<PAGE>
AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON JUNE 11, 1999
FILE NOS.:333-38297
811-8455
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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/
POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. 2 /X/
AND/OR
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY
ACT OF 1940 /X/
AMENDMENT NO. 3 /X/
-------------------
MORGAN STANLEY DEAN WITTER COMPETITIVE
EDGE FUND
(A MASSACHUSETTS BUSINESS TRUST)
(EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN CHARTER)
TWO WORLD TRADE CENTER
NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10048
(ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICE)
REGISTRANT'S TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING AREA CODE: (212) 392-1600
BARRY FINK, ESQ.
TWO WORLD TRADE CENTER
NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10048
(NAME AND ADDRESS OF AGENT FOR SERVICE)
------------------------
COPY TO:
DAVID M. BUTOWSKY, ESQ.
GORDON ALTMAN BUTOWSKY
WEITZEN SHALOV & WEIN
114 WEST 47TH STREET
NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10036
----------------
APPROXIMATE DATE OF PROPOSED PUBLIC OFFERING:
As soon as practicable after this Post-Effective Amendment becomes effective.
IT IS PROPOSED THAT THIS FILING WILL BECOME EFFECTIVE (CHECK APPROPRIATE BOX)
___ immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b)
___ on (date) pursuant to paragraph (b)
_X_ 60 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)
___ on (date) pursuant to paragraph (a) of rule 485.
AMENDING THE PROSPECTUS
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<PAGE>
PROSPECTUS - JULY , 1999
Morgan Stanley Dean Witter
COMPETITIVE EDGE FUND
"BEST IDEAS" PORTFOLIO
[COVER PHOTO]
A MUTUAL FUND THAT SEEKS LONG-TERM CAPITAL GROWTH
The Securities and Exchange Commission has not approved or disapproved these
securities or passed upon the adequacy of this Prospectus. Any representation to
the contrary is a criminal offense.
<PAGE>
CONTENTS
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C>
The Portfolio Investment Objective.................................. 1
Principal Investment Strategies....................... 1
Principal Risks....................................... 2
Past Performance...................................... 4
Fees and Expenses..................................... 5
Additional Risk Information........................... 6
Management of the Portfolio........................... 6
Shareholder Information Pricing Portfolio Shares.............................. 7
How to Buy Shares..................................... 7
How to Exchange Shares................................ 9
How to Sell Shares.................................... 10
Distributions......................................... 12
Tax Consequences...................................... 12
Share Class Arrangements.............................. 13
Financial Highlights ...................................................... 20
Our Family of Funds ...................................................... Inside Back Cover
THIS PROSPECTUS CONTAINS IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE MORGAN STANLEY
DEAN WITTER COMPETITIVE EDGE FUND -- "BEST IDEAS" PORTFOLIO. PLEASE READ
IT CAREFULLY AND KEEP IT FOR FUTURE REFERENCE.
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
(SIDEBAR)
CAPITAL GROWTH
AN INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE HAVING THE GOAL OF SELECTING SECURITIES WITH THE
POTENTIAL TO RISE IN PRICE RATHER THAN PAY OUT INCOME.
(END SIDEBAR)
THE PORTFOLIO
ICON INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE
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Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Competitive Edge Fund -- "Best Ideas"
Portfolio is a mutual fund that seeks long-term capital growth.
ICON PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES
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The Portfolio will normally invest at least 80% of its assets in
common stock (including depository receipts) of companies included in
the "Best Ideas" subgroup of "Global Investing: The Competitive Edge
List," a research compilation assembled by Morgan Stanley Dean Witter
("MSDW") Equity Research -- and other securities selected by the
Portfolio's "Investment Manager," Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Advisors
Inc.
THE COMPETITIVE EDGE "BEST IDEAS" LIST. 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. Through its ongoing 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.
MSDW Equity Research group's research analysts and strategists
presently evaluate approximately 2,100 companies in 21 industry
sectors worldwide. An initial comprehensive review was conducted in
October 1996 and identified 238 of these companies as having a
long-term sustainable competitive advantage in the global arena
(the "Competitive Edge List"). The criteria used to select
companies that have a global competitive advantage vary according
to industry sector. The Competitive Edge List is currently updated
quarterly. From the Competitive Edge List, MSDW Equity Research
then assembles a subgroup of approximately 40 companies which it
considers at that time to be the most attractive investment
opportunities of the companies identified as having a long-term
sustainable competitive advantage in the global arena (the
"Competitive Edge 'Best Ideas' List"). The Competitive Edge "Best
Ideas" List is updated continuously; a list of the companies
contained on the Competitive Edge "Best Ideas" List as of July ,
1999 is set forth in the Statement of Additional Information.
The Investment Manager intends to generally invest at least 1% and
not more than 5% of the Portfolio's assets in each company on the
Competitive Edge "Best Ideas" List. The Portfolio will purchase any
security which is added to the Competitive Edge "Best Ideas" List,
and generally will sell a security which is eliminated from the
List as soon as practicable after the List has been updated.
Accordingly, securities may be purchased and sold by the Portfolio
when such purchases and sales would not be made under traditional
investment criteria.
1
<PAGE>
The Portfolio may at times purchase securities that are not
included on the Competitive Edge "Best Ideas" List but are on the
Competitive Edge List or, in the event that the Investment Manager
believes that there are no suitable securities on the Competitive
Edge List, the Portfolio may purchase securities outside the list.
Securities that are not on the Competitive Edge "Best Ideas" List
generally will not exceed 35% of the Portfolio's total assets.
Common Stock is a share ownership or equity interest in a
corporation. It may or may not pay dividends, as some companies
reinvest all of their profits back into their businesses, while
others pay out some of their profits to shareholders as dividends.
A depository receipt is generally issued by a bank or financial
institution and represents an ownership interest in the common
stock or other equity securities of a foreign company.
The percentage limitations relating to the composition of the
Portfolio apply at the time the Portfolio acquires an investment
and refer to the Portfolio's net assets, unless otherwise noted.
Subsequent percentage changes that result from market fluctuations
will not require the Portfolio to sell any portfolio security. The
Portfolio may change its principal investment strategies without
shareholder approval; however, you would be notified of any
changes.
ICON PRINCIPAL RISKS
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There is no assurance that the Portfolio will achieve its
investment objective. The Portfolio's share price will fluctuate
with changes in the market value of its portfolio securities. When
you sell Portfolio's shares, they may be worth less than what you
paid for them and, accordingly, you can lose money investing in
this Portfolio.
COMMON STOCK. A principal risk of investing in the Portfolio is
associated with its investments in common stock. In particular the
prices of common stocks may fluctuate widely in response to
activities specific to the company as well as general market,
economic and political conditions.
COMPETITIVE EDGE "BEST IDEAS" LIST. The Portfolio invests
principally in securities included on the Competitive Edge "Best
Ideas" List which currently consists of 40 companies. As a result
of the small universe of stocks in which the Portfolio invests, it
may be subject to greater risks than would a more diversified
company. At times the Portfolio may be restricted in its ability to
purchase or sell securities on the Competitive Edge "Best Ideas"
List as a result of activities of affiliates of the Investment
Manager. In addition, performance of the securities included in the
List cannot be used to predict the performance of the Portfolio, an
actively managed mutual fund.
The Competitive Edge "Best Ideas" List and the Competitive Edge
List are not compiled with any particular client or product in mind
and are not, and will not be, compiled with the Fund in mind. When
selecting the companies for the lists, MSDW Equity Research does
not take into account country or currency risks, and country or
industry sector diversification concerns. MSDW publishes other
lists of recommended securities that could be appropriate for
Portfolio investors but which will not be used by the Investment
Manager for choosing securities for the Portfolio. MSDW Equity
Research could at any
2
<PAGE>
time cease publishing the Competitive Edge "Best Ideas" List or the
Competitive Edge List. In that event the Board of Trustees will
make a determination of how to proceed in the best interest of
shareholders of the Portfolio consistent with the Portfolio's
investment objective.
The activities of affiliates of the Investment Manager, including
but not limited to Dean Witter Reynolds Inc. or Morgan Stanley &
Co. Incorporated, may from time to time limit the Portfolio's
ability to purchase or sell securities on the Competitive Edge
"Best Ideas" List. In addition, the List is available to other
clients of MSDW and its affiliates, including the Investment
Manager, as well as the Portfolio. The list is also subject to
restrictions related to MSDW's other businesses, and particular
securities may or may not be on the list due to other business
concerns of, or legal restrictions applicable to, MSDW.
As a diversified financial services firm, with three primary
businesses -- securities, asset management and credit services --
MSDW provides a wide range of financial services to issuers of
securities and investors in securities. MSDW and others associated
with it may create markets or specialize in, have positions in and
affect transactions in, securities of companies included on its
research lists and may also perform or seek to perform investment
banking services for those companies. Within the last three years,
MSDW may have managed or co-managed public security offerings for
companies included on the research lists, and they or their
employees may have a long or short position on holdings in the
securities, or options on securities, or other related investments
of companies included on their research lists.
FOREIGN SECURITIES. The Portfolio may invest a substantial portion
of its assets in foreign securities (including depository
receipts). Foreign securities involve risks in addition to the
risks associated with domestic securities. One additional risk is
currency risk. While the price of Portfolio shares is quoted in
U.S. dollars, the Portfolio generally converts U.S. dollars to a
foreign market's local currency to purchase a security in that
market. If the value of that local currency falls relative to the
U.S. dollar, the U.S. dollar value of the foreign security will
decrease. This is true even if the foreign security's local price
remains unchanged.
Foreign securities also have risks related to economic and
political developments abroad, including expropriations,
confiscatory taxation, exchange control regulation, limitations on
the use or transfer of Portfolio assets and any effects of foreign
social, economic or political instability. In particular, adverse
political or economic developments in a geographic region or a
particular country in which the Portfolio invests could cause a
substantial decline in value of the portfolio. Foreign companies,
in general, are not subject to the regulatory requirements of U.S.
companies and, as such, there may be less publicly available
information about these companies. Moreover, foreign accounting,
auditing and financial reporting standards generally are different
from those applicable to U.S. companies. Finally, in the event of a
default of any foreign debt obligations, it may be more difficult
for the Portfolio to obtain or enforce a judgment against the
issuers of the securities.
3
<PAGE>
Securities of foreign issuers may be less liquid than comparable
securities of U.S. issuers and, as such, their price changes may be
more volatile. Furthermore, foreign exchanges and broker-dealers
are generally subject to less government and exchange scrutiny and
regulation than their U.S. counterparts.
The foreign securities in which the Portfolio may invest may be
issued by companies located in emerging market countries. Compared
to the United States and other developed countries, emerging market
countries may have relatively unstable governments, economies based
on only a few industries and securities markets that 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 loss (as well as gain) than
securities of companies located in developed countries.
Many European countries have adopted or are in the process of
adopting a single European currency, referred to as the "euro." The
consequences of the euro conversion for foreign exchange rates,
interest rates and the value of European securities the Portfolio
may purchase are presently unclear. The consequences may adversely
affect the value and/or increase the volatility of securities held
by the Portfolio.
OTHER RISKS. The performance of the Portfolio also will depend on
whether the Investment Manager is successful in pursuing the
Portfolio's investment strategy. The Portfolio is also subject to
other risks from its permissible investments. For more information
about these risks, see the "Additional Risk Information" section.
Shares of the Portfolio are not bank deposits and are not
(SIDEBAR) guaranteed or insured by the FDIC or any other government agency.
AVERAGE ANNUAL
TOTAL RETURNS
THIS TABLE COMPARES THE PORTFOLIO'S AVERAGE ANNUAL RETURNS WITH THOSE OF A BROAD
MEASURE OF MARKET PERFORMANCE OVER TIME. THE PORTFOLIO'S RETURNS INCLUDES THE
MAXIMUM APPLICABLE SALES CHARGE FOR EACH CLASS AND ASSUMES YOU SOLD YOUR SHARES
AT THE END OF EACH PERIOD.
(END SIDEBAR)
ICON PAST PERFORMANCE
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The table below provides some indication of the risks of investing in
the Portfolio. The Portfolio's past performance does not indicate how
the Portfolio will perform in the future.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS (AS OF DECEMBER 31, 1998)
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LIFE OF FUND
PAST 1 YEAR (SINCE 2/25/98)
<S> <C> <C>
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Class A % %
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Class B % %
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Class C % %
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Class D % %
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S&P 500 Index(1) % %
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</TABLE>
1 The Standard & Poor's-Registered Trademark- 500 Composite Stock Price Index
is a broad-based index, the performance of which is based on the average
performance of 500 widely held common stocks. The performance of the Index
does not include any expenses, fees or charges. The Index is unmanaged and
should not be considered an investment.
4
<PAGE>
(SIDEBAR)
SHAREHOLDER FEES
THESE FEES ARE PAID DIRECTLY FROM YOUR INVESTMENT.
ANNUAL FUND
OPERATING EXPENSES
THESE EXPENSES ARE DEDUCTED FROM THE PORTFOLIO'S ASSETS AND ARE BASED ON
EXPENSES PAID FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED MAY 31, 1999.
(END SIDEBAR)
ICON FEES AND EXPENSES
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The table below briefly describes the fees and expenses that you may
pay if you buy and hold shares of the Portfolio. The Portfolio offers
four Classes of shares: Classes A, B, C and D. Each Class has a
different combination of fees, expenses and other features. The
Portfolio does not charge account or exchange fees. See the "Share
Class Arrangements" section for further fee and expense information.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
CLASS A CLASS B CLASS C CLASS D
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
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SHAREHOLDER FEES
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Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a
percentage of offering price) 5.25%(1) None None None
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Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage based
on the lesser of the offering price or net asset value at
redemption) None(2) 5.00%(3) 1.00%(4) None
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ANNUAL FUND OPERATING EXPENSES
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Management fee % % % %
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Distribution and service (12b-1) fees 0.25% 1.00% 1.00% None
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Other expenses % % % %
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Total annual Fund operating expenses % % % %
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</TABLE>
1 Reduced for purchases of $25,000 and over.
2 Investments that are not subject to any sales charge at the time of
purchase are subject to a contingent deferred sales charge ("CDSC") of
1.00% that will be imposed if you sell your shares within one year after
purchase, except for certain specific circumstances.
3 The CDSC is scaled down to 1.00% during the sixth year, reaching zero
thereafter. See "Share Class Arrangements" for a complete discussion of the
CDSC.
4 Only applicable if you sell your shares within one year after purchase.
EXAMPLE
This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in
the Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.
This example shows what expenses you could pay over time. The example
assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio, your investment has
a 5% return each year, and the Portfolio's operating expenses remain
the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, the
tables below show your costs at the end of each period based on these
assumptions depending upon whether or not you sell your shares at the
end of each period.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
IF YOU SOLD YOUR SHARES: IF YOU HELD YOUR SHARES:
----------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------
1 YEAR 3 YEARS 5 YEARS 10 YEARS 1 YEAR 3 YEARS 5 YEARS 10 YEARS
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
- ---------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------
CLASS A $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $
- ---------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------
CLASS B $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $
- ---------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------
CLASS C $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $
- ---------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------
CLASS D $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $
- ---------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------
</TABLE>
5
<PAGE>
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 National
Association of Securities Dealers.
ICON ADDITIONAL RISK INFORMATION
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This section provides additional information relating to the
principal risks of investing in the Portfolio.
YEAR 2000. The Portfolio could be adversely affected if the computer
systems necessary for the efficient operation of the Investment
Manager, the Portfolio's other service providers and the markets and
corporate and governmental issuers in which the Portfolio invests do
not properly process and calculate date-related information from and
after January 1, 2000. While year 2000-related computer problems
could have a negative effect on the Portfolio, the Investment Manager
and its affiliates are working hard to avoid any problems and to
obtain assurances from their service providers that they are taking
similar steps.
In addition, it is possible that the markets for securities in which
the Portfolio invests may be detrimentally affected by computer
failures throughout the financial services industry beginning January
1, 2000. Improperly functioning trading systems may result in
settlement problems and liquidity issues. In addition, corporate and
governmental data processing errors also may result in production
problems for individual companies and overall economic uncertainties.
Earnings of individual issuers will be affected by remediation costs,
which may be substantial and may be reported inconsistently in U.S.
and foreign financial statements. Accordingly, the Portfolio's
(SIDEBAR) investments may be adversely affected.
MORGAN STANLEY DEAN WITTER ADVISORS INC.
THE INVESTMENT MANAGER IS WIDELY RECOGNIZED AS A LEADER IN THE MUTUAL FUND
INDUSTRY AND TOGETHER WITH MORGAN STANLEY DEAN WITTER SERVICES COMPANY INC., ITS
WHOLLY-OWNED SUBSIDIARY, HAS MORE THAN $ BILLION IN ASSETS UNDER MANAGEMENT OR
ADMINISTRATION AS OF AUGUST , 1999.
(END SIDEBAR)
ICON MANAGEMENT OF THE PORTFOLIO
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The Portfolio has retained the Investment Manager -- Morgan Stanley
Dean Witter Advisors Inc. -- to provide administrative services,
manage its business affairs and invest its assets, including the
placing of orders for the purchase and sale of portfolio securities.
The Investment Manager is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Morgan Stanley
Dean Witter & Co., a preeminent global financial services firm that
maintains leading market positions in each of its three primary
businesses: securities, asset management and credit services. Its
main business office is located at Two World Trade Center, New
York, New York 10048.
The Portfolio is managed within the Investment Manager's Growth
Group. Mark Bavoso, a Senior Vice President of the Investment
Manager, has been the primary portfolio manager of the Portfolio
since it commenced operations in February 1998 and a portfolio
manager with the Investment Manager for over five years.
The Portfolio pays the Investment Manager a monthly management fee
as full compensation for the services and facilities furnished to
the Portfolio, and for Portfolio expenses assumed by the Investment
Manager. The fee is based on the Portfolio's average daily net
assets. For the fiscal year ended May 31, 1999, the Fund accrued
total compensation to the Investment Manager amounting to % of
the Portfolio's average daily net assets.
6
<PAGE>
(SIDEBAR)
CONTACTING A FINANCIAL ADVISOR
IF YOU ARE NEW TO THE MORGAN STANLEY DEAN WITTER FAMILY OF FUNDS AND WOULD LIKE
TO CONTACT A FINANCIAL ADVISOR, CALL (800) THE-DEAN FOR THE TELEPHONE NUMBER OF
THE MORGAN STANLEY DEAN WITTER OFFICE NEAREST YOU. YOU MAY ALSO ACCESS OUR
OFFICE LOCATOR ON OUR INTERNET SITE AT:
WWW.DEANWITTER.COM/FUNDS
(END SIDEBAR)
SHAREHOLDER INFORMATION
ICON PRICING PORTFOLIO SHARES
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The price of shares of the Portfolio (excluding sales charges),
called "net asset value," is based on the value of its portfolio
securities. While the assets of each Class are invested in a single
portfolio of securities, the net asset value of each Class will
differ because the Classes have different ongoing distribution fees.
The net asset value per share of the Portfolio is determined once
daily at 4:00 p.m. Eastern time, on each day that the New York Stock
Exchange is open (or, on days when the New York Stock Exchange closes
prior to 4:00 p.m. at such earlier time). Shares will not be priced
on days that the New York Stock Exchange is closed.
The value of the Portfolio's securities is based on the securities'
market price when available. When a market price is not readily
available, including circumstances under which the Investment Manager
determines that a security's market price is not accurate, a
portfolio security is valued at its fair value, as determined under
procedures established by the Fund's Board of Trustees. In these
cases, the Portfolio's net asset value will reflect certain portfolio
securities' fair value rather than their market price. In addition,
if the Portfolio holds securities primarily listed on foreign
exchanges, the value of its portfolio securities may change on days
when you will not be able to purchase or sell your shares.
An exception to the Portfolio's general policy of using market prices
concerns its short-term debt portfolio securities. Debt securities
with remaining maturities of sixty days or less at the time of
purchase are valued at amortized cost. However, if the cost does not
reflect the securities' market value, these securities will be valued
at their fair value.
ICON HOW TO BUY SHARES
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You may open a new account to buy Portfolio shares or buy
additional Portfolio shares for an existing account by contacting
your Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Financial Advisor or other
authorized financial representative. Your Financial Advisor will
assist you, step-by-step, with the procedures to invest in the
Portfolio. You may also purchase shares directly by calling the
Portfolio's transfer agent and requesting an application.
Because every investor has different immediate financial needs and
long-term investment goals, the Portfolio offers investors four
Classes of shares: Classes A, B, C and D. Class D shares are only
offered to a limited group of investors. Each Class of shares
offers a distinct structure of sales charges, distribution and
service fees, and other features that are designed to address a
variety of needs. Your Financial Advisor or other authorized
financial representative can help you decide which Class may be
most appropriate for you. When purchasing Portfolio shares, you
must specify which Class of shares you wish to purchase.
7
<PAGE>
(SIDEBAR)
EASYINVEST-SM-
A PURCHASE PLAN THAT ALLOWS YOU TO TRANSFER MONEY AUTOMATICALLY FROM YOUR
CHECKING OR SAVINGS ACCOUNT OR FROM A MONEY MARKET FUND ON A SEMI-MONTHLY,
MONTHLY OR QUARTERLY BASIS. CONTACT YOUR MORGAN STANLEY DEAN WITTER FINANCIAL
ADVISOR FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ABOUT THIS SERVICE.
(END SIDEBAR)
When you buy Portfolio shares, the shares are purchased at the next
share price calculated (less any applicable front-end sales charge
for Class A shares) after we receive your purchase order in proper
form. Your payment is due on the third business day after you place
your purchase order. We reserve the right to reject any order for the
purchase of Portfolio shares.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
MINIMUM INVESTMENT AMOUNTS
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MINIMUM INVESTMENT
----------------------
INVESTMENT OPTIONS INITIAL ADDITIONAL
<S> <C> <C> <C>
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Regular Accounts $ 1,000 $ 100
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Individual Retirement Accounts: Regular IRAs $ 1,000 $ 100
Education IRAs $500 $ 100
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EASYINVEST-SM- (Automatically from your checking
or savings account or Money Market
Fund) $100* $ 100*
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
* Provided your schedule of investments totals $1,000 in twelve months.
There is no minimum investment amount if you purchase Portfolio
shares through: (1) the Investment Manager's mutual fund asset
allocation plan, (2) a program, approved by the Portfolio's
distributor, in which you pay an asset-based fee for advisory,
administrative and/or brokerage services, or (3) employer-sponsored
employee benefit plan accounts.
INVESTMENT OPTIONS FOR CERTAIN INSTITUTIONAL AND OTHER
INVESTORS/CLASS D
SHARES. To be eligible to purchase Class D shares, you must qualify
under one of the investor categories specified in the "Share Class
Arrangements" section of this PROSPECTUS.
SUBSEQUENT INVESTMENTS SENT DIRECTLY TO THE FUND. In addition to
buying additional Portfolio shares for an existing account by
contacting your Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Financial Advisor, you may
send a check directly to the Portfolio. To buy additional shares in
this manner:
- Write a "letter of instruction" to the Portfolio specifying the
name(s) on the account, the account number, the social security or
tax identification number, the Class of shares you wish to purchase
and the investment amount (which would include any applicable
front-end sales charge). The letter must be signed by the account
owner(s).
- Make out a check for the total amount payable to: Morgan Stanley
Dean Witter Competitive Edge Fund -- "Best Ideas" Portfolio.
- Mail the letter and check to Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Trust FSB
at P.O. Box 1040, Jersey City, NJ 07303.
8
<PAGE>
ICON HOW TO EXCHANGE SHARES
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PERMISSIBLE FUND EXCHANGES. You may exchange shares of any Class of
the Portfolio for the same Class of any other continuously offered
Multi-Class Fund, or for shares of a No-Load Fund, Money Market Fund
or Short-Term U.S. Treasury Trust, without the imposition of an
exchange fee. See the inside back cover of this PROSPECTUS for each
Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Fund's designation as a Multi-Class Fund,
No-Load Fund or Money Market Fund. If a Morgan Stanley Dean Witter
Fund is not listed, consult the inside back cover of that Fund's
PROSPECTUS for its designation. For purposes of exchanges, shares of
FSC Funds (subject to a front-end sales charge) are treated as Class
A shares of a Multi-Class Fund.
Exchanges may be made after shares of the Portfolio acquired by
purchase have been held for thirty days. There is no waiting period
for exchanges of shares acquired by exchange or dividend
reinvestment. The current PROSPECTUS for each Fund describes its
investment objective(s), policies and investment minimums, and should
be read before investment.
EXCHANGE PROCEDURES. You can process an exchange by contacting your
Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Financial Advisor or other authorized
financial representative. Otherwise, you must forward an exchange
privilege authorization form to the Portfolio's transfer agent --
Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Trust FSB -- and then write the transfer
agent or call (800) 869-NEWS to place an exchange order. You can
obtain an exchange privilege authorization form by contacting your
Financial Advisor or other authorized financial representative or by
calling (800) 869-NEWS. If you hold share certificates, no exchanges
may be processed until we have received all applicable share
certificates.
An exchange to any Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Fund (except a Money
Market Fund) is made on the basis of the next calculated net asset
values of the Funds involved after the exchange instructions are
accepted. When exchanging into a Money Market Fund, the Portfolio's
shares are sold at their next calculated net asset value and the
Money Market Fund's shares are purchased at their net asset value on
the following business day.
The Portfolio may terminate or revise the exchange privilege upon
required notice. Certain services normally available to shareholders
of Money Market Funds, including the check writing privilege, are not
available for Money Market Fund shares you acquire in an exchange.
TELEPHONE EXCHANGES. For your protection when calling Morgan Stanley
Dean Witter Trust FSB, we will employ reasonable procedures to
confirm that exchange instructions communicated over the telephone
are genuine. These procedures may include requiring various forms of
personal identification such as name, mailing address, social
security or other tax identification number. Telephone instructions
also may be recorded.
Telephone instructions will be accepted if received by the
Portfolio's transfer agent between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Eastern
time, on any day the New York Stock Exchange is open for business.
During periods of drastic economic or market changes, it is possible
that the telephone exchange procedures may be difficult to implement,
although this has not been the case with the Portfolio in the past.
9
<PAGE>
MARGIN ACCOUNTS. If you have pledged your Portfolio shares in a
margin account, contact your Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Financial
Advisor or other authorized financial representative regarding
restrictions on the sale of such shares.
TAX CONSIDERATIONS OF EXCHANGES. If you exchange shares of the
Portfolio for shares of another Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Fund there
are important tax considerations. For tax purposes, the exchange out
of the Portfolio is considered a sale of Fund shares -- and the
exchange into the other Fund is considered a purchase. As a result,
you may realize a capital gain or loss.
You should review the "Tax Consequences" section and consult your own
tax professional about the tax consequences of an exchange.
FREQUENT EXCHANGES. A pattern of frequent exchanges may result in the
Portfolio limiting or prohibiting, at its discretion, additional
purchases and/or exchanges. The Portfolio will notify you in advance
of limiting your exchange privileges.
CDSC CALCULATIONS ON EXCHANGES. See the "Share Class Arrangements"
section of this PROSPECTUS for a discussion of how applicable
contingent deferred sales charges (CDSCs) are calculated for shares
of one Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Fund that are exchanged for shares
of another.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION REGARDING EXCHANGE PRIVILEGES, YOU SHOULD
CONTACT YOUR MORGAN STANLEY DEAN WITTER FINANCIAL ADVISOR OR CALL
(800) 869-NEWS.
ICON HOW TO SELL SHARES
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
You can sell some or all of your Portfolio shares at any time. If you
sell Class A, Class B or Class C shares, your net sale proceeds are
reduced by the amount of any applicable CDSC. Your shares will be
sold at the next share price calculated after we receive your order
to sell as described below.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
OPTIONS PROCEDURES
<S> <C>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Contact your To sell your shares, simply call your Morgan Stanley Dean
Financial Advisor Witter Financial Advisor or other authorized financial
representative.
------------------------------------------------------------
ICON Payment will be sent to the address to which the account is
registered or deposited in your brokerage account.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
By Letter You can also sell your shares by writing a "letter of
instruction" that includes:
ICON - your account number;
- the dollar amount or the number of shares you wish to
sell;
- the Class of shares you wish to sell; and
- the signature of each owner as it appears on the account.
------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
10
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
OPTIONS PROCEDURES
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C>
By Letter, If you are requesting payment to anyone other than the
continued registered owner(s) or that payment be sent to any address
other than the address of the registered owner(s) or
pre-designated bank account, you will need a signature
guarantee. You can obtain a signature guarantee from an
eligible guarantor acceptable to Morgan Stanley Dean Witter
Trust FSB. (You should contact Morgan Stanley Dean Witter
Trust FSB at (800) 869-NEWS for a determination as to
whether a particular institution is an eligible guarantor.)
A notary public CANNOT provide a signature guarantee.
Additional documentation may be required for shares held by
a corporation, partnership, trustee or executor.
------------------------------------------------------------
Mail the letter to Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Trust FSB at
P.O. Box 983, Jersey City, New Jersey 07303. If you hold
share certificates, you must return the certificates, along
with the letter and any required additional documentation.
------------------------------------------------------------
A check will be mailed to the name(s) and address in which
the account is registered, or otherwise according to your
instructions.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Systematic If your investment in all of the Morgan Stanley Dean Witter
Withdrawal Plan Family of Funds has a total market value of at least
ICON $10,000, you may elect to withdraw amounts of $25 or more,
or in any whole percentage of a Fund's balance (provided the
amount is at least $25), on a monthly, quarterly,
semi-annual or annual basis, from any Fund with a balance of
at least $1,000. Each time you add a Fund to the plan, you
must meet the plan requirements.
------------------------------------------------------------
Amounts withdrawn are subject to any applicable CDSC. A CDSC
may be waived under certain circumstances. See the Class B
waiver categories listed in the "Share Class Arrangements"
section of this PROSPECTUS.
------------------------------------------------------------
To sign up for the Systematic Withdrawal Plan, contact your
Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Financial Advisor or call (800)
869-NEWS. You may terminate or suspend your plan at any
time. Please remember that withdrawals from the plan are
sales of shares, not "distributions," and ultimately may
exhaust your account balance. The Portfolio may terminate or
revise the plan at any time.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
PAYMENT FOR SOLD SHARES. After we receive your complete instructions
to sell, as described above, a check will be mailed to you within
seven days, although we will attempt to make payment within one
business day. Payment may also be sent to your brokerage account.
Payment may be postponed or the right to sell your shares suspended
under unusual circumstances. If you request to sell shares that were
recently purchased by check, payment of the sale proceeds may be
delayed for the minimum time needed to verify that the check has been
honored (not more than fifteen days from the time we receive the
check).
TAX CONSIDERATIONS. Normally, your sale of Portfolio shares is
subject to federal and state income tax. You should review the "Tax
Consequences" section of this PROSPECTUS and consult your own tax
professional about the tax consequences of a sale.
REINSTATEMENT PRIVILEGE. If you sell Portfolio shares and have not
previously exercised the reinstatement privilege, you may, within 35
days after the date of sale, invest any portion of the proceeds in
the same Class of Portfolio shares at their net asset value and
receive a pro rata credit for any CDSC paid in connection with the
sale.
INVOLUNTARY SALES. The Portfolio reserves the right, on sixty days'
notice, to sell the shares of any shareholder (other than shares held
in an IRA or 403(b) Custodial Account) whose shares, due to sales by
the shareholder, have a value below $100, or in the case of an
account opened through EASYINVEST -SM-, if after 12 months the
shareholder has invested less than $1,000 in the account.
11
<PAGE>
(SIDEBAR)
TARGETED DIVIDENDS-SM-
YOU MAY SELECT TO HAVE YOUR PORTFOLIO DISTRIBUTIONS AUTOMATICALLY INVESTED IN
OTHER CLASSES OF PORTFOLIO SHARES OR CLASSES OF ANOTHER MORGAN STANLEY DEAN
WITTER FUND THAT YOU OWN. CONTACT YOUR MORGAN STANLEY DEAN WITTER FINANCIAL
ADVISOR FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ABOUT THIS SERVICE.
(END SIDEBAR)
However, before the Portfolio sells your shares in this manner, we
will notify you and allow you sixty days to make an additional
investment in an amount that will increase the value of your account
to at least the required amount before the sale is processed. No CDSC
will be imposed on any involuntary sale.
MARGIN ACCOUNTS. If you have pledged your Portfolio shares in a
margin account, contact your Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Financial
Advisor or other authorized financial representative regarding
restrictions on the sale of such shares.
ICON DISTRIBUTIONS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Portfolio passes substantially all of its earnings from income
and capital gains along to its investors as "distributions." The
Portfolio earns income from stocks and interest from fixed-income
investments. These amounts are passed along to Portfolio
shareholders as "income dividend distributions." The Portfolio
realizes capital gains whenever it sells securities for a higher
price than it paid for them. These amounts may be passed along as
"capital gain distributions."
The Portfolio declares income dividends separately for each Class.
Distributions paid on Class A and Class D shares will usually be
higher than for Class B and Class C because distribution fees that
Class B and Class C pay are higher. Normally, income dividends are
distributed to shareholders annually. Capital gains, if any, are
usually distributed in December. The Portfolio, however, may retain
and reinvest any long-term capital gains. The Portfolio may at
times make payments from sources other than income or capital gains
that represent a return of a portion of your investment.
Distributions are reinvested automatically in additional shares of
the same Class and automatically credited to your account, unless you
request in writing that all distributions be paid in cash. If you
elect the cash option, the Portfolio will mail a check to you no
later than seven business days after the distribution is declared. No
interest will accrue on uncashed checks. If you wish to change how
your distributions are paid, your request should be received by the
Portfolio's transfer agent, Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Trust FSB, at
least five business days prior to the record date of the
distributions.
ICON TAX CONSEQUENCES
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
As with any investment, you should consider how your investment in
the Portfolio will be taxed. The tax information in this PROSPECTUS
is provided as general information. You should consult your own tax
professional about the tax consequences of an investment in the
Portfolio.
Unless your investment in the Portfolio is through a tax-deferred
retirement account, such as a 401(k) plan or IRA, you need to be
aware of the possible tax consequences when:
- The Portfolio makes distributions; and
- You sell Portfolio shares, including an exchange to another Morgan
Stanley Dean Witter Fund.
12
<PAGE>
TAXES ON DISTRIBUTIONS. Your distributions are normally subject to
federal and state income tax when they are paid, whether you take
them in cash or reinvest them in Portfolio shares. A distribution
also may be subject to local income tax. Any income dividend
distributions and any short-term capital gain distributions are
taxable to you as ordinary income. Any long-term capital gain
distributions are taxable as long-term capital gains, no matter how
long you have owned shares in the Portfolio.
Every January, you will be sent a statement (IRS Form 1099-DIV)
showing the taxable distributions paid to you in the previous year.
The statement provides full information on your dividends and capital
gains for tax purposes.
TAXES ON SALES. Your sale of Portfolio shares normally is subject to
federal and state income tax and may result in a taxable gain or loss
to you. A sale also may be subject to local income tax. Your exchange
of Portfolio shares for shares of another Morgan Stanley Dean Witter
Fund is treated for tax purposes like a sale of your original shares
and a purchase of your new shares. Thus, the exchange may, like a
sale, result in a taxable gain or loss to you and will give you a new
tax basis for your new shares.
When you open your Portfolio account, you should provide your social
security or tax identification number on your investment application.
By providing this information, you will avoid being subject to a
federal backup withholding tax of 31% on taxable distributions and
redemption proceeds. Any withheld amount would be sent to the IRS as
an advance tax payment.
ICON SHARE CLASS ARRANGEMENTS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Portfolio offers several Classes of shares having different
distribution arrangements designed to provide you with different
purchase options according to your investment needs. Your Morgan
Stanley Dean Witter Financial Advisor or other authorized financial
representative can help you decide which Class may be appropriate for
you.
The general public is offered three Classes: Class A shares, Class B
shares and Class C shares, which differ principally in terms of sales
charges and ongoing expenses. A fourth Class, Class D shares, is
offered only to a limited category of investors. Shares that you
acquire through reinvested distributions will not be subject to any
front-end sales charge or CDSC -- contingent deferred sales charge.
Sales personnel may receive different compensation for selling each
Class of shares. The sales charges applicable to each Class provide
for the distribution financing of shares of that Class.
The chart below compares the sales charge and maximum annual 12b-1
fee applicable to each Class:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
CLASS SALES CHARGE MAXIMUM ANNUAL 12B-1 FEE
<S> <C> <C>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------
A Maximum 5.25% initial sales charge
reduced for purchase of $25,000 or more;
shares sold without an initial sales
charge are generally subject to a 1.0%
CDSC during the first year 0.25%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------
B Maximum 5.0% CDSC during the first year
decreasing to 0% after six years 1.00%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------
C 1.0% CDSC during the first year 1.00%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------
D None None
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
13
<PAGE>
(SIDEBAR)
FRONT-END SALES
CHARGE OR FSC
AN INITIAL SALES CHARGE YOU PAY WHEN PURCHASING CLASS A SHARES THAT IS BASED ON
A PERCENTAGE OF THE OFFERING PRICE. THE PERCENTAGE DECLINES BASED UPON THE
DOLLAR VALUE OF CLASS A SHARES YOU PURCHASE. WE OFFER THREE WAYS TO REDUCE YOUR
CLASS A SALES CHARGES - THE COMBINED PURCHASE PRIVILEGE, RIGHT OF ACCUMULATION
AND LETTER OF INTENT.
(END SIDEBAR)
CLASS A SHARES Class A shares are sold at net asset value plus an
initial sales charge of up to 5.25%. The initial sales charge is
reduced for purchases of $25,000 or more according to the schedule
below. Investments of $1 million or more are not subject to an
initial sales charge, but are generally subject to a contingent
deferred sales charge, or CDSC, of 1.0% on sales made within one
year after the last day of the month of purchase. The CDSC will be
assessed in the same manner and with the same CDSC waivers as with
Class B shares. Class A shares are also subject to a distribution
(12b-1) fee of up to 0.25% of the average daily net assets of the
Class.
The offering price of Class A shares includes a sales charge
(expressed as a percentage of the offering price) on a single
transaction as shown in the following table:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
FRONT-END SALES CHARGE
---------------------------------------------
PERCENTAGE OF PUBLIC APPROXIMATE PERCENTAGE
AMOUNT OF SINGLE TRANSACTION OFFERING PRICE OF AMOUNT INVESTED
<S> <C> <C>
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Less than $25,000 5.25% 5.54%
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$25,000 but less than $50,000 4.75% 4.99%
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$50,000 but less than $100,000 4.00% 4.17%
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$100,000 but less than $250,000 3.00% 3.09%
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$250,000 but less than $1 million 2.00% 2.04%
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$1 million and over 0 0
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
The reduced sales charge schedule is applicable to purchases of
Class A shares in a single transaction by:
- A single account (including an individual, trust or fiduciary
account).
- Family member accounts (limited to husband, wife and children
under the age of 21).
- Pension, profit sharing or other employee benefit plans of
companies and their affiliates.
- Tax-exempt organizations.
- Groups organized for a purpose other than to buy mutual fund
shares.
COMBINED PURCHASE PRIVILEGE. You also will have the benefit of
reduced sales charges by combining purchases of Class A shares of
the Portfolio in a single transaction with purchases of Class A
shares of other Multi-Class Funds and shares of FSC Funds.
RIGHT OF ACCUMULATION. You also may benefit from a reduction of
sales charges if the cumulative net asset value of Class A shares
of the Portfolio purchased in a single transaction, together with
shares of other Funds you currently own which were previously
purchased at a price including a front-end sales charge (including
shares acquired through reinvestment of distributions), amounts to
$25,000 or more. Also, if you have a cumulative net asset value of
all your Class A and Class D shares equal to at
14
<PAGE>
least $5 million (or $25 million for certain employee benefit
plans), you are eligible to purchase Class D shares of any Fund
subject to the Fund's minimum initial investment requirement.
You must notify your Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Financial Advisor
or other authorized financial representative (or Morgan Stanley
Dean Witter Trust FSB if you purchase directly through the Morgan
Stanley Dean Witter Competitive Edge Fund -- "Best Ideas"
Portfolio), at the time a purchase order is placed, that the
purchase qualifies for the reduced charge under the Right of
Accumulation. Similar notification must be made in writing when an
order is placed by mail. The reduced sales charge will not be
granted if: (i) notification is not furnished at the time of the
order; or (ii) a review of the records of Dean Witter Reynolds or
other authorized dealer of Portfolio shares or the Portfolio's
transfer agent does not confirm your represented holdings.
LETTER OF INTENT. The schedule of reduced sales charges for larger
purchases also will be available to you if you enter into a written
"letter of intent." A letter of intent provides for the purchase of
Class A shares of the Portfolio or other Multi-Class Funds or
shares of FSC Funds within a thirteen-month period. The initial
purchase under a letter of intent must be at least 5% of the stated
investment goal. To determine the applicable sales charge
reduction, you may also include: (1) the cost of shares of other
Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Funds which were previously purchased at
a price including a front-end sales charge during the 90-day period
prior to the distributor receiving the letter of intent, and (2)
the cost of shares of other Funds you currently own acquired in
exchange for shares of Funds purchased during that period at a
price including a front-end sales charge. You can obtain a letter
of intent by contacting your Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Financial
Advisor or other authorized financial representative or by calling
(800) 869-NEWS. If you do not achieve the stated investment goal
within the thirteen-month period, you are required to pay the
difference between the sales charges otherwise applicable and sales
charges actually paid, which may be deducted from your investment.
OTHER SALES CHARGE WAIVERS. In addition to investments of $1 million
or more, your purchase of Class A shares is not subject to a
front-end sales charge (or CDSC upon sale) if your account
qualifies under one of the following categories:
- A trust for which Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Trust FSB provides
discretionary trustee services.
- Persons participating in a fee-based investment program (subject
to all of its terms and conditions, including mandatory sale or
transfer restrictions on termination) approved by the Portfolio's
distributor pursuant to which they pay an asset-based fee for
investment advisory, administrative and/or brokerage services.
- Employer-sponsored employee benefit plans, whether or not
qualified under the Internal Revenue Code, for which Morgan
Stanley Dean Witter Trust FSB serves as trustee or Dean Witter
Reynolds' Retirement Plan Services serves as recordkeeper under a
written Recordkeeping Services Agreement ("MSDW Eligible Plans")
which have at least 200 eligible employees.
15
<PAGE>
(SIDEBAR)
CONTINGENT DEFERRED SALES CHARGE OR CDSC
A FEE YOU PAY WHEN YOU SELL SHARES OF CERTAIN MORGAN STANLEY DEAN WITTER FUNDS
PURCHASED WITHOUT AN INITIAL SALES CHARGE. THIS FEE DECLINES THE LONGER YOU HOLD
YOUR SHARES AS SET FORTH IN THE TABLE.
(END SIDEBAR)
- A MSDW Eligible Plan whose Class B shares have converted to Class A
shares, regardless of the plan's asset size or number of eligible
employees.
- A client of a Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Financial Advisor who
joined us from another investment firm within six months prior to
the date of purchase of Portfolio shares, and you used the proceeds
from the sale of shares of a proprietary mutual fund of that
Financial Advisor's previous firm that imposed either a front-end
or deferred sales charge to purchase Class A shares, provided that:
(1) you sold the shares not more than 60 days prior to the purchase
of Portfolio shares, and (2) the sale proceeds were maintained in
the interim in cash or a money market fund.
- Current or retired Directors/Trustees of the Morgan Stanley Dean
Witter Funds, such persons' spouses and children under the age of
21, and trust accounts for which any of such persons is a
beneficiary.
- Current or retired directors, officers and employees of Morgan
Stanley Dean Witter & Co. and any of its subsidiaries, such
persons' spouses and children under the age of 21, and trust
accounts for which any of such persons is a beneficiary.
CLASS B SHARES Class B shares are offered at net asset value with no
initial sales charge but are subject to a contingent deferred sales
charge, or CDSC, as set forth in the table below. For the purpose of
calculating the CDSC, shares are deemed to have been purchased on the
last day of the month during which they were purchased.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
YEAR SINCE PURCHASE PAYMENT MADE CDSC AS A PERCENTAGE OF AMOUNT REDEEMED
<S> <C>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
First 5.0%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Second 4.0%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Third 3.0%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fourth 2.0%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fifth 2.0%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sixth 1.0%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Seventh and thereafter None
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
Each time you place an order to sell or exchange shares, shares with
no CDSC will be sold or exchanged first, then shares with the lowest
CDSC will be sold or exchanged next. For any shares subject to a
CDSC, the CDSC will be assessed on an amount equal to the lesser of
the current market value or the cost of the shares being sold.
CDSC WAIVERS. A CDSC, if otherwise applicable, will be waived in the
case of:
- Sales of shares held at the time you die or become disabled (within
the definition in Section 72(m)(7) of the Internal Revenue Code
which relates to the ability to engage in gainful employment), if
the shares are: (i) registered either in your name (not a trust) or
in the names of you and your spouse as joint tenants with right of
survivorship; or (ii) held in a qualified corporate or
self-employed retirement plan, IRA or 403(b) Custodial Account,
provided in either case that the sale is requested within one year
of your death or initial determination of disability.
16
<PAGE>
- Sales in connection with the following retirement plan
"distributions": (i) lump-sum or other distributions from a
qualified corporate or self-employed retirement plan following
retirement (or, in the case of a "key employee" of a "top heavy"
plan, following attainment of age 59 1/2); (ii) distributions from
an IRA or 403(b) Custodial Account following attainment of age
59 1/2; or (iii) a tax-free return of an excess IRA contribution (a
"distribution" does not include a direct transfer of IRA, 403(b)
Custodial Account or retirement plan assets to a successor
custodian or trustee).
- Sales of shares held for you as a participant in a MSDW Eligible
Plan.
- Sales of shares in connection with the Systematic Withdrawal Plan
of up to 12% annually of the value of each Fund from which plan
sales are made. The percentage is determined on the date you
establish the Systematic Withdrawal Plan and based on the next
calculated share price. You may have this CDSC waiver applied in
amounts up to 1% per month, 3% per quarter, 6% semi-annually or 12%
annually. Shares with no CDSC will be sold first, followed by those
with the lowest CDSC. As such, the waiver benefit will be reduced
by the amount of your shares that are not subject to a CDSC. If you
suspend your participation in the plan, you may later resume plan
payments without requiring a new determination of the account value
for the 12% CDSC waiver.
All waivers will be granted only following the Distributor receiving
confirmation of your entitlement. If you believe you are eligible for
a CDSC waiver, please contact your Financial Advisor or call (800)
869-NEWS.
DISTRIBUTION FEE. Class B shares are subject to an annual 12b-1 fee
of 1.0% of the average daily net assets of Class B.
CONVERSION FEATURE. After ten (10) years, Class B shares will convert
automatically to Class A shares of the Portfolio with no initial
sales charge. The ten year period runs from the last day of the month
in which the shares were purchased, or in the case of Class B shares
acquired through an exchange, from the last day of the month in which
the original Class B shares were purchased; the shares will convert
to Class A shares based on their relative net asset values in the
month following the ten year period. At the same time, an equal
proportion of Class B shares acquired through automatically
reinvested distributions will convert to Class A shares on the same
basis. (Class B shares acquired in exchange for shares of another
Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Fund originally purchased before May 1,
1997, however, will convert to Class A shares in May 2007.)
In the case of Class B shares held in a MSDW Eligible Plan, the plan
is treated as a single investor and all Class B shares will convert
to Class A shares on the conversion date of the Class B shares of a
Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Fund purchased by that plan.
Currently, the Class B share conversion is not a taxable event; the
conversion feature may be cancelled if it is deemed a taxable event
in the future by the Internal Revenue Service.
If you exchange your Class B shares for shares of a Money Market
Fund, No-Load Fund or Short-Term U.S. Treasury Trust, the holding
period for conversion is frozen as of the last day of the month of
the exchange and resumes on the last day of the month you exchange
back into Class B shares.
17
<PAGE>
EXCHANGING SHARES SUBJECT TO A CDSC. There are special considerations
when you exchange Portfolio shares that are subject to a CDSC. When
determining the length of time you held the shares and the
corresponding CDSC rate, any period (starting at the end of the
month) during which you held shares of a fund that does NOT charge a
CDSC WILL NOT BE COUNTED. Thus, in effect the "holding period" for
purposes of calculating the CDSC is frozen upon exchanging into a
fund that does not charge a CDSC.
For example, if you held Class B shares of the Portfolio for one
year, exchanged to Class B of another Morgan Stanley Dean Witter
Multi-Class Fund for another year, then sold your shares, a CDSC rate
of 4% would be imposed on the shares based on a two year holding
period -- one year for each Fund. However, if you had exchanged the
shares of the Portfolio for a Money Market Fund (which does not
charge a CDSC) instead of the Multi-Class Fund, then sold your
shares, a CDSC rate of 5% would be imposed on the shares based on a
one year holding period. The one year in the Money Market Fund would
not be counted. Nevertheless, if shares subject to a CDSC are
exchanged for a Fund that does not charge a CDSC, you will receive a
credit when you sell the shares equal to the distribution (12b-1)
fees, if any, you paid on those shares while in that Fund up to the
amount of any applicable CDSC.
In addition, shares that are exchanged into or from a Morgan Stanley
Dean Witter Fund subject to a higher CDSC rate will be subject to the
higher rate, even if the shares are re-exchanged into a Fund with a
lower CDSC rate.
CLASS C SHARES Class C shares are sold at net asset value with no
initial sales charge but are subject to a CDSC of 1.0% on sales made
within one year after the last day of the month of purchase. The CDSC
will be assessed in the same manner and with the same CDSC waivers as
with Class B shares.
DISTRIBUTION FEE. Class C shares are subject to an annual
distribution (12b-1) fee of up to 1.0% of the average daily net
assets of that Class. The Class C shares' distribution fee may cause
that Class to have higher expenses and pay lower dividends than Class
A or Class D shares. Unlike Class B shares, Class C shares have no
conversion feature and, accordingly, an investor that purchases Class
C shares may be subject to distribution (12b-1) fees applicable to
Class C shares for an indefinite period.
CLASS D SHARES Class D shares are offered without any sales charge on
purchases or sales and without any distribution (12b-1) fee. Class D
shares are offered only to investors meeting an initial investment
minimum of $5 million ($25 million for MSDW Eligible Plans) and the
following investor categories:
- Investors participating in the Investment Manager's mutual fund
asset allocation program (subject to all of its terms and
conditions, including mandatory sale or transfer restrictions on
termination) pursuant to which they pay an asset-based fee.
- Persons participating in a fee-based investment program (subject to
all of its terms and conditions, including mandatory sale or
transfer restrictions on termination) approved by the Portfolio's
distributor pursuant to which they pay an asset-based fee for
investment advisory, administrative and/or brokerage services.
18
<PAGE>
- Employee benefit plans maintained by Morgan Stanley Dean Witter &
Co. or any of its subsidiaries for the benefit of certain employees
of Morgan Stanley Dean Witter & Co. and its subsidiaries.
- Certain unit investment trusts sponsored by Dean Witter Reynolds.
- Certain other open-end investment companies whose shares are
distributed by the Portfolio's distributor.
- Investors who were shareholders of the Dean Witter Retirement
Series on September 11, 1998 for additional purchases for their
former Dean Witter Retirement Series accounts.
MEETING CLASS D ELIGIBILITY MINIMUMS. To meet the $5 million ($25
million for certain MSDW Eligible Plans) initial investment to
qualify to purchase Class D shares you may combine: (1) purchases in
a single transaction of Class D shares of the Portfolio and other
Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Multi-Class Funds and/or (2) previous
purchases of Class A and Class D shares of Multi-Class Funds and
shares of FSC Funds you currently own, along with shares of Morgan
Stanley Dean Witter Funds you currently own that you acquired in
exchange for those shares.
NO SALES CHARGES FOR REINVESTED CASH DISTRIBUTIONS If you receive a
cash payment representing an income dividend or capital gain and you
reinvest that amount in the applicable Class of shares by returning
the check within 30 days of the payment date, the purchased shares
would not be subject to an initial sales charge or CDSC.
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION (RULE 12b-1 FEES) The Portfolio has adopted a
Plan of Distribution in accordance with Rule 12b-1 under the Investment
Company Act of 1940 with respect to the distribution of Class A,
Class B and Class C shares of the Portfolio. The Plan allows the
Portfolio to pay distribution fees for the sale and distribution of
these shares. It also allows the Portfolio to pay for services to
shareholders of Class A, Class B and Class C shares. Because these
fees are paid out of the Portfolio's assets on an ongoing basis, over
time these fees will increase the cost of your investment in these
Classes and may cost you more than paying other types of sales
charges.
19
<PAGE>
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
The financial highlights table is intended to help you understand the
Portfolio's financial performance for the past fiscal year of the Portfolio.
Certain information reflects financial results for a single Portfolio share. The
total return in the table represents the rate an investor would have earned or
lost on an investment in the Portfolio (assuming reinvestment of all dividends
and distributions).
This information has been audited by, whose report, along with the Portfolio's
financial statements, is included in the annual report, which is available upon
request.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
CLASS A SHARES
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FOR THE YEAR ENDED FOR THE PERIOD FEBRUARY 25, 1998*
FOR THE YEAR ENDED MAY 31, MAY 31, 1999(++) THROUGH MAY 31, 1998
<S> <C> <C>
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SELECTED PER SHARE DATA:
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net asset value, beginning of period
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
INCOME (LOSS) FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS:
Net investment income
Net realized and unrealized gain
(loss)
-------- --------
Total income (loss) from investment
operations
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LESS DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS FROM:
Net investment income
Net realized gain
-------- --------
Total dividends and distributions
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net asset value, end of period
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTAL RETURN+
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET ASSETS:
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Expenses
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net investment income
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SUPPLEMENTAL DATA:
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net assets, end of period, in
thousands
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Portfolio turnover rate
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
* The date shares were first issued.
++ The per share amounts were computed using an average number of shares
outstanding during the period.
+ Does not reflect the deduction of sales charge. Calculated based on the net
asset value as of the last business day of the period.
(1) Not annualized.
(2) Annualized.
(3) Reflects overall Portfolio ratios for investment income and non-class
specific expenses.
20
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
CLASS B SHARES++
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FOR THE
FOR THE PERIOD
YEAR FEBRUARY
ENDED 25, 1998*
MAY 31, THROUGH MAY
SELECTED PER SHARE DATA: 1999 31, 1998
<S> <C> <C>
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net asset value, beginning of period
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
INCOME FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS:
Net investment income
Net realized and unrealized gain
--------- -----------
Total income from investment operations
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LESS DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS FROM:
Net investment income
Net realized gain
--------- -----------
Total dividends and distributions
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net asset value, end of period
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTAL RETURN+
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET ASSETS:
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Expenses
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net investment income
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SUPPLEMENTAL DATA:
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net assets, end of period, in thousands
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Portfolio turnover rate
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
* The date shares were first issued.
21
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
CLASS C SHARES++
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FOR THE
FOR THE PERIOD
YEAR FEBRUARY
ENDED 25, 1998*
MAY 31, THROUGH MAY
SELECTED PER SHARE DATA: 1999 31, 1998
<S> <C> <C>
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net asset value, beginning of period
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
INCOME FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS:
Net investment income
Net realized and unrealized gain
--------- -----------
Total income from investment operations
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LESS DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS FROM:
Net investment income
Net realized gain
--------- -----------
Total dividends and distributions
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net asset value, end of period
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTAL RETURN+
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET ASSETS:
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Expenses
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net investment income
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SUPPLEMENTAL DATA:
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net assets, end of period, in thousands
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Portfolio turnover rate
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
* The date shares were first issued.
++ The per share amounts were computed using an average number of shares
outstanding during the period.
+ Does not reflect the deduction of sales charge. Calculated based on the net
asset value as of the last business day of the period.
(1) Not annualized.
(2) Annualized.
(3) Reflects overall Portfolio ratios for investment income and non-class
specific expenses.
22
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
CLASS D SHARES++
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FOR THE YEAR ENDED FOR THE PERIOD FEBRUARY 25, 1998*
SELECTED PER SHARE DATA: MAY 31, 1999 THROUGH MAY 31, 1998
<S> <C> <C>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net asset value, beginning of period
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
INCOME FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS:
Net investment income
Net realized and unrealized gain
------ ------
Total income from investment operations
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LESS DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS FROM:
Net investment income
Net realized gain
------ ------
Total dividends and distributions
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net asset value, end of period
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTAL RETURN+
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET ASSETS:
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Expenses
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net investment income
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SUPPLEMENTAL DATA:
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net assets, end of period, in thousands
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Portfolio turnover rate
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
* The date shares were first issued.
++ The per share amounts were computed using an average number of shares
outstanding during the period.
+ Calculated based on the net asset value as of the last business day of the
period.
(1) Not annualized.
(2) Annualized.
(3) Reflects overall Portfolio ratios for investment income and non-class
specific expenses.
23
<PAGE>
NOTES
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24
<PAGE>
MORGAN STANLEY DEAN WITTER
FAMILY OF FUNDS
The Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Family of Funds offers
investors a wide range of investment choices. Come on
in and meet the family!
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
GROWTH FUNDS
- ---------------------------------
GROWTH FUNDS
Aggressive Equity Fund
American Opportunities Fund
Capital Growth Securities
Developing Growth Securities
Equity Fund
Growth Fund
Market Leader Trust
Mid-Cap Equity Trust
Special Value Fund
Value Fund
THEME FUNDS
Financial Services Trust
Health Sciences Trust
Information Fund
Natural Resource Development Securities
Precious Metals and Minerals Trust
SmallCap Growth Fund
GLOBAL/INTERNATIONAL FUNDS
Competitive Edge Fund - "Best Ideas" Portfolio
European Growth Fund
Fund of Funds - International Portfolio
International Fund
International SmallCap Fund
Latin American Growth Fund
Japan Fund
Pacific Growth Fund
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
GROWTH AND INCOME FUNDS
- ---------------------------------
Balanced Growth Fund
Balanced Income Fund
Convertible Securities Trust
Dividend Growth Securities
Fund of Funds - Domestic Portfolio
Income Builder Fund
Mid-Cap Dividend Growth Securities
S&P 500 Index Fund
S&P 500 Select Fund
Strategist Fund
Total Return Trust
Value-Added Market Series/Equity Portfolio
THEME FUNDS
Global Utilities Fund
Real Estate Fund
Utilities Fund
GLOBAL FUNDS
Global Dividend Growth Securities
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
INCOME FUNDS
- ---------------------------------
GOVERNMENT INCOME FUNDS
Federal Securities Trust
Short-Term U.S. Treasury Trust
U.S. Government Securities Trust
DIVERSIFIED INCOME FUNDS
Diversified Income Trust
CORPORATE INCOME FUNDS
High Yield Securities
Intermediate Income Securities
Short-Term Bond Fund (NL)
GLOBAL INCOME FUNDS
North American Government Income Trust
World Wide Income Trust
TAX-FREE INCOME FUNDS
California Tax-Free Income Fund
Hawaii Municipal Trust (FSC)
Limited Term Municipal Trust (NL)
Multi-State Municipal Series Trust (FSC)
New York Tax-Free Income Fund
Tax-Exempt Securities Trust
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MONEY MARKET FUNDS
- ---------------------------------
TAXABLE MONEY MARKET FUNDS
Liquid Asset Fund (MM)
U.S. Government Money Market Trust (MM)
TAX-FREE MONEY MARKET FUNDS
California Tax-Free Daily Income Trust (MM)
N.Y. Municipal Money Market Trust (MM)
Tax-Free Daily Income Trust (MM)
There may be Funds created after this PROSPECTUS was published. Please consult
the inside front cover of a new Fund's prospectus for its designation, e.g.,
Multi-Class Fund or Money Market Fund.
Unless otherwise noted, each listed Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Fund, except for
Short-Term U.S. Treasury Trust, is a Multi-Class Fund. A Multi-Class Fund is a
mutual fund offering multiple Classes of shares. The other types of funds are:
NL - No-Load (Mutual) Fund; MM - Money Market Fund; FSC - A mutual fund sold
with a front-end sales charge and a distribution (12b-1) fee.
<PAGE>
PROSPECTUS - MONTH , 1999
Additional information about the Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Competitive Edge
Fund -- "Best Ideas" Portfolio's investments is available in the Portfolio's
ANNUAL AND SEMI-ANNUAL REPORTS TO SHAREHOLDERS. In the Portfolio's ANNUAL
REPORT, you will find a discussion of the market conditions and investment
strategies that significantly affected the Portfolio's performance during its
last fiscal year. The Portfolio's STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION also
provides additional information about the Portfolio. The STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION is incorporated herein by reference (legally is part of this
PROSPECTUS). For a free copy of any of these documents, to request other
information about the Portfolio, or to make shareholder inquiries, please call:
(800) 869-NEWS
You also may obtain information about the Portfolio by calling your Morgan
Stanley Dean Witter Financial Advisor or by visiting our Internet site at:
WWW.DEANWITTER.COM/FUNDS
Information about the Portfolio (including the STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION) can be viewed and copied at the Securities and Exchange
Commission's Public Reference Room in Washington, DC. Information about the
Reference Room's operations may be obtained by calling the SEC at (800)
SEC-0330. Reports and other information about the Portfolio are available on the
SEC's Internet site (www.sec.gov), and copies of this information may be
obtained, upon payment of a duplicating fee, by writing the Public Reference
Section of the SEC, Washington, DC 20549-6009.
Morgan Stanley Dean Witter
COMPETITIVE EDGE FUND
"BEST IDEAS" PORTFOLIO
[BACK COVER PHOTO]
A STOCK MUTUAL FUND
THAT SEEKS LONG-TERM
CAPITAL GROWTH
TICKER SYMBOLS:
CLASS A: EDGAX CLASS C: EDGCX
- -------------------- --------------------
CLASS B: EDGBX CLASS D: EDGDX
- -------------------- --------------------
(THE FUND'S INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT FILE NO. IS 811-8455)
<PAGE>
STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION MORGAN STANLEY
, 1999 DEAN WITTER COMPETITIVE EDGE FUND
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------
This STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION is not a PROSPECTUS. The PROSPECTUS
(dated , 1999) for the Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Competitive Edge
Fund may be obtained without charge from the Fund at its address or telephone
number listed below or from Dean Witter Reynolds at any of its branch offices.
This STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION relates to the "Best Ideas"
Portfolio of the Fund which is currently the only Portfolio offered by the Fund.
Morgan Stanley Dean Witter
Competitive Edge Fund
Two World Trade Center
New York, New York 10048
(800) 869-NEWS
<PAGE>
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I. Fund History........................................... 4
II. Description of the Portfolio and Its Investments and
Risks.................................................. 4
A. Classification...................................... 4
B. Investment Strategies and Risks..................... 4
C. Portfolio Policies/Investment Restrictions.......... 12
III. Management of the Fund................................. 14
A. Board of Trustees................................... 14
B. Management Information.............................. 14
C. Compensation........................................ 18
IV. Control Persons and Principal Holders of Securities.... 20
V. Investment Management and Other Services............... 20
A. Investment Manager.................................. 20
B. Principal Underwriter............................... 21
C. Services Provided by the Investment Manager and
Portfolio Expenses Paid................................ 21
D. Dealer Reallowances................................. 22
E. Rule 12b-1 Plan..................................... 22
F. Other Service Providers............................. 26
VI. Brokerage Allocation and Other Practices............... 26
A. Brokerage Transactions.............................. 26
B. Commissions......................................... 27
C. Brokerage Selection................................. 27
D. Directed Brokerage.................................. 28
E. Regular Broker-Dealers.............................. 28
VII. Capital Stock and Other Securities..................... 28
VIII. Purchase, Redemption and Pricing of Shares............. 29
A. Purchase/Redemption of Shares....................... 29
B. Offering Price...................................... 30
IX. Taxation of the Portfolio and Shareholders............. 31
X. Underwriters........................................... 32
XI. Calculation of Performance Data........................ 33
XII. Financial Statements................................... 34
2
<PAGE>
GLOSSARY OF SELECTED DEFINED TERMS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The terms defined in this glossary are frequently used in this STATEMENT OF
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION (other terms used occasionally are defined in the text of
the document).
"CUSTODIAN"--The Bank of New York.
"DEAN WITTER REYNOLDS"--Dean Witter Reynolds Inc., a wholly-owned broker-dealer
subsidiary of MSDW.
"DISTRIBUTOR"--Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Distributors Inc., a wholly-owned
broker-dealer subsidiary of MSDW.
"FINANCIAL ADVISORS"--Morgan Stanley Dean Witter authorized financial services
representatives.
"FUND"--Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Competitive Edge Fund, a registered open-end
investment company.
"INVESTMENT MANAGER"--Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Advisors Inc., a wholly-owned
investment advisor subsidiary of MSDW.
"INDEPENDENT TRUSTEES"--Trustees who are not "interested persons" (as defined by
the Investment Company Act) of the Fund.
"MORGAN STANLEY & CO."--Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated, a wholly-owned
broker-dealer subsidiary of MSDW.
"MORGAN STANLEY DEAN WITTER FUNDS"--Registered investment companies (i) for
which the Investment Manager serves as the investment advisor and (ii) that hold
themselves out to investors as related companies for investment and investor
services.
"MSDW"--Morgan Stanley Dean Witter & Co., a preeminent global financial services
firm.
"MSDW SERVICES COMPANY"--Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Services Company Inc., a
wholly-owned fund services subsidiary of the Investment Manager.
"PORTFOLIO"--"Best Ideas" Portfolio of the Fund.
"TRANSFER AGENT"--Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Trust FSB, a wholly-owned transfer
agent subsidiary of MSDW.
"TRUSTEES"--The Board of Trustees of the Fund.
3
<PAGE>
I. FUND HISTORY
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Fund was organized as a "Massachusetts business trust" under the laws of
the Commonwealth of Massachusetts on October 16, 1997 under the name Dean Witter
"Competitive Edge" Fund. Effective December 18, 1997, the Fund's name was
changed to Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Competitive Edge Fund.
II. DESCRIPTION OF THE PORTFOLIO AND ITS INVESTMENTS AND RISKS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A. CLASSIFICATION
The Portfolio is an open-end, diversified management investment company
whose investment objective is to seek long-term capital growth.
B. INVESTMENT STRATEGIES AND RISKS
The following discussion of the Portfolio's investment strategies and risks
should be read with the sections of its PROSPECTUS titled "Principal Investment
Strategies," "Principal Risks," "Additional Investment Strategy Information" and
"Additional Risk Information."
COMPETITIVE EDGE "BEST IDEAS" PORTFOLIO: "BEST IDEAS" LIST. As of July ,
1999, the companies in the "Best Ideas" subgroup of "Global Investing: The
Competitive Edge" were as follows:
FORWARD FOREIGN CURRENCY EXCHANGE CONTRACTS. The Portfolio may enter into
forward U.S. dollar and foreign currency exchange contracts ("FORWARD
CONTRACTS") as a hedge against fluctuations in future foreign exchange rates.
The Portfolio may conduct its 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. Forward contracts only will be entered into with
United States banks and their foreign branches, insurance companies and other
dealers whose assets total $1 billion or more, or foreign banks 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.
The Portfolio may enter into forward contracts under various circumstances.
The typical use of a forward contract is to "lock in" the price of a security in
U.S. dollars or some other foreign currency which the Portfolio is 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 may 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 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.
The Investment Manager also may from time to time utilize forward contracts
for other purposes. For example, they may be used to hedge a foreign security
held in the portfolio or a security which pays out principal tied to an exchange
rate between the U.S. dollar and a foreign currency, against a decline in value
of the applicable foreign currency. They also may be used to lock in the current
exchange rate of the currency in which those securities anticipated to be
purchased are denominated. At times, the Portfolio may enter into
"cross-currency" hedging transactions involving currencies other than those in
which securities are held or proposed to be purchased are denominated.
The Portfolio will not enter into forward currency contracts or maintain a
net exposure to these contracts where the consummation of the contracts would
obligate the Portfolio to deliver an amount of currency in excess of the value
of the Portfolio's portfolio securities.
4
<PAGE>
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 Portfolio
at one rate, while offering a lesser rate of exchange should the Portfolio
desire to resell that currency to the dealer.
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.
Forward currency contracts may limit gains on portfolio securities that
could otherwise be realized had they not been utilized and could result in
losses. The contracts also may increase the Portfolio's volatility and may
involve a significant amount of risk relative to the investment of cash.
OPTION AND FUTURES TRANSACTIONS. The Portfolio may engage in transactions
in listed and OTC options on eligible portfolio securities and stock indexes.
Listed options are issued or guaranteed by the exchange on which they are traded
or by a clearing corporation such as the Options Clearing Corporation ("OCC").
Ownership of a listed call option gives the Portfolio the right to buy from the
OCC (in the U.S.) or other clearing corporation or exchange, the underlying
security or currency 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 (in the U.S.) or other clearing
corporation or exchange, the underlying security or currency 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 or currency to the OCC (in the U.S.) or
other clearing corporation or exchange, 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 or currency from the OCC (in the
U.S.) or other clearing corporation or exchange, at the exercise price.
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.
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 earn a higher level of current income than it
would earn from holding the underlying securities (or currencies) alone.
Moreover, the premium received will offset a portion of the potential loss
incurred by the Portfolio if the securities underlying the option decline in
value.
The Portfolio may be required, at any time during the option period, to
deliver the underlying security (or currency) against payment of the exercise
price on any calls it has written. 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, the Portfolio
will be unable to effect a closing purchase transaction.
A call option is "covered" if the Portfolio owns the underlying security
subject to the option or has an absolute and immediate right to acquire that
security without additional cash consideration (or for additional consideration
(in cash, Treasury bills or other liquid portfolio securities) held in a
segregated account on the Portfolio's books) upon conversion or exchange of
other securities held in its portfolio. A call option is also covered if the
Portfolio holds a call on the same security as the call written where the
exercise price of the call held is (i) equal to or less than the exercise price
of the call written or (ii) greater than the exercise price of the call written
if the difference is maintained by the Portfolio in cash, Treasury bills or
other liquid portfolio securities in a segregated account on the Portfolio's
books.
5
<PAGE>
Options written by the Portfolio normally have expiration dates of from up
to eighteen months 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 (or currency) at the time the option is written.
COVERED PUT WRITING. A writer of a covered put option 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. Through the writing of a put option, the Portfolio would receive
income from the premium paid by purchasers. The potential gain on a covered put
option is limited to the premium received on the option (less the commissions
paid on the transaction). 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. A put option is "covered" if the Portfolio maintains
cash, Treasury bills or other liquid portfolio securities with a value equal to
the exercise price in a segregated account on the Portfolio's books, or holds a
put on the same security as the put written where the exercise price of the put
held is equal to or greater than the exercise price of the put written. The
operation of and limitations on covered put options in other respects are
substantially identical to those of call options.
PURCHASING CALL AND PUT OPTIONS. The Portfolio may purchase listed and OTC
call and put options in amounts equaling up to 5% of its total assets. The
purchase of a call option would enable the Portfolio, in return for the premium
paid to lock in a purchase price for a security or currency during the term of
the option. The purchase of a put option would enable the Portfolio, in return
for a premium paid, to lock in a price at which it may sell a security or
currency during the term of the option.
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.
OTC OPTIONS. OTC options are purchased from or sold (written) to dealers or
financial institutions which have entered into direct agreements with the
Portfolio. With OTC options, such variables as expiration date, exercise price
and premium will be agreed upon between the Portfolio and the transacting
dealer, without the intermediation of a third party such as the OCC. The
Portfolio will engage in OTC option transactions only with member banks of the
Federal Reserve Bank System or primary dealers in U.S. Government securities or
with affiliates of such banks or dealers.
RISKS OF OPTIONS TRANSACTIONS. The successful use of options depends on the
ability of the Investment Manager to forecast correctly interest rates and/or
market movements. If the market value of the portfolio securities (or
currencies) upon which call options have been written increases, the Portfolio
may receive a lower total return from the portion of its portfolio upon which
calls have been written than it would have had such calls not been written.
During the option period, the covered call writer has, in return for the premium
on the option, given up the opportunity for capital appreciation above the
exercise price should the market price of the underlying security (or currency)
increase, but has retained the risk of loss should the price of the underlying
security (or currency) decline. The covered put writer also retains the risk of
loss should the market value of the underlying security (or 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. Prior to
exercise or expiration, an option position can only be terminated by entering
into a closing purchase or sale transaction. 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 (or currencies) at the exercise price.
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.
In the event of the bankruptcy of a broker through which the Portfolio
engages in transactions in options, 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. In the case
of OTC options, if the transacting dealer fails to make or take delivery of the
securities (or currencies)
6
<PAGE>
underlying an option it has written, in accordance with the terms of that
option, due to insolvency or otherwise, the Portfolio would lose the premium
paid for the option as well as any anticipated benefit of the transaction.
Each of the exchanges has established limitations governing the maximum
number of call or put options on the same underlying security which may be
written by a single investor, whether acting alone or in concert with others
(regardless of whether such options are written on the same or different
exchanges or are held or written on one or more accounts or through one or more
brokers). An exchange may order the liquidation of positions found to be in
violation of these limits and it may impose other sanctions or restrictions.
These position limits may restrict the number of listed options which the
Portfolio may write.
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.
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. There can be no
assurance that a liquid secondary market will exist for a particular option at
any specific time.
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. Because
foreign currency transactions occurring in the interbank market involve
substantially larger amounts than those that may be involved in the use of
foreign currency options, investors may be disadvantaged by having to deal in an
odd lot market (generally consisting of transactions of less than $1 million)
for the underlying foreign currencies at prices that are less favorable than for
round lots.
There is no systematic reporting of last sale information for foreign
currencies or any regulatory requirement that quotations available through
dealers or other market sources be firm or revised on a timely basis. Quotation
information available is generally representative of very large transactions in
the interbank market and thus may not reflect relatively smaller transactions
(i.e., less than $1 million) where rates may be less favorable. The interbank
market in foreign currencies is a global, around-the-clock market. To the extent
that the U.S. options markets are closed while the markets for the underlying
currencies remain open, significant price and rate movements may take place in
the underlying markets that are not reflected in the options market.
STOCK INDEX OPTIONS. The Portfolio may invest in options on broadly based
indexes. 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 writer of the
option is obligated, in return for the premium received, to make delivery of
this amount.
RISKS OF OPTIONS ON INDEXES. Because exercises of stock index options are
settled in cash, the Portfolio could not, if it wrote a call option, provide in
advance for its 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.
7
<PAGE>
When an index option is exercised, the amount of cash that the holder is
entitled to receive is determined by the difference between the exercise price
and the closing index level on the date when the option is exercised. As with
other kinds of options, the writer will not learn that it had been assigned
until the next business day, at the earliest. The time lag between exercise and
notice of assignment poses no risk for the writer of a covered call on a
specific underlying security, such as a common stock, because there the writer's
obligation is to deliver the underlying security, not to pay its value as of a
fixed time in the past. So long as the writer already owns the underlying
security, it can satisfy its settlement obligations by simply delivering it, and
the risk that its value may have declined since the exercise date is borne by
the exercising holder. In contrast, even if the writer of an index call holds
stocks that exactly match the composition of the underlying index, it will not
be able to satisfy its assignment obligations by delivering those stocks against
payment of the exercise price. Instead, it will be required to pay cash in an
amount based on the closing index value on the exercise date; and by the time it
learns that it has been assigned, the index may have declined, with a
corresponding decrease in the value of its stock portfolio. This "timing risk"
is an inherent limitation on the ability of index call writers to cover their
risk exposure by holding stock positions.
A holder of an index option who exercises it before the closing index value
for that day is available runs the risk that the level of the underlying index
may subsequently change. If 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. The Portfolio may purchase and sell interest rate and
index futures contracts that are traded on U.S. and foreign commodity exchanges
on such underlying securities as U.S. Treasury bonds, notes, bills and GNMA
Certificates and/or any foreign government fixed-income security, on the U.S.
dollar and foreign currencies, and on such indexes of U.S. and foreign
securities as may exist or come into existence.
A futures contract purchaser 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. A seller of a futures contract incurs an
obligation to deliver the specified amount of the underlying obligation at a
specified time in return for an agreed upon price. The purchase of a futures
contract enables the Portfolio, during the term of the contract, to lock in a
price at which it may purchase a security and protect against a rise in prices
pending purchase of portfolio securities. The sale of a futures contract enables
the Portfolio to lock in a price at which it may sell a security and protect
against declines in the value of portfolio securities.
Although most 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 times the
difference between the 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 security (currency) 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
security (currency) 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 Portfolio will be able to enter into a
closing transaction.
8
<PAGE>
MARGIN. If the Portfolio enters into a futures contract, it is initially
required to deposit an "initial margin" of cash or U.S. Government securities or
other liquid portfolio securities ranging from approximately 2% to 5% of the
contract amount. Initial margin requirements are established by the exchanges on
which futures contracts trade and may, from time to time, change. In addition,
brokers may establish margin deposit requirements in excess of those required by
the exchanges.
Initial margin in futures transactions is different from margin in
securities transactions in that initial margin does not involve the borrowing of
funds by a broker's client but is, rather, a good faith deposit on the futures
contract which will be returned to the 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 of cash or U.S.
Government securities, called "variation margin," which are reflective of price
fluctuations in the futures contract.
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 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
net assets which may be subject to a hedge position.
RISKS OF TRANSACTIONS IN FUTURES CONTRACTS AND RELATED OPTIONS. 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. Also, prices of futures contracts may
not move in tandem with the changes in prevailing interest rates and/or market
movements against which the Portfolio seeks a hedge. A correlation may also be
distorted (a) temporarily, by short-term traders' seeking to profit from the
difference between a contract or security price objective and their cost of
borrowed funds; (b) by investors in futures contracts electing to close out
their contracts through offsetting transactions rather than meet margin deposit
requirements; (c) by investors in futures contracts opting to make or take
delivery of underlying securities rather than engage in closing transactions,
thereby reducing liquidity of the futures market; and (d) temporarily, by
speculators who view the deposit requirements in the futures markets as less
onerous than margin requirements in the cash market. Due to the possibility of
price distortion in the futures market and because of the possible imperfect
correlation between movements in the prices of securities and movements in the
prices of futures contracts, a correct forecast of interest rate, currency
exchange rate and/or market movement 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 the Portfolio may invest. In the event a
liquid market does not exist, it may not be
9
<PAGE>
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. The absence of a liquid market in futures
contracts might cause the Portfolio to make or take delivery of the underlying
securities at a time when it may be disadvantageous to do so.
Exchanges also limit the amount by which the price of a futures contract may
move on any day. If the price moves equal the daily limit on successive days,
then it may prove impossible to liquidate a futures position until the daily
limit moves have ceased. In the event of adverse price movements, the Portfolio
would continue to be required to make daily cash payments of variation margin on
open futures positions. In these 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 the Portfolio's ability to effectively hedge its portfolio.
Futures contracts and options thereon which are purchased or sold on foreign
commodities exchanges may have greater price volatility than their U.S.
counterparts. Furthermore, foreign commodities exchanges may be less regulated
and under less governmental scrutiny than U.S. exchanges. Brokerage commissions,
clearing costs and other transaction costs may be higher on foreign exchanges.
Greater margin requirements may limit the Portfolio's ability to enter into
certain commodity transactions on foreign exchanges. Moreover, differences in
clearance and delivery requirements on foreign exchanges may occasion delays in
the settlement of the Portfolio's transactions effected on foreign exchanges.
In the event of the bankruptcy of a broker through which the Portfolio
engages in transactions in 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.
MONEY MARKET SECURITIES. The Portfolio may invest in various money market
securities for cash management purposes, which among others may include
commercial paper, bank acceptances, bank obligations, corporate debt securities
certificates of deposit, U.S. Government securities and obligations of savings
institutions. 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, time
deposits and bankers' acceptances) of banks subject to regulation by the U.S.
Government and having total assets of $1 billion or more, and instruments
secured by such obligations, not including obligations of foreign branches of
domestic banks except to the extent below;
EURODOLLAR CERTIFICATES OF DEPOSIT. Eurodollar certificates of deposit
issued by foreign branches of domestic banks having total assets of $1 billion
or more;
OBLIGATIONS OF SAVINGS INSTITUTIONS. Certificates of deposit of savings
banks and savings and loan associations, having total assets of $1 billion or
more;
FULLY INSURED CERTIFICATES OF DEPOSIT. Certificates of deposit of banks and
savings institutions, having total assets of less than $1 billion. If the
principal amount of the obligation is federally insured by the Bank Insurance
Fund or the Savings Association Insurance Fund (each of which is administered by
the FDIC), limited to $100,000 principal amount per certificate and to 10% or
less of the Portfolio's total assets in all such obligations and in all illiquid
assets, in the aggregate;
10
<PAGE>
COMMERCIAL PAPER. Commercial paper rated within the two highest grades by
Standard & Poor's Corporation ("S&P") or the two highest grades by Moody's
Investors Service, Inc. ("Moody's") or, if not rated, issued by a company having
an outstanding debt issue rated at least AA by S&P or Aa by Moody's; and
REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS. The Portfolio may invest in repurchase agreements.
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
serving as collateral at a specified price and at a fixed time in the future,
usually not more than seven days from the date of purchase. The collateral will
be marked-to-market daily to determine that the value of the collateral, as
specified in the agreement, does not decrease below the purchase price plus
accrued interest. If such decrease occurs, additional collateral will be
requested and, when received, added to the account to maintain full
collateralization. The Portfolio will accrue interest from the institution until
the time when the repurchase is to occur. Although this date is deemed by the
Portfolio 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 institutions
whose financial condition will be continually monitored by the Investment
Manager subject to procedures established by the Trustees. In addition, as
described above, the value of the collateral underlying the repurchase agreement
will be at least equal to the repurchase price, including any accrued interest
earned on the repurchase agreement. In the event of a default or bankruptcy by a
selling financial institution, the 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.
LENDING PORTFOLIO SECURITIES. The Portfolio may lend its portfolio
securities to brokers, dealers and other financial institutions, provided that
the loans are callable at any time by the Portfolio, and are at all times
secured by cash or cash equivalents, which are maintained in a segregated
account pursuant to applicable regulations and that are equal to at least 100%
of the market value, determined daily, of the loaned securities. The advantage
of these loans is that the 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. The
Portfolio will not lend more than 25% of the value of its total assets.
As with any extensions of credit, there are risks of delay in recovery and,
in some cases, even loss of rights in the collateral should the borrower of the
securities fail financially. However, these loans of portfolio securities will
only be made to firms deemed by the 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.
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 the
rights if the matters involved would have a material effect on the Portfolio's
investment in the loaned securities. The Portfolio will pay reasonable finder's,
administrative and custodial fees in connection with a loan of its securities.
11
<PAGE>
PRIVATE PLACEMENTS. The Portfolio may invest up to 15% of its net assets in
securities which are subject to restrictions on resale because they have not
been registered under the Securities Act of 1933 (the "SECURITIES ACT"), or
which are otherwise not readily marketable. (Securities eligible for resale
pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act, and determined to be liquid
pursuant to the procedures discussed in the following paragraph, are not subject
to the foregoing restriction.) These securities are generally referred to as
private placements or restricted securities. Limitations on the resale of these
securities may have an adverse effect on their marketability, and may prevent
the Portfolio from disposing of them promptly at reasonable prices. The
Portfolio may have to bear the expense of registering the securities for resale
and the risk of substantial delays in effecting the registration.
Rule 144A permits the Portfolio to sell restricted securities to qualified
institutional buyers without limitation. The Investment Manager, pursuant to
procedures adopted by the Trustees, 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," the security will not be
included within the category "illiquid securities," which may not exceed 15% of
the Portfolio's net assets. However, investing in Rule 144A securities could
have the effect of increasing the level of Fund illiquidity to the extent the
Fund, at a particular point in time, may be unable to find qualified
institutional buyers interested in purchasing such securities.
WARRANTS AND SUBSCRIPTION RIGHTS. The Portfolio may acquire warrants and
subscription rights. A warrant is, in effect, an option to purchase equity
securities at a specific price, generally valid for a specific period of time,
and has no voting rights, pays no dividends and has no rights with respect to
the corporation issuing it.
A subscription right is a privilege granted to existing shareholders of a
corporation to subscribe to shares of a new issue of common stock before it is
offered to the public. A subscription right normally has a life of two to four
weeks and a subscription price lower than the current market value of the common
stock. A subscription right is freely transferable.
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.
YEAR 2000. The investment management services provided to the Portfolio by
the Investment Manager and the services provided to shareholders by the
Distributor and the Transfer Agent depend on the smooth functioning of their
computer systems. Many computer software systems in use today cannot recognize
the year 2000, but revert to 1900 or some other date, due to the manner in which
dates were encoded and calculated. That failure could have a negative impact on
the handling of securities trades, pricing and account services. The Investment
Manager, the Distributor and the Transfer Agent have been actively working on
necessary changes to their own computer systems to prepare for the year 2000 and
expect that their systems will be adapted before that date, but there can be no
assurance that they will be successful, or that interaction with other
non-complying computer systems will not impair their services at that time.
In addition, it is possible that the markets for securities in which the
Portfolio invests may be detrimentally affected by computer failures throughout
the financial services industry beginning January 1, 2000. Improperly
functioning trading systems may result in settlement problems and liquidity
issues. In addition, corporate and governmental data processing errors may
result in production problems for individual companies and overall economic
uncertainties. Earnings of individual issuers will be affected by remediation
costs, which may be substantial and may be reported inconsistently in U.S. and
foreign financial statements. Accordingly, the Portfolio's investments may be
adversely affected.
C. PORTFOLIO POLICIES/INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS
The investment objective, policies and restrictions listed below have been
adopted by the Portfolio as fundamental policies. Under the Investment Company
Act of 1940 (the "INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT"), a
12
<PAGE>
fundamental policy may not be changed with respect to the Portfolio without the
vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Portfolio. The
Investment Company Act defines a majority as the lesser of (a) 67% or more of
the shares present at a meeting of shareholders, if the holders of 50% of the
outstanding shares of the Portfolio are present or represented by proxy; or (b)
more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Portfolio. For purposes of the
following restrictions: (i) all percentage limitations apply immediately after a
purchase or initial investment; and (ii) any subsequent change in any applicable
percentage resulting from market fluctuations or other changes in total or net
assets does not require elimination of any security from the portfolio.
The Portfolio will:
1. Seek long-term capital growth.
The Portfolio 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, its agencies or
instrumentalities.
4. Purchase or sell real estate or interests therein (including limited
partnership interests), although the Portfolio may purchase securities of
issuers which engage in real estate operations and securities secured by real
estate or interests therein.
5. Borrow money, except that the Portfolio may borrow from a bank for
temporary or emergency purposes in an amount not exceeding 5% (taken at the
lower of cost or current value) of its total assets (not including the amount
borrowed).
6. 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.
7. Issue senior securities as defined in the Investment Company Act, except
for permitted borrowings and except insofar as the Portfolio may be deemed to
have issued a senior security by reason of entering into repurchase agreements.
8. 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.
9. Make short sales of securities.
10. Purchase securities on margin, except for such short-term loans as are
necessary for the clearance of portfolio securities. The deposit or payment by
the 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.
13
<PAGE>
11. Engage in the underwriting of securities, except insofar as the
Portfolio may be deemed an underwriter under the Securities Act in disposing of
a portfolio security.
12. Invest for the purpose of exercising control or management of any one
issuer.
13. Purchase or sell commodities or commodities contracts except that the
Portfolio may purchase or write interest rate, currency and stock and bond index
futures contracts and related options thereon.
Notwithstanding any other investment policy or restriction, the Portfolio
may seek to achieve its investment objective by investing all or substantially
all of its assets in another investment company having substantially the same
investment objective and policies as the Portfolio.
III. MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A. BOARD OF TRUSTEES
The Board of Trustees of the Fund oversees the management of the Portfolio
but does not itself manage the Portfolio. The Trustees review various services
provided by or under the direction of the Investment Manager to ensure that the
Portfolio's general investment policies and programs are properly carried out.
The Trustees also conduct their review to ensure that administrative services
are provided to the Portfolio of the Fund in a satisfactory manner.
Under state law, the duties of the Trustees are generally characterized as a
duty of loyalty and a duty of care. The duty of loyalty requires a Trustee to
exercise his or her powers in the interest of the Portfolio of the Fund and not
the Trustee's own interest or the interest of another person or organization. A
Trustee satisfies his or her duty of care by acting in good faith with the care
of an ordinarily prudent person and in a manner the Trustee reasonably believes
to be in the best interest of the Portfolio and its shareholders.
B. MANAGEMENT INFORMATION
TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS. The Board of the Fund consists of eight (8)
Trustees. These same individuals also serve as directors or trustees for all of
the Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Funds. Six Trustees (75% of the total number)
have no affiliation or business connection with the Investment Manager or any of
its affiliated persons and do not own any stock or other securities issued by
the Investment Manager's parent company, MSDW. These are the "non-interested" or
"independent" Trustees. The other two Trustees (the "MANAGEMENT TRUSTEES") are
affiliated with the Investment Manager. All of the Trustees also serve as
Trustees of "DISCOVER BROKERAGE INDEX SERIES," a mutual fund for which the
Investment Manager is the investment advisor.
The Trustees and executive officers of the Fund, their principal business
occupations during the last five years and their affiliations, if any, with the
Investment Manager, and with the 90 Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Funds and
Discover Brokerage Index Series, are shown below.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NAME, AGE, POSITION WITH FUND AND ADDRESS PRINCIPAL OCCUPATIONS DURING LAST FIVE YEARS
- ------------------------------------------------------ ----------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C>
Michael Bozic (58) ................................... Vice Chairman of Kmart Corporation (since December, 1998);
Trustee Director or Trustee of the Morgan Stanley Dean Witter
c/o Kmart Corporation Funds and Discover Brokerage Index Series; formerly
3100 West Big Beaver Road Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Levitz Furniture
Troy, Michigan Corporation (November, 1995-November, 1998) and President
and Chief Executive Officer of Hills Department Stores
(May, 1991-July, 1995); formerly variously Chairman, Chief
Executive Officer, President and Chief Operating Officer
(1987-1991) of the Sears Merchandise Group of Sears,
Roebuck and Co.; Director of Eaglemark Financial Services,
Inc. and Weirton Steel Corporation.
</TABLE>
14
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NAME, AGE, POSITION WITH FUND AND ADDRESS PRINCIPAL OCCUPATIONS DURING LAST FIVE YEARS
- ------------------------------------------------------ ----------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C>
Charles A. Fiumefreddo* (66) ......................... Chairman, Director or Trustee and Chief Executive Officer
Chairman of the Board of the Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Funds and Discover
Chief Executive Officer and Trustee Brokerage Index Series; formerly Chairman, Chief Executive
Two World Trade Center Officer and Director of the Investment Manager, the
New York, New York Distributor and MSDW Services Company; Executive Vice
President and Director of Dean Witter Reynolds; Chairman
and Director of the Transfer Agent; formerly Director
and/or officer of various MSDW subsidiaries (until June,
1998).
Edwin J. Garn (67) ................................... Director or Trustee of the Morgan Stanley Dean Witter
Trustee Funds and Discover Brokerage Index Series; formerly United
c/o Huntsman Corporation States Senator (R-Utah)(1974-1992) and Chairman, Senate
500 Huntsman Way Banking Committee (1980-1986); formerly Mayor of Salt Lake
Salt Lake City, Utah City, Utah (1971-1974); formerly Astronaut, Space Shuttle
Discovery (April 12-19, 1985); Vice Chairman, Huntsman
Corporation (chemical company); Director of Franklin Covey
(time management systems), BMW Bank of North America, Inc.
(industrial loan corporation), United Space Alliance
(joint venture between Lockheed Martin and the Boeing
Company) and Nuskin Asia Pacific (multilevel marketing);
member of the board of various civic and charitable
organizations.
Wayne E. Hedien (65) ................................. Retired; Director or Trustee of the Morgan Stanley Dean
Trustee Witter Funds and Discover Brokerage Index Series; Director
c/o Gordon Altman Butowsky of The PMI Group, Inc. (private mortgage insurance);
Weitzen Shalov & Wein Trustee and Vice Chairman of The Field Museum of Natural
Counsel to the Independent Trustees History; formerly associated with the Allstate Companies
114 West 47th Street (1966-1994), most recently as Chairman of The Allstate
New York, New York Corporation (March, 1993-December, 1994) and Chairman and
Chief Executive Officer of its wholly-owned subsidiary,
Allstate Insurance Company (July, 1989-December, 1994);
director of various other business and charitable
organizations.
Dr. Manuel H. Johnson (50) ........................... Senior Partner, Johnson Smick International, Inc., a
Trustee consulting firm; Co-Chairman and a founder of the Group of
c/o Johnson Smick International, Inc. Seven Council (G7C), an international economic commission;
1133 Connecticut Avenue, N.W. Chairman of the Audit Committee and Director or Trustee of
Washington, D.C. the Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Funds and Discover
Brokerage Index Series; Director of Greenwich Capital
Markets, Inc. (broker-dealer) and NVR, Inc. (home
construction); Chairman and Trustee of the Financial
Accounting Foundation (oversight organization of the
Financial Accounting Standards Board); formerly Vice
Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve
System (1986-1990) and Assistant Secretary of the U.S.
Treasury.
</TABLE>
15
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NAME, AGE, POSITION WITH FUND AND ADDRESS PRINCIPAL OCCUPATIONS DURING LAST FIVE YEARS
- ------------------------------------------------------ ----------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C>
Michael E. Nugent (63) ............................... General Partner, Triumph Capital, L.P., a private
Trustee investment partnership; Chairman of the Insurance
c/o Triumph Capital, L.P. Committee and Director or Trustee of the Morgan Stanley
237 Park Avenue Dean Witter Funds and Discover Brokerage Index Series;
New York, New York formerly Vice President, Bankers Trust Company and BT
Capital Corporation (1984-1988); director of various
business organizations.
Philip J. Purcell* (56) .............................. Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive
Trustee Officer of MSDW, Dean Witter Reynolds and Novus Credit
1585 Broadway Services Inc.; Director of the Distributor; Director or
New York, New York Trustee of the Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Funds and
Discover Brokerage Index Series; Director and/or officer
of various MSDW subsidiaries.
John L. Schroeder (69) ............................... Retired; Chairman of the Derivatives Committee and
Trustee Director or Trustee of the Morgan Stanley Dean Witter
c/o Gordon Altman Butowsky Funds and Discover Brokerage Index Series; Director of
Weitzen Shalov & Wein Citizens Utilities Company (telecommunications, gas,
Counsel to the Independent Trustees electric and water utilities company); formerly Executive
114 West 47th Street Vice President and Chief Investment Officer of the Home
New York, New York Insurance Company (August, 1991-September, 1995).
Mitchell M. Merin (46) ............................... President and Chief Operating Officer of Asset Management
President of MSDW (since December, 1998); President and Director
Two World Trade Center (since April, 1997) and Chief Executive Officer (since
New York, New York June, 1998) of the Investment Manager and MSDW Services
Company; Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and Director of
the Distributor (since June, 1998); Chairman and Chief
Executive Officer (since June, 1998) and Director (since
January, 1998) of the Transfer Agent; Director of various
MSDW subsidiaries; President of the Morgan Stanley Dean
Witter Funds and Discover Brokerage Index Series (since
May, 1999); previously Chief Strategic Officer of the
Investment Manager and MSDW Services Company and Executive
Vice President of the Distributor (April, 1997-June,
1998), Vice President of the Morgan Stanley Dean Witter
Funds and Discover Brokerage Index Series (May,
1997-April, 1999), and Executive Vice President of Dean
Witter, Discover & Co.
</TABLE>
16
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NAME, AGE, POSITION WITH FUND AND ADDRESS PRINCIPAL OCCUPATIONS DURING LAST FIVE YEARS
- ------------------------------------------------------ ----------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C>
Barry Fink (44) ...................................... Senior Vice President (since March, 1997) and Secretary
Vice President, and General Counsel (since February, 1997) and Director
Secretary and General Counsel (since July, 1998) of the Investment Manager and MSDW
Two World Trade Center Services Company; Senior Vice President (since March,
New York, New York 1997) and Assistant Secretary and Assistant General
Counsel (since February, 1997) of the Distributor;
Assistant Secretary of Dean Witter Reynolds (since August,
1996); Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel of
the Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Funds (since February,
1997); Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel of
Discover Brokerage Index Series; previously First Vice
President (June, 1993-February, 1997), Vice President and
Assistant Secretary and Assistant General Counsel of the
Investment Manager and MSDW Services Company and Assistant
Secretary of the Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Funds.
Mark Bavoso (38) ..................................... Senior Vice President of the Investment Manager; Vice
Vice President President of several of the Morgan Stanley Dean Witter
Two World Trade Center Funds.
New York, New York
Thomas F. Caloia (53) ................................ First Vice President and Assistant Treasurer of the
Treasurer Investment Manager, the Distributor and MSDW Services
Two World Trade Center Company; Treasurer of the Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Funds
New York, New York and Discover Brokerage Index Series.
</TABLE>
- ------------------------
* Denotes Trustees who are "interested persons" of the Fund as defined in the
Investment Company Act.
In addition, RONALD E. ROBISON, Executive Vice President, Chief
Administrative Officer and Director of the Investment Manager and MSDW Services
Company, ROBERT S. GIAMBRONE, Senior Vice President of the Investment Manager,
MSDW Services Company, the Distributor and the Transfer Agent and Director of
the Transfer Agent, and JOSEPH J. MCALINDEN, Executive Vice President and Chief
Investment Officer of the Investment Manager and Director of the Transfer Agent,
and KENTON J. HINCHLIFFE, and GUY D. RUTHERFORD, JR., Senior Vice Presidents of
the Investment Manager, and ROBERT ROSSETTI, Vice President of the Investment
Manager, are Vice Presidents of the Fund, and STEVEN MACNAMARA, Vice President
of the Investment Manager is an Assistant Vice President of the Fund.
In addition, FRANK BRUTTOMESSO, MARILYN K. CRANNEY, LOU ANNE D. MCINNIS,
CARSTEN OTTO and RUTH ROSSI, First Vice Presidents and Assistant General
Counsels of the Investment Manager and MSDW Services Company, and TODD LEBO, a
Vice President and Assistant General Counsel of the Investment Manager and MSDW
Services Company, are Assistant Secretaries of the Fund.
INDEPENDENT TRUSTEES AND THE COMMITTEES. Law and regulation establish both
general guidelines and specific duties for the independent trustees. The Morgan
Stanley Dean Witter Funds seek as independent trustees individuals of
distinction and experience in business and finance, government service or
academia; these are people whose advice and counsel are in demand by others and
for whom there is often competition. To accept a position on the Funds' boards,
such individuals may reject other attractive assignments because the Funds make
substantial demands on their time. All of the independent trustees serve as
members of the Audit Committee. In addition, three of the trustees, including
two independent trustees, serve as members of the Derivatives Committee and the
Insurance Committee.
17
<PAGE>
The independent trustees are charged with recommending to the full board
approval of management, advisory and administration contracts, Rule 12b-1 plans
and distribution and underwriting agreements; continually reviewing Fund
performance; checking on the pricing of portfolio securities, brokerage
commissions, transfer agent costs and performance, and trading among Funds in
the same complex; and approving fidelity bond and related insurance coverage and
allocations, as well as other matters that arise from time to time. The
independent trustees are required to select and nominate individuals to fill any
independent trustee vacancy on the board of any Fund that has a Rule 12b-1 plan
of distribution. Most of the Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Funds have a Rule 12b-1
plan.
The Audit Committee is charged with recommending to the full board the
engagement or discharge of the Fund's independent accountants; directing
investigations into matters within the scope of the independent accountants'
duties, including the power to retain outside specialists; reviewing with the
independent accountants the audit plan and results of the auditing engagement;
approving professional services provided by the independent accountants and
other accounting firms prior to the performance of the services; reviewing the
independence of the independent accountants; considering the range of audit and
non-audit fees; reviewing the adequacy of the Fund's system of internal
controls; and preparing and submitting Committee meeting minutes to the full
board.
The board of each Fund has a Derivatives Committee to approve parameters for
and monitor the activities of the Fund with respect to derivative investments,
if any, made by the Fund.
Finally, the board of each Fund has formed an Insurance Committee to review
and monitor the insurance coverage maintained by the Fund.
ADVANTAGES OF HAVING SAME INDIVIDUALS AS INDEPENDENT TRUSTEES FOR ALL MORGAN
STANLEY DEAN WITTER FUNDS. The independent trustees and the Funds' management
believe that having the same independent trustees for each of the Morgan Stanley
Dean Witter Funds avoids the duplication of effort that would arise from having
different groups of individuals serving as independent trustees for each of the
Funds or even of sub-groups of Funds. They believe that having the same
individuals serve as independent trustees of all the Funds tends to increase
their knowledge and expertise regarding matters which affect the Fund complex
generally and enhances their ability to negotiate on behalf of each Fund with
the Fund's service providers. This arrangement also precludes the possibility of
separate groups of independent trustees arriving at conflicting decisions
regarding operations and management of the Funds and avoids the cost and
confusion that would likely ensue. Finally, having the same independent trustees
serve on all Fund Boards enhances the ability of each Fund to obtain, at modest
cost to each separate Fund, the services of independent trustees, of the
caliber, experience and business acumen of the individuals who serve as
independent directors/trustees of the Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Funds.
C. COMPENSATION
The Fund pays each Independent Trustee an annual fee of $800 plus a per
meeting fee of $50 for meetings of the Board of Trustees, the Independent
Trustees or Committees of the Board of Trustees attended by the Trustee (the
Fund pays the Chairman of the Audit Committee an additional annual fee of $750,
and the Chairmen of the Derivatives and Insurance Committees additional annual
fees of $500). If a Board meeting and a meeting of the Independent Trustees or a
Committee meeting, or a meeting of the Independent Trustees and/or more than one
Committee meeting, take place on a single day, the Trustees are paid a single
meeting fee by the Fund. The Fund also reimburses such Trustees for travel and
other out-of-pocket expenses incurred by them in connection with attending such
meetings. Trustees and officers of the Fund who are or have been employed by the
Investment Manager or an affiliated company receive no compensation or expense
reimbursement from the Fund for their services as Trustee.
18
<PAGE>
The following table illustrates the compensation that the Fund paid to its
Independent Trustees for the fiscal year ended May 31, 1999.
FUND COMPENSATION
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
AGGREGATE
COMPENSATION
NAME OF INDEPENDENT TRUSTEE FROM THE FUND
- -------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------
<S> <C>
Michael Bozic................................................. $
Edwin J. Garn.................................................
Wayne E. Hedien...............................................
Dr. Manuel H. Johnson.........................................
Michael E. Nugent.............................................
John L. Schroeder.............................................
</TABLE>
The following table illustrates the compensation paid to the Fund's
Independent Trustees for the calendar year ended December 31, 1998 for services
to the 90 Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Funds that were in operation at December
31, 1998. No compensation was paid to the Fund's Independent Trustees by
Discover Brokerage Index Series for the calendar year ended December 31, 1998.
CASH COMPENSATION FROM MORGAN STANLEY DEAN WITTER FUNDS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
TOTAL CASH
COMPENSATION
FOR SERVICES
TO 90 MORGAN
STANLEY DEAN
NAME OF INDEPENDENT TRUSTEE WITTER FUNDS
- -------------------------------------------------------------- -------------
<S> <C>
Michael Bozic................................................. $120,150
Edwin J. Garn................................................. 132,450
Wayne E. Hedien............................................... 132,350
Dr. Manuel H. Johnson......................................... 155,681
Michael E. Nugent............................................. 159,731
John L. Schroeder............................................. 160,731
</TABLE>
As of the date of this STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, 55 of the Morgan
Stanley Dean Witter Funds, not including the Fund, have adopted a retirement
program under which an independent trustee who retires after serving for at
least five years (or such lesser period as may be determined by the Board) as an
independent trustee of any Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Fund that has adopted the
retirement program (each such Fund referred to as an "ADOPTING FUND" and each
such trustee referred to as an "ELIGIBLE TRUSTEE") is entitled to retirement
payments upon reaching the eligible retirement age (normally, after attaining
age 72). Annual payments are based upon length of service.
Currently, upon retirement, each Eligible Trustee is entitled to receive
from the Adopting Fund, commencing as of his or her retirement date and
continuing for the remainder of his or her life, an annual retirement benefit
(the "REGULAR BENEFIT") equal to 30.22% of his or her Eligible Compensation plus
0.5036667% of such Eligible Compensation for each full month of service as an
Independent Director or Trustee of any Adopting Fund in excess of five years up
to a maximum of 60.44% after ten years of service. The foregoing percentages may
be changed by the Board.(1) "ELIGIBLE COMPENSATION" is one-fifth
- ------------------------
1 An Eligible Trustee may elect alternative payments of his or her retirement
benefits based upon the combined life expectancy of the Eligible Trustee and
his or her spouse on the date of such Eligible Trustee's retirement. The
amount estimated to be payable under this method, through the remainder of
the later of the lives of the Eligible Trustee and spouse, will be the
actuarial equivalent of the Regular Benefit. In addition, the Eligible
Trustee may elect that the surviving spouse's periodic payment of benefits
will be equal to either 50% or 100% of the previous periodic amount, an
election that, respectively, increases or decreases the previous periodic
amounts so that the resulting payments will be the actuarial equivalent of
the Regular Benefit.
19
<PAGE>
of the total compensation earned by such Eligible Trustee for service to the
Adopting Fund in the five year period prior to the date of the Eligible
Trustee's retirement. Benefits under the retirement program are accrued as
expenses on the books of the Adopting Funds. Such benefits are not secured or
funded by the Adopting Funds.
The following table illustrates the retirement benefits accrued to the
Independent Trustees by the 55 Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Funds (not including
the Fund) for the calendar year ended December 31, 1998, and the estimated
retirement benefits for the Independent Trustees, to commence upon their
retirement, from the 55 Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Funds as of the calendar year
ended December 31, 1998.
RETIREMENT BENEFITS FROM
ALL MORGAN STANLEY DEAN WITTER FUNDS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
RETIREMENT ESTIMATED ANNUAL
FOR ALL ADOPTING FUNDS BENEFITS BENEFITS
------------------------------------ ACCRUED AS UPON
ESTIMATED CREDITED ESTIMATED EXPENSES RETIREMENT(1)
YEARS OF SERVICE AT PERCENTAGE OF BY ALL FROM ALL
RETIREMENT (MAXIMUM ELIGIBLE ADOPTING ADOPTING
NAME OF INDEPENDENT TRUSTEE 10) COMPENSATION FUNDS FUNDS
- ------------------------------------------------ ------------------- --------------- ----------- -----------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Michael Bozic................................... 10 60.44% $ 22,377 $ 52,250
Edwin J. Garn................................... 10 60.44 35,225 52,250
Wayne E. Hedien................................. 9 51.37 41,979 44,413
Dr. Manuel H. Johnson........................... 10 60.44 14,047 52,250
Michael E. Nugent............................... 10 60.44 25,336 52,250
John L. Schroeder............................... 8 50.37 45,117 44,343
</TABLE>
- ------------------------
1 Based on current levels of compensation. Amount of annual benefits also
varies depending on the Trustee's elections described in Footnote 1 on page
19.
IV. CONTROL PERSONS AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS OF SECURITIES
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[The following owned 5% or more............................................]
As of the date of this STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, the aggregate
number of shares of beneficial interest of the Portfolio owned by the
Portfolio's officers and Trustees as a group was less than 1% of the Portfolio's
shares of beneficial interest outstanding.
V. INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT AND OTHER SERVICES
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A. INVESTMENT MANAGER
The Investment Manager to the Portfolio is Morgan Stanley Dean Witter
Advisors Inc., a Delaware corporation, whose address is Two World Trade Center,
New York, New York 10048. The Investment Manager is a wholly-owned subsidiary of
MSDW, a Delaware corporation. MSDW is a preeminent global financial services
firm that maintains leading market positions in each of its three primary
businesses: securities, asset management and credit services.
Pursuant to an Investment Management Agreement (the "MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT")
with the Investment Manager, the Portfolio has retained the Investment Manager
to provide administrative services, manage its business affairs and supervise
the investment of the Portfolio's assets. The Portfolio pays the Investment
Manager monthly compensation calculated daily by applying the following annual
rates to the net assets of the Portfolio determined as of the close of each
business day: 0.65% of the portion of such daily net assets not exceeding $1.5
billion; and 0.625% of the portion of such daily net assets exceeding $1.5
billion. The management fee is allocated among the Classes pro rata based on the
net
20
<PAGE>
assets of the Portfolio attributable to each Class. The Portfolio accrued total
compensation to the Investment Manager of $2,943,814 and $ , during the
period February 25, 1998 (commencement of operations) through May 31, 1998 and
during the fiscal year ended May 31, 1999 respectively.
The Investment Manager has retained its wholly-owned subsidiary, MSDW
Services Company, to perform administrative services for the Portfolio.
B. PRINCIPAL UNDERWRITER
The Fund's principal underwriter is the Distributor (which has the same
address as the Investment Manager). In this capacity, the shares of the
Portfolio are distributed by the Distributor. The Distributor has entered into a
selected dealer agreement with Dean Witter Reynolds, which through its own sales
organization sells shares of the Portfolio. In addition, the Distributor may
enter into similar agreements with other selected broker-dealers. The
Distributor, a Delaware corporation, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of MSDW.
The Distributor bears all expenses it may incur in providing services under
the Distribution Agreement. These expenses include the payment of commissions
for sales of the Portfolio's shares and incentive compensation to Financial
Advisors. The Distributor also pays certain expenses in connection with the
distribution of the Portfolio's shares, including the costs of preparing,
printing and distributing advertising or promotional materials, and the costs of
printing and distributing prospectuses and supplements thereto used in
connection with the offering and sale of the Portfolio's shares. The Portfolio
bears the costs of initial typesetting, printing and distribution of
prospectuses and supplements thereto to shareholders. The Portfolio also bears
the costs of registering the Portfolio and its shares under federal and state
securities laws and pays filing fees in accordance with state securities laws.
The Fund and the Distributor have agreed to indemnify each other against
certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. Under the
Distribution Agreement, the Distributor uses its best efforts in rendering
services to the Portfolio of 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 the Portfolio's
shareholders for any error of judgment or mistake of law or for any act or
omission or for any losses sustained by the Fund or the Portfolio's
shareholders.
C. SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE INVESTMENT MANAGER AND PORTFOLIO EXPENSES PAID BY
THIRD PARTIES
The Investment Manager supervises the investment of the Portfolio's assets.
The Investment Manager obtains and evaluates the information and advice relating
to the economy, securities markets, and specific securities as it considers
necessary or useful to continuously oversee the management of the assets of the
Portfolio in a manner consistent with its investment objective.
Under the terms of the Management Agreement, the Investment Manager also
maintains certain of the Portfolio's books and records and furnishes, at its own
expense, the office space, facilities, equipment, clerical help, bookkeeping and
certain legal services as the Portfolio 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 Portfolio, 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 Portfolio.
Expenses not expressly assumed by the Investment Manager under the
Management Agreement or by the Distributor, will be paid by the Portfolio. These
expenses will be allocated among the four Classes of shares pro rata based on
the net assets of the Portfolio attributable to each Class, except as described
below. Such expenses include, but are not limited to: expenses of the Plan of
Distribution pursuant to Rule 12b-1; charges and expenses of any registrar,
custodian, stock transfer and dividend disbursing agent; brokerage commissions;
taxes; engraving and printing share certificates; registration costs of the
Portfolio and its shares under federal and state securities laws; the cost and
expense of printing, including typesetting, and distributing prospectuses of the
Portfolio and supplements thereto to the
21
<PAGE>
Portfolio's shareholders; all expenses of shareholders' and Trustees' meetings
and of preparing, printing and mailing of proxy statements and reports to
shareholders; fees and travel expenses of Trustees or members of any advisory
board or committee who are not employees of the Investment Manager or any
corporate affiliate of the Investment Manager; all expenses incident to any
dividend, withdrawal or redemption options; 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 or of the Investment Manager (not including compensation or expenses of
attorneys who are employees of the Investment Manager); fees and expenses of the
Portfolio's independent accountants; membership dues of industry associations;
interest on Portfolio borrowings; postage; insurance premiums on property or
personnel (including officers and Trustees) of the Fund which inure to its
benefit; extraordinary expenses (including, but not limited to, legal claims and
liabilities and litigation costs and any indemnification relating thereto); and
all other costs of the Portfolio's operation. The 12b-1 fees relating to a
particular Class will be allocated directly to that Class. In addition, other
expenses associated with a particular Class (except advisory or custodial fees)
may be allocated directly to that Class, provided that such expenses are
reasonably identified as specifically attributable to that Class and the direct
allocation to that Class is approved by the Trustees.
The Management 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 the Portfolio's investors for any act or omission by the Investment Manager
or for any losses sustained by the Fund or the Portfolio's investors.
The Management Agreement will remain in effect from year to year provided
continuance of the Management Agreement is approved at least annually by the
vote of the holders of a majority, as defined in the Investment Company Act, of
the outstanding shares of the Portfolio, or by the Trustees; provided that in
either event such continuance is approved annually by the vote of a majority of
the Trustees who are not parties to the Management Agreement or are "Independent
Trustees," which votes must be cast in person at a meeting called for the
purpose of voting on such approval.
D. DEALER REALLOWANCES
Upon notice to selected broker-dealers, the Distributor may reallow up to
the full applicable front-end sales charge during periods specified in such
notice. During periods when 90% or more of the sales charge is reallowed, such
selected broker-dealers may be deemed to be underwriters as that term is defined
in the Securities Act.
E. RULE 12b-1 PLAN
The Fund has adopted a Plan of Distribution pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the
Investment Company Act (the "PLAN") pursuant to which each Class of the
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
("FSCS") and of contingent deferred sales charges ("CDSCS") imposed on certain
redemptions of shares, which are separate and apart from payments made pursuant
to the Plan. The Distributor has informed the Fund that it and/or Dean Witter
Reynolds received the proceeds of CDSCs and FSCs, for the period February 25,
1998 (commencement of operations) through May 31, 1998 and for the fiscal year
ended May 31, 1999, in approximate amounts as provided in the table below (the
Distributor did not retain any of these amounts).
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
FISCAL YEAR
ENDED 5/31/99 2/25/98 -- 5/31/98
------------------------ -------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Class A............................ FSCs:(1) $ FSCs: $ 2,815,924
CDSCs: $ CDSCs: $ 1,917
Class B............................ CDSCs: $ CDSCs: $ 380,966
Class C............................ CDSCs: $ CDSCs: $ 16,983
</TABLE>
- ------------------------------
1 FSCs apply to Class A only.
22
<PAGE>
The Distributor has informed the Fund that the entire fee payable by Class A
and a portion of the fees payable by each of Class B and Class C each year
pursuant to the Plan equal to 0.25% of such Class' average daily net assets are
currently each characterized as a "service fee" under the Rules of the National
Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (of which the Distributor is a member).
The "service fee" is a payment made for personal service and/or the maintenance
of shareholder accounts. The remaining portion of the Plan fees payable by a
Class, if any, is characterized as an "asset-based sales charge" as such is
defined by the Rules of the Association.
Under the Plan and as required by Rule 12b-1, the Trustees receive and
review promptly after the end of each calendar quarter a written report provided
by the Distributor of the amounts expended under the Plan and the purpose for
which such expenditures were made. For the fiscal year ended May 31, 1999, Class
A, Class B and Class C shares of the Portfolio accrued payments under the Plan
amounting to $ , $ and $ , respectively, which amounts are equal to
0.25%, 1.00% and 1.00% of the average daily net assets of Class A, Class B and
Class C, respectively, for the fiscal year.
The Plan was adopted in order to permit the implementation of the
Portfolio's method of distribution. Under this distribution method the Portfolio
offers four Classes, each with a different distribution arrangement.
With respect to Class A shares, Dean Witter Reynolds compensates its
Financial Advisors by paying them, from proceeds of the FSC, commissions for the
sale of Class A shares, currently a gross sales credit of up to 5.0% of the
amount sold (except as provided in the following sentence) and an annual
residual commission, currently a residual of up to 0.25% of the current value of
the respective accounts for which they are the Financial Advisors or dealers of
record in all cases. On orders of $1 million or more (for which no sales charge
was paid) or net asset value purchases by employer-sponsored employee benefit
plans, whether or not qualified under the Internal Revenue Code, for which the
Transfer Agent serves as Trustee or Dean Witter Reynolds Retirement Plan
Services serves as recordkeeper pursuant to a written Recordkeeping Services
Agreement ("MSDW ELIGIBLE PLANS"), the Investment Manager compensates Financial
Advisors by paying them, from its own funds, a gross sales credit of 1.0% of the
amount sold.
With respect to Class B shares, Dean Witter Reynolds compensates its
Financial Advisors by paying them, from its own funds, commissions for the sale
of Class B shares, currently a gross sales credit of up to 5.0% of the amount
sold (except as provided in the following sentence) and an annual residual
commission, currently a residual of up to 0.25% of the current value (not
including reinvested dividends or distributions) of the amount sold in all
cases. In the case of Class B shares purchased by MSDW Eligible Plans, Dean
Witter Reynolds compensates its Financial Advisors by paying them, from its own
funds, a gross sales credit of 3.0% of the amount sold.
With respect to Class C shares, Dean Witter Reynolds compensates its
Financial Advisors by paying them, from its own funds, commissions for the sale
of Class C shares, currently a gross sales credit of up to 1.0% of the amount
sold and an annual residual commission, currently up to 1.0% of the current
value of the respective accounts for which they are the Financial Advisors of
record.
With respect to Class D shares other than shares held by participants in the
Investment Manager's mutual fund asset allocation program, the Investment
Manager compensates Dean Witter Reynolds's Financial Advisors by paying them,
from its own funds, commissions for the sale of Class D shares, currently a
gross sales credit of up to 1.0% of the amount sold. There is a chargeback of
100% of the amount paid if the Class D shares are redeemed in the first year and
a chargeback of 50% of the amount paid if the Class D shares are redeemed in the
second year after purchase. The Investment Manager also compensates Dean Witter
Reynolds's Financial Advisors by paying them, from its own funds, an annual
residual commission, currently up to 0.10% of the current value of the
respective accounts for which they are the Financial Advisors of record (not
including accounts of participants in the Investment Manager's mutual fund asset
allocation program).
23
<PAGE>
The gross sales credit is a charge which reflects commissions paid by Dean
Witter Reynolds to its Financial Advisors and Dean Witter Reynolds's
Fund-associated distribution-related expenses, including sales compensation, and
overhead and other branch office distribution-related expenses including (a) the
expenses operating Dean Witter Reynolds's branch offices in connection with the
sale of shares of the Portfolio, 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 shares of the Portfolio; and (d) other expenses relating to
branch promotion of Portfolio sales.
The distribution fee that the Distributor receives from the Portfolio under
the Plan, in effect, offsets distribution expenses incurred under the Plan on
behalf of the Portfolio 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
Portfolio, 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 Portfolio. No other interest charge is included as a distribution expense in
the Distributor's calculation of its distribution costs for this purpose. The
broker's call rate is the interest rate charged to securities brokers on loans
secured by exchange-listed securities.
The 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 the 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 Financial Advisors and other
authorized financial representatives, such amounts shall be determined at the
beginning of each calendar quarter by the Trustees, including, a majority of the
Independent Trustees. Expenses representing the service fee (for Class A) or a
gross sales credit or a residual to Financial Advisors and other authorized
financial representatives (for Class C) may be reimbursed without prior
determination. In the event that the Distributor proposes that monies shall be
reimbursed for other than such expenses, then in making quarterly determinations
of the amounts that may be reimbursed by the Portfolio, the Distributor will
provide and the Trustees will review a quarterly budget of projected
distribution expenses to be incurred on behalf of the Portfolio, together with a
report explaining the purposes and anticipated benefits of incurring such
expenses. The Trustees will determine which particular expenses, and the
portions thereof, that may be borne by the Portfolio, and in making such a
determination shall consider the scope of the Distributor's commitment to
promoting the distribution of the Portfolio's Class A and Class C shares.
Each Class of the Portfolio paid 100% of the amounts accrued under the Plan
with respect to that Class for the fiscal year ended May 31, 1999 to the
Distributor. The Distributor and Dean Witter Reynolds estimate that they have
spent, pursuant to the Plan, $ on behalf of Class B since the inception
of the Portfolio. It is estimated that this amount was spent in approximately
the following ways: (i) % ($ )advertising and promotional expenses;
(ii) % ($ )--printing of prospectuses for distribution to other than
current shareholders; and (iii) % ($ )--other expenses, including
the gross sales credit and the carrying charge, of which % ($ )
represents carrying charges, % ($ ) represents commission credits to
Dean Witter Reynolds branch offices and other selected broker-dealers for
payments of commissions to Financial Advisors and other selected broker-dealer
representatives, and % ($ ) represents overhead and other branch
office distribution-related expenses. The amounts accrued by Class A and a
portion of the amounts
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accrued by Class C under the Plan were service fees during the fiscal year ended
May 31, 1999. The remainder of the amounts accrued by Class C were for expenses
which relate to compensation of sales personnel and associated overhead
expenses.
In the case of Class B shares, at any given time, the expenses of
distributing shares of the 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 CDSCs paid by investors upon redemption of shares. 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. The Distributor has advised the Portfolio that
in the case of Class B shares the excess distribution expenses, including the
carrying charge designed to approximate the opportunity costs incurred by Dean
Witter Reynolds which arise from it having advanced monies without having
received the amount of any sales charges imposed at the time of sale of the
Portfolio's Class B shares, totaled $ as of May 31, 1999 (the end of the
Portfolio's fiscal year), which was equal to % of the net assets of Class B on
such date. Because there is no requirement under the Plan that the Distributor
be reimbursed for all distribution expenses with respect to Class B shares or
any requirement that the Plan be continued from year to year, this excess amount
does not constitute a liability of the 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 CDSCs paid by investors
upon redemption of shares, if for any reason the Plan is terminated, the
Trustees will consider at that time the manner in which to treat such expenses.
Any cumulative expenses incurred, but not yet recovered through distribution
fees or CDSCs, may or may not be recovered through future distribution fees or
CDSCs.
In the case of Class A and Class C shares, expenses incurred pursuant to the
Plan in any calendar year in excess of 0.25% or 1.0% of the average daily net
assets of Class A or Class C, respectively, will not be reimbursed by the
Portfolio through payments in any subsequent year, except that expenses
representing a gross sales commission credited to Morgan Stanley Dean Witter
Financial Advisors and other authorized broker-dealer representatives at the
time of sale may be reimbursed in the subsequent calendar year. The Distributor
has advised the Portfolio that unreimbursed expenses representing a gross sales
commission credited to Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Financial Advisors and other
authorized broker-dealer representatives at the time of sale totaled $ in
the case of Class C at December 31, 1998 (end of the calendar year), which
amount was equal to % of the net assets of Class C on such date, and that
there were no such expenses that may be reimbursed in the subsequent year in the
case of Class A on such date. No interest or other financing charges will be
incurred on any Class A or Class C distribution expenses incurred by the
Distributor under the Plan or on any unreimbursed expenses due to the
Distributor pursuant to the Plan.
No interested person of the Fund nor any Independent Trustee has any direct
financial interest in the operation of the Plan except to the extent that the
Distributor, the Investment Manager, Dean Witter Reynolds, MSDW Services Company
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 Portfolio.
On an annual basis, the Trustees, including a majority of the Independent
Trustees, consider whether the Plan should be continued. Prior to approving the
last continuation of the Plan, the Trustees requested and received from the
Distributor and reviewed all the information which they deemed necessary to
arrive at an informed determination. In making their determination to continue
the Plan, the Trustees considered: (1) the Portfolio's experience under the Plan
and whether such experience indicates that the Plan is operating as anticipated;
(2) the benefits the Portfolio had obtained, was obtaining and would be likely
to obtain under the Plan, including that: (a) the Plan is essential in order to
give Portfolio investors a choice of alternatives for payment of distribution
and service charges and to enable the Portfolio to continue to grow and avoid a
pattern of net redemptions which, in turn, are essential for effective
investment management; and (b) without the compensation to individual brokers
and the reimbursement of distribution and account maintenance expenses of Dean
Witter Reynolds's branch offices made possible by the 12b-1 fees, Dean Witter
Reynolds could not establish and maintain an
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effective system for distribution, servicing of Portfolio shareholders and
maintenance of shareholder accounts; and (3) what services had been provided and
were continuing to be provided under the Plan to the Portfolio and its
shareholders. Based upon their review, the Trustees, including each of the
Independent Trustees, determined that continuation of the Plan would be in the
best interest of the Portfolio and would have a reasonable likelihood of
continuing to benefit the Portfolio and its shareholders. In the Trustees'
quarterly review of the Plan, they will consider its continued appropriateness
and the level of compensation provided therein.
The Plan may not be amended to increase materially the amount to be spent
for the services described therein without approval by the shareholders of the
affected Class or Classes of the Portfolio, and all material amendments to the
Plan must also be approved by the Trustees in the manner described above. The
Plan may be terminated at any time, without payment of any penalty, by vote of a
majority of the Independent Trustees or by a vote of a majority of the
outstanding voting securities of the Portfolio (as defined in the Investment
Company Act) on not more than thirty days' written notice to any other party to
the Plan. So long as the Plan is in effect, the election and nomination of
Independent Trustees shall be committed to the discretion of the Independent
Trustees.
F. OTHER SERVICE PROVIDERS
(1) TRANSFER AGENT/DIVIDEND-PAYING AGENT
Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Trust FSB is the Transfer Agent for the
Portfolio's shares and the Dividend Disbursing Agent for payment of dividends
and distributions on Portfolio shares and Agent for shareholders under various
investment plans. The principal business address of the Transfer Agent is
Harborside Financial Center, Plaza Two, Jersey City, New Jersey 07311.
(2) CUSTODIAN AND INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
The Bank of New York, 90 Washington Street, New York, New York 10286 is the
Custodian of the Portfolio's assets. The Custodian has contracted with various
foreign banks and depositaries to hold portfolio securities of non-U.S. issuers
on behalf of the Portfolio. Any of the Portfolio's cash balances with the
Custodian in excess of $100,000 are unprotected by federal deposit insurance.
These balances may, at times, be substantial.
, serves as the independent accountants of the Portfolio. The
independent accountants are responsible for auditing the annual financial
statements of the Portfolio.
(3) AFFILIATED PERSONS
The Transfer Agent is an affiliate of the Investment Manager, and of the
Distributor. As Transfer Agent and Dividend Disbursing Agent, the Transfer
Agent's responsibilities include maintaining shareholder accounts, disbursing
cash dividends and reinvesting dividends, processing account registration
changes, handling purchase and redemption transactions, mailing prospectuses and
reports, mailing and tabulating proxies, processing share certificate
transactions, and maintaining shareholder records and lists. For these services,
the Transfer Agent receives a per shareholder account fee from the Portfolio and
is reimbursed for its out-of-pocket expenses in connection with such services.
VI. BROKERAGE ALLOCATION AND OTHER PRACTICES
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A. BROKERAGE TRANSACTIONS
Subject to the general supervision of the Trustees, the Investment Manager
is responsible for decisions to buy and sell securities for the Portfolio, the
selection of brokers and dealers to effect the transactions, and the negotiation
of brokerage commissions, if any. Purchases and sales of securities on a stock
exchange are effected through brokers who charge a commission for their
services. In the over-the-counter market, securities are generally traded on a
"net" basis with non-affiliated 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 Portfolio also expects that securities will
be purchased at times in underwritten offerings where the price includes a fixed
amount of compensation, generally referred to as
26
<PAGE>
the underwriter's concession or discount. Options and futures transactions will
usually be 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.
During the period February 25, 1998 (commencement of operations) through May
31, 1998, and for the fiscal year ended May 31, 1999, the Portfolio paid a total
of $1,566,636 and $ , respectively, in brokerage commissions.
B. COMMISSIONS
Pursuant to an order of the SEC, the Fund may effect principal transactions
in certain money market instruments with Dean Witter Reynolds. The Fund will
limit its transactions with Dean Witter Reynolds to U.S. Government and
government agency securities, bank money instruments (i.e., certificates of
deposit and bankers' acceptances) and commercial paper. The transactions will be
effected with Dean Witter Reynolds only when the price available from Dean
Witter Reynolds is better than that available from other dealers.
During the period February 25, 1998 (commencement of operations) through May
31, 1998, and for the fiscal year ended May 31, 1999, the Portfolio did not
effect any principal transactions with Dean Witter Reynolds.
Brokerage transactions in securities listed on exchanges or admitted to
unlisted trading privileges may be effected through Dean Witter Reynolds, Morgan
Stanley & Co. and other affiliated brokers and dealers. In order for an
affiliated broker or dealer to effect any portfolio transactions on an exchange
for the Portfolio, the commissions, fees or other remuneration received by the
affiliated broker or dealer must be reasonable and fair compared to the
commissions, fees or other remuneration paid to other brokers in connection with
comparable transactions involving similar securities being purchased or sold on
an exchange during a comparable period of time. This standard would allow the
affiliated broker or dealer to receive no more than the remuneration which would
be expected to be received by an unaffiliated broker in a commensurate
arm's-length transaction. Furthermore, the Trustees, including the Independent
Trustees, have adopted procedures which are reasonably designed to provide that
any commissions, fees or other remuneration paid to an affiliated broker or
dealer are consistent with the foregoing standard. The Portfolio does not reduce
the management fee it pays to the Investment Manager by any amount of the
brokerage commissions it may pay to an affiliated broker or dealer.
During the period February 25, 1998 (commencement of operations) through May
31, 1998, and for the fiscal year ended May 31, 1999, the Portfolio paid a total
of $0 and $ , respectively, in brokerage commissions to Dean Witter
Reynolds. During the fiscal year ended May 31, 1999, the brokerage commissions
paid to Dean Witter Reynolds represented approximately % of the total
brokerage commissions paid by the Portfolio during the year and were paid on
account of transactions having an aggregate dollar value equal to approximately
% of the aggregate dollar value of all portfolio transactions of the
Portfolio during the year for which commissions were paid.
During the period February 25, 1998 (commencement of operations) through May
31, 1998 and during the fiscal year ended May 31, 1999, the Portfolio paid a
total of $1,046,737 and $ , respectively, in brokerage commissions to
Morgan Stanley & Co. During the fiscal year ended May 31, 1999, the brokerage
commissions paid to Morgan Stanley & Co. represented approximately % of the
total brokerage commissions paid by the Portfolio for this period and were paid
on account of transactions having an aggregate dollar value equal to
approximately % of the aggregate dollar value of all portfolio transactions
of the Portfolio during the year for which commissions were paid.
C. BROKERAGE SELECTION
The policy of the Fund regarding purchases and sales of securities for the
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
Portfolio's policy is to pay commissions which are considered fair and
reasonable without necessarily
27
<PAGE>
determining that the lowest possible commissions are paid in all circumstances.
The Fund believes that a requirement always to seek the lowest possible
commission cost could impede effective portfolio management and preclude the
Portfolio 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. These determinations are
necessarily subjective and imprecise, as in most cases an exact dollar value for
those services is not ascertainable.
The Portfolio anticipates that certain of its transactions involving foreign
securities will be effected on foreign securities exchanges. Fixed commissions
on such transactions are generally higher than negotiated commissions on
domestic transactions. There is also generally less government supervision and
regulation of foreign securities exchanges and brokers than in the United
States.
In seeking to implement the Fund's 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 the prices and executions are
obtainable from more than one broker or dealer, it may give consideration to
placing portfolio transactions with those brokers and dealers who also furnish
research and other services to the Fund or the Investment Manager. The services
may include, but are not limited to, any one or more of the following:
information as to the availability of securities for purchase or sale;
statistical or factual information or opinions pertaining to investment; wire
services; and appraisals or evaluations of portfolio securities. The information
and services received by the 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 Fund directly.
The Investment Manager currently serves as advisor to a number of clients,
including other investment companies, and may in the future act as investment
manager or advisor to others. It is the practice of the Investment Manager to
cause purchase and sale transactions to be allocated among the Portfolio and
others whose assets it manages in such manner as it deems equitable. In making
such allocations among the Portfolio 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 utilizes a pro rata
allocation process based on the size of the Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Funds
involved and the number of shares available from the public offering.
D. DIRECTED BROKERAGE
During the fiscal year ended May 31, 1999, the Portfolio paid $ in
brokerage commissions in connection with transactions in the aggregate amount of
$ to brokers because of research services provided.
E. REGULAR BROKER-DEALERS
During the fiscal year ended May 31, 1999, the Portfolio did not purchase
securities issued by brokers or dealers that were among the ten brokers or the
ten dealers which executed transactions for or with the Portfolio in the largest
dollar amounts during the year.
VII. CAPITAL STOCK AND OTHER SECURITIES
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The shareholders of the Portfolio are entitled to a full vote for each full
share of beneficial interest held. The Fund is authorized to issue an unlimited
number of shares of beneficial interest of the Portfolio. All shares of
beneficial interest of the Portfolio are of $0.01 par value and are equal as to
earnings, assets and voting privileges.
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<PAGE>
The Fund's Declaration of Trust permits the Trustees to authorize the
creation of additional series of shares (the proceeds of which would be invested
in separate, independently managed portfolios) and additional Classes of shares
within any series.
The Fund is not required to hold annual meetings of shareholders and in
ordinary circumstances the Fund does not intend to hold such meetings. The
Trustees may call special meetings of shareholders for action by shareholder
vote as may be required by the Investment Company Act or the Declaration of
Trust. Under certain circumstances the Trustees may be removed by action of the
Trustees. The shareholders also have the right under certain circumstances to
remove the Trustees in accordance with the provisions of Section 16(c) of the
Investment Company Act. 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.
Under Massachusetts law, shareholders of a business trust may, under certain
limited circumstances, be held personally liable as partners for the obligations
of the Fund. However, the Declaration of Trust contains an express disclaimer of
shareholder liability for acts or obligations of the Fund, requires that notice
of such Fund obligations include such disclaimer, and provides for
indemnification out of the Fund's property for any shareholder held personally
liable for the obligations of the Fund. Thus, the risk of a shareholder
incurring financial loss on account of shareholder liability is limited to
circumstances in which the Fund itself would be unable to meet its obligations.
Given the above limitations on shareholder personal liability, and the nature of
the Fund's assets and operations, the possibility of the Fund being unable to
meet its obligations is remote and thus, in the opinion of Massachusetts counsel
to the Fund, the risk to Portfolio shareholders of personal liability is remote.
All of the Trustees have been elected by the shareholders of the Portfolio.
The Trustees themselves have the power to alter the number and the terms of
office of the Trustees (as provided for in the Declaration of Trust), and they
may at any time lengthen or shorten their own terms or make their terms of
unlimited duration and appoint their own successors, provided that always at
least a majority of the Trustees has been elected by the shareholders of the
Portfolio. 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 in accordance with the provisions of Section 16(c) of the
Investment Company Act of 1940. 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.
VIII. PURCHASE, REDEMPTION AND PRICING OF SHARES
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A. PURCHASE OF SHARES
Information concerning how Portfolio shares are offered to the public (and
how they are redeemed and exchanged) is provided in the Portfolio's PROSPECTUS.
TRANSFER AGENT AS AGENT. With respect to the redemption or repurchase of
Fund shares, the application of proceeds to the purchase of new shares in the
Fund or any other Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Funds and the general
administration of the exchange privilege, the Transfer Agent acts as agent for
the Distributor and for the shareholder's authorized broker-dealer, if any, in
the performance of such functions. With respect to exchanges, redemptions or
repurchases, the Transfer Agent shall be liable for its own negligence and not
for the default or negligence of its correspondents or for losses in transit.
The Fund shall not be liable for any default or negligence of the Transfer
Agent, the Distributor or any authorized broker-dealer.
The Distributor and any authorized broker-dealer have appointed the Transfer
Agent to act as their agent in connection with the application of proceeds of
any redemption of Fund shares to the purchase of shares of any other Morgan
Stanley Dean Witter Fund and the general administration of the exchange
privilege. No commission or discounts will be paid to the Distributor or any
authorized broker-dealer for any transaction pursuant to the exchange privilege.
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<PAGE>
TRANSFERS OF SHARES. In the event a shareholder requests a transfer of
Portfolio shares to a new registration, the shares will be transferred without
sales charge at the time of transfer. With regard to the status of shares which
are either subject to the CDSC or free of such charge (and with regard to the
length of time shares subject to the charge have been held), any transfer
involving less than all of the shares in an account will be made on a pro rata
basis (that is, by transferring shares in the same proportion that the
transferred shares bear to the total shares in the account immediately prior to
the transfer). The transferred shares will continue to be subject to any
applicable CDSC as if they had not been so transferred.
B. OFFERING PRICE
The Portfolio's Class B, Class C and Class D shares are offered at net asset
value per share and the Class A shares are offered at net asset value per share
plus any applicable FSC which is distributed among the Portfolio's Distributor,
Dean Witter Reynolds, and other authorized dealers as described in Section "V.
Investment Management and Other Services -- E. Rule 12b-1 Plan."
The price of Portfolio shares, called "NET ASSET VALUE," is based on the
value of the Portfolio's securities. Net asset value per share of each Class is
calculated by dividing the value of the portion of the Portfolio's securities
and other assets attributable to that Class, less the liabilities attributable
to that Class, by the number of shares of that Class outstanding. The assets of
each Class of shares are invested in a single portfolio. The net asset value of
each Class, however, will differ because the Classes have different ongoing
fees.
In the calculation of the Portfolio's net asset value: (1) an equity
portfolio security listed or traded on the New York or American Stock Exchange
or other stock exchange is valued at its latest sale price on that exchange,
prior to the time when assets are valued; if there were no sales that day, the
security is valued at the latest bid price (in cases where a security is traded
on more than one exchange, the security is valued on the exchange designated as
the primary market pursuant to procedures adopted by the Trustees); and (2) all
other portfolio securities for which over-the-counter market quotations are
readily available are valued at the latest bid price. When market quotations are
not readily available, including circumstances under which it is determined by
the Investment Manager that sale or bid prices are not reflective of a
security's market value, portfolio securities are valued at their fair value as
determined in good faith under procedures established by and under the general
supervision of the Portfolio's Trustees. For valuation purposes, quotations of
foreign portfolio securities, other assets and liabilities and forward contracts
stated in foreign currency are translated into U.S. dollar equivalents at the
prevailing market rates prior to the close of the New York Stock Exchange.
Short-term debt securities with remaining maturities of sixty days or less
at the time of purchase are valued at amortized cost, unless the Trustees
determine such does not reflect the securities' market value, in which case
these securities will be valued at their fair value as determined by the
Trustees.
Futures are valued at the latest sale price on the commodities exchange on
which they trade unless the Trustees determine such price does not reflect their
market value, in which case they will be valued at their fair value as
determined in good faith under procedures established by and under the
supervision of the Trustees.
Generally, trading in foreign securities, as well as corporate bonds, U.S.
Government securities and money market instruments, is substantially completed
each day at various times prior to the close of the New York Stock Exchange. The
values of such securities used in computing the net asset value of the
Portfolio's shares are determined as of such times. Foreign currency exchange
rates are also generally determined prior to the close of the New York Stock
Exchange. Occasionally, events which may affect the values of such securities
and such exchange rates may occur between the times at which they are determined
and the close of the New York Stock Exchange and will therefore not be reflected
in the computation of the Portfolio's net asset value. If events that may affect
the value of such securities occur during such period, then these securities may
be valued at their fair value as determined in good faith under procedures
established by and under the supervision of the Trustees.
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IX. TAXATION OF THE PORTFOLIOS AND SHAREHOLDERS
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The Portfolio generally will make two basic types of distributions: ordinary
dividends and long-term capital gain distributions. These two types of
distributions are reported differently on a shareholder's income tax return and
they are also subject to different rates of tax. The tax treatment of the
investment activities of the Portfolio will affect the amount and timing and
character of the distributions made by the Portfolio. Tax issues relating to the
Portfolio are not generally a consideration for shareholders such as tax exempt
entities and tax-advantaged retirement vehicles such as an IRA or 401(k) plan.
Shareholders are urged to consult their own tax professionals regarding specific
questions as to federal, state or local taxes.
INVESTMENT COMPANY TAXATION. The Portfolio intends to remain qualified as a
regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of
1986. As such, the Portfolio will not be subject to federal income tax on its
net investment income and capital gains, if any, to the extent that it
distributes such income and capital gains to its shareholders.
The Portfolio generally intends to distribute sufficient income and gains so
that the Portfolio will not pay corporate income tax on its earnings. The
Portfolio also generally intends to distribute to its shareholders in each
calendar year a sufficient amount of ordinary income and capital gains to avoid
the imposition of a 4% excise tax. However, the Portfolio may instead determine
to retain all or part of any net long-term capital gains in any year for
reinvestment. In such event, the Portfolio will pay federal income tax (and
possibly excise tax) on such retained gains.
Gains or losses on sales of securities by the Portfolio will be long-term
capital gains or losses if the securities have a tax holding period of more than
one year. Gains or losses on the sale of securities with a tax holding period of
one year or less will be short-term gains or losses.
Gains or losses on the Portfolio's transactions in listed non-equity
options, futures and options on futures generally are treated as 60% long-term
and 40% short-term. When the Portfolio engages in options and futures
transactions, various tax rules may accelerate or defer recognition of certain
gains and losses, change the character of certain gains or losses, or alter the
holding period of other investments held by the Portfolio. The application of
these rules would therefore also affect the amount, timing and character of
distributions made by the Portfolio.
Under certain tax rules, the Portfolio may be required to accrue a portion
of any discount at which certain securities are purchased as income each year
even though the Portfolio receives no payments in cash on the security during
the year. To the extent that the Portfolio invests in such securities, it would
be required to pay out such accrued discount as an income distribution in each
year in order to avoid taxation at the Portfolio level. Such distributions will
be made from the available cash of the Portfolio or by liquidation of portfolio
securities if necessary. If a distribution of cash necessitates the liquidation
of portfolio securities, the Investment Manager will select which securities to
sell. The Portfolio may realize a gain or loss from such sales. In the event the
Portfolio realizes net capital gains from such transactions, its shareholders
may receive a larger capital gain distribution, if any, than they would in the
absence of such transactions.
TAXATION OF DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS. Shareholders normally will have to
pay federal income taxes, and any state and/or local income taxes, on the
dividends and other distributions they receive from the Portfolio. Such
dividends and distributions, to the extent that they are derived from net
investment income or short-term capital gains, are taxable to the shareholder as
ordinary income regardless of whether the shareholder receives such payments in
additional shares or in cash.
Distributions of net long-term capital gains, if any, are taxable to
shareholders as long-term capital gains regardless of how long a shareholder has
held the Portfolio's shares and regardless of whether the distribution is
received in additional shares or in cash. The Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997
reduced the maximum tax on long-term capital gains applicable to individuals
from 28% to 20%.
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<PAGE>
Shareholders are generally taxed on any ordinary dividend or capital gain
distributions from the Portfolio in the year they are actually distributed.
However, if any such dividends or distributions are declared in October,
November or December and paid in January then such amounts will be treated for
tax purposes as received by the shareholders on December 31, to shareholders of
record of such month.
Shareholders who are not citizens or residents of the United States and
certain foreign entities may be subject to withholding of United States tax on
distributions made by the Portfolio of investment income and short term capital
gains.
After the end of each calendar year, shareholders will be sent full
information on their dividends and capital gain distributions for tax purposes,
including the portion taxable as ordinary income, the portion taxable as
long-term capital gains and the amount of any dividends eligible for the federal
dividends received deduction for corporations.
PURCHASES AND REDEMPTIONS AND EXCHANGES OF FUND SHARES. Any dividend or
capital gains distribution received by a shareholder from any investment company
will have the effect of reducing the net asset value of the shareholder's stock
in that company by the exact amount of the dividend or capital gains
distribution. Furthermore, such dividends and capital gains distributions are
subject to federal income taxes. If the net asset value of the shares should be
reduced below a shareholder's cost as a result of the payment of dividends or
the distribution of realized long-term capital gains, such payment or
distribution would be in part a return of the shareholder's investment but
nonetheless would be taxable to the shareholder. Therefore, an investor should
consider the tax implications of purchasing Portfolio shares immediately prior
to a distribution record date.
In general, a sale of shares results in capital gain or loss, and for
individual shareholders, is taxable at a federal rate dependent upon the length
of time the shares were held. A redemption of a shareholder's Portfolio shares
is normally treated as a sale for tax purposes. Portfolio shares held for a
period of one year or less will, for tax purposes, generally result in
short-term gains or losses and those held for more than one year generally
result in long-term gain or loss. Any loss realized by shareholders upon a
redemption of shares within six months of the date of their purchase will be
treated as a long-term capital loss to the extent of any distributions of net
long-term capital gains with respect to such shares during the six-month period.
Gain or loss on the sale or redemption of shares in the Portfolio is
measured by the difference between the amount received and the tax basis of the
shares. Shareholders should keep records of investments made (including shares
acquired through reinvestment of dividends and distributions) so they can
compute the tax basis of their shares. Under certain circumstances a shareholder
may compute and use an average cost basis in determining the gain or loss on the
sale or redemption of shares.
Exchanges of Portfolio shares for shares of another fund, including shares
of other Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Funds, are also subject to similar tax
treatment. Such an exchange is treated for tax purposes as a sale of the
original shares in the first fund, followed by the purchase of shares in the
second fund.
If a shareholder realizes a loss on the redemption or exchange of a fund's
shares and reinvests in that fund's shares within 30 days before or after the
redemption or exchange, the transactions may be subject to the "wash sale"
rules, resulting in a postponement of the recognition of such loss for tax
purposes.
X. UNDERWRITERS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Portfolio's shares are offered to the public on a continuous basis. The
Distributor, as the principal underwriter of the shares, has certain obligations
under the Distribution Agreement concerning the distribution of the shares.
These obligations and the compensation the Distributor receives are described
above in the sections titled "Principal Underwriter" and "Rule 12b-1 Plans."
32
<PAGE>
XI. CALCULATION OF PERFORMANCE DATA
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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 Portfolio's "average annual
total return" represents an annualization of the Portfolio's total return over a
particular period and is computed by finding the annual percentage rate which
will result in the ending redeemable value of a hypothetical $1,000 investment
made at the beginning of a one, five or ten year period, or for the period from
the date of commencement of operations, if shorter than any of the foregoing.
The ending redeemable value is reduced by any contingent deferred sales charge
("CDSC") at the end of the one, five, ten year or other period. For the purpose
of this calculation, it is assumed that all dividends and distributions are
reinvested. The formula for computing the average annual total return involves a
percentage obtained by dividing the ending redeemable value by the amount of the
initial investment (which in the case of Class A shares is reduced by the Class
A initial sales charge), taking a root of the quotient (where the root is
equivalent to the number of years in the period) and subtracting 1 from the
result. The annual total returns of Class A, Class B, Class C and Class D for
the one year period ended May 31, 1999 and for the period February 25, 1998
(commencement of operations) through May 31, 1998 were as follows: Class A: %
and %, respectively; Class B: % and %, respectively; Class C: % and
%, respectively; and Class D: % and %, respectively.
In addition, the 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. These calculations may or may not reflect
the imposition of the maximum front-end sales charge for Class A or the
deduction of the CDSC for each of Class B and Class C which, if reflected, would
reduce the performance quoted. For example, the average annual total return of
the Portfolio may be calculated in the manner described above, but without
deduction for any applicable sales charge. Based on this calculation, The annual
total returns of Class A, Class B, Class C and Class D for the one year period
ended May 31, 1999 and for the period February 25, 1998 (commencement of
operations) through May 31, 1998 were as follows: Class A: % and %,
respectively; Class B: % and %, respectively; Class C: % and %,
respectively; and Class D: % and %, respectively.
In addition, the 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. Based on the foregoing calculation, the total
returns of Class A, Class B, Class C and Class D for the one year period ended
May 31 1999 and for the period February 25, 1998 (commencement of operations)
through May 31, 1998 were as follows: Class A: % and %, respectively;
Class B: % and %, respectively; Class C: % and %, respectively; and
Class D: % and %, respectively.
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 by adding
1 to the 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. Investments of $10,000, $50,000 and $100,000 in each Class at
inception of the Class would have grown to the following amounts at May 31,
1999:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
INVESTMENT AT INCEPTION OF:
INCEPTION ---------------------------------
CLASS DATE: $10,000 $50,000 $100,000
- ----------------------------------- -------- ------- -------- --------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Class A............................ 2/25/98 $ $ $
Class B............................ 2/25/98
Class C............................ 2/25/98
Class D............................ 2/25/98
</TABLE>
33
<PAGE>
The Portfolio from time to time may also advertise its performance relative
to certain performance rankings and indexes compiled by recognized
organizations.
XII. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EXPERTS. The financial statements of the Portfolio for the fiscal year
ended May 31, 1999 included in this STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION and
incorporated by reference in the PROSPECTUS have been so included and
incorporated in reliance on the report of , independent
accountants, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and
accounting.
*****
This STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION and the PROSPECTUS do not contain
all of the information set forth in the REGISTRATION STATEMENT the Portfolio has
filed with the SEC. The complete REGISTRATION STATEMENT may be obtained from the
SEC.
34
<PAGE>
MORGAN STANLEY DEAN WITTER COMPETITIVE EDGE FUND
PART C OTHER INFORMATION
Item 23. EXHIBITS
1(a). Declaration of Trust of the Registrant, dated October 16, 1997,
is incorporated by reference to Exhibit 1 to the Registration
Statement on Form N-1A, filed on October 20, 1997.
1(b). Amendment dated October 28, 1997 to the Declaration of Trust of
the Registrant is incorporated by reference to Exhibit 1(c) of
Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form
N-1A, filed on December 4, 1997.
1(c). Amendment dated November 5, 1997 to the Declaration of Trust of the
Registrant is incorporated by reference to Exhibit 1(b) of
Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form
N-1A, filed on December 4, 1997.
2. Amended and Restated By-Laws of the Registrant, dated May 1, 1999.
3. Not Applicable.
4. Amended Investment Management Agreement between the Registrant and
Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Advisors Inc., dated May 1, 1998 is
incorporated by reference to Exhibit 5 of Post-Effective Amendment
No. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A, filed on
July 30, 1998.
5(a). Amended Distribution Agreement between Morgan Stanley Dean Witter
Advisors Inc. and Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Distributors Inc., dated
June 22, 1998 is incorporated by reference to Exhibit 6 of
Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form
N-1A, filed on July 30, 1998.
5(b). Selected Dealer Agreement between Morgan Stanley Dean Witter
Distributors Inc. and Dean Witter Reynolds Inc., dated
November 6, 1998 is incorporated by reference to Exhibit 6(b) of
Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form
N-1A, filed on December 4, 1997.
5(c). Omnibus Selected Dealer Agreement between Morgan Stanley Dean Witter
Distributors Inc. and National Financial Services Corporation, dated
October 17, 1998.
6. Not Applicable.
7. Custody Agreement between the Registrant and The Bank of New York,
dated November 6, 1997, is incorporated by reference to Exhibit 8(a)
of Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form
N-1A, filed on December 4, 1997.
1
<PAGE>
8(a). Amended and Restated Transfer Agency and Service Agreement between the
Registrant and Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Trust FSB, dated
June 22, 1998 is incorporated by reference to Exhibit 8 of
Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form
N-1A, filed on July 30, 1998.
8(b). Amended Services Agreement between Morgan Stanley Dean Witter
Advisors and Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Services Company Inc., dated
June 22, 1998 is incorporated by reference to Exhibit 9 of
Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement filed on
Form N-1A, filed on July 30, 1998.
9(a). Opinion of Barry Fink, Esq., dated December 3, 1997, is incorporated
by reference to Exhibit 10(a) to Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the
Registration Statement on Form N-1A, filed on December 4, 1997.
9(b). Opinion of Lane, Altman & Owens LLC, Massachusetts Counsel, dated
December 3, 1997, is incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(b) to
Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form
N-1A, filed on December 4, 1997.
10. Not Applicable.
11. Not Applicable.
12. Not Applicable.
13. Plan of Distribution pursuant to Rule 12b-1 is incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 15 of Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1 on to the
Registration Statement on Form N-1A, filed on December 4, 1997.
14. Amended Multi-Class Plan pursuant to Rule 18f-3 is incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 18 of Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the
Registration Statement on Form N-1A, filed on July 30, 1998.
Other Powers of Attorney of Trustees are incorporated by reference to
Exhibit (Other) of Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the Registration
Statement on Form N-1A, filed on December 4, 1997.
Item 24. PERSONS CONTROLLED BY OR UNDER COMMON CONTROL WITH THE FUND.
None
Item 25. INDEMNIFICATION.
Pursuant to Section 5.3 of the Registrant's Declaration of Trust and under
Section 4.8 of the Registrant's By-Laws, the indemnification of the Registrant's
trustees, officers, employees and agents is permitted if it is determined that
they acted under the belief that their actions were in or not opposed to the
best interest of the Registrant, and, with respect to any criminal proceeding,
they had reasonable cause to believe their conduct was not unlawful. In
addition, indemnification is permitted only if it is determined that the actions
in question did not render them liable by reason of willful misfeasance, bad
faith or gross negligence in the performance of their duties or by reason of
reckless disregard of their obligations and duties to the Registrant.
2
<PAGE>
Trustees, officers, employees and agents will be indemnified for the expense of
litigation if it is determined that they are entitled to indemnification against
any liability established in such litigation. The Registrant may also advance
money for these expenses provided that they give their undertakings to repay the
Registrant unless their conduct is later determined to permit indemnification.
Pursuant to Section 5.2 of the Registrant's Declaration of Trust and
paragraph 8 of the Registrant's 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.
Item 26. BUSINESS AND OTHER CONNECTIONS OF INVESTMENT ADVISOR
See "The Fund and Its Management" in the Prospectus regarding the
business of the investment advisor. The following information is given regarding
officers of Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Advisors Inc. ("MSDW Advisors"). MSDW
Advisors is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Morgan Stanley Dean Witter & Co.
The term "Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Funds" refers to the following
registered investment companies:
3
<PAGE>
CLOSED-END INVESTMENT COMPANIES
- -------------------------------
(1) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter California Insured Municipal Income Trust
(2) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter California Quality Municipal Securities
(3) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Government Income Trust
(4) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter High Income Advantage Trust
(5) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter High Income Advantage Trust II
(6) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter High Income Advantage Trust III
(7) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Income Securities Inc.
(8) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Insured California Municipal Securities
(9) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Insured Municipal Bond Trust
(10) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Insured Municipal Income Trust
(11) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Insured Municipal Securities
(12) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Insured Municipal Trust
(13) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Municipal Income Opportunities Trust
(14) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Municipal Income Opportunities Trust II
(15) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Municipal Income Opportunities Trust III
(16) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Municipal Income Trust
(17) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Municipal Income Trust II
(18) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Municipal Income Trust III
(19) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Municipal Premium Income Trust
(20) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter New York Quality Municipal Securities
(21) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Prime Income Trust
(22) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Quality Municipal Income Trust
(23) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Quality Municipal Investment Trust
(24) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Quality Municipal Securities
OPEN-END INVESTMENT COMPANIES
- -----------------------------
(1) Active Assets California Tax-Free Trust
(2) Active Assets Government Securities Trust
(3) Active Assets Money Trust
(4) Active Assets Tax-Free Trust
(5) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Aggressive Equity Fund
(6) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter American Opportunities Fund
(7) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Balanced Growth Fund
(8) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Balanced Income Fund
(9) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter California Tax-Free Daily Income Trust
(10) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter California Tax-Free Income Fund
(11) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Capital Growth Securities
(12) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Competitive Edge Fund, "BEST IDEAS PORTFOLIO"
(13) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Convertible Securities Trust
(14) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Developing Growth Securities Trust
(15) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Diversified Income Trust
(16) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Dividend Growth Securities Inc.
(17) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Equity Fund
(18) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter European Growth Fund Inc.
(19) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Federal Securities Trust
(20) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Financial Services Trust
(21) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Fund of Funds
(22) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Global Dividend Growth Securities
(23) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Global Utilities Fund
(24) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Growth Fund
4
<PAGE>
(25) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Hawaii Municipal Trust
(26) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Health Sciences Trust
(27) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter High Yield Securities Inc.
(28) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Income Builder Fund
(29) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Information Fund
(30) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Intermediate Income Securities
(31) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter International Fund
(32) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter International SmallCap Fund
(33) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Japan Fund
(34) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Limited Term Municipal Trust
(35) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Liquid Asset Fund Inc.
(36) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Market Leader Trust
(37) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Mid-Cap Dividend Growth Securities
(38) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Mid-Cap Growth Fund
(39) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Multi-State Municipal Series Trust
(40) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Natural Resource Development Securities Inc.
(41) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter New York Municipal Money Market Trust
(42) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter New York Tax-Free Income Fund
(43) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Pacific Growth Fund Inc.
(44) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Precious Metals and Minerals Trust
(45) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Real Estate Fund
(46) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter S&P 500 Index Fund
(47) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter S&P 500 Select Fund
(48) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Select Dimensions Investment Series
(49) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Select Municipal Reinvestment Fund
(50) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Short-Term Bond Fund
(51) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Short-Term U.S. Treasury Trust
(52) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Special Value Fund
(53) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Strategist Fund
(54) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Tax-Exempt Securities Trust
(55) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Tax-Free Daily Income Trust
(56) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter U.S. Government Money Market Trust
(57) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter U.S. Government Securities Trust
(58) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Utilities Fund
(59) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Value-Added Market Series
(60) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Value Fund
(61) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Variable Investment Series
(62) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter World Wide Income Trust
The term "TCW/DW Funds" refers to the following registered investment companies:
OPEN-END INVESTMENT COMPANIES
- -----------------------------
(1) TCW/DW Emerging Markets Opportunities Trust
(2) TCW/DW Global Telecom Trust
(3) TCW/DW Income and Growth Fund
(4) TCW/DW Latin American Growth Fund
(5) TCW/DW Mid-Cap Equity Trust
(6) TCW/DW North American Government Income Trust
(7) TCW/DW Small Cap Growth Fund
(8) TCW/DW Total Return Trust
5
<PAGE>
CLOSED-END INVESTMENT COMPANIES
- -------------------------------
(1) TCW/DW Term Trust 2000
(2) TCW/DW Term Trust 2002
(3) TCW/DW Term Trust 2003
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NAME AND POSITION WITH OTHER SUBSTANTIAL BUSINESS, PROFESSION, VOCATION
MORGAN STANLEY DEAN OR EMPLOYMENT, INCLUDING NAME, PRINCIPAL ADDRESS
WITTER ADVISORS INC. AND NATURE OF CONNECTION
- -------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C>
Mitchell M. Merin President and Chief Operating Officer of Asset
President, Chief Management of Morgan Stanley Dean Witter & Co.
Executive Officer and ("MSDW); Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and Director
Director of Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Distributors Inc. ("MSDW
Distributors") and Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Trust FSB
("MSDW Trust"); President, Chief Executive Officer and
Director of Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Services Company
Inc. ("MSDW Services"); President of the Morgan Stanley
Dean Witter Funds, TCW/DW Funds and Discover
Brokerage Index Series; Executive Vice President and
Director of Dean Witter Reynolds Inc. ("DWR"); Director of
various MSDW subsidiaries.
Joseph J. McAlinden Vice President of the Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Funds
Executive Vice President and Discover Brokerage Index Series; Director of MSDW
and Chief Investment Trust.
Officer
Ronald E. Robison President MSDW Trust; Executive Vice President, Chief
Executive Vice President, Administrative Officer and Director of MSDW Services;
Chief Administrative Vice President of the Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Funds,
Officer and Director TCW/DW Funds and Discover Brokerage Index Series.
Edward C. Oelsner, III
Executive Vice President
Barry Fink Assistant Secretary of DWR; Senior Vice President,
Senior Vice President, Secretary, General Counsel and Director of MSDW
Secretary, General Services; Senior Vice President, Assistant Secretary and
Counsel and Director Assistant General Counsel of MSDW Distributors; Vice
President, Secretary and General Counsel of the Morgan
Stanley Dean Witter Funds, TCW/DW Funds and Discover
Brokerage Index Series.
Peter M. Avelar Vice President of various Morgan Stanley Dean Witter
Senior Vice President Funds.
and Director of the High
Yield Group
Mark Bavoso Vice President of various Morgan Stanley Dean Witter
Senior Vice President Funds.
6
<PAGE>
<CAPTION>
NAME AND POSITION WITH OTHER SUBSTANTIAL BUSINESS, PROFESSION, VOCATION
MORGAN STANLEY DEAN OR EMPLOYMENT, INCLUDING NAME, PRINCIPAL ADDRESS
WITTER ADVISORS INC. AND NATURE OF CONNECTION
- -------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C>
Douglas Brown
Senior Vice President
Rosalie Clough
Senior Vice President
and Director of Marketing
Richard Felegy
Senior Vice President
Edward F. Gaylor Vice President of various Morgan Stanley Dean Witter
Senior Vice President Funds.
Robert S. Giambrone Senior Vice President of MSDW Services, MSDW
Senior Vice President Distributors and MSDW Trust and Director of MSDW Trust;
Vice President of the Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Funds,
TCW/DW Funds and Discover Brokerage Index Series.
Rajesh K. Gupta Vice President of various Morgan Stanley Dean Witter
Senior Vice President, Funds.
Director of the Taxable
Fixed Income Group and
Chief Administrative Officer -
Investments
Kenton J. Hinchliffe Vice President of various Morgan Stanley Dean Witter
Senior Vice President Funds and Discover Brokerage Index Series.
Kevin Hurley Vice President of various Morgan Stanley Dean Witter
Senior Vice President Funds.
Jenny Beth Jones Vice President of various Morgan Stanley Dean Witter
Senior Vice President Funds.
Michelle Kaufman Vice President of various Morgan Stanley Dean Witter
Senior Vice President Funds.
John B. Kemp, III President of MSDW Distributors.
Senior Vice President
Anita H. Kolleeny Vice President of various Morgan Stanley Dean Witter
Senior Vice President Funds.
and Director of the Sector
Rotation
7
<PAGE>
<CAPTION>
NAME AND POSITION WITH OTHER SUBSTANTIAL BUSINESS, PROFESSION, VOCATION
MORGAN STANLEY DEAN OR EMPLOYMENT, INCLUDING NAME, PRINCIPAL ADDRESS
WITTER ADVISORS INC. AND NATURE OF CONNECTION
- -------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C>
Jonathan R. Page Vice President of various Morgan Stanley Dean Witter
Senior Vice President Funds.
and Director of the Money
Market Group
Ira N. Ross Vice President of various Morgan Stanley Dean Witter
Senior Vice President Funds.
Guy G. Rutherfurd, Jr. Vice President of various Morgan Stanley Dean Witter
Senior Vice President Funds.
and Director of the Growth
Group
Rochelle G. Siegel Vice President of various Morgan Stanley Dean Witter
Senior Vice President Funds.
James Solloway
Senior Vice President
Jayne M. Stevlingson Vice President of various Morgan Stanley Dean Witter
Senior Vice President Funds.
Paul D. Vance Vice President of various Morgan Stanley Dean Witter
Senior Vice President Funds.
and Director of the Growth
and Income Group
Elizabeth A. Vetell
Senior Vice President
and Director of Shareholder
Communication
James F. Willison Vice President of various Morgan Stanley Dean Witter
Senior Vice President Funds.
and Director of the
Tax-Exempt Fixed
Income Group
Frank Bruttomesso First Vice President and Assistant Secretary of MSDW
First Vice President and Services; Assistant Secretary of MSDW Distributors, the
Assistant Secretary Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Funds, TCW/DW Funds and
Discover Brokerage Index Series.
8
<PAGE>
<CAPTION>
NAME AND POSITION WITH OTHER SUBSTANTIAL BUSINESS, PROFESSION, VOCATION
MORGAN STANLEY DEAN OR EMPLOYMENT, INCLUDING NAME, PRINCIPAL ADDRESS
WITTER ADVISORS INC. AND NATURE OF CONNECTION
- -------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C>
Thomas F. Caloia First Vice President and Assistant Treasurer of
First Vice President MSDW Services; Assistant Treasurer of MSDW
and Assistant Distributors; Treasurer and Chief Financial and Accounting
Treasurer Officer of the Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Funds,
TCW/DW Funds and Discover Brokerage Index Series..
Thomas Chronert
First Vice President
Marilyn K. Cranney Assistant Secretary of DWR; First Vice President and
First Vice President Assistant Secretary of MSDW Services; Assistant
and Assistant Secretary Secretary of MSDW Distributors, the Morgan Stanley Dean
Witter Funds, TCW/DW Funds and Discover Brokerage
Index Series.
Salvatore DeSteno First Vice President of MSDW Services.
First Vice President
Peter W. Gurman
First Vice President
Michael Interrante First Vice President and Controller of MSDW Services;
First Vice President Assistant Treasurer of MSDW Distributors; First Vice
and Controller President and Treasurer of MSDW Trust.
David Johnson
First Vice President
Stanley Kapica
First Vice President
Lou Anne D. McInnis First Vice President and Assistant Secretary of MSDW
First Vice President and Services; Assistant Secretary of MSDW Distributors, the
Assistant Secretary Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Funds, TCW/DW Funds and
Discover Brokerage Index Series.
Carsten Otto First Vice President and Assistant Secretary of MSDW
First Vice President Services; Assistant Secretary of MSDW Distributors, the
and Assistant Secretary Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Funds, TCW/DW Funds and
Discover Brokerage Index Series.
Ruth Rossi First Vice President and Assistant Secretary of MSDW
First Vice President and Services; Assistant Secretary of MSDW Distributors the
Assistant Secretary Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Funds, TCW/DW Funds and
Discover Brokerage Index Series.
9
<PAGE>
<CAPTION>
NAME AND POSITION WITH OTHER SUBSTANTIAL BUSINESS, PROFESSION, VOCATION
MORGAN STANLEY DEAN OR EMPLOYMENT, INCLUDING NAME, PRINCIPAL ADDRESS
WITTER ADVISORS INC. AND NATURE OF CONNECTION
- -------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C>
James P. Wallin
First Vice President
Robert Abreu
Vice President
Dale Albright
Vice President
Joan G. Allman
Vice President
Andrew Arbenz
Vice President
Joseph Arcieri Vice President of various Morgan Stanley Dean Witter
Vice President Funds.
Armon Bar-Tur
Vice President
Raymond Basile
Vice President
Nancy Belza
Vice President
Maurice Bendrihem
Vice President and
Assistant Controller
Dale Boettcher
Vice President
Ronald Caldwell
Vice President
Joseph Cardwell
Vice President
Liam Carroll
Vice President
Philip Casparius
Vice President
10
<PAGE>
<CAPTION>
NAME AND POSITION WITH OTHER SUBSTANTIAL BUSINESS, PROFESSION, VOCATION
MORGAN STANLEY DEAN OR EMPLOYMENT, INCLUDING NAME, PRINCIPAL ADDRESS
WITTER ADVISORS INC. AND NATURE OF CONNECTION
- -------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C>
Aaron Clark
Vice President
William Connerly
Vice President
David Dineen
Vice President
Sheila Finnerty Vice President of Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Prime
Vice President Income Trust
Jeffrey D. Geffen
Vice President
Sandra Gelpieryn
Vice President
Charmaine George
Vice President
Michael Geringer
Vice President
Gail Gerrity
Vice President
Ellen Gold
Vice President
Stephen Greenhut
Vice President
Trey Hancock
Vice President
Matthew Haynes Vice President of various Morgan Stanley Dean Witter
Vice President Funds.
Peter Hermann Vice President of various Morgan Stanley Dean Witter
Vice President Funds.
David T. Hoffman
Vice President
Kevin Jung Vice President of various Morgan Stanley Dean Witter
Vice President Funds.
11
<PAGE>
<CAPTION>
NAME AND POSITION WITH OTHER SUBSTANTIAL BUSINESS, PROFESSION, VOCATION
MORGAN STANLEY DEAN OR EMPLOYMENT, INCLUDING NAME, PRINCIPAL ADDRESS
WITTER ADVISORS INC. AND NATURE OF CONNECTION
- -------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C>
Carol Espejo-Kane
Vice President
Nancy Karole-Kennedy
Vice President
Doug Ketterer
Vice President
Paula LaCosta Vice President of various Morgan Stanley Dean Witter
Vice President Funds.
Kimberly LaHart
Vice President
Thomas Lawlor
Vice President
Todd Lebo Vice President and Assistant Secretary of MSDW
Vice President and Services; Assistant Secretary of MSDW Distributors, the
Assistant Secretary Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Funds, TCW/DW Funds and
Discover Brokerage Index Series.
Gerard J. Lian Vice President of various Morgan Stanley Dean Witter
Vice President Funds.
Nancy Login
Vice President
Sharon Loguercio
Vice President
Steven MacNamara
Vice President
Catherine Maniscalco Vice President of Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Natural
Vice President Resource Development Securities Inc.
Albert McGarity
Vice President
Teresa McRoberts Vice President of Morgan Stanley Dean Witter S&P 500
Vice President Select Fund.
Mark Mitchell
Vice President
12
<PAGE>
<CAPTION>
NAME AND POSITION WITH OTHER SUBSTANTIAL BUSINESS, PROFESSION, VOCATION
MORGAN STANLEY DEAN OR EMPLOYMENT, INCLUDING NAME, PRINCIPAL ADDRESS
WITTER ADVISORS INC. AND NATURE OF CONNECTION
- -------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C>
Julie Morrone
Vice President
Mary Beth Mueller
Vice President
David Myers Vice President of Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Natural
Vice President Resource Development Securities Inc.
James Nash
Vice President
Richard Norris
Vice President
Anne Pickrell Vice President of various Morgan Stanley Dean Witter
Vice President Funds.
Dawn Rorke
Vice President
John Roscoe Vice President of Morgan Stanley Dean Witter
Vice President Real Estate Fund
Hugh Rose
Vice President
Robert Rossetti Vice President of various Morgan Stanley Dean Witter
Vice President Funds.
Carl F. Sadler
Vice President
Deborah Santaniello
Vice President
Patrice Saunders
Vice President
Howard A. Schloss Vice President of Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Federal
Vice President Securities Trust.
Peter J. Seeley Vice President of various Morgan Stanley Dean Witter
Vice President Funds.
Robert Stearns
Vice President
13
<PAGE>
<CAPTION>
NAME AND POSITION WITH OTHER SUBSTANTIAL BUSINESS, PROFESSION, VOCATION
MORGAN STANLEY DEAN OR EMPLOYMENT, INCLUDING NAME, PRINCIPAL ADDRESS
WITTER ADVISORS INC. AND NATURE OF CONNECTION
- -------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C>
Naomi Stein
Vice President
Michael Strayhorn
Vice President
Kathleen H. Stromberg Vice President of various Morgan Stanley Dean Witter
Vice President Funds.
Marybeth Swisher
Vice President
Michael Thayer
Vice President
Robert Vanden Assem
Vice President
David Walsh
Vice President
Alice Weiss Vice President of various Morgan Stanley Dean Witter
Vice President Funds.
John Wong
Vice President
</TABLE>
The principal address of MSDW Advisors, MSDW Services, MSDW Distributors,
DWR, the Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Funds, the TCW/DW Funds and Discover
Brokerage Index Series is Two World Trade Center, New York, New York 10048. The
principal address of MSDW is 1585 Broadway, New York, New York 10036. The
principal address of MSDW Trust is 2 Harborside Financial Center, Jersey City,
New Jersey 07311.
Item 27. PRINCIPAL UNDERWRITERS
(a) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Distributors Inc. ("MSDW Distributors"), a
Delaware corporation, is the principal underwriter of the Registrant. MSDW
Distributors is also the principal underwriter of the following investment
companies:
(1) Active Assets California Tax-Free Trust
(2) Active Assets Government Securities Trust
(3) Active Assets Money Trust
(4) Active Assets Tax-Free Trust
(5) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Aggressive Equity Fund
(6) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter American Opportunities Fund
(7) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Balanced Growth Fund
(8) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Balanced Income Fund
14
<PAGE>
(9) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter California Tax-Free Daily Income Trust
(10) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter California Tax-Free Income Fund
(11) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Capital Growth Securities
(12) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Competitive Edge Fund, "BEST IDEAS PORTFOLIO"
(13) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Convertible Securities Trust
(14) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Developing Growth Securities Trust
(15) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Diversified Income Trust
(16) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Dividend Growth Securities Inc.
(17) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Equity Fund
(18) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter European Growth Fund Inc.
(19) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Federal Securities Trust
(20) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Financial Services Trust
(21) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Fund of Funds
(22) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Global Dividend Growth Securities
(23) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Global Utilities Fund
(24) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Growth Fund
(25) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Hawaii Municipal Trust
(26) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Health Sciences Trust
(27) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter High Yield Securities Inc.
(28) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Income Builder Fund
(29) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Information Fund
(30) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Intermediate Income Securities
(31) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter International Fund
(32) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter International SmallCap Fund
(33) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Japan Fund
(34) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Limited Term Municipal Trust
(35) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Liquid Asset Fund Inc.
(36) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Market Leader Trust
(37) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Mid-Cap Dividend Growth Securities
(38) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Mid-Cap Growth Fund
(39) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Multi-State Municipal Series Trust
(40) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Natural Resource Development Securities Inc.
(41) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter New York Municipal Money Market Trust
(42) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter New York Tax-Free Income Fund
(43) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Pacific Growth Fund Inc.
(44) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Precious Metals and Minerals Trust
(45) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Prime Income Trust
(46) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Real Estate Fund
(47) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter S&P 500 Index Fund
(48) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter S&P 500 Select Fund
(49) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Short-Term Bond Fund
(50) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Short-Term U.S. Treasury Trust
(51) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Special Value Fund
(52) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Strategist Fund
(53) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Tax-Exempt Securities Trust
(54) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Tax-Free Daily Income Trust
(55) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter U.S. Government Money Market Trust
(56) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter U.S. Government Securities Trust
(57) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Utilities Fund
(58) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Value-Added Market Series
(59) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Value Fund
15
<PAGE>
(60) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Variable Investment Series
(61) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter World Wide Income Trust
(1) TCW/DW Emerging Markets Opportunities Trust
(2) TCW/DW Global Telecom Trust
(3) TCW/DW Income and Growth
(4) TCW/DW Latin American Growth Fund
(5) TCW/DW Mid-Cap Equity Trust
(6) TCW/DW North American Government Income Trust
(7) TCW/DW Small Cap Growth Fund
(8) TCW/DW Total Return Trust
(b) The following information is given regarding directors and officers of
MSDW Distributors not listed in Item 26 above. The principal address of MSDW
Distributors is Two World Trade Center, New York, New York 10048. Other than Mr.
Purcell, who is a Trustee of the Registrant, none of the following persons has
any position or office with the Registrant.
NAME POSITIONS AND OFFICE WITH MSDW DISTRIBUTORS
- ---- -------------------------------------------
Michael T. Gregg Vice President and Assistant Secretary.
James F. Higgins Director
Fredrick K. Kubler Senior Vice President, Assistant Secretary and Chief
Compliance Officer.
Philip J. Purcell Director
John Schaeffer Director
Charles Vadala Senior Vice President and Financial Principal.
Item 28. LOCATION OF ACCOUNTS AND RECORDS
All accounts, books and other documents required to be maintained by
Section 31(a) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 and the Rules thereunder are
maintained by the Investment Manager at its offices, except records relating to
holders of shares issued by the Registrant, which are maintained by the
Registrant's Transfer Agent, at its place of business as shown in the
prospectus.
Item 29. MANAGEMENT SERVICES
Registrant is not a party to any such management-related service contract.
Item 30. UNDERTAKINGS
Registrant hereby undertakes to furnish each person to whom a prospectus is
delivered with a copy of the Registrant's latest annual report to shareholders,
upon request and without charge.
16
<PAGE>
SIGNATURES
----------
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 and the
Investment Company Act of 1940, the Registrant certifies that it has duly caused
this Post-Effective Amendment to the Registration Statement to be signed on its
behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of New York
and State of New York on the 11th day of June, 1999.
MORGAN STANLEY DEAN WITTER
COMPETITIVE EDGE FUND
By /s/ Barry Fink
--------------------------------------
Barry Fink
Vice President and Secretary
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Post-Effective Amendment No. 2 has been signed below by the following persons in
the capacities and on the dates indicated.
Signatures Title Date
---------- ----- ----
(1) Principal Executive Officer Chief Executive Officer,
Trustee and Chairman
By /s/ Charles A. Fiumefreddo 06/11/99
--------------------------
Charles A. Fiumefreddo
(2) Principal Financial Officer Treasurer and Principal
Accounting Officer
By /s/ Thomas F. Caloia 06/11/99
--------------------------
Thomas F. Caloia
(3) Majority of the Trustees
Charles A. Fiumefreddo (Chairman)
Philip J. Purcell
By /s/ Barry Fink 06/11/99
--------------------------
Barry Fink
Attorney-in-Fact
Michael Bozic Manuel H. Johnson
Edwin J. Garn Michael E. Nugent
Wayne E. Hedien John L. Schroeder
By /s/ David M. Butowsky 06/11/99
--------------------------
David M. Butowsky
Attorney-in-Fact
<PAGE>
MORGAN STANLEY DEAN WITTER COMPETITIVE EDGE FUND
EXHIBIT INDEX
-------------
2. Amended and Restated By-Laws of the Registrant, dated May 1, 1999.
5 . Omnibus Selected Dealer Agreement between Morgan Stanley Dean Witter
Distributors Inc. and National Financial Services Corporation, dated
October 17, 1998.
<PAGE>
BY-LAWS
OF
MORGAN STANLEY DEAN WITTER COMPETITIVE EDGE FUND
AMENDED AND RESTATED AS OF MAY 1, 1999
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
The terms "COMMISSION", "DECLARATION", "DISTRIBUTOR", "INVESTMENT
ADVISER", "MAJORITY SHAREHOLDER VOTE", "1940 ACT", "SHAREHOLDER", "SHARES",
"TRANSFER AGENT", "TRUST", "TRUST PROPERTY", and "TRUSTEES" have the
respective meanings given them in the Declaration of Trust of Morgan Stanley
Dean Witter Competitive Edge Fund dated October 16, 1997, as amended from
time to time.
ARTICLE II
OFFICES
SECTION 2.1. PRINCIPAL OFFICE. Until changed by the Trustees, the
principal office of the Trust in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts shall be
in the City of Boston, County of Suffolk.
SECTION 2.2. OTHER OFFICES. In addition to its principal office in the
Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the Trust may have an office or offices in the
City of New York, State of New York, and at such other places within and
without the Commonwealth as the Trustees may from time to time designate or
the business of the Trust may require.
ARTICLE III
SHAREHOLDERS' MEETINGS
SECTION 3.1. PLACE OF MEETINGS. Meetings of Shareholders shall be held at
such place, within or without the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as may be
designated from time to time by the Trustees.
SECTION 3.2. MEETINGS. Meetings of Shareholders of the Trust shall be held
whenever called by the Trustees or the President of the Trust and whenever
election of a Trustee or Trustees by Shareholders is required by the
provisions of Section 16(a) of the 1940 Act, for that purpose. Meetings of
Shareholders shall also be called by the Secretary upon the written request
of the holders of Shares entitled to vote as otherwise required by
Section 16(c) of the 1940 Act and to the extent required by the corporate or
business statute of any state in which the Shares of the Trust are sold, as made
applicable to the Trust by the provisions of Section 2.3 of the Declaration.
Such request shall state the purpose or purposes of such meeting and the
matters proposed to be acted on thereat. Except to the extent otherwise
required by Section 16(c) of the 1940 Act, as made applicable to the Trust by
the provisions of Section 2.3 of the Declaration, the Secretary shall inform
such Shareholders of the reasonable estimated cost of preparing and mailing
such notice of the meeting, and upon payment to the Trust of such costs, the
Secretary shall give notice stating the purpose or purposes of the meeting to
all entitled to vote at such meeting. No meeting need be called upon the
request of the holders of Shares entitled to cast less than a majority of all
votes entitled to be cast at such meeting, to consider any matter which is
substantially the same as a matter voted upon at any meeting of Shareholders
held during the preceding twelve months.
SECTION 3.3. NOTICE OF MEETINGS. Written or printed notice of every
Shareholders' meeting stating the place, date, and purpose or purposes
thereof, shall be given by the Secretary not less than ten (10) nor more than
ninety (90) days before such meeting to each Shareholder entitled to vote at
such meeting. Such notice shall be deemed to be given when deposited in the
United States mail, postage prepaid, directed to the Shareholder at his
address as it appears on the records of the Trust.
SECTION 3.4. QUORUM AND ADJOURNMENT OF MEETINGS. Except as otherwise
provided by law, by the Declaration or by these By-Laws, at all meetings of
Shareholders, the holders of a majority of the Shares issued and outstanding
and entitled to vote thereat, present in person or represented by proxy,
shall be
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<PAGE>
requisite and shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. In
the absence of a quorum, the Shareholders present or represented by proxy and
entitled to vote thereat shall have the power to adjourn the meeting from
time to time. The Shareholders present in person or represented by proxy at
any meeting and entitled to vote thereat also shall have the power to adjourn
the meeting from time to time if the vote required to approve or reject any
proposal described in the original notice of such meeting is not obtained
(with proxies being voted for or against adjournment consistent with the
votes for and against the proposal for which the required vote has not been
obtained). The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the Shares
then present in person or represented by proxy shall be required to adjourn
any meeting. Any adjourned meeting may be reconvened without further notice
or change in record date. At any reconvened meeting at which a quorum shall
be present, any business may be transacted that might have been transacted at
the meeting as originally called.
SECTION 3.5. VOTING RIGHTS, PROXIES. At each meeting of Shareholders,
each holder of record of Shares entitled to vote thereat shall be entitled to
one vote in person or by proxy for each Share of beneficial interest of the
Trust and for the fractional portion of one vote for each fractional Share
entitled to vote so registered in his or her name on the records of the Trust
on the date fixed as the record date for the determination of Shareholders
entitled to vote at such meeting. Without limiting the manner in which a
Shareholder may authorize another person or persons to act for such
Shareholder as proxy pursuant hereto, the following shall constitute a valid
means by which a Shareholder may grant such authority:
(i) A Shareholder may execute a writing authorizing another person or
persons to act for such Shareholder as proxy. Execution may be
accomplished by the Shareholder or such Shareholder's authorized
officer, director, employee, attorney-in-fact or another agent signing
such writing or causing such person's signature to be affixed to such
writing by any reasonable means including, but not limited to, by
facsimile or telecopy signature. No written evidence of authority of a
Shareholder's authorized officer, director, employee, attorney-in-fact
or other agent shall be required; and
(ii) A Shareholder may authorize another person or persons to act for
such Shareholder as proxy by transmitting or authorizing the
transmission of a telegram or cablegram or by other means of
telephonic, electronic or computer transmission to the person who will
be the holder of the proxy or to a proxy solicitation firm, proxy
support service organization or like agent duly authorized by the
person who will be the holder of the proxy to receive such
transmission, provided that any such telegram or cablegram or other
means of telephonic, electronic or computer transmission must either
set forth or be submitted with information from which it can be
determined that the telegram, cablegram or other transmission was
authorized by the Shareholder.
No proxy shall be valid after eleven months from its date, unless otherwise
provided in the proxy. At all meetings of Shareholders, unless the voting is
conducted by inspectors, all questions relating to the qualification of
voters and the validity of proxies and the acceptance or rejection of votes
shall be decided by the chairman of the meeting. In determining whether a
telegram, cablegram or other electronic transmission is valid, the chairman
or inspector, as the case may be, shall specify the information upon which he
or she relied. Pursuant to a resolution of a majority of the Trustees,
proxies may be solicited in the name of one or more Trustees or Officers of
the Trust. Proxy solicitations may be made in writing or by using telephonic
or other electronic solicitation procedures that include appropriate methods
of verifying the identity of the Shareholder and confirming any instructions
given thereby.
SECTION 3.6. VOTE REQUIRED. Except as otherwise provided by law, by the
Declaration of Trust, or by these By-Laws, at each meeting of Shareholders at
which a quorum is present, all matters shall be decided by Majority
Shareholder Vote.
SECTION 3.7. INSPECTORS OF ELECTION. In advance of any meeting of
Shareholders, the Trustees may appoint Inspectors of Election to act at the
meeting or any adjournment thereof. If Inspectors of Election are not so
appointed, the chairman of any meeting of Shareholders may, and on the
request of any Shareholder or his proxy shall, appoint Inspectors of Election
of the meeting. In case any person appointed as Inspector fails to appear or
fails or refuses to act, the vacancy may be filled by appointment made by the
Trustees in advance of the convening of the meeting or at the meeting by the
person acting as chairman. The Inspectors of Election shall determine the
number of Shares outstanding, the Shares
2
<PAGE>
represented at the meeting, the existence of a quorum, the authenticity,
validity and effect of proxies, shall receive votes, ballots or consents,
shall hear and determine all challenges and questions in any way arising in
connection with the right to vote, shall count and tabulate all votes or
consents, determine the results, and do such other acts as may be proper to
conduct the election or vote with fairness to all Shareholders. On request of
the chairman of the meeting, or of any Shareholder or his proxy, the
Inspectors of Election shall make a report in writing of any challenge or
question or matter determined by them and shall execute a certificate of any
facts found by them.
SECTION 3.8. INSPECTION OF BOOKS AND RECORDS. Shareholders shall have such
rights and procedures of inspection of the books and records of the Trust as
are granted to Shareholders under Section 32 of the Business Corporation Law
of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
SECTION 3.9. ACTION BY SHAREHOLDERS WITHOUT MEETING. Except as otherwise
provided by law, the provisions of these By-Laws relating to notices and
meetings to the contrary notwithstanding, any action required or permitted to
be taken at any meeting of Shareholders may be taken without a meeting if a
majority of the Shareholders entitled to vote upon the action consent to the
action in writing and such consents are filed with the records of the Trust.
Such consent shall be treated for all purposes as a vote taken at a meeting
of Shareholders.
SECTION 3.10. PRESENCE AT MEETINGS. Presence at meetings of shareholders
requires physical attendance by the shareholder or his or her proxy at the
meeting site and does not encompass attendance by telephonic or other
electronic means.
ARTICLE IV
TRUSTEES
SECTION 4.1. MEETINGS OF THE TRUSTEES. The Trustees may in their
discretion provide for regular or special meetings of the Trustees. Regular
meetings of the Trustees may be held at such time and place as shall be
determined from time to time by the Trustees without further notice. Special
meetings of the Trustees may be called at any time by the 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.
3
<PAGE>
SECTION 4.6. EXPENSES AND FEES. Each Trustee may be allowed expenses, if
any, for attendance at each regular or special meeting of the Trustees, and
each Trustee who is not an officer or employee of the Trust or of its
investment manager or underwriter or of any corporate affiliate of any of
said persons shall receive for services rendered as a Trustee of the Trust
such compensation as may be fixed by the Trustees. Nothing herein contained
shall be construed to preclude any Trustee from serving the Trust in any
other capacity and receiving compensation therefor.
SECTION 4.7. EXECUTION OF INSTRUMENTS AND DOCUMENTS AND SIGNING OF CHECKS
AND OTHER OBLIGATIONS AND TRANSFERS. All instruments, documents and other
papers shall be executed in the name and on behalf of the Trust and all
checks, notes, drafts and other obligations for the payment of money by the
Trust shall be signed, and all transfer of securities standing in the name of
the Trust shall be executed, by the Chairman, the President, any Vice
President or the Treasurer or by any one or more officers or agents of the
Trust as shall be designated for that purpose by vote of the Trustees;
notwithstanding the above, nothing in this Section 4.7 shall be deemed to
preclude the electronic authorization, by designated persons, of the Trust's
Custodian (as described herein in Section 9.1) to transfer assets of the
Trust, as provided for herein in Section 9.1.
SECTION 4.8. INDEMNIFICATION OF TRUSTEES, OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES AND
AGENTS. (a) The Trust shall indemnify any person who was or is a party or is
threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending, or completed
action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or
investigative (other than an action by or in the right of the Trust) by
reason of the fact that he is or was a Trustee, officer, employee, or agent
of the Trust. The indemnification shall be against expenses, including
attorneys' fees, judgments, fines, and amounts paid in settlement, actually
and reasonably incurred by him in connection with the action, suit, or
proceeding, if he acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed
to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Trust, and, with respect
to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his
conduct was unlawful. The termination of any action, suit or proceeding by
judgment, order, settlement, conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or
its equivalent, shall not, of itself, create a presumption that the person
did not act in good faith and in a manner which he reasonably believed to be
in or not opposed to the best interests of the Trust, and, with respect to
any criminal action or proceeding, had reasonable cause to believe that his
conduct was unlawful.
(b) The Trust shall indemnify any person who was or is a party or is
threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action
or suit by or on behalf of the Trust to obtain a judgment or decree in its
favor by reason of the fact that he is or was a Trustee, officer, employee,
or agent of the Trust. The indemnification shall be against expenses,
including attorneys' fees actually and reasonably incurred by him in
connection with the defense or settlement of the action or suit, if he acted
in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed
to the best interests of the Trust; except that no indemnification shall be
made in respect of any claim, issue, or matter as to which the person has
been adjudged to be liable for negligence or misconduct in the performance of
his duty to the Trust, except to the extent that the court in which the
action or suit was brought, or a court of equity in the county in which the
Trust has its principal office, determines upon application that, despite the
adjudication of liability but in view of all circumstances of the case, the
person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for those expenses
which the court shall deem proper, provided such Trustee, officer, employee
or agent is not adjudged to be liable by reason of his willful misfeasance,
bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in
the conduct of his office.
(c) To the extent that a Trustee, officer, employee, or agent of the Trust
has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any action, suit
or proceeding referred to in subsection (a) or (b) or in defense of any
claim, issue or matter therein, he shall be indemnified against expenses,
including attorneys' fees, actually and reasonably incurred by him in
connection therewith.
(d) (1) Unless a court orders otherwise, any indemnification under
subsections (a) or (b) of this section may be made by the Trust only as
authorized in the specific case after a determination that indemnification of
the Trustee, officer, employee, or agent is proper in the circumstances
because he has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in
subsections (a) or (b).
4
<PAGE>
(2) The determination shall be made:
(i) By the Trustees, by a majority vote of a quorum which consists of
Trustees who were not parties to the action, suit or proceeding; or
(ii) If the required quorum is not obtainable, or if a quorum of
disinterested Trustees so directs, by independent legal counsel in a
written opinion; or
(iii) By the Shareholders.
(3) Notwithstanding any provision of this Section 4.8, no person shall
be entitled to indemnification for any liability, whether or not there is
an adjudication of liability, arising by reason of willful misfeasance,
bad faith, gross negligence, or reckless disregard of duties as described
in Section 17(h) and (i) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
("disabling conduct"). A person shall be deemed not liable by reason of
disabling conduct if, either:
(i) a final decision on the merits is made by a court or other body
before whom the proceeding was brought that the person to be indemnified
("indemnitee") was not liable by reason of disabling conduct; or
(ii) in the absence of such a decision, a reasonable determination,
based upon a review of the facts, that the indemnitee was not liable by
reason of disabling conduct, is made by either--
(A) a majority of a quorum of Trustees who are neither "interested
persons" of the Trust, as defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the
Investment Company Act of 1940, nor parties to the action, suit or
proceeding, or
(B) an independent legal counsel in a written opinion.
(e) Expenses, including attorneys' fees, incurred by a Trustee, officer,
employee or agent of the Trust in defending a civil or criminal action, suit
or proceeding may be paid by the Trust in advance of the final disposition
thereof if:
(1) authorized in the specific case by the Trustees; and
(2) the Trust receives an undertaking by or on behalf of the Trustee,
officer, employee or agent of the Trust to repay the advance if it is not
ultimately determined that such person is entitled to be indemnified by
the Trust; and
(3) either, (i) such person provides a security for his undertaking, or
(ii) the Trust is insured against losses by reason of any lawful
advances, or
(iii) a determination, based on a review of readily available
facts, that there is reason to believe that such person ultimately
will be found entitled to indemnification, is made by either--
(A) a majority of a quorum which consists of Trustees who are
neither "interested persons" of the Trust, as defined in
Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act, nor parties to the action, suit
or proceeding, or
(B) an independent legal counsel in a written opinion.
(f) The indemnification provided by this Section shall not be deemed
exclusive of any other rights to which a person may be entitled under any
by-law, agreement, vote of Shareholders or disinterested Trustees or
otherwise, both as to action in his official capacity and as to action in
another capacity while holding the office, and shall continue as to a person
who has ceased to be a Trustee, officer, employee, or agent and inure to the
benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such person; provided
that no person may satisfy any right of indemnity or reimbursement granted
herein or to which he may be otherwise entitled except out of the property of
the Trust, and no Shareholder shall be personally liable with respect to any
claim for indemnity or reimbursement or otherwise.
(g) The Trust may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person
who is or was a Trustee, officer, employee, or agent of the Trust, against
any liability asserted against him and incurred by him in
5
<PAGE>
any such capacity, or arising out of his status as such. However, in no event
will the Trust purchase insurance to indemnify any officer or Trustee against
liability for any act for which the Trust itself is not permitted to
indemnify him.
(h) Nothing contained in this Section shall be construed to protect any
Trustee or officer of the Trust against any liability to the Trust or to its
security holders to which he would otherwise be subject by reason of willful
misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties
involved in the conduct of his office.
ARTICLE V
COMMITTEES
SECTION 5.1. EXECUTIVE AND OTHER COMMITTEES. The Trustees, by resolution
adopted by a majority of the Trustees, may designate an Executive Committee
and/or committees, each committee to consist of two (2) or more of the
Trustees of the Trust and may delegate to such committees, in the intervals
between meetings of the Trustees, any or all of the powers of the Trustees in
the management of the business and affairs of the Trust. In the absence of
any member of any such committee, the members thereof present at any meeting,
whether or not they constitute a quorum, may appoint a Trustee to act in
place of such absent member. Each such committee shall keep a record of its
proceedings.
The Executive Committee and any other committee shall fix its own rules or
procedure, but the presence of at least fifty percent (50%) of the members of
the whole committee shall in each case be necessary to constitute a quorum of
the committee and the affirmative vote of the majority of the members of the
committee present at the meeting shall be necessary to take action.
All actions of the Executive Committee shall be reported to the Trustees
at the meeting thereof next succeeding to the taking of such action.
SECTION 5.2. ADVISORY COMMITTEE. The Trustees may appoint an advisory
committee which shall be composed of persons who do not serve the Trust in
any other capacity and which shall have advisory functions with respect to
the investments of the Trust but which shall have no power to determine that
any security or other investment shall be purchased, sold or otherwise
disposed of by the Trust. The number of persons constituting any such
advisory committee shall be determined from time to time by the Trustees. The
members of any such advisory committee may receive compensation for their
services and may be allowed such fees and expenses for the attendance at
meetings as the Trustees may from time to time determine to be appropriate.
SECTION 5.3. COMMITTEE ACTION WITHOUT MEETING. The provisions of these
By-Laws covering notices and meetings to the contrary notwithstanding, and
except as required by law, any action required or permitted to be taken at
any meeting of any Committee of the Trustees appointed pursuant to
Section 5.1 of these By-Laws may be taken without a meeting if a consent in
writing setting forth the action shall be signed by all members of the Committee
entitled to vote upon the action and such written consent is filed with the
records of the proceedings of the Committee.
ARTICLE VI
OFFICERS
SECTION 6.1. EXECUTIVE OFFICERS. The executive officers of the Trust shall
be a Chairman, a President, one or more Vice Presidents, a Secretary and a
Treasurer. The Chairman shall be selected from among the Trustees but none of
the other executive officers need be a Trustee. Two or more offices, except
those of President and any Vice President, may be held by the same person,
but no officer shall execute, acknowledge or verify any instrument in more
than one capacity. The executive officers of the Trust shall be elected
annually by the Trustees and each executive officer so elected shall hold
office until his or her successor is elected and has qualified.
SECTION 6.2. OTHER OFFICERS AND AGENTS. The Trustees may also elect one or
more Assistant Vice Presidents, Assistant Secretaries and Assistant
Treasurers and may elect, or may delegate to the Chairman the power to
appoint, such other officers and agents as the Trustees shall at any time or
from time to time deem advisable.
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SECTION 6.3. TERM AND REMOVAL AND VACANCIES. Each officer of the Trust
shall hold office until his or her successor is elected and has qualified.
Any officer or agent of the Trust may be removed by the Trustees whenever, in
their judgment, the best interests of the Trust will be served thereby, but
such removal shall be without prejudice to the contractual rights, if any, of
the person so removed.
SECTION 6.4. COMPENSATION OF OFFICERS. The compensation of officers and
agents of the Trust shall be fixed by the Trustees, or by the Chairman to the
extent provided by the Trustees with respect to officers appointed by the
Chairman.
SECTION 6.5. POWERS 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 such third
party has knowledge thereof.
SECTION 6.6. THE CHAIRMAN. The Chairman shall be the chief executive
officer of the Trust, shall preside at all meetings of the Shareholders and
of the Trustees, shall have general and active management of the business of
the Trust, shall see that all orders and resolutions of the Trustees are
carried into effect and, in connection therewith, shall be authorized to
delegate to the President or to one or more Vice Presidents such of his or
her powers and duties at such times and in such manner as he or she may deem
advisable, shall be a signatory on all Annual and Semi-Annual Reports as may
be sent to Shareholders, and shall perform such other duties as the Trustees
may from time to time prescribe.
SECTION 6.7. THE PRESIDENT. The President shall perform such duties as the
Trustees and the Chairman may from time to time prescribe and shall, in the
absence or disability of the Chairman, exercise the powers and perform the
duties of the Chairman. The President shall be authorized to delegate to one
or more Vice Presidents such of his or her powers and duties at such times
and in such manner as he or she may deem advisable.
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 shall be more than one, the
Vice Presidents in such order as may be determined from time to time by the
Trustees or the Chairman, shall, in the absence or disability of the
President, exercise the powers and perform the duties of the President, and
shall perform such other duties as the Trustees or the Chairman may from time
to time prescribe.
SECTION 6.9. THE ASSISTANT VICE PRESIDENTS. The Assistant Vice President,
or, if there shall be more than one, the Assistant Vice Presidents in such
order as may be determined from time to time by the Trustees or the Chairman,
shall perform such duties and have such powers as may be assigned them from
time to time by the Trustees or the Chairman.
SECTION 6.10. THE SECRETARY. The Secretary shall attend all meetings of
the Trustees and all meetings of the Shareholders and record all the
proceedings of the meetings of the Shareholders and of the Trustees in a book
to be kept for that purpose, and shall perform like duties for the standing
committees when required. He or she shall give, or cause to be given, notice
of all meetings of the Shareholders and special meetings of the Trustees, and
shall perform such other duties and have such powers as the Trustees or the
Chairman may from time to time prescribe. He or she 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 or her signature or by the signature of an Assistant Secretary.
SECTION 6.11. THE ASSISTANT SECRETARIES. The Assistant Secretary, or, if
there shall be more than one, the Assistant Secretaries in such order as may
be determined from time to time by the Trustees or the Chairman, shall, in
the absence or disability of the Secretary, perform the duties and exercise
the powers of the Secretary and shall perform such duties and have such other
powers as the Trustees or the Chairman may from time to time prescribe.
SECTION 6.12. THE TREASURER. The Treasurer shall be the chief financial
officer of the Trust. He or she shall keep or cause to be kept full and
accurate accounts of receipts and disbursements in books belonging to the
Trust, and he or she shall render to the Trustees and the Chairman, whenever
any of them require it, an account of his or her transactions as Treasurer
and of the financial condition of the Trust, and he or she shall perform such
other duties as the Trustees or the Chairman may from time to time prescribe.
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SECTION 6.13. THE ASSISTANT TREASURERS. The Assistant Treasurer, or, if
there shall be more than one, the Assistant Treasurers in such order as may
be determined from time to time by the Trustees or the Chairman, shall, in
the absence or disability of the Treasurer, perform the duties and exercise
the powers of the Treasurer and shall perform such other duties and have such
other powers as the Trustees or the Chairman may from time to time prescribe.
SECTION 6.14. DELEGATION OF DUTIES. Whenever an officer is absent or
disabled, or whenever for any reason the Trustees may deem it desirable, the
Trustees may delegate the powers and duties of an officer or officers to any
other officer or officers or to any Trustee or Trustees.
ARTICLE VII
DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS
Subject to any applicable provisions of law and the Declaration, dividends
and distributions upon the Shares may be declared at such intervals as the
Trustees may determine, in cash, in securities or other property, or in
Shares, from any sources permitted by law, all as the Trustees shall from
time to time determine.
Inasmuch as the computation of net income and net profits from the sales
of securities or other properties for federal income tax purposes may vary
from the computation thereof on the records of the Trust, the Trustees shall
have power, in their discretion, to distribute as income dividends and as
capital gain distributions, respectively, amounts sufficient to enable the
Trust to avoid or reduce liability for federal income taxes.
ARTICLE VIII
CERTIFICATES OF SHARES
SECTION 8.1. CERTIFICATES OF SHARES. Certificates for Shares of each
series or class of Shares shall be in such form and of such design as the
Trustees shall approve, subject to the right of the Trustees to change such
form and design at any time or from time to time, and shall be entered in the
records of the Trust as they are issued. Each such certificate shall bear a
distinguishing number; shall exhibit the holder's name and certify the number
of full Shares owned by such holder; shall be signed by or in the name of the
Trust by the 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.
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ARTICLE IX
CUSTODIAN
SECTION 9.1. APPOINTMENT AND DUTIES. The Trust shall at times employ a
bank or trust company having capital, surplus and undivided profits of at
least five million dollars ($5,000,000) as custodian with authority as its
agent, but subject to such restrictions, limitations and other requirements,
if any, as may be contained in these By-Laws and the 1940 Act:
(1) to receive and hold the securities owned by the Trust and deliver
the same upon written or electronically transmitted order;
(2) to receive and receipt for any moneys due to the Trust and deposit
the same in its own banking department or elsewhere as the Trustees may
direct;
(3) to disburse such funds upon orders or vouchers;
all upon such basis of compensation as may be agreed upon between the
Trustees and the custodian. If so directed by a Majority Shareholder Vote,
the custodian shall deliver and pay over all property of the Trust held by it
as specified in such vote.
The Trustees may also authorize the custodian to employ one or more
sub-custodians from time to time to perform such of the acts and services of
the custodian and upon such terms and conditions as may be agreed upon
between the custodian and such sub-custodian and approved by the Trustees.
SECTION 9.2. CENTRAL CERTIFICATE SYSTEM. Subject to such rules,
regulations and orders as the Commission may adopt, the Trustees may direct
the custodian to deposit all or any part of the securities owned by the Trust
in a system for the central handling of securities established by a national
securities exchange or a national securities association registered with the
Commission under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or such other person as
may be permitted by the Commission, or otherwise in accordance with the 1940
Act, pursuant to which system all securities of any particular class or
series of any issuer deposited within the system are treated as fungible and
may be transferred or pledged by bookkeeping entry without physical delivery
of such securities, provided that all such deposits shall be subject to
withdrawal only upon the order of the Trust.
ARTICLE X
WAIVER OF NOTICE
Whenever any notice of the time, place or purpose of any meeting of
Shareholders, Trustees, or of any committee is required to be given in
accordance with law or under the provisions of the Declaration or these
By-Laws, a waiver thereof in writing, signed by the person or persons
entitled to such notice and filed with the records of the meeting, whether
before or after the holding thereof, or actual attendance at the meeting of
shareholders, Trustees or committee, as the case may be, in person, shall be
deemed equivalent to the giving of such notice to such person.
ARTICLE XI
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 11.1. LOCATION OF BOOKS AND RECORDS. The books and records of the
Trust may be kept outside the Commonwealth of Massachusetts at such place or
places as the Trustees may from time to time determine, except as otherwise
required by law.
SECTION 11.2. RECORD DATE. The Trustees may fix in advance a date as the
record date for the purpose of determining the Shareholders entitled to
(i) receive notice of, or to vote at, any meeting of Shareholders, or
(ii) receive payment of any dividend or the allotment of any rights, or in order
to make a determination of Shareholders for any other proper purpose. The
record date, in any case, shall not be more than one hundred eighty (180)
days, and in the case of a meeting of Shareholders not less than ten (10)
days, prior to the date on which such meeting is to be held or the date on
which such other particular 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
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statement shall be the date used for purposes of calculating the 180 day or
10 day period, and any adjourned meeting may be reconvened without a change
in record date. In lieu of fixing a record date, the Trustees may provide
that the transfer books shall be closed for a stated period but not to
exceed, in any case, twenty (20) days. If the transfer books are closed for
the purpose of determining Shareholders entitled to notice of a vote at a
meeting of Shareholders, such books shall be closed for at least ten (10)
days immediately preceding the meeting.
SECTION 11.3. SEAL. The Trustees shall adopt a seal, which shall be in
such form and shall have such inscription thereon as the Trustees may from
time to time provide. The seal of the Trust may be affixed to any document,
and the seal and its attestation may be lithographed, engraved or otherwise
printed on any document with the same force and effect as if it had been
imprinted and attested manually in the same manner and with the same effect
as if done by a Massachusetts business corporation under Massachusetts law.
SECTION 11.4. FISCAL YEAR. The fiscal year of the Trust shall end on such
date as the Trustees may by resolution specify, and the Trustees may by
resolution change such date for future fiscal years at any time and from time
to time.
SECTION 11.5. ORDERS FOR PAYMENT OF MONEY. All orders or instructions for
the payment of money of the Trust, and all notes or other evidences of
indebtedness issued in the name of the Trust, shall be signed by such officer
or officers or such other person or persons as the Trustees may from time to
time designate, or as may be specified in or pursuant to the agreement
between the Trust and the bank or trust company appointed as Custodian of the
securities and funds of the Trust.
ARTICLE XII
COMPLIANCE WITH FEDERAL REGULATIONS
The Trustees are hereby empowered to take such action as they may deem to
be necessary, desirable or appropriate so that the Trust is or shall be in
compliance with any federal or state statute, rule or regulation with which
compliance by the Trust is required.
ARTICLE XIII
AMENDMENTS
These By-Laws may be amended, altered, or repealed, or new By-Laws may be
adopted, (a) by a Majority Shareholder Vote, or (b) by the Trustees;
provided, however, that no By-Law may be amended, adopted or repealed by the
Trustees if such amendment, adoption or repeal requires, pursuant to law, the
Declaration, or these By-Laws, a vote of the Shareholders. The Trustees shall
in no event adopt By-Laws which are in conflict with the Declaration, and any
apparent inconsistency shall be construed in favor of the related provisions
in the Declaration.
ARTICLE XIV
DECLARATION OF TRUST
The Declaration of Trust establishing Morgan Stanley Dean Witter
Competitive Edge Fund, dated October 16, 1997, a copy of which, together with
all amendments thereto, is on file in the office of the Secretary of the
Commonwealth of Massachusetts, provides that the name Morgan Stanley Dean
Witter Competitive Edge Fund 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 Morgan Stanley Dean
Witter Competitive Edge Fund 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
Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Competitive Edge Fund, but the Trust Estate only
shall be liable.
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MORGAN STANLEY DEAN WITTER DISTRIBUTORS INC.
OMNIBUS SELECTED DEALER AGREEMENT, INC.
Dear Sir or Madam:
We, Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Distributors Inc. (the "Distributor") have a
distribution agreement (the "Distribution Agreement") with each of the open-end
investment companies listed in Schedule A attached hereto (each, a "Fund"),
pursuant to which we act as the Distributor for the sale of each Fund's shares
of common stock or beneficial interest, as the case may be, (the "Shares").
Under the Distribution Agreement, we have the right to distribute Shares for
resale.
Each Fund is an open-end management investment company registered under the
Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the Shares being offered to the
public are registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
"Securities Act"). You have received a copy of the Distribution Agreements
between us and each Fund and reference is made herein to certain provisions of
such Distribution Agreements. The terms used herein, including "Prospectus" and
"Registration Statement" of each Fund and "Selected Dealer" shall have the same
meaning in this Agreement as in the Distribution Agreements. As principal, we
offer to sell Shares to your customers, upon the following terms and conditions:
1. In all sales of Shares to the public you shall act on behalf of your
customers which for purposes of this Agreement are limited to customers for
which Nations Banc Investments, Inc. is the Introducing Broker, and in no
transaction shall you have any authority to act as agent for a Fund, for us or
for any Selected Dealer.
2. Orders received from you will be accepted through us or on our behalf
only at the public offering price applicable to each order, as set forth in the
applicable current Prospectus. The procedure relating to the handling of orders
shall be subject to written instructions which we or the applicable Fund shall
forward from time to time to you. All orders are subject to acceptance or
rejection by us or a Fund in the sole discretion of either. The Distributor of
the Fund will promptly notify you in writing of any such rejection.
3. You shall not place orders for any Shares unless you have already
received purchase orders for such Shares at the applicable public offering price
and subject to the terms hereof and of the applicable Distribution Agreement and
Prospectus. In connection herewith, you agree to abide by the terms of the
applicable Distribution Agreement and Prospectus to the extent required
hereunder. Furthermore, you agree that (i) you will offer or sell any of the
Shares only under circumstances that will result in compliance with all
applicable Federal and state securities laws; (ii) you will not furnish or cause
to be furnished to any person any information relating to the Shares which is
inconsistent in any respect with the information contained in the applicable
Prospectus (as then amended or supplemented) or cause any advertisements to be
published by radio or television or in any newspaper or posted in any public
place or use any sales promotional material without our consent and the consent
of the applicable Fund; and (iii) you will endeavor to obtain proxies from
purchasers of Shares. You also agree that you will be liable to Distributor for
payment of the purchase price for Shares purchased by customers and that you
shall make payment for such shares when due.
4. We will compensate you for sales of shares of the Funds and personal
services to Fund shareholders by paying you a sales charge and/or other
commission (which may be in the form of a gross sales credit and/or an annual
residual commission) and/or a service fee, each as separately agreed by you and
us with respect to each Fund.
5. If any Shares sold to your customers under the terms of this Agreement
are repurchased by us for the account of a Fund or are tendered for redemption
within seven business days after the date of the confirmation of the original
purchase by you, it is agreed that you shall forfeit your right to, and refund
to us, any commission received by you with respect to such Shares.
6. No person is authorized to make any representations concerning the Shares
or the Funds except those contained in the current applicable Prospectus and in
such printed information subsequently issued by us or a Fund as information
supplemental to such Prospectus. In selling Shares, you shall rely solely on the
representations contained in the applicable Prospectus and supplemental
information mentioned above. Any printed information which we furnish you other
than the Prospectus and the Funds' periodic reports and
<PAGE>
proxy solicitation materials are our sole responsibility and not the
responsibility of the Funds, and you agree that the Funds shall have no
liability or responsibility to you in these respects unless expressly assumed in
connection therewith.
7. You are hereby authorized (i) to place orders directly with a Fund or its
agent for shares of the Fund to be sold by us subject to the applicable terms
and conditions governing the placement of orders for the purchase of Fund
Shares, as set forth in the Distribution Agreement, and (ii) to tender Shares
directly to the Fund or its agent for redemption subject to the applicable terms
and conditions set forth in the Distribution Agreement. We will provide you with
copies of any updates to the Distribution Agreement.
8. We reserve the right in our discretion, without notice, to suspend sales
or withdraw the offering of Shares entirely. Each party hereto has the right to
cancel this agreement with respect to one or more Funds upon fifteen days prior
written notice to the other party.
9. I. You shall indemnify and hold us harmless from and against any and all
losses, costs, (including reasonable attorney's fees) claims, damages and
liabilities which arise as a result of action taken pursuant to instructions
from you, or on your behalf to: (a)(i) place orders for Shares of a Fund with
the Fund's transfer agent or direct the transfer agent to receive instructions
for the order of Shares, and (ii) accept monies or direct that the transfer
agent accept monies as payment for the order of such Shares, all as contemplated
by and in accordance with Section 3 of the applicable Distribution Agreement;
(b)(i) place orders for the redemption of Shares of a Fund with the Fund's
transfer agent or direct the transfer agent to receive instruction for the
redemption of such Shares and (ii) to pay redemption proceeds or to direct that
the transfer agent pay redemption proceeds in connection with orders for the
redemption of Shares, all as contemplated by and in accordance with Section 4 of
the applicable Distribution Agreement; Distributor agrees to indemnify and hold
harmless you and your affiliates, officers, directors, control persons and
employees from and against any and all losses, costs (including reasonable
attorney's fees), claims, damages and liabilities which arise as a result of
Distributor's failure to fulfill its obligations hereunder and from any alleged
inaccuracy, omission or misrepresentation contained in any prospectus or any
advertising, or sales literature prepared by Distributor or the Fund provided,
however, that in no case, (i) is this indemnity in favor of you or us and any of
other party's such controlling persons to be deemed to protect us or any such
controlling persons against any liability to which we or any such controlling
persons would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith
or gross negligence in the performance of our duties or by reason of reckless
disregard of our obligations and duties under this Agreement or the applicable
Distribution Agreement; or (ii) are you to be liable under the indemnity
agreement contained in this paragraph with respect to any claim made against us
or any such controlling persons, unless we or any such controlling persons, as
the case may be, shall have notified you in writing within a reasonable time
after the summons or other first legal process giving information of the nature
of the claim shall have been served upon us or such controlling persons (or
after we or such controlling persons shall have received notice of such service
on any designated agent), notwithstanding the failure to notify you of any such
claim shall not relieve you from any liability which you may have to the person
against whom such action is brought otherwise than on account of the indemnity
agreement contained in this paragraph.
II. You will be entitled to participate at your own expense in the defense,
or, if you so elect, to assume the defense, of any suit brought to enforce any
such liability, but if you elect to assume the defense, such defense shall be
conducted by counsel chosen by you and reasonably satisfactory to us or such
controlling person or persons, defendant or defendants in the suit. In the event
you elect to assume the defense of any such suit and retain such counsel, we or
such controlling person or persons, defendant or defendants in the suit, shall
bear the fees and expenses of any additional counsel retained by them, but, in
case you do not elect to assume the defense of any such suit, you will reimburse
us or such controlling person or persons, defendant or defendants in the suit,
for the reasonable fees and expenses of any counsel retained by them. Each party
shall promptly notify the other party to this Agreement of the commencement of
any litigation or proceedings against it or any of its officers or directors in
connection with the issuance or sale of the Shares pursuant to this Agreement.
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III. If the indemnification provided for in this Section 9 is unavailable or
insufficient to hold harmless the Distributor, as provided above in respect of
any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses (or actions in respect
thereof) referred to herein, then you shall contribute to the amount paid or
payable by us as a result of such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or
expenses (or actions in respect thereof) in such proportion as is appropriate to
reflect the relative benefits received by you on the one hand and us on the
other from the offering of the Shares. If, however, the allocation provided by
the immediately preceding sentence is not permitted by applicable law, then you
shall contribute to such amount paid or payable by such indemnified party in
such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only such relative benefits but
also your relative fault on the one hand and our relative fault on the other, in
connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such losses,
claims, damages, liabilities or expenses (or actions in respect thereof), as
well as any other relevant equitable considerations. You and we agree that it
would not be just and equitable if contribution were determined by pro rata
allocation or by any other method of allocation which does not take into account
the equitable considerations referred to above. The amount paid or payable by us
as a result of the losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses (or actions
in respect thereof) referred to above shall be deemed to include any legal or
other expenses reasonably incurred by us in connection with investigating or
defending any such claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection
(III), you shall not be required to contribute any amount in excess of the
amount by which the total price at which the Shares distributed by you to the
public were offered to the public exceeds the amount of any damages which you
have otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue
statement or omission or alleged omission. No person guilty of fraudulent
misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act)
shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such
fraudulent misrepresentation.
IV. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsections (I), (II) and (III), we
shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless you and your officers, directors,
employees, affiliates, agents, successors and assigns from and against any and
all claims and all related losses, expenses, damages, cost and liabilities
including reasonable attorneys' fees and expenses incurred in investigation or
defense, arising out of or related to any breach of any representation, warranty
or covenant by us contained in Section 15 of this Agreement.
11. We shall have full authority to take such action as we may deem
advisable in respect of all matters pertaining to the distribution and
redemption of Shares. Neither party shall be under any liability to the other
party except for lack of good faith and for obligations expressly assumed
herein. Nothing contained in this paragraph is intended to operate as, and the
provisions of this paragraph shall not in any way whatsoever constitute, a
waiver by you of compliance with any provision of the Securities Act, or of the
rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission issued
thereunder.
12. Each party represents that it is a member in good standing of the
National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. and, with respect to any sales
in the United States, each party hereby agrees to abide by the Rules of Fair
Practice of such Association relating to the performance of the obligations
hereunder.
13. We will inform you in writing as to the states in which we believe the
Shares have been qualified for sale under, or are exempt from the requirements
of, the respective securities laws of such states, but we assume no
responsibility or obligation as to your right to sell Shares in any
jurisdiction.
14. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement to the contrary,
we represent and warrant that the names and addresses of your customers (or
customers of your affiliates) which have or which may come to our attention in
connection with this Agreement are confidential and are your exclusive property
and shall not be utilized by us except in connection with the functions
performed by us in connection with this Agreement. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, should a customer request, that we or an organization affiliated with
us, provide services to such customer, we or such affiliated organization shall
in no way violate this representation and warranty, nor be considered in breach
of this Agreement.
15. We represent, warrant, and covenant to you that the marketing materials,
any communications distributed to the public and training materials designed by
us or our agents relating to the product sold under this Agreement are true and
accurate and do not omit to state a fact necessary to make the
3
<PAGE>
information contained therein not misleading and comply with applicable federal
and state laws. We further represent, warrant, and covenant to you that the
performance by us of our obligations under this Agreement in no way constitutes
an infringement on or other violation of copyright, trade secret, trademark,
proprietary information or non-disclosure rights of any other party.
16. We shall maintain a contingency disaster recovery plan, and, in the
event you are so required by any regulatory or governmental agency, we shall
make such plan available to you for inspection at your office upon reasonable
advance notice by you. Each party agrees that it will at all times conduct its
activities under this Agreement in an equitable, legal and professional manner.
17. We understand that the performance of your and our obligations under
this Agreement is subject to examination during business hours by your
authorized representatives and auditors and by federal and state regulatory
agencies, and we agree that upon being given reasonable notice and proper
identification we shall submit or furnish at a reasonable time and place to any
such representative or regulatory agency reports, information, or other data
relating to this Agreement as may reasonably be required or requested by you. We
shall maintain and make available to you upon reasonable notice all material,
data, files, and records relating to this Agreement for a period of not less
than three years after the termination of this Agreement.
18. The sales, advertising and promotional materials designed by either
party or its agents relating to products sold under this Agreement shall comply
with applicable federal and state laws. Each party agrees that the sales,
advertising and promotional materials shall be made available to the other party
prior to distribution to your employees or customers.
19. Any controversy or claim between or among the parties hereto arising out
of or relating to this Agreement, including any claim based on or arising from
an alleged tort, shall be determined by binding arbitration in accordance with
the rules of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Judgment upon
any arbitration award may be entered in any court having jurisdiction. Any party
to this Agreement may bring an action, including a summary or expedited
proceeding, to compel arbitration of any controversy or claim to which this
Agreement applies in any court having jurisdiction over such action.
20. All notices or other communications under this Agreement shall be in
writing and given as follows:
If to us: Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Distributors Inc.
Attn: Barry Fink,
Two World Trade Center
New York, NY 10048
If to you: National Financial
Services Corporation
Attn: [Illegible]
4201 Congress Street, Suite 245
Boston, MA
or such other address as the parties may hereafter specify in writing. Each such
notice to any party shall be either hand-delivered or transmitted, postage
prepaid, by registered or certified United States mail with return receipt
requested, and shall be deemed effective only upon receipt.
4
<PAGE>
21. This Agreement shall become effective as of the date of your acceptance
hereof, provided that you return to us promptly a signed and dated copy.
MORGAN STANLEY DEAN WITTER
DISTRIBUTORS INC.
By
...................................
(Authorized Signature)
Please return one signed copy
of this agreement to:
Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Distributors Inc.
Two World Trade Center
New York, New York 10048
Accepted:
Firm Name: National Financial Services Corp
................................
By:
..................................
Address: 200 Liberty Street
...........................
New York, New York
...........................
Date: October 17, 1998
...................
5
<PAGE>
SCHEDULE A
<TABLE>
<C> <S>
Dean Witter Global Asset Allocation Fund
Morgan Stanley Dean Witter American Value Fund
Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Balanced Growth Fund
Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Balanced Income Fund
Morgan Stanley Dean Witter California Tax-Free Income Fund
Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Capital Appreciation Fund
Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Capital Growth Securities
Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Competitive Edge Fund, "Best Ideas" Portfolio
Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Convertible Securities Trust
Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Developing Growth Securities Trust
Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Diversified Income Trust
Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Dividend Growth Securities Inc.
Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Equity Fund
Morgan Stanley Dean Witter European Growth Fund Inc.
Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Federal Securities Trust
Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Financial Services Trust
Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Fund of Funds
Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Global Dividend Growth Securities
Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Global Short-Term Income Fund Inc.
Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Global Utilities Fund
Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Growth Fund
Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Hawaii Municipal Trust
Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Health Sciences Trust
Morgan Stanley Dean Witter High Yield Securities Inc.
Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Income Builder Fund
Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Information Fund
Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Intermediate Income Securities Inc.
Morgan Stanley Dean Witter International SmallCap Fund
Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Japan Fund
Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Limited Term Municipal Trust
Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Market Leader Trust
Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Mid-Cap Dividend Growth Securities
Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Mid-Cap Growth Fund
Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Multi-State Municipal Series Trust
Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Natural Resource Development Securities Inc.
Morgan Stanley Dean Witter New York Tax-Free Income Fund
Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Pacific Growth Fund Inc.
Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Precious Metals and Minerals Trust
Morgan Stanley Dean Witter S&P 500 Index Fund
Morgan Stanley Dean Witter S&P 500 Select Fund
Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Short-Term Bond Fund
Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Short-Term U.S. Treasury Trust
Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Special Value Fund
Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Strategist Fund
Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Tax-Exempt Securities Trust
Morgan Stanley Dean Witter U.S. Government Securities Trust
Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Utilities Fund
Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Value-Added Market Series
Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Value Fund
Morgan Stanley Dean Witter World Wide Income Trust
</TABLE>
A-1
