in effecting such 
registration. 

   The Securities and Exchange Commission has adopted Rule 144A under the 
Securities Act, which permits the Fund to sell restricted securities to 
qualified institutional buyers without limitation. The Adviser, pursuant to 
procedures adopted by the Trustees of the Fund, will make a determination as 
to the liquidity of each such restricted security purchased by the Fund. If 
such Rule 144A security is determined to be "liquid," such security will not 
be included within the category "illiquid securities," which under current 
policy may not exceed 15% of the Fund's net assets. 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. 

   When-Issued and Delayed Delivery Securities and Forward Commitments. From 
time to time, in the ordinary course of business, the Fund may purchase 
securities on a when-issued or delayed delivery basis or may purchase or sell 
securities on a forward commitment basis. When such transactions are 
negotiated, the price is fixed at the time of the commitment, but delivery 
and payment can take place a month or more after the date of the commitment. 
An increase in the percentage of the Fund's assets committed to the purchase 
of securities on a when-issued, delayed delivery or forward commitment basis 
may increase the volatility of the Fund's net asset value. See the Statement 
of Additional Information for a further discussion of such investments. 

   When, As and If Issued Securities. The Fund may purchase securities on a 
"when, as and if issued" basis under which the issuance of the security 
depends upon 

                                       11
<PAGE>

the occurrence of a subsequent event, such as approval of a merger, corporate 
reorganization, leveraged buyout or debt restructuring. If the anticipated 
event does not occur and the securities are not issued, the Fund will have 
lost an investment opportunity. An increase in the percentage of the Fund's 
assets committed to the purchase of securities on a "when, as and if issued" 
basis may increase the volatility of its net asset value. See the Statement 
of Additional Information for a further discussion of such investments. 

   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. 

   Lending of Portfolio Securities. Consistent with applicable regulatory 
requirements, the Fund may lend its portfolio securities to brokers, dealers 
and other financial institutions, provided that such loans are callable at 
any time by the Fund (subject to certain notice provisions described in the 
Statement of Additional Information), and are at all times secured by cash or 
money market instruments, which are maintained in a segregated account 
pursuant to applicable regulations and that are equal to at least the market 
value, determined daily, of the loaned securities. As with any extensions of 
credit, there are risks of delay in recovery and in some cases even loss of 
rights in the collateral should the borrower of the securities fail 
financially. However, loans of portfolio securities will only be made to 
firms deemed by the Adviser to be creditworthy and when the income which can 
be earned from such loans justifies the attendant risks. The Fund will not 
under any circumstances lend more than 25% of the value of its total assets. 

   Options and Futures Transactions. The Fund may purchase and sell (write) 
call and put options on (i) portfolio securities which are denominated in 
either U.S. dollars or foreign currencies; (ii) stock indexes; and (iii) the 
U.S. dollar and foreign currencies. Such options are or may in the future be 
listed on several U.S. and foreign securities exchanges or may be traded in 
over-the-counter transactions ("OTC options"). OTC options are purchased from 
or sold (written) to dealers or financial institutions which have entered 
into direct agreements with the Fund. 

   The Fund is permitted to write covered call options on portfolio 
securities and the U.S. dollar and foreign currencies, without limit, in 
order to hedge against the decline in the value of a security or currency in 
which such security is denominated (although such hedge is limited to the 
value of the premium received) and to close out long call option positions. 
The Fund may write covered put options, under which the Fund incurs an 
obligation to buy the security (or currency) underlying the option from the 
purchaser of the put at the option's exercise price at any time during the 
option period, at the purchaser's election. 

   
   The Fund may purchase listed and OTC call and put options and options on 
stock indexes in amounts equalling up to 10% of its total assets, with a 
maximum of 5% of its total assets invested in the purchase of stock index 
options. The Fund may purchase call options to close out a covered call 
position or to 
    
                                       12
<PAGE>

protect against an increase in the price of a security it anticipates 
purchasing or, in the case of call options on a foreign currency, to hedge 
against an adverse exchange rate change of the currency in which the security 
it anticipates purchasing is denominated vis-a-vis the currency in which the 
exercise price is denominated. The Fund may purchase put options on 
securities which it holds in its portfolio to protect itself against a 
decline in the value of the security and to close out written put positions 
in a manner similar to call option closing purchase transactions. There are 
no other limits on the Fund's ability to purchase call and put options other 
than compliance with the foregoing policies. 

   The Fund may purchase and sell futures contracts that are currently 
traded, or may in the future be traded, on U.S. and foreign commodity 
exchanges on underlying portfolio securities, on any currency ("currency" 
futures), on U.S. and foreign fixed-income securities ("interest rate" 
futures) and on such indexes of U.S. or foreign equity or fixed-income 
securities as may exist or come into being ("index" futures). The Fund may 
purchase or sell interest rate futures contracts for the purpose of hedging 
some or all of the value of its portfolio securities (or anticipated 
portfolio securities) against changes in prevailing interest rates. The Fund 
may purchase or sell index futures contracts for the purpose of hedging some 
or all of its portfolio (or anticipated portfolio) securities against changes 
in their prices. The Fund may purchase or sell currency futures contracts to 
hedge against an anticipated rise or decline in the value of the currency in 
which a portfolio security is denominated vis-a-vis another currency. As a 
futures contract purchaser, the Fund incurs an obligation to take delivery of 
a specified amount of the obligation underlying the contract at a specified 
time in the future for a specified price. As a seller of a futures contract, 
the Fund incurs an obligation to deliver the specified amount of the 
underlying obligation at a specified time in return for an agreed upon price. 

   The Fund also may purchase and write call and put options on futures 
contracts which are traded on an exchange and enter into closing transactions 
with respect to such options to terminate an existing position. 

   New futures contracts, options and other financial products and various 
combinations thereof continue to be developed. The Fund may invest in any 
such futures, options or products as may be developed, to the extent 
consistent with its investment objective and applicable regulatory 
requirements. 

   Risks of Options and Futures Transactions. The Fund may close out its 
position as writer of an option, or as a buyer or seller of a futures 
contract, only if a liquid secondary market exists for options or futures 
contracts of that series. There is no assurance that such a market will 
exist, particularly in the case of OTC options, as such options may generally 
only be closed out by entering into a closing purchase transaction with the 
purchasing dealer. Also, exchanges may limit the amount by which the price of 
many futures contracts may move on any day. If the price moves equal the 
daily limit on successive days, then it may prove impossible to liquidate a 
futures position until the daily limit moves have ceased. 

   Futures contracts and options transactions may be considered speculative 
in nature and may involve greater risks than those customarily assumed by 
other investment companies which do not invest in such instruments. One such 
risk is that the Adviser could be incorrect in its expectations as to the 
direction or extent of various interest rate or price movements or the time 
span within which the movements take place. For example, if the Fund sold 
futures contracts for the sale of securities in anticipation of an increase 
in interest rates, and then interest rates went down instead, causing bond 
prices to rise, the Fund would lose money on the sale. Another risk which 
will arise in employing futures contracts to protect against the price 
volatility of portfolio securities is that the prices of securities, 
currencies and indexes subject to futures contracts (and thereby the futures 
contract prices) may correlate imperfectly with the behavior of the U.S. 
dollar cash prices of the Fund's portfolio securities and their denominated 
currencies. See the Statement of Additional Information for a further 
discussion of risks. 

   Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts. The Fund may enter into 
forward foreign currency exchange contracts ("forward contracts") in 
connection with its foreign securities investments. 

                                       13
<PAGE>

   A forward contract involves an obligation to purchase or sell a currency 
at a future date, which may be any fixed number of days from the date of the 
contract agreed upon by the parties, at a price set at the time of the 
contract. The Fund may enter into forward contracts as a hedge against 
fluctuations in future foreign exchange rates. 

   The Fund will enter into forward contracts under various circumstances. 
When the Fund enters into a contract for the purchase or sale of a security 
denominated in a foreign currency, it may, for example, desire to "lock in" 
the price of the security in U.S. dollars or some other foreign currency 
which the Fund is temporarily holding in its portfolio. By entering into a 
forward contract for the purchase or sale, for a fixed amount of dollars or 
other currency, of the amount of foreign currency involved in the underlying 
security transactions, the Fund will be able to protect itself against a 
possible loss resulting from an adverse change in the relationship between 
the U.S. dollar or other currency which is being used for the security 
purchase (by the Fund or the counterparty) and the foreign currency in which 
the security is denominated during the period between the date on which the 
security is purchased or sold and the date on which payment is made or 
received. 

   At other times, when, for example, the Fund's Adviser believes that the 
currency of a particular foreign country may suffer a substantial decline 
against the U.S. dollar or some other foreign currency, the Fund may enter 
into a forward contract to sell, for a fixed amount of dollars or other 
currency, the amount of foreign currency approximating the value of some or 
all of the Fund's securities holdings (or securities which the Fund has 
purchased for its portfolio) denominated in such foreign currency. Under 
identical circumstances, the Fund may enter into a forward contract to sell, 
for a fixed amount of U.S. dollars or other currency, an amount of foreign 
currency other than the currency in which the securities to be hedged are 
denominated approximating the value of some or all of the portfolio 
securities to be hedged. This method of hedging, called "cross-hedging," will 
be selected by the Adviser when it is determined that the foreign currency in 
which the portfolio securities are denominated has insufficient liquidity or 
is trading at a discount as compared with some other foreign currency with 
which it tends to move in tandem. 

   In addition, when the Fund's Adviser anticipates purchasing securities at 
some time in the future, and wishes to lock in the current exchange rate of 
the currency in which those securities are denominated against the U.S. 
dollar or some other foreign currency, the Fund may enter into a forward 
contract to purchase an amount of currency equal to some or all of the value 
of the anticipated purchase, for a fixed amount of U.S. dollars or other 
currency. The Fund may, however, close out the forward contract without 
purchasing the security which was the subject of the "anticipatory" hedge. 

   In all of the above circumstances, if the currency in which the Fund's 
securities holdings (or anticipated portfolio securities) are denominated 
rises in value with respect to the currency which is being purchased (or 
sold), then the Fund will have realized fewer gains than had the Fund not 
entered into the forward contracts. Moreover, the precise matching of the 
forward contract amounts and the value of the securities involved will not 
generally be possible, since the future value of such securities in foreign 
currencies will change as a consequence of market movements in the value of 
those securities between the date the forward contract is entered into and 
the date it matures. The Fund is not required to enter into such transactions 
with regard to its foreign currency-denominated securities and will not do so 
unless deemed appropriate by the Adviser. The Fund generally will not enter 
into a forward contract with a term of greater than one year, although it may 
enter into forward contracts for periods of up to five years. The Fund may be 
limited in its ability to enter into hedging transactions involving forward 
contracts by the Internal Revenue Code requirements relating to qualification 
as a regulated investment company (see "Dividends, Distributions and Taxes"). 

PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT 

   The Fund's portfolio is actively managed by the Adviser with a view to 
achieving the Fund's investment objective. Robert M. Hanisee and John A. 
Healey, 

                                       14
<PAGE>

each a Managing Director of the Adviser, are the primary portfolio managers 
of the Fund. Messrs. Hanisee and Healey have been portfolio managers with 
affiliates of The TCW Group, Inc. since 1990 and 1995, respectively. Prior to 
1995, Mr. Healey served as an independent consultant with Healey Partners. 

   In determining which securities to purchase for the Fund or hold in the 
Fund's portfolio, the Adviser will rely on information from various sources, 
including research, analysis and appraisals of brokers and dealers, including 
Dean Witter Reynolds Inc. ("DWR"), a broker-dealer affiliate of the Manager, 
and others regarding economic developments and interest rate trends, and the 
Adviser's own analysis of factors it deems relevant. 

   Orders for transactions in portfolio securities and commodities are placed 
for the Fund with a number of brokers and dealers, including DWR. The Fund 
may incur brokerage commissions on transactions conducted through DWR. The 
Fund intends to buy and hold securities for capital appreciation. Although 
the Fund does not intend to engage in substantial short-term trading as a 
means of achieving its investment objective, the Fund may sell portfolio 
securities without regard to the length of time that they have been held, in 
order to take advantage of new investment opportunities or yield 
differentials, or because the Fund desires to preserve gains or limit losses 
due to changing economic conditions, interest rate trends, or the financial 
condition of the issuer. It is not anticipated that the Fund's portfolio 
turnover rate will exceed 150% in any one year. The Fund will incur 
underwriting discount costs (on underwritten securities) and brokerage costs 
commensurate with its portfolio turnover rate, and thus a higher level (over 
100%) of portfolio transactions will increase the Fund's overall brokerage 
expenses. Short term gains and losses may result from such portfolio 
transactions. See "Dividends, Distributions and Taxes" for a discussion of 
the tax implications of the Fund's transactions. 

   The expenses of the Fund relating to its portfolio management are likely 
to be greater than those incurred by other investment companies investing 
only in securities issued by domestic issuers, as custodial costs, brokerage 
commissions and other transaction charges related to investing on foreign 
markets are generally higher than in the United States. 

   Except as specifically noted, all investment policies and practices 
discussed above are not fundamental policies of the Fund and thus may be 
changed without shareholder approval. 

INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS 
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

   
   The investment restrictions listed below are among the restrictions which 
have been adopted by the Fund as fundamental policies. Under the Investment 
Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "Act"), a fundamental policy may not be 
changed without the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities 
of the Fund, as defined in the Act. For purposes of the following 
limitations: (i) all percentage limitations apply immediately after a 
purchase or initial investment, and (ii) any subsequent change in any 
applicable percentage resulting from market fluctuations or other changes in 
total or net assets does not require elimination of any security from the 
portfolio. 
    

   The Fund may not: 

     1. As to 75% of its assets, invest more than 5% of the value of its total 
    assets in the securities of any one issuer (other than obligations issued, 
    or guaranteed by, the United States Government, its agencies or 
    instrumentalities). 

     2. As to 75% of its assets, purchase more than 10% of all outstanding 
    voting securities or more than 10% of any class of securities of any one 
    issuer. 

     3. Invest 25% or more of the value of its total assets in securities of 
    issuers in any one industry except that the Fund will invest at least 25% 
    of its total assets in the telecommunications and information industry. 
    This restriction does not apply to obligations issued or guaranteed by the 
    United States Government, its agencies or instrumentalities. 

                                       15
<PAGE>

   
PURCHASE OF FUND SHARES 
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

   The Fund offers its shares to the public on a continuous basis. Pursuant 
to a Distribution Agreement between the Fund and Dean Witter Distributors 
Inc. (the "Distributor"), an affiliate of the Manager, shares of the Fund are 
distributed by the Distributor and offered by DWR and other dealers (which 
may include TCW Brokerage Services, an affiliate of the Adviser) who have 
entered into selected broker-dealer agreements with the Distributor 
("Selected Broker-Dealers"). The principal executive office of the 
Distributor is located at Two World Trade Center, New York, New York 10048. 

   The minimum initial purchase is $1,000 and subsequent purchases of $100 or 
more may be made by sending a check, payable to TCW/DW Global Telecom Trust, 
directly to Dean Witter Trust Company (the "Transfer Agent") at P.O. Box 
1040, Jersey City, NJ 07303, or by contacting an account executive of DWR or 
other Selected Broker-Dealer. The minimum initial purchase in the case of 
investments through EasyInvest (Service Mark) , an automatic purchase plan 
(see "Shareholder Services"), is $100, provided that the schedule of 
automatic investments will result in investments totalling at least $1,000 
within the first twelve months. In the case of investments pursuant to 
Systematic Payroll Deduction Plans (including Individual Retirement Plans), 
the Fund, in its discretion, may accept investments without regard to any 
minimum amounts which would otherwise be required if the Fund has reason to 
believe that additional investments will increase the investment in all 
accounts under such Plans to at least $1,000. Certificates for shares 
purchased will not be issued unless a request is made by the shareholder in 
writing to the Transfer Agent. 
    

   Shares of the Fund are sold through the Distributor on a normal three 
business day settlement basis; that is, payment is due on the third business 
day (settlement date) after the order is placed with the Distributor. Since 
DWR and other Selected Broker-Dealers forward investors' funds on settlement 
date, they will benefit from the temporary use of the funds if payment is 
made prior thereto. As noted above, orders placed directly with the Transfer 
Agent must be accompanied by payment. Investors will be entitled to receive 
income dividends and capital gains distributions if their order is received 
by the close of business on the day prior to the record date for such 
dividends and distributions. 

   The offering price will be the net asset value per share next determined 
following receipt of an order by the Transfer Agent (see "Determination of 
Net Asset Value"). While no sales charge is imposed at the time shares are 
purchased, a contingent deferred sales charge may be imposed at the time of 
redemption (see "Repurchases and Redemptions"). Sales personnel of a Selected 
Broker-Dealer are compensated for selling shares of the Fund at the time of 
their sale by the Distributor and/or Selected Broker-Dealer. In addition, 
some sales personnel of the Selected Broker-Dealer will receive various types 
of non-cash compensation or special sales incentives, including trips, 
educational and/or business seminars and merchandise. The Fund and the 
Distributor reserve the right to reject any purchase orders. 

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION 

   The Fund has adopted a Plan of Distribution pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under 
the Act (the "Plan"), under which the Fund pays the Distributor a fee, which 
is accrued daily and payable monthly, at an annual rate of 1% of the lesser 
of: (a) the average daily aggregate gross sales of the Fund's shares since 
the inception of the Fund (not including reinvestments of dividends or 
capital gains distributions), less the average daily aggregate net asset 
value of the Fund's shares redeemed since the Fund's inception upon which a 
contingent deferred sales charge has been imposed or waived; or (b) the 
Fund's average daily net assets. This fee is treated by the Fund as an 
expense in the year it is accrued. A portion of the fee payable pursuant to 
the Plan, equal to 0.25% of the Fund's average daily net assets, is 
characterized as a service fee within the meaning of NASD guidelines. The 
service fee is a payment made for personal service and/or the maintenance of 
shareholder accounts. 

                                       16
<PAGE>

   
   For the fiscal period August 28, 1996 (commencement of operations) through 
November 30, 1996, the Fund accrued payments under the Plan amounting to 
$226,815, which amount is equal to the annualized rate of 0.97% of the Fund's 
average daily net assets for the fiscal period. The payments accrued under 
the Plan were calculated pursuant to clause (a) of the compensation formula 
under the Plan. 
    

   Amounts paid under the Plan are paid to the Distributor to compensate it 
for the services provided and the expenses borne by the Distributor and 
others in the distribution of the Fund's shares, including the payment of 
commissions for sales of the Fund's shares and compensation to and expenses 
of DWR account executives and others who engage in or support distribution of 
shares or who service shareholder accounts, including overhead and telephone 
expenses; printing and distribution of prospectuses and reports used in 
connection with the offering of the Fund's shares to other than current 
shareholders; and preparation, printing and distribution of sales literature 
and advertising materials. In addition, the Distributor may utilize fees paid 
pursuant to the Plan to compensate DWR and other Selected Broker-Dealers for 
their opportunity costs in advancing such amounts, which compensation would 
be in the form of a carrying charge on any unreimbursed distribution 
expenses. 

   
   At any given time, the expenses in distributing shares of the Fund may be 
in excess of the total of (i) the payments made by the Fund pursuant to the 
Plan, and (ii) the proceeds of contingent deferred sales charges paid by 
investors upon the redemption of shares (see "Repurchases and 
Redemptions--Contingent Deferred Sales Charge"). For example, if $1 million 
in expenses in distributing shares of the Fund had been incurred and $750,000 
had been received as described in (i) and (ii) above, the excess expense 
would amount to $250,000. The Distributor has advised the Fund that the 
excess distribution expenses (including the excess carrying charge described 
above) totalled $6,257,689 at November 30, 1996, which was equal to 6.03% of 
the Fund's net assets on such date. 

   Because there is no requirement under the Plan that the Distributor be 
reimbursed for all distribution expenses or any requirement that the Plan be 
continued from year to year, such excess amount does not constitute a 
liability of the Fund. Although there is no legal obligation for the Fund to 
pay expenses incurred in excess of payments made to the Distributor under the 
Plan and the proceeds of contingent deferred sales charges paid by investors 
upon redemption of shares, if for any reason the Plan is terminated, the 
Trustees will consider at that time the manner in which to treat such 
expenses. Any cumulative expenses incurred but not yet recovered through 
distribution fees of contingent deferred sales charges, may or may not be 
recovered through future distribution fees or contingent deferred sales 
charges. 
    

DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE 

   The net asset value per share of the Fund is determined once daily at 4:00 
p.m., New York time (or, on days when the New York Stock Exchange closes 
prior to 4:00 p.m., at such earlier time), on each day that the New York 
Stock Exchange is open by taking the value of all assets of the Fund, 
subtracting all its liabilities, dividing by the number of shares outstanding 
and adjusting to the nearest cent. The net asset value per share will not be 
determined on Good Friday and on such other federal and non-federal holidays 
as are observed by the New York Stock Exchange. 

   
   In the calculation of the Fund's net asset value: (1) an equity portfolio 
security listed or traded on the New York or American Stock Exchange or other 
domestic or foreign stock exchange is valued at its latest sale price on that 
exchange (if there were no sales that day, the security is valued at the 
latest bid price); and (2) all other portfolio securities for which 
over-the-counter market quotations are readily available are valued at the 
latest bid price. When market quotations are not readily available, including 
circumstances under which it is determined by the Adviser that sale or bid 
prices are not reflective of a security's market value, portfolio securities 
are valued at their fair value as determined in good faith under procedures 
established by and under the general supervision of the Board of Trustees. 
For valuation purposes, quotations of foreign portfolio securities, other 
assets 
    

                                       17
<PAGE>

and liabilities and forward contracts stated in foreign currency are 
translated into U.S. dollar equivalents at the prevailing market rates prior 
to the close of the New York Stock Exchange as of the morning of valuation. 
Dividends receivable are accrued as of the ex-dividend date or as of the time 
that the relevant ex-dividend date and amounts become known. 

   Short-term debt securities with remaining maturities of 60 days or less at 
the time of purchase are valued at amortized cost, unless the Trustees 
determine such does not reflect the securities' market value, in which case 
these securities will be valued at their fair value as determined by the 
Trustees. Other short-term debt securities will be valued on a mark-to-market 
basis until such time as they reach a remaining maturity of 60 days, 
whereupon they will be valued at amortized cost using their value on the 61st 
day unless the Trustees determine such does not reflect the securities' 
market value, in which case these securities will be valued at their fair 
value as determined by the Trustees. All other securities and other assets 
are valued at their fair value as determined in good faith under procedures 
established by and under the supervision of the Trustees. 

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

SHAREHOLDER SERVICES 
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

   
   Automatic Investment of Dividends and Distributions. All income dividends 
and capital gains distributions are automatically paid in full and fractional 
shares of the Fund (or, if specified by the shareholder, any other TCW/DW 
Fund), unless the shareholder requests that they be paid in cash. Shares so 
acquired are not subject to the imposition of a contingent deferred sales 
charge upon their redemption (see "Repurchases and Redemptions"). 
    

   Investment of Dividends or Distributions Received in Cash. Any shareholder 
who receives a cash payment representing a dividend or capital gains 
distribution may invest such dividend or distribution at the net asset value 
per share next determined after receipt by the Transfer Agent, by returning 
the check or the proceeds to the Transfer Agent within 30 days after the 
payment date. Shares so acquired are not subject to the imposition of a 
contingent deferred sales charge upon their redemption (see "Repurchases and 
Redemptions"). 

   EasyInvest (Service Mark) . Shareholders may subscribe to EasyInvest, an 
automatic purchase plan which provides for any amount from $100 to $5,000 to 
be transferred automatically from a checking or savings account, on a 
semi-monthly, monthly or quarterly basis, to the Fund's Transfer Agent for 
investment in shares of the Fund. Shares purchased through EasyInvest will be 
added to the shareholder's existing account at the net asset value calculated 
the same business day the transfer of funds is effected. For further 
information or to subscribe to EasyInvest, shareholders should contact their 
DWR or other Selected Broker-Dealer account executive or the Transfer Agent. 

   Systematic Withdrawal Plan. A systematic withdrawal plan (the "Withdrawal 
Plan") is available for shareholders who own or purchase shares of the Fund 
having a minimum value of $10,000 based upon the then current net asset 
value. The Withdrawal Plan provides for monthly or quarterly (March, June, 
September and December) checks in any dollar amount, not less than $25, or in 
any whole percentage of the account balance, on an annualized basis. Any 
applicable contingent deferred sales charge will be imposed on shares 
redeemed under the Withdrawal Plan (See "Repurchases and 
Redemptions--Contingent Deferred Sales Charge"). Therefore, any shareholder 
participat- 

                                       18
<PAGE>

ing in the Withdrawal Plan will have sufficient shares redeemed from his or 
her account so that the proceeds (net of any applicable contingent deferred 
sales charge) to the shareholder will be the designated monthly or quarterly 
amount. 

   Shareholders should contact their DWR or other Selected Broker-Dealer 
account executive or the Transfer Agent for information about any of the 
above services. 

   Tax Sheltered Retirement Plans. Retirement plans are available for use by 
corporations, the self-employed, Individual Retirement Accounts and Custodial 
Accounts under Section 403(b)(7) of the Internal Revenue Code. Adoption of 
such plans should be on advice of legal counsel or tax adviser. 

   For further information regarding plan administration, custodial fees and 
other details, investors should contact their account executive or the 
Transfer Agent. 

EXCHANGE PRIVILEGE 

   The Fund makes available to its shareholders an "Exchange Privilege" 
allowing the exchange of shares of the Fund for shares of any other TCW/DW 
Fund sold with a contingent deferred sales charge ("CDSC Funds"), for shares 
of TCW/DW North American Government Income Trust, TCW/DW Income and Growth 
Fund, TCW/DW Balanced Fund and for shares of five money market funds for 
which InterCapital serves as investment manager: Dean Witter Liquid Asset 
Fund Inc., Dean Witter U.S. Government Money Market Trust, Dean Witter 
Tax-Free Daily Income Trust, Dean Witter California Tax-Free Daily Income 
Trust and Dean Witter New York Municipal Money Market Trust (the foregoing 
eight funds are hereinafter collectively referred to as the "Exchange 
Funds"). Exchanges may be made after the shares of the Fund acquired by 
purchase (not by exchange or dividend reinvestment) have been held for thirty 
days. There is no waiting period for exchanges of shares acquired by exchange 
or dividend reinvestment. 

   Shareholders utilizing the Fund's Exchange Privilege may subsequently 
re-exchange such shares back to the Fund. However, no exchange privilege is 
available between the Fund and any other fund managed by the Manager or 
InterCapital, other than other TCW/DW Funds and the five money market funds 
listed above. 

   An exchange to another CDSC Fund or to any Exchange Fund that is not a 
money market fund is on the basis of the next calculated net asset value per 
share of each fund after the exchange order is received. When exchanging into 
a money market fund from the Fund or any other TCW/DW Fund, shares of the 
Fund are redeemed out of the Fund at their next calculated net asset value 
and the proceeds of the redemption are used to purchase shares of the money 
market fund at their net asset value determined the following day. Subsequent 
exchanges between any of the money market funds and any TCW/DW Fund can be 
effected on the same basis. No contingent deferred sales charge ("CDSC") is 
imposed at the time of any exchange, although any applicable CDSC will be 
imposed upon ultimate redemption. During the period of time the shareholder 
remains in the Exchange Fund (calculated from the last day of the month in 
which the Exchange Fund shares were acquired), the holding period (for the 
purpose of determining the rate of the CDSC) is frozen. If those shares are 
subsequently reexchanged for shares of a CDSC Fund, the holding period 
previously frozen when the first exchange was made resumes on the last day of 
the month in which shares of a CDSC Fund are reacquired. Thus, the CDSC is 
based upon the time (calculated as described above) the shareholder was 
invested in a CDSC Fund (see "Repurchases and Redemptions--Contingent 
Deferred Sales Charge"). However, in the case of shares of the Fund exchanged 
into an Exchange Fund, upon a redemption of shares which results in a CDSC 
being imposed, a credit (not to exceed the amount of the CDSC) will be given 
in an amount equal to the Exchange Fund 12b-1 distribution fees which are 
attributable to those shares. (Exchange Fund 12b-1 distribution fees are 
described in the prospectuses for those funds.) 

   Purchases and exchanges should be made for investment purposes only. A 
pattern of frequent exchanges may be deemed by the Manager to be abusive 

                                       19
<PAGE>

and contrary to the best interests of the Fund's other shareholders and, at 
the Manager's discretion, may be limited by the Fund's refusal to accept 
additional purchases and/or exchanges from the investor. Although the Fund 
does not have any specific definition of what constitutes a pattern of 
frequent exchanges, and will consider all relevant factors in determining 
whether a particular situation is abusive and contrary to the best interests 
of the Fund and its other shareholders, investors should be aware that the 
Fund, each of the other TCW/DW Funds and each of the money market funds may 
in its discretion limit or otherwise restrict the number of times this 
Exchange Privilege may be exercised by any investor. Any such restriction 
will be made by the Fund on a prospective basis only, upon notice to the 
shareholder not later than ten days following such shareholder's most recent 
exchange. Also, the Exchange Privilege may be terminated or revised at any 
time by the Fund and/or any of such other TCW/DW Funds or money market funds 
for which shares of the Fund have been exchanged, upon such notice as may be 
required by applicable regulatory agencies. Shareholders maintaining margin 
accounts with DWR or another Selected Broker-Dealer are referred to their 
account executive regarding restrictions on exchange of shares of the Fund 
pledged in the margin account. 

   The current prospectus for each fund describes its investment objective(s) 
and policies, and shareholders should obtain a copy and examine it carefully 
before investing. Exchanges are subject to the minimum investment requirement 
and any other conditions imposed by each fund. An exchange will be treated 
for federal income tax purposes the same as a repurchase or redemption of 
shares, on which the shareholder may realize a capital gain or loss. However, 
the ability to deduct capital losses on an exchange may be limited in 
situations where there is an exchange of shares within ninety days after the 
shares are purchased. The Exchange Privilege is only available in states 
where an exchange may legally be made. 

   If DWR or another Selected Broker-Dealer is the current dealer of record 
and its account numbers are part of the account information, shareholders may 
initiate an exchange of shares of the Fund for shares of any of the money 
market funds for which the Exchange Privilege is available pursuant to this 
Exchange Privilege by contacting their DWR or other Selected Broker-Dealer 
account executive (no Exchange Privilege Authorization Form is required). 
Other shareholders (and those shareholders who are clients of DWR or another 
Selected Broker-Dealer but who wish to make exchanges directly by writing or 
telephoning the Transfer Agent) must complete and forward to the Transfer 
Agent an Exchange Privilege Authorization Form, copies of which may be 
obtained from the Transfer Agent, to initiate an exchange. If the 
Authorization Form is used, exchanges may be made in writing or by contacting 
the Transfer Agent at (800) 869-NEWS (toll-free). The Fund will employ 
reasonable procedures to confirm that exchange instructions communicated over 
the telephone are genuine. Such procedures include requiring various forms of 
personal identification such as name, mailing address, social security or 
other tax identification number and DWR or other Selected Broker-Dealer 
account number (if any). Telephone instructions will also be recorded. If 
such procedures are not employed, the Fund may be liable for any losses due 
to unauthorized or fraudulent instructions. 

   Telephone exchange instructions will be accepted if received by the 
Transfer Agent between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. New York time, on any day the 
New York Stock Exchange is open. Any shareholder wishing to make an exchange 
who has previously filed an Exchange Privilege Authorization Form and who is 
unable to reach the Fund by telephone should contact his or her DWR or other 
Selected Broker-Dealer account executive, if appropriate, or make a written 
exchange request. Shareholders are advised that during periods of drastic 
economic or market changes, it is possible that the telephone exchange 
procedures may be difficult to implement, although this has not been the case 
in the past with other funds managed by the Manager. 

   Shareholders should contact their DWR or other Selected Broker-Dealer 
account executive or the Transfer Agent for further information about the 
Exchange Privilege. 

                                       20
<PAGE>

REPURCHASES AND REDEMPTIONS 
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

   
   Repurchase. DWR and other Selected Dealers are authorized to repurchase 
shares represented by a share certificate which is delivered to any of their 
offices. Shares held in a shareholder's account without a share certificate 
may also be repurchased by DWR and other Selected Broker-Dealers upon the 
telephonic or telegraphic request of the shareholder. The repurchase price is 
the net asset value per share next computed (see "Purchase of Fund Shares") 
after such repurchase order is received by DWR or other Selected 
Broker-Dealer, reduced by any applicable contingent deferred sales charge 
("CDSC") (see below). 
    

   The CDSC, if any, will be the only fee imposed by the Fund, the 
Distributor, DWR or other Selected Broker-Dealer. The offers by DWR and other 
Selected Broker-Dealers to repurchase shares may be suspended without notice 
by them at any time. In that event, shareholders may redeem their shares 
through the Fund's Transfer Agent as set forth below under "Redemption." 

   Redemption. Shares of the Fund can be redeemed for cash at any time at the 
net asset value per share next determined; however, such redemption proceeds 
will be reduced by the amount of any applicable contingent deferred sales 
charge (see below). If shares are held in a shareholder's account without a 
share certificate, a written request for redemption to the Fund's Transfer 
Agent at P.O. Box 983, Jersey City, NJ 07303 is required. If certificates are 
held by the shareholder, the shares may be redeemed by surrendering the 
certificates with a written request for redemption along with any additional 
documentation required by the Transfer Agent. 

   Contingent Deferred Sales Charge. Shares of the Fund which are held for 
six years or more after purchase (calculated from the last day of the month 
in which the shares were purchased) will not be subject to any charge upon 
redemption. Shares redeemed sooner than six years after purchase may, 
however, be subject to a charge upon redemption. This charge is called a 
"contingent deferred sales charge" ("CDSC"), which will be a percentage of 
the dollar amount of shares redeemed and will be assessed on an amount equal 
to the lesser of the current market value or the cost of the shares being 
redeemed. The size of this percentage will depend upon how long the shares 
have been held, as set forth in the table below: 

                                CONTINGENT DEFERRED 
         YEAR SINCE                SALES CHARGE  
          PURCHASE              AS A PERCENTAGE OF  
        PAYMENT MADE             AMOUNT REDEEMED 
        ------------             --------------- 
First ......................           5.0% 
Second .....................           4.0% 
Third ......................           3.0% 
Fourth .....................           2.0% 
Fifth ......................           2.0% 
Sixth ......................           1.0% 
Seventh and thereafter  ....           None 

   A CDSC will not be imposed on: (i) any amount which represents an increase 
in value of shares purchased within the six years preceding the redemption; 
(ii) the current net asset value of shares purchased more than six years 
prior to the redemption; and (iii) the current net asset value of shares 
purchased through reinvestment of dividends or distributions. Moreover, in 
determining whether a CDSC is applicable it will be assumed that amounts 
described in (i), (ii) and (iii) above (in that order) are redeemed first. 

   In addition, the CDSC, if otherwise applicable, will be waived in the case 
of: 

   (1) redemptions of shares held at the time a shareholder dies or becomes 
disabled, only if the shares are:   (a) registered either in the name of an 
individual shareholder (not a trust), or in the names of such shareholder and 
his or her spouse as joint tenants with right of survivorship; or   (b) held 
in a qualified corporate or self-employed retirement plan, Individual 
Retirement Account ("IRA") or Custodial Account under Section 403(b)(7) of 
the Internal Revenue Code ("403(b) Custodial Account"), provided in either 
case that the redemption is requested within one year of the death or initial 
determination of disability; 

   (2) redemptions in connection with the following retirement plan 
distributions:   (a) lump-sum or other distributions from a qualified 
corporate or self- 

                                       21
<PAGE>

employed retirement plan following retirement (or, in the case of a "key 
employee" of a "top heavy" plan, following attainment of age 59 1/2);   (b) 
distributions from an IRA or 403(b) Custodial Account following attainment of 
age 59 1/2; or   (c) a tax-free return of an excess contribution to an IRA; 
and 

   
   (3) all redemptions of shares held for the benefit of a participant in a 
corporate or self-employed retirement plan qualified under Section 401(k) of 
the Internal Revenue Code which offers investment companies managed by the 
Manager or its parent, Dean Witter InterCapital Inc., as self-directed 
investment alternatives and for which Dean Witter Trust Company or Dean 
Witter Trust FSB, each of which is an affiliate of the Manager, serves as 
Trustee ("Eligible 401(k) Plan"), provided that either:   (a) the plan 
continues to be an Eligible 401(k) Plan after the redemption; or   (b) the 
redemption is in connection with the complete termination of the plan 
involving the distribution of all plan assets to participants. 
    

   With reference to (1) above, for the purpose of determining disability, 
the Distributor utilizes the definition of disability contained in Section 
72(m)(7) of the Internal Revenue Code, which relates to the inability to 
engage in gainful employment. With reference to (2) above, the term 
"distribution" does not encompass a direct transfer of IRA, 403(b) Custodial 
Account or retirement plan assets to a successor custodian or trustee. All 
waivers will be granted only following receipt by the Distributor of 
confirmation of the shareholder's entitlement. 

   Payment for Shares Redeemed or Repurchased. Payment for shares presented 
for repurchase or redemption will be made by check within seven days after 
receipt by the Transfer Agent of the certificate and/or written request in 
good order. Such payment may be postponed or the right of redemption 
suspended under unusual circumstances, e.g., when normal trading is not 
taking place on the New York Stock Exchange. If the shares to be redeemed 
have recently been purchased by check, payment of the redemptionproceeds may 
be delayed for the minimum time needed to verify that the check used for 
investment has been honored (not more than fifteen days from the time of 
receipt of the check by the Transfer Agent). Shareholders maintaining margin 
accounts with DWR or another Selected Broker-Dealer are referred to their 
account executive regarding restrictions on redemption of shares of the Fund 
pledged in the margin account. 

   Reinstatement Privilege. A shareholder who has had his or her shares 
repurchased or redeemed and has not previously exercised this reinstatement 
privilege may, within thirty days after the date of the repurchase or 
redemption, reinstate any portion or all of the proceeds of such repurchase 
or redemption in shares of the Fund at net asset value next determined after 
a reinstatement request, together with the proceeds, is received by the 
Transfer Agent and receive a pro-rata credit for any CDSC paid in connection 
with such repurchase or redemption. 

   
   Involuntary Redemption. The Fund reserves the right, on sixty days' 
notice, to redeem, at their net asset value, the shares of any shareholder 
(other than shares held in an Individual Retirement Account or Custodial 
Account under Section 403(b)(7) of the Internal Revenue Code) whose shares 
due to redemptions by the shareholder have a value of less than $100 or such 
lesser amount as may be fixed by the Trustees or, in the case of an account 
opened through EasyInvestSM, if after twelve months the shareholder has 
invested less than $1,000 in the account. However, before the Fund redeems 
such shares and sends the proceeds to the shareholder, it will notify the 
shareholder that the value of the shares is less than the applicable amount 
and allow him or her sixty days to make an additional investment in an amount 
which will increase the value of his or her account to at least the 
applicable amount before the redemption is processed. No CDSC will be imposed 
on any involuntary redemption. 
    

                                       22
<PAGE>

DIVIDENDS, DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES 
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

   Dividends and Distributions. The Fund intends to pay dividends and to 
distribute substantially all of its net investment income and net short-term 
and net long-term capital gains, if any, at least once each year. The Fund 
may, however, determine to retain all or part of any net long-term capital 
gains in any year for reinvestment. 

   All dividends and any capital gains distributions will be paid in 
additional Fund shares and automatically credited to the shareholder's 
account without issuance of a share certificate unless the shareholder 
requests in writing that all dividends and/or distributions be paid in cash. 
(See "Shareholder Services -- Automatic Investment of Dividends and 
Distributions.") 

   Taxes. Because the Fund intends to distribute all of its net investment 
income and capital gains to shareholders and otherwise qualify as a regulated 
investment company under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code, it is not 
expected that the Fund will be required to pay any federal income tax. 
Shareholders who are required to pay taxes on their income will normally have 
to pay federal income taxes, and any state income taxes, on the dividends and 
distributions they receive from the Fund. Such dividends and distributions, 
to the extent that they are derived from net investment income or net 
short-term capital gains, are taxable to the shareholder as ordinary income 
regardless of whether the shareholder receives such payments in additional 
shares or in cash. Any dividends declared with a record date in the last 
quarter of any calendar year which are paid in the following year prior to 
February 1 will be deemed received by the shareholder in the prior calendar 
year. Dividend payments will be eligible for the federal dividends received 
deduction available to the Fund's corporate shareholders only to the extent 
the aggregate dividends received by the Fund would be eligible for the 
deduction if the Fund were the shareholder claiming the dividends received 
deduction. In this regard, a 46-day holding period generally must be met by 
the Fund and the shareholder. 

   Distributions of net long-term capital gains, if any, are taxable to 
shareholders as long-term capital gains regardless of how long a shareholder 
has held the Fund's shares and regardless of whether the distribution is 
received in additional shares or in cash. The Fund is subject to foreign 
withholding taxes and the pass through of such taxes may not be available to 
shareholders. 

   
   The Fund may at times make payments from sources other than income or net 
capital gains. Payments from such sources will, in effect, represent a return 
of a portion of each shareholder's investment. All, or a portion, of such 
payments will not be taxable to shareholders. 
    

   After the end of the calendar year, shareholders will be sent full 
information on their dividends and capital gains distributions for tax 
purposes. To avoid being subject to a 31% federal backup withholding tax on 
taxable dividends, capital gains distributions and the proceeds of 
redemptions and repurchases, shareholders' taxpayer identification numbers 
must be furnished and certified as to their accuracy. 

   Shareholders should consult their tax advisers as to the applicability of 
the foregoing to their current situation. 

PERFORMANCE INFORMATION 
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

   From time to time the Fund may quote its "total return" in advertisements 
and sales literature. The total return of the Fund is based on historical 
earnings and is not intended to indicate future performance. The "average 
annual total return" of the Fund refers to a figure reflecting the average 
annualized percentage increase (or decrease) in the value of an initial 
investment in the Fund of $1,000 over one, five and ten years or the life of 
the Fund, if less than any of the foregoing. Average annual total return 
reflects all income earned by the Fund, any appreciation or depreciation of 
the Fund's assets, all expenses incurred by the Fund and all sales charges 
which would be incurred by redeeming shareholders, for the period. It 

                                       23
<PAGE>

also assumes reinvestment of all dividends and distributions paid by the 
Fund. 

   In addition to the foregoing, the Fund may advertise its total return over 
different periods of time by means of aggregate, average, and year-by-year or 
other types of total return figures. Such calculations may or may not reflect 
the deduction of the contingent deferred sales charge which, if reflected, 
would reduce the performance quoted. The Fund may also advertise the growth 
of hypothetical investments of $10,000, $50,000 and $100,000 in shares of the 
Fund. The Fund from time to time may also advertise its performance relative 
to certain performance rankings and indexes compiled by independent 
organizations (such as mutual fund performance rankings of Lipper Analytical 
Services, Inc.). 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION 
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

   Voting Rights. All shares of beneficial interest of the Fund are of $0.01 
par value and are equal as to earnings, assets and voting privileges. 

   The Fund is not required to hold Annual Meetings of Shareholders and, in 
ordinary circumstances, the Fund does not intend to hold such meetings. The 
Trustees may call Special Meetings of Shareholders for action by shareholder 
vote as may be required by the Act or the Declaration of Trust. Under certain 
circumstances, the Trustees may be removed by action of the Trustees or by 
the shareholders. 

   Under Massachusetts law, shareholders of a business trust may, under 
certain circumstances, be held personally liable as partners for obligations 
of the Fund. However, the Declaration of Trust contains an express disclaimer 
of shareholder liability for acts or obligations of the Fund, requires that 
Fund obligations include such disclaimer, and provides for indemnification 
and reimbursement of expenses out of the Fund's property for any shareholder 
held personally liable for the obligations of the Fund. Thus, the risk of a 
shareholder incurring financial loss on account of shareholder liability is 
limited to circumstances in which the Fund itself would be unable to meet its 
obligations. Given the above limitation on shareholder personal liability, 
and the nature of the Fund's assets and operations, the possibility of the 
Fund being unable to meet its obligations is remote and thus, in the opinion 
of Massachusetts counsel to the Fund, the risk to Fund shareholders of 
personal liability is remote. 

   Code of Ethics. The Adviser is subject to a Code of Ethics with respect to 
investment transactions in which the Adviser's officers, directors and 
certain other persons have a beneficial interest to avoid any actual or 
potential conflict or abuse of their fiduciary position. The Code of Ethics, 
as it pertains to the TCW/DW Funds, contains several restrictions and 
procedures designed to eliminate conflicts of interest including: (a) 
pre-clearance of personal investment transactions to ensure that personal 
transactions by employees are not being conducted at the same time as the 
Adviser's clients; (b) quarterly reporting of personal securities 
transactions; (c) a prohibition against personally acquiring securities in an 
initial public offering, entering into uncovered short sales and writing 
uncovered options; (d) a seven day "blackout period" prior or subsequent to a 
TCW/DW Fund transaction during which portfolio managers are prohibited from 
making certain transactions in securities which are being purchased or sold 
by a TCW/DW Fund; (e) a prohibition, with respect to certain investment 
personnel, from profiting in the purchase and sale, or sale and purchase, of 
the same (or equivalent) securities within 60 calendar days; and (f) a 
prohibition against acquiring any security which is subject to firm wide or, 
if applicable, a department restriction of the Adviser. The Code of Ethics 
provides that exemptive relief may be given from certain of its requirements, 
upon application. The Adviser's Code of Ethics complies with regulatory 
requirements and, insofar as it relates to persons associated with registered 
investment companies, the 1994 Report of the Advisory Group on Personal 
Investing of the Investment Company Institute. 

   Shareholder Inquiries. All inquiries regarding the Fund should be directed 
to the Fund at the telephone numbers or address set forth on the front cover 
of this Prospectus. 

                                       24
<PAGE>

   
TCW/DW GLOBAL TELECOM TRUST 
Portfolio of Investments November 30, 1996 (unaudited) 
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
    

   
 NUMBER OF 
   SHARES                                               VALUE 
- -----------                                        -------------- 
            COMMON STOCKS (94.1%) 
            AUSTRALIA (1.5%) 
            PUBLISHING 
    72,400  News Corp. Ltd. (ADR) .................   $1,538,500 
                                                   -------------- 
            BRAZIL (1.5%) 
            TELECOMMUNICATIONS 
    20,400  Telecomunicacoes Brasileiras S/A 
            -Tebras (ADR) .........................    1,545,300 
                                                   -------------- 
            CANADA (3.4%) 
            COMMUNICATIONS - EQUIPMENT & SOFTWARE 
    26,200  Newbridge Network Corp.* ..............      779,450 
                                                   -------------- 
            COMMUNICATIONS-
            EQUIPMENT/MANUFACTURERS 
    18,800  Northern Telecom Ltd. .................    1,236,100 
                                                   -------------- 
            ENTERTAINMENT 
    69,000  Cinar Films, Inc. (Class B)* ..........    1,518,000 
                                                   -------------- 
            TOTAL CANADA ..........................    3,533,550 
                                                   -------------- 
            CHILE (0.8%) 
            TELECOMMUNICATIONS 
     8,300  Compania de Telecommunicaciones de 
            Chile S.A. (ADR) ......................      789,537 
                                                   -------------- 
            FINLAND (1.0%) 
            TELECOMMUNICATIONS 
    17,600  Nokia Corp. (ADR) .....................      987,800 
                                                   -------------- 
            GERMANY (1.6%) 
            OIL RELATED 
    20,000  RWE AG ................................      883,978 
            TELECOMMUNICATIONS 
    30,100  Tele Danmark A/S (ADR) ................      752,500 
                                                   -------------- 
            TOTAL GERMANY .........................    1,636,478 
                                                   -------------- 
            HUNGARY (0.7%) 
            CABLE/CELLULAR 
     2,800  Matav RT* .............................      727,135 
                                                   -------------- 
            INDONESIA (0.6%) 
            TELECOMMUNICATIONS 
   250,000  PT Indosat ............................      690,593 
                                                   -------------- 
            ITALY (2.7%) 
            AUTOMOTIVE 
   800,000  Pirelli SpA ...........................    1,461,279 
                                                   -------------- 
            TELECOMMUNICATIONS 
   600,000  Telecom Italia SpA ....................    1,412,481 
                                                   -------------- 
            TOTAL ITALY ...........................    2,873,760 
                                                   -------------- 
            JAPAN (3.8%) 
            ELECTRONIC & ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT 
    24,000  Sony Corp. (ADR) ......................   $1,551,000 
                                                   -------------- 
            ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS 
    10,000  Hitachi Ltd. (ADR) ....................      946,250 
                                                   -------------- 
            UTILITIES - TELEPHONE 
    40,000  Nippon Telegraph & Telephone (ADR)  ...    1,440,000 
                                                   -------------- 
            TOTAL JAPAN ...........................    3,937,250 
                                                   -------------- 
            MALAYSIA (1.3%) 
            TELECOMMUNICATIONS 
   236,000  Leader Universal Holdings Berhad  .....      537,107 
    88,000  Telekom Malaysia Berhad* ..............      801,108 
                                                   -------------- 
            TOTAL MALAYSIA ........................    1,338,215 
                                                   -------------- 
            MEXICO (0.7%) 
            LEISURE TIME/EQUIPMENT 
    25,000  Grupo Televisa S.A. (GDR)* ............      681,250 
                                                   -------------- 
            NETHERLANDS (2.0%) 
            ELECTRONICS 
    50,000  Philips Electronics N.V. ..............    2,025,000 
                                                   -------------- 
            NORWAY (0.8%) 
            TELECOMMUNICATION EQUIPMENT 
    21,408  Nera ASA (ADR) ........................      872,376 
                                                   -------------- 
            PHILIPPINES (1.5%) 
            UTILITIES TELEPHONE 
    28,264  Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. 
            (ADR) .................................    1,625,180 
                                                   -------------- 
            PORTUGAL (1.4%) 
            TELECOMMUNICATIONS 
    56,400  Portugal Telecom S.A. (ADR) ...........    1,494,600 
                                                   -------------- 
            RUSSIA (1.0%) 
            TELECOMMUNICATIONS 
        45  Rostelecom (RDC) -144A** ..............    1,035,000 
                                                   -------------- 
            SPAIN (0.8%) 
            UTILITIES - TELEPHONE 
    41,300  Telefonica de Espana ..................      904,961 
                                                   -------------- 
            SWEDEN (2.0%) 
            UTILITIES - TELEPHONE 
    66,000  Ericsson (L.M.) Telephone Co. AB (ADR)     2,029,500 
                                                   -------------- 
            UNITED KINGDOM (2.5%) 
            CABLE/CELLULAR 
   25,700   British Telecommunications PLC (ADR)  .    1,635,163 
                                                   -------------- 

                                       25
<PAGE>

TCW/DW GLOBAL TELECOM TRUST 
Portfolio of Investments November 30, 1996 (unaudited) (continued) 
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------

 NUMBER OF 
   SHARES                                               VALUE 
- -----------                                        -------------- 
            TELECOMMUNICATIONS 
    21,200  Vodafone Group PLC (ADR) ..............  $   916,900 
                                                   -------------- 
            TOTAL UNITED KINGDOM ..................    2,552,063 
                                                   -------------- 
            UNITED STATES (61.0%) 
            ADVERTISING 
    34,500  Omnicom Group, Inc. ...................    1,759,500 
                                                   -------------- 
            BROADCAST MEDIA 
    36,700  American Radio Systems Corp.* .........      990,900 
    29,000  BET Holdings, Inc. (Class A)* .........      804,750 
    40,500  Cox Communications, Inc. (Class A)*  ..      830,250 
    27,600  Infinity Broadcasting Corp. (Class A)*       886,650 
    43,600  Liberty Media Group (Class A)*  .......    1,084,550 
    15,000  Univision Communications, Inc.*  ......      596,250 
                                                   -------------- 
                                                       5,193,350 
                                                   -------------- 
            BUSINESS SERVICES 
    44,700  Cognizant Corp* .......................    1,542,150 
                                                   -------------- 
            CABLE TELEVISION EQUIPMENT 
    50,000  TV Filme, Inc.* .......................      656,250 
                                                   -------------- 
            COMMUNICATIONS -EQUIPMENT & SOFTWARE 
    22,600  Cascade Communications Corp.* .........    1,553,750 
    29,200  Cisco Systems, Inc.* ..................    1,981,950 
                                                   -------------- 
                                                       3,535,700 
                                                   -------------- 
            COMPUTER SOFTWARE 
     9,900  Microsoft Corp.* ......................    1,553,062 
    17,200  Pairgain Technologies, Inc.* ..........    1,094,350 
    28,600  Security Dynamics Technologies, Inc.*      1,176,175 
    15,200  Shiva Corp.* ..........................      627,000 
    60,900  Trusted Information Systems, Inc.*  ...      723,187 
                                                   -------------- 
                                                       5,173,774 
                                                   -------------- 
            COMPUTER SOFTWARE & SERVICES 
   102,500  GT Interactive Software Corp.*  .......    1,191,562 
    36,900  Objective Systems Integrators, Inc.*  .      899,437 
    43,500  Sterling Commerce, Inc.* ..............    1,370,250 
                                                   -------------- 
                                                       3,461,249 
                                                   -------------- 
            COMPUTERS - SYSTEMS 
    16,500  3Com Corp.* ...........................    1,239,562 
                                                   -------------- 
            ELECTRIC - MAJOR 
    94,000  Westinghouse Electric Corp. ...........    1,762,500 
                                                   -------------- 
            ELECTRONIC & ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT 
    20,100  C-Cube Microsystems, Inc.* ............      871,837 
    23,600  Vitesse Semiconductors Corp.* .........    1,123,950 
                                                   -------------- 
                                                       1,995,787 
                                                   -------------- 
            ELECTRONICS - DEFENSE 
    27,500  General Motors Corp. (Class H)  .......   $1,498,750 
                                                   -------------- 
            ELECTRONICS - SEMICONDUCTORS/COMPONENTS 
     9,600  Intel Corp. ...........................    1,216,800 
    25,100  Maxim Integrated Products, Inc.*  .....    1,160,875 
                                                   -------------- 
    36,100  Motorola, Inc. ........................    1,999,038 
    30,100  Triquint Semiconductor, Inc.* .........      673,488 
                                                   -------------- 
                                                       5,050,201 
                                                   -------------- 
            ENTERTAINMENT 
    24,900  Electronic Arts, Inc.* ................      799,913 
    20,000  Evergreen Media Corp. (Class A)*  .....      495,000 
                                                   -------------- 
                                                       1,294,913 
                                                   -------------- 
            FINANCE 
   100,800  CUC International, Inc.* ..............    2,658,600 
                                                   -------------- 
            MEDIA GROUP 
    68,000  General Instrument Corp.* .............    1,504,500 
                                                   -------------- 
            PUBLISHING 
    68,700  Golden Books Family Entertainment, 
            Inc.* .................................      781,463 
    50,100  Mecklermedia Corp.* ...................    1,014,525 
    11,400  Scholastic Corp.* .....................      849,300 
                                                   -------------- 
                                                       2,645,288 
                                                   -------------- 
            TELECOMMUNICATION EQUIPMENT 
    81,100  Harmonic Lightwaves, Inc.* ............    1,601,725 
    42,800  LCC International, Inc. (Class A)*  ...      642,000 
   109,900  Loral Space & Communications Ltd.*  ...    2,033,150 
    37,000  P-COM, Inc.* ..........................    1,156,250 
    13,600  U.S. Robotics Corp.* ..................    1,067,600 
                                                   -------------- 
                                                       6,500,725 
                                                   -------------- 
            TELECOMMUNICATIONS 
    38,300  LCI International, Inc.* ..............    1,249,538 
    29,100  Lucent Technologies, Inc. .............    1,491,375 
    28,400  MFS Communications Company, Inc.*  ....    1,370,300 
    28,200  Omipoint Corp.* .......................      740,250 
    27,100  Qualcomm Inc.* ........................    1,131,425 
    35,000  SmarTalk Teleservices Inc.* ...........      437,500 
    37,800  Sprint Corp. ..........................    1,582,875 
    71,400  Tele-Communications, Inc. (Class A)*  .      963,900 
    95,900  Tele-Communications International, 
            Inc. (Class A)* .......................    1,438,500 
   85,700   Teleport Communications Group Inc. 
            (Class A)* ............................   2,838,813 

                                       26
<PAGE>

TCW/DW GLOBAL TELECOM TRUST 
Portfolio of Investments November 30, 1996 (unaudited) (continued) 
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 NUMBER OF 
   SHARES                                               VALUE 
- -----------                                        -------------- 
    48,300  Western Wireless Corp. (Class A)*  ....  $   676,200 
    49,700  Winstar Communications, Inc.* .........    1,031,275 
                                                   -------------- 
                                                      14,951,951 
                                                   -------------- 
            TOYS 
   125,000  T-HQ, Inc.* ...........................      960,938 
                                                   -------------- 
            TOTAL UNITED STATES ...................   63,385,688 
                                                   -------------- 
            VENEZUELA (1.5%) 
            TELECOMMUNICATIONS 
    60,000  Compania Anonima Nacional Telefonos de 
            Venezuela (ADR)* ......................  $ 1,522,500 
                                                   -------------- 
    

 NUMBER OF 
   SHARES                                            VALUE 
- -----------                                     ----------------
TOTAL COMMON STOCKS 
 (IDENTIFIED COST $91,206,669) (A)  .    94.1%      97,726,236 

CASH AND OTHER ASSETS 
 IN EXCESS OF LIABILITIES ..........      5.9        6,104,033 
                                     ---------- ---------------- 
NET ASSETS .........................    100.0%    $103,830,269 
                                     ========== ================ 

- ------------ 
   ADR  American Depository Receipt. 
   GDR   Global Depository Receipt. 
   RDC   Russian Depository Certificate. 
     *   Non-income producing security. 
    **   Resale is restricted to qualified institutional investors. 
    (a)  The aggregate cost for federal income tax purposes approximates 
        identified cost. The aggregate gross unrealized appreciation was 
        $9,370,160 and the aggregate gross unrealized depreciation was 
        $2,850,593, resulting in net unrealized appreciation of $6,519,567. 

                       See Notes to Financial Statements

                                       27
<PAGE>
TCW/DW GLOBAL TELECOM TRUST 
Summary of Investments November 30, 1996 (unaudited) 
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

   
                                                          PERCENT OF 
INDUSTRY                                      VALUE       NET ASSETS 
- ----------------------------------------  -------------  ------------ 

Advertising .............................   $ 1,759,500        1.7% 
Automotive ..............................     1,461,279        1.4 
Broadcast Media .........................     5,193,350        5.0 
Business Services .......................     1,542,150        1.5 
Cable Television Equipment ..............       656,250        0.6 
Cable/Cellular ..........................     2,362,297        2.3 
Communications - Equipment & Software  ..     4,315,150        4.2 
Communications - Equipment/Manufacturers      1,236,100        1.2 
Computer Software .......................     5,173,775        5.0 
Computer Software & Services ............     3,461,250        3.3 
Computers - Systems .....................     1,239,562        1.2 
Electric - Major ........................     1,762,500        1.7 
Electronic & Electrical Equipment  ......     3,546,787        3.4 
Electronic Components ...................       946,250        0.9 
Electronics .............................     2,025,000        1.9 
Electronics - Defense ...................     1,498,750        1.4 
Electronics - Semiconductors/Components .     4,376,712        4.2 
Entertainment ...........................     3,486,401        3.4 
Finance .................................     2,658,600        2.6 
Leisure Time/Equipment ..................       681,250        0.7 
Media Group .............................     1,504,500        1.4 
Oil Related .............................       883,978        0.9 
Publishing ..............................     4,183,788        4.0 
Telecommunication Equipment .............     7,373,101        7.1 
Telecommunications ......................    27,437,377       26.4 
Toys ....................................       960,938        0.9 
Utilities - Telephone ...................     5,999,641        5.8 
                                          -------------  ------------ 
                                            $97,726,236       94.1% 
                                          =============  ============ 

    

                                      28
<PAGE>



TCW/DW GLOBAL TELECOM TRUST 
Financial Statements 
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES 
November 30, 1996 (unaudited) 
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

   
ASSETS: 
Investments in securities, at value 
 (identified cost $91,206,669) .............   $ 97,726,236 
Cash .......................................      4,887,114 
Receivable for: 
 Investments sold ..........................      1,415,958 
 Shares of beneficial interest sold  .......        494,604 
 Dividends .................................         47,142 
 Interest ..................................         34,674 
Deferred organizational expenses ...........        149,993 
Prepaid expenses ...........................         12,879 
                                             -------------- 
  TOTAL ASSETS .............................    104,768,600 
                                             -------------- 
LIABILITIES: 
Payable for: 
 Investments purchased .....................        549,333 
 Plan of distribution fee ..................         78,002 
 Management fee ............................         48,600 
 Investment advisory fee ...................         32,400 
 Shares of beneficial interest repurchased           15,662 
Organizational expenses ....................        158,225 
Accrued expenses ...........................         56,109 
                                             -------------- 
  TOTAL LIABILITIES ........................        938,331 
                                             -------------- 
NET ASSETS: 
Paid-in-capital ............................     97,619,568 
Net unrealized appreciation ................      6,519,444 
Net investment loss ........................       (285,674) 
Net realized loss ..........................        (23,069) 
                                             -------------- 
  NET ASSETS ...............................   $103,830,269 
                                             ============== 
NET ASSET VALUE PER SHARE, 9,700,081 
 shares outstanding (unlimited shares 
 authorized of $.01 par value) .............   $      10.70 
                                             ============== 

- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS For the period
August 28, 1996* through November 30, 1996 (unaudited)
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

NET INVESTMENT INCOME: 
 INCOME 
  Interest .................................   $    185,227 
  Dividends (net of $4,378 foreign 
   withholding tax) ........................         81,897 
                                             -------------- 
   TOTAL INCOME ............................        267,124 
                                             -------------- 
 EXPENSES 
  Plan of distribution fee .................        226,815 
  Management fee ...........................        139,843 
  Investment advisory fee ..................         93,228 
  Custodian fees ...........................         21,092 
  Transfer agent fees and expenses  ........         16,874 
  Professional fees ........................         16,427 
  Registration fees ........................         14,214 
  Shareholder reports and notices ..........         10,894 
  Organizational expenses ..................          8,232 
  Trustees' fees and expenses ..............          5,179 
                                             -------------- 
   TOTAL EXPENSES ..........................        552,798 
                                             -------------- 
   NET INVESTMENT LOSS .....................       (285,674) 
                                             -------------- 
NET REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAIN (LOSS): 
 Net realized gain (loss) on: 
  Investments ..............................        (23,424) 
  Foreign exchange transactions ............            355 
                                             -------------- 
   NET LOSS ................................        (23,069) 
                                             -------------- 
 Net unrealized appreciation on: 
  Investments ..............................      6,519,567 
                                             -------------- 
  Translation of other assets and 
   liabilities denominated in foreign 
   currencies ..............................           (123) 
   NET APPRECIATION ........................      6,519,444 
   NET GAIN ................................      6,496,375 
   NET INCREASE ............................   $  6,210,701 
                                             ============== 
    

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS 
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                      FOR THE PERIOD  
                                                                 AUGUST 28, 1996* THROUGH 
                                                                     NOVEMBER 30, 1996 
                                                                 ------------------------ 
                                                                        (UNAUDITED) 
<S>                                                              <C>
INCREASE (DECREASE) IN NET ASSETS: 
 Operations: 
  Net investment loss ..........................................        $   (285,674) 
  Net realized loss ............................................             (23,069) 
  Net unrealized appreciation ..................................           6,519,444 
                                                                        ------------- 
   Net increase ................................................           6,210,701 
 Net increase from transactions in shares of beneficial 
 interest ......................................................          97,519,568 
                                                                        ------------- 
   Net increase ................................................         103,730,269 
NET ASSETS: 
 Beginning of period ...........................................             100,000 
                                                                        ------------- 
 END OF PERIOD (Including a net investment loss of $285,674)  ..        $103,830,269 
                                                                        ============= 
</TABLE>
- --------------
   * Commencement of Operations. 

                       See Notes to Financial Statements

                                      29
<PAGE>

   
TCW/DW GLOBAL TELECOM TRUST 
Notes to Financial Statements November 30, 1996 (unaudited) 
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

1. ORGANIZATION AND ACCOUNTING POLICIES -- TCW/DW Global Telecom 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 long-term capital appreciation. The Fund seeks 
to achieve its objective by investing primarily in securities of domestic and 
foreign companies operating in all aspects of the telecommunications and 
information industries. The Fund was organized as a Massachusetts business 
trust on March 28, 1996 and had no other operations other than those relating 
to organizational matters and the issuance of 10,000 shares of beneficial 
interest for $100,000 to Dean Witter InterCapital Inc. ("InterCapital"), an 
affiliate of Dean Witter Services Company Inc. (the "Manager"), to effect the 
Fund's initial capitalization. The Fund commenced operations on August 28, 
1996. 

   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 by the Adviser); (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 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; (4) certain portfolio securities 
     may be valued by an outside pricing service approved by the Trustees. 
     The pricing service utilizes a matrix system incorporating security 
     quality, maturity and coupon as the evaluation model parameters, and/or 
     research and evaluations by its staff, including review of broker-dealer 
     market price quotations, if available, in determining what it believes 
     is the fair valuation of the portfolio securities valued by such pricing 
     service; and (5) 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 maturity and thereafter at amortized 
     cost based on their value on the 61st day. Short-term debt securities 
     have 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 on 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. Foreign Currency Translation -- The books and records of the Fund are 
     maintained in U.S. dollars as follows: (1) the foreign currency market 
     value of investment securities, other assets and liabilities and forward 
     contracts are translated at the exchange rates prevailing at the end of 
     the period; and (2) purchases, sales, income and expenses are translated 
     at the exchange rates prevailing on the respective dates of such 
     transactions. The resultant exchange gains and losses are included in 
     the Statement of 

                                      30
<PAGE>

TCW/DW GLOBAL TELECOM TRUST 
Notes to Financial Statements November 30, 1996 (unaudited) (continued) 
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

     Operations as realized and unrealized gain/loss on foreign exchange 
     transactions. Pursuant to U.S. Federal income tax regulations, certain 
     foreign exchange gains/losses included in realized and unrealized 
     gain/loss are included in or are a reduction of ordinary income for 
     federal income tax purposes. The Fund does not isolate that portion of 
     the results of operations arising as a result of changes in the foreign 
     exchange rates from the changes in the market prices of the securities. 

     D. Forward Foreign Currency Contracts -- The Fund may enter into forward 
     foreign currency contracts which are valued daily at the appropriate 
     exchange rates. The resultant unrealized exchange gains and losses are 
     included in the Statement of Operations as unrealized foreign currency 
     gain or loss and in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities as part of 
     the related foreign currency denominated asset or liability. The Fund 
     records realized gains or losses on delivery of the currency or at the 
     time the forward contract is extinguished (compensated) by entering into 
     a closing transaction prior to delivery. 

     E. 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. 

     F. Dividends and Distributions to Shareholders -- The Fund records 
     dividends and distributions to its shareholders on the ex-dividend 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. 

     G. Organizational Expenses -- InterCapital paid the organizational 
     expenses in the amount of approximately $158,000 which will be 
     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. 

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 with TCW Funds Management, Inc. (the "Adviser"), 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. 

                                      31
<PAGE>

TCW/DW GLOBAL TELECOM TRUST 
Notes to Financial Statements November 30, 1996 (unaudited) (continued) 
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

   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 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, pursuant to which the Fund pays the Distributor compensation, 
accrued daily and payable monthly, at an annual rate of 1.0% of the lesser 
of: (a) the average daily aggregate gross sales of the Fund's shares since 
the Fund's inception (not including reinvestment of dividend or capital gain 
distributions) less the average daily aggregate net asset value of the Fund's 
shares redeemed since the Fund's inception upon which a contingent deferred 
sales charge has been imposed or upon which such charge has been waived; or 
(b) the Fund's average daily net assets. Amounts paid under the Plan are paid 
to the Distributor to compensate it for the services provided and the 
expenses borne by it and others in the distribution of the Fund's shares, 
including the payment of commissions for sales of the Fund's shares and 
incentive compensation to, and expenses of, the account executives of Dean 
Witter Reynolds Inc. ("DWR"), an affiliate of the Manager and Distributor, 
and other employees or selected broker-dealers who engage in or support 
distribution of the Fund's shares or who service shareholder accounts, 
including overhead and telephone expenses, printing and distribution of 
prospectuses and reports used in connection with the offering of the Fund's 
shares to other than current shareholders and preparation, printing and 
distribution of sales literature and advertising materials. In addition, the 
Distributor may be compensated under the Plan for its opportunity costs in 
advancing such amounts, which compensation would be in the form of a carrying 
charge on any unreimbursed expenses incurred by the Distributor. 

   Provided that the Plan continues in effect, any cumulative expenses 
incurred but not yet recovered, may be recovered through future distribution 
fees from the Fund and contingent deferred sales charges from the Fund's 
shareholders. 

   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 $6,257,689 at November 30, 1996. 

   The Distributor has informed the Fund that for the period ended November 
30, 1996, it received approximately $24,000 in contingent deferred sales 
charges from certain redemptions of the Fund's shares. 

5. SECURITY TRANSACTIONS AND TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES --The cost of 
purchases and proceeds from sales of portfolio securities, excluding 
short-term investments, for the period ended November 30, 1996 aggregated 
$104,142,182 and $12,912,089, respectively. 

                                      32
<PAGE>

TCW/DW GLOBAL TELECOM TRUST 
Notes to Financial Statements November 30, 1996 (unaudited) (continued) 
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------

6. SHARES OF BENEFICIAL INTEREST --Transactions in shares of beneficial 
interest were as follows: 

                        FOR THE PERIOD 
                       AUGUST 28, 1996* 
                           THROUGH 
                      NOVEMBER 30, 1996 
                 -------------------------- 
                    SHARES        AMOUNT 
                 -----------  ------------- 
Sold ...........   9,823,222    $98,882,513 
Repurchased  ...    (133,141)    (1,362,945) 
                 -----------  ------------- 
Net increase  ..   9,690,081    $97,519,568 
                 ===========  ============= 

- ------------ 
   * Commencement of Operations 

7. PURPOSES OF AND RISKS RELATING TO CERTAIN FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS -- The 
Fund may enter into forward foreign currency contracts ("forward contracts") 
to facilitate settlement of foreign currency denominated portfolio 
transactions or to manage foreign currency exposure associated with foreign 
currency denominated securities. At November 30, 1996, there were no 
outstanding forward contracts. 

   Forward contracts involve elements of market risk in excess of the amounts 
reflected in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. The Fund bears the risk 
of an unfavorable change in foreign exchange rates underlying the forward 
contracts. Risks may also arise upon entering into these contracts from the 
potential inability of the counterparties to meet the terms of their 
contracts. 

8. SELECTED PER SHARE DATA AND RATIOS -- See the "Financial Highlights" table 
on page 5 of this Prosepctus. 
    
                                      33
<PAGE>

   
TCW/DW GLOBAL TELECOM TRUST 
Two World Trade Center                       
New York, New York 10048                     

TRUSTEES                                     
John C. Argue                                
Richard M. DeMartini                         
Charles A. Fiumefreddo                       
John R. Haire                                
Dr. Manuel H. Johnson 
Thomas E. Larkin, Jr. 
Michael E. Nugent 
John L. Schroeder 
Marc I. Stern 

OFFICERS 
Charles A. Fiumefreddo 
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer 

Thomas E. Larkin, Jr. 
President 

Sheldon Curtis 
Senior Vice President, Secretary and 
General Counsel 

Robert M. Hanisee 
Vice President 

John A. Healey 
Vice President 

Thomas F. Caloia 
Treasurer 

CUSTODIAN 
The Chase Manhattan Bank 
One Chase Plaza 
New York, NY 10005 

TRANSFER AGENT AND 
DIVIDEND DISBURSING AGENT 
Dean Witter Trust Company 
Harborside Financial Center 
Plaza Two 
Jersey City, New Jersey 07311 

INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS 
Price Waterhouse LLP 
1177 Avenue of the Americas 
New York, New York 10036 

MANAGER 
Dean Witter Services Company Inc. 

ADVISER 
TCW Funds Management, Inc. 

T C W / D W      

GLOBAL    
TELECOM TRUST


PROSPECTUS
DECEMBER 23, 1996
    

<PAGE>

                                                                        TCW/DW 
                                                                GLOBAL TELECOM 
                                                                         TRUST 

STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION 

   
December 23, 1996 
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
    

   TCW/DW Global Telecom Trust (the "Fund") is an open-end, diversified 
management investment company, whose investment objective is long-term 
capital appreciation. The Fund seeks to achieve its investment objective by 
investing primarily in a portfolio consisting of securities of domestic and 
foreign companies operating in all aspects of the telecommunications and 
information industries (the "Target Industries"). See "Investment Objective 
and Policies" in the Prospectus. 

   
   A Prospectus for the Fund dated December 23, 1996, which provides basic 
information you should know before investing in the Fund, may be obtained 
without charge from the Fund at the address or telephone numbers listed below 
or from the Fund's Distributor, Dean Witter Distributors Inc., or from Dean 
Witter Reynolds Inc. at any of its branch offices. This Statement of 
Additional Information is not a Prospectus. It contains information in 
addition to and more detailed than that set forth in the Prospectus. It is 
intended to provide additional information regarding the activities and 
operations of the Fund, and should be read in conjunction with the 
Prospectus. 
    

TCW/DW Global Telecom Trust 
Two World Trade Center 
New York, New York 10048 
(212) 392-2550 or 
(800) 869-NEWS (toll-free) 

<PAGE>

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

   
The Fund and its Management ..........................    3 
Trustees and Officers ................................    6 
Investment Practices and Policies ....................   12 
Investment Restrictions ..............................   25 
Portfolio Transactions and Brokerage .................   27 
The Distributor ......................................   28 
Shareholder Services .................................   31 
Repurchases and Redemptions ..........................   34 
Dividends, Distributions and Taxes ...................   36 
Performance Information ..............................   37 
Description of Shares ................................   37 
Custodian and Transfer Agent .........................   38 
Independent Accountants ..............................   38 
Reports to Shareholders ..............................   38 
Legal Counsel ........................................   38 
Experts ..............................................   38 
Registration Statement ...............................   39 
Report of Independent Accountants ....................   40 
Statement of Assets and Liabilities at June 19, 1996     41 
Appendix .............................................   43 
    

                                       2
<PAGE>

THE FUND AND ITS MANAGEMENT 
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

THE FUND 

   
   The Fund is a trust of the type commonly known as a "Massachusetts 
business trust" and was organized under the laws of the Commonwealth of 
Massachusetts on March 28, 1996. The Fund is one of the TCW/DW Funds, which 
currently consist, in addition to the Fund, of TCW/DW Core Equity Trust, 
TCW/DW Small Cap Growth Fund, TCW/DW North American Government Income Trust, 
TCW/DW Latin American Growth Fund, TCW/DW Term Trust 2002, TCW/DW Income and 
Growth Fund, TCW/DW Term Trust 2003, TCW/DW Balanced Fund, TCW/DW Term Trust 
2000, TCW/DW Emerging Markets Opportunities Trust, TCW/DW Total Return Trust, 
TCW/DW Mid-Cap Equity Trust and TCW/DW Strategic Income Trust. 
    

THE MANAGER 

   
   Dean Witter Services Company Inc. (the "Manager"), a Delaware corporation, 
whose address is Two World Trade Center, New York, New York 10048, is the 
Fund's Manager. The Manager is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Dean Witter 
InterCapital Inc. ("InterCapital"), a Delaware corporation. InterCapital is a 
wholly-owned subsidiary of Dean Witter, Discover & Co. ("DWDC"), a Delaware 
corporation. In an internal reorganization which took place in January, 1993, 
InterCapital assumed the management, administrative and investment advisory 
activities previously performed by the InterCapital Division of Dean Witter 
Reynolds Inc. ("DWR"), a broker-dealer affiliate of the Manager. (As 
hereinafter used in this Statement of Additional Information, the term 
"InterCapital" refers to DWR's InterCapital Division prior to the internal 
reorganization and to Dean Witter InterCapital Inc. thereafter). The daily 
management of the Fund is conducted by or under the direction of officers of 
the Fund and of the Manager and Adviser (see below), subject to review by the 
Fund's Board of Trustees. Information as to these Trustees and officers is 
contained under the caption "Trustees and Officers." 
    

   Pursuant to a management agreement (the "Management Agreement") with the 
Manager, the Fund has retained the Manager to manage the Fund's business 
affairs, supervise the overall day-to-day operations of the Fund (other than 
rendering investment advice) and provide all administrative services to the 
Fund. Under the terms of the Management Agreement, the Manager also maintains 
certain of the Fund's books and records and furnishes, at its own expense, 
such office space, facilities, equipment, supplies, clerical help and 
bookkeeping and certain legal services as the Fund may reasonably require in 
the conduct of its business, including the preparation of prospectuses, 
statements of additional information, proxy statements and reports required 
to be filed with federal and state securities commissions (except insofar as 
the participation or assistance of independent accountants and attorneys is, 
in the opinion of the Manager, necessary or desirable). In addition, the 
Manager pays the salaries of all personnel, including officers of the Fund, 
who are employees of the Manager. The Manager also bears the cost of the 
Fund's telephone service, heat, light, power and other utilities. 

   As full compensation for the services and facilities furnished to the Fund 
and expenses of the Fund assumed by the Manager, the Fund pays the Manager 
monthly compensation calculated daily by applying the annual rate of 0.60% to 
the daily net assets of the Fund determined as of the close of each business 
day. While the total fees payable under the Management Agreement and the 
Advisory Agreement (described below) are higher than that paid by most other 
investment companies for similar services, the Board of Trustees determined 
that the total fees payable under the Management Agreement and the Advisory 
Agreement (described below) are reasonable in relation to the scope and 
quality of services to be provided thereunder. In this regard, in evaluating 
the Management Agreement and the Advisory Agreement, the Board of Trustees 
recognized that the Manager and the Adviser had, pursuant to an agreement 
described under the section entitled "The Adviser," agreed to a division as 
between themselves of the total fees necessary for the management of the 
business affairs of and the furnishing of investment advice to the Fund. 
Accordingly, in reviewing the Management Agreement and Advisory Agreement, 
the Board viewed as most significant the question as to whether the total 
fees payable under the Management and Advisory Agreements were in the 
aggregate reasonable in relation to the services to be provided thereunder. 

   
   For the period August 28, 1996 (commencement of operations) through 
November 30, 1996, the Fund accrued to the Manager total compensation under 
the Management Agreement in the amount of $139,843. 
    

                                       3
<PAGE>
   
   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 in no way restricts 
the Manager from acting as manager to others. 

   InterCapital paid the organizational expenses of the Fund (approximately 
$158,225) incurred prior to the offering of the Fund's shares. The Fund has 
agreed to reimburse InterCapital for such expenses. These expenses will be 
deferred by the Fund and amortized on the straight line method over a period 
not to exceed five years from the date of commencement of the Fund's 
operations. 
    

   The Management Agreement was approved by the Trustees on April 17, 1996 
and became effective on that date. It was approved by InterCapital as the 
then sole shareholder on April 18, 1996. The Management Agreement may be 
terminated at any time, without penalty, on thirty days' notice by the 
Trustees of the Fund, or by the Manager. 

   Under its terms, the Management Agreement will continue in effect until 
April 30, 1997, and will continue in effect from year to year thereafter, 
provided continuance of the Agreement is approved at least annually by the 
vote of the Trustees of the Fund, including the vote of a majority of the 
Trustees of the Fund who are not parties to the Management or Advisory 
Agreement or "interested persons" (as defined in the Investment Company Act 
of 1940, as amended (the "Act")) of any such party (the "Independent 
Trustees"). 

THE ADVISER 

   
   TCW Funds Management, Inc. (the "Adviser") is a wholly-owned subsidiary of 
The TCW Group, Inc. ("TCW"), whose direct and indirect subsidiaries, 
including Trust Company of the West and TCW Asset Management Company, provide 
a variety of trust, investment management and investment advisory services. 
As of October 31, 1996, the Adviser and its affiliates had approximately $53 
billion under management or committed to management. Trust Company of the 
West and its affiliates have managed equity securities portfolios for 
institutional investors since 1971. The Adviser is headquartered at 865 South 
Figueroa Street, Suite 1800, Los Angeles, California 90017 and is registered 
as an investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940. In 
addition to the Fund, the Adviser serves as investment adviser to thirteen 
other TCW/DW Funds: TCW/DW Small Cap Growth Fund, TCW/DW Core Equity Trust, 
TCW/DW North American Government Income Trust, TCW/DW Latin American Growth 
Fund, TCW/DW Term Trust 2002, TCW/DW Income and Growth Fund, TCW/DW Term 
Trust 2003, TCW/DW Balanced Fund, TCW/DW Term Trust 2000, TCW/DW Emerging 
Markets Opportunities Trust, TCW/DW Total Return Trust, TCW/DW Mid-Cap Equity 
Trust and TCW/DW Strategic Income Trust. The Adviser also serves as 
investment adviser to TCW Convertible Securities Fund, Inc., a closed-end 
investment company listed on the New York Stock Exchange, and to TCW Galileo 
Funds, Inc., an open-end management investment company, and acts as adviser 
or sub-adviser to other investment companies. 
    

   Robert A. Day, who is Chairman of the Board of Directors of TCW, may be 
deemed to be a control person of the Adviser by virtue of the aggregate 
ownership of Mr. Day and his family of more than 25% of the outstanding 
voting stock of TCW. 

   Pursuant to an investment advisory agreement (the "Advisory Agreement") 
with the Adviser, the Fund has retained the Adviser to invest the Fund's 
assets, including the placing of orders for the purchase and sale of 
portfolio securities. The Adviser obtains and evaluates such information and 
advice relating to the economy, securities markets, and specific securities 
as it considers necessary or useful to continuously manage the assets of the 
Fund in a manner consistent with its investment objective. In addition, the 
Adviser pays the salaries of all personnel, including officers of the Fund, 
who are employees of the Adviser. 

   As full compensation for the services and facilities furnished to the Fund 
and expenses of the Fund assumed by the Adviser, the Fund pays the Adviser 
monthly compensation calculated daily by applying the annual rate of 

                                       4
<PAGE>

   
0.40% to the daily net assets of the Fund determined as of the close of each 
business day. Total compensation accrued to the Adviser for the period August 
28, 1996 through November 30, 1996 amounted to $93,228. 
    

   The Advisory Agreement provides that in the absence of willful 
misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of its 
obligations thereunder, the Adviser is not liable to the Fund or any of its 
investors for any act or omission by the Adviser or for any losses sustained 
by the Fund or its investors. The Advisory Agreement in no way restricts the 
Adviser from acting as investment adviser to others. 

   The Advisory Agreement was approved by the Trustees on April 17, 1996 and 
by InterCapital as the then sole shareholder on April 18, 1996. The Advisory 
Agreement may be terminated at any time, without penalty, on thirty days' 
notice by the Trustees of the Fund, by the holders of a majority, as defined 
in the Act, of the outstanding shares of the Fund, or by the Adviser. The 
Agreement will automatically terminate in the event of its assignment (as 
defined in the Act). 

   
   Under its terms, the Advisory Agreement will continue in effect until 
April 30, 1997, and will continue from year to year thereafter, provided 
continuance of the Agreement is approved at least annually by the vote of the 
holders of a majority, as defined in the Act, of the outstanding shares of 
the Fund, or by the Trustees of the Fund; provided that in either event such 
continuance is approved annually by the vote of a majority of the Independent 
Trustees of the Fund, which vote must be cast in person at a meeting called 
for the purpose of voting on such approval. 

   Expenses not expressly assumed by the Manager under the Management 
Agreement, by the Adviser under the Advisory Agreement or by the Distributor 
of the Fund's shares, Dean Witter Distributors Inc. ("Distributors" or the 
"Distributor") (see "The Distributor"), will be paid by the Fund. The 
expenses borne by the Fund include, but are not limited to: expenses of the 
Plan of Distribution pursuant to Rule 12b-1 (see "The Distributor"); charges 
and expenses of any registrar; custodian, stock transfer and dividend 
disbursing agent; brokerage commissions and securities transaction costs; 
taxes; engraving and printing of share certificates; registration costs of 
the Fund and its shares under federal and state securities laws; the cost and 
expense of printing, including typesetting, and distributing Prospectuses and 
Statements of Additional Information of the Fund and supplements thereto to 
the Fund's shareholders; all expenses of shareholders' and trustees' meetings 
and of preparing, printing and mailing of proxy statements and reports to 
shareholders; fees and travel expenses of trustees or members of any advisory 
board or committee who are not employees of the Manager or Adviser or any 
corporate affiliate of either; all expenses incident to any dividend, 
withdrawal or redemption options; charges and expenses of any outside service 
used for pricing of the Fund's shares; fees and expenses of legal counsel, 
including counsel to the Trustees who are not interested persons of the Fund 
or of the Manager or the Adviser (not including compensation or expenses of 
attorneys who are employees of the Manager or the Adviser) and independent 
accountants; membership dues of industry associations; interest on Fund 
borrowings; postage; insurance premiums on property or personnel (including 
officers and trustees) of the Fund which inure to its benefit; extraordinary 
expenses (including, but not limited to, legal claims and liabilities and 
litigation costs and any indemnification relating thereto); and all other 
costs of the Fund's operation. 
    

   DWR and TCW have entered into an Agreement for the purpose of creating, 
managing, administering and distributing a family of investment companies and 
other managed pooled investment vehicles offered on a retail basis within the 
United States. The Agreement contemplates that, subject to approval of the 
board of trustees or directors of a particular investment entity, DWR or its 
affiliates will provide management and distribution services and TCW or its 
affiliates will provide investment advisory services for each such investment 
entity. The Agree-ment sets forth the terms and conditions of the 
relationship between TCW and its affiliates and DWR and its affiliates and 
the manner in which the parties will implement the creation and maintenance 
of the investment entities, including the parties' expectations as to 
respective allocation of fees to be paid by an investment entity to each 
party for the services to be provided to it by such party. 

   The Fund has acknowledged that each of DWR and TCW owns its own name, 
initials and logo. The Fund has agreed to change its name at the request of 
either the Manager or the Adviser, if the Management Agreement between the 
Manager and the Fund or the Advisory Agreement between the Adviser and the 
Fund is terminated. 

                                       5
<PAGE>

TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS 
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

   
   The Trustees and Executive Officers of the Fund, their principal business 
occupations during the last five years and their affiliations, if any, with 
the Manager or the Adviser, and the affiliated companies of either, and the 
14 TCW/DW Funds and with the 82 investment companies of which InterCapital 
serves as investment manager or investment adviser (the "Dean Witter Funds"), 
are shown below. 
    

   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
 NAME, AGE, POSITION WITH FUND AND ADDRESS       PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION DURING LAST FIVE YEARS 
- ---------------------------------------------  ------------------------------------------------ 
<S>                                            <C>
John C. Argue (64)                             Of Counsel, Argue Pearson Harbison & Myers (law firm); 
Trustee                                        Director, Avery Dennison Corporation (manufacturer 
c/o Argue Pearson Harbison & Myers             of self-adhesive products and office supplies) and 
801 South Flower Street                        CalMat Company (producer of aggregates, asphalt and 
Los Angeles, California                        ready mixed concrete); Chairman, Rose Hills Memorial 
                                               Park (cemetery); advisory director, LAACO Ltd. (owner 
                                               and operator of private clubs and real estate); director 
                                               or trustee of various business and not-for-profit 
                                               corporations; Director, Coast Savings Financial Inc. 
                                               and Coast Federal Bank (a subsidiary of Coast Savings 
                                               Financial Inc.); Director, TCW Galileo Funds, Inc.; 
                                               Trustee, University of Southern California, 
                                               Occidental College and Pomona College; Trustee of 
                                               the TCW/DW Funds. 

Richard M. DeMartini* (44)                     President and Chief Operating Officer of Dean Witter 
Trustee                                        Capital, a division of DWR; Director of DWR, the Manager, 
Two World Trade Center                         InterCapital, Distributors and Dean Witter Trust 
New York, New York                             Company ("DWTC"); Executive Vice President of Dean 
                                               Witter, Discover & Co. ("DWDC"); Member of the DWDC 
                                               Management Committee; Trustee of the TCW/DW Funds; 
                                               member (since January, 1993) and Chairman (since 
                                               January, 1995) of the Board of Directors of NASDAQ. 

Charles A. Fiumefreddo* (63)                   Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and Director of 
Chairman of the Board, Chief                   the Manager, InterCapital and Distributors; Executive 
Executive Officer and Trustee                  Vice President and Director of DWR; Chairman of the 
Two World Trade Center                         Board, Chief Executive Officer and Trustee of the 
New York, New York                             TCW/DW Funds; Chairman of the Board, Director or 
                                               Trustee, President and Chief Executive Officer of 
                                               the Dean Witter Funds; Chairman and Director of DWTC; 
                                               Director and/or officer of various DWDC subsidiaries; 
                                               formerly Executive Vice President and Director of 
                                               DWDC (until February, 1993). 

John R. Haire (72)                             Chairman of the Audit Committee and Chairman of the 
Trustee                                        Committee of the Independent Trustees and Trustee 
Two World Trade Center                         of the TCW/DW Funds; Chairman of the Audit Committee 
New York, New York                             and Chairman of the Committee of the Independent 
                                               Directors or Trustees and Director or Trustee of the 
                                               Dean Witter Funds; formerly President, Council for 
                                               Aid to Education (1978-1989) and Chairman and Chief 
                                               Executive Officer of Anchor Corporation, an Investment 
                                               Adviser (1964-1978); Director of Washington National 
                                               Corporation (insurance). 

                                6           
<PAGE>

  NAME, AGE, POSITION WITH FUND AND ADDRESS       PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION DURING LAST FIVE YEARS 
- ---------------------------------------------  ------------------------------------------------ 
Dr. Manuel H. Johnson (47)                     Senior Partner, Johnson Smick International, Inc., 
Trustee                                        a consulting firm; Koch Professor of International 
c/o Johnson Smick International, Inc.          Economics and Director of the Center for Global Market 
1133 Connecticut Avenue, N.W.                  Studies at George Mason University; Co-Chairman and 
Washington D.C.                                a founder of the Group of Seven Council (G7C), an 
                                               international economic commission; Director of NASDAQ 
                                               (since June, 1995); Director of Greenwich Capital 
                                               Markets, Inc. (broker-dealer); formerly Vice Chairman 
                                               of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System 
                                               (1986-1990) and Assistant Secretary of the U.S. 
                                               Treasury (1982-1986); Director or Trustee of the Dean 
                                               Witter Funds; Trustee of the TCW/DW Funds. 

Thomas E. Larkin, Jr.* (57)                    Executive Vice President and Director, The TCW Group, 
President and Trustee                          Inc.; President and Director of Trust Company of the 
865 South Figueroa Street                      West; Vice Chairman and Director of TCW Asset Management 
Los Angeles, California                        Company; Chairman of the Adviser; President and 
                                               Director of TCW Galileo Funds, Inc.; Senior Vice 
                                               President of TCW Convertible Securities Fund, Inc.; 
                                               Member of the Board of Trustees of the University 
                                               of Notre Dame; Director of Orthopaedic Hospital of 
                                               Los Angeles; President and Trustee of the TCW/DW Funds. 

Michael E. Nugent (60)                         General Partner, Triumph Capital, L.P., a private 
Trustee                                        investment partnership; formerly Vice President, 
c/o Triumph Capital, L.P.                      Bankers Trust Company and BT Capital Corporation 
237 Park Avenue                                (1984-1988); Director of various business 
New York, New York                             organizations; Director or Trustee of the Dean Witter 
                                               Funds; Trustee of the TCW/DW Funds. 

John L. Schroeder (66)                         Retired; Director or Trustee of the Dean Witter Funds; 
Trustee                                        Trustee of the TCW/DW Funds; Director of Citizens 
c/o Gordon Altman Butowsky                     Utilities Company; formerly Executive Vice President 
 Weitzen Shalov & Wein                         and Chief Investment Officer of the Home Insurance 
Counsel to the Independent Trustees            Company (August, 1991-September, 1995) and Chairman 
114 West 47th Street                           and Chief Investment Officer of Axe-Houghton 
New York, New York                             Management and the Axe-Houghton Funds (1983-1991). 

                                       7
<PAGE>

  NAME, AGE, POSITION WITH FUND AND ADDRESS       PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION DURING LAST FIVE YEARS 
- ---------------------------------------------  ------------------------------------------------ 
Marc I. Stern* (52)                            President, The TCW Group, Inc. (since May, 1992); 
Trustee                                        President and Director of the Adviser (since May, 
865 South Figueroa Street                      1992); Vice Chairman and Director of TCW Asset 
Los Angeles, California                        Management Company (since May, 1992); Executive Vice 
                                               President and Director of Trust Company of the West; 
                                               Chairman and Director of TCW Galileo Funds, Inc.; 
                                               Trustee of the TCW/DW Funds; Chairman of TCW Americas 
                                               Development, Inc. (since November, 1990); Chairman 
                                               of TCW Asia, Limited (since January, 1993); Chairman 
                                               of TCW London International, Limited (since March, 
                                               1993); formerly President of SunAmerica, Inc. 
                                               (financial services company); Director of Qualcomm, 
                                               Incorporated (wireless communications); Director or 
                                               Trustee of various not-for-profit organizations. 

Sheldon Curtis (64)                            Senior Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel 
Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel  of the Manager and InterCapital; Senior Vice President 
Two World Trade Center                         and Secretary of DWTC; Senior Vice President, Assistant 
New York, New York                             Secretary and Assistant General Counsel of 
                                               Distributors; Assistant Secretary of DWR and Vice 
                                               President, Secretary and General Counsel of the TCW/DW 
                                               Funds and of the Dean Witter Funds. 

Robert M. Hanisee (58)                         Managing Director of the Adviser (since April, 1990); 
Vice President                                 Managing Director, Director of Research and Chairman 
865 South Figueroa Street                      of the Equity Policy Committee of Trust Company of 
Los Angeles, California                        the West and TCW Asset Management Company; Vice 
                                               President of TCW/DW Income and Growth Fund and TCW/DW 
                                               Core Equity Trust. 

John A. Healey (60)                            Managing Director of the Adviser (since April 1996); 
Vice President                                 previously, Senior Advisor with the Adviser (since 
865 South Figueroa Street                      1995); formerly, independent consultant with Healey 
Los Angeles, California                        Partners (financial services firm until 1995); 
                                               director of Emerging Markets Country Investment Trust 
                                               Plc. 

Thomas F. Caloia (50)                          First Vice President and Assistant Treasurer of the 
Treasurer                                      Manager and InterCapital and Treasurer of the TCW/DW 
Two World Trade Center                         Funds and the Dean Witter Funds. 
New York, New York 
</TABLE>
    

- ------------ 
   *   Denotes Trustees who are "interested persons" of the Fund, as defined 
       in the Act. 

   
   In addition, Robert M. Scanlan, President and Chief Operating Officer of 
the Manager and InterCapital, Executive Vice President of Distributors and 
DWTC and Director of DWTC, and Robert S. Giambrone, Senior Vice President of 
InterCapital, DWSC, Distributors and DWTC and Director of DWTC, are Vice 
Presidents of the Fund, and Marilyn K. Cranney and Barry Fink, First Vice 
Presidents and Assistant General Counsels of the Manager and InterCapital, 
Lou Anne D. McInnis and Ruth Rossi, Vice Presidents and Assistant General 
Counsels of the Manager and InterCapital, and Frank Bruttomesso and Carsten 
Otto, Staff Attorneys with InterCapital, are Assistant Secretaries of the 
Fund. 
    
                                       8
<PAGE>

THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES, THE INDEPENDENT TRUSTEES, AND THE COMMITTEES 

   
   The Board of Trustees currently consists of nine (9) trustees. These same 
individuals also serve as trustees for all of the TCW/DW Funds. As of the 
date of this Statement of Additional Information, there are a total of 14 
TCW/DW Funds. As of November 30, 1996, the TCW/DW Funds had total net assets 
of approximately $4.4 billion and approximately a quarter of a million 
shareholders. 
    

   Five Trustees (56% of the total number) have no affiliation or business 
connection with TCW Funds Management, Inc. or Dean Witter Services Company 
Inc. or any of their affiliated persons and do not own any stock or other 
securities issued by DWDC or TCW, the parent companies of Dean Witter 
Services Company Inc. and TCW Funds Management, Inc., respectively. These are 
the "disinterested" or "independent" Trustees. The other four Trustees (the 
"management Trustees") are affiliated with either Dean Witter Services 
Company Inc. or TCW. Four of the five independent Trustees are also 
Independent Trustees of the Dean Witter Funds. 

   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 
and the Committee of the Independent Trustees. Three of them also serve as 
members of the Derivatives Committee. During the calendar year ended December 
31, 1995, the three Committees held a combined total of nineteen meetings. 
The Committees hold some meetings at the offices of the Manager or Adviser 
and some outside those offices. Management Trustees or officers do not attend 
these meetings unless they are invited for purposes of furnishing information 
or making a report. 

   The Committee of the Independent Trustees is charged with recommending to 
the full Board approval of management, advisory and administration contracts, 
Rule 12b-1 plans and distribution and underwriting agreements; continually 
reviewing Fund performance; checking on the pricing of portfolio securities, 
brokerage commissions, transfer agent costs and performance, and trading 
among Funds in the same complex; and approving fidelity bond and related 
insurance coverage and allocations, as well as other matters that arise from 
time to time. The 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 such a 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 such 
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. 

   Finally, the Board of each Fund has formed a Derivatives Committee to 
establish parameters for and oversee the activities of the Fund with respect 
to derivative investments, if any, made by the Fund. 

DUTIES OF CHAIRMAN OF COMMITTEE OF THE INDEPENDENT TRUSTEES AND AUDIT 
COMMITTEE 

   On July 1, 1996, Mr. Haire became Chairman of the Committee of the 
Independent Trustees and the Audit Committee of the TCW/DW Funds. The 
Chairman of the Committees maintains an office in the Funds' headquarters in 
New York. He is responsible for keeping abreast of regulatory and industry 
developments and the Funds' operations and management. He screens and/or 
prepares written materials and identifies critical issues for the Independent 
Trustees to consider, develops agendas for Committee meetings, determines the 
type and amount of information that the Committees will need to form a 
judgment on various issues, and arranges to have that information furnished 
to Committee members. He also arranges for the services of independent 
experts and 

                                       9
<PAGE>

consults with them in advance of meetings to help refine reports and to focus 
on critical issues. Members of the Committees believe that the person who 
serves as Chairman of both Committees and guides their efforts is pivotal to 
the effective functioning of the Committees. 

   The Chairman of the Committees also maintains continuous contact with the 
Funds' management, with independent counsel to the Independent Trustees and 
with the Funds' independent auditors. He arranges for a series of special 
meetings involving the annual review of investment advisory, management and 
other operating contracts of the Funds and, on behalf of the Committees, 
conducts negotiations with the Investment Adviser and the Manager and other 
service providers. In effect, the Chairman of the Committees serves as a 
combination of chief executive and support staff of the Independent Trustees. 

   The Chairman of the Committee of the Independent Trustees and the Audit 
Committee is not employed by any other organization and devotes his time 
primarily to the services he performs as Committee Chairman and Independent 
Trustee of the TCW/DW Funds and as Chairman of the Committee of the 
Independent Trustees and the Audit Committee and Independent Director or 
Trustee of the Dean Witter Funds. The current Committee Chairman has had more 
than 35 years experience as a senior executive in the investment company 
industry. 

ADVANTAGES OF HAVING SAME INDIVIDUALS AS INDEPENDENT TRUSTEES FOR ALL TCW/DW 
FUNDS 

   The Independent Trustees and the Funds' management believe that having the 
same Independent Trustees for each of the TCW/DW Funds 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, and a Chairman 
of their Committees, of the caliber, experience and business acumen of the 
individuals who serve as Independent Trustees of the TCW/DW Funds. 

COMPENSATION OF INDEPENDENT TRUSTEES 

   
   The Fund pays each Independent Trustee an annual fee of $2,225 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 intends to pay the 
Chairman of the Audit Committee an annual fee of $750 and the Chairman of the 
Committee of the Independent Trustees an additional annual fee of $1,200). 
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 or the Adviser or an affiliated company of either receive no 
compensation or expense reimbursement from the Fund. The Trustees of the 
TCW/DW Funds do not have retirement or deferred compensation plans. 
    

   At such time as the Fund has been in operation, and has paid fees to the 
Independent Trustees, for a full fiscal year, and assuming that during such 
fiscal year the Fund holds the same number of Board and committee meetings as 
were held by the other TCW/DW Funds during the calendar year ended December 
31, 1995, it is estimated that compensation paid to each Independent Trustee 
during such fiscal year will be the amount shown in the following table. 

                                       10
<PAGE>
                        FUND COMPENSATION (ESTIMATED) 

   
                                 AGGREGATE 
                               COMPENSATION 
NAME OF INDEPENDENT TRUSTEE    FROM THE FUND 
- ---------------------------  --------------- 
John C. Argue ..............      $5,225 
John R. Haire ..............       7,175 
Dr. Manuel H. Johnson  .....       5,225 
Michael E. Nugent ..........       5,225 
John L. Schroeder ..........       5,225 
    

   The following table illustrates the compensation paid to the Fund's 
Independent Trustees for the calendar year ended December 31, 1995 for 
services to the eleven TCW/DW Funds and, in the case of Messrs. Haire, 
Johnson, Nugent and Schroeder, the seventy-nine Dean Witter Funds that were 
in operation at December 31, 1995, and, in the case of Mr. Argue, TCW Galileo 
Funds, Inc. With respect to Messrs. Haire, Johnson, Nugent and Schroeder, the 
Dean Witter Funds are included solely because of a limited exchange privilege 
between various TCW/DW Funds and five Dean Witter Money Market Funds. With 
respect to Mr. Argue, TCW Galileo Funds, Inc. is included solely because the 
Fund's Adviser, TCW Funds Management, Inc., also serves as Adviser to that 
investment company. Mr. Schroeder was elected as a Trustee of each TCW/DW 
Fund then in existence on April 20, 1995. 

                        COMPENSATION FROM FUND GROUPS 

   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                   FOR SERVICE AS 
                                                FOR SERVICE AS                      CHAIRMAN OF      TOTAL COMPENSATION 
                              FOR SERVICE AS      DIRECTOR OR                      COMMITTEES OF    PAID FOR SERVICES TO 
                               TRUSTEE AND        TRUSTEE AND     FOR SERVICE AS    INDEPENDENT        79 DEAN WITTER 
                             COMMITTEE MEMBER  COMMITTEE MEMBER    DIRECTOR OF       DIRECTORS/       FUNDS, 11 TCW/DW 
                               OF 11 TCW/DW    OF 79 DEAN WITTER   TCW GALILEO      TRUSTEES AND       FUNDS AND TCW 
NAME OF INDEPENDENT TRUSTEE       FUNDS              FUNDS         FUNDS, INC.    AUDIT COMMITTEES  GALILEO FUNDS, INC. 
- ---------------------------  ----------------  -----------------  --------------  ----------------  -------------------- 
<S>                         <C>               <C>                <C>             <C>               <C>
John C. Argue .............      $68,038              --             $37,500             --               $105,538 
John R. Haire .............       82,038           $ 98,450             --            $217,350(1)          397,838 
Dr. Manuel H. Johnson  ....       82,038            136,450             --               --                218,488 
Michael E. Nugent .........       75,038            124,200             --               --                199,238 
John L. Schroeder .........       46,964            136,450             --               --                183,414 
</TABLE>
    

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

   
   (1) For the 79 Dean Witter Funds in operation at December 31, 1995. As 
       noted above, on July 1, 1996, Mr. Haire became Chairman of the 
       Committee of the Independent Trustees and the Audit Committee of the 
       TCW/DW Funds in addition to continuing to serve in such capacities for 
       the Dean Witter Funds. 

   As of the date of this Statement of Additional Information, 57 of the 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 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 25.0% of 
his or her Eligible Compensation plus 0.4166666% 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 50.0% 
after ten years of service. The foregoing percentages may be changed by the 
Board.(2) "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. 
    

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

   
(2) An Eligible Trustee may elect alternate payments of his or her retirement 
    benefits based upon the combined life expectancy of such Eligible Trustee 
    and his or her spouse on the date of such Eligible Trustee's retirement. 
    The amount estimated to be payable under this method, through the 
    remainder of the later of the lives of such Eligible Trustee and spouse, 
    will be the actuarial equivalent of the Regular Benefit. In addition, the 
    Eligible Trustee may elect that the surviving spouse's periodic payment 
    of benefits will be equal to either 50% or 100% of the previous periodic 
    amount, an election that, respectively, increases or decreases the 
    previous periodic amount so that the resulting payments will be the 
    actuarial equivalent of the Regular Benefit. 

                                       11
    
<PAGE>

   The following table illustrates the retirement benefits accrued to Messrs. 
Haire, Johnson, Nugent and Schroeder by the 57 Dean Witter Funds as of 
December 31, 1995, and the estimated retirement benefits for Messrs. Haire, 
Johnson, Nugent and Schroeder from the 57 Dean Witter Funds as of December 
31, 1995. 

                RETIREMENT BENEFITS FROM ALL DEAN WITTER FUNDS 

   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                ESTIMATED 
                              CREDITED YEARS     ESTIMATED                            ESTIMATED ANNUAL BENEFITS 
                              OF SERVICE AT    PERCENTAGE OF    RETIREMENT BENEFITS        UPON RETIREMENT 
                                RETIREMENT       ELIGIBLE       ACCRUED AS EXPENSES       FROM ALL ADOPTING 
NAME OF INDEPENDENT TRUSTEE    (MAXIMUM 10)    COMPENSATION    BY ALL ADOPTING FUNDS          FUNDS(3) 
- ---------------------------  --------------  ---------------  ---------------------  ------------------------- 
<S>                          <C>             <C>              <C>                    <C>
John R. Haire ..............        10             50.0%             $261,763                 $130,404 
Dr. Manuel H. Johnson  .....        10             50.0                16,748                   51,550 
Michael E. Nugent ..........        10             50.0                30,370                   51,550 
John L. Schroeder ..........         8             41.7                51,812                   42,958 
</TABLE>
    

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

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

   As of the date of this Statement of Additional Information, the aggregate 
number of shares of beneficial interest of the Fund owned by the Fund's 
officers and Trustees as a group was less than 1 percent of the Fund's shares 
of beneficial interest outstanding. 

INVESTMENT PRACTICES AND POLICIES 
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

U.S. GOVERNMENT SECURITIES 

   As discussed in the Prospectus, the Fund may invest in, among other 
securities, securities issued by the U.S. Government, its agencies or 
instrumentalities. Such securities include: 

     (1) U.S. Treasury bills (maturities of one year or less), U.S. Treasury 
    notes (maturities of one to ten years) and U.S. Treasury bonds (generally 
    maturities of greater than ten years), all of which are direct obligations 
    of the U.S. Government and, as such, are backed by the "full faith and 
    credit" of the United States. 

     (2) Securities issued by agencies and instrumentalities of the U.S. 
    Government which are backed by the full faith and credit of the United 
    States. Among the agencies and instrumentalities issuing such obligations 
    are the Federal Housing Administration, the Government National Mortgage 
    Association ("GNMA"), the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the 
    Export-Import Bank, the Farmers Home Administration, the General Services 
    Administration, the Maritime Administration and the Small Business 
    Administration. The maturities of such obligations range from three months 
    to 30 years. 

     (3) Securities issued by agencies and instrumentalities which are not 
    backed by the full faith and credit of the United States, but whose 
    issuing agency or instrumentality has the right to borrow, to meet its 
    obligations, from an existing line of credit with the U.S. Treasury. Among 
    the agencies and instrumentalities issuing such obligations are the 
    Tennessee Valley Authority, the Federal National Mortgage Association 
    ("FNMA"), the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation ("FHLMC") and the 
    U.S. Postal Service. The U.S. Treasury has no legal obligation to provide 
    such line of credit and may choose not to do so. 

     (4) Securities issued by agencies and instrumentalities which are not 
    backed by the full faith and credit of the United States, but which are 
    backed by the credit of the issuing agency or instrumentality. Among the 
    agencies and instrumentalities issuing such obligations are the Federal 
    Farm Credit System and the Federal Home Loan Banks. 

   Neither the value nor the yield of the U.S. Government securities which 
may be invested in by the Fund are guaranteed by the U.S. Government. Such 
values and yield will fluctuate with changes in prevailing interest rates and 
other factors. Generally, as prevailing interest rates rise, the value of any 
U.S. Government securities held by the Fund will fall. Such securities with 
longer maturities generally tend to produce higher yields and are subject 

                                       12
<PAGE>

to greater market fluctuation as a result of changes in interest rates than 
debt securities with shorter maturities. The Fund is not limited as to the 
maturities of the U.S. Government securities in which it may invest. 

MONEY MARKET SECURITIES 

   As stated in the Prospectus, the money market instruments which the Fund 
may purchase include U.S. Government securities, bank obligations, Eurodollar 
certificates of deposit, obligations of savings institutions, fully insured 
certificates of deposit and commercial paper. Such securities are limited to: 

   U.S. Government Securities. Obligations issued or guaranteed as to 
principal and interest by the United States or its agencies (such as the 
Export-Import Bank of the United States, Federal Housing Administration and 
Government National Mortgage Association) or its instrumentalities (such as 
the Federal Home Loan Bank), including Treasury bills, notes and bonds; 

   Bank Obligations. Obligations (including certificates of deposit, bankers' 
acceptances, commercial paper (see below) and other debt obligations) of 
banks subject to regulation by the U.S. Government and having total assets of 
$1 billion or more, and instruments secured by such obligations, not 
including obligations of foreign branches of domestic banks except as 
permitted below; 

   Eurodollar Certificates of Deposit. Eurodollar certificates of deposit 
issued by foreign branches of domestic banks having total assets of $1 
billion or more (investments in Eurodollar certificates may be affected by 
changes in currency rates or exchange control regulations, or changes in 
governmental administration or economic or monetary policy in the United 
States and abroad); 

   Obligations of Savings Institutions. Certificates of deposit of savings 
banks and savings and loan associations, having total assets of $1 billion or 
more (investments in savings institutions above $100,000 in principal amount 
are not protected by Federal deposit insurance); 

   Fully Insured Certificates of Deposit. Certificates of deposit of banks 
and savings institutions, having total assets of less than $1 billion, if the 
principal amount of the obligation is insured by the Bank Insurance Fund or 
the Savings Association Insurance Fund (each of which is administered by the 
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation), limited to $100,000 principal amount 
per certificate and to 15% or less of the Fund's total assets in all such 
obligations and in all illiquid assets, in the aggregate; and 

   Commercial Paper. Commercial paper rated within the two highest grades by 
Standard & Poor's Corporation or the highest grade by Moody's Investors 
Service, Inc. or, if not rated, issued by a company having an outstanding 
debt issue rated at least AAA by Standard & Poor's or Aaa by Moody's. 

LENDING OF PORTFOLIO SECURITIES 

   Consistent with applicable regulatory requirements, the Fund may lend its 
portfolio securities to brokers, dealers and other financial institutions, 
provided that such loans are callable at any time by the Fund (subject to 
notice provisions described below), and are at all times secured by cash or 
money market instruments, which are maintained in a segregated account 
pursuant to applicable regulations and that are equal to at least the market 
value, determined daily, of the loaned securities. The advantage of such 
loans is that the Fund continues to receive the income on the loaned 
securities while at the same time earning interest on the cash amounts 
deposited as collateral, which will be invested in short-term obligations. 
The Fund will not lend its portfolio securities if such loans are not 
permitted by the laws or regulations of any state in which its shares are 
qualified for sale and will not lend more than 25% of the value of its total 
assets. A loan may be terminated by the borrower on one business day's 
notice, or by the Fund on two business days' notice. If the borrower fails to 
deliver the loaned securities within two days after receipt of notice, the 
Fund could use the collateral to replace the securities while holding the 
borrower liable for any excess of replacement cost over collateral. As with 
any extensions of credit, there are risks of delay in recovery and in some 
cases even loss of rights in the collateral should the borrower of the 
securities fail financially. However, these loans of portfolio securities 
will only be made to firms deemed by the Adviser to be creditworthy and when 
the income which can be earned from such loans justifies the attendant risks. 
Upon termination of the loan, the borrower is required to return the 
securities to the Fund. Any gain or loss in the market price during the loan 
period would inure to the Fund. The creditworthiness of firms to which the 
Fund lends its portfolio securities will be monitored on an ongoing basis by 
the Adviser pursuant to procedures adopted and reviewed, on an ongoing basis, 
by the Board of Trustees of the Fund. 

                                       13
<PAGE>

   When voting or consent rights which accompany loaned securities pass to 
the borrower, the Fund will follow the policy of calling the loaned 
securities, to be delivered within one day after notice, to permit the 
exercise of such rights if the matters involved would have a material effect 
on the Fund's investment in such loaned securities. The Fund will pay 
reasonable finder's, administrative and custodial fees in connection with a 
loan of its securities. 

REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS 

   When cash may be available for only a few days, it may be invested by the 
Fund in repurchase agreements until such time as it may otherwise be invested 
or used for payments of obligations of the Fund. These agreements, which may 
be viewed as a type of secured lending by the Fund, typically involve the 
acquisition by the Fund of debt securities from a selling financial 
institution such as a bank, savings and loan association or broker-dealer. 
The agreement provides that the Fund will sell back to the institution, and 
that the institution will repurchase, the underlying security ("collateral") 
at a specified price and at a fixed time in the future, usually not more than 
seven days from the date of purchase. The collateral will be maintained in a 
segregated account and will be marked to market daily to determine that the 
value of the collateral, as specified in the agreement, does not decrease 
below the purchase price plus accrued interest. If such decrease occurs, 
additional collateral will be requested and, when received, added to the 
account to maintain full collateralization. The Fund will accrue interest 
from the institution until the time when the repurchase is to occur. Although 
such date is deemed by the Fund to be the maturity date of a repurchase 
agreement, the maturities of securities subject to repurchase agreements are 
not subject to any limits. 

   While repurchase agreements involve certain risks not associated with 
direct investments in debt securities, the Fund follows procedures designed 
to minimize such risks. These procedures include effecting repurchase 
transactions only with large, well-capitalized and well-established financial 
institutions whose financial condition will be continually monitored by the 
Adviser subject to procedures established by the Board of Trustees of the 
Fund. In addition, as described above, the value of the collateral underlying 
the repurchase agreement will be at least equal to the repurchase price, 
including any accrued interest earned on the repurchase agreement. In the 
event of a default or bankruptcy by a selling financial institution, the Fund 
will seek to liquidate such collateral. However, the exercising of the Fund's 
right to liquidate such collateral could involve certain costs or delays and, 
to the extent that proceeds from any sale upon a default of the obligation to 
repurchase were less than the repurchase price, the Fund could suffer a loss. 
It is the current policy of the Fund not to invest in repurchase agreements 
that do not mature within seven days if any such investment, together with 
any other illiquid assets held by the Fund, amounts to more than 15% of its 
net assets. 

WARRANTS 

   The Fund may invest up to 5% of the value of its net assets in warrants, 
including not more than 2% in warrants not listed on either the New York or 
American Stock Exchange. Warrants are, in effect, an option to purchase 
equity securities at a specific price, generally valid for a specific period 
of time, and have no voting rights, pay no dividends and have no rights with 
respect to the corporations issuing them. The Fund may acquire warrants 
attached to other securities without reference to the foregoing limitations. 

WHEN-ISSUED AND DELAYED DELIVERY SECURITIES AND FORWARD COMMITMENTS 

   From time to time, in the ordinary course of business, the Fund may 
purchase securities on a when-issued or delayed delivery basis and may 
purchase or sell securities on a forward commitment basis. When such 
transactions are negotiated, the price is fixed at the time of the 
commitment, but delivery and payment can take place a month or more after the 
date of the commitment. The securities so purchased or sold are subject to 
market fluctuation and no interest or dividends accrue to the purchaser prior 
to the settlement date. While the Fund will only purchase securities on a 
when-issued, delayed delivery or forward commitment basis with the intention 
of acquiring the securities, the Fund may sell the securities before the 
settlement date, if it is deemed advisable. At the time the Fund makes the 
commitment to purchase or sell securities on a when-issued, delayed delivery 
or forward commitment basis, the Fund will record the transaction and 
thereafter reflect the value, each day, of such security purchased or, if a 
sale, the proceeds to be received, in determining its net asset value. At the 
time of delivery of the securities, the value may be more or less than the 
purchase or sale price. The Fund will also establish a segregated account 
with the Fund's custodian bank in which it will continuously maintain cash or 
U.S. 

                                       14
<PAGE>

   
Government securities or other liquid portfolio securities equal in value to 
commitments to purchase securities on a when-issued, delayed delivery or 
forward commitment basis; subject to this requirement, the Fund may purchase 
securities on such basis without limit. An increase in the percentage of the 
Fund's assets committed to the purchase of securities on a when-issued or 
delayed delivery basis may increase the volatility of the Fund's net asset 
value. 
    

WHEN, AS AND IF ISSUED SECURITIES 

   
   The Fund may purchase securities on a "when, as and if issued" basis under 
which the issuance of the security depends upon the occurrence of a 
subsequent event, such as approval of a merger, corporate reorganization, 
leveraged buyout or debt restructuring. The commitment for the purchase of 
any such security will not be recognized in the portfolio of the Fund until 
the Adviser determines that issuance of the security is probable. At such 
time, the Fund will record the transaction and, in determining its net asset 
value, will reflect the value of the security daily. At such time, the Fund 
will also establish a segregated account with its custodian bank in which it 
will continuously maintain cash or U.S. Government securities or other liquid 
portfolio securities equal in value to recognized commitments for such 
securities. Settlement of the trade will occur within five business days of 
the occurrence of the subsequent event. Once a segregated account has been 
established, if the anticipated event does not occur and the securities are 
not issued the Fund will have lost an investment opportunity. The Fund may 
purchase securities on such basis without limit. An increase in the 
percentage of the Fund's assets committed to the purchase of securities on a 
"when, as and if issued" basis may increase the volatility of its net asset 
value. The Adviser does not believe that the net asset value of the Fund will 
be adversely affected by its purchase of securities on such basis. The Fund 
may also sell securities on a "when, as and if issued" basis provided that 
the issuance of the security will result automatically from the exchange or 
conversion of a security owned by the Fund at the time of the sale. 
    

OPTIONS AND FUTURES TRANSACTIONS 

   The Fund may write covered call options against securities held in its 
portfolio and covered put options on eligible portfolio securities and stock 
indexes and purchase options of the same series to effect closing 
transactions, and may hedge against potential changes in the market value of 
investments (or anticipated investments) and facilitate the reallocation of 
the Fund's assets into and out of equities and fixed-income securities by 
purchasing put and call options on portfolio (or eligible portfolio) 
securities and engaging in transactions involving futures contracts and 
options on such contracts. The Fund may also hedge against potential changes 
in the market value of the currencies in which its investments (or 
anticipated investments) are denominated by purchasing put and call options 
on currencies and engage in transactions involving currency futures contracts 
and options on such contracts. 

   Call and put options on U.S. Treasury notes, bonds and bills and equity 
securities are listed on Exchanges and are written in over-the-counter 
transactions ("OTC options"). Listed options are issued by the Options 
Clearing Corporation ("OCC") and other clearing utilities including foreign 
exchanges. Ownership of a listed call option gives the Fund the right to buy 
from the OCC the underlying security covered by the option at the stated 
exercise price (the price per unit of the underlying security) by filing an 
exercise notice prior to the expiration date of the option. The writer 
(seller) of the option would then have the obligation to sell to the OCC the 
underlying security at that exercise price prior to the expiration date of 
the option, regardless of its then current market price. Ownership of a 
listed put option would give the Fund the right to sell the underlying 
security to the OCC at the stated exercise price. Upon notice of exercise of 
the put option, the writer of the put would have the obligation to purchase 
the underlying security from the OCC at the exercise price. 

   Options on Treasury Bonds and Notes. Because trading in options written on 
Treasury bonds and notes tends to center on the most recently auctioned 
issues, the exchanges on which such securities trade will not continue 
indefinitely to introduce options with new expirations to replace expiring 
options on particular issues. Instead, the expirations introduced at the 
commencement of options trading on a particular issue will be allowed to run 
their course, with the possible addition of a limited number of new 
expirations as the original ones expire. Options trading on each issue of 
bonds or notes will thus be phased out as new options are listed on more 
recent issues, and options representing a full range of expirations will not 
ordinarily be available for every issue on which options are traded. 

   Options on Treasury Bills. Because a deliverable Treasury bill changes 
from week to week, writers of Treasury bill calls cannot provide in advance 
for their potential exercise settlement obligations by acquiring and holding 
the 

                                       15
<PAGE>

underlying security. However, if the Fund holds a long position in Treasury 
bills with a principal amount of the securities deliverable upon exercise of 
the option, the position may be hedged from a risk standpoint by the writing 
of a call option. For so long as the call option is outstanding, the Fund 
will hold the Treasury bills in a segregated account with its Custodian, so 
that they will be treated as being covered. 

   Options on Foreign Currencies. The Fund may purchase and write options on 
foreign currencies for purposes similar to those involved with investing in 
forward foreign currency exchange contracts. For example, in order to protect 
against declines in the dollar value of portfolio securities which are 
denominated in a foreign currency, the Fund may purchase put options on an 
amount of such foreign currency equivalent to the current value of the 
portfolio securities involved. As a result, the Fund would be enabled to sell 
the foreign currency for a fixed amount of U.S. dollars, thereby "locking in" 
the dollar value of the portfolio securities (less the amount of the premiums 
paid for the options). Conversely, the Fund may purchase call options on 
foreign currencies in which securities it anticipates purchasing are 
denominated to secure a set U.S. dollar price for such securities and protect 
against a decline in the value of the U.S. dollar against such foreign 
currency. The Fund may also purchase call and put options to close out 
written option positions. 

   The Fund may also write call options on foreign currency to protect 
against potential declines in its portfolio securities which are denominated 
in foreign currencies. If the U.S. dollar value of the portfolio securities 
falls as a result of a decline in the exchange rate between the foreign 
currency in which a security is denominated and the U.S. dollar, then a loss 
to the Fund occasioned by such value decline would be ameliorated by receipt 
of the premium on the option sold. At the same time, however, the Fund gives 
up the benefit of any rise in value of the relevant portfolio securities 
above the exercise price of the option and, in fact, only receives a benefit 
from the writing of the option to the extent that the value of the portfolio 
securities falls below the price of the premium received. The Fund may also 
write options to close out long call option positions. 

   The markets in foreign currency options are relatively new and the Fund's 
ability to establish and close out positions on such options is subject to 
the maintenance of a liquid secondary market. Although the Fund will not 
purchase or write such options unless and until, in the opinion of the 
management of the Fund, the market for them has developed sufficiently to 
ensure that the risks in connection with such options are not greater than 
the risks in connection with the underlying currency, there can be no 
assurance that a liquid secondary market will exist for a particular option 
at any specific time. In addition, options on foreign currencies are affected 
by all of those factors which influence foreign exchange rates and 
investments generally. 

   The value of a foreign currency option depends upon the value of the 
underlying currency relative to the U.S. dollar. As a result, the price of 
the option position may vary with changes in the value of either or both 
currencies and have no relationship to the investment merits of a foreign 
security, including foreign securities held in a "hedged" investment 
portfolio. Because foreign currency transactions occurring in the interbank 
market involve substantially larger amounts than those that may be involved 
in the use of foreign currency options, investors may be disadvantaged by 
having to deal in an odd lot market (generally consisting of transactions of 
less than $1 million) for the underlying foreign currencies at prices that 
are less favorable than for round lots. 

   There is no systematic reporting of last sale information for foreign 
currencies or any regulatory requirement that quotations available through 
dealers or other market sources be firm or revised on a timely basis. 
Quotation information available is generally representative of very large 
transactions in the interbank market and thus may not reflect relatively 
smaller transactions (i.e., less than $1 million) where rates may be less 
favorable. The interbank market in foreign currencies is a global, 
around-the-clock market. To the extent that the U.S. options markets are 
closed while the markets for the underlying currencies remain open, 
significant price and rate movements may take place in the underlying markets 
that are not reflected in the options market. 

   OTC Options. Exchange-listed options are issued by the OCC which assures 
that all transactions in such options are properly executed. OTC options are 
purchased from or sold (written) to dealers or financial institutions which 
have entered into direct agreements with the Fund. With OTC options, such 
variables as expiration date, exercise price and premium will be agreed upon 
between the Fund and the transacting dealer, without the intermediation of a 
third party such as the OCC. If the transacting dealer fails to make or take 
delivery of the securities underlying an option it has written, in accordance 
with the terms of that option, the Fund would lose the premium paid for the 
option as well as any anticipated benefit of the transaction. The Fund will 
engage in OTC option transactions only with primary U.S. Government 
securities dealers recognized by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. 

                                       16
<PAGE>

   
   Covered Call Writing. The Fund is permitted to write covered call options 
on portfolio securities and the U.S. dollar and foreign currencies, without 
limit, in order to aid in achieving its investment objective. Generally, a 
call option is "covered" if the Fund owns, or has the right to acquire, 
without additional cash consideration (or for additional cash consideration 
held for the Fund by its Custodian in a segregated account) the underlying 
security subject to the option except that in the case of call options on 
U.S. Treasury Bills, the Fund might own U.S. Treasury Bills of a different 
series from those underlying the call option, but with a principal amount and 
value corresponding to the exercise price and a maturity date not later than 
that of the securities deliverable under the call option. A call option is 
also covered if the Fund holds a call on the same security as the underlying 
security of the written option, where the exercise price of the call used for 
coverage is equal to or less than the exercise price of the call written or 
greater than the exercise price of the call written if the mark to market 
difference is maintained by the Fund in cash, U.S. Government securities or 
other liquid portfolio securities which the Fund holds in a segregated 
account maintained with its Custodian. 
    

   The Fund will receive from the purchaser, in return for a call it has 
written, a "premium"; i.e., the price of the option. Receipt of these 
premiums may better enable the Fund to achieve a greater total return than 
would be realized from holding the underlying securities alone. Moreover, the 
premium received will offset a portion of the potential loss incurred by the 
Fund if the securities underlying the option are ultimately sold by the Fund 
at a loss. The premium received will fluctuate with varying economic market 
conditions. If the market value of the portfolio securities upon which call 
options have been written increases, the Fund may receive less total return 
from the portion of its portfolio upon which calls have been written than it 
would have had such call not been written. 

   As regards listed options and certain OTC options, during the option 
period, the Fund may be required, at any time, to deliver the underlying 
security against payment of the exercise price on any calls it has written 
(exercise of certain listed options may be limited to specific expiration 
dates). This obligation is terminated upon the expiration of the option 
period or at such earlier time when the writer effects a closing purchase 
transaction. A closing purchase transaction is accomplished by purchasing an 
option of the same series as the option previously written. However, once the 
Fund has been assigned an exercise notice, the Fund will be unable to effect 
a closing purchase transaction. 

   Closing purchase transactions are ordinarily effected to realize a profit 
on an outstanding call option to prevent an underlying security from being 
called, to permit the sale of an underlying security or to enable the Fund to 
write another call option on the underlying security with either a different 
exercise price or expiration date or both. Also, effecting a closing purchase 
transaction will permit the cash or proceeds from the concurrent sale of any 
securities subject to the option to be used for other investments by the 
Fund. The Fund may realize a net gain or loss from a closing purchase 
transaction depending upon whether the amount of the premium received on the 
call option is more or less than the cost of effecting the closing purchase 
transaction. Any loss incurred in a closing purchase transaction may be 
wholly or partially offset by unrealized appreciation in the market value of 
the underlying security. Conversely, a gain resulting from a closing purchase 
transaction could be offset in whole or in part or exceeded by a decline in 
the market value of the underlying security. 

   If a call option expires unexercised, the Fund realizes a gain in the 
amount of the premium on the option less the commission paid. Such a gain, 
however, may be offset by depreciation in the market value of the underlying 
security during the option period. If a call option is exercised, the Fund 
realizes a gain or loss from the sale of the underlying security equal to the 
difference between the purchase price of the underlying security and the 
proceeds of the sale of the security plus the premium received on the option 
less the commission paid. 

   Options written by the Fund normally have expiration dates of from up to 
nine months (equity securities) to eighteen months (fixed-income securities) 
from the date written. The exercise price of a call option may be below, 
equal to or above the current market value of the underlying security at the 
time the option is written. See "Risks of Options and Futures Transactions," 
below. 

   
   Covered Put Writing. As a writer of a covered put option, the Fund incurs 
an obligation to buy the security underlying the option from the purchaser of 
the put, at the option's exercise price at any time during the option period, 
at the purchaser's election (certain listed put options written by the Fund 
will be exercisable by the purchaser only on a specific date). A put is 
"covered" if, at all times, the Fund maintains, in a segregated account 
maintained on its behalf at the Fund's Custodian, cash, U.S. Government 
securities or other liquid portfolio securities in an amount equal to at 
least the exercise price of the option, at all times, during the option 
period. 
    

                                       17
<PAGE>

   
Similary, a short put position could be covered by the Fund by its purchase 
of a put option on the same security as the underlying security of the 
written option, where the exercise price of the purchased option is equal to 
or more than the exercise price of the put written or less than the exercise 
price of the put written if the mark to market difference is maintained by 
the Fund in cash, U.S. Government securities or other liquid portfolio 
securities which the Fund holds in a segregated account maintained at its 
Custodian. In writing puts, the Fund assumes the risk of loss should the 
market value of the underlying security decline below the exercise price of 
the option (any loss being decreased by the receipt of the premium on the 
option written). During the option period, the Fund may be required, at any 
time, to make payment of the exercise price against delivery of the 
underlying security. The operation of and limitations on covered put options 
in other respects are substantially identical to those of call options. 
    

   The Fund will write put options for two purposes: (1) to receive the 
income derived from the premiums paid by purchasers; and (2) when the Adviser 
wishes to purchase the security underlying the option at a price lower than 
its current market price, in which case it will write the covered put at an 
exercise price reflecting the lower purchase price sought. The potential gain 
on a covered put option is limited to the premium received on the option 
(less the commissions paid on the transaction) while the potential loss 
equals the difference between the exercise price of the option and the 
current market price of the underlying securities when the put is exercised, 
offset by the premium received (less the commissions paid on the 
transaction). 

   The Fund may also purchase put options to close out written put positions 
in a manner similar to call options closing purchase transactions. In 
addition, the Fund may sell a put option which it has previously purchased 
prior to the sale of the securities (currency) underlying such option. Such a 
sale would result in a net gain or loss depending on whether the amount 
received on the sale is more or less than the premium and other transaction 
costs paid on the put option sold. Any such gain or loss could be offset in 
whole or in part by a change in the market value of the underlying security 
(currency). If a put option purchased by the Fund expired without being sold 
or exercised the premium would be lost. 

   Purchasing Call and Put Options. As stated in the Prospectus, the Fund may 
purchase listed and OTC call and put options on securities and stock indexes 
in amounts equalling up to 10% of its total assets, with a maximum of 5% of 
the Fund's assets invested in stock index options. The Fund may purchase call 
options only in order to close out a covered call position (see "Covered Call 
Writing" above) to protect against an increase in price of a security it 
anticipates purchasing or, in the case of a call option on foreign currency 
to hedge against an adverse exchange rate move of the currency in which the 
security it anticipates purchasing is denominated vis-a-vis the currency in 
which the exercise price is denominated. The purchase of a call option to 
effect a closing transaction on a call written over-the-counter may be a 
listed or OTC option. In either case, the call purchased is likely to be on 
the same securities and have the same terms as the written option. If 
purchased over-the-counter, the option would generally be acquired from the 
dealer or financial institution which purchased the call written by the Fund. 

   The Fund may purchase put options on securities which it holds (or has the 
right to acquire) in its portfolio only to protect itself against a decline 
in the value of the security. If the value of the underlying security were to 
fall below the exercise price of the put purchased in an amount greater than 
the premium paid for the option, the Fund would incur no additional loss. The 
Fund may also purchase put options to close out written put positions in a 
manner similar to call options closing purchase transactions. In addition, 
the Fund may sell a put option which it has previously purchased prior to the 
sale of the securities underlying such option. Such a sale would result in a 
net gain or loss depending on whether the amount received on the sale is more 
or less than the premium and other transaction costs paid on the put option 
which is sold. And such gain or loss could be offset in whole or in part by a 
change in the market value of the underlying security. If a put option 
purchased by the Fund expired without being sold or exercised, the premium 
would be lost. 

   Risks of Options Transactions. The successful use of options depends on 
the ability of the Adviser to forecast correctly interest rates and market 
movements. If the market value of the portfolio securities (or the currencies 
in which they are denominated) upon which call options have been written 
increases, the Fund may receive a lower total return from the portion of its 
portfolio upon which calls have been written than it would have had such 
calls not been written. During the option period, the covered call writer 
has, in return for the premium on the option, given up the opportunity for 
capital appreciation above the exercise price should the market price of the 
underlying security increase, but has retained the risk of loss should the 
price of the underlying security decline. The secured 

                                       18
<PAGE>

put writer also retains the risk of loss should the market value of the 
underlying security decline below the exercise price of the option less the 
premium received on the sale of the option. In both cases, the writer has no 
control over the time when it may be required to fulfill its obligation as a 
writer of the option. Once an option writer has received an exercise notice, 
it cannot effect a closing purchase transaction in order to terminate its 
obligation under the option and must deliver or receive the underlying 
securities at the exercise price. 

   
   Prior to exercise or expiration, an option position can only be terminated 
by entering into a closing purchase or sale transaction. If a covered call 
option writer is unable to effect a closing purchase transaction, it cannot 
sell the underlying security until the option expires or the option is 
exercised. Accordingly, a covered call option writer may not be able to sell 
an underlying security at a time when it might otherwise be advantageous to 
do so. A secured put option writer who is unable to effect a closing purchase 
transaction would continue to bear the risk of decline in the market price of 
the underlying security until the option expires or is exercised. In 
addition, a secured put writer would be unable to utilize the amount held in 
cash or U.S. government or other liquid portfolio securities as security for 
the put option for other investment purposes until the exercise or expiration 
of the option. 
    

   The Fund's ability to close out its position as a writer of an option is 
dependent upon the existence of a liquid secondary market on Option 
Exchanges. There is no assurance that such a market will exist, particularly 
in the case of OTC options. However, the Fund may be able to purchase an 
offsetting option which does not close out its position as a writer but 
constitutes an asset of equal value to the obligation under the option 
written. If the Fund is not able to either enter into a closing purchase 
transaction or purchase an offsetting position, it will be required to 
maintain the securities subject to the call, or the collateral underlying the 
put, even though it might not be advantageous to do so, until a closing 
transaction can be entered into (or the option is exercised or expires). 

   Among the possible reasons for the absence of a liquid secondary market on 
an Exchange are: (i) insufficient trading interest in certain options; (ii) 
restrictions on transactions imposed by an Exchange; (iii) trading halts, 
suspensions or other restrictions imposed with respect to particular classes 
or series of options or underlying securities; (iv) interruption of the 
normal operations on an Exchange; (v) inadequacy of the facilities of an 
Exchange or the OCC to handle current trading volume; or (vi) a decision by 
one or more Exchanges to discontinue the trading of options (or a particular 
class or series of options), in which event the secondary market on that 
Exchange (or in that class or series of options) would cease to exist, 
although outstanding options on that Exchange that had been issued by the OCC 
as a result of trades on that Exchange would generally continue to be 
exercisable in accordance with their terms. 

   Exchanges limit the amount by which the price of a futures contract may 
move on any day. If the price moves equal to the daily limit on successive 
days, then it may prove impossible to liquidate a futures position until the 
daily limit moves have ceased. In the event of adverse price movements, the 
Fund would continue to be required to make daily cash payments of variation 
margin on open futures positions. In such situations, if the Fund has 
insufficient cash, it may have to sell portfolio securities to meet daily 
variation margin requirements at a time when it may be disadvantageous to do 
so. In addition, the Fund may be required to take or make delivery of the 
instruments underlying interest rate futures contracts it holds at a time 
when it is disadvantageous to do so. The inability to close out options and 
futures positions could also have an adverse impact on the Fund's ability to 
effectively hedge its portfolio. 

   In the event of the bankruptcy of a broker through which the Fund engages 
in transactions in options, the Fund could experience delays and/or losses in 
liquidating open positions purchased or sold through the broker and/or incur 
a loss of all or part of its margin deposits with the broker. Similarly, in 
the event of the bankruptcy of the writer of an OTC option purchased by the 
Fund, the Fund could experience a loss of all or part of the value of the 
option. Transactions are entered into by the Fund only with brokers or 
financial institutions deemed creditworthy by the Adviser. 

   Each of the Exchanges has established limitations governing the maximum 
number of call or put options on the same underlying security or futures 
contract (whether or not covered) which may be written by a single investor, 
whether acting alone or in concert with others (regardless of whether such 
options are written on the same or different Exchanges or are held or written 
on one or more accounts or through one or more brokers). An Exchange may 
order the liquidation of positions found to be in violation of these limits 
and it may impose other sanctions or restrictions. These position limits may 
restrict the number of listed options which the Fund may write. 

                                       19
<PAGE>

   While the futures contracts and options transactions to be engaged in by 
the Fund for the purpose of hedging the Fund's portfolio securities are not 
speculative in nature, there are risks inherent in the use of such 
instruments. One such risk which may arise in employing futures contracts to 
protect against the price volatility of portfolio securities is that the 
prices of securities and indexes subject to futures contracts (and thereby 
the futures contract prices) may correlate imperfectly with the behavior of 
the cash prices of the Fund's portfolio securities. Another such risk is that 
prices of interest rate futures contracts may not move in tandem with the 
changes in prevailing interest rates against which the Fund seeks a hedge. A 
correlation may also be distorted by the fact that the futures market is 
dominated by short-term traders seeking to profit from the difference between 
a contract or security price objective and their cost of borrowed funds. Such 
distortions are generally minor and would diminish as the contract approached 
maturity. 

   The hours of trading for options may not conform to the hours during which 
the underlying securities are traded. To the extent that the option markets 
close before the markets for the underlying securities, significant price and 
rate movements can take place in the underlying markets that cannot be 
reflected in the option markets. 

   Stock Index Options. Options on stock indexes are similar to options on 
stock except that, rather than the right to take or make delivery of stock at 
a specified price, an option on a stock index gives the holder the right to 
receive, upon exercise of the option, an amount of cash if the closing level 
of the stock index upon which the option is based is greater than, in the 
case of a call, or less than, in the case of a put, the exercise price of the 
option. This amount of cash is equal to such difference between the closing 
price of the index and the exercise price of the option expressed in dollars 
times a specified multiple (the "multiplier"). The multiplier for an index 
option performs a function similar to the unit of trading for a stock option. 
It determines the total dollar value per contract of each point in the 
difference between the exercise price of an option and the current level of 
the underlying index. A multiplier of 100 means that a one-point difference 
will yield $100. Options on different indexes may have different multipliers. 
The writer of the option is obligated, in return for the premium received, to 
make delivery of this amount. Unlike stock options, all settlements are in 
cash and a gain or loss depends on price movements in the stock market 
generally (or in a particular segment of the market) rather than the price 
movements in individual stocks. Currently, options are traded on the S&P 100 
Index and the S&P 500 Index on the Chicago Board Options Exchange, the Major 
Market Index and the Computer Technology Index, Oil Index and Institutional 
Index on the American Stock Exchange and the NYSE Index and NYSE Beta Index 
on the New York Stock Exchange, The Financial News Composite Index on the 
Pacific Stock Exchange and the Value Line Index, National O-T-C Index and 
Utilities Index on the Philadelphia Stock Exchange, each of which and any 
similar index on which options are traded in the future which include stocks 
that are not limited to any particular industry or segment of the market is 
referred to as a "broadly based stock market index." The Fund will invest 
only in broadly based indexes. Options on broad-based stock indexes provide 
the Fund with a means of protecting the Fund against the risk of market wide 
price movements. If the Investment Manager anticipates a market decline, the 
Fund could purchase a stock index put option. If the expected market decline 
materialized, the resulting decrease in the value of the Fund's portfolio 
would be offset to the extent of the increase in the value of the put option. 
If the Investment Manager anticipates a market rise, the Fund may purchase a 
stock index call option to enable the Fund to participate in such rise until 
completion of anticipated common stock purchases by the Fund. Purchases and 
sales of stock index options also enable the Investment Manager to more 
speedily achieve changes in the Fund's equity positions. 

   
   The Fund will be able to write put options on stock indexes only if such 
positions are covered by cash, U.S. government securities or other liquid 
portfolio securities equal to the aggregate exercise price of the puts, or by 
a put option on the same stock index with a strike price no lower than the 
strike price of the put option sold by the Fund, which cover is held for the 
Fund in a segregated account maintained for it by the Fund's Custodian. All 
call options on stock indexes written by the Fund will be covered either by a 
portfolio of stocks substantially replicating the movement of the index 
underlying the call option or by holding a separate call option on the same 
stock index with a strike price no higher than the strike price of the call 
option sold by the Fund. 
    

   Risks of Options on Indexes. Because exercises of stock index options are 
settled in cash, call writers such as the Fund cannot provide in advance for 
their potential settlement obligations by acquiring and holding the 
underlying securities. A call writer can offset some of the risk of its 
writing position by holding a diversified portfolio of stocks similar to 
those on which the underlying index is based. However, most investors cannot, 
as a practical matter, acquire and hold a portfolio containing exactly the 
same stocks as the underlying index, and, as a result, bear a risk 

                                       20
<PAGE>

that the value of the securities held will vary from the value of the index. 
Even if an index call writer could assemble a stock portfolio that exactly 
reproduced the composition of the underlying index, the writer still would 
not be fully covered from a risk standpoint because of the "timing risk" 
inherent in writing index options. When an index option is exercised, the 
amount of cash that the holder is entitled to receive is determined by the 
difference between the exercise price and the closing index level on the date 
when the option is exercised. As with other kinds of options, the writer will 
not learn that it had been assigned until the next business day, at the 
earliest. The time lag between exercise and notice of assignment poses no 
risk for the writer of a covered call on a specific underlying security, such 
as a common stock, because there the writer's obligation is to deliver the 
underlying security, not to pay its value as of a fixed time in the past. So 
long as the writer already owns the underlying security, it can satisfy its 
settlement obligations by simply delivering it, and the risk that its value 
may have declined since the exercise date is borne by the exercising holder. 
In contrast, even if the writer of an index call holds stocks that exactly 
match the composition of the underlying index, it will not be able to satisfy 
its assignment obligations by delivering those stocks against payment of the 
exercise price. Instead, it will be required to pay cash in an amount based 
on the closing index value on the exercise date; and by the time it learns 
that it has been assigned, the index may have declined, with a corresponding 
decrease in the value of its stock portfolio. This "timing risk" is an 
inherent limitation on the ability of index call writers to cover their risk 
exposure by holding stock positions. 

   A holder of an index option who exercises it before the closing index 
value for that day is available runs the risk that the level of the 
underlying index may subsequently change. If such a change causes the 
exercised option to fall out-of-the-money, the exercising holder will be 
required to pay the difference between the closing index value and the 
exercise price of the option (times the applicable multiplier) to the 
assigned writer. 

   If dissemination of the current level of an underlying index is 
interrupted, or if trading is interrupted in stocks accounting for a 
substantial portion of the value of an index, the trading of options on that 
index will ordinarily be halted. If the trading of options on an underlying 
index is halted, an exchange may impose restrictions prohibiting the exercise 
of such options. 

   Futures Contracts. As stated in the Prospectus, the Fund may purchase and 
sell interest rate and stock index futures contracts ("futures contracts") 
that are traded on U.S. and foreign commodity exchanges on such underlying 
securities as U.S. Treasury bonds, notes, bills and GNMA Certificates 
("interest rate" futures) and such indexes as the S&P 500 Index, the Moody's 
Investment-Grade Corporate Bond Index and the New York Stock Exchange 
Composite Index ("index" futures). 

   As a futures contract purchaser, the Fund incurs an obligation to take 
delivery of a specified amount of the obligation underlying the contract at a 
specified time in the future for a specified price. As a seller of a futures 
contract, the Fund incurs an obligation to deliver the specified amount of 
the underlying obligation at a specified time in return for an agreed upon 
price. 

   The Fund will purchase or sell interest rate futures contracts and bond 
index futures contracts for the purpose of hedging its fixed-income portfolio 
(or anticipated portfolio) securities against changes in prevailing interest 
rates. If the Investment Manager anticipates that interest rates may rise 
and, concomitantly, the price of fixed-income securities falls, the Fund may 
sell an interest rate futures contract or a bond index futures contract. If 
declining interest rates are anticipated, the Fund may purchase an interest 
rate futures contract to protect against a potential increase in the price of 
U.S. Government securities the Fund intends to purchase. Subsequently, 
appropriate fixed-income securities may be purchased by the Fund in an 
orderly fashion; as securities are purchased, corresponding futures positions 
would be terminated by offsetting sales of contracts. 

   The Fund will purchase or sell futures contracts on the U.S. dollar and on 
foreign currencies to hedge against an anticipated rise or decline in the 
value of the U.S. dollar or foreign currency in which a portfolio security of 
the Fund is denominated vis-a-vis another currency. 

   The Fund will purchase or sell stock index futures contracts for the 
purpose of hedging its equity portfolio (or anticipated portfolio) securities 
against changes in their prices. If the Investment Manager anticipates that 
the prices of stock held by the Fund may fall, the Fund may sell a stock 
index futures contract. Conversely, if the Investment Manager wishes to hedge 
against anticipated price rises in those stocks which the Fund intends to 
purchase, the Fund may purchase stock index and currency futures contracts. 
In addition, interest rate and stock index futures contracts will be bought 
or sold in order to close out a short or long position in a corresponding 
futures contract. 

                                       21
<PAGE>

   Although most interest rate futures contracts call for actual delivery or 
acceptance of securities, the contracts usually are closed out before the 
settlement date without the making or taking of delivery. Stock index futures 
contracts provide for the delivery of an amount of cash equal to a specified 
dollar amount times the difference between the stock index value at the open 
or close of the last trading day of the contract and the futures contract 
price. A futures contract sale is closed out by effecting a futures contract 
purchase for the same aggregate amount of the specific type of equity 
security and the same delivery date. If the sales price exceeds the 
offsetting purchase price, the seller would be paid the difference and would 
realize a gain. If the offsetting purchase price exceeds the sale price, the 
seller would pay the difference and would realize a loss. Similarly, a 
futures contract purchase is closed out by effecting a futures contract sale 
for the same aggregate amount of the specific type of security and the same 
delivery date. If the offsetting sale price exceeds the purchase price, the 
purchaser would realize a gain, whereas if the purchase price exceeds the 
offsetting sale price, the purchaser would realize a loss. There is no 
assurance that the Fund will be able to enter into a closing transaction. 

   
   Interest Rate Futures Contracts. When the Fund enters into an interest 
rate futures contract, it is initially required to deposit with the Fund's 
Custodian, in a segregated account in the name of the broker performing the 
transaction, an "initial margin" of cash or U.S. Government securities or 
other liquid portfolio securities equal to approximately 2% of the contract 
amount. Initial margin requirements are established by the Exchanges on which 
futures contracts trade and may, from time to time, change. In addition, 
brokers may establish margin deposit requirements in excess of those required 
by the Exchanges. 
    

   Initial margin in futures transactions is different from margin in 
securities transactions in that initial margin does not involve the borrowing 
of funds by a broker's client but is, rather, a good faith deposit on the 
futures contract which will be returned to the Fund upon the proper 
termination of the futures contract. The margin deposits made are 
marked-to-market daily and the Fund may be required to make subsequent 
deposits of cash or U.S. Government securities called "variation margin", 
with the Fund's futures contract clearing broker, which are reflective of 
price fluctuations in the futures contract. Currently, interest rate futures 
contracts can be purchased on debt securities such as U.S. Treasury Bills and 
Bonds, U.S. Treasury Notes with Maturities between 6 1/2 and 10 years, GNMA 
Certificates and Bank Certificates of Deposit. 

   Currency Futures. Generally, foreign currency futures provide for the 
delivery of a specified amount of a given currency, on the exercise date, for 
a set exercise price denominated in U.S. dollars or other currency. Foreign 
currency futures contracts would be entered into for the same reason and 
under the same circumstances as forward foreign currency exchange contracts. 
The Adviser will assess such factors as cost spreads, liquidity and 
transaction costs in determining whether to utilize futures contracts or 
forward contracts in its foreign currency transactions and hedging strategy. 
Currently, currency futures exist for, among other foreign currencies, the 
Japanese yen, German mark, Canadian dollar, British pound, Swiss franc and 
European currency unit. 

   Purchasers and sellers of foreign currency futures contracts are subject 
to the same risks that apply to the buying and selling of futures generally. 
In addition, there are risks associated with foreign currency futures 
contracts and their use as a hedging device similar to those associated with 
options on foreign currencies described above. Further, settlement of a 
foreign currency futures contract must occur within the country issuing the 
underlying currency. Thus, the Fund must accept or make delivery of the 
underlying currency in accordance with any U.S. or foreign restrictions or 
regulations regarding the maintenance of foreign banking arrangements by U.S. 
residents and may be required to pay any fees, taxes or charges associated 
with such delivery which are assessed in the issuing country. 

   Options on foreign currency futures contracts may involve certain 
additional risks. Trading options on foreign currency futures contracts is 
relatively new. The ability to establish and close out positions on such 
options is subject to the maintenance of a liquid secondary market. To reduce 
this risk, the Fund will not purchase or write options on foreign currency 
futures contracts unless and until, in the Adviser's opinion, the market for 
such options has developed sufficiently that the risks on connection with 
such options are not greater than the risks in connection with transactions 
in the underlying foreign currency. 

   Index Futures Contracts. As discussed in the Prospectus, the Fund may 
invest in index futures contracts. An index futures contract sale creates an 
obligation by the Fund, as seller, to deliver cash at a specified future 
time. An index futures contract purchase would create an obligation by the 
Fund, as purchaser, to take delivery of cash at a specified future time. 
Futures contracts on indexes do not require the physical delivery of 
securities, but provide for a final cash settlement on the expiration date 
which reflects accumulated profits and losses credited or debited to each 
party's account. 

                                       22
<PAGE>

   The Fund is required to maintain margin deposits with brokerage firms 
through which it effects index futures contracts in a manner similar to that 
described above for interest rate futures contracts. Currently, the initial 
margin requirements range from 3% to 10% of the contract amount for index 
futures. In addition, due to current industry practice, daily variations in 
gains and losses on open contracts are required to be reflected in cash in 
the form of variation margin payments. The Fund may be required to make 
additional margin payments during the term of the contract. 

   At any time prior to expiration of the futures contract, the Fund may 
elect to close the position by taking an opposite position which will operate 
to terminate the Fund's position in the futures contract. A final 
determination of variation margin is then made, additional cash is required 
to be paid by or released to the Fund and the Fund realizes a loss or a gain. 

   Currently, index futures contracts can be purchased or sold with respect 
to, among others, the Standard & Poor's 500 Stock Price Index and the 
Standard & Poor's 100 Stock Price Index on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, 
the New York Stock Exchange Composite Index on the New York Futures Exchange, 
the Major Market Index on the American Stock Exchange, the Value Line Stock 
Index on the Kansas City Board of Trade and the Moody's Investment-Grade 
Corporate Bond Index on the Chicago Board of Trade. 

   Options on Futures Contracts. The Fund may purchase and write call and put 
options on futures contracts and enter into closing transactions with respect 
to such options to terminate an existing position. An option on a futures 
contract gives the purchaser the right (in return for the premium paid), and 
the writer the obligation, to assume a position in a futures contract (a long 
position if the option is a call and a short position if the option is a put) 
at a specified exercise price at any time during the term of the option. Upon 
exercise of the option, the delivery of the futures position by the writer of 
the option to the holder of the option is accompanied by delivery of the 
accumulated balance in the writer's futures margin account, which represents 
the amount by which the market price of the futures contract at the time of 
exercise exceeds, in the case of a call, or is less than, in the case of a 
put, the exercise price of the option on the futures contract. 

   The Fund will purchase and write options on futures contracts for 
identical purposes to those set forth above for the purchase of a futures 
contract (purchase of a call option or sale of a put option) and the sale of 
a futures contract (purchase of a put option or sale of a call option), or to 
close out a long or short position in futures contracts. If, for example, the 
Investment Manager wished to protect against an increase in interest rates 
and the resulting negative impact on the value of a portion of its 
fixed-income portfolio, it might write a call option on an interest rate 
futures contract, the underlying security of which correlates with the 
portion of the portfolio the Investment Manager seeks to hedge. Any premiums 
received in the writing of options on futures contracts may, of course, 
augment the total return of the Fund and thereby provide a further hedge 
against losses resulting from price declines in portions of the Fund's 
portfolio. 

   The writer of an option on a futures contract is required to deposit 
initial and variation margin pursuant to requirements similar to those 
applicable to futures contracts. Premiums received from the writing of an 
option on a futures contract are included in initial margin deposits. 

   Limitations on Futures Contracts and Options on Futures. The Fund may not 
enter into futures contracts or purchase related options thereon if, 
immediately thereafter, the amount committed to margin plus the amount paid 
for premiums for unexpired options on futures contracts exceeds 5% of the 
value of the Fund's total assets, after taking into account unrealized gains 
and unrealized losses on such contracts it has entered into, provided, 
however, that in the case of an option that is in-the-money (the exercise 
price of the call (put) option is less (more) than the market price of the 
underlying security) at the time of purchase, the in-the-money amount may be 
excluded in calculating the 5%. However, there is no overall limitation on 
the percentage of the Fund's assets which may be subject to a hedge position. 
In addition, in accordance with the regulations of the Commodity Futures 
Trading Commission ("CFTC") under which the Fund is exempted from 
registration as a commodity pool operator, the Fund may only enter into 
futures contracts and options on futures contracts transactions in accordance 
with the limitation described above. If the CFTC changes its regulations so 
that the Fund would be permitted more latitude 

                                       23
<PAGE>

to write options on futures contracts for purposes other than hedging the 
Fund's investments without CFTC registration, the Fund may engage in such 
transactions for those purposes. Except as described above, there are no 
other limitations on the use of futures and options thereon by the Fund. 

   Risks of Transactions in Futures Contracts and Related Options. The 
successful use of futures and related options depends on the ability of the 
Adviser to accurately predict market, interest rate and currency movements. 
As stated in the Prospectus, the Fund may sell a futures contract to protect 
against the decline in the value of securities (or the currency in which they 
are denominated) held by the Fund. However, it is possible that the futures 
market may advance and the value of securities (or the currency in which they 
are denominated) held in the portfolio of the Fund may decline. If this 
occurred, the Fund would lose money on the futures contract and also 
experience a decline in value of its portfolio securities. However, while 
this could occur for a very brief period or to a very small degree, over time 
the value of a diversified portfolio will tend to move in the same direction 
as the futures contracts. 

   If the Fund purchases a futures contract to hedge against the increase in 
value of securities it intends to buy, and the value of such securities 
decreases, then the Adviser may determine not to invest in the securities as 
planned and the Fund will realize a loss on the futures contract that is not 
offset by a reduction in the price of the securities. 

   
   In addition, if the Fund holds a long position in a futures contract or 
has sold a put option on a futures contract, it will hold cash, U.S. 
Government securities or other liquid portfolio securities equal to the 
purchase price of the contract or the exercise price of the put option (less 
the amount of initial or variation margin on deposit) in a segregated account 
maintained for the Fund by its Custodian. Alternatively, the Fund could cover 
its long position by purchasing a put option on the same futures contract 
with an exercise price as high or higher than the price of the contract held 
by the Fund. 

   If the Fund maintains a short position in a futures contract or has sold a 
call option in a futures contract, it will cover this position by holding, in 
a segregated account maintained at its Custodian, cash, U.S. Government 
securities or other liquid portfolio securities equal in value (when added to 
any initial or variation margin on deposit) to the market value of the 
securities underlying the futures contract or the exercise price of the 
option. Such a position may also be covered by owning the securities 
underlying the futures contract (in the case of a stock index futures 
contract a portfolio of securities substantially replicating the relevant 
index), or by holding a call option permitting the Fund to purchase the same 
contract at a price no higher than the price at which the short position was 
established. 
    

   Exchanges limit the amount by which the price of a futures contract may 
move on any day. If the price moves equal the daily limit on successive days, 
then it may prove impossible to liquidate a futures position until the daily 
limit moves have ceased. In the event of adverse price movements, the Fund 
would continue to be required to make daily cash payments of variation margin 
on open futures positions. In such situations, if the Fund has insufficient 
cash, it may have to sell portfolio securities to meet daily variation margin 
requirements at a time when it may be disadvantageous to do so. In addition, 
the Fund may be required to take or make delivery of the instruments 
underlying interest rate futures contracts it holds at a time when it is 
disadvantageous to do so. The inability to close out options and futures 
positions could also have an adverse impact on the Fund's ability to 
effectively hedge its portfolio. 

   Futures contracts and options thereon which are purchased or sold on 
foreign commodities exchanges may have greater price volatility than their 
U.S. counterparts. Furthermore, foreign commodities exchanges may be less 
regulated and under less governmental scrutiny than U.S. exchanges. Brokerage 
commissions, clearing costs and other transaction costs may be higher on 
foreign exchanges. Greater margin requirements may limit the Fund's ability 
to enter into certain commodity transactions on foreign exchanges. Moreover, 
differences in clearance and delivery requirements on foreign exchanges may 
occasion delays in the settlement of the Fund's transactions affected on 
foreign exchanges. 

   The extent to which the Fund may enter into transactions involving options 
and futures contracts may be limited by the Internal Revenue Code's 
requirements for qualification as a regulated investment company and the 
Fund's intention to qualify as such. See "Dividends, Distributions and Taxes" 
in the Prospectus and this Statement of Additional Information. 

                                       24
<PAGE>

   While the futures contracts and options transactions to be engaged in by 
the Fund for the purpose of hedging the Fund's portfolio securities are not 
speculative in nature, there are risks inherent in the use of such 
instruments. One such risk which may arise in employing futures conracts to 
protect against the price volitility of portfolio securities (and the 
currencies in which they are denominated) is that the prices of securities 
and indexes subject to futures contracts (and thereby the futures contract 
prices) may correlate imperfectly with the behavior of the cash prices of the 
Fund's portfolio securities (and the currencies in which they are 
denominated). Another such risk is that prices of interest rate futures 
contracts may not move in tandem with the changes in prevailing interest 
rates against which the Fund seeks a hedge. A correlation may also be 
distorted (a) temporarily, by short-term traders seeking to profit from the 
difference between a contract or security price objective and their cost of 
borrowed funds; (b) by investors in futures contracts electing to close out 
their contracts through offsetting transactions rather than meet margin 
deposit requirements; (c) by investors in futures contracts opting to make or 
take delivery of underlying securities rather than engage in closing 
transactions, thereby reducing liquidity of the futures market; and (d) 
temporarily, by speculators who view the deposit requirements in the futures 
markets as less onerous than margin requirements in the cash market. Due to 
the possibility of price distortion in the futures market and because of the 
imperfect correlation between movements in the prices of securities and 
movements in the prices of futures contracts, a correct forecast of interest 
rate trends may still not result in a successful hedging transaction. 

   As stated in the Prospectus, there is no assurance that a liquid secondary 
market will exist for futures contracts and related options in which the Fund 
may invest. In the event a liquid market does not exist, it may not be 
possible to close out a futures position and, in the event of adverse price 
movements, the Fund would continue to be required to make daily cash payments 
of variation margin. In addition, limitations imposed by an exchange or board 
of trade on which futures contracts are traded may compel or prevent the Fund 
from closing out a contract which may result in reduced gain or increased 
loss to the Fund. The absence of a liquid market in futures contracts might 
cause the Fund to make or take delivery of the underlying securities at a 
time when it may be disadvantageous to do so. 

   Compared to the purchase or sale of futures contracts, the purchase of 
call or put options on futures contracts involves less potential risk to the 
Fund because the maximum amount at risk is the premium paid for the options 
(plus transaction costs). However, there may be circumstances when the 
purchase of a call or put option on a futures contract would result in a loss 
to the Fund notwithstanding that the purchase or sale of a futures contract 
would not result in a loss, as in the instance where there is no movement in 
the prices of the futures contract or underlying securities. 

   The Adviser has substantial experience in the use of the investment 
techniques described above under the heading "Options and Futures 
Transactions," which techniques require skills different from those needed to 
select the portfolio securities underlying various options and futures 
contracts. 

   New Instruments. New futures contracts, options and other financial 
products and various combinations thereof continue to be developed. The Fund 
may invest in any such futures, options or products as may be developed, to 
the extent consistent with its investment objective and applicable regulatory 
requirements. 

PORTFOLIO TURNOVER 

   It is anticipated that the Fund's portfolio turnover rate generally will 
not exceed 150%. A 100% turnover rate would occur, for example, if 100% of 
the securities held in the Fund's portfolio (excluding all securities whose 
maturities at acquisition were one year or less) were sold and replaced 
within one year. 

INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS 
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

   In addition to the investment restrictions enumerated in the Prospectus, 
the investment restrictions listed below have been adopted by the Fund as 
fundamental policies, except as otherwise indicated. Under the Act, a 
fundamental policy may not be changed without the vote of a majority of the 
outstanding voting securities of the Fund, as defined in the Act. Such a 
majority is defined as the lesser of (a) 67% or more of the shares present at 
a meeting of shareholders, if the holders of 50% of the outstanding shares of 
the Fund are present or represented by proxy or (b) more than 50% of the 
outstanding shares of the Fund. 

                                       25
<PAGE>

   The Fund may not: 

     1. Purchase or sell real estate or interests therein (including limited 
    partnership interests), although the Fund may purchase securities of 
    issuers which engage in real estate operations and securities secured by 
    real estate or interests therein. 

     2. Purchase oil, gas or other mineral leases, rights or royalty 
    contracts or exploration or development programs, except that the Fund 
    may invest in the securities of companies which operate, invest in, or 
    sponsor such programs. 

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

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

     5. Pledge its assets or assign or otherwise encumber them except to 
    secure borrowings effected within the limitations set forth in 
    restriction (4). For the purpose of this restriction, collateral 
    arrangements with respect to initial or variation margin for futures are 
    not deemed to be pledges of assets. 

     6. Issue senior securities as defined in the Act except insofar as the 
    Fund may be deemed to have issued a senior security by reason of (a) 
    entering into any repurchase agreement; (b) purchasing any securities on 
    a when-issued or delayed delivery basis; (c) purchasing or selling any 
    financial futures contracts; (d) borrowing money in accordance with 
    restrictions described above; or (e) lending portfolio securities. 

     7. Make loans of money or securities, except: (a) by the purchase of 
    portfolio securities in which the Fund may invest consistent with its 
    investment objective and policies; (b) by investment in repurchase 
    agreements; or (c) by lending its portfolio securities. 

     8. Purchase or sell commodities or commodities contracts except that the 
    Fund may purchase or sell financial or stock index futures contracts or 
    options thereon. 

     9. Make short sales of securities. 

     10. Purchase securities on margin, except for such short-term loans as 
    are necessary for the clearance of portfolio securities. The deposit or 
    payment by the Fund of initial or variation margin in connection with 
    futures contracts is not considered the purchase of a security on margin. 

     11. Engage in the underwriting of securities, except insofar as the Fund 
    may be deemed an underwriter under the Securities Act of 1933 in 
    disposing of a portfolio security. 

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

     13. 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. 

   In addition, as a nonfundamental policy, the Fund may not (i) invest in 
securities of any issuer if, to the knowledge of the Fund, any officer or 
trustee of the Fund or any officer or director of the Adviser or the Manager 
owns more than 1/2 of 1% of the outstanding securities of such issuer, and 
such officers, trustees and directors who own more than 1/2 of 1% own in the 
aggregate more than 5% of the outstanding securities of such issuers; and 
(ii) invest more than 5% of the value of its total assets in securities of 
issuers (other than obligations issued or guaranteed by the United States 
Government, its agencies or instrumentalities having a record, together with 
predecessors, of less than three years of continuous operation. 

   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. 

                                       26
<PAGE>

PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS AND BROKERAGE 
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

   
   Subject to the general supervision of the Trustees, the Adviser is 
responsible for decisions to buy and sell securities for the Fund, the 
selection of brokers and dealers to effect the transactions, and the 
negotiation of brokerage commissions, if any. Purchases and sales of 
securities on a stock exchange are effected through brokers who charge a 
commission for their services. In the over-the-counter market, securities are 
generally traded on a "net" basis with dealers acting as principal for their 
own accounts without a stated commission, although the price of the security 
usually includes a profit to the dealer. In addition, securities may be 
purchased at times in underwritten offerings where the price includes a fixed 
amount of compensation, generally referred to as the underwriter's concession 
or discount. Futures transactions will usually be effected through a broker 
and a commission will be charged. On occasion, the Fund may also purchase 
certain money market instruments directly from an issuer, in which case no 
commissions or discounts are paid. During the period August 28, 1996 
(commencement of operations) through November 30, 1996, the Fund paid a total 
of $168,957 in brokerage commissions. 
    

   The Adviser currently serves as investment adviser to a number of clients, 
including other investment companies, and may in the future act as investment 
adviser to others. It is the practice of the Adviser to cause purchase and 
sale transactions to be allocated among the Fund and others whose assets it 
manages in such manner as it deems equitable. In making such allocations 
among the Fund and other client accounts, the main factors considered are the 
respective investment objectives, the relative size of portfolio holdings of 
the same or comparable securities, the availability of cash for investment, 
the size of investments generally held and the opinions of the persons 
responsible for managing the portfolios of the Fund and other client 
accounts. 

   The policy of the Fund regarding purchases and sales of securities for its 
portfolio is that primary consideration will be given to obtaining the most 
favorable prices and efficient executions of transactions. Consistent with 
this policy, when securities transactions are effected on a stock exchange, 
the Fund's policy is to pay commissions which are considered fair and 
reasonable without necessarily determining that the lowest possible 
commissions are paid in all circumstances. The Fund believes that a 
requirement always to seek the lowest possible commission cost could impede 
effective portfolio management and preclude the Fund and the Adviser from 
obtaining a high quality of brokerage and research services. In seeking to 
determine the reasonableness of brokerage commissions paid in any 
transaction, the Adviser relies upon its experience and knowledge regarding 
commissions generally charged by various brokers and on its judgment in 
evaluating the brokerage and research services received from the broker 
effecting the transaction. Such determinations are necessarily subjective and 
imprecise, as in most cases an exact dollar value for those services is not 
ascertainable. 

   
   In seeking to implement the Fund's policies, the Adviser effects 
transactions with those brokers and dealers who the Adviser believes provide 
the most favorable prices and are capable of providing efficient executions. 
If the Adviser believes such prices and executions are obtainable from more 
than one broker or dealer, it may give consideration to placing portfolio 
transactions with those brokers and dealers who also furnish research and 
other services to the Fund or the Adviser. Such services may include, but are 
not limited to, any one or more of the following: reports on industries and 
companies, economic analyses and review of business conditions, portfolio 
strategy, analytic computer software, account performance services, computer 
terminals and various trading and/or quotation equipment. They also include 
advice from broker-dealers as to the value of securities, availability of 
securities, availability of buyers, and availability of sellers. In addition, 
they include recommendations as to purchase and sale of individual securities 
and timing of such transactions. The Fund will not purchase at a higher price 
or sell at a lower price in connection with transactions effected with a 
dealer, acting as principal, who furnishes research services to the Fund than 
would be the case if no weight were given by the Fund to the dealer's 
furnishing of such services. During the period August 28, 1996 through 
November 30, 1996, the Fund directed the payment of $148,849 in brokerage 
commissions in connection with transactions in the aggregate amount of 
$53,927,390 to brokers because of research services provided. 
    

   The information and services received by the Adviser from brokers and 
dealers may be of benefit to the Adviser in the management of accounts of 
some of its other clients and may not in all cases benefit the Fund directly. 
While the receipt of such information and services is useful in varying 
degrees and would generally reduce the amount of research or services 
otherwise performed by the Adviser and thereby reduce its expenses, it is of 
indeterminable value and the advisory fee paid to the Adviser is not reduced 
by any amount that may be attributable to the value of such services. 

                                       27
<PAGE>

   
   Consistent with the policy described above, brokerage transactions in 
securities listed on exchanges or admitted to unlisted trading privileges may 
be effected through DWR. In order for DWR to effect any portfolio 
transactions for the Fund, the commissions, fees or other remuneration 
received by DWR must be reasonable and fair compared to the commissions, fees 
or other remuneration paid to other brokers in connection with comparable 
transactions involving similar securities being purchased or sold on an 
exchange during a comparable period of time. This standard would allow DWR to 
receive no more than the remuneration which would be expected to be received 
by an unaffiliated broker in a commensurate arm's-length transaction. 
Furthermore, the Board of Trustees of the Fund, including a majority of the 
Trustees who are not "interested" persons of the Fund, as defined in the Act, 
have adopted procedures which are reasonably designed to provide that any 
commissions, fees or other remuneration paid to DWR are consistent with the 
foregoing standard. During the period August 28, 1996 through November 30, 
1996, the Fund did not pay any brokerage commissions to DWR. 
    

THE DISTRIBUTOR 
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

   
   As discussed in the Prospectus, shares of the Fund are distributed by Dean 
Witter Distributors Inc. (the "Distributor"). The Distributor has entered 
into a selected dealer agreement with DWR, which through its own sales 
organization sells shares of the Fund. In addition, the Distributor may enter 
into selected dealer agreements with other selected broker-dealers. The 
Distributor, a Delaware corporation, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of DWDC. As 
part of an internal reorganization that took place in January, 1993, the 
Distributor assumed the investment company share distribution activities 
previously performed by DWR. The Trustees of the Fund, including a majority 
of the Independent Trustees, approved, at their meeting held on April 17, 
1996, a Distribution Agreement appointing the Distributor as exclusive 
distributor of the Fund's shares and providing for the Distributor to bear 
distribution expenses not borne by the Fund. By its terms, the Distribution 
Agreement has an initial term ending April 30, 1997, and provides that it 
will remain in effect from year to year thereafter if approved by the Board. 
    

   The Distributor bears all expenses it may incur in providing services 
under the Distribution Agreement. Such expenses include the payment of 
commissions for sales of the Fund's shares and incentive compensation to 
account executives. The Distributor also pays certain expenses in connection 
with the distribution of the Fund's shares, including the costs of preparing, 
printing and distributing advertising or promotional materials, and the costs 
of printing and distributing prospectuses and supplements thereto used in 
connection with the offering and sale of the Fund's shares. The Fund bears 
the costs of initial typesetting, printing and distribution of prospectuses 
and supplements thereto to shareholders. The Fund also bears the costs of 
registering the Fund and its shares under federal and state securities laws. 
The Fund and the Distributor have agreed to indemnify each other against 
certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, 
as amended. Under the Distribution Agreement, the Distributor uses its best 
efforts in rendering services to the Fund, but in the absence of willful 
misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of its 
obligations, the Distributor is not liable to the Fund or any of its 
shareholders for any error of judgment or mistake of law or for any act or 
omission or for any losses sustained by the Fund or its shareholders. 

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION 

   
   To compensate the Distributor for the services it or any selected dealer 
provides and for the expenses it bears under the Distribution Agreement, the 
Fund has adopted a Plan of Distribution pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Act 
(the "Plan") pursuant to which the Fund pays the Distributor compensation 
accrued daily and payable monthly at the annual rate of 1.0% of the lesser 
of: (a) the average daily aggregate gross sales of the Fund's shares since 
the inception of the Fund (not including reinvestments of dividends or 
capital gains distributions), less the average daily aggregate net asset 
value of the Fund's shares redeemed since the Fund's inception upon which a 
contingent deferred sales charge has been imposed or upon which such charge 
has been waived; or (b) the Fund's average daily net assets. The Distributor 
receives the proceeds of contingent deferred sales charges imposed on certain 
redemptions of shares, which are separate and apart from payments made 
pursuant to the Plan (see "Repurchases and Redemptions--Contingent Deferred 
Sales Charge" in the Prospectus). The Distributor has informed the Fund that 
it received approximately $24,000 in contingent deferred sales charges for 
the period August 28, 1996 (commencement of operations) through November 30, 
1996. 
    

                                       28
<PAGE>

   The Distributor has informed the Fund that a portion of the fees payable 
by the Fund each year under the Plan of Distribution, equal to 0.25% of the 
Fund's average daily net assets, is characterized as a "service fee" under 
the Rules of Fair Practice of the National Association of Securities Dealers 
(of which the Distributor is a member). Such fee is payments made for 
personal service and/or the maintenance of shareholder accounts. The 
remaining portions of the Plan of Distribution fee payments made by the Fund 
are characterized as "asset-based sales charges" pursuant to the 
aforementioned Rules of Fair Practice. 

   
   Under the Plan and as required by Rule 12b-1, the Trustees receive and 
review promptly after the end of each fiscal quarter a written report 
provided by the Distributor of the amounts expended under the Plan and the 
purpose for which such expenditures were made. In the Trustees' quarterly 
reviews of the Plan, they will consider its continued appropriateness and the 
level of compensation provided therein. The Fund accrued amounts payable to 
the Distributor under the Plan, during the period August 28, 1996 
(commencement of operations) through November 30, 1996, of $226,815. This 
amount is equal to the annualized rate of 0.97% of the Fund's average daily 
net assets for the fiscal period. The payments accrued under the Plan were 
calculated pursuant to clause (a) of the compensation formula under the Plan. 
This amount is treated by the Fund as an expense in the year it is accrued. 
    

   The Plan was adopted in order to permit the implementation of the Fund's 
method of distribution. Under this distribution method shares of the Fund are 
sold without a sales load being deducted at the time of purchase, so that the 
full amount of an investor's purchase payment will be invested in shares 
without any deduction for sales charges. Shares of the Fund may be subject to 
a contingent deferred sales charge, payable to the Distributor, if redeemed 
during the six years after their purchase. DWR compensates its account 
executives by paying them, from its own funds, commissions for the sale of 
the Fund's shares, currently a gross sales credit of up to 5% of the amount 
sold and an annual residual commission of up to 0.25 of 1% of the current 
value of the amount sold. The gross sales credit is a charge which reflects 
commissions paid by DWR to its account executives and DWR's Fund associated 
distribution-related expenses, including sales compensation, and overhead and 
other branch office distribution-related expenses including: (a) the expenses 
of operating DWR's branch offices in connection with the sale of Fund shares, 
including lease costs, the salaries and employee benefits of operations and 
sales support personnel, utility costs, communications costs and the costs of 
stationery and supplies; (b) the costs of client sales seminars; (c) travel 
expenses of mutual fund sales coordinators to promote the sale of Fund 
shares; and (d) other expenses relating to branch promotion of Fund share 
sales. Payments may also be made with respect to distribution expenses 
incurred in connection with the distribution of shares, including personal 
services to shareholders with respect to holdings of such shares, of an 
investment company whose assets are acquired by the Fund in a tax-free 
reorganization. 

   The distribution fee that the Distributor receives from the Fund under the 
Plan, in effect, offsets distribution expenses incurred under the Plan on 
behalf of the Fund and opportunity costs, such as the gross sales credit and 
an assumed interest charge thereon ("carrying charge"). In the Distributor's 
reporting of distribution expenses to the Fund, such assumed interest 
(computed at the "broker's call rate") has been calculated on the gross sales 
credit as it is reduced by amounts received by the Distributor under the Plan 
and any contingent deferred sales charges received by the Distributor upon 
redemption of shares of the Fund. No other interest charge is included as a 
distribution expense in the Distributor's calculation of distribution costs 
for this purpose. The broker's call rate is the interest rate charged to 
securities brokers on loans secured by exchange-listed securities. 

   
   The Fund paid 100% of the $226,815 accrued under the Plan for the fiscal 
period August 28, 1996 (commencement of operations) through November 30, 1996 
to the Distributor. The Distributor and DWR estimate that they have spent, 
pursuant to the Plan, $6,508,778 on behalf of the Fund since the inception of 
the Plan. It is estimated that this amount was spent in approximately the 
following ways: (i) 23.01% ($1,497,848)--advertising and promotional 
expenses; (ii) 3.07% ($200,006)--printing of prospectuses for distribution to 
other than current shareholders; and (iii) 73.92% ($4,810,924)--other 
expenses, including the gross sales credit and the carrying charge, of which 
1.15% ($55,236) represents carrying charges, 39.24% ($1,888,008) represents 
commission credits to DWR branch offices for payments of commissions to 
account executives and 59.61% ($2,867,680) represents overhead and other 
branch office distribution-related expenses. 

   At any given time, the expenses in distributing shares of the Fund may be 
more or less than the total of (i) the payments made by the Fund pursuant to 
the Plan and (ii) the proceeds of contingent deferred sales charges paid by 
investors upon redemption of shares. The Distributor has advised the Fund 
that the excess distribution 

                                       29
    
<PAGE>

   
expenses, including the carrying charge designed to approximate the 
opportunity costs incurred by DWR 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 shares, totalled $6,257,689 as of November 30, 1996. 
Because there is no requirement under the Plan that the Distributor be 
reimbursed for all expenses or any requirement that the Plan be continued 
from year to year, this excess amount does not constitute a liability of the 
Fund. Although there is no legal obligation for the Fund to pay distribution 
expenses in excess of payments made under the Plan and the proceeds of 
contingent deferred sales charges paid by investors upon redemption of 
shares, if for any reason the Plan is terminated, the Trustees will consider 
at that time the manner in which to treat such expenses. Any cumulative 
expenses incurred, but not yet recovered through distribution fees or 
contingent deferred sales charges, may or may not be recovered through future 
distribution fees or contingent deferred sales charges. 
    

   Under the Plan, the Distributor uses its best efforts in rendering 
services to the Fund, but in the absence of willful misfeasance, bad faith, 
gross negligence or reckless disregard of its obligations, the Distributor is 
not liable to the Fund or any of its shareholders for any error of judgment 
or mistake of law or for any act or omission or for any losses sustained by 
the Fund or its shareholders. 

   The Plan will remain in effect until April 30, 1997, and will continue 
from year to year thereafter, provided such continuance is approved annually 
by a vote of the Trustees, including a majority of the Independent 12b-1 
Trustees. 

   Any amendment to increase materially the maximum amount authorized to be 
spent under the Plan must be approved by the shareholders of the Fund, and 
all material amendments to the Plan must be approved by the Trustees in the 
manner described above. The Plan may be terminated at any time, without 
payment of any penalty, by vote of a majority of the Independent 12b-1 
Trustees or by a vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding voting 
securities of the Fund (as defined in the Act) on not more than 30 days 
written notice to any other party to the Plan. So long as the Plan is in 
effect, the selection or nomination of the Independent Trustees is committed 
to the discretion of the Independent Trustees. 

   No interested person of the Fund, nor any Trustee of the Fund who is not 
an interested person of the Fund, as defined in the Act, has any direct or 
indirect financial interest in the operation of the Plan except to the extent 
that DWR, InterCapital, the Distributor or the Manager or certain of their 
employees, may be deemed to have such an interest as a result of benefits 
derived from the successful operation of the Plan or as a result of receiving 
a portion of the amounts expended thereunder by the Fund. 

DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE 

   As stated in the Prospectus, short-term securities with remaining 
maturities of sixty days or less at the time of purchase are valued at 
amortized cost, unless the Trustees determine such does not reflect the 
securities' market value, in which case these securities will be valued at 
their fair value as determined by the Trustees. Other short-term debt 
securities will be valued on a mark-to-market basis until such time as they 
reach a remaining maturity of sixty days, whereupon they will be valued at 
amortized cost using their value on the 61st day unless the Trustees 
determine such does not reflect the securities' market value, in which case 
these securities will be valued at their fair value as determined by the 
Trustees. All other securities and other assets are valued at their fair 
value as determined in good faith under procedures established by and under 
the supervision of the Trustees. 

   The net asset value per share of the Fund is determined once daily at 4:00 
p.m., New York time (or, on days when the New York Stock Exchange closes 
prior to 4:00 p.m., at such earlier time), on each day that the New York 
Stock Exchange is open by taking the value of all assets of the Fund, 
subtracting its liabilities, dividing by the number of shares outstanding and 
adjusting to the nearest cent. The New York Stock Exchange currently observes 
the following holidays: New Year's Day, Presidents' Day, Good Friday, 
Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas 
Day. 

                                       30
<PAGE>

SHAREHOLDER SERVICES 
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

   Upon the purchase of shares of the Fund, a Shareholder Investment Account 
is opened for the investor on the books of the Fund and maintained by Dean 
Witter Trust Company (the "Transfer Agent"). This is an open account in which 
shares owned by the investor are credited by the Transfer Agent in lieu of 
issuance of a share certificate. If a share certificate is desired, it must 
be requested in writing for each transaction. Certificates are issued only 
for full shares and may be redeposited in the account at any time. There is 
no charge to the investor for issuance of a certificate. Whenever a 
shareholder-instituted transaction takes place in the Shareholder Investment 
Account, the shareholder will be mailed a confirmation of the transaction 
from the Fund or from DWR or other selected broker-dealer. 

   Automatic Investment of Dividends and Distributions. As stated in the 
Prospectus, all income dividends and capital gains distributions are 
automatically paid in full and fractional shares of the Fund, unless the 
shareholder requests that they be paid in cash. Each purchase of shares of 
the Fund is made upon the condition that the Transfer Agent is thereby 
automatically appointed as agent of the investor to receive all dividends and 
capital gains distributions on shares owned by the investor. Such dividends 
and distributions will be paid, at the net asset value per share, in shares 
of the Fund (or in cash if the shareholder so requests) as of the close of 
business on the record date. At any time an investor may request the Transfer 
Agent, in writing, to have subsequent dividends and/or capital gains 
distributions paid to him or her in cash rather than shares. To assure 
sufficient time to process the change, such request should be received by the 
Transfer Agent at least five business days prior to the record date of the 
dividend or distribution. In the case of recently purchased shares for which 
registration instructions have not been received on the record date, cash 
payments will be made to DWR or the other selected broker-dealer, and which 
will be forwarded to the shareholder, upon the receipt of proper 
instructions. 

   Targeted Dividends (Service Mark). In states where it is legally 
permissible, shareholders may also have all income dividends and capital 
gains distributions automatically invested in shares of a TCW/DW Fund other 
than TCW/DW Global Telecom Trust. Such investment will be made as described 
above for automatic investment in shares of the Fund, at the net asset value 
per share of the selected TCW/DW Fund as of the close of business on the 
payment date of the dividend or distribution and will begin to earn 
dividends, if any, in the selected TCW/DW Fund the next business day. To 
participate in the Targeted Dividends program, shareholders should contact 
their DWR or other selected broker-dealer account executive or the Transfer 
Agent. Shareholders of the Fund must be shareholders of the TCW/DW Fund 
targeted to receive investments from dividends at the time they enter the 
Targeted Dividends program. Investors should review the prospectus of the 
targeted TCW/DW Fund before entering the program. 

   EasyInvest (Service Mark). Shareholders may subscribe to EasyInvest, an 
automatic purchase plan which provides for any amount from $100 to $5,000 to 
be transferred automatically from a checking or savings account, on a 
semi-monthly, monthly or quarterly basis, to the Transfer Agent for 
investment in shares of the Fund. Shares purchased through EasyInvest will be 
added to the shareholder's existing account at the net asset value calculated 
the same business day the transfer of funds is effected. For further 
information or to subscribe to EasyInvest, shareholders should contact their 
DWR or other selected broker-dealer account executive or the Transfer Agent. 

   Investment of Dividends or Distributions Received in Cash. As discussed in 
the Prospectus, any shareholder who receives a cash payment representing a 
dividend or distribution may invest such dividend or distribution at the net 
asset value per share, without the imposition of a contingent deferred sales 
charge upon redemption, by returning the check or the proceeds to the 
Transfer Agent within 30 days after the payment date. If the shareholder 
returns the proceeds of a dividend or distribution, such funds must be 
accompanied by a signed statement indicating that the proceeds constitute a 
dividend or distribution to be invested. Such investment will be made at the 
net asset value per share next determined after receipt of the check or 
proceeds by the Transfer Agent. 

   Systematic Withdrawal Plan. As discussed in the Prospectus, a systematic 
withdrawal plan (the "Withdrawal Plan") is available for shareholders who own 
or purchase shares of the Fund having a minimum value of $10,000 based upon 
the then current net asset value. The Withdrawal Plan provides for monthly or 
quarterly (March, June, September and December) checks in any dollar amount, 
not less than $25, or in any whole percentage of the account balance, on an 
annualized basis. Any applicable contingent deferred sales charge will be 
imposed on shares redeemed under the Withdrawal Plan (see "Repurchases and 
Redemptions--Contingent Deferred Sales Charge" 

                                       31
<PAGE>

in the Prospectus). Therefore, any shareholder participating in the 
Withdrawal Plan will have sufficient shares redeemed from his or her account 
so that the proceeds (net of any applicable contingent deferred sales charge) 
to the shareholder will be the designated monthly or quarterly amount. 

   The Transfer Agent acts as agent for the shareholder in tendering to the 
Fund for redemption sufficient full and fractional shares to provide the 
amount of the periodic withdrawal payment designated in the application. The 
shares will be redeemed at their net asset value determined, at the 
shareholder's option, on the tenth or twenty-fifth day (or next following 
business day) of the relevant month or quarter and normally a check for the 
proceeds will be mailed by the Transfer Agent, or amounts credited to a 
shareholder's DWR or other selected broker-dealer brokerage account, within 
five business days after the date of redemption. The Withdrawal Plan may be 
terminated at any time by the Fund. 

   Withdrawal Plan payments should not be considered as dividends, yields or 
income. If periodic withdrawal plan payments continuously exceed net 
investment income and net capital gains, the shareholder's original 
investment will be correspondingly reduced and ultimately exhausted. 

   Each withdrawal constitutes a redemption of shares and any gain or loss 
realized must be recognized for federal income tax purposes. Although the 
shareholder may make additional investments of $2,500 or more under the 
Withdrawal Plan, withdrawals made concurrently with purchases of additional 
shares may be inadvisable because of the contingent deferred sales charge 
applicable to the redemption of shares purchased during the preceding six 
years (see "Repurchases and Redemptions--Contingent Deferred Sales Charge"). 

   Any shareholder who wishes to have payments under the Withdrawal Plan made 
to a third party or sent to an address other than the one listed on the 
account must send complete written instructions to the Transfer Agent to 
enroll in the Withdrawal Plan. The shareholder's signature on such 
instructions must be guaranteed by an eligible guarantor acceptable to the 
Transfer Agent (shareholders should contact the Transfer Agent for a 
determination as to whether a particular institution is such an eligible 
guarantor). A shareholder may, at any time, change the amount and interval of 
withdrawal payments through his or her DWR or other selected broker-dealer 
account executive or by written notification to the Transfer Agent. In 
addition, the party and/or the address to which checks are mailed may be 
changed by written notification to the Transfer Agent, with signature 
guarantees required in the manner described above. The shareholder may also 
terminate the Withdrawal Plan at any time by written notice to the Transfer 
Agent. In the event of such termination, the account will be continued as a 
regular shareholder investment account. The shareholder may also redeem all 
or part of the shares held in the Withdrawal Plan account (see "Repurchases 
and Redemptions" in the Prospectus) at any time. Shareholders wishing to 
enroll in the Withdrawal Plan should contact their account executive or the 
Transfer Agent. 

   Direct Investments through Transfer Agent. As discussed in the Prospectus, 
a shareholder may make additional investments in Fund shares at any time by 
sending a check in any amount, not less than $100, payable to TCW/DW Global 
Telecom Trust, directly to the Fund's Transfer Agent. Such amounts will be 
applied to the purchase of Fund shares at the net asset value per share next 
computed after receipt of the check or purchase payment by the Transfer 
Agent. The shares so purchased will be credited to the investor's account. 

EXCHANGE PRIVILEGE 

   As discussed in the Prospectus, the Fund makes available to its 
shareholders an Exchange Privilege whereby shareholders of the Fund may 
exchange their shares for shares of other TCW/DW Funds sold with a contingent 
deferred sales charge ("CDSC Funds"), for shares of TCW/DW North American 
Government Income Trust, TCW/DW Income and Growth Fund and TCW/DW Balanced 
Fund, and for shares of five money market funds for which InterCapital serves 
as investment manager (the foregoing eight non-CDSC funds are hereinafter 
collectively referred to as the "Exchange Funds"). Exchanges may be made 
after the shares of the fund acquired by purchase (not by exchange or 
dividend reinvestment) have been held for thirty days. There is no waiting 
period for exchanges of shares acquired by exchange or dividend reinvestment. 
An exchange will be treated for federal income tax purposes the same as a 
repurchase or redemption of shares, on which the shareholder may realize a 
capital gain or loss. 

   Shareholders utilizing the Fund's Exchange Privilege may subsequently 
re-exchange such shares back to the Fund. However, no exchange privilege is 
available between the Fund and any other fund managed by the Manager or 
InterCapital, except for other TCW/DW Funds and the five money market funds 
listed in the Prospectus. 

                                       32
<PAGE>

   Any new account established through the Exchange Privilege will have the 
same registration and cash dividend or dividend reinvestment plan as the 
present account, unless the Transfer Agent receives written notification to 
the contrary. For telephone exchanges, the exact registration of the existing 
account and the account number must be provided. 

   Any shares held in certificate form cannot be exchanged but must be 
forwarded to the Transfer Agent and deposited into the shareholder's account 
before being eligible for exchange. (Certificates mailed in for deposit 
should not be endorsed.) 

   As described below, and in the Prospectus under the captions "Exchange 
Privilege" and "Contingent Deferred Sales Charge," a contingent deferred 
sales charge ("CDSC") may be imposed upon a redemption, depending on a number 
of factors, including the number of years from the time of purchase until the 
time of redemption or exchange ("holding period"). When shares of the Fund or 
any other CDSC Fund are exchanged for shares of an Exchange Fund, the 
exchange is executed at no charge to the shareholder, without the imposition 
of the CDSC at the time of the exchange. During the period of time the 
shareholder remains in the Exchange Fund (calculated from the last day of the 
month in which the Exchange Fund shares were acquired), the holding period or 
"year since purchase payment made" is frozen. When shares are redeemed out of 
the Exchange Fund, they will be subject to a CDSC which would be based upon 
the period of time the shareholder held shares in the Fund. However, in the 
case of shares exchanged into an Exchange Fund, upon a redemption of shares 
which results in a CDSC being imposed, a credit (not to exceed the amount of 
the CDSC) will be given in an amount equal to the Exchange Fund 12b-1 
distribution fees which are attributable to those shares. Shareholders 
acquiring shares of an Exchange Fund pursuant to this exchange privilege may 
exchange those shares back into the Fund from the Exchange Fund, with no 
charge being imposed on such exchange. The holding period previously frozen 
when shares were first exchanged for shares of an Exchange Fund resumes on 
the last day of the month in which shares of a CDSC Fund are reacquired. A 
CDSC is imposed only upon an ultimate redemption, based upon the time 
(calculated as described above) the shareholder was invested in a CDSC Fund. 

   When shares initially purchased in a CDSC Fund are exchanged for shares of 
an Exchange Fund, the date of purchase of the shares of the fund exchanged 
into, for purposes of the CDSC upon redemption, will be the last day of the 
month in which the shares being exchanged were originally purchased. In 
allocating the purchase payments between funds for purposes of the CDSC the 
amount which represents the current net asset value of shares at the time of 
the exchange which were (i) purchased more than six years prior to the 
exchange and (ii) originally acquired through reinvestment of dividends or 
distributions (all such shares called "Free Shares") will be exchanged first. 
After an exchange, all dividends earned on shares in the Exchange Fund will 
be considered Free Shares. If the exchanged amount exceeds the value of such 
Free Shares, an exchange is made, on a block-by-block basis, of non-Free 
Shares held for the longest period of time. Shares equal to any appreciation 
in the value of non-Free Shares exchanged will be treated as Free Shares, and 
the amount of the purchase payments for the non-Free Shares of the fund 
exchanged into will be equal to the lesser of (a) the purchase payments for, 
or (b) the current net asset value of, the exchanged non-Free Shares. If an 
exchange between funds would result in exchange of only part of a particular 
block of non-Free Shares, then shares equal to any appreciation in the value 
of the block (up to the amount of the exchange) will be treated as Free 
Shares and exchanged first, and the purchase payment for that block will be 
allocated on a pro rata basis between the non-Free Shares of that block to be 
retained and the non-Free Shares to be exchanged. The prorated amount of such 
purchase payment attributable to the retained non-Free Shares will remain as 
the purchase payment for such shares, and the amount of purchase payment for 
the exchanged non-Free Shares will be equal to the lesser of (a) the prorated 
amount of the purchase payment for, or (b) the current net asset value of, 
those exchanged non-Free Shares. Based upon the procedures described in the 
Prospectus under the caption "Contingent Deferred Sales Charge," any 
applicable CDSC will be imposed upon the ultimate redemption of shares of any 
fund, regardless of the number of exchanges since those shares were 
originally purchased. 

   With respect to the redemption or repurchase of shares of the Fund, the 
application of proceeds to the purchase of new shares in the Fund or any 
other of the funds and the general administration of the Exchange Privilege, 
the Transfer Agent acts as agent for the Distributor and for the 
shareholder's selected broker-dealer, if any, in the performance of such 
functions. 

   With respect to exchanges, redemptions or repurchases, the Transfer Agent 
shall be liable for its own negligence and not for the default or negligence 
of its correspondents or for losses in transit. The Fund shall not be liable 
for any default or negligence of the Transfer Agent, the Distributor or any 
selected broker-dealer. 

                                       33
<PAGE>

   The Distributor and any selected broker-dealer have authorized and 
appointed the Transfer Agent to act as their agent in connection with the 
application of proceeds of any redemption of Fund shares to the purchase of 
shares of any other fund and the general administration of the Exchange 
Privilege. No commission or discounts will be paid to the Distributor or any 
selected broker-dealer for any transactions pursuant to this Exchange 
Privilege. 

   Exchanges are subject to the minimum investment requirement and any other 
conditions imposed by each fund. (The minimum initial investment is $5,000 
for Dean Witter Liquid Asset Fund Inc., Dean Witter Tax-Free Daily Income 
Trust, Dean Witter New York Municipal Money Market Trust and Dean Witter 
California Tax-Free Daily Income Trust, although those funds may, at their 
discretion, accept initial investments of as low as $1,000. The minimum 
initial investment for Dean Witter U.S. Government Money Market Trust and for 
all TCW/DW Funds is $1,000.) Upon exchange into an Exchange Fund, the shares 
of that fund will be held in a special Exchange Privilege Account separately 
from accounts of those shareholders who have acquired their shares directly 
from that fund. As a result, certain services normally available to 
shareholders of money market funds, including the check writing feature, will 
not be available for funds held in that account. 

   The Fund, each of the other TCW/DW Funds and each of the money market 
funds may limit the number of times this Exchange Privilege may be exercised 
by any investor within a specified period of time. Also, the Exchange 
Privilege may be terminated or revised at any time by the Fund and/or any of 
the funds for which shares of the Fund have been exchanged, upon such notice 
as may be required by applicable regulatory agencies (presently sixty days 
for termination or material revision), provided that six months prior written 
notice of termination will be given to the shareholders who hold shares of 
Exchange Funds pursuant to this Exchange Privilege, and provided further that 
the Exchange Privilege may be terminated or materially revised without notice 
at times (a) when the New York Stock Exchange is closed for other than 
customary weekends and holidays, (b) when trading on that Exchange is 
restricted, (c) when an emergency exists as a result of which disposal by the 
Fund of securities owned by it is not reasonably practicable or it is not 
reasonably practicable for the Fund fairly to determine the value of its net 
assets, (d) during any other period when the Securities and Exchange 
Commission by order so permits (provided that applicable rules and 
regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission shall govern as to 
whether the conditions prescribed in (b) or (c) exist) or (e) if the Fund 
would be unable to invest amounts effectively in accordance with its 
investment objective, policies and restrictions. 

   The current prospectus for each fund describes its investment objective(s) 
and policies, and shareholders should obtain a copy and examine it carefully 
before investing. An exchange will be treated for federal income tax purposes 
the same as a repurchase or redemption of shares, on which the shareholder 
may realize a capital gain or loss. However, the ability to deduct capital 
losses on an exchange may be limited in situations where there is an exchange 
of shares within ninety days after the shares are purchased. The Exchange 
Privilege is only available in states where an exchange may legally be made. 

   For further information regarding the Exchange Privilege, shareholders 
should contact their DWR or other selected broker-dealer account executive or 
the Transfer Agent. 

REPURCHASES AND REDEMPTIONS 
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

   Redemption. As stated in the Prospectus, shares of the Fund can be 
redeemed for cash at any time at the net asset value per share next 
determined; however, such redemption proceeds may be reduced by the amount of 
any applicable contingent deferred sales charges (see below). If shares are 
held in a shareholder's account without a share certificate, a written 
request for redemption to the Fund's Transfer Agent at P.O. Box 983, Jersey 
City, NJ 07303 is required. If certificates are held by the shareholder, the 
shares may be redeemed by surrendering the certificates with a written 
request for redemption. The share certificate, or an accompanying stock 
power, and the request for redemption, must be signed by the shareholder or 
shareholders exactly as the shares are registered. Each request for 
redemption, whether or not accompanied by a share certificate, must be sent 
to the Fund's Transfer Agent, which will redeem the shares at their net asset 
value next computed (see "Purchase of Fund Shares") after it receives the 
request, and certificate, if any, in good order. Any redemption request 
received after such computation will be redeemed at the next determined net 
asset value. The term "good order" means that the share certificate, if any, 
and request for redemption are properly signed, accompanied by any 
documentation required by the Transfer Agent, and bear signature guarantees 
when required by the Fund or the Transfer Agent. 

                                       34
<PAGE>

If redemption is requested by a corporation, partnership, trust or fiduciary, 
the Transfer Agent may require that written evidence of authority acceptable 
to the Transfer Agent be submitted before such request is accepted. 

   Whether certificates are held by the shareholder or shares are held in a 
shareholder's account, if the proceeds are to be paid to any person other 
than the record owner, or if the proceeds are to be paid to a corporation 
(other than the Distributor or a selected broker-dealer for the account of 
the shareholder), partnership, trust or fiduciary, or sent to the shareholder 
at an address other than the registered address, signatures must be 
guaranteed by an eligible guarantor acceptable to the Transfer Agent 
(shareholders should contact the Transfer Agent for a determination as to 
whether a particular institution is such an eligible guarantor). A stock 
power may be obtained from any dealer or commercial bank. The Fund may change 
the signature guarantee requirements from time to time upon notice to 
shareholders, which may be by means of a revised prospectus. 

   Contingent Deferred Sales Charge. As stated in the Prospectus, a 
contingent deferred sales charge ("CDSC") will be imposed on any redemption 
by an investor if after such redemption the current value of the investor's 
shares of the Fund is less than the dollar amount of all payments by the 
shareholder for the purchase of Fund shares during the preceding six years. 
However, no CDSC will be imposed to the extent that the net asset value of 
the shares redeemed does not exceed: (a) the current net asset value of 
shares purchased more than six years prior to the redemption, plus (b) the 
current net asset value of shares purchased through reinvestment of dividends 
or distributions of the Fund or another TCW/DW Fund (see "Shareholder 
Services--Targeted Dividends"), plus (c) increases in the net asset value of 
the investor's shares above the total amount of payments for the purchase of 
Fund shares made during the preceding six years. The CDSC will be paid to the 
Distributor. 

   In determining the applicability of a CDSC to each redemption, the amount 
which represents an increase in the net asset value of the investor's shares 
above the amount of the total payments for the purchase of shares within the 
last six years will be redeemed first. In the event the redemption amount 
exceeds such increase in value, the next portion of the amount redeemed will 
be the amount which represents the net asset value of the investor's shares 
purchased more than six years prior to the redemption and/or shares purchased 
through reinvestment of dividends or distributions. A portion of the amount 
redeemed which exceeds an amount which represents both such increase in value 
and the value of shares purchased more than six years prior to the redemption 
and/or shares purchased through reinvestment of dividends or distributions 
will be subject to a CDSC. 

   The amount of the CDSC, if any, will vary depending on the number of years 
from the time of payment for the purchase of Fund shares until the time of 
redemption of such shares. For purposes of determining the number of years 
from the time of any payment for the purchase of shares, all payments made 
during a month will be aggregated and deemed to have been made on the last 
day of the month. The following table sets forth the rates of the CDSC: 

                               CONTINGENT DEFERRED 
         YEAR SINCE             SALES CHARGE AS A 
          PURCHASE            PERCENTAGE OF AMOUNT 
        PAYMENT MADE                REDEEMED 
- --------------------------  ----------------------- 

First .....................            5.0% 
Second ....................            4.0% 
Third .....................            3.0% 
Fourth ....................            2.0% 
Fifth .....................            2.0% 
Sixth .....................            1.0% 
Seventh and thereafter  ...            None 


   In determining the rate of the CDSC, it will be assumed that a redemption 
is made of shares held by the investor for the longest period of time within 
the applicable six-year period. This will result in any such CDSC being 
imposed at the lowest possible rate. Accordingly, shareholders may redeem, 
without incurring any CDSC, amounts equal to any net increase in the value of 
their shares above the amount of their purchase payments made within the past 
six years and amounts equal to the current value of shares purchased more 
than six years prior to the redemption and shares purchased through 
reinvestment of dividends or distributions. The CDSC will be imposed, in 
accordance with the table shown above, on any redemptions within six years of 
purchase which are in excess of these amounts and which redemptions are not 
(a) requested within one year of death or initial determination of disability 
of a shareholder, or (b) made pursuant to certain taxable distributions from 
retirement plans or retirement accounts, as described in the Prospectus. 

                                       35
<PAGE>

   Payment for Shares Repurchased or Redeemed. As discussed in the 
Prospectus, payment for shares presented for repurchase or redemption will be 
made by check within seven days after receipt by the Transfer Agent of the 
certificate and/or written request in good order. The term good order means 
that the share certificate, if any, and request for redemption are properly 
signed, accompanied by any documentation required by the Transfer Agent, and 
bear signature guarantees when required by the Fund or the Transfer Agent. 
Such payment may be postponed or the right of redemption suspended at times 
(a) when the New York Stock Exchange is closed for other than customary 
weekends and holidays, (b) when trading on that Exchange is restricted, (c) 
when an emergency exists as a result of which disposal by the Fund of 
securities owned by it is not reasonably practicable or it is not reasonably 
practicable for the Fund fairly to determine the value of its net assets, or 
(d) during any other period when the Securities and Exchange Commission by 
order so permits; provided that applicable rules and regulations of the 
Securities and Exchange Commission shall govern as to whether the conditions 
prescribed in (b) or (c) exist. If the shares to be redeemed have recently 
been purchased by check, payment of the redemption proceeds may be delayed 
for the minimum time needed to verify that the check used for investment has 
been honored (not more than fifteen days from the time of receipt of the 
check by the Transfer Agent). Shareholders maintaining margin accounts with 
DWR or another selected broker-dealer are referred to their account executive 
regarding restrictions on redemption of shares of the Fund pledged in the 
margin account. 

   Transfers of Shares. In the event a shareholder requests a transfer of any 
shares to a new registration, such shares will be transferred without sales 
charge at the time of transfer. With regard to the status of shares which are 
either subject to the contingent deferred sales charge or free of such charge 
(and with regard to the length of time shares subject to the charge have been 
held), any transfer involving less than all of the shares in an account will 
be made on a pro-rata basis (that is, by transferring shares in the same 
proportion that the transferred shares bear to the total shares in the 
account immediately prior to the transfer). The transferred shares will 
continue to be subject to any applicable contingent deferred sales charge as 
if they had not been so transferred. 

   Reinstatement Privilege. As discussed in the Prospectus, a shareholder who 
has had his or her shares redeemed or repurchased and has not previously 
exercised this reinstatement privilege may within thirty days after the date 
of redemption or repurchase reinstate any portion or all of the proceeds of 
such redemption or repurchase in shares of the Fund at the net asset value 
next determined after a reinstatement request, together with such proceeds, 
is received by the Transfer Agent. 

   Exercise of the reinstatement privilege will not affect the federal income 
tax treatment of any gain or loss realized upon the redemption or repurchase, 
except that if the redemption or repurchase resulted in a loss and 
reinstatement is made in shares of the Fund, some or all of the loss, 
depending on the amount reinstated, will not be allowed as a deduction for 
federal income tax purposes, but will be applied to adjust the cost basis of 
the shares acquired upon reinstatement. 

DIVIDENDS, DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES 
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

   As discussed in the Prospectus, the Fund will determine either to 
distribute or to retain all or part of any net long-term capital gains in any 
year for reinvestment. If any such gains are retained, the Fund will pay 
federal income tax thereon, and shareholders will be required to include such 
undistributed gains in their taxable income and will be able to claim their 
share of the tax paid by the Fund as a credit against their individual 
federal income tax. In addition, shareholders are entitled to increase their 
tax basis of their investment by their pro rata share of the undistributed 
gain net of the tax paid by the Fund on such gain. 

   Gains or losses on sales of securities by the Fund will be long-term 
capital gains or losses if the securities have been held by the Fund for more 
than twelve months. Gains or losses on the sale of securities held for twelve 
months or less will be short-term gains or losses. 

   Any dividend or capital gains distribution received by a shareholder from 
any investment company will have the effect of reducing the net asset value 
of the shareholder's stock in that company by the exact amount of the 
dividend or capital gains distribution. Furthermore, capital gains 
distributions and dividends are subject to federal income taxes. If the net 
asset value of the shares should be reduced below a shareholder's cost as a 
result of the payment of dividends or the distribution of realized net 
long-term capital gains, such payment or distribution would be in part a 
return of the shareholder's investment to the extent of such reduction below 
the shareholder's 

                                       36
<PAGE>

cost, but nonetheless would be fully taxable at either ordinary or capital 
gain rates. Therefore, an investor should consider the tax implications of 
purchasing Fund shares immediately prior to a dividend or distribution record 
date. 

   Shareholders are urged to consult their attorneys or tax advisers 
regarding specific questions as to federal, state or local taxes. 

PERFORMANCE INFORMATION 
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

   As discussed in the Prospectus, from time to time the Fund may quote its 
"total return" in advertisements and sales literature. The Fund's "average 
annual total return" represents an annualization of the Fund's total return 
over a particular period and is computed by finding the annual percentage 
rate which will result in the ending redeemable value of a hypothetical 
$1,000 investment made at the beginning of a one, five or ten year period, or 
for the period from the date of commencement of the Fund's operations, if 
shorter than any of the foregoing. For periods of less than one year, the 
Fund quotes its total return on a non-annualized basis. 

   
   The Fund may compute its aggregate total return for specified periods by 
determining the aggregate percentage rate which will result in the ending 
value of a hypothetical $1,000 investment made at the beginning of the 
period. For the purpose of this calculation, it is assumed that all dividends 
and distributions are reinvested. The formula for computing aggregate total 
return involves a percentage obtained by dividing the ending value by the 
initial $1,000 investment and subtracting 1 from the result. The ending 
redeemable value is reduced by any contingent deferred sales charge at the 
end of the period. Based on the foregoing calculation, the Fund's total 
return for the period August 28, 1996 (commencement of operations) through 
November 30, 1996 was 2.00%. 

   In addition to the foregoing, the Fund may advertise its total return over 
different periods of time by means of aggregate, average, year-by-year or 
other types of total return figures. Such calculations may or may not reflect 
the deduction of the contingent deferred charge which, if reflected, would 
reduce the performance quotes. For example, the total return of the Fund may 
be calculated in the manner described above, but without deduction of any 
applicable contingent deferred sales charge. Based on this calculation, the 
aggregate total return of the Fund for the period August 28, 1996 through 
November 30, 1996 was 7.00%. 

   The Fund may also advertise the growth of hypothetical investments of 
$10,000, $50,000 and $100,000 in shares of the Fund by adding 1 to the Fund's 
aggregate total return to date (expressed as a decimal and without taking 
into account the effect of any applicable CDSC) and multiplying by $10,000, 
$50,000 or $100,000, as the case may be. Investments of $10,000, $50,000 and 
$100,000 in the Fund at inception would have grown to $10,700, $53,500 and 
$107,000, respectively, at November 30, 1996. 
    

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

DESCRIPTION OF SHARES 
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

   The shareholders of the Fund are entitled to a full vote for each full 
share held. The Trustees were elected by InterCapital as the then sole 
shareholder of the Fund prior to the public offering of the Fund's shares. 
The Trustees themselves have the power to alter the number and the terms of 
office of the Trustees, and they may at any time lengthen their own terms or 
make their terms of unlimited duration and appoint their own successors, 
provided that always at least a majority of the Trustees has been elected by 
the shareholders of the Fund. Under certain circumstances the Trustees may be 
removed by action of the Trustees. The shareholders also have the right to 
remove the Trustees following a meeting called for that purpose requested in 
writing by the record holders of not less than ten percent of the Fund's 
outstanding shares. The voting rights of shareholders are not cumulative, so 
that holders of more than 50 percent of the shares voting can, if they 
choose, elect all Trustees being selected, while the holders of the remaining 
shares would be unable to elect any Trustees. 

   
   The Declaration of Trust permits the Trustees to authorize the creation of 
additional series of shares (the proceeds of which would be invested in 
separate, independently managed portfolios) and additional classes of shares 
within any series (which would be used to distinguish among the rights of 
different categories of shareholders, as might be required by future 
regulations or other unforeseen circumstances). The Trustees have not 
presently authorized any such additional series or classes of shares. 
    

                                       37
<PAGE>

   The Declaration of Trust provides that no Trustee, officer, employee or 
agent of the Fund is liable to the Fund or to a shareholder, nor is any 
Trustee, officer, employee or agent liable to any third persons in connection 
with the affairs of the Fund, except as such liability may arise from his own 
bad faith, willful misfeasance, gross negligence, or reckless disregard of 
his duties. It also provides that all third persons shall look solely to the 
Fund's property for satisfaction of claims arising in connection with the 
affairs of the Fund. With the exceptions stated, the Declaration of Trust 
provides that a Trustee, officer, employee or agent is entitled to be 
indemnified against all liabilities in connection with the affairs of the 
Fund. 

   The Fund is authorized to issue an unlimited number of shares of 
beneficial interest. The Fund shall be of unlimited duration subject to the 
provisions of the Declaration of Trust concerning termination by action of 
the shareholders. 

CUSTODIAN AND TRANSFER AGENT 
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

   
   The Chase Manhattan Bank, One Chase Plaza, New York, New York 10005 is the 
Custodian of the Fund's assets. Any of the Fund's cash balances with the 
Custodian in excess of $100,000 are unprotected by federal deposit insurance. 
Such balances may, at times, be substantial. 

   Dean Witter Trust Company, Harborside Financial Center, Plaza Two, Jersey 
City, New Jersey 07311 is the Transfer Agent of the Fund's shares and 
Dividend Disbursing Agent for payment of dividends and distributions on Fund 
shares and Agent for shareholders under various investment plans described 
herein. Dean Witter Trust Company is an affiliate of Dean Witter Services 
Company Inc., the Fund's Manager, and of Dean Witter Distributors Inc., the 
Fund's Distributor. As Transfer Agent and Dividend Disbursing Agent, Dean 
Witter Trust Company's responsibilities include maintaining shareholder
accounts, disbursing cash dividends and reinvesting dividends, processing
account registration changes, handling purchase and redemption transactions,
mailing prospectuses and reports, mailing and tabulating proxies, processing
share certificate transactions, and maintaining shareholder records and lists.
For these services Dean Witter Trust Company receives a per shareholder account
fee.
    

INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS 
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

   Price Waterhouse LLP serves as the independent accountants of the Fund. 
The independent accountants are responsible for auditing the annual financial 
statements of the Fund. 

REPORTS TO SHAREHOLDERS 
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

   The Fund will send to shareholders, at least semi-annually, reports 
showing the Fund's portfolio and other information. An annual report 
containing financial statements audited by independent accountants will be 
sent to shareholders each year. 

   
   The Fund's fiscal year ends on May 31. The financial statements of the 
Fund must be audited at least once a year by independent accountants whose 
selection is made annually by the Fund's Board of Trustees. 
    

LEGAL COUNSEL 
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

   Sheldon Curtis, Esq., who is an officer and the General Counsel of the 
Manager, is an officer and the General Counsel of the Fund. 

EXPERTS 
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

   The Statement of Assets and Liabilities of the Fund included in this 
Statement of Additional Information and incorporated by reference in the 
Prospectus has been so included and incorporated in reliance on the report of 
Price Waterhouse LLP, independent accountants, given on the authority of said 
firm as experts in auditing and accounting. 

                                       38
<PAGE>

REGISTRATION STATEMENT 
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

   This Statement of Additional Information and the Prospectus do not contain 
all of the information set forth in the Registration Statement the Fund has 
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The complete Registration 
Statement may be obtained from the Securities and Exchange Commission upon 
payment of the fee prescribed by the rules and regulations of the Commission. 

                                       39
<PAGE>

TCW/DW GLOBAL TELECOM TRUST 
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS 
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

To the Shareholder and Trustees of TCW/DW Global Telecom Trust 

In our opinion, the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities presents 
fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of TCW/DW Global 
Telecom Trust (the "Fund") at June 19, 1996, in conformity with generally 
accepted accounting principles. This financial statement is the 
responsibility of the Fund's management; our responsibility is to express an 
opinion on this financial statement based on our audit. We conducted our 
audit of this financial statement in accordance with generally accepted 
auditing standards which require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain 
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statement is free of 
material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence 
supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statement, assessing 
the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, 
and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that 
our audit provides a reasonable basis for the opinion expressed above. 


PRICE WATERHOUSE LLP 
1177 Avenue of the Americas 
New York, New York 10036 
June 20, 1996 

                                       40
<PAGE>

TCW/DW GLOBAL TELECOM TRUST 
STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES AT JUNE 19, 1996 
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S>                                                                                    <C>
 ASSETS: 
 Cash ................................................................................   $100,000 
 Deferred organizational expenses (Note 1) ...........................................    158,225 
                                                                                       ---------- 
   Total Assets ......................................................................    258,225 
LIABILITIES: 
 Organizational expenses payable (Note 1) ............................................    158,225 
 Commitments (Notes 1 and 2) ......................................................... 
                                                                                       ---------- 
   Net Assets ........................................................................   $100,000 
                                                                                       ========== 
Net Asset Value Per Share (10,000 shares of beneficial interest outstanding; unlimited 
 authorized shares of beneficial interest of $.01 par value) .........................   $  10.00 
                                                                                       ---------- 
</TABLE>
- --------------

   NOTE 1--TCW/DW Global Telecom Trust (the "Fund") was organized as a 
Massachusetts business trust on March 28, 1996. To date the Fund has had no 
transactions other than those relating to organizational matters and the sale 
of 10,000 shares of beneficial interest for $100,000 to Dean Witter 
InterCapital Inc. (the "Manager"). The Fund is registered under the 
Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "Act"), as a open-end, 
diversified management investment company. Organizational expenses of the 
Fund incurred prior to the offering of the Fund's shares will be paid by the 
Manager. It is currently estimated that the Manager will incur and be 
reimbursed by the Fund for approximately $158,225 in organizational expenses. 
These expenses will be deferred and amortized by the Fund on the 
straight-line method over a period not to exceed five years from the date of 
commencement of the Fund's operations. In the event that at any time during 
the five year period beginning with the date of the commencement of 
operations the initial shares acquired by the Manager prior to such date are 
redeemed, by any holder thereof, the redemption proceeds payable in respect 
of such shares will be reduced by the pro rata share (based on the 
proportionate share of the initial shares redeemed to the total number of 
original shares outstanding at the time of redemption) of the then 
unamortized deferred organizational expenses as of the date of such 
redemption. In the event that the Fund liquidates before the deferred 
organizational expenses are fully amortized, the Manager shall bear such 
unamortized deferred organizational expenses. 

   NOTE 2--The Fund has entered into a management agreement with the Manager. 
Certain officers and/or trustees of the Fund are officers and/or directors of 
the Manager. The Fund has retained the Manager to manage the Fund's business 
affairs, supervise the overall day-to-day operations of the Fund (other than 
rendering investment advice) and provide all administrative services to the 
Fund. Under the terms of the Management Agreement, the Manager maintains 
certain of the Fund's books and records and furnishes, at its own expense, 
such office space, facilities, equipment, supplies, clerical help and 
bookkeeping and certain legal services as the Fund may reasonably require in 
the conduct of its business, including the preparation of prospectuses, 
statements of additional information, proxy statements and reports required 
to be filed with federal and state securities commissions (except insofar as 
the participation or assistance of independent accountants and attorneys is, 
in the opinion of the Manager, necessary or desirable). In addition, the 
Manager pays the salaries of all personnel, including officers of the Fund, 
who are employees of the Manager. The Manager also bears the cost of the 
Fund's telephone service, heat, light, power and other utilities. 

   As full compensation for the services and facilities furnished to the Fund 
and expenses of the Fund assumed by the Manager, the Fund will pay the 
Manager monthly compensation calculated daily by applying the annual rate of 
0.60% to the daily net assets of the Fund determined as of the close of each 
business day. 

   Pursuant to an investment advisory agreement (the "Advisory Agreement") 
with TCW Funds Management, Inc. (the "Adviser") the Fund has retained the 
Adviser to invest the Fund's assets, including the placing of orders for the 
purchase and sale of portfolio securities. The Adviser obtains and evaluates 
such information and advice relating to the economy, securities markets, and 
specific securities as it considers necessary or useful to continuously 
manage the assets of the Fund in a manner consistent with its investment 
objective. In addition, the Adviser pays the salaries of all personnel, 
including officers of the Fund, who are employees of the Adviser. 

                                       41
<PAGE>

   As full compensation for the services and facilities furnished to the Fund 
and expenses of the Fund assumed by the Adviser, the Fund pays the Adviser 
monthly compensation calculated daily by applying the annual rate of 0.40% to 
the daily net assets of the Fund determined as of the close of each business 
day. 

   Shares of the Fund will be distributed by Dean Witter Distributors Inc. 
(the "Distributor"), an affiliate of the Manager, during the initial and 
continuous offering of the Fund's shares. The Fund has adopted a Plan of 
Distribution pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Act (the "Plan"). The Plan 
provides that the Distributor will bear the expense of all promotional and 
distribution related activities on behalf of the Fund, including the payment 
of commissions for sales of the Fund's shares and incentive compensation to 
and expenses of Dean Witter Reynolds Inc. ("DWR"), an affiliate of the 
Manager, account executives and others who engage in or support distribution 
of shares or who service shareholder accounts, including overhead and 
telephone expenses; printing and distribution of prospectuses and reports 
used in connection with the offering of the Fund's shares to other than 
current shareholders; and preparation, printing and distribution of sales 
literature and advertising materials. In addition, the Distributor may 
utilize fees paid pursuant to the Plan to compensate DWR and other selected 
broker-dealers for their opportunity costs in advancing such amounts, which 
compensation would be in the form of a carrying charge on any unreimbursed 
distribution expenses. 

   To compensate the Distributor for the services it or any selected dealer 
provides and for the expenses it bears under the Plan, the Fund will pay the 
Distributor compensation accrued daily and payable monthly at the annual rate 
of 1.00% of the lesser of; (a) the average daily aggregate gross sales of the 
Fund's shares since the inception of the Fund (not including reinvestments of 
dividends or capital gains distributions), less the average daily aggregate 
net asset value of the Fund's shares redeemed since the Fund's inception upon 
which a contingent deferred sales charge has been imposed or waived; or (b) 
the Fund's average daily net assets. 

   Dean Witter Trust Company (the "Transfer Agent"), an affiliate of the 
Manager and the Distributor, is the transfer agent of the Fund's shares, 
dividend disbursing agent for payment of dividends and distributions on Fund 
shares and agent for shareholders under various investment plans. 

   The Manager has undertaken to assume all Fund expenses (except for the 
Plan of Distribution fee, foreign taxes withheld and/or brokerage fees) and 
to waive the compensation provided for in its Management Agreement and the 
Adviser has undertaken to waive the compensation provided for in its Advisory 
Agreement, until such time as the Fund had $50 million of net assets or until 
six months from the date of commencement of the Fund's operations, whichever 
occurs first. 

                                       42
<PAGE>

APPENDIX 
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

RATINGS OF CORPORATE DEBT INSTRUMENTS 

MOODY'S INVESTORS SERVICE, INC. ("MOODY'S") 

                                 BOND RATINGS 

Aaa      Bonds which are rated Aaa are judged to be of the best quality. They
         carry the smallest degree of investment risk and are generally
         referred to as "gilt edge." Interest payments are protected by a large
         or by an exceptionally stable margin and principal is secure. While
         the various protective elements are likely to change, such changes as
         can be visualized are most unlikely to impair the fundamentally strong
         position of such issues.

Aa       Bonds which are rated Aa are judged to be of high quality by all
         standards. Together with the Aaa group they comprise what are
         generally known as high grade bonds. They are rated lower than the
         best bonds because margins of protection may not be as large as in Aaa
         securities or fluctuation of protective elements may be of greater
         amplitude or there may be other elements present which make the
         long-term risks appear somewhat larger than in Aaa securities.

A        Bonds which are rated A possess many favorable investment attributes
         and are to be considered as upper medium grade obligations. Factors
         giving security to principal and interest are considered adequate, but
         elements may be present which suggest a susceptibility to impairment
         sometime in the future.

Baa      Bonds which are rated Baa are considered as medium grade obligations;
         i.e., they are neither highly protected nor poorly secured. Interest
         payments and principal security appear adequate for the present but
         certain protective elements may be lacking or may be
         characteristically unreliable over any great length of time. Such
         bonds lack outstanding investment characteristics and in fact have
         speculative characteristics as well. Bonds rated Aaa, Aa, A and Baa
         are considered investment grade bonds.

Ba       Bonds which are rated Ba are judged to have speculative elements;
         their future cannot be considered as well assured. Often the
         protection of interest and principal payments may be very moderate,
         and therefore not well safeguarded during both good and bad times in
         the future. Uncertainty of position characterizes bonds in this class.

B        Bonds which are rated B generally lack characteristics of a desirable
         investment. Assurance of interest and principal payments or of
         maintenance of other terms of the contract over any long period of
         time may be small.

Caa      Bonds which are rated Caa are of poor standing. Such issues may be in
         default or there may be present elements of danger with respect to
         principal or interest.

Ca       Bonds which are rated Ca present obligations which are speculative in
         a high degree. Such issues are often in default or have other marked
         shortcomings.

C        Bonds which are rated C are the lowest rated class of bonds, and
         issues so rated can be regarded as having extremely poor prospects of
         ever attaining any real investment standing.

   Rating Refinements: Moody's may apply numerical modifiers, 1, 2, and 3 in 
each generic rating classification from Aa through B in its municipal bond 
security rating system. The modifier 1 indicates that the security ranks in 
the higher end of its generic rating category; the modifier 2 indicates a 
mid-range ranking; and a modifier 3 indicates that the issue ranks in the 
lower end if its generic rating category. 

                           COMMERCIAL PAPER RATINGS 

   Moody's Commercial Paper ratings are opinions of the ability to repay 
punctually promissory obligations not having an original maturity in excess 
of nine months. The ratings apply to Municipal Commercial Paper as well as 
taxable Commercial Paper. Moody's employs the following three designations, 
all judged to be investment grade, to indicate the relative repayment 
capacity of rated issuers: Prime-1, Prime-2, Prime-3. 

                                       43
<PAGE>

   Issuers rated Prime-1 have a superior capacity for repayment of short-term 
promissory obligations. Issuers rated Prime-2 have a strong capacity for 
repayment of short-term promissory obligations; and Issuers rated Prime-3 
have an acceptable capacity for repayment of short-term promissory 
obligations. Issuers rated Not Prime do not fall within any of the Prime 
rating categories. 

STANDARD & POOR'S CORPORATION ("STANDARD & POOR'S") 

                                 BOND RATINGS 

   A Standard & Poor's bond rating is a current assessment of the 
creditworthiness of an obligor with respect to a specific obligation. This 
assessment may take into consideration obligors such as guarantors, insurers, 
or lessees. 

   The ratings are based on current information furnished by the issuer or 
obtained by Standard & Poor's from other sources it considers reliable. The 
ratings are based, in varying degrees, on the following considerations: 
(1) likelihood of default-capacity and willingness of the obligor as to the 
timely payment of interest and repayment of principal in accordance with the 
terms of the obligation; (2) nature of and provisions of the obligation; and 
(3) protection afforded by, and relative position of, the obligation in the 
event of bankruptcy, reorganization or other arrangement under the laws of 
bankruptcy and other laws affecting creditors' rights. 

   Standard & Poor's does not perform an audit in connection with any rating 
and may, on occasion, rely on unaudited financial information. The ratings 
may be changed, suspended or withdrawn as a result of changes in, or 
unavailability of, such information, or for other reasons. 

AAA      Debt rated "AAA" has the highest rating assigned by Standard & Poor's.
         Capacity to pay interest and repay principal is extremely strong.

AA       Debt rated "AA" has a very strong capacity to pay interest and repay
         principal and differs from the highest-rated issues only in small
         degree.

A        Debt rated "A" has a strong capacity to pay interest and repay
         principal although they are somewhat more susceptible to the adverse
         effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions than debt
         in higher-rated categories.

BBB      Debt rated "BBB" is regarded as having an adequate capacity to pay
         interest and repay principal. Whereas it normally exhibits adequate
         protection parameters, adverse economic conditions or changing
         circumstances are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity to pay
         interest and repay principal for debt in this category than for debt
         in higher-rated categories. Bonds rated AAA, AA, A and BBB are
         considered investment grade bonds.

BB       Debt rated "BB" has less near-term vulnerability to default than other
         speculative grade debt. However, it faces major ongoing uncertainties
         or exposure to adverse business, financial or economic conditions
         which could lead to inadequate capacity or willingness to pay interest
         and repay principal.

B        Debt rated "B" has a greater vulnerability to default but presently
         has the capacity to meet interest payments and principal repayments.
         Adverse business, financial or economic conditions would likely impair
         capacity or willingness to pay interest and repay principal.

CCC      Debt rated "CCC" has a current identifiable vulnerability to default,
         and is dependent upon favorable business, financial and economic
         conditions to meet timely payments of interest and repayments of
         principal. In the event of adverse business, financial or economic
         conditions, it is not likely to have the capacity to pay interest and
         repay principal.

CC       The rating "CC" is typically applied to debt subordinated to senior
         debt which is assigned an actual or implied "CCC" rating.

C        The rating "C" is typically applied to debt subordinated to senior
         debt which is assigned an actual or implied "CCC" rating.

                                       44
<PAGE>

Cl       The rating "Cl" is reserved for income bonds on which no interest is
         being paid.

NR       Indicates that no rating has been requested, that there is
         insufficient information on which to base a rating or that Standard &
         Poor's does not rate a particular type of obligation as a matter of
         policy.

         Debt rated "BB", "B", "CCC", "CC" and "C" are regarded as having
         predominantly speculative characteristics with respect to capacity to
         pay interest and repay principal. "BB" indicates the least degree of
         speculation and "C" the highest degree of speculation. While such debt
         will likely have some quality and protective characteristics, these
         are outweighed by large uncertainties or major risk exposures to
         adverse conditions.

         Plus (+) or minus (-): The rating from "AA" to "CCC" may be modified
         by the addition of a plus or minus sign to show relative standing
         within the major ratings categories.

                           COMMERCIAL PAPER RATINGS 

   Standard and Poor's commercial paper rating is a current assessment of the 
likelihood of timely payment of debt having an original maturity of no more 
than 365 days. The commercial paper rating is not a recommendation to 
purchase or sell a security. The ratings are based upon current information 
furnished by the issuer or obtained by S&P from other sources it considers 
reliable. The ratings may be changed, suspended, or withdrawn as a result of 
changes in or unavailability of such information. Ratings are graded into 
group categories, ranging from "A" for the highest quality obligations to "D" 
for the lowest. Ratings are applicable to both taxable and tax-exempt 
commercial paper. The categories are as follows: 

   Issues assigned A ratings are regarded as having the greatest capacity for 
timely payment. Issues in this category are further refined with the 
designation 1, 2, and 3 to indicate the relative degree of safety. 

A-1      indicates that the degree of safety regarding timely payment is very
         strong.

A-2      indicates capacity for timely payment on issues with this designation
         is strong. However, the relative degree of safety is not as
         overwhelming as for issues designated "A-1".

A-3      indicates a satisfactory capacity for timely payment. Obligations
         carrying this designation are, however, somewhat more vulnerable to
         the adverse effects of changes in circumstances than obligations
         carrying the higher designations.

                                       45
<PAGE>

                          TCW/DW GLOBAL TELECOM TRUST

                           PART C OTHER INFORMATION


Item 24.  Financial Statements and Exhibits

     (a) Financial Statements

          (1)  Financial statements included in the Prospectus (Part A):

               Financial Highlights for the period August 28, 1996
               (commencement of operations) through November 30,
               1996 (unaudited)............................................   5

               Portfolio of Investments at November 30, 1996 (unaudited)...  25

               Summary of Investments at November 30, 1996 (unaudited).....  28

               Statement of Assets and Liabilities at November 30, 1996 
               (unaudited).................................................  29

               Statement of Operations for the period August 28, 1996
               (commencement of operations) through November 30, 1996
               (unaudited).................................................  29

               Statement of Changes in Net Assets for the period August 28,
               1996 (commencement of operations) through November 30, 
               1996 (unaudited)............................................  29

               Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited)...................  30

          (2)  Financial Statements included in the Statement of 
               Additional Information (Part B):

               Statement of Assets and Liabilities at June 19, 1996 .......  41

          (3)  Financial statements included in the Part C:

               None.

     (b) Exhibits

Exhibit
Number    Description
- ------    -----------

2.   --   Amended and Restated By-Laws of the Registrant

11.  --   Consent of Independent Accountants

16.  --   Schedule for Computation of Performance Quotations

27.  --   Financial Data Schedule


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




                                       1

<PAGE>





Item 25.  Persons Controlled by or Under Common Control With Registrant.

          None.

Item 26.  Number of Holders of Securities.

         (1)                               (2)
          
                                Number of Record Holders
     Title of Class              at  December 9, 1996
     --------------             ------------------------

Shares of Beneficial Interest            14,156

Item 27.  Indemnification.

          Pursuant to Section 5.3 of the Registrant's Declaration of Trust and
     under Section 4.8 of the Registrant's By-Laws, the indemnification of the
     Registrant's trustees, officers, employees and agents is permitted if it
     is determined that they acted under the belief that their actions were in
     or not opposed to the best interest of the Registrant, and, with respect
     to any criminal proceeding, they had reasonable cause to believe their
     conduct was not unlawful. In addition, indemnification is permitted only
     if it is determined that the actions in question did not render them
     liable by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross 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

                                       2

<PAGE>



     Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been
     settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate
     jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against
     public policy as expressed in the Act, and will be governed by the final
     adjudication of such issue.

          The Registrant hereby undertakes that it will apply the
     indemnification provision of its by-laws in a manner consistent with
     Release 11330 of the Securities and Exchange Commission under the
     Investment Company Act of 1940, so long as the interpretation of Sections
     17(h) and 17(i) of such Act remains in effect.

          Registrant, in conjunction with the Manager, Registrant's Trustees,
     and other registered investment management companies managed by the
     Manager, maintains insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a
     Trustee, officer, employee, or agent of Registrant, or who is or was
     serving at the request of Registrant as a trustee, director, officer,
     employee or agent of another trust or corporation, against any liability
     asserted against him and incurred by him or arising out of his position.
     However, in no event will Registrant maintain insurance to indemnify any
     such person for any act for which Registrant itself is not permitted to
     indemnify him.

Item 28.  Business and Other Connections of Investment Adviser.

          The TCW Funds Management, Inc. (the "Adviser") is a 100% owned
     subsidiary of The TCW Group, Inc., a Nevada corporation. The Adviser
     presently serves as investment adviser to: (1) TCW Funds, Inc., a
     diversified open-end management investment company, (2) TCW Convertible
     Securities Fund, Inc., a diversified closed-end management investment
     company; (3) TCW/DW Core Equity Trust, an open-end, non-diversified
     management company, (4) TCW/DW North American Government Income Trust, an
     open-end, non-diversified management company, (5) TCW/DW Income and
     Growth Fund, an open-end, non-diversified management company, (6) TCW/DW
     Latin American Growth Fund, an open-end non-diversified management
     company, (7) TCW/DW Small Cap Growth Fund, an open-end non-diversified
     management company, (8) TCW/DW Term Trust 2000, a closed-end, diversified
     management company, (9) TCW/DW Term Trust 2002, a closed-end diversified
     management company, (10) TCW/DW Term Trust 2003, a closed-end diversified
     management company, (11) TCW/DW Balanced Fund, an open-end, diversified
     management company, (12) TCW/DW Emerging Markets Opportunities Trust, a
     closed-end, non-diversified management company, (13) TCW/DW Mid-Cap
     Equity Trust, an open-end, diversified management company, (14) TCW/DW
     Total Return Trust, an open-end non-diversified management investment
     company, (15) TCW/DW Global Telecom Trust, an open-end diversified
     management company and (16) TCW/DW Strategic Income Trust, an open-end
     diversified management investment company. The Adviser also serves as
     investment adviser or sub-adviser to other investment companies,
     including foreign investment companies. The list required by this Item 28
     of the officers and directors of the Adviser together with information as
     to any other business, profession, vocation or employment of a
     substantive nature engaged




                                       3

<PAGE>




     in by the Adviser and such officers and directors during the past two
     years, is incorporated by reference to Form ADV (File No. 801- 29075)
     filed by the Adviser pursuant to the Investment Advisers Act.


Item 29.  Principal Underwriters.

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

 (1)     Dean Witter Liquid Asset Fund Inc.
 (2)     Dean Witter Tax-Free Daily Income Trust
 (3)     Dean Witter California Tax-Free Daily Income Trust
 (4)     Dean Witter Retirement Series
 (5)     Dean Witter Dividend Growth Securities Inc.
 (6)     Dean Witter Natural Resource Development Securities Inc.
 (7)     Dean Witter World Wide Investment Trust
 (8)     Dean Witter Capital Growth Securities
 (9)     Dean Witter Convertible Securities Trust
(10)     Active Assets Tax-Free Trust
(11)     Active Assets Money Trust
(12)     Active Assets California Tax-Free Trust
(13)     Active Assets Government Securities Trust
(14)     Dean Witter Global Utilities Fund
(15)     Dean Witter Federal Securities Trust
(16)     Dean Witter U.S. Government Securities Trust
(17)     Dean Witter High Yield Securities Inc.
(18)     Dean Witter New York Tax-Free Income Fund
(19)     Dean Witter Tax-Exempt Securities Trust
(20)     Dean Witter California Tax-Free Income Fund
(21)     Dean Witter Limited Term Municipal Trust
(22)     Dean Witter World Wide Income Trust
(23)     Dean Witter Utilities Fund
(24)     Dean Witter Strategist Fund
(25)     Dean Witter New York Municipal Money Market Trust
(26)     Dean Witter Intermediate Income Securities
(27)     Prime Income Trust
(28)     Dean Witter European Growth Fund Inc.
(29)     Dean Witter Developing Growth Securities Trust
(30)     Dean Witter Precious Metals and Minerals Trust
(31)     Dean Witter Pacific Growth Fund Inc.
(32)     Dean Witter Multi-State Municipal Series Trust
(33)     Dean Witter Premier Income Trust
(34)     Dean Witter Short-Term U.S. Treasury Trust
(35)     Dean Witter Diversified Income Trust
(36)     Dean Witter Health Sciences Trust
(37)     Dean Witter Global Dividend Growth Securities
(38)     Dean Witter American Value Fund
(39)     Dean Witter U.S. Government Money Market Trust
(40)     Dean Witter Global Short-Term Income Fund Inc.
(41)     Dean Witter Variable Investment Series
(42)     Dean Witter Value-Added Market Series
(43)     Dean Witter Short-Term Bond Fund
(44)     Dean Witter National Municipal Trust
(45)     Dean Witter High Income Securities

                                       4

<PAGE>



(46)     Dean Witter International SmallCap Fund 
(47)     Dean Witter Hawaii Municipal Trust 
(48)     Dean Witter Balanced Growth Fund 
(49)     Dean Witter Balanced IncomeFund 
(50)     Dean Witter Intermediate Term U.S. Treasury Trust
(51)     Dean Witter Global Asset Allocation Fund 
(52)     Dean Witter Mid-Cap Growth Fund 
(53)     Dean Witter Capital Appreciation Fund 
(54)     Dean Witter Hawaii Municipal Trust 
(55)     Dean Witter Intermediate Term U.S. Treasury Trust
(56)     Dean Witter InformationFund 
(57)     Dean Witter Japan Fund 
(58)     Dean Witter Special Value Fund
 (1)     TCW/DW Core Equity Trust
 (2)     TCW/DW North American Government Income Trust
 (3)     TCW/DW Latin American Growth Fund 
 (4)     TCW/DW Income and Growth Fund
 (5)     TCW/DW Small Cap Growth Fund 
 (6)     TCW/DW Balanced Fund
 (7)     TCW/DW Mid-Cap Equity Trust 
 (8)     TCW/DW Total Return Trust
 (9)     TCW/DW Global Telecom Trust 
(10)     TCW/DW Strategic Income Trust

          (b) The following information is given regarding directors and
     officers of Dean Witter Distributors Inc. ("Distributors"). The principal
     address of Distributors is Two World Trade Center, New York, New York
     10048. 



                                     Positions and Office 
                                     with Distributors 
Name                                 and the Registrant
- ----                                 ------------------

Charles A. Fiumefreddo               Chairman, Chief Executive
                                     Officer and Director of
                                     Distributors and Chairman,
                                     Chief Executive Officer
                                     and Trustee of the
                                     Registrant.

Philip J. Purcell                    Director of Distributors.

Richard M. DeMartini                 Director of Distributors.

James F. Higgins                     Director of Distributors.


Thomas C. Schneider                  Executive Vice President, Chief
                                     Financial Officer and Director
                                     of Distributors.

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

Robert M. Scanlan                    Executive Vice President of
                                     Distributors and Vice President
                                     of the Registrant.


                                       5

<PAGE>




                                     Positions and Office
                                     with Distributors
Name                                 and the Registrant
- ----                                 ------------------

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

Sheldon Curtis                       Senior Vice President,
                                     Assistant General Counsel and
                                     Assistant Secretary of
                                     Distributors and Vice President,
                                     Secretary and General Counsel of
                                     the Registrant.

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

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

Edward C. Oelsner III                Vice President of Distributors.

Samuel Wolcott III                   Vice President of Distributors.

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

Michael Interrante                   Assistant Treasurer of
                                     Distributors.


Item 30.  Location of Accounts and Records

          All accounts, books and other documents required to be maintained by
     Section 31(a) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 and the Rules
     thereunder are maintained by the Manager at its offices, except records
     relating to holders of shares issued by the Registrant, which are
     maintained by the Registrant's Transfer Agent, at its place of business
     as shown in the prospectus.


Item 31.  Management Services

          Registrant is not a party to any such management-related service
     contract.





                                       6

<PAGE>


Item 32.  Undertakings

          Registrant hereby undertakes to furnish each person to whom a
     prospectus is delivered with a copy of the Registrant's latest annual
     report to shareholders, upon request and without charge.

                                       7




<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 20th day of December, 1996.

        
                                          TCW/DW GLOBAL TELECOM TRUST

                                          By /s/ Sheldon Curtis
                                             ------------------
                                                 Sheldon Curtis
                                                 Vice President and Secretary

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 has been signed below by the following persons
in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

         Signatures                      Title                       Date
         ----------                      -----                       ----

(1) Principal Executive Officer          President, Chief
                                         Executive Officer,
                                         Trustee and Chairman
By  /s/ Charles A. Fiumefreddo                                       12/20/96
   ---------------------------
        Charles A. Fiumefreddo

(2) Principal Financial Officer          Treasurer and Principal
                                         Accounting Officer

By  /s/ Thomas F. Caloia                                             12/20/96
   ---------------------------
       Thomas F. Caloia

(3) Majority of the Trustees

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

By  /s/ Sheldon Curtis                                               12/20/96
   ---------------------------
    Sheldon Curtis
        Attorney-in-Fact

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

By  /s/ David M. Butowsky                                            12/20/96
   ---------------------------
        David M. Butowsky
        Attorney-in-Fact



<PAGE>


                          TCW/DW GLOBAL TELECOM TRUST

                                 EXHIBIT INDEX


2.    --   Amended and Restated By-Laws of the Registrant

11.   --   Consent of Independent Accountants

16.   --   Schedule for Computation of Performance Quotations

27.   --   Financial Data Schedule
- ------------------
All other exhibits were previously filed and are hereby incorporated by 
reference.

                                       1


<PAGE>

                                   BY-LAWS 
                                      OF 
                         TCW/DW GLOBAL TELECOM TRUST 
                 AMENDED AND RESTATED AS OF OCTOBER 25, 1996 

                                  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 Global 
Telecom Trust dated March 28, 1996. 

                                  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 

                                1           
<PAGE>
issued and outstanding and entitled to vote thereat, present in person or 
represented by proxy, shall be 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 power 
to adjourn the meeting from time to time. Any adjourned meeting may be held 
as adjourned without further notice. At any adjourned meeting at which a 
quorum shall be present, any business may be transacted as if the meeting had 
been held 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, executed in writing by the Shareholder or his 
duly authorized attorney-in-fact, 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 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. 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. 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. 

   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 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 Corporations Law of the 
State 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 

                                2           
<PAGE>
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 
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 

                                3           
<PAGE>
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). 

    (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. 

                                4           
<PAGE>
   (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 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. 

                                5           
<PAGE>
   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. 

   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. 

                                6           
<PAGE>
   (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. 

   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. 

                                7           
<PAGE>
                                 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. 

                                  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. 

                                8           
<PAGE>
   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 Shareholders entitled to notice 
of, or to vote at, any meeting of Shareholders, or Shareholders entitled to 
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. Such 
date, in any case, shall be not more than ninety (90) days, and in case of a 
meeting of Shareholders not less than ten (10) days, prior to the date on 
which particular action requiring such determination of Shareholders is to be 
taken. 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 such 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. 

                                9           
<PAGE>
                                 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 Global Telecom Trust, dated 
March 28, 1996, a copy of which is on file in the office of the Secretary of 
the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, provides that the name TCW/DW Global 
Telecom 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 Global Telecom 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 Global Telecom Trust, but the Trust Estate only 
shall be liable. 

                               10           







<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. 1 to the registration 
statement on Form N-1A (the "Registration Statement") of our report dated 
June 20, 1996, relating to the statement of assets and liabilities of TCW/DW 
Global Telecom 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 "Independent Accountants" 
and "Experts" in such Statement of Additional Information. 


/s/ Price Waterhouse LLP

PRICE WATERHOUSE LLP 
1177 Avenue of the Americas 
New York, New York 10036 
December 20, 1996 


<PAGE>

              SCHEDULE FOR COMPUTATIONS OF PERFORMANCE QUOTATIONS
                          TCW/DW GLOBAL TELECOM TRUST




(A) AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS (I.E. STANDARDIZED COMPUTATIONS)

                                     _                                    _
                                   |       ______________________  |
FORMULA:                           |      |            |
                                   | /\ n |            ERV     |
                   T  =            |   \  |    -------------  | - 1
                                   |    \ |             P    |
                                   |     \|            |
                                   |_                  _|

                   T = AVERAGE ANNUAL COMPOUND RETURN
                   n = NUMBER OF YEARS
                 ERV = ENDING REDEEMABLE VALUE
                   P = INITIAL INVESTMENT

                                                                        (A)
  $1,000         ERV AS OF    NUMBER OF     AVERAGE ANNUAL      CUMULATIVE
INVESTED - P     30-Nov-96    YEARS - n     COMPOUND RETURN-T   TOTAL RETURN
- ------------     ---------    ---------     -----------------   ------------

 28-Aug-96       $1,020.00       0.26          N/A                 2.00%




(B) TOTAL RETURN WITHOUT DEDUCTION FOR APPLICABLE SALES CHARGE
    (NON STANDARD COMPUTATIONS)
(C) AVERAGE ANNUAL RETURN WITHOUT DEDUCTION FOR APPLICABLE SALES CHARGE
    (NON STANDARD COMPUTATIONS)

                                   _                            _
                                   |       ______________________  |
FORMULA:                           |      |             |
                                   | /\  n |            EV      |
                    t  =           |   \  |       ------------- | - 1
                                   |    \ |             P      |
                                   |     \|             |
                                   |_                   _|

                                        EV
                   TR  =            ----------     - 1
                                         P


                  t = AVERAGE ANNUAL COMPOUND RETURN
                      (NO DEDUCTION FOR APPLICABLE SALES CHARGE)
                  n = NUMBER OF YEARS
                 EV = ENDING VALUE (NO DEDUCTION FOR APPLICABLE SALES CHARGE)
                  P = INITIAL INVESTMENT
                 TR = TOTAL RETURN (NO DEDUCTION FOR APPLICABLE SALES CHARGE)


                                 (B)                        (C)
 $1,000        EV AS OF         TOTAL         NUMBER OF    AVERAGE ANNUAL
INVESTED - P     30-Nov-96     RETURN - TR    YEARS - n    COMPOUND RETURN - t
- ------------   -----------     -----------    ---------    -------------------
28-Aug-96        $1,070.00      7.00%          0.26              N/A

(D)                  GROWTH OF $10,000
(E)                  GROWTH OF $50,000
(F)                  GROWTH OF $100,000

FORMULA:             G= (TR+1)*P
                     G= GROWTH OF INITIAL INVESTMENT
                     P= INITIAL INVESTMENT
                     TR= TOTAL RETURN SINCE INCEPTION

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

              TOTAL        (D) GROWTH OF          (E) GROWTH OF           (F) GROWTH OF
INVESTED - P  RETURN - TR  $10,000 INVESTMENT-G   $50,000 INVESTMENT-G    $100,000 INVESTMENT-G
- ------------  -----------  --------------------   ---------------------   ---------------------
<S>              <C>           <C>                  <C>                     <C>     
   28-Aug-96        7.00          $10,700              $53,500                $107,000
</TABLE>





<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>


<ARTICLE>                                  6
<PERIOD-TYPE>                              6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          MAY-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               NOV-30-1996
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                       91,206,669
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                      97,726,236
<RECEIVABLES>                                1,992,378
<ASSETS-OTHER>                               5,049,986
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                                 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                             104,768,600
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                       549,333
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                              0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                      388,998
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                            938,331
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                      0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                    97,619,568
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                        9,700,081
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                           10,000
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                     (285,674)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                               0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                        (23,069)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                             0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                     6,519,444
<NET-ASSETS>                               103,830,269
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                               81,897
<INTEREST-INCOME>                              185,227
<OTHER-INCOME>                                       0
<EXPENSES-NET>                                 552,798
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                       (285,674)
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                       (23,069)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                    6,519,444
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                        6,210,701
<EQUALIZATION>                                       0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                            0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                             0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                      9,823,222
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                    133,141
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                                  0
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                     103,730,269
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                            0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                           0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                          233,071
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                                552,798
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                        89,548,427
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                            10.00
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                  (0.03)
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                           0.73
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                                 0
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                            0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                                 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                              10.70
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                   2.37
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>                               0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE>                                 0




</TABLE>


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