<PAGE>
AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON OCTOBER 20, 1997
REGISTRATION NO.: 333
811
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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
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FORM N-1A
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 /X/
PRE-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. / /
POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. / /
AND/OR
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940 /X/
AMENDMENT NO. / /
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DEAN WITTER "COMPETITIVE EDGE" TRUST
(A MASSACHUSETTS BUSINESS TRUST)
(EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN CHARTER)
TWO WORLD TRADE CENTER
NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10048
(ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICE)
REGISTRANT'S TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING AREA CODE: (212) 392-1600
BARRY FINK, ESQ.
TWO WORLD TRADE CENTER
NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10048
(NAME AND ADDRESS OF AGENT FOR SERVICE)
------------------------
COPY TO:
DAVID M. BUTOWSKY, ESQ.
GORDON ALTMAN BUTOWSKY
WEITZEN SHALOV & WEIN
114 WEST 47TH STREET
NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10036
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APPROXIMATE DATE OF PROPOSED PUBLIC OFFERING:
As soon as practicable after the effective date of this registration statement.
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THE REGISTRANT HEREBY AMENDS THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON SUCH DATE OR
DATES AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO DELAY ITS EFFECTIVE DATE UNTIL THE REGISTRANT SHALL
FILE A FURTHER AMENDMENT WHICH SPECIFICALLY STATES THAT THE REGISTRATION
STATEMENT SHALL THEREAFTER BECOME EFFECTIVE IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 8(A) OF
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 OR UNTIL THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT SHALL BECOME
EFFECTIVE ON SUCH DATE AS THE COMMISSION, ACTING PURSUANT TO SAID SECTION 8(A),
MAY DETERMINE.
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<PAGE>
DEAN WITTER "COMPETITIVE EDGE" TRUST
CROSS-REFERENCE SHEET
FORM N-1A
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
ITEM CAPTION
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<S> <C>
PART A PROSPECTUS
1. ................................. Cover Page
2. ................................. Prospectus Summary; Summary of Fund
Expenses
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. ................................. Underwriting; Purchase of Portfolio
Shares; Shareholder Services
8. ................................. Redemptions and Repurchases;
Shareholder Services
9. ................................. Not Applicable
PART B 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; The
Distributor; Shareholder Services;
Custodian and Transfer Agent;
Independent Accountants
17. ................................. Portfolio Transactions and Brokerage
18. ................................. Description of Shares
19. ................................. The Distributor; Purchase of Portfolio
Shares; Redemptions and Repurchases;
Statement of Assets and Liabilities;
Shareholder Services
20. ................................. Dividends, Distributions and Taxes
21. ................................. Purchase of Portfolio Shares
22. ................................. Dividends, Distributions and Taxes
23. ................................. Performance Information
</TABLE>
PART C
Information required to be included in Part C is set forth under the
appropriate item, so numbered, in Part C of this Registration Statement.
<PAGE>
DEAN WITTER
"COMPETITIVE EDGE" TRUST
-- "BEST IDEAS" PORTFOLIO
PROSPECTUS-- , 1998
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DEAN WITTER "COMPETITIVE EDGE" TRUST (THE "FUND") IS AN OPEN-END, DIVERSIFIED
MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANY CURRENTLY CONSISTING OF TWO SEPARATE PORTFOLIOS
(COLLECTIVELY THE "PORTFOLIOS"). THE PORTFOLIO COVERED IN THIS PROSPECTUS, THE
"BEST IDEAS" PORTFOLIO (THE " 'BEST IDEAS' PORTFOLIO" OR THE "PORTFOLIO") HAS AN
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE OF LONG-TERM CAPITAL GROWTH AND INVESTS PRIMARILY IN THE
COMMON STOCKS OF U.S. AND NON-U.S. COMPANIES INCLUDED IN THE "BEST IDEAS"
SUBGROUP (THE " 'BEST IDEAS' LIST") OF "GLOBAL INVESTING: THE COMPETITIVE EDGE,"
A RESEARCH COMPILATION ASSEMBLED AND MAINTAINED BY THE MORGAN STANLEY DEAN
WITTER EQUITY RESEARCH DEPARTMENT ("MSDW EQUITY RESEARCH"). SEE "INVESTMENT
OBJECTIVES AND POLICIES."
INITIAL OFFERING--Shares of the "Best Ideas" Portfolio are being offered in an
underwriting by Dean Witter Distributors Inc. at $10.00 per share for Class B,
Class C and Class D shares with all proceeds going to the Fund and at $10.00 per
share plus a sales charge for Class A shares with the sales charge paid to the
Underwriter and the net asset value of $10.00 per share going to the Fund. All
expenses in connection with the organization of the Fund and this offering will
be paid by the Investment Manager and Underwriter except for a maximum of
$250,000 of organizational expenses to be reimbursed by the Fund. The initial
offering will run from approximately , 1998 through 1998.
CONTINUOUS OFFERING--A continuous offering of the shares of the "Best Ideas"
Portfolio will commence approximately two weeks after the closing date of the
initial offering which is anticipated for , 1998. Class B, Class C and
Class D shares will be priced at the net asset value per share and Class A
shares will be priced at the net asset value per share plus a sales charge, in
each case as next determined following receipt of an order.
The "Best Ideas" Portfolio offers four classes of shares (each, a "Class"), each
with a different combination of sales charges, ongoing fees and other features.
The different distribution arrangements permit an investor to choose the method
of purchasing shares that the investor believes is most beneficial given the
amount of the purchase, the length of time the investor expects to hold the
shares and other relevant circumstances. (See "Purchase of Portfolio
Shares--Alternative
Purchase Arrangements.")
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
TABLE OF CONTENTS
<S> <C>
Prospectus Summary................................ 2
Summary of Fund Expenses.......................... 4
The Fund and its Management....................... 5
Investment Objective and Policies................. 5
Risk Considerations............................. 7
Investment Restrictions........................... 10
Underwriting...................................... 11
Purchase of Portfolio Shares...................... 11
Shareholder Services.............................. 18
Redemptions and Repurchases....................... 20
Dividends, Distributions and Taxes................ 21
Performance Information........................... 21
Additional Information............................ 21
</TABLE>
This Prospectus sets forth concisely the information you should know before
investing in the "Best Ideas" Portfolio of the Fund. It should be read and
retained for future reference. Additional information about the "Best Ideas"
Portfolio of the Fund is contained in the Statement of Additional Information,
dated , 1998, which has been filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, and which is available at no charge upon request of the Fund at the
address or telephone numbers listed on this page. The Statement of Additional
Information is incorporated herein by reference.
SHARES OF THE FUND ARE NOT DEPOSITS OR OBLIGATIONS OF, OR GUARANTEED OR ENDORSED
BY, ANY BANK, AND THE SHARES ARE NOT FEDERALLY INSURED BY THE FEDERAL DEPOSIT
INSURANCE CORPORATION, THE FEDERAL RESERVE BOARD, OR ANY OTHER AGENCY.
DEAN WITTER
"COMPETITIVE EDGE" TRUST
TWO WORLD TRADE CENTER
NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10048
(212) 392-2550 or (800) 869-NEWS (toll free)
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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.
DEAN WITTER DISTRIBUTORS INC., DISTRIBUTOR
<PAGE>
PROSPECTUS SUMMARY
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<TABLE>
<S> <C>
THE FUND The Fund is an open-end, diversified management investment company currently consisting of two
separate portfolios. The portfolio covered by this Prospectus, the "Best Ideas" Portfolio (the
" 'Best Ideas' Portfolio" or the "Portfolio"), invests primarily in the common stocks of U.S. and
non-U.S. companies included in the "Best Ideas" subgroup (the " 'Best Ideas' List") of "Global
Investing: The Competitive Edge," a research compilation assembled and maintained by the Morgan
Stanley Dean Witter Equity Research Department ("MSDW Equity Research").
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SHARES OFFERED Shares of beneficial interest with $0.01 par value of the "Best Ideas" Portfolio (see page 21).
The Portfolio offers four Classes of shares, each with a different combination of sales charges,
ongoing fees and other features (see page 11).
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INITIAL Shares of the "Best Ideas" Portfolio are being offered in an underwriting by Dean Witter
OFFERING Distributors Inc. at $10.00 per share for each of Class B, Class C and Class D and $10.00 per
share plus a sales charge for Class A. The minimum purchase for each Class is 100 shares; however,
Class D shares are only available to persons who are otherwise qualified to purchase such shares.
The initial offering will run approximately from , 1998 through , 1998. The
closing will take place on , 1998 or such other date as may be agreed upon by Dean
Witter Distributors Inc. and the Fund (the "Closing Date"). Shares will not be issued and
dividends will not be declared by the Portfolio until after the Closing Date. If any orders
received during the initial offering period are accompanied by payment, such payment will be
returned unless an accompanying request for investment in a Dean Witter money market fund is
received at the time the payment is made. Any purchase order may be cancelled at any time prior to
the Closing Date.
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CONTINUOUS A continuous offering of shares of the "Best Ideas" Portfolio, if any, will commence within
OFFERING/ approximately two weeks after the Closing Date. The minimum initial investment for each Class is
MINIMUM $1,000 ($100 if the account is opened through EasyInvest-SM-). Class D shares are only available
PURCHASE to persons investing $5 million or more and to certain other limited categories of investors. For
the purpose of meeting the minimum $5 million investment for Class D shares, and subject to the
$1,000 minimum initial investment for each Class of the Portfolio, an investor's existing holdings
of Class A shares and shares of funds for which Dean Witter InterCapital serves as investment
manager ("Dean Witter Funds") that are sold with a front-end sales charge, and concurrent
investments in Class D shares of the Portfolio and other Dean Witter Funds that are multiple class
funds will be aggregated. The minimum subsequent investment is $100 (see page 11).
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INVESTMENT The investment objective of the "Best Ideas" Portfolio is long-term capital growth. (see page 5).
OBJECTIVE
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INVESTMENT Dean Witter InterCapital Inc. ("InterCapital"), the Investment Manager of the Fund, and its
MANAGER wholly-owned subsidiary, Dean Witter Services Company Inc., serve in various investment
management, advisory, management and administrative capacities to 102 investment companies and
other portfolios with assets of approximately $ billion at , 1997.
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MANAGEMENT The Investment Manager receives a monthly fee at the annual rate of [ ]% of the Portfolio's
FEE average daily net assets (see page 5).
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UNDERWRITER AND Dean Witter Distributors Inc. (the "Distributor") is the Fund's Underwriter and Distributor. The
DISTRIBUTOR Fund has adopted a distribution plan pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company Act (the
AND "12b-1 Plan") with respect to the distribution fees paid by the Class A, Class B and Class C
DISTRIBUTION FEE shares of the Portfolio to the Distributor. The entire 12b-1 fee payable by Class A and a portion
of the 12b-1 fee payable by each of Class B and Class C equal to 0.25% of the average daily net
assets of the Class are currently each characterized as a service fee within the meaning of the
National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. guidelines. The remaining portion of the 12b-1
fee, if any, is characterized as an asset-based sales charge (see pages 11 and 17).
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ALTERNATIVE Four classes of shares of the "Best Ideas" Portfolio are offered:
PURCHASE
ARRANGEMENTS - Class A shares are offered with a front-end sales charge, starting at 5.25% and reduced for
larger purchases. Investments of $1 million or more (and investments by certain other limited
categories of investors) are not subject to any sales charge at the time of purchase but a
contingent deferred sales charge ("CDSC") of 1.0% may be imposed on redemptions within one year of
purchase. The Fund, on behalf of the Portfolio, is authorized to reimburse the Distributor for
specific expenses incurred in promoting the distribution of the Portfolio's Class A shares and
servicing shareholder accounts pursuant to the Fund's 12b-1 Plan. Reimbursement may in no event
exceed an amount equal to payments at an annual rate of 0.25% of average daily net assets of the
Class of the Portfolio (see pages 11, 14 and 17).
- Class B shares are offered without a front-end sales charge, but will in most cases be subject
to a CDSC (scaled down from 5.0% to 1.0%) if redeemed within six years after purchase. The CDSC
will be imposed on any redemption of shares if after such redemption the aggregate current value
of a Class B account with the Portfolio falls below the aggregate amount of the investor's
purchase payments made during the six years preceding the redemption. A different CDSC schedule
applies to investments by certain qualified plans. Class B shares are also subject to a 12b-1 fee
assessed at the annual rate of 1.0% of the average daily net assets of Class B of the Portfolio.
Class B shares convert to Class A shares approximately ten years after the date of the original
purchase (see pages 11, 15 and 17).
- Class C shares are offered without a front-end sales charge, but will in most cases be subject
to a CDSC of 1.0% if redeemed within one year after purchase. The Fund, on behalf of the
Portfolio, is authorized to reimburse the Distributor for specific expenses incurred in promoting
the distribution of the Portfolio's Class C shares and servicing shareholder accounts pursuant to
the Fund's 12b-1 Plan. Reimbursement may in no event
</TABLE>
2
<PAGE>
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<TABLE>
<S> <C>
exceed an amount equal to payments at an annual rate of 1.0% of average daily net assets of the
Class of the Portfolio (see pages 11, 16 and 17).
- Class D shares are offered only to investors meeting an initial investment minimum of $5 million
and to certain other limited categories of investors. Class D shares are offered without a
front-end sales charge or CDSC and are not subject to any 12b-1 fee (see pages 11, 16 and 17).
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DIVIDENDS AND Dividends from net investment income and distributions from net capital gains, if any, are paid at
CAPITAL GAINS least once per year. The Portfolio may, however, determine to retain all or part of any net
DISTRIBUTIONS long-term capital gains in any year for reinvestment. Dividends and capital gains distributions
paid on shares of a Class are automatically reinvested in additional shares of the same Class at
net asset value unless the shareholder elects to receive cash. Shares acquired by dividend and
distribution reinvestment will not be subject to any sales charge or CDSC (see pages 18 and 21).
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REDEMPTION Shares of the Portfolio are redeemable by the shareholder at net asset value less any applicable
CDSC on Class A, Class B or Class C shares. An account may be involuntarily redeemed if the total
value of the account is less than $100 or, if the account was opened through EasyInvest-SM-, if
after twelve months the shareholder has invested less than $1,000 in the account (see page 20).
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RISK An investment in the "Best Ideas" Portfolio should be considered a long-term holding and subject
CONSIDERATIONS to all the risks associated with investing in equity securities of companies in domestic and
foreign markets. The net asset value of the Portfolio's shares will fluctuate with changes in the
market value of its portfolio securities, and therefore, will increase or decrease due to a
variety of economic, market or political factors which cannot be predicted. There can be no
assurance that the securities contained in the "Best Ideas" List, which currently consists of only
40 companies, will perform as anticipated by MSDW Equity Research. Past performance of securities
and issuers included in the "Best Ideas" List cannot be used to predict future results of the
Portfolio, which is actively managed by the Investment Manager and the results of which are
expected to vary from the performance of the "Best Ideas" List. It should be recognized that
foreign securities and markets in which the Portfolio may invest pose different and greater risks
than those customarily associated with domestic securities and their markets such as fluctuations
in foreign currency exchange rates (i.e., if a substantial portion of the Portfolio's assets is
denominated in foreign currencies which decrease in value with respect to the U.S. dollar, the
value of the investor's shares and the distributions made on those shares will, likewise, decrease
in value), foreign securities exchange controls and foreign tax rates. The Portfolio may enter
into repurchase agreements which entail certain risks and may utilize certain investment
techniques including options and futures transactions and forward foreign currency exchange
transactions which may be considered speculative in nature and may involve greater risks than
those customarily assumed by other investment companies which do not utilize such instruments.
(See pages 7-10).
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</TABLE>
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
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The following table illustrates all expenses and fees that a shareholder of the
Portfolio will incur. The expenses and fees set forth in the table are based on
the fees and estimated other expenses for the fiscal period ending ,
1998.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
SHAREHOLDER TRANSACTION EXPENSES CLASS A CLASS B CLASS C CLASS D
----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Maximum Sales Charge Imposed on Purchases (as a
percentage of offering price)........................... 5.25%(1) None None None
Sales Charge Imposed on Dividend Reinvestments........... None None None None
Maximum Contingent Deferred Sales Charge (as a percentage
of original purchase price or redemption proceeds)...... None(2) 5.00%(3) 1.00%(4) None
Redemption Fees.......................................... None None None None
Exchange Fee............................................. None None None None
<CAPTION>
ANNUAL FUND OPERATING EXPENSES (AS A PERCENTAGE OF
AVERAGE NET ASSETS)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Management Fees..........................................
12b-1 Fees (5) (6)....................................... 0.25% 1.00% 1.00% None
Other Expenses*.......................................... % % % %
Total Fund Operating Expenses* (7)....................... % % % %
</TABLE>
- ------------------------------
* The Investment Manager has agreed to assume all operating expenses (except
for brokerage and 12b-1 fees) for the Portfolio until such time as the
Portfolio has $50 million of net assets or until six months from commencement
of the Fund's operations, whichever occurs first.
(1) Reduced for purchases of $25,000 and over (see "Purchase of Fund
Shares--Initial Sales Charge Alternative--Class A Shares").
(2) Investments that are not subject to any sales charge at the time of purchase
are subject to a CDSC of 1.00% that will be imposed on redemptions made
within one year after purchase, except for certain specific circumstances
(see "Purchase of Fund Shares--Initial Sales Charge Alternative--Class A
Shares").
(3) The CDSC is scaled down to 1.00% during the sixth year, reaching zero
thereafter.
(4) Only applicable to redemptions made within one year after purchase (see
"Purchase of Fund Shares--Level Load Alternative--Class C Shares").
(5) The 12b-1 fee is accrued daily and payable monthly. The entire 12b-1 fee
payable by Class A and a portion of the 12b-1 fee payable by each of Class B
and Class C of each Portfolio equal to 0.25% of the average daily net assets
of the Class are currently each characterized as a service fee within the
meaning of National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. ("NASD")
guidelines and are payments made for personal service and/or maintenance of
shareholder accounts. The remainder of the 12b-1 fee, if any, 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 each Portfolio of the Fund's
shares (see "Purchase of Fund Shares--Plan of Distribution").
(6) Upon conversion of Class B shares to Class A shares, such shares will be
subject to the lower 12b-1 fee applicable to Class A shares. No sales charge
is imposed at the time of conversion of Class B shares to Class A shares.
Class C shares do not have a conversion feature and, therefore, are subject
to an ongoing 1.00% distribution fee (see "Purchase of Fund
Shares--Alternative Purchase Arrangements").
(7) "Total Fund Operating Expenses," as shown above with respect to each Class,
are based upon the sum of 12b-1 Fees, and estimated "Other Expenses."
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
EXAMPLE 1 YEAR 3 YEARS
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<S> <C> <C>
You would pay the following expenses on a $1,000 investment in the Portfolios assuming
(1) a 5% annual return and (2) redemption at the end of each time period:
Class A............................................................................ $ $
Class B............................................................................ $ $
Class C............................................................................ $ $
Class D............................................................................ $ $
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
EXAMPLE 1 YEAR 3 YEARS
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<S> <C> <C>
You would pay the following expenses on the same $1,000 investment in the Portfolios
assuming no redemption at the end of the period:
Class A............................................................................ $ $
Class B............................................................................ $ $
Class C............................................................................ $ $
Class D............................................................................ $ $
</TABLE>
The purpose of this table is to assist the investor in understanding the various
costs and expenses that an investor in the Portfolio will bear directly or
indirectly. For a more complete description of these costs and expenses, see
"The Fund and its Management," "Purchase of Fund Shares--Plan of Distribution"
and "Redemptions and Repurchases."
Long-term shareholders of Class B and Class C 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>
THE FUND AND ITS MANAGEMENT
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Dean Witter "Competitive Edge" 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 the
Commonwealth of Massachusetts on , 1997.
Dean Witter InterCapital Inc. ("InterCapital or the "Investment Manager"),
whose address is Two World Trade Center, New York, New York 10048, is the Fund's
Investment Manager. The Investment Manager, which was incorporated in July,
1992, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Morgan Stanley, Dean Witter, Discover &
Co., a preeminent global financial services firm that maintains leading market
positions in each of its three primary businesses--securities, asset management
and credit services.
InterCapital and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Dean Witter Services Company
Inc., serve in various investment management, advisory, management and
administrative capacities to 102 investment companies, thirty of which are
listed on the New York Stock Exchange, with combined assets of approximately
$ billion as of , 1997. The Investment Manager also manages and
advises portfolios of pension plans, other institutions and individuals which
aggregated approximately $ billion at such date.
The Fund has retained the Investment Manager to provide administrative
services, manage its business affairs and manage the investment of the Fund's
assets, which includes the allocation of the Portfolio's assets principally
among the securities on the "Best Ideas" List. InterCapital has retained Dean
Witter Services Company Inc. to perform the aforementioned administrative
services for the Fund. The Fund's Board of Trustees reviews the various services
provided by or under the direction of the Investment Manager to ensure that each
Portfolio'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
Portfolio and for expenses of the Portfolio incurred by the Investment Manager,
the Fund pays the Investment Manager monthly compensation calculated daily by
applying the annual rate of [ ]% of the Portfolio's net assets. The Portfolio's
expenses include: the fee of the Investment Manager, the fee pursuant to the
Plan of Distribution (see "Purchase of Fund Shares"); taxes; transfer agent,
custodian, auditing fees; and certain legal fees, and printing and other
expenses relating to the Portfolio's operations which are not expressly assumed
by the Investment Manager under its Investment Management Agreement with the
Fund. The Investment Manager has agreed to assume all operating expenses (except
for brokerage and 12b-1 fees) for the Portfolio until such time as the Portfolio
has $50 million of net assets or until six months from commencement of the
Portfolio's operations, whichever occurs first.
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE AND POLICIES
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Fund currently consists of two separate portfolios. The investment
objective of the portfolio contained in this Prospectus, the "Best Ideas"
Portfolio (the " 'Best Ideas' Portfolio" or the "Portfolio") is long-term
capital growth. The objective of the Portfolio is a fundamental policy and may
not be changed without shareholder approval. There is no assurance that the
objective of the Portfolio will be achieved.
The "Best Ideas" Portfolio seeks to achieve its investment objective by
investing, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of its net assets in the
common stock (including depository receipts, such as ADRs or EDRs) of U.S. and
non-U.S. companies included in the "Best Ideas" subgroup (the " 'Best Ideas'
List") of "Global Investing: The Competitive Edge," a research compilation
assembled and maintained by the Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Equity Research
Department ("MSDW Equity Research") (the "Competitive Edge List") and such
Supplemental Securities (as defined below) chosen by the Investment Manager from
the Competitive Edge List.
MSDW EQUITY RESEARCH. MSDW Equity Research is recognized as a world leader in
global financial research and provides comprehensive research and in-depth
knowledge about general markets and specific companies from around the world. It
believes that companies with a sustainable competitive edge in the operations of
their businesses are worth more than their weaker competitors and that these
companies can be expected to earn higher returns on each incremental dollar
invested in their businesses. Through its on-going research and analysis, MSDW
Equity Research has developed and undertaken a comprehensive study which it
calls "Global Investing: The Competitive Edge" which represents the list of
those companies.
Specifically, MSDW Equity Research group's research analysts and strategists
presently evaluate approximately 2,000 companies in 21 industry sectors
worldwide. The initial comprehensive review for the Competitive Edge List was
conducted in October 1996 and identified 238 companies from the MSDW Equity
Research companies under coverage (then nearly 1,650) as having a long-term
sustainable competitive advantage in the global arena. While the criteria used
to select companies that have a global competitive advantage vary according to
industry sector, these companies typically are large capitalization companies,
5
<PAGE>
have strong management and/or have a global presence. The Competitive Edge List
is currently updated annually. Principally from this group, it then assembled
its "Best Ideas" List, a subgroup of 40 companies which it considered at that
time to be the most attractive investment opportunities of the companies
evaluated by MSDW Equity Research. When selecting the companies for its "Best
Ideas" List, MSDW Equity Research may not necessarily take into account country
or currency risk, and country or industry sector diversification concerns and,
accordingly, the Portfolio may be highly concentrated in any one industry or
country. In addition, as the Portfolio principally invests in the securities of
companies on the "Best Ideas" List, which currently consists of 40 companies,
the Portfolio will invest in a relatively small universe of securities. The
"Best Ideas" List is currently updated quarterly. Although the "Best Ideas" List
is not a fixed number, MSDW Equity Research presently intends to attempt to keep
the number of "Best Ideas" common stocks at approximately 40 companies.
The Portfolio intends to invest in all the companies on the "Best Ideas"
List generally on an equally-weighted basis; that is, to the extent practicable
and subject to the specific investment policies and restrictions described
below, an approximately equal portion of the Portfolio's assets is invested in
each security included on the "Best Ideas" List. However, the weightings will
fluctuate based on the price appreciation or depreciation of each security or
based on the decision of the Investment Manager to vary the weighting of certain
holdings in response to its perception of changes in economic conditions and
international and/or domestic markets provided that, under normal circumstances,
at least 1% and not more than 5% of the Portfolio's net assets will be invested
in each company on the "Best Ideas" List, determined at the time of investment.
Notwithstanding the above restrictions, the Investment Manager may eliminate
or reduce its holdings in one or more securities on the "Best Ideas" List below
1% of the Portfolio's net assets, in the following circumstances: (a) the stock
is no longer publicly traded, such as in the case of a leveraged buyout or
merger; (b) in the view of the Investment Manager, there is a material adverse
development with respect to a company, including but not limited to the
downgrading of the company's rating by MSDW Equity Research; (c) concerns that,
in view of the price of the company's securities, the depth of the market in
those securities and the amount of those securities held or to be held by the
Portfolio, retaining shares of that company or making additional purchases would
be inadvisable because of liquidity concerns; or (d) the diversification and
other requirements that apply to registered investment companies. The Investment
Manager will monitor on an ongoing basis all companies falling within any of the
circumstances described in this paragraph, and will increase such company's
shares to the Portfolio's holdings when and if those conditions cease to exist.
The Portfolio will purchase any security which is added to the "Best Ideas"
List, and will sell the stock of a company which is eliminated from the "Best
Ideas" List, and any related Supplemental Security (as defined below), as soon
as practicable. Accordingly, securities may be purchased and sold by the
Portfolio when such purchases and sales would not be made under traditional
investment criteria.
If a security on the "Best Ideas" List is weighted under 5% in the Portfolio
or eliminated from the Portfolio, the Portfolio may purchase supplemental
securities ("Supplemental Securities") that are not included on the "Best Ideas"
List but are on the Competitive Edge List and are rated "Strong Buy" or
"Outperform" by MSDW Equity Research. Supplemental Securities will generally be
selected by the Investment Manager from the same or similar industry sector as
the security which they are supplementing or replacing and, collectively with
the security they are supplementing or replacing, will have a weighting of no
more than 5% of the Portfolio, determined at the time of investment.
The Portfolio may invest up to 20% of its total assets in money market
instruments or cash. The money market instruments in which the Fund may invest
are securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government (Treasury bills,
notes and bonds (including zero coupon securities)) American bank obligations;
Eurodollar certificates of deposit; obligations of American savings
institutions; fully insured certificates of deposit; and commercial paper of
American issuers rated within the two highest grades by Moody's Investors
Service Inc. ("Moody's") or Standard & Poor's Corporation ("S&P") or, if not
rated, issued by a company having an outstanding debt issue rated at least AA by
S&P or Aa by Moody's.
There may be periods during which market conditions warrant reduction of
some or all of the Portfolio's securities holdings. During such periods, the
Portfolio may adopt a temporary "defensive" posture in which up to 100% of each
Portfolio's net assets are invested in cash or money market instruments.
The Portfolio may also enter into repurchase agreements, which may be viewed
as a type of secured lending by a Portfolio, and which typically involve the
acquisition by the Portfolio of debt securities from a selling financial
institution such as a bank, savings and loan association or broker-dealer. The
agreement provides that the Portfolio 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, including the risks of
default or bankruptcy of the selling financial institution, the Portfolio
follows procedures designed to minimize such risks. These procedures include
effecting repurchase transactions only with large, well-capitalized and
well-established financial institutions and maintaining adequate
collateralization. It is the current policy of the Portfolio not to
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invest in repurchase agreements that do not mature within seven days if any such
investment amounts to more than 15% of the Portfolio's net assets in keeping
with its policy on illiquid securities.
RISK CONSIDERATIONS AND INVESTMENT PRACTICES
The net asset value of the Portfolio's shares will fluctuate with changes in the
market value of its portfolio securities. The market value of the Portfolio's
portfolio securities will increase or decrease due to a variety of economic,
market or political factors which cannot be predicted. A general description and
the risks involved of the various investment practices and techniques which the
Portfolio may engage in is set forth below. A more detailed discussion can be
found in this Fund's Statement of Additional Information.
"BEST IDEAS" SELECTION. The net asset value of the Portfolio will fluctuate
depending upon, among other things, the performance of the securities included
on the "Best Ideas" List, which currently consists of 40 companies and which is
only updated quarterly. There can be no assurance that the securities contained
in the "Best Ideas" List will perform as anticipated by MSDW Equity Research.
The selection of companies on the "Best Ideas" List is a subjective
determination by MSDW Equity Research. Past performance of the securities and
issuers included in the "Best Ideas" List cannot be used to predict future
results of the Portfolio, which is actively managed by the Investment Manager
and the results of which are expected to vary from the performance of the "Best
Ideas" List.
FOREIGN SECURITIES. Investors should carefully consider the risks of investing
in securities of foreign issuers and securities denominated in non-U.S.
currencies. Fluctuations in the relative rates of exchange between the
currencies of different nations will affect the value of a fund's investments.
Changes in foreign currency exchange rates relative to the U.S. dollar will
affect the U.S. dollar value of a funds' assets denominated in that currency and
thereby impact upon the fund's total return on such assets.
Foreign currency exchange rates are determined by forces of supply and
demand on the foreign exchange markets. These forces are themselves affected by
the international balance of payments and other economic and financial
conditions, government intervention, speculation and other factors. Moreover,
foreign currency exchange rates may be affected by the regulatory control of the
exchanges on which the currencies trade.
Investments in foreign securities will also occasion risks relating to
political and economic developments abroad, including the possibility of
expropriations or confiscatory taxation, limitations on the use or transfer of a
fund's 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 fund trades effected in such markets. Inability to dispose of
portfolio securities due to settlement delays could result in losses to a 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.
The foreign securities in which the Portfolio will be investing in may be
issued by issuers located in developing countries. Compared to the United States
and other developed countries, developing countries may have relatively unstable
governments, economies based on only a few industries, and securities markets
which trade a small number of securities. Prices of these securities tend to be
especially volatile and, in the past, securities in these countries have offered
greater potential for gain (as well as loss) than securities of companies
located in developed countries.
FORWARD FOREIGN CURRENCY EXCHANGE CONTRACTS. The Portfolio may enter into
forward foreign currency exchange contracts ("forward contracts") in connection
with their foreign securities investments.
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.
A fund may enter into forward contracts as a hedge against fluctuations in
future foreign exchange rates.
A fund will enter into forward contracts under various circumstances. When a
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
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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 Investment Manager 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 Portfolio 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 Portfolio's securities holdings (or securities which the Portfolio has
purchased for its portfolio) denominated in such foreign currency. Under
identical circumstances, the Portfolio 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 Investment Manager 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 Investment Manager 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 Portfolio 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
Portfolio 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 Portfolio'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 Portfolio will have realized fewer gains than had it 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 Portfolio
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 Investment Manager. The Portfolio 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 Portfolio 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.
OPTIONS AND FUTURES TRANSACTIONS. The Portfolio 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 Portfolio.
The Portfolio 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 Portfolio may
write covered put options, under which the Portfolio 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 Portfolio may purchase listed and OTC call and put options in amounts
equalling up to 5% of its total assets. The Portfolio may purchase call options
to close out a covered call position or to 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 Portfolio
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 Portfolio's ability to purchase
call and put options other than compliance with the foregoing policies.
The Portfolio 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 Portfolio 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 Portfolio 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 Portfolio
may purchase or sell
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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 Portfolio 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 Portfolio incurs an obligation to deliver the
specified amount of the underlying obligation at a specified time in return for
an agreed upon price.
The Portfolio 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 Portfolio 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 Portfolio 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 Investment Manager 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 Portfolio 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 Portfolio 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 a
fund's portfolio securities and their denominated currencies. See the Statement
of Additional Information for a further discussion of these risks.
REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS. The Portfolio may enter into repurchase agreements,
which may be viewed as a type of secured lending, and which typically involve
the acquisition by the Portfolio of debt securities, from a selling financial
institution such as a bank, savings and loan association or broker-dealer. The
agreement provides that the Portfolio 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, including the risks of
default or bankruptcy of the selling financial institution, the Portfolio
follows procedures to minimize such risks. These procedures include effecting
repurchase transactions only with large, well-capitalized and well-established
financial institutions and maintaining adequate collateralization.
PRIVATE PLACEMENTS. The Portfolio may invest up to 15% of its total assets in
securities which are subject to restrictions on resale because they have not
been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities
Act"), or which are otherwise not readily marketable. (Securities eligible for
resale pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act, and determined to be
liquid pursuant to the procedures discussed in the following paragraph, are not
subject to the foregoing restriction.) These securities are generally referred
to as private placements or restricted securities. Limitations on the resale of
such securities may have an adverse effect on their marketability, and may
prevent a fund from disposing of them promptly at reasonable prices. The
Portfolio 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 a fund to sell restricted securities to qualified
institutional buyers without limitation. The Investment Manager, pursuant to
procedures adopted by the Trustees of the Fund, will make a determination as to
the liquidity of each restricted security purchased by the Portfolio. If a
restricted 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 Portfolio's net assets.
RIGHTS AND WARRANTS. The Portfolio may acquire rights
and/or warrants which are attached to other securities in its portfolio, or
which are issued as a distribution by the issuer of a security held in its
portfolio. Rights and/or warrants are, in effect, options 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 corporation issuing them.
SECURITIES RECEIPTS. The Portfolio may also invest in securities of foreign
issuers in the form of American Depository Receipts (ADRs), European Depository
Receipts (EDRs) or other similar securities convertible into securities of
foreign issuers. These securities may not necessarily be
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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.
LENDING OF PORTFOLIO SECURITIES. Consistent with applicable regulatory
requirements, the Portfolio may lend its portfolio securities to brokers,
dealers and other financial institutions, provided that such loans are callable
at any time by the Portfolio (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
Investment Manager to be creditworthy and when the income which can be earned
from such loans justifies the attendant risks.
For additional risk disclosure, please refer to the "Investment Objective
and Policies" section of the Prospectus and to the "Investment Practices and
Policies" section of the Statement of Additional Information.
Except as specifically noted, all investment policies and practices
discussed above are not fundamental policies of the Portfolio or the Fund and,
as such, may be changed without shareholder approval.
PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT
The "Best Ideas" Portfolio is managed by the Investment Manager with a view to
achieving the Portfolio's investment objective. The assets of the Portfolio are
managed within InterCapital's Group, which manages equity fund and fund
portfolios with approximately $ billion in assets as of , 1997.
[ ] is the primary portfolio manager of the Fund. [Experience]
Although the Portfolio does not intend to engage in short-term trading of
portfolio securities as a means of achieving its investment objective, it may
sell portfolio securities without regard to the length of time they have been
held whenever such sale will in the Investment Manager's opinion strengthen the
Portfolio's position and contribute to its investment objective.
Substantially all of the orders for transactions in portfolio securities and
commodities listed on exchanges are expected to be placed for the Portfolio with
Morgan Stanley & Co., Inc., ("Morgan Stanley") an affiliate of the Investment
Manager. In addition to Morgan Stanley, the Portfolio may place such orders with
a number of brokers and dealers, including other brokers and dealers that are
affiliates of the Investment Manager. The Fund may incur brokerage commissions
on transactions conducted through such affiliates. Transactions effected through
Morgan Stanley and other affiliates are effected pursuant to procedures adopted
by the Fund's Board of Trustees that are designed to ensure that the commissions
paid to such affiliated brokers or dealers are not more than the commissions
expected to be paid to unaffiliated brokers or dealers in a commensurate
arms-length transaction. Pursuant to an order of the Securities and Exchange
Commission, the Fund may effect principal transactions in certain money market
instruments with Dean Witter Reynolds Inc. ("DWR"). It is not anticipated that
the portfolio trading will result in the Portfolio's portfolio turnover rate
exceeding 100% in any one year. The Portfolio will incur brokerage costs
commensurate with its portfolio turnover rate. See "Dividends, Distributions and
Taxes" for a discussion of the tax implications of the Portfolio's trading
policy.
INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS
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The investment restrictions listed below are among the restrictions which have
been adopted by the Fund as fundamental policies of the Portfolios. Under the
Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "Act"), a fundamental policy may
not be changed with respect to a Portfolio, without the vote of a majority of
the outstanding voting securities of that Portfolio, 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.
Each Portfolio of the Fund may not:
1. As to 75% of its total 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), except that the Portfolio may invest all or substantially
all of its assets in another registered investment company having the same
investment objective and policies and substantially the same investment
restrictions as the Portfolio (a "Qualifying Portfolio").
2. As to 75% of its total assets, purchase more than 10% of all outstanding
voting securities or any class of securities of
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any one issuer, except that the Portfolio may invest all or substantially all of
its assets in a Qualifying Portfolio.
3. Invest 25% or more of the value of its total assets in securities of
issuers in any one industry. This restriction does not apply to obligations
issued or guaranteed by the United States Government or its agencies or
instrumentalities.
4. Borrow money except a bank for temporary or emergency purposes, including
the meeting of redemption requests in an amount not exceeding 33 1/3% of the
value of each Portfolio's total assets (including the amount borrowed) valued at
market less liabilities (not including the amount borrowed) at the time the
borrowing is made.
UNDERWRITING
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Dean Witter Distributors Inc. (the "Underwriter") has agreed to purchase up to
10,000,000 shares from the "Best Ideas" Portfolio, which number may be increased
or decreased in accordance with the Underwriting Agreement. The initial offering
will run approximately from , 1998 through , 1998. The
Underwriting Agreement provides that the obligation of the Underwriter is
subject to certain conditions precedent and that the Underwriter will be
obligated to purchase the shares on , 1998, or such other date as
may be agreed upon by the Underwriter and the Portfolio (the "Closing Date").
Shares will not be issued and dividends will not be declared by the Portfolio
until after the Closing Date. For this reason, payment is not required to be
made prior to the Closing Date. If any orders received during the initial
offering period are accompanied by payment, such payment will be returned unless
an accompanying request for investment in a Dean Witter money market fund is
received at the time the payment is made. Prospective investors in money market
funds should request and read the money market fund prospectus prior to
investing. All such funds received and invested in a Dean Witter money market
fund will be automatically invested in the Portfolio on the Closing Date without
any further action by the investor. Any investor may cancel his or her purchase
of Portfolio shares without penalty at any time prior to the Closing Date.
The Underwriter will purchase Class B, Class C and Class D shares from the
Portfolio at $10.00 per share with all proceeds going to the Portfolio and will
purchase Class A shares at $10.00 per share plus a sales charge with the sales
charge paid to the Underwriter and the net asset value of $10.00 per share going
to the Portfolio. The Underwriter may, however, receive contingent deferred
sales charges from future redemptions of Class A, Class B and Class C shares
(see "Purchase of Portfolio Shares--Continuous Offering").
The Underwriter shall, regardless of its expected underwriting commitment,
be entitled and obligated to purchase only the number of shares for which
purchase orders have been received by the Underwriter prior to 2:00 p.m., New
York time, on the third business day preceding the Closing Date, or such other
date as may be agreed to between the parties.
The minimum number of Fund shares which may be purchased by any shareholder
pursuant to this offering is 100 shares. Certificates for shares purchased will
not be issued unless requested by the shareholder in writing.
PURCHASE OF PORTFOLIO SHARES--CONTINUOUS OFFERING
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GENERAL
The "Best Ideas" Portfolio of the Fund offers each class of its shares for sale
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 Investment Manager, shares of the Portfolio of the Fund are
distributed by the Distributor and offered by DWR and other dealers which have
entered into 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 "Best Ideas" Portfolio of the Fund offers four classes of shares (each,
a "Class"). Class A shares are sold to investors with an initial sales charge
that declines to zero for larger purchases; however, Class A shares sold without
an initial sales charge are subject to a contingent deferred sales charge
("CDSC") of 1.0% if redeemed within one year of purchase, except for certain
specific circumstances. Class B shares are sold without an initial sales charge
but are subject to a CDSC (scaled down from 5.0% to 1.0%) payable upon most
redemptions within six years after purchase. (Class B shares purchased by
certain qualified employer-sponsored benefit plans are subject to a CDSC scaled
down from 2.0% to 1.0% if redeemed within three years after purchase.) Class C
shares are sold without an initial sales charge but are subject to a CDSC of
1.0% on most redemptions made within one year after purchase. Class D shares are
sold without an initial sales charge or CDSC and are available only to investors
meeting an initial investment minimum of $5 million, and to certain other
limited categories of investors. At the discretion of the Board of Trustees of
the Fund, Class A shares may be sold to categories of investors in addition to
those set forth in this prospectus at net asset value without a front-end sales
charge, and Class D shares may be sold to certain other categories of
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investors, in each case as may be described in the then current prospectus of
the Portfolio. See "Alternative Purchase Arrangements--Selecting a Particular
Class" for a discussion of factors to consider in selecting which Class of
shares to purchase.
The minimum initial purchase is $1,000 for each Class of shares, although
Class D shares are only available to persons investing $5 million or more and to
certain other limited categories of investors. For the purpose of meeting the
minimum $5 million initial investment for Class D shares, and subject to the
$1,000 minimum initial investment for each Class of the Portfolio, an investor's
existing holdings of Class A shares of the Portfolio and other Dean Witter Funds
that are multiple class funds ("Dean Witter Multi-Class Funds") and shares of
Dean Witter Funds sold with a front-end sales charge ("FSC Funds") and
concurrent investments in Class D shares of the Portfolio and other Dean Witter
Multi-Class Funds will be aggregated. Subsequent purchases of $100 or more may
be made by sending a check, payable to Dean Witter "Competitive Edge"
Trust--"Best Ideas" Portfolio, directly to Dean Witter Trust FSB (the "Transfer
Agent" or "DWT") at P.O. Box 1040, Jersey City, NJ 07303 or by contacting an
account executive of DWR or other Selected Broker-Dealer. When purchasing shares
of the Portfolio, investors must specify which Portfolio they wish to invest in
and whether the purchase is for Class A, Class B, Class C or Class D shares. If
no Class is specified, the Transfer Agent will not process the transaction until
the proper Class is identified. The minimum initial purchase, in the case of
investments through EasyInvest-SM-, 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 Portfolio, in its discretion, may
accept investments without regard to any minimum amounts which would otherwise
be required, if the Portfolio 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 Portfolio 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 distributions. Sales
personnel of a Selected Broker-Dealer are compensated for selling shares of the
Fund at the time of their sale by the Distributor or any of its affiliates
and/or the Selected Broker-Dealer. In addition, some sales personnel of the
Selected Broker-Dealer will receive various types of non-cash compensation as
special sales incentives, including trips, educational and/or business seminars
and merchandise. The Portfolio and the Distributor reserve the right to reject
any purchase orders.
ALTERNATIVE PURCHASE ARRANGEMENTS
The "Best Ideas" Portfolio of the Fund offers several Classes of shares to
investors designed to provide them with the flexibility of selecting an
investment best suited to their needs. The general public is offered three
Classes of shares: Class A shares, Class B shares and Class C shares, which
differ principally in terms of sales charges and rate of expenses to which they
are subject. A fourth Class of shares, Class D shares, is offered only to
limited categories of investors (see "No Load Alternative--Class D Shares"
below).
Each Class A, Class B, Class C or Class D share of the Portfolio represents
an identical interest in the Portfolio except that Class A, Class B and Class C
shares bear the expenses of the ongoing shareholder service fees, Class B and
Class C shares bear the expenses of the ongoing distribution fees and Class A,
Class B and Class C shares which are redeemed subject to a CDSC bear the expense
of the additional incremental distribution costs resulting from the CDSC
applicable to shares of those Classes. The ongoing distribution fees of the
Portfolio that are imposed on Class A, Class B and Class C shares will be
imposed directly against those Classes of the Portfolio and not against all
assets of the Fund and, accordingly, such charges against one Class will not
affect the net asset value of any other Class or have any impact on investors
choosing another sales charge option. See "Plan of Distribution" and
"Redemptions and Repurchases."
Set forth below is a summary of the differences between the Classes and the
factors an investor should consider when selecting a particular Class. This
summary is qualified in its entirety by detailed discussion of each Class that
follows this summary.
CLASS A SHARES. Class A shares are sold at net asset value plus an initial
sales charge of up to 5.25%. The initial sales charge is reduced for certain
purchases. Investments of $1 million or more (and investments by certain other
limited categories of investors) are not subject to any sales charges at the
time of purchase but are subject to a CDSC of 1.0% on redemptions made within
one year after purchase, except for certain specific circumstances. Class A
shares are also subject to a 12b-1 fee of up to 0.25% of the average daily net
assets of the Class. See "Initial Sales Charge Alternative--Class A Shares."
12
<PAGE>
CLASS B SHARES. Class B shares are offered at net asset value with no initial
sales charge but are subject to a CDSC (scaled down from 5.0% to 1.0%) if
redeemed within six years of purchase. (Class B shares purchased by certain
qualified employer-sponsored benefit plans are subject to a CDSC scaled down
from 2.0% to 1.0% if redeemed within three years after purchase.) This CDSC may
be waived for certain redemptions. Class B shares are also subject to an annual
12b-1 fee of 1.0% of the average daily net assets of Class B. The Class B
shares' distribution fee will cause that Class to have higher expenses and pay
lower dividends than Class A or Class D shares.
After approximately ten (10) years, Class B shares will convert
automatically to Class A shares of the Fund, based on the relative net asset
values of the shares of the two Classes on the conversion date. In addition, a
certain portion of Class B shares that have been acquired through the
reinvestment of dividends and distributions will be converted at that time. See
"Contingent Deferred Sales Charge Alternative--Class B Shares."
CLASS C SHARES. Class C shares are sold at net asset value with no initial
sales charge but are subject to a CDSC of 1.0% on redemptions made within one
year after purchase. This CDSC may be waived for certain redemptions. They are
subject to an annual 12b-1 fee of up to 1.0% of the average daily net assets of
the Class C shares. The Class C shares' distribution fee may cause that Class to
have higher expenses and pay lower dividends than Class A or Class D shares. See
"Level Load Alternative--Class C Shares."
CLASS D SHARES. Class D shares are available only to limited categories of
investors (see "No Load Alternative-- Class D Shares" below). Class D shares are
sold at net asset value with no initial sales charge or CDSC. They are not
subject to any 12b-1 fees. See "No Load Alternative-- Class D Shares."
SELECTING A PARTICULAR CLASS. In deciding which Class of Portfolio shares to
purchase, investors should consider the following factors, as well as any other
relevant facts and circumstances:
The decision as to which Class of shares is more beneficial to an investor
depends on the amount and intended length of his or her investment. Investors
who prefer an initial sales charge alternative may elect to purchase Class A
shares. Investors qualifying for significantly reduced or, in the case of
purchases of $1 million or more, no initial sales charges may find Class A
shares particularly attractive because similar sales charge reductions are not
available with respect to Class B or Class C shares. Moreover, Class A shares
are subject to lower ongoing expenses than are Class B or Class C shares over
the term of the investment. As an alternative, Class B and Class C shares are
sold without any initial sales charge so the entire purchase price is
immediately invested in the Portfolio. Any investment return on these additional
investment amounts may partially or wholly offset the higher annual expenses of
these Classes. Because the Portfolio's future return cannot be predicted,
however, there can be no assurance that this would be the case.
Finally, investors should consider the effect of the CDSC period and any
conversion rights of the Classes in the context of their own investment time
frame. For example, although Class C shares are subject to a significantly lower
CDSC upon redemptions, they do not, unlike Class B shares, convert into Class A
shares after approximately ten years, and, therefore, are subject to an ongoing
12b-1 fee of 1.0% (rather than the 0.25% fee applicable to Class A shares) for
an indefinite period of time. Thus, Class B shares may be more attractive than
Class C shares to investors with longer term investment outlooks. Other
investors, however, may elect to purchase Class C shares if, for example, they
determine that they do not wish to be subject to a front-end sales charge and
they are uncertain as to the length of time they intend to hold their shares.
For the purpose of meeting the $5 million minimum investment amount for
Class D shares, holdings of Class A shares in all Dean Witter Multi-Class Funds,
shares of FSC Funds and shares of Dean Witter Funds for which such shares have
been exchanged, will be included together with the current investment amount.
Sales personnel may receive different compensation for selling each Class of
shares. Investors should understand that the purpose of a CDSC is the same as
that of the initial sales charge in that the sales charges applicable to each
Class provide for the financing of the distribution of shares of that Class.
Set forth below is a chart comparing the sales charge, 12b-1 fees and
conversion options applicable to each Class of shares:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<C> <S> <C> <C>
CONVERSION
CLASS SALES CHARGE 12B-1 FEE FEATURE
A Maximum 5.25% 0.25% No
initial sales charge
reduced for
purchases of $25,000
and over; shares
sold without an
initial sales charge
generally subject to
a 1.0% CDSC during
first year.
B Maximum 5.0% CDSC 1.0% B shares
during the first convert to A
year decreasing to 0 shares
after six years automatically
after
approximately
ten years
C 1.0% CDSC during 1.0% No
first year
D None None No
</TABLE>
See "Purchase of Portfolio Shares" and "The Fund and its Management" for a
complete description of the sales charges and service and distribution fees for
each Class of shares and "Determination of Net Asset Value," "Dividends,
Distributions and Taxes" and "Shareholder
Ser-
13
<PAGE>
vices--Exchange Privilege" for other differences between the Classes of shares.
INITIAL SALES CHARGE ALTERNATIVE-- CLASS A SHARES
Class A shares are sold at net asset value plus an initial sales charge. In some
cases, reduced sales charges may be available, as described below. Investments
of $1 million or more (and investments by certain other limited categories of
investors) are not subject to any sales charges at the time of purchase but are
subject to a CDSC of 1.0% on redemptions made within one year after purchase
(calculated from the last day of the month in which the shares were purchased),
except for certain specific circumstances. The CDSC will be assessed on an
amount equal to the lesser of the current market value or the cost of the shares
being redeemed. The CDSC will not be imposed (i) in the circumstances set forth
below in the section "Contingent Deferred Sales Charge Alternative--Class B
Shares-- CDSC Waivers," except that the references to six years in the first
paragraph of that section shall mean one year in the case of Class A shares, and
(ii) in the circumstances identified in the section "Additional Net Asset Value
Purchase Options" below. Class A shares are also subject to an annual 12b-1 fee
of up to 0.25% of the average daily net assets of the Class.
The offering price of Class A shares will be the net asset value per share
next determined following receipt of an order (see "Determination of Net Asset
Value" below), plus a sales charge (expressed as a percentage of the offering
price) on a single transaction as shown in the following table:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
SALES CHARGE
------------------------------------------
PERCENTAGE OF APPROXIMATE
AMOUNT OF SINGLE PUBLIC OFFERING PERCENTAGE OF AMOUNT
TRANSACTION PRICE INVESTED
- -------------------------- ------------------- ---------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Less than $25,000......... 5.25% 5.54%
$25,000 but less
than $50,000............. 4.75% 4.99%
$50,000 but less
than $100,000............ 4.00% 4.17%
$100,000 but less
than $250,000............ 3.00% 3.09%
$250,000 but less
than $1 million.......... 2.00% 2.04%
$1 million and over....... 0 0
</TABLE>
Upon notice to all Selected Broker-Dealers, the Distributor may reallow up
to the full applicable sales charge as shown in the above schedule during
periods specified in such notice. During periods when 90% or more of the sales
charge is reallowed, such Selected Broker-Dealers may be deemed to be
underwriters as that term is defined in the Securities Act of 1933.
The above schedule of sales charges is applicable to purchases in a single
transaction by, among others: (a) an individual; (b) an individual, his or her
spouse and their children under the age of 21 purchasing shares for his, her or
their own accounts; (c) a trustee or other fiduciary purchasing shares for a
single trust estate or a single fiduciary account; (d) a pension, profit-sharing
or other employee benefit plan qualified or non-qualified under Section 401 of
the Internal Revenue Code; (e) tax-exempt organizations enumerated in Section
501(c)(3) or (13) of the Internal Revenue Code; (f) employee benefit plans
qualified under Section 401 of the Internal Revenue Code of a single employer or
of employers who are "affiliated persons" of each other within the meaning of
Section 2(a)(3)(c) of the Act; and for investments in Individual Retirement
Accounts of employees of a single employer through Systematic Payroll Deduction
plans; or (g) any other organized group of persons, whether incorporated or not,
provided the organization has been in existence for at least six months and has
some purpose other than the purchase of redeemable securities of a registered
investment company at a discount.
COMBINED PURCHASE PRIVILEGE. Investors may have the benefit of reduced sales
charges in accordance with the above schedule by combining purchases of Class A
shares of the Portfolio in single transactions with the purchase of Class A
shares of other Dean Witter Multi-Class Funds and shares of FSC Funds. The sales
charge payable on the purchase of the Class A shares of the Portfolio, the Class
A shares of the other Dean Witter Multi-Class Funds and the shares of the FSC
Funds will be at their respective rates applicable to the total amount of the
combined concurrent purchases of such shares.
RIGHT OF ACCUMULATION. The above persons and entities may benefit from a
reduction of the sales charges in accordance with the above schedule if the
cumulative net asset value of Class A shares purchased in a single transaction,
together with shares of the Portfolio and other Dean Witter Funds previously
purchased at a price including a front-end sales charge (including shares of the
Portfolio and other Dean Witter Funds acquired in exchange for those shares, and
including in each case shares acquired through reinvestment of dividends and
distributions), which are held at the time of such transaction, amounts to
$25,000 or more. If such investor has a cumulative net asset value of shares of
FSC Funds and Class A and Class D shares equal to at least $5 million, such
investor is eligible to purchase Class D shares subject to the $1,000 minimum
initial investment requirement of that Class of the Fund. See "No Load
Alternative--Class D Shares" below.
The Distributor must be notified by DWR or a Selected Broker-Dealer or the
shareholder at the time a purchase order is placed that the purchase qualifies
for the reduced charge under the Right of Accumulation. Similar notification
must be made in writing by the dealer or shareholder when such an order is
placed by mail. The reduced sales charge will not be granted if: (a) such
notification is not furnished at the time of the order; or (b) a review of the
records of the Selected Broker-Dealer or the Transfer Agent fails to confirm the
investor's represented holdings.
14
<PAGE>
LETTER OF INTENT. The foregoing schedule of reduced sales charges will also be
available to investors who enter into a written Letter of Intent providing for
the purchase, within a thirteen-month period, of Class A shares of the Portfolio
from DWR or other Selected Broker-Dealers. The cost of Class A shares of the
Portfolio or shares of other Dean Witter Funds which were previously purchased
at a price including a front-end sales charge during the 90-day period prior to
the date of receipt by the Distributor of the Letter of Intent, or of Class A
shares of the Portfolio or shares of other Dean Witter Funds acquired in
exchange for shares of such funds purchased during such period at a price
including a front-end sales charge, which are still owned by the shareholder,
may also be included in determining the applicable reduction.
ADDITIONAL NET ASSET VALUE PURCHASE OPTIONS. In addition to investments of $1
million or more, Class A shares also may be purchased at net asset value by the
following:
(1) trusts for which DWT (an affiliate of the Investment Manager) provides
discretionary trustee services;
(2) persons participating in a fee-based program approved by the
Distributor, pursuant to which such persons pay an asset based fee for services
in the nature of investment advisory or administrative services (such
investments are subject to all of the terms and conditions of such programs,
which may include termination fees, mandatory redemption upon termination and
such other circumstances as specified in the programs' agreements, and
restrictions on transferability of Portfolio shares);
(3) retirement plans qualified under Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue
Code ("401(k) plans") and other employer-sponsored plans qualified under Section
401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code with at least 200 eligible employees and for
which DWT serves as Trustee or the 401(k) Support Services Group of DWR serves
as recordkeeper;
(4) 401(k) plans and other employer-sponsored plans qualified under Section
401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code for which DWT serves as Trustee or the
401(k) Support Services Group of DWR serves as recordkeeper whose Class B shares
have converted to Class A shares, regardless of the plan's asset size or number
of eligible employees;
(5) investors who are clients of a Dean Witter account executive who joined
Dean Witter from another investment firm within six months prior to the date of
purchase of Portfolio shares by such investors, if the shares are being
purchased with the proceeds from a redemption of shares of an open-end
proprietary mutual fund of the account executive's previous firm which imposed
either a front-end or deferred sales charge, provided such purchase was made
within sixty days after the redemption and the proceeds of the redemption had
been maintained in the interim in cash or a money market fund; and
(6) other categories of investors, at the discretion of the Board, as
disclosed in the then current prospectus of the Fund.
No CDSC will be imposed on redemptions of shares purchased pursuant to
paragraphs (1), (2) or (5), above.
For further information concerning purchases of the Fund's shares, contact
DWR or another Selected Broker-Dealer or consult the Statement of Additional
Information.
CONTINGENT DEFERRED SALES CHARGE ALTERNATIVE--CLASS B SHARES
Class B shares are sold at net asset value next determined without an initial
sales charge so that the full amount of an investor's purchase payment may be
immediately invested in the Portfolio. A CDSC, however, will be imposed on most
Class B shares redeemed within six years after purchase. The CDSC will be
imposed on any redemption of shares if after such redemption the aggregate
current value of a Class B account with the Portfolio falls below the aggregate
amount of the investor's purchase payments for Class B shares made during the
six years (or, in the case of shares held by certain employer-sponsored benefit
plans, three years) preceding the redemption. In addition, Class B shares are
subject to an annual 12b-1 fee of 1.0% of the average daily net assets of Class
B.
Except as noted below, Class B shares of the Portfolio 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 CDSC upon
redemption. Shares redeemed earlier than six years after purchase may, however,
be subject to a 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 following table:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
YEAR SINCE CDSC AS A
PURCHASE PERCENTAGE OF
PAYMENT MADE AMOUNT REDEEMED
- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------
<S> <C>
First................................... 5.0%
Second.................................. 4.0%
Third................................... 3.0%
Fourth.................................. 2.0%
Fifth................................... 2.0%
Sixth................................... 1.0%
Seventh and thereafter.................. None
</TABLE>
In the case of Class B shares of the Portfolio held by 401 (k) plans or
other employer-sponsored plans qualified under Section 401(a) of the Internal
Revenue Code for which DWT serves as Trustee or the 401(k) Support Services
Group of DWR serves as recordkeeper and whose accounts are opened on or after
July 28, 1997, shares held for three years or more after purchase (calculated as
described in the paragraph above) will not be subject to any CDSC upon
redemption. However, shares redeemed earlier
15
<PAGE>
than three years after purchase may be subject to a CDSC (calculated as
described in the paragraph above), the
percentage of which will depend on how long the shares have been held, as set
forth in the following table:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
YEAR SINCE CDSC AS A
PURCHASE PERCENTAGE OF
PAYMENT MADE AMOUNT REDEEMED
- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------
<S> <C>
First................................... 2.0%
Second.................................. 2.0%
Third................................... 1.0%
Fourth and thereafter................... None
</TABLE>
CDSC WAIVERS. A CDSC will not be imposed on: (i) any amount which represents an
increase in value of shares purchased within the six years (or, in the case of
shares held by certain employer-sponsored benefit plans, three years) preceding
the redemption; (ii) the current net asset value of shares purchased more than
six years (or, in the case of shares held by certain employer-sponsored benefit
plans, three years) prior to the redemption; and (iii) the current net asset
value of shares purchased through reinvestment of dividends or distributions
and/or shares acquired in exchange for shares of other open-end investment
companies for which InterCapital serves as investment manager (collectively,
with the Portfolio, the "Dean Witter Funds") sold with a front-end sales charge
or of other Dean Witter Funds acquired in exchange for such shares. 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-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
401(k) plan or other employer-sponsored plan qualified under Section 401(a) of
the Internal Revenue Code which offers investment companies managed by the
Investment Manager or its subsidiary, Dean Witter Services Company Inc., as
self-directed investment alternatives and for which DWT serves as Trustee or the
401(k) Support Services Group of DWR serves as recordkeeper ("Eligible Plan"),
provided that either: (A) the plan continues to be an Eligible 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.
LEVEL LOAD ALTERNATIVE--
CLASS C SHARES
Class C shares are sold at net asset value next determined without an initial
sales charge but are subject to a CDSC of 1.0% on most redemptions made within
one year after purchase (calculated from the last day of the month in which the
shares were purchased). The CDSC will be assessed on an amount equal to the
lesser of the current market value or the cost of the shares being redeemed. The
CDSC will not be imposed in the circumstances set forth above in the section
"Contingent Deferred Sales Charge Alternative-- Class B Shares--CDSC Waivers,"
except that the references to six years in the first paragraph of that section
shall mean one year in the case of Class C shares. Class C shares are subject to
an annual 12b-1 fee of up to 1.0% of the average daily net assets of the Class.
Unlike Class B shares, Class C shares have no conversion feature and,
accordingly, an investor that purchases Class C shares will be subject to 12b-1
fees applicable to Class C shares for an indefinite period subject to annual
approval by the Fund's Board of Trustees and regulatory limitations.
NO LOAD ALTERNATIVE--
CLASS D SHARES
Class D shares are offered without any sales charge on purchase or redemption
and without any 12b-1 fee. Class D shares are offered only to investors meeting
an initial investment minimum of $5 million and the following categories of
investors: (i) investors participating in the InterCapital mutual fund asset
allocation program pursuant to which such persons pay an asset based fee; (ii)
persons participating in a fee-based program approved by the Distributor,
pursuant to which such persons pay an asset based fee for services in the nature
of investment advisory or administrative services (subject to all of the terms
and conditions of such programs referred to in (i) and (ii) above,
16
<PAGE>
which may include termination fees, mandatory redemption upon termination and
such other circumstances as specified in the programs' agreements, and
restrictions on transferability of Fund shares); (iii) 401(k) plans established
by DWR and SPS Transaction Services, Inc. (an affiliate of DWR) for their
employees; (iv) certain Unit Investment Trusts sponsored by DWR; (v) certain
other open-end investment companies whose shares are distributed by the
Distributor; and (vi) other categories of investors, at the discretion of the
Board, as disclosed in the then current prospectus of the Fund. Investors who
require a $5 million minimum initial investment to qualify to purchase Class D
shares may satisfy that requirement by investing that amount in a single
transaction in Class D shares of the Portfolio and other Dean Witter Multi-Class
Funds, subject to the $1,000 minimum initial investment required for that Class
of the Fund. In addition, for the purpose of meeting the $5 million minimum
investment amount, holdings of Class A shares in all Dean Witter Multi-Class
Funds, shares of FSC Funds and shares of Dean Witter Funds for which such shares
have been exchanged will be included together with the current investment
amount. If a shareholder redeems Class A shares and purchases Class D shares,
such redemption may be a taxable event.
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
The Fund has adopted a Plan of Distribution pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Act
with respect to the distribution of Class A, Class B and Class C shares of the
Portfolio of the Fund. In the case of Class A and Class C shares, the Plan
provides that the Fund will, on behalf of the Portfolio, reimburse the
Distributor and others for the expenses of certain activities and services
incurred by them specifically on behalf of those shares. Reimbursements for
these expenses will be made in monthly payments by the Portfolio of the Fund to
the Distributor, which will in no event exceed amounts equal to payments at the
annual rates of 0.25% and 1.0% of the average daily net assets of Class A and
Class C, respectively. In the case of Class B shares, the Plan provides that the
Fund, on behalf of the Portfolio, will pay the Distributor a fee, which is
accrued daily and paid monthly, at the annual rate of 1.0% of the average daily
net assets of Class B. The fee is treated by the Portfolio of the Fund as an
expense in the year it is accrued. In the case of Class A shares, the entire
amount of the fee currently represents a service fee within the meaning of the
NASD guidelines. In the case of Class B and Class C shares, a portion of the fee
payable pursuant to the Plan, equal to 0.25% of the average daily net assets of
each of these Classes, is currently characterized as a service fee. A service
fee is a payment made for personal service and/or the maintenance of shareholder
accounts.
Additional amounts paid under the Plan in the case of Class B and Class C
shares are paid to the Distributor for services provided and the expenses borne
by the Distributor and others in the distribution of the shares of those
Classes, including the payment of commissions for sales of the shares of those
Classes and incentive compensation to and expenses of DWR's 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 Portfolio'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 in the case
of Class B shares 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 expenses.
In the case of Class B shares, at any given time, the expenses in
distributing Class B shares of the Portfolio may be in excess of the total of
(i) the payments made by the Portfolio of the Fund pursuant to the Plan, and
(ii) the proceeds of CDSCs paid by investors upon the redemption of Class B
shares of the Portfolio. For example, if $1 million in expenses in distributing
Class B shares of the Portfolio had been incurred and $750,000 had been received
as described in (i) and (ii) above, the excess expense would amount to $250,000.
Because there is no requirement under the Plan 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
Portfolio of the Fund. Although there is no legal obligation for the Portfolio
of the Fund to pay expenses incurred in excess of payments made to the
Distributor under the Plan, and the proceeds of CDSCs paid by investors upon
redemption of shares, if for any reason the Plan is terminated the Trustees will
consider at that time the manner in which to treat such expenses. Any cumulative
expenses incurred, but not yet recovered through distribution fees or CDSCs, may
or may not be recovered through future distribution fees or CDSCs.
In the case of Class A and Class C shares of the Portfolio, expenses
incurred pursuant to the Plan in any calendar year in excess of 0.25% or 1.0% of
the average daily net assets of Class A or Class C, respectively, will not be
reimbursed by the Portfolio of the Fund through payments in any subsequent year,
except that expenses representing a gross sales commission credited to account
executives at the time of sale may be reimbursed in the subsequent calendar
year. No interest or other financing charges will be incurred on any Class A or
Class C distribution expenses incurred by the Distributor under the Plan or on
any unreimbursed expenses due to the Distributor pursuant to the Plan.
DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE
The net asset value per share of the Portfolio is determined once daily at 4:00
p.m., New York time, on each day that the
17
<PAGE>
New York Stock Exchange is open (or, on days when the New York Stock Exchange
closes prior to 4:00 p.m., at such earlier time) by taking the net assets of the
Portfolio, dividing by the respective number of shares outstanding and adjusting
to the nearest cent. The assets of the Portfolio, belonging to the Class A,
Class B, Class C and Class D shares will be invested together in a single
portfolio. The net asset value of each Class of the Portfolio, however, will be
determined separately by subtracting each Class's accrued expenses and
liabilities. 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.
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 applicable Class of the Portfolio (or, if specified by the shareholder in
shares of any other open-end "Dean Witter Fund"), unless the shareholder
requests that they be paid in cash. Shares so acquired are acquired at net asset
value and are not subject to the imposition of a front-end sales charge or a
CDSC (see "Redemptions and Repurchases").
INVESTMENT OF DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS RECEIVED IN CASH. Any shareholder who
receives a cash payment representing a dividend or capital gains distribution
may invest such dividend or distribution in shares of the applicable Class 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
thirty days after the payment date. Shares so acquired are acquired at net asset
value are not subject to the imposition of a front-end sales charge or a CDSC
(see "Redemptions and Repurchases").
EASYINVEST-SM-. Shareholders may subscribe to EasyInvest, an automatic purchase
plan which provides for any amount from $100 to $5,000 to be transferred
automatically from a checking or savings account or following redemption of
shares of a Dean Witter money market fund, on a semi-monthly, monthly or
quarterly basis, to the Transfer Agent for investment in shares of the
Portfolio. (See "Purchase of Fund Shares" and "Redemptions and
Repurchases--Involuntary Redemption").
SYSTEMATIC WITHDRAWAL PLAN. A systematic withdrawal plan (the "Withdrawal
Plan") is available for shareholders who own or purchase shares of the Portfolio
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 CDSC
will be imposed on shares redeemed under the Withdrawal Plan (see "Purchase of
Fund Shares"). 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 CDSC) to the shareholder will be the designated
monthly or quarterly amount.
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.
Shareholders should contact their DWR or other Selected Broker-Dealer
account executive or the Transfer Agent for further 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 DWR or other Selected Dealer
account executive or the Transfer Agent.
EXCHANGE PRIVILEGE
Shares of each Class may be exchanged for shares of the same Class of any other
Dean Witter Multi-Class Fund without the imposition of any exchange fee. Shares
may also be exchanged for shares of the following funds: Dean Witter Short-Term
U.S. Treasury Trust, Dean Witter Limited Term Municipal Trust, Dean Witter
Short-Term Bond Fund, Dean Witter Intermediate Term U.S. Treasury Trust and five
Dean Witter funds which are money market funds (the "Exchange Funds"). Class A
shares may also be exchanged for shares of Dean Witter Multi-State Municipal
Series Trust and Dean Witter Hawaii Municipal Trust, which are Dean Witter Funds
sold with a front-end sales charge ("FSC Funds"). Class B shares may also be
exchanged for shares of Dean Witter Global Short-Term Income Fund Inc., Dean
Witter High Income Securities and Dean Witter National Municipal Trust, which
are Dean Witter Funds offered with a CDSC ("CDSC 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.
18
<PAGE>
An exchange to another Dean Witter Multi-Class Fund, any FSC Fund, any CDSC
Fund or 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 Portfolio, shares
of the Portfolio are redeemed out of the Portfolio at their next calculated net
asset value and the proceeds of the redemption are used to purchase shares of
the money market fund at the net asset value determined the following business
day. Subsequent exchanges between any of the Dean Witter Multi-Class Funds, FSC
Funds or CDSC Funds or any Exchange Fund that is not a money market fund can be
effected on the same basis.
No CDSC is imposed at the time of any exchange of shares, although any
applicable CDSC will be imposed upon ultimate redemption. During the period of
time the shareholder remains in an 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 re-exchanged for shares of a Dean Witter Multi-Class
Fund or 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 Dean Witter Multi-Class Fund or shares of a CDSC Fund are reacquired. Thus,
the CDSC is based upon the time (calculated as described above) the shareholder
was invested in shares of a Dean Witter Multi-Class Fund or in shares of a CDSC
Fund (see "Purchase of Fund Shares"). In the case of exchanges of Class A shares
which are subject to a CDSC, the holding period also includes the time
(calculated as described above) the shareholder was invested in shares of a FSC
Fund. In the case of shares exchanged into an Exchange Fund on or after April
23, 1990, 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 incurred on or after that date
which are attributable to those shares. (Exchange Fund 12b-1 distribution fees
are described in the prospectuses for those funds.) Class B shares of the
Portfolio acquired in exchange for Class B shares of another Dean Witter Multi-
Class Fund or shares of a CDSC Fund having a different CDSC schedule than that
of this Fund will be subject to the higher CDSC schedule, even if such shares
are subsequently re-exchanged for shares of the fund with the lower CDSC
schedule.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING EXCHANGES
Purchases and exchanges should be made for investment purposes only. A
pattern of frequent exchanges may be deemed by the Investment Manager to be
abusive and contrary to the best interests of the Portfolio's other shareholders
and, at the Investment Manager's discretion, may be limited by the Portfolio's
refusal to accept additional purchases and/or exchanges from the investor.
Although the Portfolio 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 Portfolio and its other shareholders, investors should be aware
that the Portfolio and each of the other Dean Witter Funds may in their
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 Portfolio on a prospective basis only, upon notice of 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 Dean Witter Funds for which shares of the Portfolio 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 Portfolio 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 of
each Class of Shares and any other conditions imposed by each fund. In the case
of any shareholder holding a share certificate or certificates, no exchanges may
be made until all applicable share certificates have been received by the
Transfer Agent and deposited in the shareholder's account. 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 Portfolio for shares of any of the Dean
Witter Funds (for which the Exchange Privilege is available) pursuant to this
Exchange Privilege by contacting their 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 Portfolio will employ reasonable procedures to confirm that exchange
instructions communicated over the telephone are genuine. Such procedures may
include requiring various forms of personal identification such as
19
<PAGE>
name, mailing address, social security or other tax identification number and
DWR or other Selected Broker-Dealer account number (if any). Telephone
instructions may also be recorded. If such procedures are not employed, the
Portfolio 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 Portfolio 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 experience with the Dean
Witter Funds in the past.
Shareholders should contact their DWR or other Selected Broker-Dealer
account executive or the Transfer Agent for further information about the
Exchange Privilege.
REDEMPTIONS AND REPURCHASES
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
REDEMPTION. Shares of each Class of the Portfolio of the Fund can be redeemed
for cash at any time at the net asset value per share next determined less the
amount of any applicable CDSC in the case of Class A, Class B or Class C shares
(see "Purchase of Portfolio Shares"). If shares are held in a shareholder's
account without a share certificate, a written request for redemption sent to
the Fund's Transfer Agent at P.O. Box 983, Jersey City, NJ 07303 is required. If
certificates are held by the shareholder(s), the shares may be redeemed by
surrendering the certificates with a written request for redemption, along with
any additional information required by the Transfer Agent.
REPURCHASE. DWR and other Selected Broker-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 next computed (see "Purchase of Portfolio Shares") after such repurchase
order is received by DWR or other Selected Broker-Dealer, reduced by any
applicable CDSC.
The CDSC, if any, will be the only fee imposed by either the Portfolio, the
Distributor or DWR or other Selected Broker-Dealer. The offer by DWR and other
Selected Broker-Dealers to repurchase shares may be suspended without notice by
the Distributor at any time. In that event, shareholders may redeem their shares
through the Fund's Transfer Agent as set forth above under "Redemption."
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 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 Portfolio pledged in the margin account.
REINSTATEMENT PRIVILEGE. A shareholder who has had his or her shares redeemed
or repurchased and has not previously exercised this reinstatement privilege
may, within 35 days after the date of the redemption or repurchase, reinstate
any portion or all of the proceeds of such redemption or repurchase in shares of
the Portfolio in the same Class from which such shares were redeemed or
repurchased at their 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 redemption
or repurchase.
INVOLUNTARY REDEMPTION. The Portfolio reserves the right to redeem, on sixty
days' notice and at 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
EasyInvest-SM-, if after twelve months the shareholder has invested less than
$1,000 in the account. However, before the Portfolio 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.
20
<PAGE>
DIVIDENDS, DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS. The Portfolio of the Fund intends to distribute
substantially all of its net investment income and distribute capital gains, if
any, once each year. The Portfolio may, however, determine either to distribute
or to retain all or part of any long-term capital gains in any year for
reinvestment.
All dividends and any capital gains distributions will be paid in additional
shares of the same Class 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. Shares acquired
by dividend and distribution reinvestments will not be subject to any front-end
sales charge or CDSC. Class B shares acquired through dividend and distribution
reinvestments will become eligible for conversion to Class A shares on a pro
rata basis. Distributions paid on Class A and Class D shares will be higher than
for Class B and Class C shares because distribution fees paid by Class B and
Class C shares are higher. (See "Shareholder Services--Automatic Investment of
Dividends and Distributions.")
TAXES. Because the Portfolio intends to distribute all of its net investment
income and net short-term 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
on any such income and capital gains. Shareholders will normally have to pay
Federal income taxes, and any state and local income taxes, on the dividends and
distributions they receive from the Portfolio. Any dividends declared in the
last quarter of any calendar year which are paid in the following year prior to
February 1 will be deemed for tax purposes to have been received in the prior
year.
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 Portfolio's shares and regardless of whether the distribution is
received in additional shares or in cash. Capital gains distributions are not
eligible for the dividends received deduction.
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 Portfolio may quote its "total return" in advertisements
and sales literature. These figures are computed separately for Class A, Class
B, Class C and Class D shares. The total return of the Portfolio is based on
historical earnings and is not intended to indicate future performance.
The "average annual total return" of the Portfolio refers to a figure
reflecting the average annualized percentage increase (or decrease) in the value
of an initial investment in a Class of the Portfolio of $1,000 over periods of
one, five and ten years, or the life of the Portfolio, if less than any of the
foregoing. Average annual total return reflects all income earned by the
Portfolio, any appreciation or depreciation of the Portfolio's assets, all
expenses incurred by the applicable Class and all sales charges which will be
incurred by shareholders, for the stated periods. It also assumes reinvestment
of all dividends and distributions paid by the Portfolio.
In addition to the foregoing, the Portfolio may advertise its total return
for each Class 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 any sales charge which, if reflected, would
reduce the performance quoted. The Portfolio may also advertise the growth of
hypothetical investments of $10,000, $50,000 and $100,000 in each Class of
shares of the Portfolio. The Portfolio 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 Portfolio are of $0.01
par value and are equal as to earnings, assets and voting privileges except that
each Class of the Portfolio will have exclusive voting privileges with respect
to matters relating to distribution expenses borne solely by such Class or any
other matter in which the interests of one
21
<PAGE>
Class differ from the interests of any other Class. In addition, Class B
shareholders will have the right to vote on any proposed material increase in
Class A's expenses, if such proposal is submitted separately to Class A
shareholders. Also, as discussed herein, Class A, Class B and Class C of each
Portfolio bear the expenses related to the distribution of their respective
shares.
The Portfolio is not required to hold Annual Meetings of Shareholders and,
in ordinary circumstances, the Portfolio 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
Portfolio. However, the Declaration of Trust contains an express disclaimer of
shareholder liability for acts or obligations of the Portfolio, requires that
Portfolio obligations include such disclaimer, and provides for indemnification
and reimbursement of expenses out of the Portfolio'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 Portfolio itself would be
unable to meet its obligations. Given the above limitations on shareholder
personal liability, and the nature of the Portfolio's assets and operations, in
the opinion of Massachusetts counsel to the Portfolio, the risk to shareholders
of personal liability is remote.
CODE OF ETHICS. Directors, officers and employees of the Investment Manager,
Dean Witter Services Company Inc. and the Distributor are subject to a strict
Code of Ethics adopted by those companies. The Code of Ethics is intended to
ensure that the interests of shareholders and other clients are placed ahead of
any personal interest, that no undue personal benefit is obtained from a
person's employment activities and that actual and potential conflicts of
interest are avoided. To achieve these goals and comply with regulatory
requirements, the Code of Ethics requires, among other things, that personal
securities transactions by employees of the companies be subject to an advance
clearance process to monitor that no Dean Witter Fund is engaged at the same
time in a purchase or sale of the same security. The Code of Ethics bans the
purchase of securities in an initial public offering, and also prohibits
engaging in futures and options transactions and profiting on short-term trading
(that is, a purchase within sixty days of a sale or a sale within sixty days of
a purchase) of a security. In addition, investment personnel may not purchase or
sell a security for their personal account within thirty days before or after
any transaction in any Dean Witter Fund managed by them. Any violations of the
Code of Ethics are subject to sanctions, including reprimand, demotion or
suspension or termination of employment. The Code of Ethics comports with
regulatory requirements and the recommendations in the 1994 report by the
Investment Company Institute Advisory Group on Personal Investing.
MASTER/FEEDER CONVERSION. The Portfolio reserves the right to seek to achieve
its investment objective by investing all of its investable assets in a
diversified, open-end management investment company having the same investment
objective and policies and substantially the same investment restrictions as
those applicable to the Portfolio.
SHAREHOLDER INQUIRIES. All inquiries regarding the Portfolio should be directed
to the Portfolio at the telephone numbers or address set forth on the front
cover of this Prospectus.
The Investment Manager provided the initial capital for the Portfolio by
purchasing 1,250 shares each of Class A, Class B, Class C and Class D of each
Portfolio for $12,500, respectively, on , 1997. As of the date of
this Prospectus, the Investment Manager owned 100% of the outstanding shares of
the Fund. The Investment Manager may be deemed to control the Fund until such
time as it owns less than 25% of the outstanding shares of the Portfolio.
22
<PAGE>
DEAN WITTER
"COMPETITIVE EDGE" TRUST
- -- "BEST IDEAS" PORTFOLIO
TWO WORLD TRADE CENTER
NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10048
TRUSTEES
OFFICERS
Charles A. Fiumefreddo
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Vice President
Barry Fink
Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel
Thomas F. Caloia
Treasurer
CUSTODIAN
The Bank of New York
90 Washington Street
New York, New York 10286
TRANSFER AGENT
AND DIVIDEND
DISBURSING AGENT
Dean Witter Trust FSB
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
INVESTMENT MANAGER
Dean Witter InterCapital Inc.
<PAGE>
DEAN WITTER
"COMPETITIVE EDGE" TRUST
-- "COMPETITIVE EDGE" PORTFOLIO
PROSPECTUS-- , 1998
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DEAN WITTER "COMPETITIVE EDGE" TRUST (THE "FUND") IS AN OPEN-END, DIVERSIFIED
MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANY CURRENTLY CONSISTING OF TWO SEPARATE PORTFOLIOS
(COLLECTIVELY THE "PORTFOLIOS"). THE PORTFOLIO COVERED IN THIS PROSPECTUS, THE
"COMPETITIVE EDGE" PORTFOLIO (THE " 'COMPETITIVE EDGE' PORTFOLIO" OR THE
"PORTFOLIO") HAS AN INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE OF LONG-TERM CAPITAL GROWTH AND INVESTS
PRIMARILY IN THE COMMON STOCKS OF U.S. AND NON-U.S. COMPANIES INCLUDED IN
"GLOBAL INVESTING: THE COMPETITIVE EDGE,"(THE "COMPETITIVE EDGE LIST") A
RESEARCH COMPILATION ASSEMBLED AND MAINTAINED BY THE MORGAN STANLEY DEAN WITTER
EQUITY RESEARCH DEPARTMENT ("MSDW EQUITY RESEARCH"). SEE "INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES
AND POLICIES."
INITIAL OFFERING--Shares of the "Competitive Edge" Portfolio are being offered
in an underwriting by Dean Witter Distributors Inc. at $10.00 per share for
Class B, Class C and Class D shares with all proceeds going to the Fund and at
$10.00 per share plus a sales charge for Class A shares with the sales charge
paid to the Underwriter and the net asset value of $10.00 per share going to the
Fund. All expenses in connection with the organization of the Fund and this
offering will be paid by the Investment Manager and Underwriter except for a
maximum of $250,000 of organizational expenses to be reimbursed by the Fund. The
initial offering will run from approximately , 1998 through
1998.
CONTINUOUS OFFERING--A continuous offering of the shares of the "Competitive
Edge" Portfolio will commence approximately two weeks after the closing date of
the initial offering which is anticipated for , 1998. Class B, Class C
and Class D shares will be priced at the net asset value per share and Class A
shares will be priced at the net asset value per share plus a sales charge, in
each case as next determined following receipt of an order.
The "Competitive Edge" Portfolio offers four classes of shares (each, a
"Class"), each with a different combination of sales charges, ongoing fees and
other features. The different distribution arrangements permit an investor to
choose the method of purchasing shares that the investor believes is most
beneficial given the amount of the purchase, the length of time the investor
expects to hold the shares and other relevant circumstances. (See "Purchase of
Portfolio Shares-- Alternative Purchase Arrangements.")
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
TABLE OF CONTENTS
<S> <C>
Prospectus Summary................................ 2
Summary of Fund Expenses.......................... 4
The Fund and its Management....................... 5
Investment Objective and Policies................. 5
Risk Considerations............................. 6
Investment Restrictions........................... 10
Underwriting...................................... 10
Purchase of Portfolio Shares...................... 11
Shareholder Services.............................. 17
Redemptions and Repurchases....................... 19
Dividends, Distributions and Taxes................ 20
Performance Information........................... 21
Additional Information............................ 21
</TABLE>
This Prospectus sets forth concisely the information you should know before
investing in the "Competitive Edge" Portfolio of the Fund. It should be read and
retained for future reference. Additional information about the "Competitive
Edge" Portfolio of the Fund is contained in the Statement of Additional
Information, dated , 1998, which has been filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission, and which is available at no charge upon request of the
Fund at the address or telephone numbers listed on this page. The Statement of
Additional Information is incorporated herein by reference.
SHARES OF THE FUND ARE NOT DEPOSITS OR OBLIGATIONS OF, OR GUARANTEED OR ENDORSED
BY, ANY BANK, AND THE SHARES ARE NOT FEDERALLY INSURED BY THE FEDERAL DEPOSIT
INSURANCE CORPORATION, THE FEDERAL RESERVE BOARD, OR ANY OTHER AGENCY.
DEAN WITTER
"COMPETITIVE EDGE" TRUST
TWO WORLD TRADE CENTER
NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10048
(212) 392-2550 or (800) 869-NEWS (toll free)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.
DEAN WITTER DISTRIBUTORS INC., DISTRIBUTOR
<PAGE>
PROSPECTUS SUMMARY
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
THE FUND The Fund is an open-end, diversified management investment company currently consisting of two
separate portfolios (collectively the "Portfolios"). The portfolio covered by this Prospectus, the
" Competitive Edge" Portfolio (the " 'Competitive Edge' Portfolio" or the "Portfolio") invests
primarily in the common stocks of U.S. and non-U.S. companies included in "Global Investing: The
Competitive Edge," (the "Competitive Edge" List") a research compilation assembled and maintained
by the Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Equity Research Department ("MSDW Equity Research").
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SHARES OFFERED Shares of beneficial interest with $0.01 par value of the "Competitive Edge" Portfolio (see page
21). The Portfolio offers four Classes of shares, each with a different combination of sales
charges, ongoing fees and other features (see page 11).
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
INITIAL Shares of the "Competitive Edge" Portfolio are being offered in an underwriting by Dean Witter
OFFERING Distributors Inc. at $10.00 per share for each of Class B, Class C and Class D and $10.00 per
share plus a sales charge for Class A. The minimum purchase for each Class is 100 shares; however,
Class D shares are only available to persons who are otherwise qualified to purchase such shares.
The initial offering will run approximately from , 1998 through , 1998. The
closing will take place on , 1998 or such other date as may be agreed upon by Dean
Witter Distributors Inc. and the Fund (the "Closing Date"). Shares will not be issued and
dividends will not be declared by the Portfolio until after the Closing Date. If any orders
received during the initial offering period are accompanied by payment, such payment will be
returned unless an accompanying request for investment in a Dean Witter money market fund is
received at the time the payment is made. Any purchase order may be cancelled at any time prior to
the Closing Date.
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CONTINUOUS A continuous offering of shares of the "Competitive Edge" Portfolio, if any, will commence within
OFFERING/ approximately two weeks after the Closing Date. The minimum initial investment for each Class is
MINIMUM $1,000 ($100 if the account is opened through EasyInvest-SM-). Class D shares are only available
PURCHASE to persons investing $5 million or more and to certain other limited categories of investors. For
the purpose of meeting the minimum $5 million investment for Class D shares, and subject to the
$1,000 minimum initial investment for each Class of the Portfolio, an investor's existing holdings
of Class A shares and shares of funds for which Dean Witter InterCapital serves as investment
manager ("Dean Witter Funds") that are sold with a front-end sales charge, and concurrent
investments in Class D shares of the Portfolio and other Dean Witter Funds that are multiple class
funds will be aggregated. The minimum subsequent investment is $100 (see page 11).
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
INVESTMENT The investment objective of the "Competitive Edge" Portfolio is long-term capital growth. (see
OBJECTIVE page 5).
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
INVESTMENT Dean Witter InterCapital Inc. ("InterCapital"), the Investment Manager of the Fund, and its
MANAGER wholly-owned subsidiary, Dean Witter Services Company Inc., serve in various investment
management, advisory, management and administrative capacities to 102 investment companies and
other portfolios with assets of approximately $ billion at , 1997.
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MANAGEMENT The Investment Manager receives a monthly fee at the annual rate of [ ]% of the Portfolio's
FEE average daily net assets (see page 5).
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
UNDERWRITER AND Dean Witter Distributors Inc. (the "Distributor") is the Fund's Underwriter and Distributor. The
DISTRIBUTOR Fund has adopted a distribution plan pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company Act (the
AND "12b-1 Plan") with respect to the distribution fees paid by the Class A, Class B and Class C
DISTRIBUTION FEE shares of the Portfolio to the Distributor. The entire 12b-1 fee payable by Class A and a portion
of the 12b-1 fee payable by each of Class B and Class C equal to 0.25% of the average daily net
assets of the Class are currently each characterized as a service fee within the meaning of the
National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. guidelines. The remaining portion of the 12b-1
fee, if any, is characterized as an asset-based sales charge (see pages 10 and 16).
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ALTERNATIVE Four classes of shares of the "Competitive Edge" Portfolio are offered:
PURCHASE
ARRANGEMENTS - Class A shares are offered with a front-end sales charge, starting at 5.25% and reduced for
larger purchases. Investments of $1 million or more (and investments by certain other limited
categories of investors) are not subject to any sales charge at the time of purchase but a
contingent deferred sales charge ("CDSC") of 1.0% may be imposed on redemptions within one year of
purchase. The Fund, on behalf of the Portfolio, is authorized to reimburse the Distributor for
specific expenses incurred in promoting the distribution of the Portfolio's Class A shares and
servicing shareholder accounts pursuant to the Fund's 12b-1 Plan. Reimbursement may in no event
exceed an amount equal to payments at an annual rate of 0.25% of average daily net assets of the
Class of the Portfolio (see pages 11, 13 and 16).
- Class B shares are offered without a front-end sales charge, but will in most cases be subject
to a CDSC (scaled down from 5.0% to 1.0%) if redeemed within six years after purchase. The CDSC
will be imposed on any redemption of shares if after such redemption the aggregate current value
of a Class B account with the Portfolio falls below the aggregate amount of the investor's
purchase payments made during the six years preceding the redemption. A different CDSC schedule
applies to investments by certain qualified plans. Class B shares are also subject to a 12b-1 fee
assessed at the annual rate of 1.0% of the average daily net assets of Class B of the Portfolio.
Class B shares convert to Class A shares approximately ten years after the date of the original
purchase (see pages 11, 15 and 16).
- Class C shares are offered without a front-end sales charge, but will in most cases be subject
to a CDSC of 1.0% if redeemed within one year after purchase. The Fund, on behalf of the
Portfolio, is authorized to
</TABLE>
2
<PAGE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
reimburse the Distributor for specific expenses incurred in promoting the distribution of the
Portfolio's Class C shares and servicing shareholder accounts pursuant to the Fund's 12b-1 Plan.
Reimbursement may in no event exceed an amount equal to payments at an annual rate of 1.0% of
average daily net assets of the Class of the Portfolio (see pages 11 and 16).
- Class D shares are offered only to investors meeting an initial investment minimum of $5 million
and to certain other limited categories of investors. Class D shares are offered without a
front-end sales charge or CDSC and are not subject to any 12b-1 fee (see pages 11 and 16).
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DIVIDENDS AND Dividends from net investment income and distributions from net capital gains, if any, are paid at
CAPITAL GAINS least once per year. The Portfolio may, however, determine to retain all or part of any net
DISTRIBUTIONS long-term capital gains in any year for reinvestment. Dividends and capital gains distributions
paid on shares of a Class are automatically reinvested in additional shares of the same Class at
net asset value unless the shareholder elects to receive cash. Shares acquired by dividend and
distribution reinvestment will not be subject to any sales charge or CDSC (see pages 17 and 20).
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
REDEMPTION Shares of the Portfolio are redeemable by the shareholder at net asset value less any applicable
CDSC on Class A, Class B or Class C shares. An account may be involuntarily redeemed if the total
value of the account is less than $100 or, if the account was opened through EasyInvest-SM-, if
after twelve months the shareholder has invested less than $1,000 in the account (see page 19).
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
RISK An investment in the "Competitive Edge" Portfolio should be considered a long-term holding and
CONSIDERATIONS subject to all the risks associated with investing in equity securities of companies in domestic
and foreign markets. The net asset value of the Portfolio's shares will fluctuate with changes in
the market value of its portfolio securities, and therefore, will increase or decrease due to a
variety of economic, market or political factors which cannot be predicted. There can be no
assurance that the securities contained in the "Competitive Edge" List will perform as anticipated
by MSDW Equity Research. Past performance of securities and issuers included in the "Competitive
Edge" List cannot be used to predict future results of the Portfolio, which is actively managed by
the Investment Manager and the results of which are expected to vary from the performance of the
"Competitive Edge" List. It should be recognized that foreign securities and markets in which the
Portfolio may invest pose different and greater risks than those customarily associated with
domestic securities and their markets such as fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates
(i.e., if a substantial portion of the Portfolio's assets is denominated in foreign currencies
which decrease in value with respect to the U.S. dollar, the value of the investor's shares and
the distributions made on those shares will, likewise, decrease in value), foreign securities
exchange controls and foreign tax rates. The Portfolio may enter into repurchase agreements which
entail certain risks and may utilize certain investment techniques including options and futures
transactions and forward foreign currency exchange transactions which may be considered
speculative in nature and may involve greater risks than those customarily assumed by other
investment companies which do not utilize such instruments. (See pages 6-9).
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
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
Portfolio will incur. The expenses and fees set forth in the table are based on
the fees and estimated other expenses for the fiscal period ending ,
1998.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
SHAREHOLDER TRANSACTION EXPENSES CLASS A CLASS B CLASS C CLASS D
----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Maximum Sales Charge Imposed on Purchases (as a
percentage of offering price)........................... 5.25%(1) None None None
Sales Charge Imposed on Dividend Reinvestments........... None None None None
Maximum Contingent Deferred Sales Charge (as a percentage
of original purchase price or redemption proceeds)...... None(2) 5.00%(3) 1.00%(4) None
Redemption Fees.......................................... None None None None
Exchange Fee............................................. None None None None
<CAPTION>
ANNUAL FUND OPERATING EXPENSES (AS A PERCENTAGE OF
AVERAGE NET ASSETS)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Management Fees..........................................
12b-1 Fees (5) (6)....................................... 0.25% 1.00% 1.00% None
Other Expenses*.......................................... % % % %
Total Fund Operating Expenses* (7)....................... % % % %
</TABLE>
- ------------------------------
* The Investment Manager has agreed to assume all operating expenses (except
for brokerage and 12b-1 fees) for the Portfolio until such time as the
Portfolio has $50 million of net assets or until six months from commencement
of the Fund's operations, whichever occurs first.
(1) Reduced for purchases of $25,000 and over (see "Purchase of Fund
Shares--Initial Sales Charge Alternative--Class A Shares").
(2) Investments that are not subject to any sales charge at the time of purchase
are subject to a CDSC of 1.00% that will be imposed on redemptions made
within one year after purchase, except for certain specific circumstances
(see "Purchase of Fund Shares--Initial Sales Charge Alternative--Class A
Shares").
(3) The CDSC is scaled down to 1.00% during the sixth year, reaching zero
thereafter.
(4) Only applicable to redemptions made within one year after purchase (see
"Purchase of Fund Shares--Level Load Alternative--Class C Shares").
(5) The 12b-1 fee is accrued daily and payable monthly. The entire 12b-1 fee
payable by Class A and a portion of the 12b-1 fee payable by each of Class B
and Class C of each Portfolio equal to 0.25% of the average daily net assets
of the Class are currently each characterized as a service fee within the
meaning of National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. ("NASD")
guidelines and are payments made for personal service and/or maintenance of
shareholder accounts. The remainder of the 12b-1 fee, if any, 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 each Portfolio of the Fund's
shares (see "Purchase of Fund Shares--Plan of Distribution").
(6) Upon conversion of Class B shares to Class A shares, such shares will be
subject to the lower 12b-1 fee applicable to Class A shares. No sales charge
is imposed at the time of conversion of Class B shares to Class A shares.
Class C shares do not have a conversion feature and, therefore, are subject
to an ongoing 1.00% distribution fee (see "Purchase of Fund
Shares--Alternative Purchase Arrangements").
(7) "Total Fund Operating Expenses," as shown above with respect to each Class,
are based upon the sum of 12b-1 Fees, and estimated "Other Expenses."
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
EXAMPLE 1 YEAR 3 YEARS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------- -----------
<S> <C> <C>
You would pay the following expenses on a $1,000 investment in the Portfolios assuming
(1) a 5% annual return and (2) redemption at the end of each time period:
Class A............................................................................ $ $
Class B............................................................................ $ $
Class C............................................................................ $ $
Class D............................................................................ $ $
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
EXAMPLE 1 YEAR 3 YEARS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------- -----------
<S> <C> <C>
You would pay the following expenses on the same $1,000 investment in the Portfolios
assuming no redemption at the end of the period:
Class A............................................................................ $ $
Class B............................................................................ $ $
Class C............................................................................ $ $
Class D............................................................................ $ $
</TABLE>
The purpose of this table is to assist the investor in understanding the various
costs and expenses that an investor in the Portfolio will bear directly or
indirectly. For a more complete description of these costs and expenses, see
"The Fund and its Management," "Purchase of Fund Shares--Plan of Distribution"
and "Redemptions and Repurchases."
Long-term shareholders of Class B and Class C 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>
THE FUND AND ITS MANAGEMENT
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dean Witter "Competitive Edge" 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 the
Commonwealth of Massachusetts on , 1997.
Dean Witter InterCapital Inc. ("InterCapital or the "Investment Manager"),
whose address is Two World Trade Center, New York, New York 10048, is the Fund's
Investment Manager. The Investment Manager, which was incorporated in July,
1992, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Morgan Stanley, Dean Witter, Discover &
Co., a preeminent global financial services firm that maintains leading market
positions in each of its three primary businesses--securities, asset management
and credit services.
InterCapital and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Dean Witter Services Company
Inc., serve in various investment management, advisory, management and
administrative capacities to 102 investment companies, thirty of which are
listed on the New York Stock Exchange, with combined assets of approximately
$ billion as of , 1997. The Investment Manager also manages and
advises portfolios of pension plans, other institutions and individuals which
aggregated approximately $ billion at such date.
The Fund has retained the Investment Manager to provide administrative
services, manage its business affairs and manage the investment of the Fund's
assets, which includes the allocation of the Portfolio's assets among the
securities on the "Competitive Edge" List. InterCapital has retained Dean Witter
Services Company Inc. to perform the aforementioned administrative services for
the Fund. The Fund's Board of Trustees reviews the various services provided by
or under the direction of the Investment Manager to ensure that each Portfolio'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
Portfolio and for expenses of the Portfolio incurred by the Investment Manager,
the Fund pays the Investment Manager monthly compensation calculated daily by
applying the annual rate of [ ]% of the Portfolio's net assets. The Portfolio's
expenses include: the fee of the Investment Manager, the fee pursuant to the
Plan of Distribution (see "Purchase of Fund Shares"); taxes; transfer agent,
custodian, auditing fees; and certain legal fees, and printing and other
expenses relating to the Portfolio's operations which are not expressly assumed
by the Investment Manager under its Investment Management Agreement with the
Fund. The Investment Manager has agreed to assume all operating expenses (except
for brokerage and 12b-1 fees) for the Portfolio until such time as the Portfolio
has $50 million of net assets or until six months from commencement of the
Portfolio's operations, whichever occurs first.
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE AND POLICIES
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Fund currently consists of two separate portfolios. The investment
objective of the portfolio contained in this Prospectus, the "Competitive Edge"
Portfolio (the " 'Competitive Edge' Portfolio" or the "Portfolio") is long-term
capital growth. The objective of the Portfolio is a fundamental policy and may
not be changed without shareholder approval. There is no assurance that the
objective of the Portfolio will be achieved.
The "Competitive Edge" Portfolio seeks to achieve its investment objective
by investing, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of its total assets in
the common stock (including depository receipts, such as ADRs or EDRs) of U.S.
and non-U.S. companies included in "Global Investing: The Competitive Edge," a
research compilation assembled and maintained by the Morgan Stanley Dean Witter
Equity Research Department ("MSDW Equity Research").
MSDW EQUITY RESEARCH. MSDW Equity Research is recognized as a world leader in
global financial research and provides comprehensive research and in-depth
knowledge about general markets and specific companies from around the world. It
believes that companies with a sustainable competitive edge in the operations of
their businesses are worth more than their weaker competitors, and that these
companies can be expected to earn higher returns on each incremental dollar
invested in their businesses. Through its on-going research and analysis, MSDW
Equity Research has developed and undertaken a comprehensive study which it
calls "Global Investing: The 'Competitive Edge' " which represents the list of
those companies (the " 'Competitive Edge' List").
Specifically, MSDW Equity Research group's research analysts and strategists
presently evaluate approximately 2,000 companies in 21 industry sectors
worldwide. The initial comprehensive review for the "Competitive Edge" List was
conducted in October 1996 and identified 238 companies from the MSDW Equity
Research companies under coverage (then nearly 1,650) as having a long-term
sustainable competitive advantage in the global arena. While the criteria used
to select companies that have a global competitive advantage vary according to
industry sector, these companies typically are large capitalization companies,
have strong management and/or have a global presence. Although the "Competitive
Edge" List is not a fixed number, MSDW Equity Research presently intends to
5
<PAGE>
attempt to keep the number of common stocks at approximately 238 companies. MSDW
Equity Research currently updates the "Competitive Edge" List annually.
The Portfolio may invest in any company on the "Competitive Edge" List;
provided that, under normal circumstances, not more than 5% of the Portfolio's
net assets will be invested in any one company and not less than 20% of the
Portfolio's net assets will be invested in U.S. companies. In selecting
companies on the "Competitive Edge" List, the Investment Manager attempts to
identify companies whose securities demonstrate growth potential. The Portfolio
will sell any security which is removed from the "Competitive Edge" List as soon
as practicable.
The Portfolio may invest up to 20% of its total assets in money market
instruments or cash. The money market instruments in which the Fund may invest
are securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government (Treasury bills,
notes and bonds (including zero coupon securities)) American bank obligations;
Eurodollar certificates of deposit; obligations of American savings
institutions; fully insured certificates of deposit; and commercial paper of
American issuers rated within the two highest grades by Moody's Investors
Service Inc. ("Moody's") or Standard & Poor's Corporation ("S&P") or, if not
rated, issued by a company having an outstanding debt issue rated at least AA by
S&P or Aa by Moody's.
There may be periods during which market conditions warrant reduction of
some or all of the Portfolio's securities holdings. During such periods, the
Portfolio may adopt a temporary "defensive" posture in which up to 100% of each
Portfolio's net assets are invested in cash or money market instruments.
The Portfolio may also enter into repurchase agreements, which may be viewed
as a type of secured lending by a Portfolio, and which typically involve the
acquisition by the Portfolio of debt securities from a selling financial
institution such as a bank, savings and loan association or broker-dealer. The
agreement provides that the Portfolio 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, including the risks of
default or bankruptcy of the selling financial institution, the Portfolio
follows procedures designed to minimize such risks. These procedures include
effecting repurchase transactions only with large, well-capitalized and
well-established financial institutions and maintaining adequate
collateralization. It is the current policy of the Portfolio not to invest in
repurchase agreements that do not mature within seven days if any such
investment amounts to more than 15% of the Portfolio's net assets in keeping
with its policy on illiquid securities.
RISK CONSIDERATIONS AND INVESTMENT PRACTICES
The net asset value of the Portfolio's shares will fluctuate with changes in the
market value of its portfolio securities. The market value of the Portfolio's
portfolio securities will increase or decrease due to a variety of economic,
market or political factors which cannot be predicted. A general description and
the risks involved of the various investment practices and techniques which the
Portfolio may engage in is set forth below. A more detailed discussion can be
found in this Fund's Statement of Additional Information.
"COMPETITIVE EDGE" SELECTION. The net asset value of the Portfolio will
fluctuate depending upon the performance of the securities included on the
"Competitive Edge" List. There can be no assurance that the securities contained
in the "Competitive Edge" List will perform as anticipated by MSDW Equity
Research. The selection of companies on the "Competitive Edge" List is a
subjective determination by the MSDW Research group. Past performance of the
securities and issuers included in the "Competitive Edge" List cannot be used to
predict future results of the Portfolio, which is actively managed by the
Investment Manager and the results of which are expected to vary from the
performance of the "Competitive Edge" List.
FOREIGN SECURITIES. Investors should carefully consider the risks of investing
in securities of foreign issuers and securities denominated in non-U.S.
currencies. Fluctuations in the relative rates of exchange between the
currencies of different nations will affect the value of a fund's investments.
Changes in foreign currency exchange rates relative to the U.S. dollar will
affect the U.S. dollar value of a funds' assets denominated in that currency and
thereby impact upon the fund's total return on such assets.
Foreign currency exchange rates are determined by forces of supply and
demand on the foreign exchange markets. These forces are themselves affected by
the international balance of payments and other economic and financial
conditions, government intervention, speculation and other factors. Moreover,
foreign currency exchange rates may be affected by the regulatory control of the
exchanges on which the currencies trade.
Investments in foreign securities will also occasion risks relating to
political and economic developments abroad, including the possibility of
expropriations or confiscatory taxation, limitations on the use or transfer of a
fund's assets and any effects of foreign social, economic or political
instability. Political and economic developments in Asia may have profound
effects upon the value of a large segment of a fund's portfolio. 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
6
<PAGE>
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 fund trades effected in such markets. Inability to dispose of
portfolio securities due to settlement delays could result in losses to a 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.
The foreign securities in which the Portfolio will be investing in may be
issued by issuers located in developing countries. Compared to the United States
and other developed countries, developing countries may have relatively unstable
governments, economies based on only a few industries, and securities markets
which trade a small number of securities. Prices of these securities tend to be
especially volatile and, in the past, securities in these countries have offered
greater potential for gain (as well as loss) than securities of companies
located in developed countries.
FORWARD FOREIGN CURRENCY EXCHANGE CONTRACTS. The Portfolio may enter into
forward foreign currency exchange contracts ("forward contracts") in connection
with their foreign securities investments.
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.
A fund may enter into forward contracts as a hedge against fluctuations in
future foreign exchange rates.
A fund will enter into forward contracts under various circumstances. When a
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 Investment Manager 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 Portfolio 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 Portfolio's securities holdings (or securities which the Portfolio has
purchased for its portfolio) denominated in such foreign currency. Under
identical circumstances, the Portfolio 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 Investment Manager 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 Investment Manager 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 Portfolio 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
Portfolio 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 Portfolio'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 Portfolio will have realized fewer gains than had it 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 Portfolio
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 Investment Manager. The Portfolio 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 Portfolio 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.
7
<PAGE>
OPTIONS AND FUTURES TRANSACTIONS. The Portfolio 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 Portfolio.
The Portfolio 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 Portfolio may
write covered put options, under which the Portfolio 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 Portfolio may purchase listed and OTC call and put options in amounts
equalling up to 5% of its total assets. The Portfolio may purchase call options
to close out a covered call position or to 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 Portfolio
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 Portfolio's ability to purchase
call and put options other than compliance with the foregoing policies.
The Portfolio 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 Portfolio 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 Portfolio 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 Portfolio
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
Portfolio 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 Portfolio incurs an
obligation to deliver the specified amount of the underlying obligation at a
specified time in return for an agreed upon price.
The Portfolio 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 Portfolio 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 Portfolio 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 Investment Manager 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 Portfolio 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 Portfolio 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 a
fund's portfolio securities and their denominated currencies. See the Statement
of Additional Information for a further discussion of these risks.
REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS. The Portfolio may enter into repurchase agreements,
which may be viewed as a type of secured lending, and which typically involve
the acquisition by the Portfolio of debt securities, from a selling financial
institution such as a bank, savings and loan association or broker-dealer. The
agreement provides that the Portfolio will
8
<PAGE>
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, including the risks of default or bankruptcy of the selling
financial institution, the Portfolio follows procedures to minimize such risks.
These procedures include effecting repurchase transactions only with large,
well-capitalized and well-established financial institutions and maintaining
adequate collateralization.
PRIVATE PLACEMENTS. The Portfolio may invest up to 15% of its total assets in
securities which are subject to restrictions on resale because they have not
been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities
Act"), or which are otherwise not readily marketable. (Securities eligible for
resale pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act, and determined to be
liquid pursuant to the procedures discussed in the following paragraph, are not
subject to the foregoing restriction.) These securities are generally referred
to as private placements or restricted securities. Limitations on the resale of
such securities may have an adverse effect on their marketability, and may
prevent a fund from disposing of them promptly at reasonable prices. The
Portfolio 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 a fund to sell restricted securities to qualified
institutional buyers without limitation. The Investment Manager, pursuant to
procedures adopted by the Trustees of the Fund, will make a determination as to
the liquidity of each restricted security purchased by the Portfolio. If a
restricted 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 Portfolio's net assets.
RIGHTS AND WARRANTS. The Portfolio may acquire rights
and/or warrants which are attached to other securities in its portfolio, or
which are issued as a distribution by the issuer of a security held in its
portfolio. Rights and/or warrants are, in effect, options 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 corporation issuing them.
SECURITIES RECEIPTS. The Portfolio may also invest in securities of foreign
issuers in the form of American Depository Receipts (ADRs), European Depository
Receipts (EDRs) or other similar securities convertible into securities of
foreign issuers. These securities may not necessarily be denominated in the same
currency as the securities into which they may be converted. ADRs are receipts
typically issued by a United States bank or trust company evidencing ownership
of the underlying securities. EDRs are European receipts evidencing a similar
arrangement. Generally, ADRs, in registered form, are designed for use in the
United States securities markets and EDRs, in bearer form, are designed for use
in European securities markets.
LENDING OF PORTFOLIO SECURITIES. Consistent with applicable regulatory
requirements, the Portfolio may lend its portfolio securities to brokers,
dealers and other financial institutions, provided that such loans are callable
at any time by the Portfolio (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
Investment Manager to be creditworthy and when the income which can be earned
from such loans justifies the attendant risks.
For additional risk disclosure, please refer to the "Investment Objective
and Policies" section of the Prospectus and to the "Investment Practices and
Policies" section of the Statement of Additional Information.
Except as specifically noted, all investment policies and practices
discussed above are not fundamental policies of the Portfolio or the Fund and,
as such, may be changed without shareholder approval.
PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT
The "Competitive Edge" Portfolio is managed by the Investment Manager with a
view to achieving the Portfolio's investment objective. The assets of the
Portfolio are managed within InterCapital's Group, which manages equity
fund and fund portfolios with approximately $ billion in assets as of
, 1997. [ ] is the primary portfolio manager of the Fund.
[Experience]
Although the Portfolio does not intend to engage in short-term trading of
portfolio securities as a means of achieving its investment objective, it may
sell portfolio securities without regard to the length of time they have been
held whenever such sale will in the Investment Manager's opinion strengthen the
Portfolio's position and contribute to its investment objective.
Substantially all of the Orders for transactions in portfolio securities and
commodities listed on exchanges are expected to be placed for the Portfolio with
Morgan Stanley & Co., Inc., ("Morgan Stanley") an affiliate of the Investment
Manager. In addition to Morgan Stanley, the Portfolio may place such orders with
a number of brokers and dealers, including other brokers and dealers that are
affiliates of the Investment Manager. The Fund may incur brokerage commissions
on transactions conducted through
9
<PAGE>
such affiliates. Transactions effected through Morgan Stanley and other
affiliates are effected pursuant to procedures adopted by the Fund's Board of
Trustees that are designed to ensure that the commissions paid to such
affiliated brokers or dealers are not more than the commissions expected to be
paid to unaffiliated brokers or dealers in a commensurate arms-length
transaction. Pursuant to an order of the Securities and Exchange Commission, the
Fund may effect principal transactions in certain money market instruments with
Dean Witter Reynolds Inc. ("DWR"). It is not anticipated that the portfolio
trading will result in the Portfolio's portfolio turnover rate exceeding 100% in
any one year. The Portfolio will incur brokerage costs commensurate with its
portfolio turnover rate. See "Dividends, Distributions and Taxes" for a
discussion of the tax implications of the Portfolio's trading policy.
INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The investment restrictions listed below are among the restrictions which have
been adopted by the Fund as fundamental policies of the Portfolios. Under the
Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "Act"), a fundamental policy may
not be changed with respect to a Portfolio, without the vote of a majority of
the outstanding voting securities of that Portfolio, 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.
Each Portfolio of the Fund may not:
1. As to 75% of its total 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), except that the Portfolio may invest all or substantially
all of its assets in another registered investment company having the same
investment objective and policies and substantially the same investment
restrictions as the Portfolio (a "Qualifying Portfolio").
2. As to 75% of its total assets, purchase more than 10% of all outstanding
voting securities or any class of securities of any one issuer, except that the
Portfolio may invest all or substantially all of its assets in a Qualifying
Portfolio.
3. Invest 25% or more of the value of its total assets in securities of
issuers in any one industry. This restriction does not apply to obligations
issued or guaranteed by
the United States Government or its agencies or instrumentalities.
4. Borrow money except a bank for temporary or emergency purposes, including
the meeting of redemption requests in an amount not exceeding 33 1/3% of the
value of each Portfolio's total assets (including the amount borrowed) valued at
market less liabilities (not including the amount borrowed) at the time the
borrowing is made.
UNDERWRITING
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dean Witter Distributors Inc. (the "Underwriter") has agreed to purchase up to
10,000,000 shares from the "Competitive Edge" Portfolio, which number may be
increased or decreased in accordance with the Underwriting Agreement. The
initial offering will run approximately from , 1998 through
, 1998. The Underwriting Agreement provides that the obligation of
the Underwriter is subject to certain conditions precedent and that the
Underwriter will be obligated to purchase the shares on , 1998, or
such other date as may be agreed upon by the Underwriter and the Portfolio (the
"Closing Date"). Shares will not be issued and dividends will not be declared by
the Portfolio until after the Closing Date. For this reason, payment is not
required to be made prior to the Closing Date. If any orders received during the
initial offering period are accompanied by payment, such payment will be
returned unless an accompanying request for investment in a Dean Witter money
market fund is received at the time the payment is made. Prospective investors
in money market funds should request and read the money market fund prospectus
prior to investing. All such funds received and invested in a Dean Witter money
market fund will be automatically invested in the Portfolio on the Closing Date
without any further action by the investor. Any investor may cancel his or her
purchase of Portfolio shares without penalty at any time prior to the Closing
Date.
The Underwriter will purchase Class B, Class C and Class D shares from the
Portfolio at $10.00 per share with all proceeds going to the Portfolio and will
purchase Class A shares at $10.00 per share plus a sales charge with the sales
charge paid to the Underwriter and the net asset value of $10.00 per share going
to the Portfolio. The Underwriter may, however, receive contingent deferred
sales charges from future redemptions of Class A, Class B and Class C shares
(see "Purchase of Portfolio Shares--Continuous Offering").
The Underwriter shall, regardless of its expected underwriting commitment,
be entitled and obligated to purchase only the number of shares for which
purchase orders
10
<PAGE>
have been received by the Underwriter prior to 2:00 p.m., New York time, on the
third business day preceding the Closing Date, or such other date as may be
agreed to between the parties.
The minimum number of Fund shares which may be purchased by any shareholder
pursuant to this offering is 100 shares. Certificates for shares purchased will
not be issued unless requested by the shareholder in writing.
PURCHASE OF PORTFOLIO SHARES--CONTINUOUS OFFERING
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
GENERAL
The "Competitive Edge" Portfolio of the Fund offers each class of its shares for
sale 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 Investment Manager, shares of the Portfolio of the Fund are
distributed by the Distributor and offered by DWR and other dealers which have
entered into 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 "Competitive Edge" Portfolio of the Fund offers four classes of shares
(each, a "Class"). Class A shares are sold to investors with an initial sales
charge that declines to zero for larger purchases; however, Class A shares sold
without an initial sales charge are subject to a contingent deferred sales
charge ("CDSC") of 1.0% if redeemed within one year of purchase, except for
certain specific circumstances. Class B shares are sold without an initial sales
charge but are subject to a CDSC (scaled down from 5.0% to 1.0%) payable upon
most redemptions within six years after purchase. (Class B shares purchased by
certain qualified employer-sponsored benefit plans are subject to a CDSC scaled
down from 2.0% to 1.0% if redeemed within three years after purchase.) Class C
shares are sold without an initial sales charge but are subject to a CDSC of
1.0% on most redemptions made within one year after purchase. Class D shares are
sold without an initial sales charge or CDSC and are available only to investors
meeting an initial investment minimum of $5 million, and to certain other
limited categories of investors. At the discretion of the Board of Trustees of
the Fund, Class A shares may be sold to categories of investors in addition to
those set forth in this prospectus at net asset value without a front-end sales
charge, and Class D shares may be sold to certain other categories of investors,
in each case as may be described in the then current prospectus of the
Portfolio. See "Alternative Purchase Arrangements--Selecting a Particular Class"
for a discussion of factors to consider in selecting which Class of shares to
purchase.
The minimum initial purchase is $1,000 for each Class of shares, although
Class D shares are only available to persons investing $5 million or more and to
certain other limited categories of investors. For the purpose of meeting the
minimum $5 million initial investment for Class D shares, and subject to the
$1,000 minimum initial investment for each Class of the Portfolio, an investor's
existing holdings of Class A shares of the Portfolio and other Dean Witter Funds
that are multiple class funds ("Dean Witter Multi-Class Funds") and shares of
Dean Witter Funds sold with a front-end sales charge ("FSC Funds") and
concurrent investments in Class D shares of the Portfolio and other Dean Witter
Multi-Class Funds will be aggregated. Subsequent purchases of $100 or more may
be made by sending a check, payable to Dean Witter "Competitive Edge"
Trust--"Competitive Edge" Portfolio, directly to Dean Witter Trust FSB (the
"Transfer Agent" or "DWT") at P.O. Box 1040, Jersey City, NJ 07303 or by
contacting an account executive of DWR or other Selected Broker-Dealer. When
purchasing shares of the Portfolio, investors must specify which Portfolio they
wish to invest in and whether the purchase is for Class A, Class B, Class C or
Class D shares. If no Class is specified, the Transfer Agent will not process
the transaction until the proper Class is identified. The minimum initial
purchase, in the case of investments through EasyInvest-SM-, 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
Portfolio, in its discretion, may accept investments without regard to any
minimum amounts which would otherwise be required, if the Portfolio 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 Portfolio 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 distributions. Sales
personnel of a Selected Broker-Dealer are compensated for selling shares of the
Fund at the time of their sale by the Distributor or any of its affiliates
and/or the Selected Broker-Dealer. In addition, some sales personnel of the
Selected Broker-Dealer will receive various types of non-cash compensation as
special sales incentives, including
11
<PAGE>
trips, educational and/or business seminars and merchandise. The Portfolio and
the Distributor reserve the right to reject any purchase orders.
ALTERNATIVE PURCHASE ARRANGEMENTS
The "Competitive Edge" Portfolio of the Fund offers several Classes of shares to
investors designed to provide them with the flexibility of selecting an
investment best suited to their needs. The general public is offered three
Classes of shares: Class A shares, Class B shares and Class C shares, which
differ principally in terms of sales charges and rate of expenses to which they
are subject. A fourth Class of shares, Class D shares, is offered only to
limited categories of investors (see "No Load Alternative--Class D Shares"
below).
Each Class A, Class B, Class C or Class D share of the Portfolio represents
an identical interest in the Portfolio except that Class A, Class B and Class C
shares bear the expenses of the ongoing shareholder service fees, Class B and
Class C shares bear the expenses of the ongoing distribution fees and Class A,
Class B and Class C shares which are redeemed subject to a CDSC bear the expense
of the additional incremental distribution costs resulting from the CDSC
applicable to shares of those Classes. The ongoing distribution fees of the
Portfolio that are imposed on Class A, Class B and Class C shares will be
imposed directly against those Classes of the Portfolio and not against all
assets of the Fund and, accordingly, such charges against one Class will not
affect the net asset value of any other Class or have any impact on investors
choosing another sales charge option. See "Plan of Distribution" and
"Redemptions and Repurchases."
Set forth below is a summary of the differences between the Classes and the
factors an investor should consider when selecting a particular Class. This
summary is qualified in its entirety by detailed discussion of each Class that
follows this summary.
CLASS A SHARES. Class A shares are sold at net asset value plus an initial
sales charge of up to 5.25%. The initial sales charge is reduced for certain
purchases. Investments of $1 million or more (and investments by certain other
limited categories of investors) are not subject to any sales charges at the
time of purchase but are subject to a CDSC of 1.0% on redemptions made within
one year after purchase, except for certain specific circumstances. Class A
shares are also subject to a 12b-1 fee of up to 0.25% of the average daily net
assets of the Class. See "Initial Sales Charge Alternative--Class A Shares."
CLASS B SHARES. Class B shares are offered at net asset value with no initial
sales charge but are subject to a CDSC (scaled down from 5.0% to 1.0%) if
redeemed within six years of purchase. (Class B shares purchased by certain
qualified employer-sponsored benefit plans are subject to a CDSC scaled down
from 2.0% to 1.0% if redeemed within three years after purchase.) This CDSC may
be waived for certain redemptions. Class B shares are also subject to an annual
12b-1 fee of 1.0% of the average daily net assets of Class B. The Class B
shares' distribution fee will cause that Class to have higher expenses and pay
lower dividends than Class A or Class D shares.
After approximately ten (10) years, Class B shares will convert
automatically to Class A shares of the Fund, based on the relative net asset
values of the shares of the two Classes on the conversion date. In addition, a
certain portion of Class B shares that have been acquired through the
reinvestment of dividends and distributions will be converted at that time. See
"Contingent Deferred Sales Charge Alternative--Class B Shares."
CLASS C SHARES. Class C shares are sold at net asset value with no initial
sales charge but are subject to a CDSC of 1.0% on redemptions made within one
year after purchase. This CDSC may be waived for certain redemptions. They are
subject to an annual 12b-1 fee of up to 1.0% of the average daily net assets of
the Class C shares. The Class C shares' distribution fee may cause that Class to
have higher expenses and pay lower dividends than Class A or Class D shares. See
"Level Load Alternative--Class C Shares."
CLASS D SHARES. Class D shares are available only to limited categories of
investors (see "No Load Alternative-- Class D Shares" below). Class D shares are
sold at net asset value with no initial sales charge or CDSC. They are not
subject to any 12b-1 fees. See "No Load Alternative-- Class D Shares."
SELECTING A PARTICULAR CLASS. In deciding which Class of Portfolio shares to
purchase, investors should consider the following factors, as well as any other
relevant facts and circumstances:
The decision as to which Class of shares is more beneficial to an investor
depends on the amount and intended length of his or her investment. Investors
who prefer an initial sales charge alternative may elect to purchase Class A
shares. Investors qualifying for significantly reduced or, in the case of
purchases of $1 million or more, no initial sales charges may find Class A
shares particularly attractive because similar sales charge reductions are not
available with respect to Class B or Class C shares. Moreover, Class A shares
are subject to lower ongoing expenses than are Class B or Class C shares over
the term of the investment. As an alternative, Class B and Class C shares are
sold without any initial sales charge so the entire purchase price is
immediately invested in the Portfolio. Any investment return on these additional
investment amounts may partially or wholly offset the higher annual expenses of
these Classes. Because the Portfolio's future return cannot be predicted,
however, there can be no assurance that this would be the case.
Finally, investors should consider the effect of the CDSC period and any
conversion rights of the Classes in
12
<PAGE>
the context of their own investment time frame. For example, although Class C
shares are subject to a significantly lower CDSC upon redemptions, they do not,
unlike Class B shares, convert into Class A shares after approximately ten
years, and, therefore, are subject to an ongoing 12b-1 fee of 1.0% (rather than
the 0.25% fee applicable to Class A shares) for an indefinite period of time.
Thus, Class B shares may be more attractive than Class C shares to investors
with longer term investment outlooks. Other investors, however, may elect to
purchase Class C shares if, for example, they determine that they do not wish to
be subject to a front-end sales charge and they are uncertain as to the length
of time they intend to hold their shares.
For the purpose of meeting the $5 million minimum investment amount for
Class D shares, holdings of Class A shares in all Dean Witter Multi-Class Funds,
shares of FSC Funds and shares of Dean Witter Funds for which such shares have
been exchanged, will be included together with the current investment amount.
Sales personnel may receive different compensation for selling each Class of
shares. Investors should understand that the purpose of a CDSC is the same as
that of the initial sales charge in that the sales charges applicable to each
Class provide for the financing of the distribution of shares of that Class.
Set forth below is a chart comparing the sales charge, 12b-1 fees and
conversion options applicable to each Class of shares:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<C> <S> <C> <C>
CONVERSION
CLASS SALES CHARGE 12B-1 FEE FEATURE
A Maximum 5.25% 0.25% No
initial sales charge
reduced for
purchases of $25,000
and over; shares
sold without an
initial sales charge
generally subject to
a 1.0% CDSC during
first year.
B Maximum 5.0% CDSC 1.0% B shares
during the first convert to A
year decreasing to 0 shares
after six years automatically
after
approximately
ten years
C 1.0% CDSC during 1.0% No
first year
D None None No
</TABLE>
See "Purchase of Portfolio Shares" and "The Fund and its Management" for a
complete description of the sales charges and service and distribution fees for
each Class of shares and "Determination of Net Asset Value," "Dividends,
Distributions and Taxes" and "Shareholder Services--Exchange Privilege" for
other differences between the Classes of shares.
INITIAL SALES CHARGE ALTERNATIVE-- CLASS A SHARES
Class A shares are sold at net asset value plus an initial sales charge. In some
cases, reduced sales charges may be available, as described below. Investments
of $1 million or more (and investments by certain other limited categories of
investors) are not subject to any sales charges at the time of purchase but are
subject to a CDSC of 1.0% on redemptions made within one year after purchase
(calculated from the last day of the month in which the shares were purchased),
except for certain specific circumstances. The CDSC will be assessed on an
amount equal to the lesser of the current market value or the cost of the shares
being redeemed. The CDSC will not be imposed (i) in the circumstances set forth
below in the section "Contingent Deferred Sales Charge Alternative--Class B
Shares-- CDSC Waivers," except that the references to six years in the first
paragraph of that section shall mean one year in the case of Class A shares, and
(ii) in the circumstances identified in the section "Additional Net Asset Value
Purchase Options" below. Class A shares are also subject to an annual 12b-1 fee
of up to 0.25% of the average daily net assets of the Class.
The offering price of Class A shares will be the net asset value per share
next determined following receipt of an order (see "Determination of Net Asset
Value" below), plus a sales charge (expressed as a percentage of the offering
price) on a single transaction as shown in the following table:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
SALES CHARGE
------------------------------------------
PERCENTAGE OF APPROXIMATE
AMOUNT OF SINGLE PUBLIC OFFERING PERCENTAGE OF AMOUNT
TRANSACTION PRICE INVESTED
- -------------------------- ------------------- ---------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Less than $25,000......... 5.25% 5.54%
$25,000 but less
than $50,000............. 4.75% 4.99%
$50,000 but less
than $100,000............ 4.00% 4.17%
$100,000 but less
than $250,000............ 3.00% 3.09%
$250,000 but less
than $1 million.......... 2.00% 2.04%
$1 million and over....... 0 0
</TABLE>
Upon notice to all Selected Broker-Dealers, the Distributor may reallow up
to the full applicable sales charge as shown in the above schedule during
periods specified in such notice. During periods when 90% or more of the sales
charge is reallowed, such Selected Broker-Dealers may be deemed to be
underwriters as that term is defined in the Securities Act of 1933.
The above schedule of sales charges is applicable to purchases in a single
transaction by, among others: (a) an individual; (b) an individual, his or her
spouse and their children under the age of 21 purchasing shares for his, her or
their own accounts; (c) a trustee or other fiduciary purchasing shares for a
single trust estate or a single fiduciary account; (d) a pension, profit-sharing
or other employee
13
<PAGE>
benefit plan qualified or non-qualified under Section 401 of the Internal
Revenue Code; (e) tax-exempt organizations enumerated in Section 501(c)(3) or
(13) of the Internal Revenue Code; (f) employee benefit plans qualified under
Section 401 of the Internal Revenue Code of a single employer or of employers
who are "affiliated persons" of each other within the meaning of Section
2(a)(3)(c) of the Act; and for investments in Individual Retirement Accounts of
employees of a single employer through Systematic Payroll Deduction plans; or
(g) any other organized group of persons, whether incorporated or not, provided
the organization has been in existence for at least six months and has some
purpose other than the purchase of redeemable securities of a registered
investment company at a discount.
COMBINED PURCHASE PRIVILEGE. Investors may have the benefit of reduced sales
charges in accordance with the above schedule by combining purchases of Class A
shares of the Portfolio in single transactions with the purchase of Class A
shares of other Dean Witter Multi-Class Funds and shares of FSC Funds. The sales
charge payable on the purchase of the Class A shares of the Portfolio, the Class
A shares of the other Dean Witter Multi-Class Funds and the shares of the FSC
Funds will be at their respective rates applicable to the total amount of the
combined concurrent purchases of such shares.
RIGHT OF ACCUMULATION. The above persons and entities may benefit from a
reduction of the sales charges in accordance with the above schedule if the
cumulative net asset value of Class A shares purchased in a single transaction,
together with shares of the Portfolio and other Dean Witter Funds previously
purchased at a price including a front-end sales charge (including shares of the
Portfolio and other Dean Witter Funds acquired in exchange for those shares, and
including in each case shares acquired through reinvestment of dividends and
distributions), which are held at the time of such transaction, amounts to
$25,000 or more. If such investor has a cumulative net asset value of shares of
FSC Funds and Class A and Class D shares equal to at least $5 million, such
investor is eligible to purchase Class D shares subject to the $1,000 minimum
initial investment requirement of that Class of the Fund. See "No Load
Alternative--Class D Shares" below.
The Distributor must be notified by DWR or a Selected Broker-Dealer or the
shareholder at the time a purchase order is placed that the purchase qualifies
for the reduced charge under the Right of Accumulation. Similar notification
must be made in writing by the dealer or shareholder when such an order is
placed by mail. The reduced sales charge will not be granted if: (a) such
notification is not furnished at the time of the order; or (b) a review of the
records of the Selected Broker-Dealer or the Transfer Agent fails to confirm the
investor's represented holdings.
LETTER OF INTENT. The foregoing schedule of reduced sales charges will also be
available to investors who enter into a written Letter of Intent providing for
the purchase, within a thirteen-month period, of Class A shares of the Portfolio
from DWR or other Selected Broker-Dealers. The cost of Class A shares of the
Portfolio or shares of other Dean Witter Funds which were previously purchased
at a price including a front-end sales charge during the 90-day period prior to
the date of receipt by the Distributor of the Letter of Intent, or of Class A
shares of the Portfolio or shares of other Dean Witter Funds acquired in
exchange for shares of such funds purchased during such period at a price
including a front-end sales charge, which are still owned by the shareholder,
may also be included in determining the applicable reduction.
ADDITIONAL NET ASSET VALUE PURCHASE OPTIONS. In addition to investments of $1
million or more, Class A shares also may be purchased at net asset value by the
following:
(1) trusts for which DWT (an affiliate of the Investment Manager) provides
discretionary trustee services;
(2) persons participating in a fee-based program approved by the
Distributor, pursuant to which such persons pay an asset based fee for services
in the nature of investment advisory or administrative services (such
investments are subject to all of the terms and conditions of such programs,
which may include termination fees, mandatory redemption upon termination and
such other circumstances as specified in the programs' agreements, and
restrictions on transferability of Portfolio shares);
(3) retirement plans qualified under Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue
Code ("401(k) plans") and other employer-sponsored plans qualified under Section
401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code with at least 200 eligible employees and for
which DWT serves as Trustee or the 401(k) Support Services Group of DWR serves
as recordkeeper;
(4) 401(k) plans and other employer-sponsored plans qualified under Section
401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code for which DWT serves as Trustee or the
401(k) Support Services Group of DWR serves as recordkeeper whose Class B shares
have converted to Class A shares, regardless of the plan's asset size or number
of eligible employees;
(5) investors who are clients of a Dean Witter account executive who joined
Dean Witter from another investment firm within six months prior to the date of
purchase of Portfolio shares by such investors, if the shares are being
purchased with the proceeds from a redemption of shares of an open-end
proprietary mutual fund of the account executive's previous firm which imposed
either a front-end or deferred sales charge, provided such purchase was made
within sixty days after the redemption and the proceeds of the redemption had
been maintained in the interim in cash or a money market fund; and
(6) other categories of investors, at the discretion of the Board, as
disclosed in the then current prospectus of the Fund.
14
<PAGE>
No CDSC will be imposed on redemptions of shares purchased pursuant to
paragraphs (1), (2) or (5), above.
For further information concerning purchases of the Fund's shares, contact
DWR or another Selected Broker-Dealer or consult the Statement of Additional
Information.
CONTINGENT DEFERRED SALES CHARGE ALTERNATIVE--CLASS B SHARES
Class B shares are sold at net asset value next determined without an initial
sales charge so that the full amount of an investor's purchase payment may be
immediately invested in the Portfolio. A CDSC, however, will be imposed on most
Class B shares redeemed within six years after purchase. The CDSC will be
imposed on any redemption of shares if after such redemption the aggregate
current value of a Class B account with the Portfolio falls below the aggregate
amount of the investor's purchase payments for Class B shares made during the
six years (or, in the case of shares held by certain employer-sponsored benefit
plans, three years) preceding the redemption. In addition, Class B shares are
subject to an annual 12b-1 fee of 1.0% of the average daily net assets of Class
B.
Except as noted below, Class B shares of the Portfolio 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 CDSC upon
redemption. Shares redeemed earlier than six years after purchase may, however,
be subject to a 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 following table:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
YEAR SINCE CDSC AS A
PURCHASE PERCENTAGE OF
PAYMENT MADE AMOUNT REDEEMED
- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------
<S> <C>
First................................... 5.0%
Second.................................. 4.0%
Third................................... 3.0%
Fourth.................................. 2.0%
Fifth................................... 2.0%
Sixth................................... 1.0%
Seventh and thereafter.................. None
</TABLE>
In the case of Class B shares of the Portfolio held by 401 (k) plans or
other employer-sponsored plans qualified under Section 401(a) of the Internal
Revenue Code for which DWT serves as Trustee or the 401(k) Support Services
Group of DWR serves as recordkeeper and whose accounts are opened on or after
July 28, 1997, shares held for three years or more after purchase (calculated as
described in the paragraph above) will not be subject to any CDSC upon
redemption. However, shares redeemed earlier than three years after purchase may
be subject to a CDSC (calculated as described in the paragraph above), the
percentage of which will depend on how long the shares have been held, as set
forth in the following table:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
YEAR SINCE CDSC AS A
PURCHASE PERCENTAGE OF
PAYMENT MADE AMOUNT REDEEMED
- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------
<S> <C>
First................................... 2.0%
Second.................................. 2.0%
Third................................... 1.0%
Fourth and thereafter................... None
</TABLE>
CDSC WAIVERS. A CDSC will not be imposed on: (i) any amount which represents an
increase in value of shares purchased within the six years (or, in the case of
shares held by certain employer-sponsored benefit plans, three years) preceding
the redemption; (ii) the current net asset value of shares purchased more than
six years (or, in the case of shares held by certain employer-sponsored benefit
plans, three years) prior to the redemption; and (iii) the current net asset
value of shares purchased through reinvestment of dividends or distributions
and/or shares acquired in exchange for shares of other open-end investment
companies for which InterCapital serves as investment manager (collectively,
with the Portfolio, the "Dean Witter Funds") sold with a front-end sales charge
or of other Dean Witter Funds acquired in exchange for such shares. 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-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
401(k) plan or other employer-sponsored plan qualified under Section 401(a) of
the Internal Revenue Code which offers investment companies managed by the
Investment Manager or its subsidiary, Dean Witter Services Company Inc., as
self-directed investment alternatives and for which DWT serves as Trustee or the
401(k) Support Services Group of DWR serves as recordkeeper
15
<PAGE>
("Eligible Plan"), provided that either: (a) the plan continues to be an
Eligible 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.
LEVEL LOAD ALTERNATIVE--
CLASS C SHARES
Class C shares are sold at net asset value next determined without an initial
sales charge but are subject to a CDSC of 1.0% on most redemptions made within
one year after purchase (calculated from the last day of the month in which the
shares were purchased). The CDSC will be assessed on an amount equal to the
lesser of the current market value or the cost of the shares being redeemed. The
CDSC will not be imposed in the circumstances set forth above in the section
"Contingent Deferred Sales Charge Alternative-- Class B Shares--CDSC Waivers,"
except that the references to six years in the first paragraph of that section
shall mean one year in the case of Class C shares. Class C shares are subject to
an annual 12b-1 fee of up to 1.0% of the average daily net assets of the Class.
Unlike Class B shares, Class C shares have no conversion feature and,
accordingly, an investor that purchases Class C shares will be subject to 12b-1
fees applicable to Class C shares for an indefinite period subject to annual
approval by the Fund's Board of Trustees and regulatory limitations.
NO LOAD ALTERNATIVE--
CLASS D SHARES
Class D shares are offered without any sales charge on purchase or redemption
and without any 12b-1 fee. Class D shares are offered only to investors meeting
an initial investment minimum of $5 million and the following categories of
investors: (i) investors participating in the InterCapital mutual fund asset
allocation program pursuant to which such persons pay an asset based fee; (ii)
persons participating in a fee-based program approved by the Distributor,
pursuant to which such persons pay an asset based fee for services in the nature
of investment advisory or administrative services (subject to all of the terms
and conditions of such programs referred to in (i) and (ii) above, which may
include termination fees, mandatory redemption upon termination and such other
circumstances as specified in the programs' agreements, and restrictions on
transferability of Fund shares); (iii) 401(k) plans established by DWR and SPS
Transaction Services, Inc. (an affiliate of DWR) for their employees; (iv)
certain Unit Investment Trusts sponsored by DWR; (v) certain other open-end
investment companies whose shares are distributed by the Distributor; and (vi)
other categories of investors, at the discretion of the Board, as disclosed in
the then current prospectus of the Fund. Investors who require a $5 million
minimum initial investment to qualify to purchase Class D shares may satisfy
that requirement by investing that amount in a single transaction in Class D
shares of the Portfolio and other Dean Witter Multi-Class Funds, subject to the
$1,000 minimum initial investment required for that Class of the Fund. In
addition, for the purpose of meeting the $5 million minimum investment amount,
holdings of Class A shares in all Dean Witter Multi-Class Funds, shares of FSC
Funds and shares of Dean Witter Funds for which such shares have been exchanged
will be included together with the current investment amount. If a shareholder
redeems Class A shares and purchases Class D shares, such redemption may be a
taxable event.
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
The Fund has adopted a Plan of Distribution pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Act
with respect to the distribution of Class A, Class B and Class C shares of the
Portfolio of the Fund. In the case of Class A and Class C shares, the Plan
provides that the Fund will, on behalf of the Portfolio, reimburse the
Distributor and others for the expenses of certain activities and services
incurred by them specifically on behalf of those shares. Reimbursements for
these expenses will be made in monthly payments by the Portfolio of the Fund to
the Distributor, which will in no event exceed amounts equal to payments at the
annual rates of 0.25% and 1.0% of the average daily net assets of Class A and
Class C, respectively. In the case of Class B shares, the Plan provides that the
Fund, on behalf of the Portfolio, will pay the Distributor a fee, which is
accrued daily and paid monthly, at the annual rate of 1.0% of the average daily
net assets of Class B. The fee is treated by the Portfolio of the Fund as an
expense in the year it is accrued. In the case of Class A shares, the entire
amount of the fee currently represents a service fee within the meaning of the
NASD guidelines. In the case of Class B and Class C shares, a portion of the fee
payable pursuant to the Plan, equal to 0.25% of the average daily net assets of
each of these Classes, is currently characterized as a service fee. A service
fee is a payment made for personal service and/or the maintenance of shareholder
accounts.
Additional amounts paid under the Plan in the case of Class B and Class C
shares are paid to the Distributor for services provided and the expenses borne
by the Distributor and others in the distribution of the shares of those
Classes, including the payment of commissions for sales of the shares of those
Classes and incentive compensation to
16
<PAGE>
and expenses of DWR's 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 Portfolio'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 in the case of Class B shares 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 expenses.
In the case of Class B shares, at any given time, the expenses in
distributing Class B shares of the Portfolio may be in excess of the total of
(i) the payments made by the Portfolio of the Fund pursuant to the Plan, and
(ii) the proceeds of CDSCs paid by investors upon the redemption of Class B
shares of the Portfolio. For example, if $1 million in expenses in distributing
Class B shares of the Portfolio had been incurred and $750,000 had been received
as described in (i) and (ii) above, the excess expense would amount to $250,000.
Because there is no requirement under the Plan 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
Portfolio of the Fund. Although there is no legal obligation for the Portfolio
of the Fund to pay expenses incurred in excess of payments made to the
Distributor under the Plan, and the proceeds of CDSCs paid by investors upon
redemption of shares, if for any reason the Plan is terminated the Trustees will
consider at that time the manner in which to treat such expenses. Any cumulative
expenses incurred, but not yet recovered through distribution fees or CDSCs, may
or may not be recovered through future distribution fees or CDSCs.
In the case of Class A and Class C shares of the Portfolio, expenses
incurred pursuant to the Plan in any calendar year in excess of 0.25% or 1.0% of
the average daily net assets of Class A or Class C, respectively, will not be
reimbursed by the Portfolio of the Fund through payments in any subsequent year,
except that expenses representing a gross sales commission credited to account
executives at the time of sale may be reimbursed in the subsequent calendar
year. No interest or other financing charges will be incurred on any Class A or
Class C distribution expenses incurred by the Distributor under the Plan or on
any unreimbursed expenses due to the Distributor pursuant to the Plan.
DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE
The net asset value per share of the Portfolio is determined once daily at 4:00
p.m., New York time, on each day that the New York Stock Exchange is open (or,
on days when the New York Stock Exchange closes prior to 4:00 p.m., at such
earlier time) by taking the net assets of the Portfolio, dividing by the
respective number of shares outstanding and adjusting to the nearest cent. The
assets of the Portfolio, belonging to the Class A, Class B, Class C and Class D
shares will be invested together in a single portfolio. The net asset value of
each Class of the Portfolio, however, will be determined separately by
subtracting each Class's accrued expenses and liabilities. 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.
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 applicable Class of the Portfolio (or, if specified by the shareholder in
shares of any other open-end "Dean Witter Fund"), unless the shareholder
requests that they be paid in cash. Shares so acquired are acquired at net asset
value and are not subject to the imposition of a front-end sales charge or a
CDSC (see "Redemptions and Repurchases").
INVESTMENT OF DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS RECEIVED IN CASH. Any shareholder who
receives a cash payment representing a dividend or capital gains distribution
may invest such dividend or distribution in shares of the applicable Class 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
thirty days after the payment date. Shares so acquired are acquired at net asset
value are not subject to the imposition of a front-end sales charge or a CDSC
(see "Redemptions and Repurchases").
EASYINVEST-SM-. Shareholders may subscribe to EasyInvest, an automatic purchase
plan which provides for any amount from $100 to $5,000 to be transferred
automatically from a checking or savings account or following redemption of
shares of a Dean Witter money market fund, on a semi-monthly, monthly or
quarterly basis, to the Transfer Agent for investment in shares of the
Portfolio. (See "Purchase of Fund Shares" and "Redemptions and
Repurchases--Involuntary Redemption").
SYSTEMATIC WITHDRAWAL PLAN. A systematic withdrawal plan (the "Withdrawal
Plan") is available for shareholders who own or purchase shares of the Portfolio
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 CDSC
will be imposed on shares redeemed under the Withdrawal Plan (see "Purchase of
Fund
17
<PAGE>
Shares"). 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 CDSC) to the shareholder will be the designated monthly
or quarterly amount.
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.
Shareholders should contact their DWR or other Selected Broker-Dealer
account executive or the Transfer Agent for further 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 DWR or other Selected Dealer
account executive or the Transfer Agent.
EXCHANGE PRIVILEGE
Shares of each Class may be exchanged for shares of the same Class of any other
Dean Witter Multi-Class Fund without the imposition of any exchange fee. Shares
may also be exchanged for shares of the following funds: Dean Witter Short-Term
U.S. Treasury Trust, Dean Witter Limited Term Municipal Trust, Dean Witter
Short-Term Bond Fund, Dean Witter Intermediate Term U.S. Treasury Trust and five
Dean Witter funds which are money market funds (the "Exchange Funds"). Class A
shares may also be exchanged for shares of Dean Witter Multi-State Municipal
Series Trust and Dean Witter Hawaii Municipal Trust, which are Dean Witter Funds
sold with a front-end sales charge ("FSC Funds"). Class B shares may also be
exchanged for shares of Dean Witter Global Short-Term Income Fund Inc., Dean
Witter High Income Securities and Dean Witter National Municipal Trust, which
are Dean Witter Funds offered with a CDSC ("CDSC 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 to another Dean Witter Multi-Class Fund, any FSC Fund, any CDSC
Fund or 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 Portfolio, shares
of the Portfolio are redeemed out of the Portfolio at their next calculated net
asset value and the proceeds of the redemption are used to purchase shares of
the money market fund at the net asset value determined the following business
day. Subsequent exchanges between any of the Dean Witter Multi-Class Funds, FSC
Funds or CDSC Funds or any Exchange Fund that is not a money market fund can be
effected on the same basis.
No CDSC is imposed at the time of any exchange of shares, although any
applicable CDSC will be imposed upon ultimate redemption. During the period of
time the shareholder remains in an 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 re-exchanged for shares of a Dean Witter Multi-Class
Fund or 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 Dean Witter Multi-Class Fund or shares of a CDSC Fund are reacquired. Thus,
the CDSC is based upon the time (calculated as described above) the shareholder
was invested in shares of a Dean Witter Multi-Class Fund or in shares of a CDSC
Fund (see "Purchase of Fund Shares"). In the case of exchanges of Class A shares
which are subject to a CDSC, the holding period also includes the time
(calculated as described above) the shareholder was invested in shares of a FSC
Fund. In the case of shares exchanged into an Exchange Fund on or after April
23, 1990, 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 incurred on or after that date
which are attributable to those shares. (Exchange Fund 12b-1 distribution fees
are described in the prospectuses for those funds.) Class B shares of the
Portfolio acquired in exchange for Class B shares of another Dean Witter Multi-
Class Fund or shares of a CDSC Fund having a different CDSC schedule than that
of this Fund will be subject to the higher CDSC schedule, even if such shares
are subsequently re-exchanged for shares of the fund with the lower CDSC
schedule.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING EXCHANGES
Purchases and exchanges should be made for investment purposes only. A
pattern of frequent exchanges may be deemed by the Investment Manager to be
abusive and contrary to the best interests of the Portfolio's other shareholders
and, at the Investment Manager's discretion, may be limited by the Portfolio's
refusal to accept additional purchases and/or exchanges from the investor.
Although the Portfolio does not have any specific definition of what
18
<PAGE>
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 Portfolio and its other shareholders, investors should
be aware that the Portfolio and each of the other Dean Witter Funds may in their
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 Portfolio on a prospective basis only, upon notice of 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 Dean Witter Funds for which shares of the Portfolio 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 Portfolio 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 of
each Class of Shares and any other conditions imposed by each fund. In the case
of any shareholder holding a share certificate or certificates, no exchanges may
be made until all applicable share certificates have been received by the
Transfer Agent and deposited in the shareholder's account. 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 Portfolio for shares of any of the Dean
Witter Funds (for which the Exchange Privilege is available) pursuant to this
Exchange Privilege by contacting their 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 Portfolio will employ reasonable procedures to confirm that exchange
instructions communicated over the telephone are genuine. Such procedures may
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 may also
be recorded. If such procedures are not employed, the Portfolio 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 Portfolio 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 experience with the Dean
Witter Funds in the past.
Shareholders should contact their DWR or other Selected Broker-Dealer
account executive or the Transfer Agent for further information about the
Exchange Privilege.
REDEMPTIONS AND REPURCHASES
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
REDEMPTION. Shares of each Class of the Portfolio of the Fund can be redeemed
for cash at any time at the net asset value per share next determined less the
amount of any applicable CDSC in the case of Class A, Class B or Class C shares
(see "Purchase of Portfolio Shares"). If shares are held in a shareholder's
account without a share certificate, a written request for redemption sent to
the Fund's Transfer Agent at P.O. Box 983, Jersey City, NJ 07303 is required. If
certificates are held by the shareholder(s), the shares may be redeemed by
surrendering the certificates with a written request for redemption, along with
any additional information required by the Transfer Agent.
REPURCHASE. DWR and other Selected Broker-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 next computed (see "Purchase of Portfolio Shares")
19
<PAGE>
after such repurchase order is received by DWR or other Selected Broker-Dealer,
reduced by any applicable CDSC.
The CDSC, if any, will be the only fee imposed by either the Portfolio, the
Distributor or DWR or other Selected Broker-Dealer. The offer by DWR and other
Selected Broker-Dealers to repurchase shares may be suspended without notice by
the Distributor at any time. In that event, shareholders may redeem their shares
through the Fund's Transfer Agent as set forth above under "Redemption."
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 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 Portfolio pledged in the margin account.
REINSTATEMENT PRIVILEGE. A shareholder who has had his or her shares redeemed
or repurchased and has not previously exercised this reinstatement privilege
may, within 35 days after the date of the redemption or repurchase, reinstate
any portion or all of the proceeds of such redemption or repurchase in shares of
the Portfolio in the same Class from which such shares were redeemed or
repurchased at their 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 redemption
or repurchase.
INVOLUNTARY REDEMPTION. The Portfolio reserves the right to redeem, on sixty
days' notice and at 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
EasyInvest-SM-, if after twelve months the shareholder has invested less than
$1,000 in the account. However, before the Portfolio 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.
DIVIDENDS, DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS. The Portfolio of the Fund intends to distribute
substantially all of its net investment income and distribute capital gains, if
any, once each year. The Portfolio may, however, determine either to distribute
or to retain all or part of any long-term capital gains in any year for
reinvestment.
All dividends and any capital gains distributions will be paid in additional
shares of the same Class 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. Shares acquired
by dividend and distribution reinvestments will not be subject to any front-end
sales charge or CDSC. Class B shares acquired through dividend and distribution
reinvestments will become eligible for conversion to Class A shares on a pro
rata basis. Distributions paid on Class A and Class D shares will be higher than
for Class B and Class C shares because distribution fees paid by Class B and
Class C shares are higher. (See "Shareholder Services--Automatic Investment of
Dividends and Distributions.")
TAXES. Because the Portfolio intends to distribute all of its net investment
income and net short-term 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
on any such income and capital gains. Shareholders will normally have to pay
Federal income taxes, and any state and local income taxes, on the dividends and
distributions they receive from the Portfolio. Any dividends declared in the
last quarter of any calendar year which are paid in the following year prior to
February 1 will be deemed for tax purposes to have been received in the prior
year.
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 Portfolio's shares and regardless of whether the distribution is
received in additional shares or in cash. Capital gains distributions are not
eligible for the dividends received deduction.
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
20
<PAGE>
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 Portfolio may quote its "total return" in advertisements
and sales literature. These figures are computed separately for Class A, Class
B, Class C and Class D shares. The total return of the Portfolio is based on
historical earnings and is not intended to indicate future performance.
The "average annual total return" of the Portfolio refers to a figure
reflecting the average annualized percentage increase (or decrease) in the value
of an initial investment in a Class of the Portfolio of $1,000 over periods of
one, five and ten years, or the life of the Portfolio, if less than any of the
foregoing. Average annual total return reflects all income earned by the
Portfolio, any appreciation or depreciation of the Portfolio's assets, all
expenses incurred by the applicable Class and all sales charges which will be
incurred by shareholders, for the stated periods. It also assumes reinvestment
of all dividends and distributions paid by the Portfolio.
In addition to the foregoing, the Portfolio may advertise its total return
for each Class 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 any sales charge which, if reflected, would
reduce the performance quoted. The Portfolio may also advertise the growth of
hypothetical investments of $10,000, $50,000 and $100,000 in each Class of
shares of the Portfolio. The Portfolio 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 Portfolio are of $0.01
par value and are equal as to earnings, assets and voting privileges except that
each Class of the Portfolio will have exclusive voting privileges with respect
to matters relating to distribution expenses borne solely by such Class or any
other matter in which the interests of one Class differ from the interests of
any other Class. In addition, Class B shareholders will have the right to vote
on any proposed material increase in Class A's expenses, if such proposal is
submitted separately to Class A shareholders. Also, as discussed herein, Class
A, Class B and Class C of each Portfolio bear the expenses related to the
distribution of their respective shares.
The Portfolio is not required to hold Annual Meetings of Shareholders and,
in ordinary circumstances, the Portfolio 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
Portfolio. However, the Declaration of Trust contains an express disclaimer of
shareholder liability for acts or obligations of the Portfolio, requires that
Portfolio obligations include such disclaimer, and provides for indemnification
and reimbursement of expenses out of the Portfolio'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 Portfolio itself would be
unable to meet its obligations. Given the above limitations on shareholder
personal liability, and the nature of the Portfolio's assets and operations, in
the opinion of Massachusetts counsel to the Portfolio, the risk to shareholders
of personal liability is remote.
CODE OF ETHICS. Directors, officers and employees of the Investment Manager,
Dean Witter Services Company Inc. and the Distributor are subject to a strict
Code of Ethics adopted by those companies. The Code of Ethics is intended to
ensure that the interests of shareholders and other clients are placed ahead of
any personal interest, that no undue personal benefit is obtained from a
person's employment activities and that actual and potential conflicts of
interest are avoided. To achieve these goals and comply with regulatory
requirements, the Code of Ethics requires, among other things, that personal
securities transactions by employees of the companies be subject to an advance
clearance process to monitor that no Dean Witter Fund is engaged at the same
time in a purchase or sale of the same security. The Code of Ethics bans the
purchase of securities in an initial public offering, and also prohibits
engaging in futures and options transactions and profiting on short-term trading
(that is, a purchase within sixty days of a sale or a sale within sixty days of
a purchase) of a security. In addition, investment personnel may not purchase or
sell a security for their personal account within thirty days before or after
any transaction in any Dean Witter Fund managed by them. Any violations of the
Code
21
<PAGE>
of Ethics are subject to sanctions, including reprimand, demotion or suspension
or termination of employment. The Code of Ethics comports with regulatory
requirements and the recommendations in the 1994 report by the Investment
Company Institute Advisory Group on Personal Investing.
MASTER/FEEDER CONVERSION. The Portfolio reserves the right to seek to achieve
its investment objective by investing all of its investable assets in a
diversified, open-end management investment company having the same investment
objective and policies and substantially the same investment restrictions as
those applicable to the Portfolio.
SHAREHOLDER INQUIRIES. All inquiries regarding the Portfolio should be directed
to the Portfolio at the telephone numbers or address set forth on the front
cover of this Prospectus.
The Investment Manager provided the initial capital for the Portfolio by
purchasing 1,250 shares each of Class A, Class B, Class C and Class D of each
Portfolio for $12,500, respectively, on , 1997. As of the date of
this Prospectus, the Investment Manager owned 100% of the outstanding shares of
the Fund. The Investment Manager may be deemed to control the Fund until such
time as it owns less than 25% of the outstanding shares of the Portfolio.
22
<PAGE>
DEAN WITTER
"COMPETITIVE EDGE" TRUST
- -- "COMPETITIVE EDGE" PORTFOLIO
TWO WORLD TRADE CENTER
NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10048
TRUSTEES
OFFICERS
Charles A. Fiumefreddo
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Vice President
Barry Fink
Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel
Thomas F. Caloia
Treasurer
CUSTODIAN
The Bank of New York
90 Washington Street
New York, New York 10286
TRANSFER AGENT
AND DIVIDEND
DISBURSING AGENT
Dean Witter Trust FSB
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
INVESTMENT MANAGER
Dean Witter InterCapital Inc.
<PAGE>
STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL DEAN WITTER
INFORMATION "COMPETITIVE EDGE" TRUST
, 1998
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dean Witter "Competitive Edge" Trust (the "Fund") is an open-end,
diversified management investment company currently consisting of two separate
portfolios (individually a "Portfolio" and collectively the "Portfolios"). The
"BEST IDEAS" PORTFOLIO has an investment objective of long-term capital growth
and invests primarily in common stocks of U.S. and non-U.S. companies included
in the Best Ideas subgroup (the " 'Best Ideas' List") of "Global Investing--The
Competitive Edge" (the " 'Competitive Edge' List"), a research compilation
assembled and maintained by Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Equity Research
Department ("MSDW Equity Research"). The "COMPETITIVE EDGE" PORTFOLIO has an
investment objective of long-term capital growth and invests primarily in common
stocks of U.S. and non-U.S. companies included in The Competitive Edge List.
A Prospectus for the "Best Ideas" Portfolio of the Fund dated ,
1998, which provides the basic information you should know before investing in
that Portfolio, may be obtained without charge from the Fund at its 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. [The "Competitive Edge" Portfolio is not being offered to investors at
this time.] 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 of each Portfolio. It is intended to provide you additional
information regarding the activities and operations of the respective Portfolio,
and should be read in conjunction with each Portfolio's Prospectus.
Dean Witter
"Competitive Edge" Trust
Two World Trade Center
New York, New York 10048
(212) 392-2550 or
(800) 869-NEWS (toll-free)
<PAGE>
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
The Fund and its Management............................................................ 3
Trustees and Officers.................................................................. 6
Investment Practices and Policies of the Portfolios.................................... 8
Investment Restrictions................................................................ 24
Portfolio Transactions and Brokerage................................................... 25
Underwriting........................................................................... 26
The Distributor........................................................................ 27
Determination of Net Asset Value....................................................... 30
Purchase of Portfolio Shares........................................................... 31
Shareholder Services................................................................... 33
Redemptions and Repurchases............................................................ 38
Dividends, Distributions and Taxes..................................................... 39
Performance Information................................................................ 40
Description of Shares of The Fund...................................................... 41
Custodian and Transfer Agent........................................................... 42
Independent Accountants................................................................ 42
Reports to Shareholders................................................................ 42
Legal Counsel.......................................................................... 42
Experts................................................................................ 42
Registration Statement................................................................. 42
Statements of Assets and Liabilities at , 1998 ........................... 43
Report of Independent Accountants...................................................... 44
Appendix--Ratings of Investments.......................................................
</TABLE>
2
<PAGE>
THE FUND AND ITS MANAGEMENT
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
THE FUND
The Fund is a trust of the type commonly known as a "Massachusetts business
trust" and was organized under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts on
, 1997
THE INVESTMENT MANAGER
Dean Witter InterCapital Inc. (the "Investment Manager" or "InterCapital"),
a Delaware corporation, whose address is Two World Trade Center, New York, New
York, 10048, is the Fund's investment manager. InterCapital is a wholly-owned
subsidiary of Morgan Stanley, Dean Witter, Discover & Co. ("MSDWD"), a Delaware
corporation. In an internal reorganization which took place in January, 1993,
InterCapital assumed the investment advisory, administrative and management
activities previously performed by the InterCapital Division of Dean Witter
Reynolds Inc. ("DWR"), a broker-dealer affiliate of InterCapital. (As
hereinafter used in this Statement of Additional Information, the terms
"InterCapital" and "Investment Manager" refer to DWR's InterCapital Division
prior to the internal reorganization and Dean Witter InterCapital Inc.
thereafter.) The daily management of the Fund and research relating to each
Portfolio of the Fund are conducted by or under the direction of officers of the
Fund and of the Investment Manager, 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."
InterCapital is also the investment manager or investment adviser of the
following investment companies: Dean Witter Liquid Asset Fund Inc., InterCapital
Income Securities Inc., Dean Witter High Yield Securities Inc., Dean Witter
Tax-Free Daily Income Trust, Dean Witter Value-Added Market Series, Dean Witter
Tax-Exempt Securities Trust, Dean Witter Natural Resource Development Securities
Inc., Dean Witter Dividend Growth Securities Inc., Dean Witter American Value
Fund, Dean Witter U.S. Government Money Market Trust, Dean Witter Variable
Investment Series, Dean Witter World Wide Investment Trust, Dean Witter Select
Municipal Reinvestment Fund, Dean Witter U.S. Government Securities Trust, Dean
Witter California Tax-Free Income Fund, Dean Witter New York Tax-Free Income
Fund, Dean Witter Convertible Securities Trust, Dean Witter Federal Securities
Trust, High Income Advantage Trust, High Income Advantage Trust II, High Income
Advantage Trust III, Dean Witter Government Income Trust, Dean Witter Utilities
Fund, Dean Witter California Tax-Free Daily Income Trust, Dean Witter Strategist
Fund, Dean Witter World Wide Income Trust, Dean Witter Intermediate Income
Securities, Dean Witter New York Municipal Money Market Trust, Dean Witter
Capital Growth Securities, Dean Witter European Growth Fund Inc., Dean Witter
Precious Metals and Minerals Trust, Dean Witter Global Short-Term Income Fund
Inc., Dean Witter Pacific Growth Fund Inc., Dean Witter Multi-State Municipal
Series Trust, Dean Witter Short-Term U.S. Treasury Trust, InterCapital Insured
Municipal Bond Trust, InterCapital Insured Municipal Trust, InterCapital Insured
Municipal Income Trust, InterCapital California Insured Municipal Income Trust,
InterCapital Quality Municipal Investment Trust, InterCapital Quality Municipal
Income Trust, InterCapital Quality Municipal Securities, InterCapital California
Quality Municipal Securities, InterCapital New York Quality Municipal
Securities, Dean Witter Diversified Income Trust, Dean Witter Health Sciences
Trust, Dean Witter Retirement Series, Dean Witter Global Dividend Growth
Securities, Dean Witter Limited Term Municipal Trust, InterCapital Insured
Municipal Securities, InterCapital Insured California Municipal Securities, Dean
Witter Short-Term Bond Fund, Dean Witter Global Utilities Fund, Dean Witter
National Municipal Trust, Dean Witter High Income Securities, Dean Witter
International SmallCap Fund, Dean Witter Mid-Cap Growth Fund, Dean Witter Select
Dimensions Investment Series, Dean Witter Balanced Growth Fund, Dean Witter
Balanced Income Fund, Dean Witter Hawaii Municipal Trust, Dean Witter Capital
Appreciation Fund, Dean Witter Information Fund, Dean Witter Intermediate Term
U.S. Treasury Trust, Dean Witter Capital Appreciation Fund, Dean Witter
Information Fund, Dean Witter Japan Fund, Dean Witter Income Builder Fund, Dean
Witter Special Value Fund, Dean Witter Financial Services Trust, Dean Witter
Market Leader Trust, Dean Witter S&P 500 Index Fund, Dean Witter Fund of Funds,
Active Assets Money Trust, Active Assets Tax-Free Trust, Active Assets
California Tax-Free Trust, Active Assets Government Securities Trust, Municipal
Income Trust, Municipal Income Trust II, Municipal Income Trust III, Municipal
Income Opportunities Trust, Municipal Income
3
<PAGE>
Opportunities Trust II, Municipal Income Opportunities Trust III, Municipal
Premium Income Trust and Prime Income Trust. The foregoing investment companies,
together with the Fund, are collectively referred to as the Dean Witter Funds.
In addition, Dean Witter Services Company Inc. ("DWSC"), a wholly-owned
subsidiary of InterCapital, serves as manager for the following companies for
which TCW Funds Management, Inc. is the investment adviser: TCW/DW Core Equity
Trust, TCW/DW North American Government Income Trust, TCW/DW Latin American
Growth Fund, TCW/DW Income and Growth Fund, TCW/DW Small Cap Growth Fund, TCW/DW
Balanced Fund, TCW/DW Total Return Trust, TCW/DW Mid-Cap Equity Trust, TCW/DW
Global Telecom Trust, TCW/DW Strategic Income Trust, TCW/DW Emerging Markets
Opportunities Trust, TCW/DW Term Trust 2000, TCW/DW Term Trust 2002 and TCW/DW
Term Trust 2003 (the "TCW/ DW Funds"). InterCapital also serves as: (i)
administrator of The BlackRock Strategic Term Trust Inc., a closed-end
investment company; and (ii) sub-administrator of MassMutual Participation
Investors and Templeton Global Governments Income Trust, closed-end investment
companies.
Pursuant to an Investment Management Agreement (the "Agreement") with the
Investment Manager, the Fund has retained the Investment Manager to manage the
investment of the Fund's assets, including the placing of orders for the
purchase and sale of portfolio securities. The Investment Manager 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 and policies.
Under the terms of the Agreement, in addition to managing the Fund's
investments, the Investment Manager maintains certain of the Fund's books and
records and furnishes, at its own expense, such office space, facilities,
equipment, clerical help, bookkeeping and certain legal services as the Fund may
reasonably require in the conduct of its business, including the preparation of
prospectuses, proxy statements and reports required to be filed with federal and
state securities commissions (except insofar as the participation or assistance
of independent accountants and attorneys is, in the opinion of the Investment
Manager, necessary or desirable). In addition, the Investment Manager pays the
salaries of all personnel, including officers of the Fund, who are employees of
the Investment Manager. The Investment Manager also bears the cost of telephone
service, heat, light, power and other utilities provided to the Fund.
[Each Portfolio pays all expenses incurred in its operation and a portion of
the Fund's general administrative expenses allocated on the basis of asset size
of the respective Portfolio.] Expenses not expressly assumed by the Investment
Manager under the Agreement or by the Distributor of the Portfolio's shares,
Dean Witter Distributors Inc. ("Distributors" or the "Distributor") (see "The
Distributor"), will be paid by the Portfolio. These expenses will be allocated
among the four classes of shares of the Portfolio of the Fund (each, a "Class")
pro rata based on the net assets of the Portfolio of the Fund attributable to
each Class, except as described below. Such expenses include, but are not
limited to: expenses of the Plan of Distribution pursuant to Rule 12b-1 (the
"12b-1 fee") (see "The Distributor"); charges and expenses of any registrar,
custodian, share transfer and dividend disbursing agent; brokerage commissions;
taxes; engraving and printing share certificates; registration costs of the
Portfolio and its shares under federal and state securities laws; the cost and
expenses of printing, including typesetting, and distributing prospectuses of
the Portfolio and supplements thereto to the Portfolio's shareholders; all
expenses of shareholders' and Trustees' meetings and of preparing, printing and
mailing proxy statements and reports to shareholders; fees and travel expenses
of Trustees or members of any advisory board or committee who are not employees
of the Investment Manager or any corporate affiliate of the Investment Manager;
all expenses incident to any dividend, withdrawal or redemption options; any
charges and expenses of any outside service used for pricing of the Portfolio's
shares; fees and expenses of legal counsel, including counsel to the Trustees
who are not interested persons of the Fund, the Portfolio or of the Investment
Manager (not including compensation or expenses of attorneys who are employees
of the Investment Manager) and independent accountants; membership dues of
industry associations; interest on Portfolio borrowings; postage; insurance
premiums on property or personnel (including officers and Trustees) of the
Portfolio which inure to its benefit; extraordinary
4
<PAGE>
expenses (including, but not limited to, legal claims and liabilities and
litigation costs and any indemnification relating thereto; depending upon the
nature of the legal claim, liability or lawsuit, the costs of litigation,
payment of legal claims or liabilities or indemnification relating thereto may
be directly applicable to the Portfolio or may be proportionately allocated on
the basis of the size of the Portfolio. The Trustees have determined that this
is an appropriate method of allocation of such expenses); and all other costs of
the Portfolio's operation properly payable by the Fund and allocable on the
basis of size of the respective Portfolio. The 12b-1 fees relating to a
particular Class of the Portfolio will be allocated directly to that Class. In
addition, other expenses associated with a particular Class of a particular
Portfolio (except custodial fees) may be allocated directly to that Class,
provided that such expenses are reasonably identified as specifically
attributable to that Class and the direct allocation to that Class is approved
by the Trustees.
The Investment Manager has agreed to assume all operating expenses (except
for brokerage and 12b-1 fees) for each Portfolio until such time as the
respective Portfolio has $50 million of net assets or six months from the date
of commencement of the Fund's operations, whichever occurs first.
The Investment Manager will pay the organizational expenses of each
Portfolio incurred prior to the offering of its shares. Each Portfolio has
agreed to bear and reimburse the Investment Manager for such expenses, in an
amount of up to a maximum of $250,000. The organizational expenses of each
Portfolio have been deferred by the Portfolio and are being amortized on the
straight line method over a period not to exceed five years from the date of
commencement of each Portfolio's operations.
As full compensation for the services and facilities furnished to each
Portfolio of the Fund and expenses of each Portfolio assumed by the Investment
Manager, the Fund pays the Investment Manager monthly compensation calculated
daily by applying the annual rate of % to each Portfolio's daily net assets.
The management fee is allocated among the Classes of each Portfolio pro rata
based on the net assets of the respective Portfolio attributable to each Class.
The Agreement provides that in the absence of willful misfeasance, bad
faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of its obligations thereunder, the
Investment Manager is not liable to the Fund or any of its investors for any act
or omission by the Investment Manager or for any losses sustained by the Fund or
its investors. The Agreement in no way restricts the Investment Manager from
acting as investment manager or adviser to others.
The Agreement was initially approved by the Board of Trustees on ,
1997 and by InterCapital, as the then sole shareholder, on , 1997. The
Agreement may be terminated with respect to any Portfolio, at any time, without
penalty, on thirty days' notice by the Board of Trustees of the Fund, by the
holders of a majority, as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the
"Act"), of the outstanding shares of the respective Portfolio of the Fund, or by
the Investment Manager. The Agreement will automatically terminate in the event
of its assignment (as defined in the Act).
Under its terms, the Agreement has an initial term ending April 30, 1999 and
will remain in effect from year to year thereafter with respect to each
Portfolio, 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 each Portfolio of the Fund, or by the Board of Trustees of
the Fund; provided that in either event such continuance is approved annually by
the vote of a majority of the Trustees of the Fund who are not parties to the
Agreement or "interested persons" (as defined in the Act) of any such party (the
"Independent Trustees"), which vote must be cast in person at a meeting called
for the purpose of voting on such approval.
The Fund has acknowledged that the name "Dean Witter" is a property right of
DWR. The Fund has agreed that DWR or its parent company may use or, at any time,
permit others to use, the name "Dean Witter." The Fund has also agreed that in
the event the Agreement is terminated, or if the affiliation between
InterCapital and its parent company is terminated, the Fund will eliminate the
name "Dean Witter" from its name if DWR or its parent company shall so request.
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
InterCapital, and with the 85 Dean Witter Funds and the 14 TCW/DW Funds are
shown below:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NAME, AGE, POSITION WITH FUND AND ADDRESS PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION DURING LAST FIVE YEARS
- ------------------------------------------------------ ----------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C>
Charles A. Fiumefreddo* (64) ......................... Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and Director of
Chairman, President InterCapital, DWSC and Distributors; Executive Vice
Chief Executive Officer and Trustee President and Director of DWR; Chairman, Director or
Two World Trade Center Trustee, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Dean
New York, New York Witter Funds; Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and
Trustee of the TCW/DW Funds; Chairman and Director of Dean
Witter Trust FSB ("DWT"); Director and/or officer of
various MSDWD subsidiaries; formerly Executive Vice
President and Director of Dean Witter, Discover & Co.
(until February, 1993).
Barry Fink (42) ...................................... Senior Vice President (since March, 1997) and Secretary
Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel (since February, 1997) of InterCapital
and General Counsel and DWSC; Senior Vice President (since March, 1997) and
Two World Trade Center Assistant Secretary and Assistant General Counsel (since
New York, New York February, 1997) of Distributors; Assistant Secretary of
DWR (since August, 1996); Vice President, Secretary and
General Counsel of the Dean Witter Funds and the TCW/DW
Funds (since February, 1997); previously First Vice
President (June, 1993-February, 1997), Vice President
(until June, 1993) and Assistant Secretary and Assistant
General Counsel of InterCapital and DWSC and Assistant
Secretary of the Dean Witter Funds and the TCW/DW Funds.
Thomas F. Caloia (51) ................................ First Vice President and Assistant Treasurer of Inter-
Treasurer Capital and DWSC; Treasurer of the Dean Witter Funds and
Two World Trade Center the TCW/DW 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
InterCapital and DWSC, Executive Vice President of Distributors and DWT and
Director of DWT, Mitchell M. Merin, President and Chief Strategic Officer of
InterCapital and DWSC, Executive Vice President of Distributors and DWT and
Director of DWT, Executive Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer and
Director of DWR and Director of SPS Transaction Services, Inc. and various other
MSDWD subsidiaries, Joseph J. McAlinden, Executive Vice President and Chief
Investment Officer of InterCapital and Director of DWT, Robert S. Giambrone,
Senior Vice President of InterCapital, DWSC, Distributors and DWT and a Director
of DWT, and Paul D. Vance and Guy D. Rutherford, Jr., Senior Vice Presidents of
InterCapital, are Vice Presidents of the Fund, and Marilyn K. Cranney, First
Vice President and Assistant General Counsel of InterCapital and DWSC, Lou Anne
D. McInnis, Carsten Otto and Ruth Rossi, Vice Presidents and Assistant General
Counsels of InterCapital and DWSC, and Frank Bruttomesso and Todd Lebo, Staff
Attorneys with InterCapital, are Assistant Secretaries of the Fund.
6
<PAGE>
THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES, THE INDEPENDENT TRUSTEES, AND THE COMMITTEES
[TO COME]
7
<PAGE>
INVESTMENT PRACTICES AND POLICIES OF THE PORTFOLIOS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A description of the various investment practices and techniques in which
certain or all of the Portfolios may engage is set forth below as well as in the
Prospectus of each Portfolio. Shareholders are referred to the Prospectuses of
those Portfolios for more detailed information.
MONEY MARKET INSTRUMENTS. As stated in the Prospectus for each Portfolio,
the money market instruments which each Portfolio of 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 and
bankers' acceptances) of banks subject to regulation by the U.S. Government and
having total assets of $1,000,000,000 or more, and instruments secured by such
obligations, not including obligations of foreign branches of domestic banks
except to the extent below;
EURODOLLAR CERTIFICATES OF DEPOSIT. Eurodollar certificates of deposit
issued by foreign branches of domestic banks, having total assets of
$1,000,000,000 or more;
OBLIGATIONS OF SAVINGS INSTITUTIONS. Certificates of deposit of savings
banks and savings and loan associations, having total assets of $1,000,000,000
or more;
FULLY INSURED CERTIFICATES OF DEPOSIT. Certificates of deposit of banks
and savings institutions, having total assets of less than $1,000,000,000, if
the principal amount of the obligation is insured by the Federal Deposit
Insurance Corporation, limited to $100,000 principal amount per certificate and
to 10% or less of each Portfolio's total assets;
COMMERCIAL PAPER. Commercial paper rated within the two highest grades
by Standard & Poor's (S&P) or the highest grade by Moody's or, if not rated,
issue by a company having an outstanding debt issue rated at least AA by S&P or
Aa by Moody's.
FOREIGN SECURITIES. As stated in the Prospectuses for the Portfolio,
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 Portfolio'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
a Portfolio's assets denominated in that currency and thereby impact upon the
Portfolio'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 a
fund will be conducted on a spot basis or through forward contracts or futures
contracts (described in the Statement of Additional Information). The Portfolio
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
Portfolio 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
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less publicly available information about such companies. Moreover, foreign
companies are not subject to the more rigorous uniform accounting, auditing and
financial reporting standards and requirements 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 certain Portfolio trades effected in such markets. Inability to
dispose of portfolio securities due to settlement delays could result in losses
to the Portfolio due to subsequent declines in value of such securities and the
inability of the Portfolio to make intended security purchases due to settlement
problems could result in a failure of the Portfolio to make potentially
advantageous investments. To the extent the Portfolio purchases Eurodollar
certificates of deposit issued by foreign branches of domestic United States
banks, consideration will be given to their domestic marketability, the lower
reserve requirements 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.
FORWARD FOREIGN CURRENCY EXCHANGE CONTRACTS. As stated in the Prospectuses
for the Global Best Ideas Portfolio and the Global Competitive Edge Portfolio,
the Portfolios may enter into forward foreign currency exchange contracts
("forward contracts") as a hedge against fluctuations in future foreign exchange
rates. A Portfolio will conduct its foreign currency exchange transactions
either on a spot (i.e., cash) basis at the spot rate prevailing in the foreign
currency exchange market, or through entering into forward contracts to purchase
or sell foreign currencies. A forward contract involves an obligation to
purchase or sell a specific 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. These contracts are traded in the
interbank market conducted directly between currency traders (usually large,
commercial and investment banks) and their customers. Such forward contracts
will only be entered into with United States banks and their foreign branches or
foreign banks, insurance companies and other dealers whose assets total $1
billion or more. A forward contract generally has no deposit requirement, and no
commissions are charged at any stage for trades.
When management of the Portfolio believes that the currency of a particular
foreign country may suffer a substantial movement against the U.S. dollar, it
may enter into a forward contract to purchase or sell, for a fixed amount of
dollars or other currency, the amount of foreign currency approximating the
value of some or all of the Portfolio's portfolio securities denominated in such
foreign currency.
The Portfolio will enter into forward contracts under various circumstances.
When the Portfolio 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
Portfolio 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 Portfolio 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
Portfolio 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 Portfolio's Investment Manager
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
Portfolio 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 Portfolio's securities holdings (or securities which
the fund has purchased for its portfolio) denominated in such
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foreign currency. Under identical circumstances, the Portfolio 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 Investment Manager 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 Investment Manager 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 Portfolio 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
Portfolio may, however, close out the forward contract without purchasing the
security which was the subject of the "anticipatory" hedge.
The Portfolio will not enter into forward contracts or maintain a net
exposure to such contracts where the consummation of the contracts would
obligate the Portfolio to deliver an amount of foreign currency in excess of the
value of the Portfolio's portfolio securities or other assets denominated in
that currency. Under normal circumstances, consideration of the prospect for
currency parities will be incorporated into the longer term investment decisions
made with regard to overall diversification strategies. However, the management
of the relevant Portfolio believes that it is important to have the flexibility
to enter into such forward contracts when it determines that the best interests
of the Portfolio will be served. The Portfolio's custodian bank will place cash,
U.S. Government securities or other appropriate liquid portfolio securities in a
segregated account of the Portfolio in an amount equal to the value of the
Portfolio's total assets committed to the consummation of forward contracts
entered into under the circumstances set forth above. If the value of the
securities placed in the segregated account declines, additional cash or
securities will be placed in the account on a daily basis so that the value of
the account will equal the amount of the Portfolio's commitments with respect to
such contracts.
Where, for example, the Portfolio is hedging a portfolio position consisting
of foreign securities denominated in a foreign currency against adverse exchange
rate moves vis-a-vis the U.S. dollar, at the maturity of the forward contract
for delivery by the Portfolio of a foreign currency, the Portfolio may either
sell the portfolio security and make delivery of the foreign currency, or it may
retain the security and terminate its contractual obligation to deliver the
foreign currency by purchasing an "offsetting" contract with the same currency
trader obligating it to purchase, on the same maturity date, the same amount of
the foreign currency (however, the ability of the fund to terminate a contract
is contingent upon the willingness of the currency trader with whom the contract
has been entered into to permit an offsetting transaction). It is impossible to
forecast the market value of portfolio securities at the expiration of the
contract. Accordingly, it may be necessary for the Portfolio to purchase
additional foreign currency on the spot market (and bear the expense of such
purchase) if the market value of the security is less than the amount of foreign
currency the fund is obligated to deliver and if a decision is made to sell the
security and make delivery of the foreign currency. Conversely, it may be
necessary to sell on the spot market some of the foreign currency received upon
the sale of the portfolio securities if its market value exceeds the amount of
foreign currency a fund is obligated to deliver.
If the Portfolio retains the portfolio securities and engages in an
offsetting transaction, the Portfolio will incur a gain or loss to the extent
that there has been movement in spot or forward contract prices. If the
Portfolio engages in an offsetting transaction, it may subsequently enter into a
new forward contract to sell the foreign currency. Should forward prices decline
during the period between the Portfolio's entering into a forward contract for
the sale of a foreign currency and the date it enters into an offsetting
contract for the purchase of the foreign currency, the Portfolio will realize a
gain to the extent the price of the currency it has agreed to sell exceeds the
price of the currency it has agreed to purchase. Should forward prices increase,
the Portfolio will suffer a loss to the extent the price of the currency it has
agreed to purchase exceeds the price of the currency it has agreed to sell.
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If the Portfolio purchases a fixed-income security which is denominated in
U.S. dollars but which will pay out its principal based upon a formula tied to
the exchange rate between the U.S. dollar and a foreign currency, it may hedge
against a decline in the principal value of the security by entering into a
forward contract to sell an amount of the relevant foreign currency equal to
some or all of the principal value of the security.
At times when the Portfolio has written a call option on a security or the
currency in which it is denominated, it may wish to enter into a forward
contract to purchase or sell the foreign currency in which the security is
denominated. A forward contract would, for example, hedge the risk of the
security on which a call option has been written declining in value to a greater
extent than the value of the premium received for the option. The Portfolio will
maintain with its Custodian at all times, cash, U.S. Government securities, or
other liquid portfolio securities in a segregated account equal in value to all
forward contract obligations and option contract obligations entered into in
hedge situations such as this.
Although the Portfolio values its assets daily in terms of U.S. dollars, it
does not intend to convert its holdings of foreign currencies into U.S. dollars
on a daily basis. It will, however, do so from time to time, and investors
should be aware of the costs of currency conversion. Although foreign exchange
dealers do not charge a fee for conversion, they do realize a profit based on
the spread between the prices at which they are buying and selling various
currencies. Thus a dealer may offer to sell a foreign currency to the fund at
one rate, while offering a lesser rate of exchange should the fund desire to
resell that currency to the dealer.
In all of the above circumstances, if the currency in which the Portfolio
securities holdings (or anticipated portfolio securities) are denominated rises
in value with respect to the currency which is being purchased (or sold), then
the Portfolio 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 Portfolio
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 Investment Manager. The Portfolio 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 Portfolio may be limited
in its ability to enter into hedging transactions involving forward contracts by
the Internal Revenue Code (the "Code") requirements relating to qualifications
as a regulated investment company (see "Dividends, Distributions and Taxes").
REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS. As discussed in each Portfolio's Prospectus, when
cash may be available for only a few days, it may be invested by the Portfolio
in repurchase agreements until such time as it may otherwise be invested or used
for payments of obligations of the Portfolio. These agreements, which may be
viewed as a type of secured lending by the Portfolio, typically involve the
acquisition by the Portfolio of debt securities from a selling financial
institution such as a bank, savings and loan association or broker-dealer. The
agreement provides that the Portfolio 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 Portfolio 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 Portfolio follows procedures designed to
minimize such risks. These procedures include effecting repurchase transactions
only with large, well-capitalized and well-established financial
institu-
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tions whose financial condition will be continually monitored by the Investment
Manager 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 Portfolio will
seek to liquidate such collateral. However, the exercising of the Portfolio'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 Portfolio could suffer a
loss. It is the current policy of the Portfolios 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 a Portfolio, amounts to more than 15% of
its net assets. A Portfolio's investments in repurchase agreements may at times
be substantial when, in the view of the Investment Manager, liquidity, tax or
other considerations warrant.
LENDING OF PORTFOLIO SECURITIES. Consistent with applicable regulatory
requirements, each Portfolio may lend its portfolio securities to brokers,
dealers and other financial institutions, provided that such loans are callable
at any time by the Portfolio (subject to notice provisions described below), and
are at all times secured by cash or cash equivalents, which are maintained in a
segregated account pursuant to applicable regulations and that are equal to at
least the market value, determined daily, of the loaned securities. The
advantage of such loans is that the Portfolio 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. A Portfolio 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 days' notice,
or by the fund on four business days' notice. If the borrower fails to deliver
the loaned securities within four days after receipt of notice, the Portfolio
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 Portfolio's management to be creditworthy and when the
income which can be earned from such loans justifies the attendant risks. Upon
termination of the loan, the borrower is required to return the securities to
the Portfolio. Any gain or loss in the market price during the loan period would
inure to the Portfolio. The creditworthiness of firms to which the Portfolio
lends its portfolio securities will be monitored on an ongoing basis by the
Investment Manager pursuant to procedures adopted and reviewed, on an ongoing
basis, by the Board of Trustees of the Fund.
When voting or consent rights which accompany loaned securities pass to the
borrower, the Portfolio 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. A Portfolio will pay reasonable finder's,
administrative and custodial fees in connection with a loan of its securities.
PRIVATE PLACEMENTS. As discussed in each Portfolio's Prospectus, the
Portfolio may invest up to either 5% or 10% of its total assets in securities
which are subject to restrictions on resale because they have not been
registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"),
or which are otherwise not readily marketable. (Securities eligible for resale
pursuant to Rule 144A of the Securities Act, and determined to be liquid
pursuant to the procedures discussed in the following paragraph, are not subject
to the foregoing restriction.) Limitations on the resale of such securities may
have an adverse effect on their marketability, and may prevent a Portfolio from
disposing of them promptly at reasonable prices. The Portfolio 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 ("SEC") has adopted Rule 144A under
the Securities Act, which permits the Portfolio to sell restricted securities to
qualified institutional buyers without limitation. The Investment Manager,
pursuant to procedures adopted by the Trustees of the Fund, will
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<PAGE>
make a determination as to the liquidity of each restricted security purchased
by the Portfolio. The procedures require that the following factors be taken
into account in making a liquidity determination: (1) the frequency of trades
and price quotes for the security; (2) the number of dealers and other potential
purchasers who have issued quotes on the security; (3) any dealer undertakings
to make a market in the security; and (4) the nature of the security and the
nature of the marketplace trades (the time needed to dispose of the security,
the method of soliciting offers, and the mechanics of transfer). If a restricted
security is determined to be "liquid", such security will not be included within
the category "illiquid securities", which under the SEC's current policies may
not exceed 15% of the Portfolio's net assets, and will not be subject to the 10%
limitation set out in the preceding paragraph.
The Rule 144A marketplace of sellers and qualified institutional buyers is
new and still developing and may take a period of time to develop into a mature
liquid market. As such, the market for certain private placements purchased
pursuant to Rule 144A may be initially small or may, subsequent to purchase,
become illiquid. Furthermore, the Investment Manager may not posses all the
information concerning an issue of securities that it wishes to purchase in a
private placement to which it would normally have had access, had the
registration statement necessitated by a public offering been filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission.
RIGHTS AND WARRANTS. As stated in each Portfolio's Prospectus, the
Portfolio may acquire rights and warrants which are attached to other securities
in its portfolio, or which are issued as a distribution by the issuer of a
security held in its portfolio. 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 corporation issuing them.
OPTIONS AND FUTURES TRANSACTIONS As stated in the Prospectus, each
Portfolio 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 a 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. A
Portfolio 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 entities including foreign exchanges.
Ownership of a listed call option gives a Portfolio 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
Portfolio 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.
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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
underlying security. However, if the Portfolio 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 Portfolio 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 Portfolio 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 Portfolio 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 Portfolio 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 Portfolio 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 Portfolio may
also purchase call and put options to close out written option positions.
The Portfolio 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 a fund
occasioned by such value decline would be ameliorated by receipt of the premium
on the option sold. At the same time, however, the Portfolio 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 Portfolio may also write
options to close out long call option positions.
The markets in foreign currency options are relatively new and the
Portfolio's ability to establish and close out positions on such options is
subject to the maintenance of a liquid secondary market. Although the Portfolio
will not purchase or write such options unless and until, in the opinion of the
management of the Portfolio, 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
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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 respective Portfolio. With OTC options,
such variables as expiration date, exercise price and premium will be agreed
upon between a Portfolio 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 Portfolio would lose the premium
paid for the option as well as any anticipated benefit of the transaction. A
Portfolio will engage in OTC option transactions only with primary U.S.
Government securities dealers recognized by the Federal Reserve Bank of New
York.
COVERED CALL WRITING. The Portfolio is permitted to write covered call
options on portfolio securities and the U.S. dollar and foreign currencies,
without limit. Generally, a call option is "covered" if the Portfolio owns, or
has the right to acquire, without additional cash consideration (or for
additional cash consideration held for the Portfolio by its Custodian in a
segregated account) the underlying security (currency) subject to the option
except that in the case of call options on U.S. Treasury Bills, a 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 no later than that of the securities (currency) deliverable under
the call option. A call option is also covered if the Portfolio holds a call on
the same security (currency) as the underlying security (currency) 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 Portfolio in cash, U.S. Government securities or other liquid
portfolio securities which the fund holds in a segregated account maintained
with its Custodian.
The Portfolio 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 Portfolio to achieve a greater total return than would be
realized from holding the underlying securities (currency) alone. Moreover, the
income received from the premium will offset a portion of the potential loss
incurred by the fund if the securities (currency) underlying the option are
ultimately sold (exchanged) by the Portfolio at a loss. The premium received
will fluctuate with varying economic market conditions. 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 Portfolio may receive less
total return from the portion of its portfolio upon which calls have been
written than it would have had such calls not been written.
As regards listed options and certain OTC options, during the option period,
the Portfolio may be required, at any time, to deliver the underlying security
(currency) against payment of the exercise price on any calls it has written
(exercise of certain listed and OTC 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
Portfolio has been assigned an exercise notice, it will be unable to effect a
closing purchase transaction.
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Closing purchase transactions are ordinarily effected to realize a profit on
an outstanding call option to prevent an underlying security (currency) from
being called, to permit the sale of an underlying security (or the exchange of
the underlying currency) or to enable the Portfolio to write another call option
on the underlying security (currency) 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 Portfolio. The Portfolio
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
(currency). 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 (currency).
If a call option expires unexercised, the Portfolio 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 (currency) during the option period. If a call option is exercised, the
Portfolio realizes a gain or loss from the sale of the underlying security
(currency) equal to the difference between the purchase price of the underlying
security (currency) and the proceeds of the sale of the security (currency) plus
the premium received for on the option less the commission paid.
Options written by the Portfolio 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 (currency) 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 Portfolio
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 and OTC put options
written by the Portfolio will be exercisable by the purchaser only on a specific
date). A put is "covered" if, at all times, the Portfolio maintains, in a
segregated account maintained on its behalf at the Portfolio's Custodian, cash,
U.S. Government securities or other high grade obligations in an amount equal to
at least the exercise price of the option, at all times during the option
period. Similarly, a short put position could be covered by the Portfolio 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
Portfolio in cash, U.S. Government securities or other liquid portfolio
securities which the Portfolio holds in a segregated account maintained at its
Custodian. In writing puts, the Portfolio 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). In the case of listed options, during the option period, the Portfolio
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 Portfolio will write put options for two purposes: (1) to receive the
income derived from the premiums paid by purchasers; and (2) when the Investment
Manager 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).
PURCHASING CALL AND PUT OPTIONS. The Portfolio may purchase listed and OTC
call and put options in amounts equalling up to 5% of its total assets. The
Portfolio may purchase call options in order to close out a covered call
position (see "Covered Call Writing" above) or purchase call options on
securities
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they intend to purchase. The Portfolio may also purchase 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 the call
option to effect a closing transaction or a call written over-the-counter may be
a listed or an OTC option. In either case, the call purchased is likely to be on
the same securities (currencies) 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
Portfolio.
The Portfolio may purchase put options on securities (currency) 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 (currency). If the value of the
underlying security (currency) were to fall below the exercise price of the put
purchased in an amount greater than the premium paid for the option, the
Portfolio would incur no additional loss. A Portfolio may also purchase put
options to close out written put positions in a manner similar to call options
closing purchase transactions. In addition, the Portfolio 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 which is 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 Portfolio
expired without being sold or exercised, the premium would be lost.
RISKS OF OPTIONS TRANSACTIONS. 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 (or the currency in which it is denominated) increase, but
has retained the risk of loss should the price of the underlying security
(currency) decline. The covered put writer also retains the risk of loss should
the market value of the underlying security (currency) 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 (currency) 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 or to purchase
an offsetting over-the-counter option, 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 (exchange) an underlying security
(currency) at a time when it might otherwise be advantageous to do so. A covered
put option writer who is unable to effect a closing purchase transaction or to
purchase an offsetting over-the-counter option would continue to bear the risk
of decline in the market price of the underlying security (currency) until the
option expires or is exercised. In addition, a coveredput 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 Portfolio'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, as such options will generally only be closed out by
entering into a closing purchase transaction with the purchasing dealer.
However, the Portfolio 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 Portfolio 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).
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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 Options Clearing Corporation ("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 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, a fund would continue to
be required to make daily cash payments of variation margin on open futures
positions. In such situations, if the Portfolio 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 Portfolio 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 a Portfolio's ability to effectively hedge its portfolio.
In the event of the bankruptcy of a broker through which a Portfolio engages
in transactions in options, futures or options thereon, the Portfolio 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 Portfolio, the Portfolio could experience a loss of
all or part of the value of the option. Transactions are entered into by the
Portfolio only with brokers or financial institutions deemed creditworthy by the
Investment Manager.
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 a fund may write.
While the futures contracts and options transactions to be engaged in by the
Portfolio for the purpose of hedging the Portfolio'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 Portfolio'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.
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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 Standard & Poor's 100 Index and the
Standard & Poor's 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." Options on stock indexes provide a fund with a means
of protecting a Portfolio against the risk of market wide price movements. If
the Investment Manager anticipates a market decline, the Portfolio could
purchase a stock index put option. If the expected market decline materialized,
the resulting decrease in the value of the Portfolio'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 Portfolio may purchase a stock index call
option to enable the Portfolio 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 a fund's equity positions.
The Portfolio will 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, which cover is
held for the Portfolio in a segregated account maintained for it by the fund's
Custodian. All call options on stock indexes written by the Portfolio 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 Portfolio 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 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 has 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
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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. Each Portfolio may purchase and sell interest rate,
currency 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 and bills ("interest rate" futures), on the U.S. dollar
and foreign currencies, 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, a Portfolio 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 Portfolio incurs an obligation to deliver the specified amount of
the underlying obligation at a specified time in return for an agreed upon
price.
The Portfolio 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 fall, a fund may sell an
interest rate futures contract or a bond index futures contract. If declining
interest rates are anticipated, the Portfolio may purchase an interest rate
futures contract to protect against a potential increase in the price of U.S.
Government securities the Portfolio intends to purchase. Subsequently,
appropriate fixed-income securities may be purchased by the Portfolio in an
orderly fashion; as securities are purchased, corresponding futures positions
would be terminated by offsetting sales of contracts.
The Portfolio 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 Portfolio 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 Portfolio 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 a Portfolio intends to purchase,
the fund may purchase stock index 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.
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. Index futures
contracts provide for the delivery of an amount of cash equal to a specified
dollar amount
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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 sale 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 equity 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 Portfolio enters into an interest
rate futures contract, it is initially required to deposit with the Portfolio'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 brokers' client but is, rather, a good faith deposit on the futures
contract which will be returned to the Portfolio upon the proper termination of
the futures contract. The margin deposits made are marked to market daily and
the Portfolio may be required to make subsequent deposits called "variation
margin", with the Portfolio's Custodian, in the account in the name of the
broker, which are reflective of price fluctuations in the futures contract.
Currently, interest rates 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.
INDEX FUTURES CONTRACTS. The Portfolio may invest in index futures
contracts. An index futures contract sale creates an obligation by the
Portfolio, as seller, to deliver cash at a specified future time. An index
futures contract purchase would create an obligation by the Portfolio, 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.
The Portfolio 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 requirement is approximately 5% 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 Portfolio 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 Portfolio and the Portfolio 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 Moody's Investment-Grade
Corporate Bond Index on the Chicago Board of Trade and the Value Line Stock
Index on the Kansas City Board of Trade.
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OPTIONS ON FUTURES CONTRACTS. The Portfolio 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 Portfolio 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 Portfolio's holdings.
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 Portfolio 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 Portfolio'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 Portfolio'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 Portfolio is exempted from registration as a commodity pool operator, the
fund may only enter into futures contracts and options on futures contracts
transactions for purposes of hedging a part or all of its portfolio. If the CFTC
changes its regulations so that the Portfolio would be permitted to write
options on futures contracts for purposes other than hedging the Portfolio's
investments without CFTC registration, the Portfolio 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
Portfolio may sell a futures contract to protect against the decline in the
value of securities held by the fund. However, it is possible that the futures
market may advance and the value of securities held in the portfolio of the
Portfolio may decline. If this occurred, the Portfolio 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 Portfolio 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 Portfolio may determine not to invest in the securities as
planned and will realize a loss on the futures contract that is not offset by a
reduction in the price of the securities.
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In addition, if the Portfolio 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 Portfolio.
If the Portfolio maintains a short position in a futures contract or has
sold a call option on 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 may limit the amount by which the price of 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.
The extent to which the Portfolio 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 the Statement of Additional Information.
There may exist an imperfect correlation between the price movements of
futures contracts purchased by the Portfolio and the movements in the prices of
the securities which are the subject of the hedge. If participants in the
futures market elect to close out their contracts through offsetting
transactions rather than meet margin deposit requirements, distortions in the
normal relationship between the debt securities and futures markets could
result. Price distortions could also result if investors in futures contracts
opt to make or take delivery of underlying securities rather than engage in
closing transactions due to the resultant reduction in the liquidity of the
futures market. In addition, due to the fact that, from the point of view of
speculators, the deposit requirements in the futures markets are less onerous
than margin requirements in the cash market, increased participation by
speculators in the futures market could cause temporary price distortions. Due
to the possibility of price distortions 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 by the Investment Manager may still not result in a successful
hedging transaction.
There is no assurance that a liquid secondary market will exist for futures
contracts and related options in which a 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 Portfolio 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 Portfolio. 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 a 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 a 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.
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The Investment Manager 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 financial products and various combinations thereof
continue to be developed. The Fund may invest in any such products as may be
developed, to the extent consistent with its investment objective and applicable
regulatory requirements.
PORTFOLIO TURNOVER. It is anticipated that the portfolio turnover rate of
each Portfolio of the Fund will not exceed 100%. A 100% turnover rate would
occur, for example, if 100% of the securities held in a Portfolio of the Fund
(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 each Portfolio's
Prospectus, the investment restrictions listed below have been adopted by the
Fund as fundamental policies of the Portfolios, except as otherwise indicated.
Under the Act, a fundamental policy may not be changed with respect to a
Portfolio without the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of
that Portfolio, 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 Portfolio are present or
represented by proxy or (b) more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the
Portfolio.
Each Portfolio of the Fund may not:
1. Purchase or sell real estate or interests therein, although each
Portfolio may purchase Underlying Funds which purchase securities of issuers
which engage in real estate operations and securities secured by real estate
or interests therein.
2. Borrow money, except that each Portfolio may borrow from a bank for
temporary or emergency purposes in an amount not exceeding 33 1/3% (taken at
the lower of cost or current value) of its total assets (not including the
amount borrowed).
3. Issue senior securities as defined in the Act, except insofar as
permitted in Investment Restriction 2 and except insofar as each Portfolio
may be deemed to have issued a senior security by reason of entering into
repurchase agreements.
4. Make short sales of securities.
5. Engage in the underwriting of securities, except insofar as a
Portfolio may be deemed an underwriter under the Securities Act of 1933 in
disposing of a portfolio security.
6. Invest for the purpose of exercising control or management of any
other issuer.
7. Purchase or sell commodities or commodities contracts except that
each Portfolio may purchase or write interest rate, currency and stock and
bond index futures contracts and related options thereon.
8. Pledge its assets or assign or otherwise encumber them except to
secure permitted borrowings. (For the purpose of this restriction,
collateral arrangements with respect to the writing of options by the
Portfolio and collateral arrangements with respect to initial or variation
margin for futures by the Portfolio are not deemed to be pledges of assets.)
9. Purchase securities on margin (but a Portfolio may obtain short-term
loans as are necessary for the clearance of transactions). The deposit or
payment by a Portfolio of initial or variation margin in connection with
futures contracts or related options thereon is not considered the purchase
of a security on margin.
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<PAGE>
10. Make loans of money or securities, except by investment in
repurchase agreements. (For the purpose of this restriction, lending of
Portfolio securities by the Portfolio are not deemed to be loans).
Notwithstanding any other investment policy or restriction, each Portfolio
of the Fund may seek to achieve its investment objectives by investing all or
substantially all of its assets in another investment company having
substantially the same investment objectives and policies as the respective
Portfolio.
PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS AND BROKERAGE
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subject to the general supervision of the Board of Trustees, the Investment
Manager is responsible for decisions to buy and sell securities for the
Portfolios, the selection of brokers and dealers to effect the transactions, and
the negotiation of brokerage commissions, if any. The Investment Manager
currently intends to effect substantially all such transactions through Morgan
Stanley & Co., Inc. ("Morgan Stanley"), an affiliate of the Investment Manager,
subject to the policies and procedures applicable for affiliated brokers or
dealers described below. Purchases and sales of securities on a stock exchange
are effected through brokers who charge a commission for their services. In the
over-the-counter market, securities are generally traded on a "net" basis with
dealers acting as principal for their own accounts without a stated commission,
although the price of the security usually includes a profit to the dealer. The
Portfolios also expect that securities will be purchased at times in
underwritten offerings where the price includes a fixed amount of compensation,
generally referred to as the underwriter's concession or discount. Futures
transactions are usually effected through a broker and a commission will be
charged. On occasion, the Portfolio may also purchase certain money market
instruments directly from an issuer, in which case no commissions or discounts
are paid.
The Investment Manager currently serves as investment manager to a number of
clients, including other investment companies, and may in the future act as
investment manager or adviser to others. It is the practice of the Investment
Manager to cause purchase and sale transactions to be allocated among the
Portfolios and others whose assets it manages in such manner as it deems
equitable. In making such allocations among the Portfolios and other client
accounts, various factors may be considered, including the respective investment
objectives, the relative size of portfolio holdings of the same or comparable
securities, the availability of cash for investment, the size of investment
commitments generally held and the opinions of the persons responsible for
managing the Portfolio and other client accounts. In the case of certain initial
and secondary public offerings, the Investment Manager may utilize a pro rata
allocation process based on the size of the Dean Witter Funds involved and the
number of shares available from the public offering.
The policy of the Portfolios 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
Portfolios' 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 Portfolios believe that a requirement always
to seek the lowest possible commission cost could impede effective portfolio
management and preclude the Portfolios and the Investment Manager from obtaining
a high quality of brokerage and research services. In seeking to determine the
reasonableness of brokerage commissions paid in any transaction, the Investment
Manager 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 Portfolios' policies, the Investment Manager
effects transactions with those brokers and dealers who the Investment Manager
believes provide the most favorable prices and are capable of providing
efficient executions. If the Investment Manager believes such prices and
25
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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 Portfolios or the Investment
Manager. Such services may include, but are not limited to, any one or more of
the following: information as to the availability of securities for purchase or
sale; statistical or factual information or opinions pertaining to investments;
wire services; and appraisals or evaluations of portfolio securities.
The information and services received by the Investment Manager from brokers
and dealers may be of benefit to the Investment Manager in the management of
accounts of some of its other clients and may not in all cases benefit the
Portfolios 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 Investment Manager and thereby reduce its
expenses, it is of indeterminable value and the management fee paid to the
Investment Manager is not reduced by any amount that may be attributable to the
value of such services.
Pursuant to an order of the Securities and Exchange Commission, the
Portfolios may effect principal transactions in certain money market instruments
with DWR. The Portfolios will limit their transactions with DWR to U.S.
Government and Government Agency Securities, Bank Money Instruments (i.e.,
Certificates of Deposit and Bankers' Acceptances) and Commercial Paper. Such
transactions will be effected with DWR only when the price available from DWR is
better than that available from other dealers.
Consistent with the policy described above, brokerage transactions in
securities listed on exchanges or admitted to unlisted trading privileges may be
effected through DWR and other affiliated brokers and dealers. In order for an
affiliated broker or dealer to effect any portfolio transactions for the
Portfolios, the commissions, fees or other remuneration received by the
affiliated broker or dealer must be reasonable and fair compared to the
commissions, fees or other remuneration paid to other brokers in connection with
comparable transactions involving similar securities being purchased or sold on
an exchange during a comparable period of time. This standard would allow the
affiliated broker or dealer to receive no more than the remuneration which would
be expected to be received by an unaffiliated broker in a commensurate
arm's-length transaction. Furthermore, the 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 an
affiliated broker or dealer are consistent with the foregoing standard. The
Portfolios do not reduce the management fee they pay to the Investment Manager
by any amount of the brokerage commissions they may pay to an affiliated broker
or dealer.
UNDERWRITING
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dean Witter Distributors Inc. (the "Underwriter") has agreed to purchase up
to 10,000,000 shares from the "Best Ideas" Portfolio of the Fund, which number
may be increased or decreased in accordance with the Underwriting Agreement. The
Underwriting Agreement provides that the obligation of the Underwriter is
subject to certain conditions precedent (such as the filing of certain forms and
documents required by various federal and state agencies and the rendering of
certain opinions of counsel) and that the Underwriter will be obligated to
purchase the shares on , 1998, or such other date as may be agreed
upon between the Underwriter and the Fund (the "Closing Date"). Shares will not
be issued and dividends will not be declared by the Fund until after the Closing
Date.
The Underwriter will purchase Class B, Class C and Class D shares from the
Portfolio at $10.00 per share with all proceeds going to the Portfolio and will
purchase Class A shares at $10.00 per share plus a sales charge with the sales
charge paid to the Underwriter and the $10.00 per share going to the Portfolio.
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<PAGE>
The Underwriter may, however, receive contingent deferred sales charges for
future redemptions of Class A, Class B and Class C shares (see "Purchase of Fund
Shares--Continuous Offering" in the Prospectus).
The Underwriter shall, regardless of its expected underwriting commitment,
be entitled and obligated to purchase only the number of shares for which
purchase orders have been received by the Underwriter prior to 2:00 p.m., New
York time, on the third business day preceding the Closing Date, or such other
date as may be agreed to between the parties.
The minimum number of Portfolio shares which may be purchased pursuant to
this offering is 100 shares. Certificates for shares purchased will not be
issued unless requested by the shareholder in writing.
The Underwriter has agreed to pay certain expenses of the initial offering
and the subsequent Continuous Offering of the Portfolio's shares. The Portfolio
has agreed to pay certain compensation to the Underwriter pursuant to a Plan of
Distribution pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Act, to compensate the Underwriter
for services it renders and the expenses it bears under the Underwriting
Agreement (see "The Distributor"). The Portfolio will bear the cost of initial
typesetting, printing and distribution of Prospectuses and Statements of
Additional Information and supplements thereto to shareholders. The Portfolio
has agreed to indemnify the Underwriter against certain liabilities, including
liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
THE DISTRIBUTOR
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
As discussed in the Prospectus, shares of each Portfolio 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 MSDWD. The Trustees of the Fund, including a majority of the
Trustees who are not, and were not at the time they voted, interested persons of
the Fund, as defined in the Act (the "Independent Trustees"), approved, at their
meeting held on , 1997, the current 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, 1998 and
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
each Portfolio 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 each Portfolio 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 securities laws and pays
filing fees in accordance with state securities laws. The Fund and the
Distributor have agreed to indemnify each other against certain liabilities,
including liabilities under the Securities Act 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 losses sustained by the Fund or
its shareholders.
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<PAGE>
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
The Fund has adopted a Plan of Distribution pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the
Act (the "Plan") pursuant to which each Class of each Portfolio, other than
Class D, pays the Distributor compensation accrued daily and payable monthly at
the following annual rates: 0.25%, 1.0% and 1.0% of the average daily net assets
of Class A, Class B and Class C, respectively. The Distributor also receives the
proceeds of front-end sales charges and of contingent deferred sales charges
imposed on certain redemptions of shares, which are separate and apart from
payments made pursuant to the Plan (see "Purchase of Fund Shares" in the
Prospectus).
The Distributor has informed the Fund that the entire fee payable by Class A
and a portion of the fees payable by each of Class B and Class C each year
pursuant to the Plan equal to 0.25% of such Class's average daily net assets are
currently each characterized as a "service fee" under the Rules of the
Association of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (of which
the Distributor is a member). The "service fee" is a payment made for personal
service and/or the maintenance of shareholder accounts. The remaining portion of
the Plan fees payable by a Class, if any, is characterized as an "asset-based
sales charge" as such is defined by the aforementioned Rules of the Association.
The Plan was adopted by a majority vote of the Board of Trustees, including
all of the Trustees of the Fund who are not "interested persons" of the Fund (as
defined in the Act) and who have no direct or indirect financial interest in the
operation of the Plan (the "Independent 12b-1 Trustees"), cast in person at a
meeting called for the purpose of voting on the Plan, on , 1997.
Under the Plan and as required by Rule 12b-1, the Trustees receive and
review promptly after the end of each calendar quarter a written report provided
by the Distributor of the amounts expended under the Plan and the purpose for
which such expenditures were made.
The Plan was adopted in order to permit the implementation of the Fund's
method of distribution. Under this distribution method each Portfolio of the
Fund offers four Classes of shares, each with a different distribution
arrangement as set forth in the Prospectus.
With respect to Class A shares, DWR compensates its account executives by
paying them, from proceeds of the front-end sales charge, commissions for the
sale of Class A shares, currently a gross sales credit of up to 5.0% of the
amount sold (except as provided in the following sentence) and an annual
residual commission, currently a residual of up to 0.25% of the current value of
the respective accounts for which they are the account executives or dealers of
record in all cases. On orders of $1 million or more (for which no sales charge
was paid) or net asset value purchases by 401(k) plans or other
employer-sponsored plans qualified under Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue
Code for which Dean Witter Trust FSB ("DWT") serves as Trustee or the 401(k)
Support Services Group of DWR serves as recordkeeper, the Investment Manager
compensates DWR's account executives by paying them, from its own funds, a gross
sales credit of 1.0% of the amount sold.
With respect to Class B shares, DWR compensates its account executives by
paying them, from its own funds, commissions for the sale of Class B shares,
currently a gross sales credit of up to 5.0% of the amount sold (except as
provided in the following sentence) and an annual residual commission, currently
a residual of up to 0.25% of the current value (not including reinvested
dividends or distributions) of the amount sold in all cases. In the case of
retirement plans qualified under Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code and
other employer-sponsored plans qualified under Section 401(a) of the Internal
Revenue Code for which DWT serves as Trustee or the 401(k) Support Services
Group of DWR serves as recordkeeper, and which plans are opened on or after July
28, 1997, DWR compensates its account executives by paying them, from its own
funds, a gross sales credit of 3.0% of the amount sold.
With respect to Class C shares, DWR compensates its account executives by
paying them, from its own funds, commissions for the sale of Class C shares,
currently a gross sales credit of up to 1.0% of the amount sold and an annual
residual commission, currently a residual of up to 1.0% of the current value of
the respective accounts for which they are the account executives of record.
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<PAGE>
With respect to Class D shares other than shares held by participants in
InterCapital's mutual fund asset allocation program, the Investment Manager
compensates DWR's account executives by paying them, from its own funds,
commissions for the sale of Class D shares, currently a gross sales credit of up
to 1.0% of the amount sold. There is a chargeback of 100% of the amount paid if
the Class D shares are redeemed in the first year and a chargeback of 50% of the
amount paid if the Class D shares are redeemed in the second year after
purchase. The Investment Manager also compensates DWR's account executives by
paying them, from its own funds, an annual residual commission, currently a
residual of up to 0.10% of the current value of the respective accounts for
which they are the account executives of record (not including accounts of
participants in the InterCapital mutual fund asset allocation program).
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 sales. The distribution fee that
the Distributor receives from the Fund under the Plan, in effect, offsets
distribution expenses incurred under the Plan on behalf of the Fund and, in the
case of Class B shares, opportunity costs, such as the gross sales credit and an
assumed interest charge thereon ("carrying charge"). In the Distributor's
reporting of the distribution expenses to the Fund, in the case of Class B
shares, such assumed interest (computed at the "broker's call rate") has been
calculated on the gross credit as it is reduced by amounts received by the
Distributor under the Plan and any contingent deferred sales charges received by
the Distributor upon redemption of shares of the Fund. No other interest charge
is included as a distribution expense in the Distributor's calculation of its
distribution costs for this purpose. The broker's call rate is the interest rate
charged to securities brokers on loans secured by exchange-listed securities.
Each Portfolio is authorized to reimburse expenses incurred or to be
incurred in promoting the distribution of the Portfolio's Class A and Class C
shares and in servicing shareholder accounts. Reimbursement will be made through
payments at the end of each month. The amount of each monthly payment may in no
event exceed an amount equal to a payment at the annual rate of 0.25%, in the
case of Class A, and 1.0%, in the case of Class C, of the average net assets of
the respective Class of each Portfolio during the month. No interest or other
financing charges, if any, incurred on any distribution expenses on behalf of
Class A and Class C will be reimbursable under the Plan. With respect to Class
A, in the case of all expenses other than expenses representing the service fee,
and, with respect to Class C, in the case of all expenses other than expenses
representing a gross sales credit or a residual to account executives, such
amounts shall be determined at the beginning of each calendar quarter by the
Trustees, including a majority of the Independent 12b-1 Trustees. Expenses
representing the service fee (for Class A) or a gross sales credit or a residual
to account executives (for Class C) may be reimbursed without prior
determination. In the event that the Distributor proposes that monies shall be
reimbursed for other than such expenses, then in making quarterly determinations
of the amounts that may be reimbursed by the Fund, the Distributor will provide
and the Trustees will review a quarterly budget of projected distribution
expenses to be incurred on behalf of each Portfolio of the Fund, together with a
report explaining the purposes and anticipated benefits of incurring such
expenses. The Trustees will determine which particular expenses, and the
portions thereof, that may be borne by each Portfolio of the Fund, and in making
such a determination shall consider the scope of the Distributor's commitment to
promoting the distribution of the Fund's Class A and Class C shares.
At any given time, the expenses of distributing shares of a Portfolio may be
more or less than the total of (i) the payments made by the Portfolio pursuant
to the Plan and (ii) the proceeds of contingent deferred sales charges paid by
investors upon redemption of shares. Because there is no requirement under the
Plan that the Distributor be reimbursed for all distribution expenses with
respect to Class B
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<PAGE>
shares or any requirement that the Plan be continued from year to year, this
excess amount does not constitute a liability of the Portfolio. Although there
is no legal obligation for the Portfolio 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 or contingent deferred sales
charges, may or may not be recovered through future distribution fees or
contingent deferred sales charges.
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 financial
interest in the operation of the Plan except to the extent that the Distributor,
InterCapital, DWR, DWSC 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.
Under its terms, the Plan has an initial term ending April 30, 1998 and will
continue from year to year thereafter, provided such continuance is approved
annually by a vote of the Trustees in the manner described above.
The Plan may not be amended to increase materially the amount to be spent
for the services described therein without approval by the shareholders of the
affected Class or Classes of each Portfolio of the Fund, and all material
amendments to the Plan must also be approved by the Trustees in the manner
described above. The Plan may be terminated at any time, without payment of any
penalty, by vote of a majority of the Independent 12b-1 Trustees or by a vote of
a majority of the outstanding voting securities of each Portfolio of the Fund
(as defined in the Act) on not more than thirty days' written notice to any
other party to the Plan. So long as the Plan is in effect, the election and
nomination of Independent 12b-1 Trustees shall be committed to the discretion of
the Independent 12b-1 Trustees.
DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE
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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 for each Class of shares of each Portfolio of
the Fund is determined once daily as of 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. The New York Stock
Exchange currently observes the following holidays: New Year's Day; Reverend Dr.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day; Presidents' Day; Good Friday; Memorial Day;
Independence Day; Labor Day; Thanksgiving Day; and Christmas Day.
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<PAGE>
PURCHASE OF PORTFOLIO SHARES
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
As discussed in the Prospectus of each Portfolio, each Portfolio of the Fund
offers four Classes of shares as follows:
INITIAL SALES CHARGE ALTERNATIVE--CLASS A SHARES
Class A shares are sold to investors with an initial sales charge that
declines to zero for larger purchases; however, Class A shares sold without an
initial sales charge are subject to a contingent deferred sales charge ("CDSC")
of 1.0% if redeemed within one year of purchase, except in the circumstances
discussed in the Prospectus.
RIGHT OF ACCUMULATION. As discussed in the Prospectus, investors may
combine the current value of shares purchased in separate transactions for
purposes of benefitting from the reduced sales charges available for purchases
of shares of the Portfolio totalling at least $25,000 in net asset value. For
example, if any person or entity who qualifies for this privilege holds Class A
shares of the Portfolio and/ or other Dean Witter Funds that are multiple class
funds ("Dean Witter Multi-Class Funds") or shares of other Dean Witter Funds
sold with a front-end sales charge purchased at a price including a front-end
sales charge having a current value of $5,000, and purchases $20,000 of
additional shares of the Portfolio, the sales charge applicable to the $20,000
purchase would be 4.75% of the offering price.
The Distributor must be notified by the selected broker-dealer or the
shareholder at the time a purchase order is placed that the purchase qualifies
for the reduced charge under the Right of Accumulation. Similar notification
must be made in writing by the selected broker-dealer or shareholder when such
an order is placed by mail. The reduced sales charge will not be granted if: (a)
such notification is not furnished at the time of the order; or (b) a review of
the records of the Distributor or Dean Witter Trust FSB (the "Transfer Agent")
fails to confirm the investor's represented holdings.
LETTER OF INTENT. As discussed in the Prospectus, reduced sales charges are
available to investors who enter into a written Letter of Intent providing for
the purchase, within a thirteen-month period, of Class A shares of the Portfolio
from the Distributor or from a single Selected Broker-Dealer.
A Letter of Intent permits an investor to establish a total investment goal
to be achieved by any number of purchases over a thirteen-month period. Each
purchase of Class A shares made during the period will receive the reduced sales
commission applicable to the amount represented by the goal, as if it were a
single purchase. A number of shares equal in value to 5% of the dollar amount of
the Letter of Intent will be held in escrow by the Transfer Agent, in the name
of the shareholder. The initial purchase under a Letter of Intent must be equal
to at least 5% of the stated investment goal.
The Letter of Intent does not obligate the investor to purchase, nor the
Portfolio to sell, the indicated amount. In the event the Letter of Intent goal
is not achieved within the thirteen-month period, the investor is required to
pay the difference between the sales charge otherwise applicable to the
purchases made during this period and sales charges actually paid. Such payment
may be made directly to the Distributor or, if not paid, the Distributor is
authorized by the shareholder to liquidate a sufficient number of his or her
escrowed shares to obtain such difference.
If the goal is exceeded and purchases pass the next sales charge level, the
sales charge on the entire amount of the purchase that results in passing that
level and on subsequent purchases will be subject to further reduced sales
charges in the same manner as set forth above under "Right of Accumulation," but
there will be no retroactive reduction of sales charges on previous purchases.
For the purpose of determining whether the investor is entitled to a further
reduced sales charge applicable to purchases at or above a sales charge level
which exceeds the stated goal of a Letter of Intent, the cumulative current net
asset value of any shares owned by the investor in any other Dean Witter Funds
held by the shareholder which were previously purchased at a price including a
front-end sales charge (including shares of the Portfolio and other Dean Witter
Funds acquired in exchange for those shares, and including in each case shares
acquired through reinvestment of dividends and distributions) will be added to
the cost or net asset value of shares of the Portfolio owned by the investor.
However, shares of
31
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"Exchange Funds" (see "Shareholder Services--Exchange Privilege") and the
purchase of shares of other Dean Witter Funds will not be included in
determining whether the stated goal of a Letter of Intent has been reached.
At any time while a Letter of Intent is in effect, a shareholder may, by
written notice to the Distributor, increase the amount of the stated goal. In
that event, only shares purchased during the previous 90-day period and still
owned by the shareholder will be included in the new sales charge reduction. The
5% escrow and minimum purchase requirements will be applicable to the new stated
goal. Investors electing to purchase shares of the Portfolio pursuant to a
Letter of Intent should carefully read such Letter of Intent.
CONTINGENT DEFERRED SALES CHARGE ALTERNATIVE--CLASS B SHARES
Class B shares are sold without an initial sales charge but are subject to a
CDSC payable upon most redemptions within six years after purchase. As stated in
the Prospectus, a CDSC will be imposed on any redemption by an investor if after
such redemption the current value of the investor's Class B shares of the
Portfolio is less than the dollar amount of all payments by the shareholder for
the purchase of Class B shares during the preceding six years (or, in the case
of shares held by certain employer-sponsored benefit plans, three 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 (or, in the case of shares held by certain
employer-sponsored benefit plans, three years) prior to the redemption, plus (b)
the current net asset value of shares purchased through reinvestment of
dividends or distributions of the Portfolio or another Dean Witter Fund (see
"Shareholder Services-- Targeted Dividends"), plus (c) the current net asset
value of shares acquired in exchange for (i) shares of Dean Witter front-end
sales charge funds, or (ii) shares of other Dean Witter Funds for which shares
of front-end sales charge funds have been exchanged (see "Shareholder
Services--Exchange Privilege"), plus (d) increases in the net asset value of the
investor's shares above the total amount of payments for the purchase of
Portfolio shares made during the preceding six (three) years. The CDSC will be
paid to the Distributor. [In addition, no CDSC will be imposed on redemptions of
shares which are attributable to reinvestment of dividends or distributions
from, or the proceeds of, certain Unit Investment Trusts.]
In determining the applicability of the 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 (or, in the case of shares held by certain employer-sponsored
benefit plans, three 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 (three) years prior to the redemption and/or shares
purchased through reinvestment of dividends or distributions and/or shares
acquired in exchange for shares of Dean Witter front-end sales charge funds, or
for shares of other Dean Witter funds for which shares of front-end sales charge
funds have been exchanged. 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 (or, in the case of shares held by certain
employer-sponsored benefit plans, three years) prior to the redemption and/or
shares purchased through reinvestment of dividends or distributions and/or
shares acquired in the above-described exchanges 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 Class B shares of the Portfolio
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
32
<PAGE>
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 applicable to most Class B shares of the Portfolio:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
YEAR SINCE
PURCHASE CDSC AS A PERCENTAGE OF
PAYMENT MADE AMOUNT REDEEMED
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ --------------------------
<S> <C>
First..................................................................................... 5.0%
Second.................................................................................... 4.0%
Third..................................................................................... 3.0%
Fourth.................................................................................... 2.0%
Fifth..................................................................................... 2.0%
Sixth..................................................................................... 1.0%
Seventh and thereafter.................................................................... None
</TABLE>
The following table sets forth the rates of the CDSC applicable to Class B
shares of the Portfolio held by 401(k) plans or other employer-sponsored plans
qualified under Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code for which DWT serves
as Trustee or the 401(k) Support Services Group of DWR serves as recordkeeper
and whose accounts are opened on or after July 28, 1997:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
YEAR SINCE
PURCHASE CDSC AS A PERCENTAGE OF
PAYMENT MADE AMOUNT REDEEMED
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ --------------------------
<S> <C>
First..................................................................................... 2.0%
Second.................................................................................... 2.0%
Third..................................................................................... 1.0%
Fourth and thereafter..................................................................... None
</TABLE>
In determining the rate of the CDSC, it will be assumed that a redemption is
made of shares held by the investor for the longest period of time within the
applicable six-year or three-year period. This will result in any such CDSC
being imposed at the lowest possible rate. The CDSC will be imposed, in
accordance with the table shown above, on any redemptions within six years (or,
in the case of shares held by certain employer-sponsored benefit plans, three
years) of purchase which are in excess of these amounts and which redemptions do
not qualify for waiver of the CDSC, as described in the Prospectus.
LEVEL LOAD ALTERNATIVE--CLASS C SHARES
Class C shares are sold without a sales charge but are subject to a CDSC of
1.0% on most redemptions made within one year after purchase, except in the
circumstances discussed in the Prospectus.
NO LOAD ALTERNATIVE--CLASS D SHARES
Class D shares are offered without any sales charge on purchase or
redemption. Class D shares are offered only to those persons meeting the
qualifications set forth in the Prospectus.
SHAREHOLDER SERVICES
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Upon the purchase of shares of a Portfolio, a Shareholder Investment Account
is opened for the investor on the books of the Portfolio of the Fund and
maintained by 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 of each Portfolio, all income dividends and capital gains
distributions are automatically paid in full and fractional shares of
33
<PAGE>
the applicable Class of the Portfolio, unless the shareholder requests that they
be paid in cash. Each purchase of shares of the Portfolio 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 applicable Class of the Portfolio (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 other selected
broker-dealer, and will be forwarded to the shareholder, upon the receipt of
proper instructions. It is the Portfolio's policy and practice that, if checks
for dividends or distributions paid in cash remain uncashed, no interest will
accrue on amounts represented by such uncashed checks.
TARGETED DIVIDENDS.-SM- In states where it is legally permissible,
shareholders may also have all income dividends and capital gains distributions
automatically invested in shares of any Class of an open-end Dean Witter Fund
other than Dean Witter Fund of Funds or in another Class or Portfolio of Dean
Witter Fund of Funds. Such investment will be made as described above for
automatic investment in shares of the applicable Class of the Fund, at the net
asset value per share of the selected Dean Witter 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 Dean Witter 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 Portfolio must be shareholders of the selected Class
of the Dean Witter Fund targeted to receive investments from dividends at the
time they enter the Targeted Dividends program. Investors should review the
prospectus of the targeted Dean Witter Fund before entering the program.
EASYINVEST.-SM- Shareholders may subscribe to EasyInvest, an automatic
purchase plan which provides for any amount from $100 to $5,000 to be
transferred automatically from a checking or savings account or following
redemption of shares of a Dean Witter money market fund, 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 (subject to any applicable sales charges). 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 in shares of
the applicable Class at net asset value, without the imposition of a CDSC upon
redemption, by returning the check or the proceeds to the Transfer Agent within
thirty 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 the 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 CDSC will be imposed on shares redeemed under
the Withdrawal Plan (see "Purchase of Portfolio Shares"). 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
CDSC) to the shareholder will be the designated monthly or quarterly amount.
34
<PAGE>
The Transfer Agent acts as agent for the shareholder in tendering to the
Portfolio 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 Portfolio.
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 sales charges which may be applicable to
purchases or redemptions of shares (see "Purchase of Fund Shares").
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 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 "Redemptions and
Repurchases" in the Prospectus) at any time.
DIRECT INVESTMENTS THROUGH TRANSFER AGENT. As discussed in the Prospectus,
shareholders may make additional investments in any Class of shares of any
Portfolio of the Fund for which they qualify at any time by sending a check in
any amount, not less than $100, payable to Dean Witter Research Series Trust,
and indicating the selected Class and Portfolio, directly to the Fund's Transfer
Agent. In the case of Class A shares, after deduction of any applicable sales
charge, the balance will be applied to the purchase of Portfolio shares, and, in
the case of shares of the other Classes, the entire amount will be applied to
the purchase of Portfolio 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, each Portfolio makes available to its
shareholders an Exchange Privilege whereby shareholders of each Class of shares
of any Portfolio of the Fund may exchange their shares for shares of the same
Class of shares of any other Portfolio of the Fund or any other Dean Witter
Multi-Class Fund without the imposition of any exchange fee. Shares may also be
exchanged for shares of any of the following funds: Dean Witter Short-Term U.S.
Treasury Trust, Dean Witter Limited Term Municipal Trust, Dean Witter Short-Term
Bond Fund, Dean Witter Intermediate Term U.S. Treasury Trust and five Dean
Witter Funds which are money market funds (the foregoing nine funds are
hereinafter referred to as the "Exchange Funds"). Class A shares may also be
exchanged for shares of Dean Witter Multi-State Municipal Series Trust and Dean
Witter Hawaii Municipal Trust, which are Dean Witter Funds sold with a front-end
sales charge ("FSC Funds"). Class B shares may also be exchanged for shares of
Dean Witter Global Short-Term Income Fund Inc., Dean Witter High Income
Securities and Dean Witter
35
<PAGE>
National Municipal Trust, which are Dean Witter Funds offered with a CDSC ("CDSC
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.
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 caption "Purchase of
Portfolio Shares," a 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 a Dean
Witter Multi-Class Fund or any 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 a Dean Witter Multi-Class Fund or
in a CDSC Fund. However, in the case of shares exchanged into an Exchange Fund
on or after April 23, 1990, 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 incurred on or
after that date which are attributable to those shares. Shareholders acquiring
shares of an Exchange Fund pursuant to this exchange privilege may exchange
those shares back into a Dean Witter Multi-Class Fund or a CDSC Fund from the
Exchange Fund, with no CDSC being imposed on such exchange. The holding period
previously frozen when shares were first exchanged for shares of the Exchange
Fund resumes on the last day of the month in which shares of a Dean Witter
Multi-Class Fund or 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 Dean Witter Multi-Class Fund or in a CDSC Fund. In
the case of exchanges of Class A shares which are subject to a CDSC, the holding
period also includes the time (calculated as described above) the shareholder
was invested in a FSC Fund.
When shares initially purchased in a Dean Witter Multi-Class Fund or in a
CDSC Fund are exchanged for shares of a Dean Witter Multi-Class Fund, shares of
a CDSC Fund, shares of a FSC Fund, or 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 one, three or six years (depending on the CDSC schedule applicable to the
shares) prior to the exchange, (ii) originally acquired through reinvestment of
dividends or distributions and (iii) acquired in exchange for shares of FSC
Funds, or for shares of other Dean Witter Funds for which shares of FSC Funds
have been exchanged (all such shares called "Free Shares"), will be exchanged
first. After an exchange, all dividends earned on shares in an 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 (except that, with respect to Class B
shares, if shares held for identical periods of time but subject to different
CDSC schedules are held in the same Exchange Privilege account, the shares of
that block that are subject to a lower CDSC rate will be exchanged prior to the
shares of that block that are subject to a
36
<PAGE>
higher CDSC rate). 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 "Purchase of
Portfolio Shares," 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 any Portfolio of
the Fund, the application of proceeds to the purchase of new shares in the
Portfolio 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 Portfolio shall
not be liable for any default or negligence of the Transfer Agent, the
Distributor or any selected broker-dealer.
The Distributor and any selected broker-dealer have authorized and appointed
the Transfer Agent to act as their agent in connection with the application of
proceeds of any redemption of Fund shares to the purchase of shares of any other
Portfolio or 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 for the
Exchange Privilege account of each Class is $5,000 for Dean Witter Liquid Asset
Fund Inc., Dean Witter Tax-Free Daily Income Trust, Dean Witter California
Tax-Free Daily Income Trust and Dean Witter New York Municipal Money Market
Trust, although those funds may, in their discretion, accept initial investments
of as low as $1,000. The minimum initial investment for the Exchange Privilege
account of each Class is $10,000 for Dean Witter Short-Term U.S. Treasury Trust,
although that fund, in its discretion, may accept initial purchases of as low as
$5,000. The minimum initial investment for the Exchange Privilege account of
each Class is $5,000 for Dean Witter Special Value Fund. The minimum initial
investment for the Exchange Privilege account of each Class of all other Dean
Witter Funds for which the Exchange Privilege is available 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 those funds,
including the check writing feature, will not be available for funds held in
that account.
The Portfolios and each of the other Dean Witter 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 Portfolios and/or any of the Dean Witter funds for
which shares of the Portfolios have been exchanged, upon such notice as may be
required by applicable regulatory agencies (presently sixty days' prior written
notice 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 the 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 Portfolio of
37
<PAGE>
securities owned by it is not reasonably practicable or it is not reasonably
practicable for the Portfolio 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.
For further information regarding the Exchange Privilege, shareholders
should contact their DWR or other selected broker-dealer account executive or
the Transfer Agent.
REDEMPTIONS AND REPURCHASES
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
REDEMPTION. As stated in the Prospectus, shares of each Class of each
Portfolio 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 CDSC. 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" in the Prospectus) 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.
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 new
prospectus.
REPURCHASE. As stated in the Prospectus, DWR and other selected
broker-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 request of the
shareholder. The repurchase price is the net asset value next computed after
such purchase order is received by DWR or other selected broker-dealer reduced
by any applicable CDSC.
PAYMENT FOR SHARES REDEEMED OR REPURCHASED. As discussed in the Prospectus,
payment for shares of any Class 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 Portfolio 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 Portfolio 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
38
<PAGE>
been purchased by check (including a certificate or bank cashier's check),
payment of 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). It is
the Portfolio's policy and practice that, if checks for redemption proceeds
remain uncashed, no interest will accrue on amounts represented by such uncashed
checks. 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 CDSC or free of such charge (and with regard to the length
of time shares subject to the charge have been held), any transfer involving
less than all the shares in an account will be made on a pro rata basis (that
is, by transferring shares in the same proportion that the transferred shares
bear to the total shares in the account immediately prior to the transfer). The
transferred shares will continue to be subject to any applicable CDSC as if they
had not been so transferred.
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 35 days after the date of the
redemption or repurchase, reinstate any portion or all of the proceeds of such
redemption or repurchase in shares of the Portfolio in the same Class 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, each Portfolio of 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, each Portfolio
will pay federal income tax thereon, and will notify shareholders that,
following an election by the Portfolio, the shareholders will be required to
include such undistributed gains in determining their taxable income and may
claim their share of the tax paid by the Portfolio as a credit against their
individual federal income tax.
Because each Portfolio of the Fund intends to distribute all of its net
investment income and capital gains to shareholders and otherwise continue to
qualify as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Internal
Revenue Code, it is not expected that the Portfolio will be required to pay any
federal income tax. Shareholders will normally have to pay federal income taxes,
and any state income taxes, on the dividends and distributions they receive from
each Portfolio of the Fund. Such dividends and distributions, to the extent that
they are derived from net investment income or short-term capital gains, are
taxable to the shareholder as ordinary income regardless of whether the
shareholder receives such payments in additional shares or in cash. Any
dividends declared 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.
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. Capital gains distributions are not eligible for
the dividends received deduction. It is expected that the Treasury will issue
regulations or other guidance to permit shareholders to take into account their
proportionate share of the Fund's capital gains
distribu-
39
<PAGE>
tions that will be subject to a reduced rate under the Taxpayer Relief Act of
1997. The Taxpayer Relief Act reduces the maximum tax on long-term capital gains
from 28% to 20%; however, it also lengthens the required holding period to
obtain the lower rate from more than 12 months to more than 18 months. The lower
rates do not apply to collectibles and certain other assets. Additionally, the
maximum capital gain rate for assets that are held more than 5 years and that
are acquired after December 31, 2000 is 18%.
Any ordinary income dividends or capital gains distributions received by a
shareholder from any investment company will have the effect of reducing the net
asset value of the shareholder's shares in that company by the exact amount of
the dividend or capital gains distribution. Furthermore, capital gains
distributions and ordinary income 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 realized long-term capital
gains, such payment would be in part a return of the shareholder's investment to
the extent of such reduction below the shareholder's cost, but nonetheless would
be taxable to the shareholder. Therefore, an investor should consider the tax
implications of purchasing Fund shares immediately prior to a dividend or
distribution record date.
Dividend payments will be eligible for the federal dividends received
deduction available to the Portfolio's corporate shareholders only to the extent
the aggregate dividends received by the Portfolio would be eligible for the
deduction if the Portfolio were the shareholder claiming the dividends received
deduction. The amount of dividends paid by the Portfolio which may qualify for
the dividends received deduction is limited to the aggregate amount of
qualifying dividends which the Fund derives from its portfolio investments which
the Portfolio has held for a minimum period, usually 46 days within a 90 day
period beginning 45 days before the ex dividend date of each qualifying
dividend. Shareholders must meet a similar holding period requirement with
respect to their shares to claim the dividends received deduction with respect
to any distribution of qualifying dividends. Any long-term capital gain
distributions will also not be eligible for the dividends received deduction.
The ability to take the dividends received deduction will also be limited in the
case of a Portfolio shareholder which incurs or continues indebtedness which is
directly attributable to its investment in the Portfolio.
After the end of the year, shareholders will be sent full information on
their dividends and capital gains distributions for tax purposes, including
information as to the portion taxable as ordinary income, the portion taxable as
long-term capital gains and the portion eligible for the dividends received
deduction. 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 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 each Portfolio of the Fund
may quote its "total return" in advertisements and sales literature. These
figures are computed separately for Class A, Class B, Class C and Class D
shares. Each Portfolio's "average annual total return" represents an
annualization of that Portfolio's total return over a specified 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 Portfolio's operations, if shorter than any of the foregoing. The ending
redeemable value is reduced by any CDSC at the end of the one, five or ten year
or other period. For the purpose of this calculation, it is assumed that all
dividends and distributions are reinvested. The formula for computing the
average annual total return involves a percentage obtained by dividing the
ending redeemable value by the amount of the initial investment, taking a root
of the quotient (where the root is equivalent to the number of years in the
period) and subtracting 1 from the result.
40
<PAGE>
In addition to the foregoing, each Portfolio may advertise its total return
for each Class over different periods of time by means of aggregate, average,
year-by-year or other types of total return figures. Such calculations may or
may not reflect the imposition of the maximum front-end sales charge for Class A
or the deduction of the CDSC for each of Class B and Class C which, if
reflected, would reduce the performance quoted. For example, the average annual
total return of each Portfolio may be calculated in the manner described in the
preceding paragraph, but without deduction for any applicable sales charge.
In addition, each Portfolio may compute its aggregate total return for each
Class for specified periods by determining the aggregate percentage rate which
will result in the ending value of a hypothetical $1,000 investment made at the
beginning of the period. For the purpose of this calculation, it is assumed that
all dividends and distributions are reinvested. The formula for computing
aggregate total return involves a percentage obtained by dividing the ending
value (without reduction for any sales charge) by the initial $1,000 investment
and subtracting 1 from the result.
Each Portfolio may also advertise the growth of hypothetical investments of
$10,000, $50,000 and $100,000 in each Class of shares of the respective
Portfolio by adding 1 to the respective Portfolio's aggregate total return to
date (expressed as a decimal and without taking into account the effect of any
applicable CDSC) and multiplying by $9,475, $48,000 and $97,000 in the case of
Class A (investments of $10,000, $50,000 and $100,000 adjusted for the initial
sales charge) or by $10,000, $50,000 and $100,000 in the case of each of Class
B, Class C and Class D, as the case may be.
Each Portfolio from time to time may also advertise its performance relative
to certain performance rankings and indexes compiled by independent
organizations.
DESCRIPTION OF SHARES OF THE FUND
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The shareholders of each Portfolio of the Fund are entitled to a full vote
for each full share held. 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 under certain circumstances to remove the Trustees. 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. The Trustees have not authorized any such additional series
or classes of shares other than as set forth in the Prospectus.
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/her or its own
bad faith, willful misfeasance, gross negligence, or reckless disregard of
his/her or its duties. It also provides that all third persons shall look solely
to the Fund property for satisfaction of claims arising in connection with the
affairs of the Fund. With the exceptions stated above, the Declaration of Trust
provides that a Trustee, officer, employee or agent is entitled to be
indemnified against all liability in connection with the affairs of the Fund.
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 in
the Declaration of Trust concerning termination by action of the shareholders.
41
<PAGE>
CUSTODIAN AND TRANSFER AGENT
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Bank of New York, 90 Washington Street, New York, New York 10286 is the
Custodian of the Fund's assets. Any of the Fund's cash balances with the
Custodian in excess of $100,000 are unprotected by federal deposit insurance.
Such balances may, at times, be substantial.
Dean Witter Trust FSB, Harborside Financial Center, Plaza Two, Jersey City,
New Jersey 07311 is the Transfer Agent of the Portfolio's shares and Dividend
Disbursing Agent for payment of dividends and distributions on Portfolio shares
and Agent for shareholders under various investment plans described herein. Dean
Witter Trust FSB is an affiliate of Dean Witter InterCapital Inc., the Fund's
Investment Manager, and of Dean Witter Distributors Inc., the Fund's
Distributor. As Transfer Agent and Dividend Disbursing Agent, Dean Witter Trust
FSB'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
FSB receives a per shareholder account fee.
INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Price Waterhouse LLP serves as the independent accountants of each Portfolio
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 Portfolio of 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 . 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
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Barry Fink, Esq., who is an officer and the General Counsel of the
Investment Manager, is an officer and the General Counsel of the Fund.
EXPERTS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The financial statements of the Fund included in this Statement of
Additional Information and incorporated by reference in the Prospectus has been
so included and incorporated in reliance on the report of Price Waterhouse LLP,
independent accountants, given on the authority of said firm as experts in
auditing and accounting.
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This Statement of Additional Information and the Prospectus do not contain
all of the information set forth in the Registration Statement the Fund has
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The complete Registration
Statement may be obtained from the Securities and Exchange Commission upon
payment of the fee prescribed by the rules and regulations of the Commission.
42
<PAGE>
DEAN WITTER FUND OF FUNDS
STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES AT 11, 1998
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
43
<PAGE>
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
44
<PAGE>
DEAN WITTER "COMPETITIVE EDGE" TRUST
PART C OTHER INFORMATION
Item 24. Financial Statements and Exhibits
(a) FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
None
(b) EXHIBITS:
1. -- Declaration of Trust of Registrant
2. -- By-Laws of Registrant
3. -- None
4. -- Not Applicable
5. -- Form of Investment Management Agreement between Registrant and
Dean Witter InterCapital Inc.*
6.(a) -- Form of Distribution Agreement between Registrant and Dean Witter
Distributors Inc.*
6.(b) -- Forms of Selected Dealer Agreements*
6 (c) -- Form of Underwriting Agreement between Registrant and Dean Witter
Distributors Inc.*
7. -- None
8.(a) -- Form of Custodian Agreement *
8.(b) -- Form of Transfer Agency and Services Agreement between Registrant
and Dean Witter Trust Company*
9 -- Form of Services Agreement between Dean Witter InterCapital Inc.
and Dean Witter Services Company Inc.*
10.(a) -- Opinion of Barry Fink, Esq.*
10.(b) -- Opinion of Lane Altman & Owens LLP*
11. -- Consent of Independent Accountants*
12. -- None
13. -- Investment Letter of Dean Witter InterCapital Inc.*
1
<PAGE>
14. -- None
15. -- Form of Plan of Distribution between Registrant and Dean Witter
Distributors Inc.*
16. -- Schedule for Computation of Performance Quotations - to be filed
with the first post-effective amendment
27. -- Financial Data Schedules *
Other -- Powers of Attorney*
- ------------------------
* To be filed by amendment.
Item 25. PERSONS CONTROLLED BY OR UNDER COMMON CONTROL WITH REGISTRANT.
Prior to the effectiveness of this Registration Statement, the Registrant
will sell 10,000 of its shares of beneficial interest to Dean Witter
InterCapital Inc., a Delaware corporation. Dean Witter InterCapital Inc. is a
wholly-owned subsidiary of Dean Witter, Discover & Co., a Delaware corporation,
that is a balanced financial services organization providing a broad range of
nationally marketed credit and investment products.
Item 26. NUMBER OF HOLDERS OF SECURITIES.
(1) (2)
Number of Record Holders
Title of Class at , 1997
-------------- ------------------------
Shares of Beneficial Interest
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
2
<PAGE>
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 Investment Management Agreement, neither the
Investment Manager nor any trustee, officer, employee or agent of the
Registrant shall be liable for any action or failure to act, except in the
case of bad faith, willful misfeasance, gross negligence or reckless
disregard of duties to the Registrant.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities
Act of 1933 (the "Act") may be permitted to trustees, officers and
controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions or
otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the
Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public
policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the
event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than
the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a trustee,
officer, or controlling person of the Registrant in connection with the
successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted against the
Registrant by such trustee, officer or controlling person in connection with
the shares being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of
its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a
court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification
by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act, and will be governed
by the final adjudication of such issue.
The Registrant hereby undertakes that it will apply the indemnification
provision of its by-laws in a manner consistent with Release 11330 of the
Securities and Exchange Commission under the Investment Company Act of 1940, so
long as the interpretation of Sections 17(h) and 17(i) of such Act remains in
effect.
Registrant, in conjunction with the Investment Manager, Registrant's
Trustees, and other registered investment management companies managed by the
Investment 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.
3
<PAGE>
Item 28. BUSINESS AND OTHER CONNECTIONS OF INVESTMENT ADVISER.
See "The Fund and Its Management" in the Prospectus regarding the business
of the investment adviser. The following information is given regarding
officers of Dean Witter InterCapital Inc. InterCapital is a wholly-owned
subsidiary of Morgan Stanley, Dean Witter, Discover & Co. The principal address
of the Dean Witter Funds is Two World Trade Center, New York, New York 10048.
The term "Dean Witter Funds" used below refers to the following registered
investment companies:
CLOSED-END INVESTMENT COMPANIES
(1) InterCapital Income Securities Inc.
(2) High Income Advantage Trust
(3) High Income Advantage Trust II
(4) High Income Advantage Trust III
(5) Municipal Income Trust
(6) Municipal Income Trust II
(7) Municipal Income Trust III
(8) Dean Witter Government Income Trust
(9) Municipal Premium Income Trust
(10) Municipal Income Opportunities Trust
(11) Municipal Income Opportunities Trust II
(12) Municipal Income Opportunities Trust III
(13) Prime Income Trust
(14) InterCapital Insured Municipal Bond Trust
(15) InterCapital Quality Municipal Income Trust
(16) InterCapital Quality Municipal Investment Trust
(17) InterCapital Insured Municipal Income Trust
(18) InterCapital California Insured Municipal Income Trust
(19) InterCapital Insured Municipal Trust
(20) InterCapital Quality Municipal Securities
(21) InterCapital New York Quality Municipal Securities
(22) InterCapital California Quality Municipal Securities
(23) InterCapital Insured California Municipal Securities
(24) InterCapital Insured Municipal Securities
OPEN-END INVESTMENT COMPANIES:
(1) Dean Witter Short-Term Bond Fund
(2) Dean Witter Tax-Exempt Securities Trust
(3) Dean Witter Tax-Free Daily Income Trust
(4) Dean Witter Dividend Growth Securities Inc.
(5) Dean Witter Convertible Securities Trust
(6) Dean Witter Liquid Asset Fund Inc.
(7) Dean Witter Developing Growth Securities Trust
(8) Dean Witter Retirement Series
(9) Dean Witter Federal Securities Trust
4
<PAGE>
(10) Dean Witter World Wide Investment Trust
(11) Dean Witter U.S. Government Securities Trust
(12) Dean Witter Select Municipal Reinvestment Fund
(13) Dean Witter High Yield Securities Inc.
(14) Dean Witter Intermediate Income Securities
(15) Dean Witter New York Tax-Free Income Fund
(16) Dean Witter California Tax-Free Income Fund
(17) Dean Witter Health Sciences Trust
(18) Dean Witter California Tax-Free Daily Income Trust
(19) Dean Witter Global Asset Allocation Fund
(20) Dean Witter American Value Fund
(21) Dean Witter Strategist Fund
(22) Dean Witter Utilities Fund
(23) Dean Witter World Wide Income Trust
(24) Dean Witter New York Municipal Money Market Trust
(25) Dean Witter Capital Growth Securities
(26) Dean Witter Precious Metals and Minerals Trust
(27) Dean Witter European Growth Fund Inc.
(28) Dean Witter Global Short-Term Income Fund Inc.
(29) Dean Witter Pacific Growth Fund Inc.
(30) Dean Witter Multi-State Municipal Series Trust
(31) Dean Witter Short-Term U.S. Treasury Trust
(32) Dean Witter Diversified Income Trust
(33) Dean Witter U.S. Government Money Market Trust
(34) Dean Witter Global Dividend Growth Securities
(35) Active Assets California Tax-Free Trust
(36) Dean Witter Natural Resource Development Securities Inc.
(37) Active Assets Government Securities Trust
(38) Active Assets Money Trust
(39) Active Assets Tax-Free Trust
(40) Dean Witter Limited Term Municipal Trust
(41) Dean Witter Variable Investment Series
(42) Dean Witter Value-Added Market Series
(43) Dean Witter Global Utilities Fund
(44) Dean Witter High Income Securities
(45) Dean Witter National Municipal Trust
(46) Dean Witter International SmallCap Fund
(47) Dean Witter Mid-Cap Growth Fund
(48) Dean Witter Select Dimensions Investment Series
(49) Dean Witter Balanced Growth Fund
(50) Dean Witter Balanced Income Fund
(51) Dean Witter Hawaii Municipal Trust
(52) Dean Witter Capital Appreciation Fund
(53) Dean Witter Intermediate Term U.S. Treasury Trust
(54) Dean Witter Information Fund
(55) Dean Witter Japan Fund
(56) Dean Witter Income Builder Fund
(57) Dean Witter Special Value Fund
(58) Dean Witter Financial Services Trust
(59) Dean Witter Market Leader Trust
(60) Dean Witter S&P 500 Index Fund
(61) Dean Witter Fund of Funds
5
<PAGE>
The term "TCW/DW Funds" refers to the following registered investment
companies:
OPEN-END INVESTMENT COMPANIES
(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 Total Return Trust
(8) TCW/DW Mid-Cap Equity Trust
(9) TCW/DW Global Telecom Trust
(10)TCW/DW Strategic Income Trust
CLOSED-END INVESTMENT COMPANIES
(1) TCW/DW Term Trust 2000
(2) TCW/DW Term Trust 2002
(3) TCW/DW Term Trust 2003
(4) TCW/DW Emerging Markets Opportunities Trust
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NAME AND POSITION OTHER SUBSTANTIAL BUSINESS, PROFESSION, VOCATION
WITH DEAN WITTER OR EMPLOYMENT, INCLUDING NAME, PRINCIPAL ADDRESS
INTERCAPITAL INC. AND NATURE OF CONNECTION
- ----------------- ------------------------------------------------
<S> <C>
Charles A. Fiumefreddo Executive Vice President and Director of Dean
Chairman, Chief Witter Reynolds Inc. ("DWR"); Chairman, Chief
Executive Officer and Executive Officer and Director of Dean Witter
Director Distributors Inc. ("Distributors") and Dean
Witter Services Company Inc. ("DWSC"); Chairman
and Director of Dean Witter Trust Company
("DWTC"); Chairman, Director or Trustee,
President and Chief Executive Officer of the
Dean Witter Funds and Chairman, Chief Executive
Officer and Trustee of the TCW/DW Funds; Director
and/or officer of various Morgan Stanley, Dean
Witter, Discover & Co. ("MSDWD") subsidiaries;
Formerly Executive Vice President and Director
of Dean Witter, Discover & Co.
Philip J. Purcell Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and Director of
Director of MSDWD and DWR; Director of DWSC and
Distributors; Director or Trustee of the Dean
Witter Funds; Director and/or officer of various
MSDWD subsidiaries.
Richard M. DeMartini Executive Vice President of DWDC; President and
Director Chief Operating Officer of Dean Witter Capital,
a division of DWR; Member of the MSDWD Management
Committee; Director of DWR, DWSC, Distributors
and DWTC; Trustee of the TCW/DW Funds.
6
<PAGE>
NAME AND POSITION OTHER SUBSTANTIAL BUSINESS, PROFESSION, VOCATION
WITH DEAN WITTER OR EMPLOYMENT, INCLUDING NAME, PRINCIPAL ADDRESS
INTERCAPITAL INC. AND NATURE OF CONNECTION
- ----------------- ------------------------------------------------
James F. Higgins Executive Vice President of MSDWD; President and
Director Chief Operating Officer of Dean Witter Financial;
Director of DWR, DWSC, Distributors and DWTC.
Thomas C. Schneider Executive Vice President, Chief Strategic
Director and Administrative Officer of MSDWD; Director of
DWR, DWSC and Distributors.
Christine A. Edwards Executive Vice President, Chief Legal Officer,
Director Secretary of MSDWD and DWR; Executive Vice
President, Secretary and Chief Legal Officer of
Distributors; Director of DWR,DWSC and
Distributors.
Robert M. Scanlan President and Chief Operating Officer of DWSC,
President and Chief Executive Vice President of Distributors;
Operating Officer Executive Vice President and Director of DWTC;
Vice President of the Dean Witter Funds and the
TCW/DW Funds.
Mitchell M. Merin President and Chief Strategic Officer of DWSC,
President and Chief Executive Vice President of Distributors;
Strategic Officer Executive Vice President and Director of DWTC;
Executive Vice President and Director of DWR;
Director of SPS Transaction Services, Inc. and
various other MSDWD subsidiaries.
John B. Van Heuvelen President, Chief Operating Officer and Director
Executive Vice of DWTC.
President
Joseph J. McAlinden
Executive Vice President
and Chief Investment Vice President of the Dean Witter Funds and
Officer Director of DWTC.
Barry Fink Assistant Secretary of DWR; Senior Vice President,
Senior Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel of DWSC; Senior Vice
Secretary and General President, Assistant Secretary and Assistant
Counsel General Counsel of Distributors; Vice President,
Secretary and General Counsel of the Dean Witter
Funds and the TCW/DW Funds.
Peter M. Avelar
Senior Vice President Vice President of various Dean Witter Funds.
7
<PAGE>
NAME AND POSITION OTHER SUBSTANTIAL BUSINESS, PROFESSION, VOCATION
WITH DEAN WITTER OR EMPLOYMENT, INCLUDING NAME, PRINCIPAL ADDRESS
INTERCAPITAL INC. AND NATURE OF CONNECTION
- ----------------- ------------------------------------------------
Mark Bavoso
Senior Vice President Vice President of various Dean Witter Funds.
Richard Felegy
Senior Vice President
Edward F. Gaylor
Senior Vice President Vice President of various Dean Witter Funds.
Robert S. Giambrone Senior Vice President of DWSC, Distributors and
Senior Vice President DWTC and Director of DWTC; Vice President of the
Dean Witter Funds and the TCW/DW Funds.
Rajesh K. Gupta
Senior Vice President Vice President of various Dean Witter Funds.
Kenton J. Hinchcliffe
Senior Vice President Vice President of various Dean Witter Funds.
Kevin Hurley
Senior Vice President Vice President of various Dean Witter Funds.
Margaret Iannuzzi
Senior Vice President
Jenny Beth Jones Vice President of Dean Witter Special Value Fund.
Senior Vice President
John B. Kemp, III Director of the Provident Savings Bank, Jersey
Senior Vice President City, New Jersey.
Anita H. Kolleeny
Senior Vice President Vice President of various Dean Witter Funds.
Jonathan R. Page
Senior Vice President Vice President of various Dean Witter Funds.
Ira N. Ross
Senior Vice President Vice President of various Dean Witter Funds.
Guy G. Rutherfurd, Jr. Vice President of Dean Witter Market Leader
Senior Vice President Trust.
Rafael Scolari Vice President of Prime Income Trust.
Senior Vice President
Rochelle G. Siegel
Senior Vice President Vice President of various Dean Witter Funds.
8
<PAGE>
NAME AND POSITION OTHER SUBSTANTIAL BUSINESS, PROFESSION, VOCATION
WITH DEAN WITTER OR EMPLOYMENT, INCLUDING NAME, PRINCIPAL ADDRESS
INTERCAPITAL INC. AND NATURE OF CONNECTION
- ----------------- ------------------------------------------------
Jayne M. Stevlingston Vice President of various Dean Witter Funds.
Senior Vice President
Paul D. Vance
Senior Vice President Vice President of various Dean Witter Funds.
Elizabeth A. Vetell
Senior Vice President
James F. Willison
Senior Vice President Vice President of various Dean Witter Funds.
Ronald J. Worobel
Senior Vice President Vice President of various Dean Witter Funds.
Douglas Brown
First Vice President
Thomas F. Caloia First Vice President and Assistant Treasurer of
First Vice President DWSC, Assistant Treasurer of Distributors;
and Assistant Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer of the
Treasurer Dean Witter Funds and the TCW/DW Funds.
Thomas Chronert
First Vice President
Rosalie Clough
First Vice President
Marilyn K. Cranney Assistant Secretary of DWR; First Vice President
First Vice President and Assistant Secretary of DWSC; Assistant
and Assistant Secretary Secretary of the Dean Witter Funds and the TCW/DW
Funds.
Michael Interrante First Vice President and Controller of DWSC;
First Vice President Assistant Treasurer of Distributors;First Vice
and Controller President and Treasurer of DWTC.
David Johnson
First Vice President
Stanley Kapica
First Vice President
Robert Zimmerman
First Vice President
Dale Albright
Vice President
9
<PAGE>
NAME AND POSITION OTHER SUBSTANTIAL BUSINESS, PROFESSION, VOCATION
WITH DEAN WITTER OR EMPLOYMENT, INCLUDING NAME, PRINCIPAL ADDRESS
INTERCAPITAL INC. AND NATURE OF CONNECTION
- ----------------- ------------------------------------------------
Joan G. Allman
Vice President
Andrew Arbenz
Vice President
Joseph Arcieri
Vice President Vice President of various Dean Witter Funds.
Kirk Balzer
Vice President Vice President of Various Dean Witter Funds.
Nancy Belza
Vice President
Dale Boettcher
Vice President
Joseph Cardwell
Vice President
Philip Casparius
Vice President
B. Catherine Connelly
Vice President
Salvatore DeSteno
Vice President Vice President of DWSC.
Frank J. DeVito
Vice President Vice President of DWSC.
Bruce Dunn
Vice President
Jeffrey D. Geffen
Vice President
Deborah Genovese
Vice President
Michael Geringer
Vice President
Stephen Greenhut
Vice President
10
<PAGE>
NAME AND POSITION OTHER SUBSTANTIAL BUSINESS, PROFESSION, VOCATION
WITH DEAN WITTER OR EMPLOYMENT, INCLUDING NAME, PRINCIPAL ADDRESS
INTERCAPITAL INC. AND NATURE OF CONNECTION
- ----------------- ------------------------------------------------
Peter W. Gurman
Vice President
Matthew Haynes
Vice President
Peter Hermann
Vice President Vice President of various Dean Witter Funds
Elizabeth Hinchman
Vice President
David Hoffman
Vice President
Christopher Jones
Vice President
James P. Kastberg
Vice President
Michelle Kaufman
Vice President
Michael Knox
Vice President Vice President of various Dean Witter Funds
Konrad J. Krill
Vice President Vice President of various Dean Witter Funds.
Paula LaCosta
Vice President Vice President of various Dean Witter Funds.
Thomas Lawlor
Vice President
Gerard J. Lian
Vice President Vice President of various Dean Witter Funds.
Catherine Maniscalco
Vice President
Albert McGarity
Vice President
LouAnne D. McInnis Vice President and Assistant Secretary of DWSC;
Vice President and Assistant Secretary of the Dean Witter Funds and
Assistant Secretary the TCW/DW Funds.
11
<PAGE>
NAME AND POSITION OTHER SUBSTANTIAL BUSINESS, PROFESSION, VOCATION
WITH DEAN WITTER OR EMPLOYMENT, INCLUDING NAME, PRINCIPAL ADDRESS
INTERCAPITAL INC. AND NATURE OF CONNECTION
- ----------------- ------------------------------------------------
Sharon K. Milligan
Vice President
Julie Morrone
Vice President
Mary Beth Mueller
Vice President
David Myers
Vice President
James Nash
Vice President
Richard Norris
Vice President
Carsten Otto Vice President and Assistant Secretary of DWSC;
Vice President and Assistant Secretary of the Dean Witter Funds and
Assistant Secretary the TCW/DW Funds.
George Paoletti
Vice President
Anne Pickrell Vice President of Dean Witter Global Short-
Vice President Term Income Fund Inc.
Michael Roan
Vice President
Hugh Rose
Vice President
Robert Rossetti Vice President of Dean Witter Precious Metal and
Vice President Minerals Trust.
Ruth Rossi Vice President and Assistant Secretary of DWSC;
Vice President and Assistant Secretary of the Dean Witter Funds and
Assistant Secretary the TCW/DW Funds.
Carl F. Sadler
Vice President
Peter Seeley Vice President of Dean Witter World
Vice President Wide Income Trust
Naomi Stein
Vice President
12
<PAGE>
NAME AND POSITION OTHER SUBSTANTIAL BUSINESS, PROFESSION, VOCATION
WITH DEAN WITTER OR EMPLOYMENT, INCLUDING NAME, PRINCIPAL ADDRESS
INTERCAPITAL INC. AND NATURE OF CONNECTION
- ----------------- ------------------------------------------------
Kathleen H. Stromberg
Vice President Vice President of various Dean Witter Funds.
Marybeth Swisher
Vice President
Vinh Q. Tran
Vice President Vice President of various Dean Witter Funds.
Robert Vanden Assem
Vice President
James Wallin
Vice President
Alice Weiss
Vice President Vice President of various Dean Witter Funds.
</TABLE>
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 Global Asset Allocation
(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 Short-Term Bond Fund
(15) Dean Witter Mid-Cap Growth Fund
(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 Natural Resource Development Securities Inc.
(23) Dean Witter World Wide Income Trust
13
<PAGE>
(24) Dean Witter Utilities Fund
(25) Dean Witter Strategist Fund
(26) Dean Witter New York Municipal Money Market Trust
(27) Dean Witter Intermediate Income Securities
(28) Prime Income Trust
(29) Dean Witter European Growth Fund Inc.
(30) Dean Witter Developing Growth Securities Trust
(31) Dean Witter Precious Metals and Minerals Trust
(32) Dean Witter Pacific Growth Fund Inc.
(33) Dean Witter Multi-State Municipal Series Trust
(34) Dean Witter Federal Securities Trust
(35) Dean Witter Short-Term U.S. Treasury Trust
(36) Dean Witter Diversified Income Trust
(37) Dean Witter Health Sciences Trust
(38) Dean Witter Global Dividend Growth Securities
(39) Dean Witter American Value Fund
(40) Dean Witter U.S. Government Money Market Trust
(41) Dean Witter Global Short-Term Income Fund Inc.
(42) Dean Witter Value-Added Market Series
(43) Dean Witter Global Utilities Fund
(44) Dean Witter High Income Securities
(45) Dean Witter National Municipal Trust
(46) Dean Witter International SmallCap Fund
(47) Dean Witter Balanced Growth Fund
(48) Dean Witter Balanced Income Fund
(49) Dean Witter Hawaii Municipal Trust
(50) Dean Witter Variable Investment Series
(51) Dean Witter Capital Appreciation Fund
(52) Dean Witter Intermediate Term U.S. Treasury Trust
(53) Dean Witter Information Fund
(54) Dean Witter Japan Fund
(55) Dean Witter Income Builder Fund
(56) Dean Witter Special Value Fund
(57) Dean Witter Financial Services Trust
(58) Dean Witter Market Leader Trust
(59) Dean Witter S&P 500 Index Fund
(60) Dean Witter Fund of Funds
(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 Total Return Trust
(8) TCW/DW Mid-Cap Equity Trust
(9) TCW/DW Global Telecom Trust
(10) TCW/DW Strategic Income Trust
(b) The following information is given regarding directors and officers of
Distributors not listed in Item 28 above. The principal address of
Distributors is Two World Trade Center, New York, New York 10048. None of
the following persons has any position or office with the Registrant.
14
<PAGE>
Positions and Office with
Name Distributors
---- -------------------------
Fredrick K. Kubler Senior Vice President, Assistant
Secretary and Chief Compliance
Officer.
Michael T. Gregg Vice President and Assistant
Secretary.
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 Investment Manager at its offices, except records relating to
holders of shares issued by the Registrant, which are maintained by the
Registrant's Transfer Agent, at its place of business as shown in the
prospectus.
Item 31. MANAGEMENT SERVICES
Registrant is not a party to any such management-related service
contract.
Item 32. UNDERTAKINGS.
The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes to file a post- effective
amendment, using financial statements which need not be audited, within four to
six months from the effective date of the Registrant's Registration Statement
under the Securities Act of 1933.
The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes to comply with the
provisions of Section 16(c) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 with regard to
facilitating shareholder communications in the event the requisite percentage of
shareholders so requests, to the same extent as if Registrant were subject to
the provisions of that Section.
15
<PAGE>
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 and
the Investment Company Act of 1940, the Registrant has duly caused this
Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto
duly authorized, in the City of New York and the State of New York on the 20th
day of October, 1997.
DEAN WITTER "COMPETITIVE EDGE" TRUST
By: /s/ Barry Fink
----------------------------------
Barry Fink
Trustee, Vice President
and Secretary
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the
capacities and on the date indicated.
Signatures Title Date
- ---------- ----- ----
Chairman, President,
Chief Executive
Officer and Trustee
By:/s/ Charles A. Fiumefreddo 10/20/97
---------------------------
Charles A. Fiumefreddo
Trustee
By:/s/ Robert S. Giambrone 10/20/97
---------------------------
Robert S. Giambrone
Trustee, Vice President
and Secretary
By:/s/ Barry Fink 10/20/97
---------------------------
Barry Fink
Treasurer, Chief Financial
Officer and Chief Accounting
Officer
By:/s/ Thomas F. Caloia 10/20/97
---------------------------
Thomas F. Caloia
<PAGE>
DEAN WITTER "COMPETITIVE EDGE" TRUST
EXHIBIT INDEX
1. -- Declaration of Trust of Registrant
2. -- By-Laws of Registrant
3. -- None
4. -- Not Applicable
5. -- Form of Investment Management Agreement between Registrant and
Dean Witter InterCapital Inc.*
6.(a) -- Form of Distribution Agreement between Registrant and Dean Witter
Distributors Inc.*
6.(b) -- Forms of Selected Dealer Agreements*
6 (c) -- Form of Underwriting Agreement between Registrant and Dean Witter
Distributors Inc.*
7. -- None
8.(a) -- Form of Custodian Agreement *
8.(b) -- Form of Transfer Agency and Services Agreement between Registrant
and Dean Witter Trust Company*
9. -- Form of Services Agreement between Dean Witter InterCapital Inc.
and Dean Witter Services Company Inc.*
10.(a)-- Opinion of Barry Fink, Esq.*
10.(b)-- Opinion of Lane Altman & Owens LLP*
11. -- Consent of Independent Accountants*
12. -- None
13. -- Investment Letter of Dean Witter InterCapital Inc.*
14. -- None
15. -- Form of Plan of Distribution between Registrant and Dean Witter
Distributors Inc.*
16. -- Schedule for Computation of Performance Quotations -
to be filed with the first post-effective amendment
27. -- Financial Data Schedules *
Other -- Powers of Attorney*
- ----------------------------
* To be filed by amendment.
1
<PAGE>
DEAN WITTER
"COMPETITIVE EDGE" TRUST
TWO WORLD TRADE CENTER
NEW YORK, NY 10048
DECLARATION OF TRUST
DATED: OCTOBER 16, 1997
<PAGE>
TABLE OF CONTENTS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PAGE
-----------
<S> <C> <C>
ARTICLE I -- NAME AND DEFINITIONS......................................................................... 2
Section 1.1 Name..................................................................................... 2
Section 1.2 Definitions.............................................................................. 2
ARTICLE II -- TRUSTEES.................................................................................... 3
Section 2.1 Number of Trustees....................................................................... 3
Section 2.2 Election and Term........................................................................ 3
Section 2.3 Resignation and Removal.................................................................. 3
Section 2.4 Vacancies................................................................................ 4
Section 2.5 Delegation of Power to Other Trustees.................................................... 4
ARTICLE III -- POWERS OF TRUSTEES......................................................................... 4
Section 3.1 General.................................................................................. 4
Section 3.2 Investments.............................................................................. 4
Section 3.3 Legal Title.............................................................................. 5
Section 3.4 Issuance and Repurchase of Securities.................................................... 5
Section 3.5 Borrowing Money; Lending Trust Assets.................................................... 5
Section 3.6 Delegation; Committees................................................................... 5
Section 3.7 Collection and Payment................................................................... 5
Section 3.8 Expenses................................................................................. 6
Section 3.9 Manner of Acting; By-Laws................................................................ 6
Section 3.10 Miscellaneous Powers..................................................................... 6
Section 3.11 Principal Transactions................................................................... 6
Section 3.12 Litigation............................................................................... 6
ARTICLE IV -- INVESTMENT ADVISER, DISTRIBUTOR, CUSTODIAN AND TRANSFER AGENT............................... 7
Section 4.1 Investment Adviser....................................................................... 7
Section 4.2 Administrative Services.................................................................. 7
Section 4.3 Distributor.............................................................................. 7
Section 4.4 Transfer Agent........................................................................... 7
Section 4.5 Custodian................................................................................ 7
Section 4.6 Parties to Contract...................................................................... 7
ARTICLE V -- LIMITATIONS OF LIABILITY OF SHAREHOLDERS, TRUSTEES AND OTHERS................................ 8
Section 5.1 No Personal Liability of Shareholders, Trustees, etc..................................... 8
Section 5.2 Non-Liability of Trustees, etc........................................................... 8
Section 5.3 Indemnification.......................................................................... 8
Section 5.4 No Bond Required of Trustees............................................................. 9
Section 5.5 No Duty of Investigation; Notice in Trust Instruments, etc............................... 9
Section 5.6 Reliance on Experts, etc................................................................. 9
</TABLE>
i
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PAGE
-----------
<S> <C> <C>
ARTICLE VI -- SHARES OF BENEFICIAL INTEREST............................................................... 9
Section 6.1 Beneficial Interest...................................................................... 9
Section 6.2 Rights of Shareholders................................................................... 10
Section 6.3 Trust Only............................................................................... 10
Section 6.4 Issuance of Shares....................................................................... 10
Section 6.5 Register of Shares....................................................................... 10
Section 6.6 Transfer of Shares....................................................................... 10
Section 6.7 Notices.................................................................................. 11
Section 6.8 Voting Powers............................................................................ 11
Section 6.9 Series or Classes of Shares.............................................................. 11
ARTICLE VII -- REDEMPTIONS................................................................................ 13
Section 7.1 Redemptions.............................................................................. 13
Section 7.2 Redemption at the Option of the Trust.................................................... 14
Section 7.3 Effect of Suspension of Determination of Net Asset Value................................. 14
Section 7.4 Suspension of Right of Redemption........................................................ 14
ARTICLE VIII -- DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE, NET INCOME AND DISTRIBUTIONS............................ 15
Section 8.1 Net Asset Value.......................................................................... 15
Section 8.2 Distributions to Shareholders............................................................ 15
Section 8.3 Determination of Net Income.............................................................. 15
Section 8.4 Power to Modify Foregoing Procedures..................................................... 15
ARTICLE IX -- DURATION; TERMINATION OF TRUST; AMENDMENT; MERGERS, ETC..................................... 16
Section 9.1 Duration................................................................................. 16
Section 9.2 Termination of Trust..................................................................... 16
Section 9.3 Amendment Procedure...................................................................... 16
Section 9.4 Merger, Consolidation and Sale of Assets................................................. 17
Section 9.5 Incorporation............................................................................ 17
ARTICLE X -- REPORTS TO SHAREHOLDERS...................................................................... 17
ARTICLE XI -- MISCELLANEOUS............................................................................... 18
Section 11.1 Filing................................................................................... 18
Section 11.2 Resident Agent........................................................................... 18
Section 11.3 Governing Law............................................................................ 18
Section 11.4 Counterparts............................................................................. 18
Section 11.5 Reliance by Third Parties................................................................ 18
Section 11.6 Provisions in Conflict with Law or Regulations........................................... 18
Section 11.7 Use of the Name "Dean Witter"............................................................ 18
Section 11.8 Principal Place of Business.............................................................. 19
SIGNATURE PAGE............................................................................................ 19
</TABLE>
ii
<PAGE>
DECLARATION OF TRUST
OF
DEAN WITTER "COMPETITIVE EDGE" TRUST
DATED: OCTOBER 16, 1997
THE DECLARATION OF TRUST of Dean Witter "Competitive Edge" Trust is made the
16th day of October, 1997 by the parties signatory hereto, as trustees (such
persons, so long as they shall continue in office in accordance with the terms
of this Declaration of Trust, and all other persons who at the time in question
have been duly elected or appointed as trustees in accordance with the
provisions of this Declaration of Trust and are then in office, being
hereinafter called the "Trustees").
WITNESSETH:
WHEREAS, the Trustees desire to form a trust fund under the laws of
Massachusetts for the investment and reinvestment of funds contributed thereto;
and
WHEREAS, it is provided that the beneficial interest in the trust assets be
divided into transferable shares of beneficial interest as hereinafter provided;
NOW, THEREFORE, the Trustees hereby declare that they will hold in trust,
all money and property contributed to the trust fund to manage and dispose of
the same for the benefit of the holders from time to time of the shares of
beneficial interest issued hereunder and subject to the provisions hereof, to
wit:
1
<PAGE>
ARTICLE I
NAME AND DEFINITIONS
Section 1.1. NAME. The name of the trust created hereby is the "Dean
Witter "Competitive Edge" Trust," and so far as may be practicable the Trustees
shall conduct the Trust's activities, execute all documents and sue or be sued
under that name, which name (and the word "Trust" wherever herein used) shall
refer to the Trustees as Trustees, and not as individuals, or personally, and
shall not refer to the officers, agents, employees or Shareholders of the Trust.
Should the Trustees determine that the use of such name is not advisable, they
may use such other name for the Trust as they deem proper and the Trust may hold
its property and conduct its activities under such other name.
Section 1.2. DEFINITIONS. Wherever they are used herein, the following
terms have the following respective meanings:
(a) "BY-LAWS" means the By-Laws referred to in Section 3.9 hereof, as
from time to time amended.
(b) the terms "COMMISSION," "AFFILIATED PERSON" and "INTERESTED PERSON,"
have the meanings given them in the 1940 Act.
(c) "CLASS" means any division of Shares within a Series, which Class is
or has been established pursuant to Section 6.1 hereof.
(d) "DECLARATION" means this Declaration of Trust as amended from time
to time. Reference in this Declaration of Trust to "DECLARATION," "HEREOF,"
"HEREIN" and "HEREUNDER" shall be deemed to refer to this Declaration rather
than the article or section in which such words appear.
(e) "DISTRIBUTOR" means the party, other than the Trust, to a contract
described in Section 4.3 hereof.
(f) "FUNDAMENTAL POLICIES" shall mean the investment policies and
restrictions set forth in the Prospectus and Statement of Additional
Information and designated as fundamental policies therein.
(g) "INVESTMENT ADVISER" means any party, other than the Trust, to a
contract described in Section 4.1 hereof.
(h) "MAJORITY SHAREHOLDER VOTE" means the vote of the holders of a
majority of Shares, which shall consist of: (i) a majority of Shares
represented in person or by proxy and entitled to vote at a meeting of
Shareholders at which a quorum, as determined in accordance with the
By-Laws, is present; (ii) a majority of Shares issued and outstanding and
entitled to vote when action is taken by written consent of Shareholders;
and (iii) a "majority of the outstanding voting securities," as the phrase
is defined in the 1940 Act, when any action is required by the 1940 Act by
such majority as so defined.
(i) "1940 ACT" means the Investment Company Act of 1940 and the rules
and regulations thereunder as amended from time to time.
(j) "PERSON" means and includes individuals, corporations,
partnerships, trusts, associations, joint ventures and other entities,
whether or not legal entities, and governments and agencies and political
subdivisions thereof.
(k) "PROSPECTUS" means the Prospectus and Statement of Additional
Information constituting parts of the Registration Statement of the Trust
under the Securities Act of 1933 as such Prospectus and Statement of
Additional Information may be amended or supplemented and filed with the
Commission from time to time.
2
<PAGE>
(l) "SERIES" means one of the separately managed components of the
Trust (or, if the Trust shall have only one such component, then that one)
as set forth in Section 6.1 hereof or as may be established and designated
from time to time by the Trustees pursuant to that section.
(m) "SHAREHOLDER" means a record owner of outstanding Shares.
(n) "SHARES" means the units of interest into which the beneficial
interest in the Trust shall be divided from time to time, including the
shares of any and all series or classes which may be established by the
Trustees, and includes fractions of Shares as well as whole Shares.
(o) "TRANSFER AGENT" means the party, other than the Trust, to the
contract described in Section 4.4 hereof.
(p) "TRUST" means the Dean Witter Research Series Trust.
(q) "TRUST PROPERTY" means any and all property, real or personal,
tangible or intangible, which is owned or held by or for the account of the
Trust or the Trustees.
(r) "TRUSTEES" means the persons who have signed the Declaration, so
long as they shall continue in office in accordance with the terms hereof,
and all other persons who may from time to time be duly elected or
appointed, qualified and serving as Trustees in accordance with the
provisions hereof, and reference herein to a Trustee or the Trustees shall
refer to such person or persons in their capacity as trustees hereunder.
ARTICLE II
TRUSTEES
Section 2.1. NUMBER OF TRUSTEES. The number of Trustees shall be such
number as shall be fixed from time to time by a written instrument signed by a
majority of the Trustees, provided, however, that the number of Trustees shall
in no event be less than three (3) nor more than fifteen (15).
Section 2.2. ELECTION AND TERM. The Trustees shall be elected by a vote of
a majority of the outstanding voting securities, as defined by the 1940 Act,
held by the initial shareholder(s) (i.e., the person(s) that supplied the seed
capital required under Section 14(a) of the 1940 Act). The Trustees shall have
the power to set and alter the terms of office of the Trustees, and they may at
any time lengthen or lessen their own terms or make their terms of unlimited
duration, subject to the resignation and removal provisions of Section 2.3
hereof. Subject to Section 16(a) of the 1940 Act, the Trustees may elect their
own successors and may, pursuant to Section 2.4 hereof, appoint Trustees to fill
vacancies. The Trustees shall adopt By-Laws not inconsistent with this
Declaration or any provision of law to provide for election of Trustees by
Shareholders at such time or times as the Trustees shall determine to be
necessary or advisable.
Section 2.3. RESIGNATION AND REMOVAL. Any Trustee may resign his trust
(without need for prior or subsequent accounting) by an instrument in writing
signed by him and delivered to the other Trustees and such resignation shall be
effective upon such delivery, or at a later date according to the terms of the
instrument. Any of the Trustees may be removed (provided the aggregate number of
Trustees after such removal shall not be less than the number required by
Section 2.1 hereof) by the action of two-thirds of the remaining Trustees or by
the action of the Shareholders of record of not less than two-thirds of the
Shares outstanding (for purposes of determining the circumstances and procedures
under which such removal by the Shareholders may take place, the provisions of
Section 16(c) of the 1940 Act or of the corporate or business statute of any
state in which shares of the Trust are sold, shall be applicable to the same
extent as if the Trust were subject to the provisions of that Section). Upon the
resignation or removal of a Trustee, or his otherwise ceasing to be a Trustee,
he shall execute and deliver such documents as the remaining Trustees shall
require for the purpose of conveying to the Trust or the remaining Trustees any
Trust Property held in the name of the resigning or removed Trustee. Upon the
incapacity or death of any Trustee, his legal representative shall execute and
deliver on his behalf such documents as the remaining Trustees shall require as
provided in the preceding sentence.
3
<PAGE>
Section 2.4. VACANCIES. The term of office of a Trustee shall terminate
and a vacancy shall occur in the event of the death, resignation, removal,
bankruptcy, adjudicated incompetence or other incapacity to perform the duties
of the office of a Trustee. No such vacancy shall operate to annul the
Declaration or to revoke any existing agency created pursuant to the terms of
the Declaration. In the case of an existing vacancy existing by reason of an
increase in the number of Trustees, subject to the provisions of Section 16(a)
of the 1940 Act, the remaining Trustees shall fill such vacancy by the
appointment of such other person as they or he, in their or his discretion,
shall see fit, made by a written instrument signed by a majority of the
remaining Trustees. Any such appointment shall not become effective, however,
until the person named in the written instrument of appointment shall have
accepted in writing such appointment and agreed in writing to be bound by the
terms of the Declaration. An appointment of a Trustee may be made in
anticipation of a vacancy to occur at a later date by reason of retirement,
resignation or increase in the number of Trustees, provided that such
appointment shall not become effective prior to such retirement, resignation or
increase in the number of Trustees. Whenever a vacancy in the number of Trustees
shall occur, until such vacancy is filled as provided in this Section 2.4, the
Trustees in office, regardless of their number, shall have all the powers
granted to the Trustees and shall discharge all the duties imposed upon the
Trustees by the Declaration. A written instrument certifying the existence of
such vacancy signed by a majority of the Trustees shall be conclusive evidence
of the existence of such vacancy.
Section 2.5. DELEGATION OF POWER TO OTHER TRUSTEES. Any Trustee may, by
power of attorney, delegate his power for a period not exceeding six (6) months
at any one time to any other Trustee or Trustees; provided that in no case shall
less than two (2) Trustees personally exercise the powers granted to the
Trustees under the Declaration except as herein otherwise expressly provided.
ARTICLE III
POWERS OF TRUSTEES
Section 3.1. GENERAL. The Trustees shall have exclusive and absolute
control over the Trust Property and over the business of the Trust to the same
extent as if the Trustees were the sole owners of the Trust Property and
business in their own right, but with such powers of delegation as may be
permitted by the Declaration. The Trustees shall have power to conduct the
business of the Trust and carry on its operations in any and all of its branches
and maintain offices both within and without the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
In any and all states of the United States of America, in the District of
Columbia, and in any and all commonwealths, territories, dependencies, colonies,
possessions, agencies or instrumentalities wheresoever in the world they may be
located as they deem necessary, proper or desirable in order to promote the
interests of the Trust although such things are not herein specifically
mentioned. Any determination as to what is in the interests of the Trust made by
the Trustees in good faith shall be conclusive. In construing the provisions of
the Declaration, the presumption shall be in favor of a grant of power to the
Trustees.
The enumeration of any specific power herein shall not be construed as
limiting the aforesaid power. Such powers of the Trustees may be exercised
without order of or resort to any court.
Section 3.2. INVESTMENTS. The Trustees shall have the power to:
(a) conduct, operate and carry on the business of an investment company;
(b) subscribe for, invest in, reinvest in, purchase or otherwise
acquire, hold, pledge, sell, assign, transfer, exchange, distribute, lend or
otherwise deal in or dispose of negotiable or nonnegotiable instruments,
obligations, evidences of indebtedness, certificates of deposit or
indebtedness, commercial paper, repurchase agreements, reverse repurchase
agreements, options, commodities, commodity futures contracts and related
options, currencies, currency futures and forward contracts, and other
securities, investment contracts and other instruments of any kind,
4
<PAGE>
including, without limitation, those issued, guaranteed or sponsored by any
and all Persons including, without limitation, states, territories and
possessions of the United States, the District of Columbia and any of the
political subdivisions, agencies or instrumentalities thereof, and by the
United States Government or its agencies or instrumentalities, foreign or
international instrumentalities, or by any bank or savings institution, or
by any corporation or organization organized under the laws of the United
States or of any state, territory or possession thereof, and of corporations
or organizations organized under foreign laws, or in "when issued" contracts
for any such securities, or retain Trust assets in cash and from time to
time change the investments of the assets of the Trust; and to exercise any
and all rights, powers and privileges of ownership or interest in respect of
any and all such investments of every kind and description, including,
without limitation, the right to consent and otherwise act with respect
thereto, with power to designate one or more persons, firms, associations or
corporations to exercise any of said rights, powers and privileges in
respect of any of said instruments; and the Trustees shall be deemed to have
the foregoing powers with respect to any additional securities in which the
Trust may invest should the Fundamental Policies be amended.
The Trustees shall not be limited to investing in obligations maturing before
the possible termination of the Trust, nor shall the Trustees be limited by any
law limiting the investments which may be made by fiduciaries.
Section 3.3. LEGAL TITLE. Legal title to all the Trust Property shall be
vested in the Trustees as joint tenants except that the Trustees shall have
power to cause legal title to any Trust Property to be held by or in the name of
one or more of the Trustees, or in the name of the Trust, or in the name of any
other Person as nominee, on such terms as the Trustees may determine, provided
that the interest of the Trust therein is appropriately protected. The right,
title and interest of the Trustees in the Trust Property shall vest
automatically in each Person who may hereafter become a Trustee. Upon the
resignation, removal or death of a Trustee he shall automatically cease to have
any right, title or interest in any of the Trust Property, and the right, title
and interest of such Trustee in the Trust Property shall vest automatically in
the remaining Trustees. Such vesting and cessation of title shall be effective
whether or not conveyancing documents have been executed and delivered.
Section 3.4. ISSUANCE AND REPURCHASE OF SECURITIES. The Trustees shall
have the power to issue, sell, repurchase, redeem, retire, cancel, acquire,
hold, resell, reissue, dispose of, transfer, and otherwise deal in Shares and,
subject to the provisions set forth in Articles VII, VIII and IX and Section 6.9
hereof, to apply to any such repurchase, redemption, retirement, cancellation or
acquisition of Shares any funds or property of the Trust, whether capital or
surplus or otherwise, to the full extent now or hereafter permitted by the laws
of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts governing business corporations.
Section 3.5. BORROWING MONEY; LENDING TRUST ASSETS. Subject to the
Fundamental Policies, the Trustee shall have power to borrow money or otherwise
obtain credit and to secure the same by mortgaging, pledging or otherwise
subjecting as security the assets of the Trust, to endorse, guarantee, or
undertake the performance of any obligation, contract or engagement of any other
Person and to lend Trust assets.
Section 3.6. DELEGATION; COMMITTEES. The Trustees shall have power,
consistent with their continuing exclusive authority over the management of the
Trust and the Trust Property, to delegate from time to time to such of their
number or to officers, employees or agents of the Trust the doing of such things
and the execution of such instruments either in the name of the Trust or the
names of the Trustees or otherwise as the Trustees may deem expedient.
Section 3.7. COLLECTION AND PAYMENT. Subject to Section 6.9 hereof, the
Trustees shall have power to collect all property due to the Trust; to pay all
claims, including taxes, against the Trust Property; to prosecute, defend,
compromise or abandon any claims relating to the Trust Property; to foreclose
any security interest securing any obligations, by virtue of which any property
is owed to the Trust; and to enter into releases, agreements and other
instruments.
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Section 3.8. EXPENSES. Subject to Section 6.9 hereof, the Trustees shall
have the power to incur and pay any expenses which in the opinion of the
Trustees are necessary or incidental to carry out any of the purposes of the
Declaration, and to pay reasonable compensation from the funds of the Trust to
themselves as Trustees. The Trustees shall fix the compensation of all officers,
employees and Trustees.
Section 3.9. MANNER OF ACTING; BY-LAWS. Except as otherwise provided
herein or in the By-Laws or by any provision of law, any action to be taken by
the Trustees may be taken by a majority of the Trustees present at a meeting of
Trustees (a quorum being present), including any meeting held by means of a
conference telephone circuit or similar communications equipment by means of
which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, or by
written consents of all the Trustees. The Trustees may adopt By-Laws not
inconsistent with this Declaration to provide for the conduct of the business of
the Trust and may amend or repeal such By-Laws to the extent such power is not
reserved to the Shareholders.
Section 3.10. MISCELLANEOUS POWERS. The Trustees shall have the power to:
(a) employ or contract with such Persons as the Trustees may deem desirable for
the transaction of the business of the Trust or any Series thereof; (b) enter
into joint ventures, partnerships and any other combinations or associations;
(c) remove Trustees or fill vacancies in or add to their number, elect and
remove such officers and appoint and terminate such agents or employees as they
consider appropriate, and appoint from their own number, and terminate, any one
or more committees which may exercise some or all of the power and authority of
the Trustees as the Trustees may determine; (d) purchase, and pay for out of
Trust Property or the property of the appropriate Series of the Trust, insurance
policies insuring the Shareholders, Trustees, officers, employees, agents,
investment advisers, distributors, selected dealers or independent contractors
of the Trust against all claims arising by reason of holding any such position
or by reason of any action taken or omitted to be taken by any such Person in
such capacity, whether or not constituting negligence, or whether or not the
Trust would have the power to indemnify such Person against such liability; (e)
establish pension, profit-sharing, Share purchase, and other retirement,
incentive and benefit plans for any Trustees, officers, employees and agents of
the Trust; (f) to the extent permitted by law, indemnify any person with whom
the Trust or any Series thereof has dealings, including any Investment Adviser,
Distributor, Transfer Agent and selected dealers, to such extent as the Trustees
shall determine; (g) guarantee indebtedness or contractual obligations of
others; (h) determine and change the fiscal year of the Trust or any Series
thereof and the method by which its accounts shall be kept; and (i) adopt a seal
for the Trust but the absence of such seal shall not impair the validity of any
instrument executed on behalf of the Trust.
Section 3.11. PRINCIPAL TRANSACTIONS. Except in transactions permitted by
the 1940 Act or any rule or regulation thereunder, or any order of exemption
issued by the Commission, or effected to implement the provisions of any
agreement to which the Trust is a party, the Trustees shall not, on behalf of
the Trust, buy any securities (other than Shares) from or sell any securities
(other than Shares) to, or lend any assets of the Trust or any Series thereof
to, any Trustee or officer of the Trust or any firm of which any such Trustee or
officer is a member acting as principal, or have any such dealings with any
Investment Adviser, Distributor or Transfer Agent or with any Affiliated Person
of such Person; but the Trust or any Series thereof may employ any such Person,
or firm or company in which such Person is an Interested Person, as broker,
legal counsel, registrar, transfer agent, dividend disbursing agent or custodian
upon customary terms.
Section 3.12. LITIGATION. The Trustees shall have the power to engage in
and to prosecute, defend, compromise, abandon, or adjust, by arbitration, or
otherwise, any actions, suits, proceedings, disputes, claims, and demands
relating to the Trust, and out of the assets of the Trust or any Series thereof
to pay or to satisfy any debts, claims or expenses incurred in connection
therewith, including those of litigation, and such power shall include without
limitation the power of the Trustees or any appropriate committee thereof, in
the exercise of their or its good faith business judgment, to dismiss any
action, suit, proceeding, dispute, claim, or demand, derivative or otherwise,
brought by any person, including a Shareholder in its own name or the name of
the Trust, whether or not the Trust or any of the Trustees may be named
individually therein or the subject matter arises by reason of business for or
on behalf of the Trust.
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ARTICLE IV
INVESTMENT ADVISER, DISTRIBUTOR, CUSTODIAN AND TRANSFER AGENT
Section 4.1. INVESTMENT ADVISER. Subject to approval by a Majority
Shareholder Vote, the Trustees may in their discretion from time to time enter
into one or more investment advisory or management contracts or, if the Trustees
establish multiple Series, separate investment advisory or management contracts
with respect to one or more Series whereby the other party or parties to any
such contracts shall undertake to furnish the Trust or such Series such
management, investment advisory, administration, accounting, legal, statistical
and research facilities and services, promotional or marketing activities, and
such other facilities and services, if any, as the Trustees shall from time to
time consider desirable and all upon such terms and conditions as the Trustees
may in their discretion determine. The vote of the initial shareholder(s) shall
constitute "majority shareholder vote" if such agreements are entered into prior
to a public offering of Shares of the Trust. Notwithstanding any provisions of
the Declaration, the Trustees may authorize the Investment Advisers, or any of
them, under any such contracts (subject to such general or specific instructions
as the Trustees may from time to time adopt) to effect purchases, sales, loans
or exchanges of portfolio securities and other investments of the Trust on
behalf of the Trustees or may authorize any officer, employee or Trustee to
effect such purchases, sales, loans or exchanges pursuant to recommendations of
such Investment Advisers, or any of them (and all without further action by the
Trustees). Any such purchases, sales, loans and exchanges shall be deemed to
have been authorized by all of the Trustees. The Trustees may, in the their sole
discretion, call a meeting of Shareholders in order to submit to a vote of
Shareholders at such meeting the approval or continuance of any such investment
advisory or management contract. If the Shareholders of any one or more of the
Series of the Trust should fail to approve any such investment advisory or
management contract, the Investment Adviser may nonetheless serve as Investment
Adviser with respect to any Series whose Shareholders approve such contract.
Section 4.2. ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES. The Trustees may in their discretion
from time to time contract for administrative personnel and services whereby the
other party shall agree to provide the Trustees or the Trust administrative
personnel and services to operate the Trust on a daily or other basis, on such
terms and conditions as the Trustees may in their discretion determine. Such
services may be provided by one or more persons or entities.
Section 4.3. DISTRIBUTOR. The Trustees may in their discretion from time
to time enter into one or more contracts, providing for the sale of Shares to
net the Trust or the applicable Series of the Trust not less than the net asset
value per Share (as described in Article VIII hereof) and pursuant to which the
Trust may either agree to sell the Shares to the other parties to the contracts,
or any of them, or appoint any such other party its sales agent for such Shares.
In either case, any such contract shall be on such terms and conditions as the
Trustees may in their discretion determine not inconsistent with the provisions
of Article IV, including, without limitation, the provision for the repurchase
or sale of shares of the Trust by such other party as principal or as agent of
the Trust.
Section 4.4. TRANSFER AGENT. The Trustees may in their discretion from
time to time enter into a transfer agency and shareholder service contract
whereby the other party to such contract shall undertake to furnish transfer
agency and shareholder services to the Trust. The contract shall have such terms
and conditions as the Trustees may in their discretion determine not
inconsistent with the Declaration. Such services may be provided by one or more
Persons.
Section 4.5. CUSTODIAN. The Trustees may appoint or otherwise engage one
or more banks or trust companies, each having an aggregate capital, surplus and
undivided profits (as shown in its last published report) of at least five
million dollars ($5,000,000) to serve as Custodian with authority as its agent,
but subject to such restrictions, limitations and other requirements, if any, as
may be contained in the By-Laws of the Trust.
Section 4.6. PARTIES TO CONTRACT. Any contract of the character described
in Sections 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4 or 4.5 of this Article IV and any other contract
may be entered into with any Person, although one or
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more of the Trustees or officers of the Trust may be an officer, director,
trustee, shareholder, or member of such other party to the contract, and no such
contract shall be invalidated or rendered voidable by reason of the existence of
such relationship; nor shall any Person holding such relationship be liable
merely by reason of such relationship for any loss or expense to the Trust under
or by reason of such contract or accountable for any profit realized directly or
indirectly therefrom, provided that the contract when entered into was not
inconsistent with the provisions of this Article IV. The same Person may be the
other party to any contracts entered into pursuant to Sections 4.1, 4.2, 4.3,
4.4 or 4.5 above or otherwise, and any individual may be financially interested
or otherwise affiliated with Persons who are parties to any or all of the
contracts mentioned in this Section 4.6.
ARTICLE V
LIMITATIONS OF LIABILITY OF SHAREHOLDERS,
TRUSTEES AND OTHERS
Section 5.1. NO PERSONAL LIABILITY OF SHAREHOLDERS, TRUSTEES, ETC. No
Shareholder shall be subject to any personal liability whatsoever to any Person
in connection with Trust Property or the acts, obligations or affairs of the
Trust. No Trustee, officer, employee or agent of the Trust shall be subject to
any personal liability whatsoever to any Person, other than the Trust or its
Shareholders, in connection with the Trust Property or the affairs of the Trust,
save only that arising from bad faith, willful misfeasance, gross negligence or
reckless disregard for his duty to such Person; and all such Persons shall look
solely to the Trust Property, or to the Property of one or more specific Series
of the Trust if the claim arises from the conduct of such Trustee, officer,
employee or agent with respect to only such Series, for satisfaction of claims
of any nature arising in connection with the affairs of the Trust. If any
Shareholder, Trustee, officer, employee or agent, as such, of the Trust is made
to any suit or proceeding to enforce any such liability, he shall not, on
account thereof, be held to any personal liability. The Trust shall indemnify
out of the property of the Trust and hold each Shareholder harmless from and
against all claims and liabilities, to which such Shareholder may become subject
by reason of his being or having been a Shareholder, and shall reimburse such
Shareholder for all legal and other expenses reasonably incurred by him in
connection with any such claim or liability; provided that, in the event the
Trust shall consist of more than one Series, Shareholders of a particular Series
who are faced with claims or liabilities solely by reason of their status as
Shareholders of that Series shall be limited to the assets of that Series for
recovery of such loss and related expenses. The rights accruing to a Shareholder
under this Section 5.1 shall not exclude any other right to which such
Shareholder may be lawfully entitled, nor shall anything herein contained
restrict the right of the Trust to indemnify or reimburse a Shareholder in any
appropriate situation even though not specifically provided herein.
Section 5.2. NON-LIABILITY OF TRUSTEES, ETC. No Trustee, officer, employee
or agent of the Trust shall be liable to the Trust, its Shareholders, or to any
Shareholder, Trustee, officer, employee, or agent thereof for any action or
failure to act (including without limitation the failure to compel in any way
any former or acting Trustee to redress any breach of trust) except for this own
bad faith, willful misfeasance, gross negligence or reckless disregard of his
duties.
Section 5.3. INDEMNIFICATION. (a) The Trustees shall provide for
indemnification by the Trust, or by one or more Series thereof if the claim
arises from his or her conduct with respect to only such Series, of any person
who is, or has been, a Trustee, officer, employee or agent of the Trust against
all liability and against all expenses reasonably incurred or paid by him in
connection with any claim, action, suit or proceeding in which he becomes
involved as a party or otherwise by virtue of his being or having been a
Trustee, officer, employee or agent and against amounts paid or incurred by him
in the settlement thereof, in such manner as the Trustees may provide from time
to time in the By-Laws.
(b) The words "claim," "action," "suit," or "proceeding" shall apply to all
claims, actions, suits or proceedings (civil, criminal, or other, including
appeals), actual or threatened; and the words "liability" and "expenses" shall
include, without limitation, attorneys' fees, costs, judgments, amounts paid in
settlement, fines, penalties and other liabilities.
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Section 5.4. NO BOND REQUIRED OF TRUSTEES. No Trustee shall be obligated
to give any bond or other security for the performance of any of his duties
hereunder.
Section 5.5. NO DUTY OF INVESTIGATION; NOTICE IN TRUST INSTRUMENTS,
ETC. No purchaser, lender, transfer agent or other Person dealing with the
Trustees or any officer, employee or agent of the Trust or a Series thereof
shall be bound to make any inquiry concerning the validity of any transaction
purporting to be made by the Trustees or by said officer, employee or agent or
be liable for the application of money or property paid, loaned or delivered to
or on the order of the Trustees or of said officer, employee or agent. Every
obligation, contract, instrument, certificate, Share, other security of the
Trust or a Series thereof or undertaking, and every other act or thing
whatsoever executed in connection with the Trust shall be conclusively presumed
to have been executed or done by the executors thereof only in their capacity as
officers, employees or agents of the Trust or a Series thereof. Every written
obligation, contract, instrument, certificate, Share, other security of the
Trust or undertaking made or issued by the Trustees shall recite that the same
is executed or made by them not individually, but as Trustees under the
Declaration, and that the obligations of the Trust or a Series thereof under any
such instrument are not binding upon any of the Trustees or Shareholders,
individually, but bind only the Trust Estate (or, in the event the Trust shall
consist of more than one Series, in the case of any such obligation which
relates to a specific Series, only the Series which is a party thereto), and may
contain any further recital which they or he may deem appropriate, but the
omission of such recital shall not affect the validity of such obligation,
contract instrument, certificate, Share, security or undertaking and shall not
operate to bind the Trustees or Shareholders individually. The Trustees shall at
all times maintain insurance for the protection of the Trust Property, its
Shareholders, Trustees, officers, employees and agents in such amount as the
Trustees shall deem adequate to cover possible tort liability, and such other
insurance as the Trustees in their sole judgment shall deem advisable.
Section 5.6. RELIANCE ON EXPERTS, ETC. Each Trustee and officer or
employee of the Trust shall, in the performance of his duties, be fully and
completely justified and protected with regard to any act or any failure to act
resulting from reliance in good faith upon the books of account or other records
of the Trust, upon an opinion of counsel, or upon reports made to the Trust by
any of its officers or employees or by any Investment Adviser, Distributor,
Transfer Agent, selected dealers, accountants, appraisers or other experts or
consultants selected with reasonable care by the Trustees, officers or employees
of the Trust, regardless of whether such counsel or expert may also be a
Trustee.
ARTICLE VI
SHARES OF BENEFICIAL INTEREST
Section 6.1. BENEFICIAL INTEREST. The beneficial interest in the Trust
shall be evidenced by transferable Shares of one or more Series, each of which
may be divided into one or more separate and distinct Classes. The number of
Shares of the Trust and of each Series and Class is unlimited and each Share
shall have a par value of $0.01 per Share. All Shares issued hereunder shall be
fully paid and nonassessable. Shareholders shall have no preemptive or other
right to subscribe to any additional Shares or other securities issued by the
Trust. The Trustees shall have full power and authority, in their sole
discretion and without obtaining Shareholder approval: to issue original or
additional Shares and fractional Shares at such times and on such terms and
conditions as they deem appropriate; to establish and to change in any manner
Shares of any Series or Classes with such preferences, terms of conversion,
voting powers, rights and privileges as the Trustees may determine (but the
Trustees may not change outstanding Shares in a manner materially adverse to the
Shareholders of such Shares); to divide or combine the Shares of any Series or
Classes into a greater or lesser number without thereby changing the
proportionate beneficial interests in that Series or Class; to classify or
reclassify any unissued Shares of any Series or Classes into one or more Series
or Classes of Shares; to abolish any one or more Series or Classes of Shares; to
issue Shares to acquire other assets (including assets subject to, and in
connection with, the assumption of liabilities) and businesses; and to take such
other action with respect to the Shares as the Trustees may deem desirable.
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The Trustees hereby establish and designate the following Series: "Best
Ideas" Portfolio and "Competitive Edge" Portfolio. Additionally, the Trustees
hereby establish and designate the following initial four classes of Shares of
the Trust: Class A, Class B, Class C and Class D. The Trustees may change the
name of the Trust, or any Series or Class without shareholder approval.
Section 6.2. RIGHTS OF SHAREHOLDERS. The ownership of the Trust Property
of every description and the right to conduct any business hereinbefore
described are vested exclusively in the Trustees, and the Shareholders shall
have no interest therein other than the beneficial interest conferred by their
Shares, and they shall have no right to call for any partition of division of
any property, profits, rights or interests of the Trust nor can they be called
upon to assume any losses of the Trust or suffer an assessment of any kind by
virtue of their ownership of Shares. The Shares shall be personal property
giving only the rights in the Declaration specifically set forth. The Shares
shall not entitle the holder to preference, preemptive, appraisal, conversion or
exchange rights, except as the Trustees may determine with respect to any series
of Shares.
Section 6.3. TRUST ONLY. It is the intention of the Trustees to create
only the relationship of Trustees and beneficiary between the Trustees and each
Shareholder from time to time. It is not the intention of the Trustee to create
a general partnership, limited partnership, joint stock association,
corporation, bailment or any form of legal relationship other than a trust.
Nothing in the Declaration shall be construed to make the Shareholders, either
by themselves or with the Trustees, partners or members of a joint stock
association.
Section 6.4. ISSUANCE OF SHARES. The Trustees, in their discretion may,
from time to time without vote of the Shareholders, issue Shares of any Series
or Class, in addition to the then issued and outstanding Shares and Shares held
in the treasury, to such party or parties and for such amount and type of
consideration, including cash or property, at such time or times and on such
terms as the Trustees may deem best, and may in such manner acquire other assets
(including the acquisition of assets subject to, and in connection with the
assumption of liabilities) and businesses. In connection with any issuance of
Shares, the Trustees may issue fractional Shares. Contributions to the Trust may
be accepted for, and Shares shall be redeemed as, whole Shares and/or fractions
of a Share as described in the Prospectus.
Section 6.5. REGISTER OF SHARES. A register shall be kept in respect of
each Series and Class at the principal office of the Trust or at an office of
the Transfer Agent which shall contain the names and addresses of the
Shareholders and the number of Shares of each Series and Class held by them
respectively and a record of all transfers thereof. Such register may be in
written form or any other form capable of being converted into written form
within a reasonable time for visual inspection. Such register shall be
conclusive as to who are the holders of the Shares and who shall be entitled to
receive dividends or distributions or otherwise to exercise or enjoy the rights
of Shareholders. No Shareholder shall be entitled to receive payment of any
dividend or distribution, nor to have notice given to him as herein or in the
By-Laws provided, until he has given his address to the Transfer Agent or such
other officer or agent of the Trustees as shall keep the said register for entry
thereon. It is not contemplated that certificates will be issued for the Shares;
however, the Trustees, in their discretion, may authorize the issuance of Share
certificates and promulgate appropriate rules and regulations as to their use.
Section 6.6. TRANSFER OF SHARES. Shares shall be transferable on the
records of the Trust only by the record holder or by his agent thereunto duly
authorized in writing, upon delivery to the Trustees or the Transfer Agent of a
duly executed instrument of transfer, together with such evidence of the
genuineness of each such execution and authorization and of other matters as may
reasonably be required. Upon such delivery the transfer shall be recorded on the
register of the Trust. Until such record is made, the Shareholder of record
shall be deemed to be the holder of such Shares for all purposes hereunder and
neither the Trustees nor any Transfer Agent or registrar nor any officer,
employee or agent of the Trust shall be affected by any notice of the proposed
transfer.
Any person becoming entitled to any Shares in consequence of the death,
bankruptcy, or incompetence of any Shareholder, or otherwise by operation of
law, shall be recorded on the register of Shares as the holder of such Shares
upon production of the proper evidence thereof to the Trustees or the Transfer
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Agent, but until such record is made, the Shareholder of record shall be deemed
to be the holder of such Shares for all purposes hereunder and neither the
Trustees nor any Transfer Agent or registrar nor any officer or agent of the
Trust shall be affected by any notice of such death, bankruptcy or incompetence,
or other operation of law, except as may otherwise be provided by the laws of
the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Section 6.7. NOTICES. Any and all notices to which any Shareholder may be
entitled and any and all communications shall be deemed duly served or given if
mailed, postage prepaid, addressed to any Shareholder of record at his last
known address as recorded on the register of the Trust. Annual reports and proxy
statements need not be sent to a shareholder if: (i) an annual report and proxy
statement for two consecutive annual meetings, or (ii) all, and at least two,
checks (if sent by first class mail) in payment of dividends or interest and
shares during a twelve month period have been mailed to such shareholder's
address and have been returned undelivered. However, delivery of such annual
reports and proxy statements shall resume once a Shareholder's current address
is determined.
Section 6.8. VOTING POWERS. The Shareholders shall have power to vote only
(i) for the election of Trustees as provided in Section 2.2 hereof, (ii) for the
removal of Trustees as provided in Section 2.3 hereof, (iii) with respect to any
investment advisory or management contract as provided in Section 4.1, (iv) with
respect to termination of the Trust as provided in Section 9.2, (v) with respect
to any amendment of the Declaration to the extent and as provided in Section
9.3, (vi) with respect to any merger, consolidation or sale of assets as
provided in Section 9.4, (vii) with respect to incorporation of the Trust to the
extent and as provided in Section 9.5, (viii) to the same extent as the
stockholders of a Massachusetts business corporation as to whether or not a
court action, proceeding or claim should or should not be brought or maintained
derivatively or as a class action on behalf of the Trust or the Shareholders
(provided that Shareholders of a Series or Class are not entitled to vote in
connection with the bringing of a derivative or class action with respect to any
matter which only affects another Series or Class or its Shareholders), (ix)
with respect to any plan adopted pursuant to Rule 12b-1 (or any successor rule)
under the 1940 Act and (x) with respect to such additional matters relating to
the Trust as may be required by law, the Declaration, the By-Laws or any
registration of the Trust with the Commission (or any successor agency) or any
state, or as and when the Trustee may consider necessary or desirable. Each
whole Share shall be entitled to one vote as to any matter on which it is
entitled to vote and each fractional Share shall be entitled to a proportionate
fractional vote, except that Shares held in the treasury of the Trust as of the
record date, as determined in accordance with the By-Laws, shall not be voted.
On any matter submitted to a vote of Shareholders, all Shares shall be voted by
individual Series or Class except (1) when required by the 1940 Act, Shares
shall be voted in the aggregate and not by individual Series or Class; and (2)
when the Trustees have determined that the matter affects only the interests of
one or more Series or Class, then only the Shareholders of such Series or Class
shall be entitled to vote thereon. The Trustees may, in conjunction with the
establishment of any further Series or classes of Shares, establish conditions
under which the several series or classes of Shares shall have separate voting
rights or no voting rights. There shall be no cumulative voting in the election
of Trustees. Until Shares are issued, the Trustees may exercise all rights of
Shareholders and may take any action required by law, the Declaration or the
By-Laws to be taken by Shareholders. The By-Laws may include further provisions
for Shareholders' votes and meetings and related matters.
Section 6.9. SERIES OR CLASSES OF SHARES. The following provisions are
applicable regarding the Shares of the Trust established in Section 6.1 hereof
and shall be applicable if the Trustees shall establish additional Series or
shall divide the shares of any Series into Classes, also as provided in Section
6.1 hereof, and all provisions relating to the Trust shall apply equally to each
Series and Class thereof except as the context requires:
(a) The number of authorized shares and the number of shares of each
Series or of each Class that may be issued shall be unlimited. The Trustees
may classify or reclassify any unissued shares or any shares previously
issued and reacquired of any Series or Class into one or more Series or one
or more Classes that may be established and designated from time to time.
The Trustees may hold as treasury shares (of the same or some other Series
or Class), reissue for such consideration
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and on such terms as they may determine, or cancel any shares of any Series
or any Class reacquired by the Trust at their discretion from time to time.
(b) The power of the Trustees to invest and reinvest the Trust Property
shall be governed by Section 3.2 of this Declaration with respect to any one
or more Series which represents the interests in the assets of the Trust
immediately prior to the establishment of any additional Series and the
power of the Trustees to invest and reinvest assets applicable to any other
Series shall be as set forth in the instrument of the Trustees establishing
such Series which is hereinafter described.
(c) All consideration received by the Trust for the issue or sale of
shares of a particular Series or Class together with all assets in which
such consideration is invested or reinvested, all income, earnings, profits,
and proceeds thereof, including any proceeds derived from the sale, exchange
or liquidation of such assets, and any funds or payments derived from any
reinvestment of such proceeds in whatever form the same may be, shall
irrevocably belong to that Series or Class for all purposes, subject only to
the rights of creditors, and shall be so recorded upon the books of account
of the Trust. In the event that there are any assets, income, earnings,
profits, and proceeds thereof, funds, or payment which are not readily
identifiable as belonging to any particular Series or Class, the Trustee
shall allocate them among any one or more of the Series or Classes
established and designated from time to time in such manner and on such
basis as they, in their sole discretion, deem fair and equitable. Each such
allocation by the Trustees shall be conclusive and binding upon the
shareholders of all Series or classes for all purposes. No holder of Shares
of any Series or Class shall have any claim on or right to any assets
allocated or belonging to any other Series or Class.
(d) The assets belonging to each particular Series shall be charged with
the liabilities of the Trust in respect of that Series and all expenses,
costs, charges and reserves attributable to that Series. The liabilities,
expenses, costs, charges and reserves so charged to a Series are sometimes
herein referred to as "liabilities belonging to" that Series. Except as
provided in the next sentence or otherwise required or permitted by
applicable law or any rule or order of the Commission, each Class of a
Series shall bear a pro rata portion of the "liabilities belonging to" such
Series. To the extent permitted by rule or order of the Commission, the
Trustees may allocate all or a portion of any liabilities, expenses, costs,
charges and reserves belonging to a Series to a particular Class or Classes
as the Trustees may from time to time determine is appropriate. Without
limitation of the foregoing provisions, and subject to the right of the
Trustees in their sole discretion to allocate general liabilities, costs,
expenses, charges or reserves as hereinafter provided, all expenses and
liabilities incurred or arising in connection with a particular Series, or
in connection with the management thereof, shall be payable solely out of
the assets of that Series and creditors of a particular Series shall be
entitled to look solely to the property of such Series for satisfaction of
their claims. Any general liabilities, expenses, costs, charges or reserves
of the Trust which are not readily identifiable as belonging to any
particular Series shall be allocated and charged by the Trustees to and
among any one or more of the series established and designated from time to
time in such manner and on such basis as the Trustees in their sole
discretion deem fair and equitable. Each allocation of liabilities,
expenses, costs, charges and reserves by the Trustees shall be conclusive
and binding upon the holders of all Series and Classes and no Shareholder or
former Shareholder of any Series or Class shall have a claim on or any right
to any assets allocated or belonging to any other Series or Class for all
purposes. The Trustees shall have full discretion, to the extent not
inconsistent with the 1940 Act, to determine which items shall be treated as
income and which items as capital; and each such determination and
allocation shall be conclusive and binding upon the shareholders.
(e) The power of the Trustees to pay dividends and make distributions
shall be governed by Section 8.2 of this Declaration with respect to any one
or more Series or Classes which represents the interests in the assets of
the Trust immediately prior to the establishment of any additional Series or
Classes. With respect to any other Series or Class, dividends and
distributions on shares of a particular Series or Class may be paid with
such frequency as the Trustees may determine, which
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<PAGE>
may be daily or otherwise, pursuant to a standing resolution or resolutions
adopted only once or with such frequency as the Trustee may determine, to
the holders of shares of that Series or Class, from such of the income and
capital gains, accrued or realized, from the assets belonging to that Series
or Class, as the Trustees may determine, after providing for actual and
accrued liabilities belonging to that Series or Class. All dividends and
distributions on shares of a particular Series or Class shall be distributed
pro rata to the holders of that Series or Class in proportion ot the number
of shares of that Series or Class held by such holders at the date and time
of record established for the payment of such dividends or distributions.
(f) The Trustees shall have the power to determine the designations,
preferences, privileges, limitations and rights, including voting and
dividend rights, of each Class and Series of Shares.
(g) Subject to compliance with the requirements of the 1940 Act, the
Trustees shall have the authority to provide that the holders of Shares of
any Series or class shall have the right to convert or exchange said Shares
into Shares of one or more Series or Classes of Shares in accordance with
such requirements and procedures as may be established by the Trustees.
(h) The establishment and designation of any Series or Class of shares
in addition to those established in Section 6.1 hereof shall be effective
upon the execution by a majority of the then Trustees of an instrument
setting forth such establishment and designation and the relative rights,
preferences, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends,
qualifications, and terms and conditions of redemption of such Series or
Class, or as otherwise provided in such instrument. At any time that there
are no shares outstanding of any particular Series or Class previously
established or designated, the Trustee may by an instrument executed by a
majority of their number abolish that Series or Class and the establishment
and designation thereof. Each instrument referred to in this paragraph shall
have the status of an amendment to this Declaration.
(i) Shareholders of a Series or Class shall not be entitled to
participate in a derivative or class action with respect to any matter which
only affects another Series or Class or its Shareholders.
(j) Each Share of a Series of the Trust shall represent a beneficial
interest in the net assets of such Series. Each holder of Shares of a Series
shall be entitled to receive his pro rata share of distributions of income
and capital gains made with respect to such Series. In the event of the
liquidation of a particular Series, the Shareholders of that Series which
has been established and designated and which is being liquidated shall be
entitled to receive, when and as declared by the Trustees, the excess of the
assets belonging to that Series over the liabilities belonging to that
Series. The holders of Shares of any Series shall not be entitled hereby to
any distribution upon liquidation of any other Series. The assets so
distributable to the Shareholders of any Series shall be distributed among
such Shareholders in proportion to the number of Shares of that Series held
by them and recorded on the books of the Trust. The liquidation of any
particular Series in which there are Shares then outstanding may be
authorized by an instrument in writing, without a meeting, signed by a
majority of the Trustees then in office, subject to the approval of a
majority of the outstanding voting securities of that Series, as that phrase
is defined in the 1940 Act.
ARTICLE VII
REDEMPTIONS
Section 7.1. REDEMPTIONS. Each Shareholder of a particular Series or Class
shall have the right at such times as may be permitted by the Trust to require
the Trust to redeem all or any part of his Shares of that Series or Class, upon
and subject to the terms and conditions provided in this Article VII. The Trust
shall, upon application of any Shareholder or pursuant to authorization from any
Shareholder, redeem or repurchase from such Shareholder outstanding shares for
an amount per share determined by the Trustees in accordance with any applicable
laws and regulations; provided that (a) such amount per share shall not exceed
the cash equivalent of the proportionate interest of each share or of any class
or Series of shares in the assets of the Trust at the time of the redemption or
repurchase and (b) if so
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authorized by the Trustees, the Trust may, at any time and from time to time
charge fees for effecting such redemption or repurchase, at such rates as the
Trustees may establish, as and to the extent permitted under the 1940 Act and
the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and may, at any time and from
time to time, pursuant to such Act and such rules and regulations, suspend such
right of redemption. The procedures for effecting and suspending redemption
shall be as set forth in the Prospectus from time to time. Payment will be made
in such manner as described in the Prospectus.
Section 7.2. REDEMPTION AT THE OPTION OF THE TRUST. Each Share of the
Trust or any Series or Class thereof of the Trust shall be subject to redemption
at the option of the Trust at the redemption price which would be applicable if
such Shares were then being redeemed by the Shareholder pursuant to Section 7.1:
(i) at any time, if the Trustees determine in their sole discretion that failure
to so redeem may have materially adverse consequences to the holders of the
Shares of the Trust or of any Series or Class, or (ii) upon such other
conditions with respect to maintenance of Shareholder accounts of a minimum
amount as may from time to time be determined by the Trustees and set forth in
the then current Prospectus of the Trust. Upon such redemption the holders of
the Shares so redeemed shall have no further right with respect thereto other
than to receive payment of such redemption price.
Section 7.3. EFFECT OF SUSPENSION OF DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE. If,
pursuant to Section 7.4 hereof, the Trustees shall declare a suspension of the
determination of net asset value with respect to Shares of the Trust or of any
Series thereof, the rights of Shareholders (including those who shall have
applied for redemption pursuant to Section 7.1 hereof but who shall not yet have
received payment) to have Shares redeemed and paid for by the Trust or a Series
thereof shall be suspended until the termination of such suspension is declared.
Any record holder who shall have his redemption right so suspended may, during
the period of such suspension, by appropriate written notice of revocation at
the office or agency where application was made, revoke any application for
redemption not honored and withdraw any certificates on deposit. The redemption
price of Shares for which redemption applications have not been revoked shall be
the net asset value of such Shares next determined as set forth in Section 8.1
after the termination of such suspension, and payment shall be made within seven
(7) days after the date upon which the application was made plus the period
after such application during which the determination of net asset value was
suspended.
Section 7.4. SUSPENSION OF RIGHT OF REDEMPTION. The Trust may declare a
suspension of the right of redemption or postpone the date of payment or
redemption for the whole or any part of any period (i) during which the New York
Stock Exchange is closed other than customary weekend and holiday closings, (ii)
during which trading on the New York Stock Exchange is restricted, (iii) during
which an emergency exists as a result of which disposal by the Trust or a Series
thereof of securities owned by it is not reasonably practicable or it is not
reasonably practicable for the Trust or a Series thereof fairly to determine the
value of its net assets, or (iv) during any other period when the Commission may
for the protection of security holders of the Trust by order permit suspension
of the rights of redemption or postponement of the date of payment or
redemption; provided that applicable rules and regulations of the Commission
shall govern as to whether the conditions prescribed in (ii), (iii) or (iv)
exist. Such suspension shall take effect at such time as the Trust shall specify
but not later than the close of business on the business day next following the
declaration of suspension, and thereafter there shall be no right of redemption
or payment on redemption until the Trust shall declare the suspension at an end,
except that the suspension shall terminate in any event on the first day on
which said stock exchange shall have reopened or the period specified in (ii) or
(iii) shall have expired (as to which in the absence of an official ruling by
the Commission, the determination of the Trust shall be conclusive). In the case
of a suspension of the right of redemption, a Shareholder may either withdraw
his request for redemption or receive payment based on the net asset value
existing after the termination of the suspension.
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ARTICLE VIII
DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE,
NET INCOME AND DISTRIBUTIONS
Section 8.1. NET ASSET VALUE. The net asset value of each outstanding
Share of each Series of the Trust shall be determined on such days and at such
time or times as the Trustees may determine. The method of determination of net
asset value shall be determined by the Trustees and shall be as set forth in the
Prospectus. The power and duty to make the daily calculations may be designated
by the Trustees to any Investment Adviser, the Custodian, the Transfer Agent or
such other person as the Trustees by resolution may determine. The Trustees may
suspend the daily determination of net asset value to the extent permitted by
the 1940 Act.
Section 8.2. DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS. The Trustees shall from time
to time distribute ratably among the Shareholders of the Trust or of any Series
such proportion of the net income, earnings, profits, gains, surplus (including
paid-in surplus), capital, or assets of the Trust or of such Series held by the
Trustees as they may deem proper. Such distribution may be made in cash or
property (including without limitation any type of obligations of the Trust or
of such Series or any assets thereof), and the Trustees may distribute ratably
among the Shareholders of the Trust or of that Series additional Shares issuable
hereunder in such manner, at such times, and on such terms as the Trustees may
deem proper. Such distributions may be among the Shareholders of record
(determined in accordance with the Prospectus) of the Trust or of such Series at
the time of declaring a distribution or among the Shareholders of record of the
Trust or of such Series at such later date as the Trustees shall determine. The
Trustees may always retain from the net income, earnings, profits or gains of
the Trust or of such Series such amount as they may deem necessary to pay the
debts or expenses of the Trust or of such Series or to meet obligations of the
Trust or of such Series, or as they may deem desirable to use in the conduct of
its affairs or to retain for future requirements or extensions of the business.
The Trustees may adopt and offer to Shareholders of the Trust or of any Series
such dividend reinvestment plans, cash dividend payout plans or related plans as
the Trustees deem appropriate.
Inasmuch as the computation of net income and gains for Federal income tax
purposes may vary from the computation thereof on the books, the above
provisions shall be interpreted to give the Trustees the power in their
discretion to distribute for any fiscal year as ordinary dividends and as
capital gains distributions, respectively, additional amounts sufficient to
enable the Trust to avoid or reduce liability for taxes.
Section 8.3. DETERMINATION OF NET INCOME. The Trustees shall have the
power to determine the net income of any Series of the Trust and from time to
time to distribute such net income ratably among the Shareholders as dividends
in cash or additional Shares of such Series issuable hereunder. The
determination of net income and the resultant declaration of dividends shall be
as set forth in the Prospectus. The Trustees shall have full discretion to
determine whether any cash or property received by any Series of the Trust shall
be treated as income or as principal and whether any item of expense shall be
charged to the income or the principal account, and their determination made in
good faith shall be conclusive upon the Shareholders. In the case of stock
dividends received, the Trustees shall have full discretion to determine, in the
light of the particular circumstances, how much, if any, of the value thereof
shall be treated as income, the balance, if any, to be treated as principal.
Section 8.4. POWER TO MODIFY FOREGOING PROCEDURES. Notwithstanding any of
the foregoing provisions of this Article VIII, the Trustees may prescribe, in
their absolute discretion, such other bases and times for determining the per
Share net asset value of the Shares or net income, or the declaration and
payment of dividends and distributions, as they may deem necessary or desirable
to enable the Trust to comply with any provision of the 1940 Act, or any rule or
regulation thereunder, including any rule or regulation adopted pursuant to
Section 22 of the 1940 Act by the Commission or any securities association
registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or any order of exemption
issued by said Commission, all as in effect now or hereafter amended or
modified. Without limiting the generality of
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the foregoing, the Trustees may establish classes or additional Series of Shares
in accordance with Section 6.9.
ARTICLE IX
DURATION; TERMINATION OF TRUST; AMENDMENT; MERGERS, ETC.
Section 9.1. DURATION. The Trust shall continue without limitation of time
but subject to the provisions of this Article IX.
Section 9.2. TERMINATION OF TRUST. (a) The Trust or any Series may be
terminated (i) by a Majority Shareholder Vote at any meeting of Shareholders of
the Trust or the appropriate Series thereof, (ii) by an instrument in writing,
without a meeting, signed by a majority of the Trustees and consented to by a
Majority Shareholder Vote of the Trust or the appropriate Series thereof, or by
such other vote as may be established by the Trustees with respect to any class
or Series of Shares, or (iii) with respect to a Series as provided in Section
6.9(h). Upon the termination of the Trust or the Series:
(i) The Trust or the Series shall carry on no business except for the
purpose of winding up its affairs.
(ii) The Trustee shall proceed to wind up the affairs of the Trust or
the Series and all of the powers of the Trustees under this Declaration
shall continue until the affairs of the Trust shall have been wound up,
including the power to fulfill or discharge the contracts of the Trust or
the Series, collect its assets, sell, convey, assign, exchange, transfer or
otherwise dispose of all or any part of the remaining Trust Property or
Trust Property allocated or belonging to such Series to one or more persons
at public or private sale for consideration which may consist in whole or in
part of cash, securities or other property of any kind, discharge or pay its
liabilities, and to do all other acts appropriate to liquidate its business;
provided that any sale, conveyance, assignment, exchange, transfer or other
disposition of all or substantially all the Trust Property or Trust Property
allocated or belonging to such Series shall require Shareholder approval in
accordance with Section 9.4 hereof.
(iii) After paying or adequately providing for the payment of all
liabilities, and upon receipt of such releases, indemnities and refunding
agreements, as they deem necessary for their protection, the Trustees may
distribute the remaining Trust Property or Trust Property allocated or
belonging to such Series, in cash or in kind or partly each, among the
Shareholders of the Trust according to their respective rights.
Section 9.3. AMENDMENT PROCEDURE. (a) This Declaration may be amended by a
Majority Shareholder Vote, at a meeting of Shareholders, or by written consent
without a meeting. The Trustees may also amend this Declaration without the vote
or consent of Shareholders (i) to change the name of the Trust or any Series or
classes of Shares, (ii) to supply any omission, or cure, correct or supplement
any ambiguous, defective or inconsistent provision hereof, (iii) if they deem it
necessary to conform this Declaration to the requirements of applicable federal
or state laws or regulations or the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code,
or to eliminate or reduce any federal, state or local taxes which are or may by
the Trust or the Shareholders, but the Trustees shall not be liable for failing
to do so, or (iv) for any other purpose which does not adversely affect the
rights of any Shareholder with respect to which the amendment is or purports to
be applicable.
(b) No amendment may be made under this Section 9.3 which would change
any rights with respect to any Shares of the Trust or of any Series of the
Trust by reducing the amount payable thereon upon liquidation of the Trust
or of such Series of the Trust or by diminishing or eliminating any voting
rights pertaining thereto, except with the vote or consent of the holders of
two-thirds of the Shares of the Trust or of such Series outstanding and
entitled to vote, or by such other vote as may be established by the
Trustees with respect to any Series or class of Shares. Nothing contained in
this Declaration shall permit the amendment of this Declaration to impair
the exemption from personal liability of the Shareholders, Trustees,
officers, employees and agents of the Trust or to permit assessments upon
Shareholders.
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(c) A certificate signed by a majority of the Trustees or by the
Secretary or any Assistant Secretary of the Trust, setting forth an
amendment and reciting that it was duly adopted by the Shareholders or by
the Trustees as aforesaid or a copy of the Declaration, as amended, and
executed by a majority of the Trustees or certified by the Secretary or any
Assistant Secretary of the Trust, shall be conclusive evidence of such
amendment when lodged among the records of the Trust. Unless such amendment
or such certificate sets forth some later time for the effectiveness of such
amendment, such amendment shall be effective when lodged among the records
of the Trust.
Notwithstanding any other provision hereof, until such time as a
Registration Statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, covering
the first public offering of securities of the Trust shall have become
effective, this Declaration may be terminated or amended in any respect by the
affirmative vote of a majority of the Trustees or by an instrument signed by a
majority of the Trustees.
Section 9.4. MERGER, CONSOLIDATION AND SALE OF ASSETS. The Trust or any
Series thereof may merge or consolidate with any other corporation, association,
trust or other organization or may sell, lease or exchange all or substantially
all of the Trust Property or Trust Property allocated or belonging to such
Series, including its good will, upon such terms and conditions and for such
consideration when and as authorized, at any meeting of Shareholders called for
the purpose, by the affirmative vote of the holders of not less than two-thirds
of the Shares of the Trust or such Series outstanding and entitled to vote, or
by an instrument or instruments in writing without a meeting, consented to by
the holders of not less than two-thirds of such Shares, or by such other vote as
may be established by the Trustees with respect to any series or class of
Shares; provided, however, that, if such merger, consolidation, sale, lease or
exchange is recommended by the Trustees, a Majority Shareholder Vote shall be
sufficient authorization; and any such merger, consolidation, sale, lease or
exchange shall be deemed for all purposes to have been accomplished under and
pursuant to the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Section 9.5. INCORPORATION. With approval of a Majority Shareholder Vote,
or by such other vote as may be established by the Trustees with respect to any
Series or class of Shares, the Trustees may cause to be organized or assist in
organizing a corporation or corporations under the laws of any jurisdiction or
any other trust, partnership, association or other organization to take over all
of the Trust Property or the Trust Property allocated or belonging to such
Series or to carry on any business in which the Trust shall directly or
indirectly have any interest, and to sell, convey and transfer the Trust
Property or the Trust Property allocated or belonging to such Series to any such
corporation, trust, partnership, association or organization in exchange for the
shares or securities thereof or otherwise, and to lend money to, subscribe for
the shares or securities of, and enter into any contracts with any such
corporation, trust, partnership, association or organization in which the Trust
or such Series holds or is about to acquire shares or any other interest. The
Trustees may also cause a merger or consolidation between the Trust or any
successor thereto and any such corporation, trust, partnership, association or
other organization if and to the extent permitted by law, as provided under the
law then in effect. Nothing contained herein shall be construed as requiring
approval of Shareholders for the Trustees to organize or assist in organizing
one or more corporations, trusts, partnerships, associations or other
organizations and selling, conveying or transferring a portion of the Trust
Property to such organization or entities.
ARTICLE X
REPORTS TO SHAREHOLDERS
The Trustees shall at least semi-annually submit or cause the officers of
the Trust to submit to the Shareholders a written financial report of each
Series of the Trust, including financial statements which shall at least
annually be certified by independent public accountants.
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ARTICLE XI
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 11.1. FILING. This Declaration and any amendment hereto shall be
filed in the office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and in
such other places as may be required under the laws of Massachusetts and may
also be filed or recorded in such other places as the Trustees deem appropriate.
Each amendment so filed shall be accompanied by a certificate signed and
acknowledged by a Trustee or by the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary of the
Trust stating that such action was duly taken in a manner provided herein. A
restated Declaration, integrating into a single instrument all of the provisions
of the Declaration which are then in effect and operative, may be executed from
time to time by a majority of the Trustees and shall, upon filing with the
Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, be conclusive evidence of all
amendments contained therein and may thereafter be referred to in lieu of the
original Declaration and the various amendments thereto.
Section 11.2. RESIDENT AGENT. The Prentice-Hall Corporation System, Inc.,
84 State Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02109 is the resident agent of the Trust
in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Section 11.3. GOVERNING LAW. This Declaration is executed by the Trustees
and delivered in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and with reference to the
laws thereof and the rights of all parties and the validity and construction of
every provision hereof shall be subject to and construed according to the laws
of said State.
Section 11.4. COUNTERPARTS. The Declaration may be simultaneously executed
in several counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, and
such counterparts, together, shall constitute one and the same instrument, which
shall be sufficiently evidenced by any such original counterpart.
Section 11.5. RELIANCE BY THIRD PARTIES. Any certificate executed by an
individual who, according to the records of the Trust, appears to be a Trustee
hereunder, or Secretary or Assistant Secretary of the Trust, certifying to: (a)
the number or identity of Trustees or Shareholders, (b) the due authorization of
the execution of any instrument or writing, (c) the form of any vote passed at a
meeting of Trustees or Shareholders, (d) the fact that the number of Trustees or
Shareholders present at any meeting or executing any written instrument
satisfies the requirements of this Declaration, (e) the form of any By-Laws
adopted by or the identity of any officers elected by the Trustees, or (f) the
existence of any fact or facts which in any manner relate to the affairs of the
Trust, shall be conclusive evidence as to the matters so certified in favor of
any Person dealing with the Trustees and their successors.
Section 11.6. PROVISIONS IN CONFLICT WITH LAW OR REGULATIONS. (a) The
provisions of the Declaration are severable, and if the Trustees shall
determine, with the advice of counsel, that any of such provisions is in
conflict with the 1940 Act, the regulated investment company provisions of the
Internal Revenue Code or with other applicable laws and regulations, the
conflicting provisions shall be deemed superseded by such law or regulation to
the extent necessary to eliminate such conflict; provided, however, that such
determination shall not affect any of the remaining provisions of the
Declaration or render invalid or improper any action taken or omitted prior to
such determination.
(b) If any provision of the Declaration shall be held invalid or
unenforceable in any jurisdiction, such invalidity or unenforceability shall
pertain only to such provision in such jurisdiction and shall not in any manner
affect such provision in any other jurisdiction or any other provision of the
Declaration in any jurisdiction.
Section 11.7. USE OF THE NAME "DEAN WITTER." Dean Witter Reynolds Inc.
("DWR") has consented to the use by the Trust of the identifying name "Dean
Witter," which is a property right of DWR. The Trust will only use the name
"Dean Witter" as a component of its name and for no other purpose, and will not
purport to grant to any third party the right to use the name "Dean Witter" for
any purpose. DWR, or any corporate affiliate of the parent of DWR, may use or
grant to others the right to use the name "Dean Witter", or any combination or
abbreviation thereof, as all or a portion of a corporate or business name or
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for any commercial purpose, including a grant of such right to any other
investment company. At the request of DWR or its parent, the Trust will take
such action as may be required to provide its consent to the use by DWR or its
parent, or any corporate affiliate of DWR's parent, or by any person to whom DWR
or its parent or an affiliate of DWR's parent shall have granted the right to
the use, of the name "Dean Witter," or any combination or abbreviation thereof.
Upon the termination of any investment advisory or investment management
agreement into which DWR and the Trust may enter, the Trust shall, upon request
by DWR or its parent, cease to use the name "Dean Witter" as a component of its
name, and shall not use the name, or any combination or abbreviation thereof or
for any other commercial purpose, and shall cause its officers, trustees and
shareholders to take any and all actions which DWR or its parent may request to
effect the foregoing and to reconvey to DWR or its parent any and all rights to
such name.
Section 11.8. PRINCIPAL PLACE OF BUSINESS. The principal place of business
of the Trust shall be Two World Trade Center, New York, New York 10048, or such
other location as the Trustees may designate from time to time.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed this Declaration of Trust
this 16th day of October, 1997.
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
/s/ CHARLES A. FIUMEFREDDO /s/ ROBERT S. GIAMBRONE
- -------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------
Charles A. Fiumefreddo, as Robert S. Giambrone, as
Trustee and not individually Trustee and not individually
Two World Trade Center Two World Trade Center
New York, New York 10048 New York, New York 10048
/s/ BARRY FINK
- --------------------------------------------
Barry Fink, as Trustee
and not individually
Two World Trade Center
New York, New York 10048
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
STATE OF NEW YORK ss.:
COUNTY OF NEW YORK
</TABLE>
On this 16th day of October, 1997, ROBERT S. GIAMBRONE, CHARLES A.
FIUMEFREDDO and BARRY FINK, known to me and known to be the individuals
described in and who executed the foregoing instrument, personally appeared
before me and they severally acknowledged the foregoing instrument to be their
free act and deed.
/s/ DOREEN HUGHES
--------------------------------------
Notary Public
Doreen Hughes
My commission expires: December 6, 1997
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this instrument this 16th
day of October, 199 .
/s/ JOSEPH F. MAZZELLA
--------------------------------------
Joseph F. Mazzella, as Trustee
and not individually
101 Federal Street
Boston, MA 02110
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS
Suffolk, SS. Boston, MA
October 16, 1997
Then personally appeared before me the above-named
who acknowledged the foregoing instrument to be his free act and deed.
/s/ KEVIN BRENNAN
--------------------------------------
Notary Public
Kevin Brennan
My commission expires: April 17, 2003
M6167
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BY-LAWS
OF
DEAN WITTER "COMPETITIVE EDGE" TRUST
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 Dean Witter
"Competitive Edge" Trust dated October 16, 1997.
ARTICLE II
OFFICES
SECTION 2.1. Principal Office. Until changed by the Trustees, the
principal office of the Trust in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts shall be
in the City of Boston, County of Suffolk.
SECTION 2.2. Other Offices. In addition to its principal office in the
Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the Trust may have an office or offices in the
City of New York, State of New York, and at such other places within and
without the Commonwealth as the Trustees may from time to time designate or
the business of the Trust may require.
ARTICLE III
SHAREHOLDERS' MEETINGS
SECTION 3.1. Place of Meetings. Meetings of Shareholders shall be held at
such place, within or without the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as may be
designated from time to time by the Trustees.
SECTION 3.2. Meetings. Meetings of Shareholders of the Trust shall be held
whenever called by the Trustees or the President of the Trust and whenever
election of a Trustee or Trustees by Shareholders is required by the
provisions of Section 16(a) of the 1940 Act, for that purpose. Meetings of
Shareholders shall also be called by the Secretary upon the written request
of the holders of Shares entitled to vote as otherwise required by Section
16(c) of the 1940 Act and to the extent required by the corporate or business
statute of any state in which the Shares of the Trust are sold, as made
applicable to the Trust by the provisions of Section 2.3 of the Declaration.
Such request shall state the purpose or purposes of such meeting and the
matters proposed to be acted on thereat. Except to the extent otherwise
required by Section 16(c) of the 1940 Act, as made applicable to the Trust by
the provisions of Section 2.3 of the Declaration, the Secretary shall inform
such Shareholders of the reasonable estimated cost of preparing and mailing
such notice of the meeting, and upon payment to the Trust of such costs, the
Secretary shall give notice stating the purpose or purposes of the meeting to
all entitled to vote at such meeting. No meeting need be called upon the
request of the holders of Shares entitled to cast less than a majority of all
votes entitled to be cast at such meeting, to consider any matter which is
substantially the same as a matter voted upon at any meeting of Shareholders
held during the preceding twelve months.
SECTION 3.3. Notice of Meetings. Written or printed notice of every
Shareholders' meeting stating the place, date, and purpose or purposes
thereof, shall be given by the Secretary not less than ten (10) nor more than
ninety (90) days before such meeting to each Shareholder entitled to vote at
such meeting. Such notice shall be deemed to be given when deposited in the
United States mail, postage prepaid, directed to the Shareholder at his
address as it appears on the records of the Trust.
SECTION 3.4. Quorum and Adjournment of Meetings. Except as otherwise
provided by law, by the Declaration or by these By-Laws, at all meetings of
Shareholders, the holders of a majority of the Shares issued and outstanding and
entitled to vote thereat, present in person or represented by proxy, shall be
requisite and shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. In
the absence of a quorum, the Shareholders present or represented by proxy and
entitled to vote thereat shall have the power to adjourn the meeting from time
to time. The Shareholders present in person or represented by proxy at any
meeting and entitled to vote thereat also shall have the power to adjourn the
meeting from time to time if the vote required to approve or reject any proposal
described in the original notice of such meeting is not obtained (with proxies
being voted for or against adjournment consistent with the votes for and against
the proposal for which the required vote has not been obtained). The
affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the Shares then present in
person or represented by proxy shall be required to adjourn any meeting. Any
adjourned meeting may be reconvened without further notice or change in record
date. At any reconvened meeting at which a quorum shall be present, any business
may be transacted that might have been transacted at the meeting as originally
called.
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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 or other agent, 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. Fax or telecopy signatures
shall be deemed valid and binding to the same extent as the original. No
written evidence of authority of a Shareholder attorney in-fact or agent
shall be required. 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. Proxy
solicitations may be made in writing or by using telephonic or other
electronic solicitation procedures which include appropriate methods of
verifying the identity of the Shareholder and confirming any instructions
given hereby.
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.
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ARTICLE IV
TRUSTEES
SECTION 4.1. Meetings of the Trustees. The Trustees may in their
discretion provide for regular or special meetings of the Trustees. Regular
meetings of the Trustees may be held at such time and place as shall be
determined from time to time by the Trustees without further notice. Special
meetings of the Trustees may be called at any time by the President and shall
be called by the President 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
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(other than an action by or in the right of the Trust) by reason of the fact
that he is or was a Trustee, officer, employee, or agent of the Trust. The
indemnification shall be against expenses, including attorneys' fees,
judgments, fines, and amounts paid in settlement, actually and reasonably
incurred by him in connection with the action, suit, or proceeding, if he
acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not
opposed to the best interests of the Trust, and, with respect to any criminal
action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was
unlawful. The termination of any action, suit or proceeding by judgment,
order, settlement, conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its
equivalent, shall not, of itself, create a presumption that the person did
not act in good faith and in a manner which he reasonably believed to be in
or not opposed to the best interests of the Trust, and, with respect to any
criminal action or proceeding, had reasonable cause to believe that his
conduct was unlawful.
(b) The Trust shall indemnify any person who was or is a party or is
threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action
or suit by or on behalf of the Trust to obtain a judgment or decree in its
favor by reason of the fact that he is or was a Trustee, officer, employee,
or agent of the Trust. The indemnification shall be against expenses,
including attorneys' fees actually and reasonably incurred by him in
connection with the defense or settlement of the action or suit, if he acted
in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed
to the best interests of the Trust; except that no indemnification shall be
made in respect of any claim, issue, or matter as to which the person has
been adjudged to be liable for negligence or misconduct in the performance of
his duty to the Trust, except to the extent that the court in which the
action or suit was brought, or a court of equity in the county in which the
Trust has its principal office, determines upon application that, despite the
adjudication of liability but in view of all circumstances of the case, the
person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for those expenses
which the court shall deem proper, provided such Trustee, officer, employee
or agent is not adjudged to be liable by reason of his willful misfeasance,
bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in
the conduct of his office.
(c) To the extent that a Trustee, officer, employee, or agent of the Trust
has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any action, suit
or proceeding referred to in subsection (a) or (b) or in defense of any
claim, issue or matter therein, he shall be indemnified against expenses,
including attorneys' fees, actually and reasonably incurred by him in
connection therewith.
(d) (1) Unless a court orders otherwise, any indemnification under
subsections (a) or (b) of this section may be made by the Trust only as
authorized in the specific case after a determination that indemnification of
the Trustee, officer, employee, or agent is proper in the circumstances
because he has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in
subsections (a) or (b).
(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--
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(A) a majority of a quorum of Trustees who are neither "interested
persons" of the Trust, as defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the
Investment Company Act of 1940, nor parties to the action, suit or
proceeding, or
(B) an independent legal counsel in a written opinion.
(e) Expenses, including attorneys' fees, incurred by a Trustee, officer,
employee or agent of the Trust in defending a civil or criminal action, suit
or proceeding may be paid by the Trust in advance of the final disposition
thereof if:
(1) authorized in the specific case by the Trustees; and
(2) the Trust receives an undertaking by or on behalf of the Trustee,
officer, employee or agent of the Trust to repay the advance if it is not
ultimately determined that such person is entitled to be indemnified by
the Trust; and
(3) either, (i) such person provides a security for his undertaking,
or
(ii) the Trust is insured against losses by reason of any lawful
advances, or
(iii) a determination, based on a review of readily available
facts, that there is reason to believe that such person ultimately
will be found entitled to indemnification, is made by either--
(A) a majority of a quorum which consists of Trustees who are
neither "interested persons" of the Trust, as defined in Section
2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act, nor parties to the action, suit or
proceeding, or
(B) an independent legal counsel in a written opinion.
(f) The indemnification provided by this Section shall not be deemed
exclusive of any other rights to which a person may be entitled under any
by-law, agreement, vote of Shareholders or disinterested Trustees or
otherwise, both as to action in his official capacity and as to action in
another capacity while holding the office, and shall continue as to a person
who has ceased to be a Trustee, officer, employee, or agent and inure to the
benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such person; provided
that no person may satisfy any right of indemnity or reimbursement granted
herein or to which he may be otherwise entitled except out of the property of
the Trust, and no Shareholder shall be personally liable with respect to any
claim for indemnity or reimbursement or otherwise.
(g) The Trust may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person
who is or was a Trustee, officer, employee, or agent of the Trust, against
any liability asserted against him and incurred by him in 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.
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The Executive Committee and any other committee shall fix its own rules or
procedure, but the presence of at least fifty percent (50%) of the members of
the whole committee shall in each case be necessary to constitute a quorum of
the committee and the affirmative vote of the majority of the members of the
committee present at the meeting shall be necessary to take action.
All actions of the Executive Committee shall be reported to the Trustees
at the meeting thereof next succeeding to the taking of such action.
SECTION 5.2. Advisory Committee. The Trustees may appoint an advisory
committee which shall be composed of persons who do not serve the Trust in
any other capacity and which shall have advisory functions with respect to
the investments of the Trust but which shall have no power to determine that
any security or other investment shall be purchased, sold or otherwise
disposed of by the Trust. The number of persons constituting any such
advisory committee shall be determined from time to time by the Trustees. The
members of any such advisory committee may receive compensation for their
services and may be allowed such fees and expenses for the attendance at
meetings as the Trustees may from time to time determine to be appropriate.
SECTION 5.3. Committee Action Without Meeting. The provisions of these
By-Laws covering notices and meetings to the contrary notwithstanding, and
except as required by law, any action required or permitted to be taken at
any meeting of any Committee of the Trustees appointed pursuant to Section
5.1 of these By-Laws may be taken without a meeting if a consent in writing
setting forth the action shall be signed by all members of the Committee
entitled to vote upon the action and such written consent is filed with the
records of the proceedings of the Committee.
ARTICLE VI
OFFICERS
SECTION 6.1. Executive Officers. The executive officers of the Trust shall
be a Chairman, a President, one or more Vice Presidents, a Secretary and a
Treasurer. The Chairman shall be selected from among the Trustees but none of
the other executive officers need be a Trustee. Two or more offices, except
those of President and any Vice President, may be held by the same person,
but no officer shall execute, acknowledge or verify any instrument in more
than one capacity. The executive officers of the Trust shall be elected
annually by the Trustees and each executive officer so elected shall hold
office until his successor is elected and has qualified.
SECTION 6.2. Other Officers and Agents. The Trustees may also elect one or
more Assistant Vice Presidents, Assistant Secretaries and Assistant
Treasurers and may elect, or may delegate to the President 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 President to
the extent provided by the Trustees with respect to officers appointed by the
President.
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. The Chairman shall preside at all meetings of
the Shareholders and of the Trustees, 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.
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SECTION 6.7. The President. (a) The President shall be the chief executive
officer of the Trust; 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 one or more Vice Presidents such of his powers and
duties at such times and in such manner as he may deem advisable.
(b) In the absence of the Chairman, the President shall preside at all
meetings of the shareholders and the Board of Trustees; and he shall perform
such other duties as the Board of Trustees 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 President, 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
President 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 President.
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
President, 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 President, 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
President 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 President, 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 President, 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 President, 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 President, 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.
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Inasmuch as the computation of net income and net profits from the sales
of securities or other properties for federal income tax purposes may vary
from the computation thereof on the records of the Trust, the Trustees shall
have power, in their discretion, to distribute as income dividends and as
capital gain distributions, respectively, amounts sufficient to enable the
Trust to avoid or reduce liability for federal income taxes.
ARTICLE VIII
CERTIFICATES OF SHARES
SECTION 8.1. Certificates of Shares. Certificates for Shares of each
series or class of Shares shall be in such form and of such design as the
Trustees shall approve, subject to the right of the Trustees to change such
form and design at any time or from time to time, and shall be entered in the
records of the Trust as they are issued. Each such certificate shall bear a
distinguishing number; shall exhibit the holder's name and certify the number
of full Shares owned by such holder; shall be signed by or in the name of the
Trust by the 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;
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all upon such basis of compensation as may be agreed upon between the
Trustees and the custodian. If so directed by a Majority Shareholder Vote,
the custodian shall deliver and pay over all property of the Trust held by it
as specified in such vote.
The Trustees may also authorize the custodian to employ one or more
sub-custodians from time to time to perform such of the acts and services of
the custodian and upon such terms and conditions as may be agreed upon
between the custodian and such sub-custodian and approved by the Trustees.
SECTION 9.2. Central Certificate System. Subject to such rules,
regulations and orders as the Commission may adopt, the Trustees may direct
the custodian to deposit all or any part of the securities owned by the Trust
in a system for the central handling of securities established by a national
securities exchange or a national securities association registered with the
Commission under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or such other person as
may be permitted by the Commission, or otherwise in accordance with the 1940
Act, pursuant to which system all securities of any particular class or
series of any issuer deposited within the system are treated as fungible and
may be transferred or pledged by bookkeeping entry without physical delivery
of such securities, provided that all such deposits shall be subject to
withdrawal only upon the order of the Trust.
ARTICLE X
WAIVER OF NOTICE
Whenever any notice of the time, place or purpose of any meeting of
Shareholders, Trustees, or of any committee is required to be given in
accordance with law or under the provisions of the Declaration or these
By-Laws, a waiver thereof in writing, signed by the person or persons
entitled to such notice and filed with the records of the meeting, whether
before or after the holding thereof, or actual attendance at the meeting of
shareholders, Trustees or committee, as the case may be, in person, shall be
deemed equivalent to the giving of such notice to such person.
ARTICLE XI
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 11.1. Location of Books and Records. The books and records of the
Trust may be kept outside the Commonwealth of Massachusetts at such place or
places as the Trustees may from time to time determine, except as otherwise
required by law.
SECTION 11.2. Record Date. The Trustees may fix in advance a date as the
record date for the purpose of determining the Shareholders entitled to (i)
receive notice of, or to vote at, any meeting of Shareholders, or (ii)
receive payment of any dividend or the allotment of any rights, or in order
to make a determination of Shareholders for any other proper purpose. The
record date, in any case, shall not be more than one hundred eighty (180)
days, and in the case of a meeting of Shareholders not less than ten (10)
days, prior to the date on which such meeting is to be held or the date on
which such other particular action requiring determination of Shareholders is
to be taken, as the case may be. In the case of a meeting of Shareholders,
the meeting date set forth in the notice to Shareholders accompanying the
proxy statement shall be the date used for purposes of calculating the 180
day or 10 day period, and any adjourned meeting may be reconvened without a
change in record date. In lieu of fixing a record date, the Trustees may
provide that the transfer books shall be closed for a stated period but not
to exceed, in any case, twenty (20) days. If the transfer books are closed
for the purpose of determining Shareholders entitled to notice of a vote at a
meeting of Shareholders, such books shall be closed for at least ten (10)
days immediately preceding the meeting.
SECTION 11.3. Seal. The Trustees shall adopt a seal, which shall be in
such form and shall have such inscription thereon as the Trustees may from
time to time provide. The seal of the Trust may be affixed to any document,
and the seal and its attestation may be lithographed, engraved or otherwise
printed on any document with the same force and effect as if it had been
imprinted and attested manually in the same manner and with the same effect
as if done by a Massachusetts business corporation under Massachusetts law.
SECTION 11.4. Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the Trust shall end on such
date as the Trustees may by resolution specify, and the Trustees may by
resolution change such date for future fiscal years at any time and from time
to time.
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SECTION 11.5. Orders for Payment of Money. All orders or instructions for
the payment of money of the Trust, and all notes or other evidences of
indebtedness issued in the name of the Trust, shall be signed by such officer
or officers or such other person or persons as the Trustees may from time to
time designate, or as may be specified in or pursuant to the agreement
between the Trust and the bank or trust company appointed as Custodian of the
securities and funds of the Trust.
ARTICLE XII
COMPLIANCE WITH FEDERAL REGULATIONS
The Trustees are hereby empowered to take such action as they may deem to
be necessary, desirable or appropriate so that the Trust is or shall be in
compliance with any federal or state statute, rule or regulation with which
compliance by the Trust is required.
ARTICLE XIII
AMENDMENTS
These By-Laws may be amended, altered, or repealed, or new By-Laws may be
adopted, (a) by a Majority Shareholder Vote, or (b) by the Trustees;
provided, however, that no By-Law may be amended, adopted or repealed by the
Trustees if such amendment, adoption or repeal requires, pursuant to law, the
Declaration, or these By-Laws, a vote of the Shareholders. The Trustees shall
in no event adopt By-Laws which are in conflict with the Declaration, and any
apparent inconsistency shall be construed in favor of the related provisions
in the Declaration.
ARTICLE XIV
DECLARATION OF TRUST
The Declaration of Trust establishing Dean Witter "Competitive Edge" Trust,
dated October 16, 1997, a copy of which is on file in the office of the
Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, provides that the name
Dean Witter "Competitive Edge" 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 Dean Witter
"Competitive Edge" 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 Dean Witter
"Competitive Edge" Trust, but the Trust Estate only shall be liable.
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