<PAGE>
AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON NOVEMBER 29, 1999
REGISTRATION NO.:
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
--------------------
FORM N-1A
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 /X/
PRE-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. / /
POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. / /
AND/OR
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY
ACT OF 1940 /X/
AMENDMENT NO. / /
------------------------
ACTIVE ASSETS INSTITUTIONAL MONEY TRUST
(A MASSACHUSETTS BUSINESS TRUST)
(EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN CHARTER)
TWO WORLD TRADE CENTER
NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10048
(ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICE)
REGISTRANT'S TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING AREA CODE: (212) 392-1600
BARRY FINK, ESQ.
TWO WORLD TRADE CENTER
NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10048
(NAME AND ADDRESS OF AGENT FOR SERVICE)
------------------------------
COPY TO:
STUART M. STRAUSS, ESQ.
MAYER, BROWN & PLATT
1675 BROADWAY
NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10019
--------------------
APPROXIMATE DATE OF PROPOSED PUBLIC OFFERING:
As soon as practicable after the effective date of this registration statement.
------------------------
THE REGISTRANT HEREBY AMENDS THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON SUCH DATE OR
DATES AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO DELAY ITS EFFECTIVE DATE UNTIL THE REGISTRANT SHALL
FILE A FURTHER AMENDMENT WHICH SPECIFICALLY STATES THAT THE REGISTRATION
STATEMENT SHALL THEREAFTER BECOME EFFECTIVE IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 8(a) OF
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 OR UNTIL THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT SHALL BECOME
EFFECTIVE ON SUCH DATE AS THE COMMISSION, ACTING PURSUANT TO SAID SECTION 8(a),
MAY DETERMINE.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
PROSPECTUS -JANUARY , 2000
Active Assets
INSTITUTIONAL MONEY TRUST
PREMIER MONEY TRUST
[COVER PHOTO]
TWO MONEY MARKET FUNDS
OFFERED EXCLUSIVELY TO PARTICIPANTS IN THE
ACTIVE ASSETS ACCOUNT-Registered Trademark- FINANCIAL SERVICE PROGRAM
FOR INFORMATION ON THE ACTIVE ASSETS PROGRAM, READ THE
ENCLOSED "CLIENT ACCOUNT AGREEMENT" AND/OR CALL TOLL FREE
(800) 869-3326 OR, IF YOU ARE IN NEW YORK CITY, (212) 392-5000
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>
Eligible Investors/Overview ............................. 1
The Funds
Active Assets Institutional Money
Trust Investment Objectives... .... 2
Principal Investment
Strategies................... 2
Principal Risks.............. 2
Fees and Expenses............ 4
Active Assets Premier
Money Trust Investment Objectives... .... 5
Principal Investment
Strategies................... 5
Principal Risks.............. 5
Fees and Expenses............ 7
Fund Management................................................. 8
Shareholder Information Pricing Fund Shares.......... 9
How Are Fund Investments
Made?........................ 9
How Are Fund Shares Sold?.... 10
Distributions................ 12
Tax Consequences............. 12
THIS PROSPECTUS CONTAINS IMPORTANT INFORMATION
ABOUT THE FUND. PLEASE READ IT CAREFULLY AND KEEP
IT FOR FUTURE REFERENCE.
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
ELIGIBLE INVESTORS/OVERVIEW
Active Assets Institutional Money Trust and Active Assets Premier
Money Trust (each, a Fund) are two separate money market funds
offered exclusively to participants in Dean Witter Reynolds' Active
Assets Account-Registered Trademark- Financial Service Program (the
Active Assets Program). (Dean Witter Reynolds is affiliated with
Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Advisors Inc., the Funds' Investment
Manager.)
The Active Assets Program offers its participants a Dean Witter
brokerage account (an Active Assets Account) that is linked to the
Funds (as well as certain other money market funds participating in
the Active Assets Program), a federally insured bank account, a
Visa-Registered Trademark- debit card and a checking account.
Currently, designated bank accounts are held with Mountain West
Financial Corporation. Both the debit card and the checkwriting
privileges are offered through Bank One, Columbus, N.A. The annual
fee normally charged for participating in the Active Assets Program
($80 for individuals; $100 for businesses) is currently waived for
investors in the Funds. At any time, Dean Witter Reynolds may change
the annual fee charged and the services provided under the Active
Assets Program. For details on the Active Assets Program, please read
the enclosed Client Account Agreement carefully.
The minimum investment amount for Active Assets Institutional Money
Trust is $10,000,000.
The minimum investment amount for Active Assets Premier Money Trust
is $5,000,000.
Amounts held in your designated bank account may not be used to
satisfy the minimum investment requirement for your selected Fund.
For details on how investments are made in the Funds, see "How Are
Fund Investments Made?" on p. 9.
1
<PAGE>
[Sidebar]
MONEY MARKET
A MUTUAL FUND HAVING THE GOAL TO SELECT SECURITIES TO PROVIDE CURRENT INCOME
WHILE SEEKING TO MAINTAIN A STABLE SHARE PRICE OF $1.00.
YIELD
THE FUND'S YIELD REFLECTS THE ACTUAL INCOME THE FUND PAYS TO YOU EXPRESSED AS A
PERCENTAGE OF THE FUND'S SHARE PRICE. BECAUSE THE FUND'S INCOME FROM ITS
PORTFOLIO SECURITIES WILL FLUCTUATE, THE INCOME IT IN TURN DISTRIBUTES TO YOU
AND THE FUND'S YIELD WILL VARY.
[End Sidebar]
THE FUNDS
ACTIVE ASSETS INSTITUTIONAL MONEY TRUST
[ICON] INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Fund is a money market fund that seeks high current income,
preservation of capital and liquidity.
[ICON] PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Fund invests in high quality, short-term debt obligations. In
selecting investments, the Fund's "Investment Manager," Morgan
Stanley Dean Witter Advisors Inc., seeks to maintain the Fund's share
price at $1.00. The share price remaining stable at $1.00 means that
the Fund would preserve the principal value of your investment.
The Fund's investments include the following money
market securities:
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
- Commercial paper;
- Corporate obligations;
- Debt obligations of U.S.-regulated banks and instruments
secured by those obligations (including certificates of
deposit);
- Certificates of deposit of savings banks and savings and
loan associations;
- Debt obligations issued or guaranteed as to principal and
interest by the U.S. government, its agencies or
instrumentalities;
- Repurchase agreements (which may be viewed as a type of
secured lending by the Fund); and
- Foreign bank obligations.
</TABLE>
[ICON] PRINCIPAL RISKS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment
objective.
Shares of the Fund are not bank deposits and are not insured or
guaranteed by the FDIC or any other government agency. Although the
Fund seeks to preserve the value of your investment at $1.00 per
share, if it is unable to do so, it is possible to lose money by
investing in the Fund.
2
<PAGE>
CREDIT AND INTEREST RATE RISKS. Principal risks of investing in the
Fund are associated with its debt obligation investments. All debt
obligations, such as bonds, are subject to two types of risk: credit
risk and interest rate risk. Credit risk refers to the possibility
that the issuer of a security will be unable to make interest
payments and/or repay the principal on its debt. Interest rate risk
refers to fluctuations in the value of a debt security resulting from
changes in the general level of interest rates.
The Investment Manager actively manages the Fund's assets to reduce
the risk of losing any principal investment as a result of credit or
interest rate risks. The Fund's assets are reviewed to maintain or
improve creditworthiness. In addition, federal regulations require
money market funds to invest only in debt obligations of high quality
and short-term maturities.
FOREIGN MONEY MARKET SECURITIES. The Fund may invest in U.S. dollar
denominated money market instruments and other short-term debt
obligations issued by foreign banks. Although the Fund will invest in
these securities only if Fund management determines they are of
comparable quality to the Fund's U.S. investments, investing in
securities of foreign issuers involves some additional risks. These
risks may include higher costs of foreign investing, and the
possibility of adverse political, economic or other developments
affecting the issuers of these securities.
YEAR 2000. The Fund could be adversely affected if the computer
systems necessary for the efficient operation of the Investment
Manager, the Fund's other service providers and the markets and
corporate and governmental issuers in which the Fund invests do not
properly process and calculate date-related information from and
after January 1, 2000.
In addition, it is possible that the markets for securities in which
the Fund invests have been 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. Corporate and governmental
data processing errors also may result in production problems for
individual companies and overall economic uncertainties. Earnings of
individual issuers may be affected by remediation costs, which may be
substantial and may be reported inconsistently in U.S. and foreign
financial statements. Accordingly, the Fund's investments may be
adversely affected.
3
<PAGE>
[Sidebar]
ANNUAL FUND
OPERATING EXPENSES
THESE EXPENSES ARE DEDUCTED FROM THE FUND'S ASSETS AND ARE BASED ON ANTICIPATED
EXPENSES DURING THE FUND'S FIRST FISCAL YEAR.
[End Sidebar]
[ICON] FEES AND EXPENSES
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The table below briefly describes the fees and expenses that you may
pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund. The Fund is a no-load
fund. The Fund does not impose any sales charges and does not impose
account or exchange fees.
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
ANNUAL FUND OPERATING EXPENSES
- --------------------------------------------------------------------
Management Fee %
- --------------------------------------------------------------------
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees %
- --------------------------------------------------------------------
Other expenses(1) %
- --------------------------------------------------------------------
Total annual Fund operating expenses(2) %
- --------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
1 "Other expenses" are based on estimated amounts for the
Fund's current fiscal year.
2 The fees and expenses disclosed above do not reflect that
the Investment Manager has agreed to assume all operating
expenses of the Fund (except for brokerage fees) and to
waive the compensation provided for in its Management
Agreement with the Fund until such time as the Fund has
$50 million of net assets or six months from the date of
commencement of the Fund's operations, whichever occurs
first. However, the fees and expenses disclosed above do
reflect that, thereafter, the Investment Manager has agreed
under its Management Agreement with the Fund to assume the
Fund's operating expenses (except for brokerage fees) to the
extent such operating expenses exceed on an annualized basis
% of the average daily net assets of the Fund.
</TABLE>
EXAMPLE
This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in
the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.
The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund, your
investment has a 5% return each year, and the Fund's operating
expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or
lower, the table below shows your costs at the end of each period
based on these assumptions.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1 YEAR 3 YEARS
<S> <C>
-------------------------
$ $
-------------------------
</TABLE>
4
<PAGE>
[Sidebar]
MONEY MARKET
A MUTUAL FUND HAVING THE GOAL TO SELECT SECURITIES TO PROVIDE CURRENT INCOME
WHILE SEEKING TO MAINTAIN A STABLE SHARE PRICE OF $1.00.
YIELD
THE FUND'S YIELD REFLECTS THE ACTUAL INCOME THE FUND PAYS TO YOU EXPRESSED AS A
PERCENTAGE OF THE FUND'S SHARE PRICE. BECAUSE THE FUND'S INCOME FROM ITS
PORTFOLIO SECURITIES WILL FLUCTUATE, THE INCOME IT IN TURN DISTRIBUTES TO YOU
AND THE FUND'S YIELD WILL VARY.
[End Sidebar]
ACTIVE ASSETS PREMIER MONEY TRUST
[ICON] INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Fund is a money market fund that seeks high current income,
preservation of capital and liquidity.
[ICON] PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Fund invests in high quality, short-term debt obligations. In
selecting investments, the Fund's "Investment Manager," Morgan
Stanley Dean Witter Advisors Inc., seeks to maintain the Fund's share
price at $1.00. The share price remaining stable at $1.00 means that
the Fund would preserve the principal value of your investment.
The Fund's investments include the following money
market securities:
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
- Commercial paper;
- Corporate obligations;
- Debt obligations of U.S.-regulated banks and instruments
secured by those obligations (including certificates of
deposit);
- Certificates of deposit of savings banks and savings and
loan associations;
- Debt obligations issued or guaranteed as to principal and
interest by the U.S. government, its agencies or
instrumentalities;
- Repurchase agreements (which may be viewed as a type of
secured lending by the Fund); and
- Foreign bank obligations.
</TABLE>
[ICON] PRINCIPAL RISKS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment
objective.
Shares of the Fund are not bank deposits and are not insured or
guaranteed by the FDIC or any other government agency. Although the
Fund seeks to preserve the value of your investment at $1.00 per
share, if it is unable to do so, it is possible to lose money by
investing in the Fund.
5
<PAGE>
CREDIT AND INTEREST RATE RISKS. Principal risks of investing in the
Fund are associated with its debt obligation investments. All debt
obligations, such as bonds, are subject to two types of risk: credit
risk and interest rate risk. Credit risk refers to the possibility
that the issuer of a security will be unable to make interest
payments and/or repay the principal on its debt. Interest rate risk
refers to fluctuations in the value of a debt security resulting from
changes in the general level of interest rates.
The Investment Manager actively manages the Fund's assets to reduce
the risk of losing any principal investment as a result of credit or
interest rate risks. The Fund's assets are reviewed to maintain or
improve creditworthiness. In addition, federal regulations require
money market funds to invest only in debt obligations of high quality
and short-term maturities.
FOREIGN MONEY MARKET SECURITIES. The Fund may invest in U.S. dollar
denominated money market instruments and other short-term debt
obligations issued by foreign banks. Although the Fund will invest in
these securities only if Fund management determines they are of
comparable quality to the Fund's U.S. investments, investing in
securities of foreign issuers involves some additional risks. These
risks may include higher costs of foreign investing, and the
possibility of adverse political, economic or other developments
affecting the issuers of these securities.
YEAR 2000. The Fund could be adversely affected if the computer
systems necessary for the efficient operation of the Investment
Manager, the Fund's other service providers and the markets and
corporate and governmental issuers in which the Fund invests do not
properly process and calculate date-related information from and
after January 1, 2000.
In addition, it is possible that the markets for securities in which
the Fund invests have been 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. Corporate and governmental
data processing errors also may result in production problems for
individual companies and overall economic uncertainties. Earnings of
individual issuers may be affected by remediation costs, which may be
substantial and may be reported inconsistently in U.S. and foreign
financial statements. Accordingly, the Fund's investments may be
adversely affected.
6
<PAGE>
[Sidebar]
ANNUAL FUND
OPERATING EXPENSES
THESE EXPENSES ARE DEDUCTED FROM THE FUND'S ASSETS AND ARE BASED ON ANTICIPATED
EXPENSES DURING THE FUND'S FIRST FISCAL YEAR.
[End Sidebar]
[ICON] FEES AND EXPENSES
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The table below briefly describes the fees and expenses that you may
pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund. The Fund is a no-load
fund. The Fund does not impose any sales charges and does not impose
account or exchange fees.
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
ANNUAL FUND OPERATING EXPENSES
- --------------------------------------------------------------------
Management Fee %
- --------------------------------------------------------------------
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees %
- --------------------------------------------------------------------
Other expenses(1) %
- --------------------------------------------------------------------
Total annual Fund operating expenses(2) %
- --------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
1 "Other expenses" are based on estimated amounts for the
Fund's current fiscal year.
2 The fees and expenses disclosed above do not reflect that
the Investment Manager has agreed to assume all operating
expenses of the Fund (except for brokerage fees) and to
waive the compensation provided for in its Management
Agreement with the Fund until such time as the Fund has
$50 million of net assets or six months from the date of
commencement of the Fund's operations, whichever occurs
first. However, the fees and expenses disclosed above do
reflect that, thereafter, the Investment Manager has agreed
under its Management Agreement with the Fund to assume the
Fund's operating expenses (except for brokerage fees) to the
extent such operating expenses exceed on an annualized basis
% of the average daily net assets of the Fund.
</TABLE>
EXAMPLE
This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in
the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.
The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund, your
investment has a 5% return each year, and the Fund's operating
expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or
lower, the table below shows your costs at the end of each period
based on these assumptions.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1 YEAR 3 YEARS
<S> <C>
-------------------------
$ $
-------------------------
</TABLE>
7
<PAGE>
[Sidebar]
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, HAD MORE THAN $ BILLION IN ASSETS UNDER MANAGEMENT OR
ADMINISTRATION AS OF DECEMBER 31, 1999.
[End Sidebar]
FUND MANAGEMENT
Each Fund 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, NY 10048.
Each Fund pays the Investment Manager a monthly
management fee as full compensation for the services
and facilities furnished to the Fund and for Fund
expenses assumed by the Investment Manager,
calculated by applying the following annual rates to
the net assets of the Fund:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT FEE
(AS A PERCENT OF FUND'S
FUND AVERAGE DAILY NET ASSETS)
<S> <C>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Active Assets Institutional Money Trust
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Active Assets Premier Money Trust
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
The Investment Manager has agreed to assume all operating expenses of each Fund
(except for brokerage fees) and to waive the compensation provided for in each
Management Agreement until such time as the Fund has $50 million of net assets
or six months from the date of commencement of the Fund's operations, whichever
occurs first. Thereafter, the Investment Manager has agreed under each
Management Agreement to assume Fund operating expenses (except for brokerage
fees) to the extent that such operating expenses exceed % of the average
daily net assets for Active Assets Institutional Money Trust and % for Active
Assets Premier Money Trust, which may reduce the investment management fee below
% and %, respectively, of the Funds' average daily net assets. For
example, in the case of Active Assets Premier Money Trust, if "other expenses"
are estimated to be % of the Fund's average daily net assets, then the
investment management fee rate paid by the Fund would equal % of the Fund's
average daily net assets. If in the future "other expenses" decline to % of
the Fund's average daily net assets, the investment management fee paid by the
Fund would equal % of the Fund's average daily net assets.
8
<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 (877) 937-MSDW (TOLL FREE) 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.msdw.com/individual/funds
[End Sidebar]
SHAREHOLDER INFORMATION
[ICON] PRICING FUND SHARES
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The price of each Fund's shares, called "net asset value," is based
on the amortized cost of the Fund's portfolio securities. The
amortized cost valuation method involves valuing a debt obligation in
reference to its cost, rather than market forces.
The net asset value per share of each Fund is determined once daily
at 12:00 noon 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 12:00 noon, at such earlier time). Shares will not be priced
on days that the New York Stock Exchange is closed.
[ICON] HOW ARE FUND INVESTMENTS MADE?
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cash balances in your Active Assets Account that are not invested in
securities will be automatically invested in shares of the Fund of
your choice on each day that the New York Stock Exchange is open for
business. You may select any fund offered for investment to Active
Asset Account participants for this option, including the Funds and
Active Assets Money Trust, Active Assets Tax-Free Trust, Active
Assets California Tax-Free Trust and Active Assets Government
Securities Trust. In each case, please read the fund's prospectus
carefully prior to making an investment decision. Alternatively, you
may choose to have your cash balances deposited in a federally
insured bank account selected by Dean Witter Reynolds. Currently,
designated bank accounts are held with Mountain West Financial
Corporation. You may change your selection at any time by notifying
your Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Financial Advisor.
WIRING MONEY TO YOUR ACTIVE ASSETS ACCOUNT
To purchase Fund shares by wiring federal funds to your Active Assets
Account, contact your Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Advisor or follow
the instructions outlined in the Client Account Agreement. If your
wire is received prior to 12:00 noon Eastern time, your money will be
invested in shares of the selected Fund the same day at the Fund's
share price calculated on that day.
AUTOMATIC PURCHASES
Your Active Assets Account will be reviewed on each business day to
determine whether the account has a cash balance as a result of any
credits accrued that day. Credits to your account may arise, for
example, from sales of securities or from direct cash payments into
the account. Debits to your account may arise from purchases of
securities, margin calls, other account charges,
Visa-Registered Trademark- debit card purchases or cash advances, and
any
9
<PAGE>
checks written against the account. The cash balance, reduced by any
debits to your Active Assets Account incurred that day, will be used
to purchase shares of your selected Fund on the next business day at
the Fund's share price calculated on that next day. However, if you
make a cash payment into your Active Assets Account after your
Financial Advisor's deadline for processing checks has passed, then
investment in the Fund may not occur until the second business day
after the payment is made (at the share price calculated on that
day).
ALL PURCHASES
You begin earning dividends the same day your Fund shares are
purchased.
[ICON] HOW ARE FUND SHARES SOLD?
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
VOLUNTARY SALES
If you wish to sell all or some of your Fund shares, you may do so
by:
(a) instructing your Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Financial Advisor to
wire transfer federal funds to your bank;
(b) calling your Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Financial Advisor;
(c) writing a Bank One check against your Active Assets Account in an
amount equal to the value of shares you wish to sell (there may
be fees imposed for writing these checks); or
(d) obtaining a cash advance using your Bank One
Visa-Registered Trademark- debit card (there may be fees imposed
on cash advances and you may be limited to withdrawing up to
$5,000 per day).
Once you have taken any of these steps, Fund shares will be sold on
the next business day at the Fund's next calculated share price.
However, if you place a sell order using wire instructions received
prior to 12:00 noon Eastern time, the order will normally be
processed on that day. (Orders received near the 12:00 noon deadline
may be subject to delays at the intermediary banks, and you may
receive payment the following day.) Proceeds from your sale of Fund
shares will be reduced by any outstanding debits to your Active
Assets Account. Prior to selling any Fund shares through any of the
above methods you should call the Active Assets information number
appearing on the cover of this PROSPECTUS to determine the value of
Fund shares you own. If there is an insufficient value of Fund shares
to cover your account withdrawals, then Dean Witter Reynolds may take
the authorized steps described in the Client Account Agreement.
10
<PAGE>
AUTOMATIC SALES
NEGATIVE BALANCES IN YOUR ACTIVE ASSETS ACCOUNT. Your Active Assets
Account will be reviewed on each business day to determine whether
the account has a negative balance as a result of debits incurred on
that day. Of course, the negative balance will be reduced by any
credits accrued to the account on that day. On the next business day,
a sufficient number of your Fund shares will automatically be sold to
equal the value of the negative balance. The sale price of the Fund's
shares will be the share price calculated on that next business day.
If the value of your Fund shares is insufficient to equal the
negative balance, Dean Witter Reynolds is authorized to take the
actions described in the Client Account Agreement, including, if you
are eligible, applying a margin loan to your Active Assets Account to
cover outstanding debits.
In addition, if Dean Witter Reynolds or Bank One exercises its right
to terminate the Active Assets Program, then all of your Fund shares
will be sold.
INSUFFICIENT INVESTMENT AMOUNTS. If your investment in a Fund falls
below the Fund's minimum investment requirement, your Fund shares
will be sold and the proceeds will be reinvested as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
IF THE VALUE OF YOUR
INVESTMENT IS LESS THAN YOUR PROCEEDS WILL BE INVESTED IN
<S> <C>
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$10 million Active Assets Premier Money Trust
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$5 million Active Assets Money Trust
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
The value of your investment will be tracked on a 30-day rolling
average basis. In the event the value of your investment does not
meet the minimum investment requirement for your Fund, we will notify
you and give you 30 days to increase your investment amount to
satisfy the Fund's minimum investment requirement. A pattern of
frequent notices may result in the Investment Manager, in its
discretion, automatically selling your shares, even if you meet the
minimum investment requirement at the time of such sale. However, you
would be given notice before your shares in the Fund are sold.
ALL SALES
You will not earn a dividend on the day your shares are sold.
Payment for Fund shares sold may be postponed or the right to have
Fund shares sold may be 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 the check is received).
11
<PAGE>
[ICON] DISTRIBUTIONS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Each Fund passes substantially all of its earnings along to its
investors as "distributions." Each Fund earns interest from
fixed-income investments. These amounts are passed along to Fund
shareholders as "income dividend distributions." Each Fund 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 Investment Manager does not anticipate that there
will be significant capital gain distributions.
Each Fund declares income dividends, payable on each day the New York
Stock Exchange is open for business, of all of its daily net
investment income to shareholders of record as of 12:00 noon Eastern
time the same day (or, on days when the New York Stock Exchange
closes early, at such earlier time). Dividends are reinvested
automatically in additional shares of the respective Fund (rounded to
the last 1/100 of a share). Short-term capital gains, if any, are
declared and payable on each business day. Long-term capital gains,
if any, are distributed at least once in December.
[ICON] TAX CONSEQUENCES
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
As with any investment, you should consider how your investment in a
Fund 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 a Fund.
Your distributions are normally subject to federal and state income
tax when they are paid. 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 a Fund.
Every January, you will be sent a statement (IRS Form 1099-DIV)
showing the taxable distributions paid to you in the previous year.
The statement provides full information on your dividends and capital
gains for tax purposes.
When you open your Fund account, you should provide your social
security or tax identification number. By providing this information,
you will avoid being subject to a federal backup withholding tax of
31% on taxable distributions and sale proceeds. Any withheld amount
would be sent to the IRS as an advance tax payment.
12
<PAGE>
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<PAGE>
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14
<PAGE>
PROSPECTUS - JANUARY , 2000
Additional information about the Funds' investments is available in the Funds'
ANNUAL AND SEMI-ANNUAL REPORTS TO SHAREHOLDERS (the current annual report is
included in this PROSPECTUS). The Funds' STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
also provides additional information about the Funds. 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 Funds, or to make shareholder inquiries, please call:
(800) 869-NEWS
You also may obtain information about the Funds by calling your Morgan Stanley
Dean Witter Financial Advisor or by visiting our Internet site at:
www.msdw.com/individual/funds
Information about the Funds (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 1-202-942-8090. Reports and
other information about the Funds are available on the EDGAR database on the
SEC's Internet site at www.sec.gov, and copies of this information may be
obtained, after paying a duplicating fee, by electronic request at the following
e-mail address: [email protected], or by writing the Public Reference Section
of the SEC, Washington, DC 20549-0102.
Active Assets
INSTITUTIONAL MONEY TRUST
PREMIER MONEY TRUST
[BACK COVER PHOTO]
TWO MONEY MARKET FUNDS
OFFERED EXCLUSIVELY TO
PARTICIPANTS IN THE ACTIVE
ASSETS ACCOUNT-Registered Trademark- FINANCIAL
SERVICE PROGRAM
(ACTIVE ASSETS INSTITUTIONAL MONEY TRUST'S INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT FILE NO. IS )
(ACTIVE ASSETS PREMIER MONEY TRUST'S INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT FILE NO. IS )
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ACTIVE ASSETS
JANUARY , 2000 INSTITUTIONAL
MONEY TRUST
ACTIVE ASSETS
PREMIER MONEY
TRUST
</TABLE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION is not a PROSPECTUS. The PROSPECTUS
(dated January , 2000) for Active Assets Institutional Money Trust and Active
Assets Premier Money Trust (each, a "Fund") may be obtained without charge from
the Funds at their address or telephone number listed below or from Dean Witter
Reynolds at any of its branch offices.
Active Assets Institutional Money Trust
Active Assets Premier Money Trust
Two World Trade Center
New York, New York 10048
(800) 869-NEWS
<PAGE>
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
I. History of the Funds..................................... 4
II. Description of the Funds and Their Investments and
Risks....................................................... 4
A. Classification......................................... 4
B. Investment Strategies and Risks........................ 4
C. Investment Objectives/Policies/Investment
Restrictions............................................. 6
III. Management of the Funds................................ 8
A. Board of Trustees...................................... 8
B. Management Information................................. 8
C. Compensation........................................... 10
IV. Control Persons and Principal Holders of Securities..... 12
V. Investment Management and Other Services................. 12
A. Investment Manager..................................... 12
B. Principal Underwriter.................................. 13
C. Services Provided by the Investment Manager............ 13
D. Other Service Providers................................ 14
VI. Brokerage Allocation and Other Practices................ 15
A. Brokerage Transactions................................. 15
B. Commissions............................................ 15
C. Brokerage Selection.................................... 15
VII. Capital Stock and Other Securities..................... 16
VIII. Purchase, Redemption and Pricing of Shares............ 17
A. Purchase/Redemption of Shares.......................... 17
B. Offering Price......................................... 17
IX. Taxation of the Funds and Their Shareholders............ 19
X. Underwriters............................................. 20
XI. Calculation of Performance Data......................... 20
</TABLE>
2
<PAGE>
GLOSSARY OF SELECTED DEFINED TERMS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The terms defined in this glossary are frequently used in this STATEMENT OF
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION (other terms used occasionally are defined in the text of
the document).
"CUSTODIAN"--The Bank of New York is the Custodian of the Funds' assets.
"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"--Either of Active Assets Institutional Money Trust or Active Assets
Premier Money Trust, each a registered, no-load open-end investment company.
"INDEPENDENT TRUSTEES"--Trustees who are not "interested persons" (as defined by
the Investment Company Act) of the Funds.
"INVESTMENT MANAGER"--Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Advisors Inc., a wholly-owned
investment advisor subsidiary of MSDW.
"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.
"TRANSFER AGENT"--Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Trust FSB, a wholly-owned transfer
agent subsidiary of MSDW.
"TRUSTEES"--The Board of Trustees of the Funds.
3
<PAGE>
I. HISTORY OF THE FUNDS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Each Fund was organized as a Massachusetts business trust, under a separate
Declaration of Trust, on November 23, 1999.
II. DESCRIPTION OF THE FUNDS AND THEIR INVESTMENTS AND RISKS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A. CLASSIFICATION
Each Fund is an open-end, diversified management investment company whose
investment objectives is to provide high current income, preservation of capital
and liquidity.
B. INVESTMENT STRATEGIES AND RISKS
The following discussion of the Funds' investment strategies and risks
should be read with the sections of the Funds' PROSPECTUS entitled "Principal
Investment Strategies" and "Principal Risks."
REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS. Each Fund may invest in repurchase agreements. When
cash may be available for only a few days, it may be invested by the Funds in
repurchase agreements until such time as it may otherwise be invested or used
for payments of obligations of the Funds. These agreements, which may be viewed
as a type of secured lending by the Funds, typically involve the acquisition by
the Funds of debt securities from a selling financial institution such as a
bank, savings and loan association or broker-dealer. The agreement provides that
a Fund will sell back to the institution, and that the institution will
repurchase, the underlying security serving as collateral at a specified price
and at a fixed time in the future, usually not more than seven days from the
date of purchase. The Funds will accrue interest from the institution until the
time when the repurchase is to occur. Although this date is deemed by the Funds
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 Funds follow 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 continuously monitored. In addition, the value of
the collateral underlying the repurchase agreement will always be at least equal
to the resale price which consists of the acquisition price paid to the seller
of the securities plus the accrued resale premium, which is defined as the
amount specified in the repurchase agreement or the daily amortization of the
difference between the acquisition price and the resale price specified in the
repurchase agreement. Such collateral will consist entirely of securities that
are direct obligations of, or that are fully guaranteed as to principal and
interest by, the United States or any agency thereof, and/or certificates of
deposit, bankers' acceptances which are eligible for acceptance by a Federal
Reserve Bank, and, if the seller is a bank, mortgage related securities (as such
term is defined in section 3(a)(41) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934)
that, at the time the repurchase agreement is entered into, are rated in the
highest rating category by the Requisite NRSROs (as defined under Rule 2a-7 of
the Investment Company Act of 1940). Additionally, Upon an Event of Insolvency
(as defined under Rule 2a-7) with respect to the seller, the collateral must
qualify the repurchase agreement for preferential treatment under a provision of
applicable insolvency law providing an exclusion from any automatic stay of
creditors' rights against the seller. In the event of a default or bankruptcy by
a selling financial institution, the Funds will seek to liquidate such
collateral. However, the exercising of a Fund's right to liquidate such
collateral could involve certain costs or delays and, to the extent that
proceeds from any sale upon a default of the obligation to repurchase were less
than the repurchase price, the Funds could suffer a loss. It is the current
policy of each Fund not to invest in repurchase agreements that do not mature
within seven days if any such investment, together with any other illiquid
assets held by the Fund, amounts to more than 10% of its total assets. A Fund's
investments in repurchase agreements may at times be substantial when, in the
view of the Fund's Investment Manager, liquidity or other considerations
warrant.
4
<PAGE>
VARIABLE RATE AND FLOATING RATE OBLIGATIONS. Each Fund may invest in
variable rate and floating rate obligations. The interest rate payable on a
variable rate obligation is adjusted at predesignated periodic intervals and, on
a floating rate obligation, whenever there is a change in the market rate of
interest on which the interest rate payable is based. Other features may include
the right whereby a Fund may demand prepayment of the principal amount of the
obligation prior to its stated maturity (a "demand feature") and the right of
the issuer to prepay the principal amount prior to maturity. The principal
benefit of a variable rate obligation is that the interest rate adjustment
minimizes changes in the market value of the obligation. As a result, the
purchase of variable rate and floating rate obligations should enhance the
ability of the Funds to maintain a stable net asset value per share and to sell
obligations prior to maturity at a price that is approximately the full
principal amount of the obligations. The principal benefit to a Fund of
purchasing obligations with a demand feature is that liquidity, and the ability
of the Fund to obtain repayment of the full principal amount of an obligation
prior to maturity, is enhanced. The payment of principal and interest by issuers
of certain obligations purchased by a Fund may be guaranteed by letters of
credit or other credit facilities offered by banks or other financial
institutions. Such guarantees will be considered in determining whether an
obligation meets a Fund's investment quality requirements.
REVERSE REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS. Each Fund may also use reverse repurchase
agreements. Reverse repurchase agreements involve sales by a Fund of portfolio
assets concurrently with an agreement by the Fund to repurchase the same assets
at a later date at a fixed price. Generally, the effect of such a transaction is
that the Fund can recover all or most of the cash invested in the portfolio
securities involved during the term of the reverse repurchase agreement, while
it will be able to keep the interest income associated with those portfolio
securities. Such transactions are only advantageous if the interest cost to the
Fund of the reverse repurchase transaction is less than the cost of obtaining
the cash otherwise. Opportunities to achieve this advantage may not always be
available, and each Fund intends to use the reverse repurchase technique only
when it will be to its advantage to do so. Each Fund will establish a segregated
account with its Custodian bank in which it will maintain cash or cash
equivalents or other portfolio securities equal in value to its obligations in
respect of reverse repurchase agreements. Reverse repurchase agreements are
considered borrowings by the Funds and for purposes other than meeting
redemptions may not exceed 5% of each Fund's total assets.
PRIVATE PLACEMENTS. Each Fund may invest in commercial paper issued in
reliance on the so-called "private placement" exemption afforded by
Section 4(2) of the Securities Act of 1933 ("Securities Act") and which may be
sold to other institutional investors pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities
Act. Rule 144A permits the Funds 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 Fund. If a restricted
security is determined to be "liquid," the security will not be included within
the category "illiquid securities."
LENDING PORTFOLIO SECURITIES. Each Fund may lend its portfolio securities
to brokers, dealers and other financial institutions, provided that the loans
are callable at any time by the Fund, and are at all times secured by cash or
cash equivalents, which are maintained in a segregated account pursuant to
applicable regulations and that are equal to at least 100% of the market value,
determined daily, of the loaned securities. The advantage of these loans is that
a Fund continues to receive the income on the loaned securities while at the
same time earning interest on the cash amounts deposited as collateral, which
will be invested in short-term obligations.
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 Funds' management to be creditworthy and
when the income which can be earned from such loans justifies the attendant
risks. Upon termination of the loan, the borrower is required to return the
securities to the Fund. Any gain or loss in the market price during the loan
period would inure to the Fund.
5
<PAGE>
When voting or consent rights which accompany loaned securities pass to the
borrower, a Fund will follow the policy of calling the loaned securities, to be
delivered within one day after notice, to permit the exercise of the rights if
the matters involved would have a material effect on the Fund's investment in
the loaned securities. The Funds will pay reasonable finder's, administrative
and custodial fees in connection with a loan of its securities.
YEAR 2000. The investment management services provided to the Funds 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.
In addition, it is possible that the markets for securities in which the
Funds invest have been 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. 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 Funds' investments may be adversely affected.
C. INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES/POLICIES/INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS
Each Fund's investment objectives, policies and restrictions listed below
have been adopted by the Funds as fundamental policies. Under the Investment
Company Act of 1940 (the "Investment Company Act"), a fundamental policy may not
be changed without the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities
of the applicable Fund. The Investment Company Act defines a majority as the
lesser of (a) 67% or more of the shares present at a meeting of shareholders, if
the holders of 50% of the outstanding shares of the applicable Fund are present
or represented by proxy; or (b) more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the
applicable Fund. For purposes of the following restrictions: (i) all percentage
limitations apply immediately after a purchase or initial investment (unless
otherwise noted); and (ii) any subsequent change in any applicable percentage
resulting from market fluctuations or other changes in total or net assets does
not require elimination of any security from the portfolio.
Each Fund will:
1. Seek high current income, preservation of capital and liquidity.
Each Fund will not:
1. Borrow money, except from banks for temporary or emergency purposes
or to meet redemption requests which might otherwise require the untimely
disposition of securities, provided that (i) borrowing in the aggregate may
not exceed 33 1/3% of the value of the Fund's total assets (including the
amount borrowed) at the time of such borrowing; or mortgage, pledge or
hypothecate any assets except in connection with any such borrowing and in
amounts not in excess of 33 1/3% of the value of the Fund's total assets at
the time of such borrowing, and (ii) the Fund may enter into reverse
repurchase agreements.
2. With respect to 75% of its total assets, purchase any securities,
other than obligations of the U.S. government, or its agencies or
instrumentalities, if, immediately after such purchase, more than 5% of the
value of the Fund's total assets would be invested in securities of any one
issuer.
3. With respect to 75% of its total assets, purchase any securities,
other than obligations of the U.S. government, or its agencies or
instrumentalities, if, immediately after such purchase, more than 10% of the
outstanding securities of one issuer would be owned by the Fund (for this
purpose all indebtedness of an issuer shall be deemed a single class of
security).
6
<PAGE>
4. Purchase any securities, other than obligations of banks or of the
U.S. government, or its agencies or instrumentalities, if, immediately after
such purchase, more than 25% of the value of the Fund's total assets would
be invested in the securities of issuers in the same industry; however,
there is no limitation as to investments in bank obligations or in
obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government, its agencies or
instrumentalities.
5. Purchase any common stocks or other equity securities.
6. Make loans to others, except through the purchase of the permitted
debt obligations and repurchase agreements; and loans of portfolio
securities in excess of 10% of the value of the Fund's total assets, made in
accordance with guidelines established by the Fund's Board of Trustees,
including maintaining collateral from the borrower equal at all times to the
current market value of the securities loaned.
7. Purchase or sell real estate; however, the Fund may purchase
marketable securities issued by companies which invest in real estate or
interests therein.
8. Purchase or sell commodities or commodity futures contracts, or
oil, gas or mineral exploration or development programs.
9. Underwrite securities of other issuers.
10. Issue senior securities as defined in the Investment Company Act
except insofar as the Fund may be deemed to have issued a senior security by
reason of: (a) entering into any repurchase agreement; (b) entering into any
reverse repurchase agreement; (c) purchasing any securities on a when-issued
or delayed delivery basis; or (d) borrowing money in accordance with
restrictions described above.
In addition, as a non-fundamental policy, each Fund may not invest in other
investment companies in reliance on Section 12(d)(1)(F), 12(d)(1)(G), or
12(d)(1)(J) of the Investment Company Act.
Notwithstanding any other investment policy or restriction, each Fund may
seek to achieve its investment objectives by investing all or substantially all
of its assets in another investment company having substantially the same
investment objectives and policies as the Fund.
7
<PAGE>
III. MANAGEMENT OF THE FUNDS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A. BOARD OF TRUSTEES
The Board of Trustees of each of the Funds oversees the management of each
Fund but does not itself manage the Fund. The Trustees review various services
provided by or under the direction of the Investment Manager to ensure that the
Funds' general investment policies and programs are properly carried out. The
Trustees also conduct their review to ensure that administrative services are
provided to the Funds 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 Funds 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 each Fund and its shareholders.
B. MANAGEMENT INFORMATION
TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS. The Board of each of the Funds 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.
The Trustees and executive officers of the Funds, their principal business
occupations during the last five years and their affiliations, if any, with the
Investment Manager, and with the 93 Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Funds, are shown
below.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NAME, AGE, POSITION WITH FUNDS AND ADDRESS PRINCIPAL OCCUPATIONS DURING LAST FIVE YEARS
- --------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------
<S> <C>
Charles A. Fiumefreddo* (66) ................ Chairman, Director or Trustee and Chief
Chairman of the Board, Executive Officer of the Morgan Stanley Dean
Chief Executive Officer and Trustee Witter Funds; formerly Chairman, Chief
Two World Trade Center Executive Officer and Director of the
New York, New York Investment Manager, the 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).
Mitchell M. Merin (46) ...................... President and Chief Operating Officer of Asset
President Management of MSDW (since December 1998);
Two World Trade Center President and Director (since April 1997) and
New York, New York Chief Executive Officer (since 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 (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 (May 1997-April
1999), and Executive Vice President of Dean
Witter, Discover & Co.
</TABLE>
8
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NAME, AGE, POSITION WITH FUNDS AND ADDRESS PRINCIPAL OCCUPATIONS DURING LAST FIVE YEARS
- --------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------
<S> <C>
Barry Fink (44) ............................. Senior Vice President (since March 1997) and
Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel Secretary and General Counsel (since February
Two World Trade Center 1997) and Director (since July 1998) of the
New York, New York Investment Manager and MSDW Services Company;
Senior Vice President (since March 1997) and
Assistant Secretary and Assistant General
Counsel (since February 1997) of the
Distributor; Assistant Secretary of Dean Witter
Reynolds (since August 1996); Vice President,
Secretary and General Counsel of the Morgan
Stanley Dean Witter Funds (since February
1997); 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.
Jonathan R. Page (53) ....................... Senior Vice President of the Investment Manager
Senior Vice President and Director of the Money Market Group of the
Two World Trade Center Investment Manager; Vice President of various
New York, New York Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Funds.
Thomas F. Caloia (53) ....................... First Vice President and Assistant Treasurer of
Treasurer the Investment Manager, the Distributor and
Two World Trade Center MSDW Services Company; Treasurer of the Morgan
New York, New York Stanley Dean Witter Funds.
</TABLE>
- ------------------------
*Denotes Trustees who are "interested persons" of each Fund as defined by 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, JOSEPH J. MCALINDEN, Executive Vice President and Chief
Investment Officer of the Investment Manager and Director of the Transfer Agent,
and PETER M. AVELAR and JAMES F. WILLISON, each, a Senior Vice President of the
Investment Manager and Director of the High Yield Group of the Investment
Manager and Director of the Tax-Exempt Fixed Income Group of the Investment
Manager, respectively, are Vice Presidents of each Fund.
In addition, 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, TODD LEBO, Vice President and Assistant
General Counsel of the Investment Manager and MSDW Services Company, and NATASHA
KASSIAN, a Staff Attorney with the Investment Manager, are Assistant Secretaries
of each Fund.
INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS/TRUSTEES AND THE COMMITTEES. Law and regulation
establish both general guidelines and specific duties for the independent
directors/trustees. The Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Funds seek as independent
directors/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 directors/trustees serve as members of the Audit
Committee. In addition, three of the directors/trustees, including two
independent directors/trustees, serve as members of the Derivatives Committee
and the Insurance Committee.
9
<PAGE>
The independent directors/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 directors/trustees are required to select and nominate individuals
to fill any independent director/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 Funds' 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 Funds' 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 either 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 DIRECTORS/TRUSTEES FOR
ALL MORGAN STANLEY DEAN WITTER FUNDS. The independent directors/trustees and
the Funds' management believe that having the same independent
directors/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 directors/trustees for each of the Funds or
even of sub-groups of Funds. They believe that having the same individuals serve
as independent directors/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 directors/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
directors/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
directors/trustees, of the caliber, experience and business acumen of the
individuals who serve as independent directors/trustees of the Morgan Stanley
Dean Witter Funds.
TRUSTEE AND OFFICER INDEMNIFICATION. Each Fund's Declaration of Trust
provides that no Trustee, officer, employee or agent of the Fund is liable to
the Fund or to a shareholder, nor is any Trustee, officer, employee or agent
liable to any third persons in connection with the affairs of the Fund, except
as such liability may arise from his/her or its own bad faith, willful
misfeasance, gross negligence or reckless disregard of his/her or its duties. It
also provides that all third persons shall look solely to the Fund property for
satisfaction of claims arising in connection with the affairs of the Fund. With
the exceptions stated, each Fund's Declaration of Trust provides that a Trustee,
officer, employee or agent is entitled to be indemnified against all liability
in connection with the affairs of the Fund.
C. COMPENSATION
Each 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 (each
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 each Fund. Each Fund also reimburses such Trustees for travel
10
<PAGE>
and other out-of-pocket expenses incurred by them in connection with attending
such meetings. Trustees and officers of the Funds who are or have been employed
by the Investment Manager or an affiliated company receive no compensation or
expense reimbursement from the Funds for their services as Trustee.
At such time as the Funds have been in operation and have paid fees to the
Independent Trustees for a full fiscal year, and assuming that during such
fiscal year the Funds hold the same number of meetings of the boards, the
Independent Trustees and the Committees as were held by the other Morgan Stanley
Dean Witter Funds during the calendar year ended December 31, 1999, it is
estimated that the compensation paid to each Independent Trustee during such
fiscal year will be the amount shown in the following table.
CASH COMPENSATION FROM MORGAN STANLEY DEAN WITTER FUNDS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
TOTAL CASH
COMPENSATION
FOR SERVICES TO
93 MORGAN
STANLEY
DEAN WITTER
NAME OF INDEPENDENT TRUSTEE FUNDS
- --------------------------- ---------------
<S> <C>
[TO COME]
</TABLE>
As of the date of this STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, 55 of the Morgan
Stanley Dean Witter Funds, not including the Funds, have adopted a retirement
program under which an independent director/trustee who retires after serving
for at least five years (or such lesser period as may be determined by the
Board) as an independent director/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 director/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/ trustee of any Adopting Fund in excess of five years up to
a maximum of 60.44% after ten years of service. The foregoing percentages may be
changed by the Board.(1) "Eligible Compensation" is one-fifth of the total
compensation earned by such Eligible Trustee for service to the Adopting Fund in
the five year period prior to the date of the Eligible Trustee's retirement.
Benefits under the retirement program are accrued as expenses on the books of
the Adopting Funds. Such benefits are not secured or funded by the Adopting
Funds.
- ------------------------
(1) An Eligible Trustee may elect alternative payments of his or her retirement
benefits based upon the combined life expectancy of the Eligible Trustee
and his or her spouse on the date of such Eligible Trustee's retirement. In
addition, the Eligible Trustee may elect that the surviving spouse's
periodic payment of benefits will be equal to a lower percentage of the
periodic amount when both spouses were alive. The amount estimated to be
payable under this method, through the remainder of the later of the lives
of the Eligible Trustee and spouse, will be the actuarial equivalent of the
Regular Benefit.
11
<PAGE>
The following table illustrates the retirement benefits accrued to the
Funds' Independent Trustees by the 55 Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Funds for the
year ended December 31, 1999, and the estimated retirement benefits for the
Independent Trustees, to commence upon their retirement from the 55 Morgan
Stanley Dean Witter Funds as of December 31, 1999.
RETIREMENT BENEFITS FROM ALL MORGAN STANLEY DEAN WITTER FUNDS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
FOR ALL ADOPTING FUNDS
---------------------------
ESTIMATED
CREDITED
YEARS OF ESTIMATED ESTIMATED ANNUAL
SERVICE AT PERCENTAGE RETIREMENT BENEFITS BENEFITS UPON
RETIREMENT OF ELIGIBLE ACCRUED AS EXPENSES RETIREMENT FROM
NAME OF INDEPENDENT TRUSTEE (MAXIMUM 10) COMPENSATION BY ALL ADOPTING FUNDS ALL ADOPTING FUNDS(2)
- --------------------------- ------------ ------------ --------------------- ---------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
[TO COME]
</TABLE>
- ------------------------
(2) Based on current levels of compensation. Amount of annual benefits also
varies depending on the Trustee's elections described in Footnote (1) on
page 11 of this STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
IV. CONTROL PERSONS AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS OF SECURITIES
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Investment Manager provided the initial capital for the Fund by
purchasing 100,000 shares of the Fund for $100,000 on January , 2000. As of
the date of this Prospectus, the Investment Manager owned 100% of the
outstanding shares of the Fund. The Investment Manager may be deemed to control
the Funds until such time as it owns less than 25% of the outstanding shares of
each Fund.
V. INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT AND OTHER SERVICES
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A. INVESTMENT MANAGER
The Investment Manager to each Fund is Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Advisors
Inc., a Delaware corporation, whose address is Two World Trade Center, New York,
NY 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 separate Investment Management Agreements (each, a "Management
Agreement") with the Investment Manager, each Fund has retained the Investment
Manager to provide administrative services and manage the investment of the
Fund's assets, including the placing of orders for the purchase and sale of
portfolio securities. Each Fund pays the Investment Manager monthly compensation
calculated daily by applying the following annual rates to the net assets of the
Fund, determined as of the close of business on every business day:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT FEE
(AS A PERCENT OF FUND'S
FUND AVERAGE NET ASSETS)
<S> <C>
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Active Assets Institutional Money Trust: %
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Active Assets Premier Money Trust: %
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
12
<PAGE>
The Investment Manager has agreed to assume all operating expenses of each
Fund (except for brokerage fees) and to waive the compensation provided for in
each Management Agreement until such time as the Fund has $50 million of net
assets or six months from the date of commencement of the Fund's operations,
whichever occurs first. Thereafter, the Investment Manager has agreed under each
Management Agreement to assume Fund operating expenses (except for brokerage
fees) to the extent that such operating expenses exceed % of the average
daily net assets for Active Assets Institutional Money Trust and % for Active
Assets Premier Money Trust, which may reduce the investment management fee below
% and %, respectively, of the Funds' average daily net assets.
The Investment Manager has retained its wholly-owned subsidiary, MSDW
Services Company, to perform administrative services for the Fund.
B. PRINCIPAL UNDERWRITER
Each Fund's principal underwriter is the Distributor (which has the same
address as the Investment Manager). In this capacity, each Fund's shares are
distributed by the Distributor. The Distributor has entered into a selected
dealer agreement with Dean Witter Reynolds, which through its own sales
organization sells shares of each Fund. In addition, the Distributor may enter
into similar agreements with other selected broker dealers.
The Investment Manager compensates Dean Witter Reynolds' Financial Advisors
by paying them, from the Investment Manager's own funds, an annual residual
commission, currently of % and % of the current value of each account for
investors in Active Assets Institutional Money Trust and Active Assets Premier
Money Trust, respectively, for which they are the Financial Advisors of record.
The residual is a charge which reflects residual commissions paid by Dean Witter
Reynolds to its Financial Advisors and Dean Witter Reynolds' expenses associated
with the servicing of shareholders' accounts, including the expenses of
operating Dean Witter Reynolds' branch offices in connection with the servicing
of shareholders' accounts, which expenses include lease costs, the salaries and
employee benefits of operations and sales support personnel, utility costs,
communications costs and the costs of stationery and supplies and other expenses
relating to branch office servicing of shareholder accounts.
The Distributor, a Delaware corporation, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of
MSDW.
Each Fund and the Distributor have agreed to indemnify each other against
certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. Under the
Distribution Agreement, the Distributor uses its best efforts in rendering
services to the Fund, but in the absence of willful misfeasance, bad faith,
gross negligence or reckless disregard of its obligations, the Distributor is
not liable to either Fund or any of their shareholders for any error of judgment
or mistake of law or for any act or omission or for any losses sustained by
either Fund or their shareholders.
C. SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE INVESTMENT MANAGER
The Investment Manager manages the investment of each Fund's assets,
including the placing of orders for the purchase and sale of portfolio
securities. 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 manage the assets of each Fund
in a manner consistent with its investment objective.
Under the terms of each Management Agreement, in addition to managing each
Fund's investments, the Investment Manager maintains certain of each Fund's
books and records and furnishes, at its own expense, the office space,
facilities, equipment, clerical help, bookkeeping and certain legal services as
the Fund may reasonably require in the conduct of its business, including the
preparation of prospectuses, proxy statements and reports required to be filed
with federal and state securities commissions (except insofar as the
participation or assistance of independent accountants and attorneys is, in the
opinion of the Investment Manager, necessary or desirable). In addition, the
Investment Manager pays the salaries of all personnel, including officers of the
Funds, 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 Funds.
13
<PAGE>
Expenses not expressly assumed by the Investment Manager under each
Management Agreement or by the Distributor, will be paid by the applicable Fund.
These expenses include, but are not limited to: charges and expenses of any
registrar, custodian, stock transfer and dividend disbursing agent; brokerage
commissions; taxes; engraving and printing share certificates; registration
costs; the cost and expense of printing, including typesetting, and distributing
prospectuses of each Fund and supplements thereto to the Funds' 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 each
Fund's shares; fees and expenses of legal counsel, including counsel to the
Trustees who are not interested persons of the Funds or of the Investment
Manager (not including compensation or expenses of attorneys who are employees
of the Investment Manager); fees and expenses of each Fund's independent
accountants; membership dues of industry associations; interest on either Fund
borrowings; postage; insurance premiums on property or personnel (including
officers and Trustees) of each 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 each Fund's operation.
Each 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 either Fund or
any of its investors for any act or omission by the Investment Manager or for
any losses sustained by either Fund or its investors.
Each Management Agreement will remain in effect from year to year, provided
continuance of each 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 applicable Fund, or by the Trustees; provided that
in either event such continuance is approved annually by the vote of a majority
of the Trustees of the applicable Fund, including a majority of the Independent
Trustees.
D. OTHER SERVICE PROVIDERS
(1) TRANSFER AGENT/DIVIDEND-PAYING AGENT
Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Trust FSB is the Transfer Agent for each Fund's
shares and the Dividend Disbursing Agent for payment of dividends and
distributions on either Fund's 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, NJ 07311.
(2) CUSTODIAN AND INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
The Bank of New York, 100 Church Street, New York, NY 10286, is the
Custodian for each Fund's assets. Any of the Funds' 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 each Fund. The independent accountants are responsible for auditing the
annual financial statements of each Fund.
(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 each Fund and is
reimbursed for its out-of-pocket expenses in connection with such services.
14
<PAGE>
VI. BROKERAGE ALLOCATION AND OTHER PRACTICES
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A. BROKERAGE TRANSACTIONS
Subject to the general supervision of the Trustees, the Investment Manager
is responsible for decisions to buy and sell securities for each Fund, the
selection of brokers and dealers to effect the transactions, and the negotiation
of brokerage commissions, if any. Purchases and sales of portfolio securities
are normally transacted through dealers, issuers or underwriters. Such
transactions are generally made on a net basis and do not involve payment of
brokerage commissions. The cost of securities purchased from an underwriter
usually includes a commission paid by the issuer to the underwriters;
transactions with dealers normally reflect the spread between bid and asked
prices.
B. COMMISSIONS
Pursuant to an order of the SEC, each Fund may effect principal transactions
in certain money market instruments with Dean Witter Reynolds. Each Fund will
limit its transactions with Dean Witter Reynolds to U.S. Government and
Government Agency Securities. 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.
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 either Fund, the commissions, fees or other remuneration received by the
affiliated broker or dealer must be reasonable and fair compared to the
commissions, fees or other remuneration paid to other brokers in connection with
comparable transactions involving similar securities being purchased or sold on
an exchange during a comparable period of time. This standard would allow the
affiliated broker or dealer to receive no more than the remuneration which would
be expected to be received by an unaffiliated broker in a commensurate
arm's-length transaction. Furthermore, the Trustees, including the Independent
Trustees, have adopted procedures which are reasonably designed to provide that
any commissions, fees or other remuneration paid to an affiliated broker or
dealer are consistent with the foregoing standard. The Funds do not reduce the
management fee they pay to the Investment Manager by any amount of the brokerage
commissions they may pay to an affiliated broker or dealer.
C. BROKERAGE SELECTION
The policy of each Fund regarding purchases and sales of securities for its
portfolio is that primary consideration will be given to obtaining the most
favorable prices and efficient executions of transactions.
In seeking to implement the Funds' 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 Funds 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 Funds
directly. While the receipt of such information and services is useful in
varying degrees and would generally reduce the amount of research or services
otherwise performed by the Investment Manager and thereby reduce its expenses,
it is of indeterminable value and the Funds do not reduce the management fee
they pay to the Investment Manager by any amount that may be attributable to the
value of such services.
15
<PAGE>
Subject to the principle of obtaining best price and execution, the
Investment Manager may consider a broker-dealer's sales of shares of each Fund
as a factor in selecting from among those broker-dealers qualified to provide
comparable prices and execution on the Fund's portfolio transactions. The Funds
do not, however, require a broker-dealer to sell shares of the Fund, in order
for it to be considered to execute portfolio transactions, and will not enter
into any arrangement whereby a specific amount or percentage of the Funds'
transactions will be directed to a broker which sells shares of the Funds to
customers. The Trustees review, periodically, the allocation of brokerage orders
to monitor the operation of these policies.
The Investment Manager currently serves as investment manager to a number of
clients, including other investment companies, and may in the future act as
investment manager or advisor to others. It is the practice of the Investment
Manager to cause purchase and sale transactions to be allocated among the Funds
and others whose assets it manages in such manner as it deems equitable. In
making such allocations among the Funds and other client accounts, various
factors may be considered, including the respective investment objectives, the
relative size of portfolio holdings of the same or comparable securities, the
availability of cash for investment, the size of investment commitments
generally held and the opinions of the persons responsible for managing the
portfolios of each Fund 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.
VII. CAPITAL STOCK AND OTHER SECURITIES
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The shareholders of each Fund are entitled to a full vote for each full
share of beneficial interest held. The Funds are authorized to issue an
unlimited number of shares of beneficial interest. All shares of beneficial
interest of each Fund are of $0.01 par value and are equal as to earnings,
assets and voting privileges.
Each Fund's Declaration of Trust permits the Trustees to authorize the
creation of additional series of shares (the proceeds of which would be invested
in separate, independently managed portfolios) and additional classes of shares
within any series. The Trustees have not presently authorized any such
additional series of classes of shares other than as set forth in the
PROSPECTUS.
The Funds are not required to hold annual meetings of shareholders and in
ordinary circumstances the Funds do 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 the actions
of the Trustees. In addition, under certain circumstances, the shareholders may
call a meeting to remove the Trustees, and the Funds are required to provide
assistance in communicating with shareholders about such a meeting. 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 each Fund. However, each Declaration of Trust contains an express disclaimer
of shareholder liability for acts or obligations of the respective 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 a Fund itself would be unable to meet its
obligations. Given the above limitations on shareholder personal liability, and
the nature of each Fund's assets and operations, the possibility of a Fund being
unable to meet its obligations is remote and thus, in the opinion of
Massachusetts counsel to the Funds, the risk to each Fund's shareholders of
personal liability is remote.
16
<PAGE>
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
respective Fund. Under certain circumstances the Trustees may be removed by
action of the Trustees. The shareholders also have the right under certain
circumstances to remove the Trustees in accordance with the provisions of
Section 16(c) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, and each Fund is required
to provide assistance in communicating with shareholders about such a meeting.
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
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A. PURCHASE/REDEMPTION OF SHARES
Information concerning how Fund shares are offered to the public (and how
they are redeemed) is provided in the Funds' PROSPECTUS.
TRANSFER AGENT AS AGENT. With respect to the redemption of the Funds'
shares or the application of proceeds to the purchase of new shares in a Fund,
the Transfer Agent acts as agent for the Distributor and for the shareholder's
authorized broker-dealer in the performance of such functions. With respect to
redemptions, 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 Funds shall not be liable for any default or negligence of the Transfer
Agent, the Distributor or any authorized broker-dealer.
B. OFFERING PRICE
The price of each Fund's shares, called "net asset value," is based on the
value of each respective Fund's portfolio securities.
Each Fund utilizes the amortized cost method in valuing its portfolio
securities for purposes of determining the net asset value of its shares. Each
Fund utilizes the amortized cost method in valuing its portfolio securities even
though the portfolio securities may increase or decrease in market value,
generally in connection with changes in interest rates. The amortized cost
method of valuation involves valuing a security at its cost at the time of
purchase adjusted by a constant amortization to maturity of any discount or
premium, regardless of the impact of fluctuating interest rates on the market
value of the instrument. While this method provides certainty in valuation, it
may result in periods during which value, as determined by amortized cost, is
higher or lower than the price a Fund would receive if it sold the investment.
During such periods, the yield to investors in each Fund may differ somewhat
from that obtained in a similar company which uses market-to-market values for
all of its portfolio securities. For example, if the use of amortized cost
resulted in a lower (higher) aggregate portfolio value on a particular day, a
prospective investor in either Fund would be able to obtain a somewhat higher
(lower) yield than would result from investment in such a similar company and
existing investors would receive less (more) investment income. The purpose of
this method of calculation is to facilitate the maintenance of a constant net
asset value per share of $1.00.
The use of the amortized cost method to value the portfolio securities of
each Fund and the maintenance of the per share net asset value of $1.00 is
permitted pursuant to Rule 2a-7 of the Act (the "Rule") and is conditioned on
its compliance with various conditions contained in the Rule including: (a) the
Trustees are obligated, as a particular responsibility within the overall duty
of care owed to the Funds' shareholders, to establish procedures reasonably
designed, taking into account current market conditions and each Fund's
investment objectives, to stabilize the net asset value per share as computed
for the purpose of distribution and redemption at $1.00 per share; (b) the
procedures include (i) calculation, at such intervals as the Trustees determine
are appropriate and as are reasonable in light of current market conditions, of
the deviation, if any, between net asset value per share using amortized cost to
value portfolio securities and net asset value per share based upon available
market quotations
17
<PAGE>
with respect to such portfolio securities; (ii) periodic review by the Trustees
of the amount of deviation as well as methods used to calculate it; and
(iii) maintenance of written records of the procedures, and the Trustees'
considerations made pursuant to them and any actions taken upon such
consideration; (c) the Trustees should consider what steps should be taken, if
any, in the event of a difference of more than 1/2 of 1% between the two methods
of valuation; and (d) the Trustees should take such action as they deem
appropriate (such as shortening the average portfolio maturity, realizing gains
or losses, withholding dividends or, as provided by the Declaration of Trust,
reducing the number of outstanding shares of either Fund) to eliminate or reduce
to the extent reasonably practicable material dilution or other unfair results
to investors or existing shareholders which might arise from differences between
the two method of valuation.
Generally, for purposes of the procedures adopted under the Rule, the
maturity of a portfolio security is deemed to be the period remaining
(calculated from the trade date or such other date on which a Fund's interest in
the instrument is subject to market action) until the date on which in
accordance with the terms of the security the principal amount must
unconditionally be paid, or in the case of a security called for redemption, the
date on which the redemption payment must be made.
A variable rate security that is subject to a demand feature is deemed to
have a maturity equal to the period remaining until the principal amount can be
recovered through demand. A floating rate security that is subject to a demand
feature is deemed to have a maturity equal to the period remaining until the
principal amount can be recovered through demand.
An "NRSRO" is a nationally recognized statistical rating organization. The
term "Requisite NRSROs" means (i) any two NRSROs that have issued a rating with
respect to a security or class of debt obligations of an issuer, or (ii) if only
one NRSRO has issued a rating with respect to such security or issuer at the
time a fund purchases or rolls over the security, that NRSRO.
An Eligible Security is generally defined in the Rule to mean (i) a rated
security with a remaining maturity of 397 calendar days or less that has
received a rating from the Requisite NRSROs in one of the two highest short-term
rating categories (within which there may be sub-categories or gradations
indicating relative standing); or (ii) An Unrated Security that is of comparable
quality to a security meeting the requirements of (1) above, as determined by
the Trustees; (iii) In addition, in the case of a security that is subject to a
Demand Feature or Guarantee: (A) The Guarantee has received a rating from an
NRSRO or the Guarantee is issued by a guarantor that has received a rating from
an NRSRO with respect to a class of debt obligations (or any debt obligation
within that class) that is comparable in priority and security to the Guarantee,
unless: (1) the Guarantee is issued by a person that directly or indirectly,
controls, is controlled by or is under a common control with the issuer of the
security subject to the Guarantee (other than a sponsor or a Special Purpose
Entity with respect to an Asset Backed Security: (2) the security subject to the
Guarantee is a repurchase agreement that is Collateralized Fully; or (3) the
Guarantee itself is a Government Security and (B) the issuer of the Demand
Feature, or another institution, has undertaken promptly to notify the holder of
the security in the event the Demand Feature or Guarantee is substituted with
another Demand Feature or Guarantee (if such substitution is permissible under
the terms of the Demand Feature or Guarantee). Each Fund will limit its
investments to securities that meet the requirements for Eligible Securities.
As permitted by the Rule, the Trustees have delegated to the Funds'
Investment Manager the authority to determine which securities present minimal
credit risks and which unrated securities are comparable in quality to rated
securities.
Also, as required by the Rule, each Fund will limit its investments in
securities, other than Government securities, so that, at the time of purchase:
(a) except as further limited in (b) below with regard to certain securities, no
more than 5% of its total assets will be invested in the securities of any one
issuer; and (b) with respect to Eligible Securities that have received a rating
in less than the highest category by any one of the NRSROs whose ratings are
used to qualify the security as an Eligible Security, or that have
18
<PAGE>
been determined to be of comparable quality: (i) no more than 5% in the
aggregate of each Fund's total assets in all such securities, and (ii) no more
than the greater of 1% of total assets, or $1 million, in the securities on any
one issuer.
The presence of a line of credit or other credit facility offered by a bank
or other financial institution which guarantees the payment obligation of the
issuer, in the event of a default in the payment of principal or interest of an
obligation, may be taken into account in determining whether an investment is an
Eligible Security, provided that the guarantee itself is an Eligible Security.
The Rule further requires that each Fund limit its investments to U.S.
dollar-denominated instruments which the Trustees determine present minimal
credit risks and which are Eligible Securities. The Rule also requires each Fund
to maintain a dollar-weighted average portfolio maturity (not more than 90 days)
appropriate to its objective of maintaining a stable net asset value of $1.00
per share and precludes the purchase of any instrument with a remaining maturity
of more than 397 days. Should the disposition of a portfolio security result in
a dollar-weighted average portfolio maturity of more than 90 days, the
applicable Fund will invest its available cash in such a manner as to reduce
such maturity to 90 days or less a soon as is reasonably practicable.
If the Trustees determine that it is no longer in the best interests of a
Fund and its shareholders to maintain a stable price of $1 per share or if the
Trustees believe that maintaining such price no longer reflects a market-based
net asset value per share, the Trustees have the right to change from an
amortized cost basis of valuation to valuation based on market quotations. The
Funds will notify their respective shareholders of any such change.
IX. TAXATION OF THE FUNDS AND THEIR SHAREHOLDERS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Each Fund intends to declare and pay all of its net investment income (and
net short-term capital gains, if any) as dividends daily. Dividends are
automatically reinvested in additional Fund shares at net asset value. Net
income, for dividend purposes, includes accrued interest and amortization of
acquisition, original issue and market discount, plus or minus any short-term
gains or losses realized on sales of portfolio securities, less the amortization
of market premium and the estimated expenses of each Fund, respectively. Net
income will be calculated immediately prior to the determination of net asset
value per share of each Fund.
The Trustees of the Funds may revise the dividend policy or postpone the
payment of dividends if a Fund should have or anticipate any large unexpected
expense, loss or fluctuation in net assets which, in the opinion of the
Trustees, might have a significant adverse effect on shareholders. On occasion,
in order to maintain a constant $1.00 per share net asset value, the Trustees
may direct that the number of outstanding shares be reduced in each
shareholder's account. Such reduction may result in taxable income to a
shareholder in excess of the net increase (i.e., dividends, less such
reductions), if any, in the shareholder's account for a period of time.
Furthermore, such reduction may be realized as a capital loss when the shares
are liquidated.
It has been and remains each Fund's policy and practice that, if checks for
dividends or distributions paid in cash remain uncashed, no interest will accrue
on amounts represented by such uncashed checks.
TAXES. Each Fund has qualified and intends to remain qualified as a
regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code. If
so qualified, the Funds will not be subject to federal income taxes, provided
that each Fund distributes all of its taxable net investment income and all of
its net realized gains.
Shareholders will be subject to federal income tax on dividends paid from
interest income derived from taxable securities and on distributions of realized
net short-term capital gains and long-term capital gains. Interest and realized
net short-term capital gains distributions are taxable to the shareholder as
ordinary dividend income regardless of whether the shareholder receives such
distributions in additional
19
<PAGE>
shares or in cash. Net long-term capital gains distributions are taxable to the
shareholder as long-term capital gains, regardless of whether the shareholder
receives such distribution in additional shares or in cash. Under current law,
the maximum tax rate on long-term capital gains is 20%.
It is not anticipated that the ordinary dividends or net long-term capital
gains distributions will be eligible for the federal dividends received
deduction available to corporations.
Each Fund may be subject to tax or taxes in certain states where it does
business. Furthermore, in those states which have income tax laws, the tax
treatment of the Fund and of shareholders with respect to distributions by the
Fund may differ from federal tax treatment.
Shareholders are urged to consult their own tax advisors regarding specific
questions as to federal, state or local taxes.
X. UNDERWRITERS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Each Fund's shares are offered to the public on a continuous basis. The
Distributor, as the principal underwriter of the shares, has certain obligations
under the Distribution Agreement concerning the distribution of the shares.
These obligations and the compensation the Distributor receives are described
above in the section titled "Principal Underwriter."
XI. CALCULATION OF PERFORMANCE DATA
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Each Fund's annualized current yield, as may be quoted from time to time in
advertisements and other communications to shareholders and potential investors,
is computed by determining, for a stated seven-day period, the net change,
exclusive of capital changes and including the value of additional shares
purchased with dividends and any dividends declared therefrom (which reflect
deductions of all expenses of each Fund such as management fees), in the value
of a hypothetical pre-existing account having a balance of one share at the
beginning of the period, and dividing the difference by the value of the account
at the beginning of the base period to obtain the base period return, and then
multiplying the base period return by (365/7).
Each Fund's annualized effective yield, as may be quoted from time to time
in advertisements and other communications to shareholders and potential
investors, is computed by determining (for the same stated seven-day period as
for the current yield), the net change, exclusive of capital changes and
including the value of additional shares purchased with dividends and any
dividends declared therefrom (which reflect deductions of all expenses of each
Fund such as management fees), in the value of a hypothetical pre-existing
account having a balance of one share at the beginning of the period, and
dividing the difference by the value of the account at the beginning of the base
period to obtain the base period return, and then compounding the base period
return by adding 1, raising the sum to a power equal to 365 divided by 7, and
subtracting 1 from the result.
The yields quoted in any advertisement or other communication should not be
considered a representation of the yields of each Fund in the future since the
yield is not fixed. Actual yields will depend not only on the type, quality and
maturities of the investments held by each Fund and changes in interest rates on
such investments, but also on changes in each Fund's expenses during the period.
Yield information may be useful in reviewing the performance of a Fund and
for providing a basis for comparison with other investment alternatives.
However, unlike bank deposits or other investments which typically pay a fixed
yield for a stated period of time, each Fund's yield fluctuates.
*****
This STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION and the PROSPECTUS do not contain
all of the information set forth in the REGISTRATION STATEMENTS the Funds have
filed with the SEC. The complete REGISTRATION STATEMENT for each Fund may be
obtained from the SEC.
20
<PAGE>
ACTIVE ASSETS INSTITUTIONAL MONEY TRUST
PART C OTHER INFORMATION
Item 23. EXHIBITS:
1. -- Declaration of Trust of Registrant, to be filed herein
2. -- By-Laws of the Registrant, to be filed herein
3. -- None
4. -- Form of Investment Management Agreement between the Registrant
and Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Advisors Inc. *
5.(a) -- Form of Distribution Agreement between the Registrant and
Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Distributors Inc. *
5.(b) -- Form of Selected Dealer Agreement*
6. -- Not applicable
7. -- Form of Custodian Agreement*
8.(a) -- Form of Transfer Agency and Service Agreement between the
Registrant and Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Trust FSB.*
8.(b) -- Form of Services Agreement between Morgan Stanley Dean Witter
Advisors Inc. and Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Services Company
Inc.*
9.(a) -- Opinion of Barry Fink, Esq. *
9.(b) -- Opinion of Lane Altman & Owens LLP *
10. -- Consent of Independent Accountants *
11. -- Not applicable
12. -- Investment Letter of Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Advisors Inc. *
13. -- Not applicable
14. -- Not applicable
15. -- Not applicable
Other -- Powers of Attorney *
- ------------------
*To be filed by amendment.
Item 24. PERSONS CONTROLLED BY OR UNDER COMMON CONTROL WITH THE FUND.
None
<PAGE>
Item 25. INDEMNIFICATION.
Pursuant to Section 5.3 of the Registrant's Declaration of Trust and under
Section 4.8 of the Registrant's By-Laws, the indemnification of the Registrant's
trustees, officers, employees and agents is permitted if it is determined that
they acted under the belief that their actions were in or not opposed to the
best interest of the Registrant, and, with respect to any criminal proceeding,
they had reasonable cause to believe their conduct was not unlawful. In
addition, indemnification is permitted only if it is determined that the actions
in question did not render them liable by reason of willful misfeasance, bad
faith or gross negligence in the performance of their duties or by reason of
reckless disregard of their obligations and duties to the Registrant. Trustees,
officers, employees and agents will be indemnified for the expense of litigation
if it is determined that they are entitled to indemnification against any
liability established in such litigation. The Registrant may also advance money
for these expenses provided that they give their undertakings to repay the
Registrant unless their conduct is later determined to permit indemnification.
Pursuant to Section 5.2 of the Registrant's Declaration of Trust and
paragraph 8 of the Registrant's 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 24. PERSONS CONTROLLED BY OR UNDER COMMON CONTROL WITH THE FUND.
None
<PAGE>
Item 25. INDEMNIFICATION.
Pursuant to Section 5.3 of the Registrant's Declaration of Trust and under
Section 4.8 of the Registrant's By-Laws, the indemnification of the Registrant's
trustees, officers, employees and agents is permitted if it is determined that
they acted under the belief that their actions were in or not opposed to the
best interest of the Registrant, and, with respect to any criminal proceeding,
they had reasonable cause to believe their conduct was not unlawful. In
addition, indemnification is permitted only if it is determined that the actions
in question did not render them liable by reason of willful misfeasance, bad
faith or gross negligence in the performance of their duties or by reason of
reckless disregard of their obligations and duties to the Registrant. Trustees,
officers, employees and agents will be indemnified for the expense of litigation
if it is determined that they are entitled to indemnification against any
liability established in such litigation. The Registrant may also advance money
for these expenses provided that they give their undertakings to repay the
Registrant unless their conduct is later determined to permit indemnification.
Pursuant to Section 5.2 of the Registrant's Declaration of Trust and
paragraph 8 of the Registrant's 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.
<PAGE>
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:
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.
<PAGE>
(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 Latin American Growth Fund
(35) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Limited Term Municipal Trust
(36) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Liquid Asset Fund Inc.
(37) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Market Leader Trust
(38) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Mid-Cap Dividend Growth Securities
(39) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Mid-Cap Equity Trust
(40) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Multi-State Municipal Series Trust
(41) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Natural Resource Development Securities Inc.
(42) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter New York Municipal Money Market Trust
(43) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter New York Tax-Free Income Fund
(44) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Next Generation Trust
(45) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter North American Government Income Trust
(46) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Pacific Growth Fund Inc.
(47) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Precious Metals and Minerals Trust
(48) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Real Estate Fund
(49) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter S&P 500 Index Fund
(50) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter S&P 500 Select Fund
(51) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Select Dimensions Investment Series
(52) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Select Municipal Reinvestment Fund
(53) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Short-Term Bond Fund
(54) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Short-Term U.S. Treasury Trust
(55) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Small Cap Growth Fund
(56) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Special Value Fund
(57) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Strategist Fund
(58) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Tax-Exempt Securities Trust
(59) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Tax-Free Daily Income Trust
(60) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Total Market Index Fund
(61) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Total Return Trust
(62) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter U.S. Government Money Market Trust
(63) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter U.S. Government Securities Trust
(64) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Utilities Fund
(65) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Value-Added Market Series
(66) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Value Fund
(67) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Variable Investment Series
(68) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter World Wide Income Trust
<PAGE>
<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; 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 Director of MSDW Trust.
and Chief Investment
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
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.
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.
Douglas Brown
Senior Vice President
Rosalie Clough
Senior Vice President
and Director of Marketing
Richard Felegy
Senior Vice President
<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>
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.
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.
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 Sector
Rotation
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
<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>
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
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.
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 and the Morgan
Stanley Dean Witter Funds.
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 and
Assistant Secretary the Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Funds.
<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>
Carsten Otto First Vice President and Assistant Secretary of MSDW
First Vice President Services; Assistant Secretary of MSDW Distributors and
and Assistant Secretary the Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Funds.
Ruth Rossi First Vice President and Assistant Secretary of MSDW
First Vice President and Services; Assistant Secretary of MSDW Distributors and
Assistant Secretary the Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Funds.
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 of various Morgan Stanley Dean Witter
Vice President Funds.
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
<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>
Liam Carroll
Vice President
Philip Casparius
Vice President
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.
<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>
David T. Hoffman
Vice President
Kevin Jung Vice President of various Morgan Stanley Dean Witter
Vice President Funds.
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 and
Assistant Secretary the Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Funds.
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 various Morgan Stanley Dean Witter
Vice President Funds.
Albert McGarity
Vice President
Teresa McRoberts Vice President of Morgan Stanley Dean Witter S&P 500
Vice President Select Fund.
<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>
Mark Mitchell
Vice President
Julie Morrone Vice President of various Morgan Stanley Dean Witter
Vice President Funds.
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
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.
<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>
Robert Stearns
Vice President
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, and the Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Funds 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
<PAGE>
(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
(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 Latin American Growth Fund
(35) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Limited Term Municipal Trust
(36) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Liquid Asset Fund Inc.
(37) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Market Leader Trust
(38) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Mid-Cap Dividend Growth Securities
(39) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Mid-Cap Equity Trust
(40) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Multi-State Municipal Series Trust
(41) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Natural Resource Development Securities Inc.
(42) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter New York Municipal Money Market Trust
(43) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter New York Tax-Free Income Fund
(44) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Next Generation Trust
(45) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter North American Government Income Trust
(46) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Pacific Growth Fund Inc.
(47) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Precious Metals and Minerals Trust
(48) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Prime Income Trust
(49) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Real Estate Fund
(50) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter S&P 500 Index Fund
(51) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter S&P 500 Select Fund
(52) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Short-Term Bond Fund
(53) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Short-Term U.S. Treasury Trust
(54) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Small Cap Growth Fund
(55) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Special Value Fund
(56) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Strategist Fund
(57) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Tax-Exempt Securities Trust
(58) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Tax-Free Daily Income Trust
(59) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Total Market Index Fund
(60) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Total Return Trust
<PAGE>
(61) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter U.S. Government Money Market Trust
(62) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter U.S. Government Securities Trust
(63) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Utilities Fund
(64) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Value-Added Market Series
(65) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Value Fund
(66) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Variable Investment Series
(67) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter World Wide Income 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.
<PAGE>
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 and the
Investment Company Act of 1940, the Registrant has duly caused this Registration
Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized, in the City of New York and the State of New York on the 29th day of
November, 1999.
ACTIVE ASSETS INSTITUTIONAL MONEY TRUST
By: /s/ Barry Fink
----------------------------
Barry Fink
Trustee, Vice President
and Secretary
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the
capacities and on the date indicated.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Signatures Title Date
---------- ----- ----
<S> <C> <C>
By: /s/ Charles A. Fiumefreddo Chairman, Trustee 11/29/99
------------------------------ and Chief Executive Officer
Charles A. Fiumefreddo
By: /s/ Robert S. Giambrone Trustee 11/29/99
------------------------------
Robert S. Giambrone
By: /s/ Barry Fink Trustee, Vice President 11/29/99
------------------------------ and Secretary
Barry Fink
By: /s/ Thomas F. Caloia Trustee, Chief Financial 11/29/99
------------------------------ Officer and Chief
Thomas F. Caloia Accounting Officer
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
ACTIVE ASSETS INSTITUTIONAL MONEY TRUST
EXHIBIT INDEX
1. -- Declaration of Trust of Registrant, dated November 23, 1999
2. -- By-Laws of the Registrant, dated November 23, 1999
<PAGE>
ACTIVE ASSETS INSTITUTIONAL MONEY TRUST
TWO WORLD TRADE CENTER
NEW YORK, NY 10048
DECLARATION OF TRUST
DATED: November 23, 1999
<PAGE>
TABLE OF CONTENTS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PAGE
--------
<S> <C>
ARTICLE I--NAME AND DEFINITIONS............................. 1
Section 1.1 Name............................................ 1
Section 1.2 Definitions..................................... 1
ARTICLE II--TRUSTEES........................................ 2
Section 2.1 Number of Trustees.............................. 2
Section 2.2 Election and Term............................... 2
Section 2.3 Resignation and Removal......................... 3
Section 2.4 Vacancies....................................... 3
Section 2.5 Delegation of Power to Other Trustees........... 3
ARTICLE III--POWERS OF TRUSTEES............................. 3
Section 3.1 General......................................... 3
Section 3.2 Investments..................................... 4
Section 3.3 Legal Title..................................... 4
Section 3.4 Issuance and Repurchase of Securities........... 4
Section 3.5 Borrowing Money; Lending Trust Assets........... 5
Section 3.6 Delegation; Committees.......................... 5
Section 3.7 Collection and Payment.......................... 5
Section 3.8 Expenses........................................ 5
Section 3.9 Manner of Acting; By-Laws....................... 5
Section 3.10 Miscellaneous Powers........................... 5
Section 3.11 Principal Transactions......................... 5
Section 3.12 Litigation..................................... 6
ARTICLE IV--INVESTMENT ADVISER, DISTRIBUTOR, CUSTODIAN AND
TRANSFER AGENT............................................. 6
Section 4.1 Investment Adviser.............................. 6
Section 4.2 Administrative Services......................... 6
Section 4.3 Distributor..................................... 6
Section 4.4 Transfer Agent.................................. 7
Section 4.5 Custodian....................................... 7
Section 4.6 Parties to Contract............................. 7
ARTICLE V--LIMITATIONS OF LIABILITY OF SHAREHOLDERS,
TRUSTEES AND OTHERS........................................ 7
Section 5.1 No Personal Liability of Shareholders, Trustees,
etc........................................................ 7
Section 5.2 Non-Liability of Trustees, etc.................. 8
Section 5.3 Indemnification................................. 8
Section 5.4 No Bond Required of Trustees.................... 8
Section 5.5 No Duty of Investigation; Notice in Trust
Instruments, etc........................................... 8
Section 5.6 Reliance on Experts, etc........................ 8
ARTICLE VI--SHARES OF BENEFICIAL INTEREST................... 9
Section 6.1 Beneficial Interest............................. 9
Section 6.2 Rights of Shareholders.......................... 9
Section 6.3 Trust Only...................................... 9
Section 6.4 Issuance of Shares.............................. 9
Section 6.5 Register of Shares.............................. 9
Section 6.6 Transfer of Shares.............................. 10
Section 6.7 Notices......................................... 10
Section 6.8 Voting Powers................................... 10
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PAGE
--------
<S> <C>
Section 6.9 Series or Classes of Shares..................... 11
ARTICLE VII--REDEMPTIONS.................................... 13
Section 7.1 Redemptions..................................... 13
Section 7.2 Redemption at the Option of the Trust........... 13
Section 7.3 Effect of Suspension of Determination of Net
Asset Value................................................ 13
Section 7.4 Suspension of Right of Redemption............... 14
ARTICLE VIII--DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE, NET INCOME
AND DISTRIBUTIONS.......................................... 14
Section 8.1 Net Asset Value................................. 14
Section 8.2 Distributions to Shareholders................... 14
Section 8.3 Determination of Net Income..................... 15
Section 8.4 Power to Modify Foregoing Procedures............ 15
ARTICLE IX--DURATION; TERMINATION OF TRUST; AMENDMENT;
MERGERS, ETC............................................... 15
Section 9.1 Duration........................................ 15
Section 9.2 Termination of Trust............................ 15
Section 9.3 Amendment Procedure............................. 16
Section 9.4 Merger, Consolidation and Sale of Assets........ 16
Section 9.5 Incorporation................................... 17
ARTICLE X--REPORTS TO SHAREHOLDERS.......................... 17
ARTICLE XI--MISCELLANEOUS................................... 17
Section 11.1 Filing......................................... 17
Section 11.2 Resident Agent................................. 17
Section 11.3 Governing Law.................................. 17
Section 11.4 Counterparts................................... 17
Section 11.5 Reliance by Third Parties...................... 17
Section 11.6 Provisions in Conflict with Law or
Regulations................................................ 18
Section 11.7 Principal Place of Business.................... 18
SIGNATURE PAGE.............................................. 19
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
DECLARATION OF TRUST
OF
ACTIVE ASSETS INSTITUTIONAL
MONEY TRUST
DATED: NOVEMBER 23, 1999
THE DECLARATION OF TRUST of Active Assets Institutional Money Trust is made
the 23rd day of November, 1999 by the parties signatory hereto, as trustees
(such persons, so long as they shall continue in office in accordance with the
terms of this Declaration of Trust, and all other persons who at the time in
question have been duly elected or appointed as trustees in accordance with the
provisions of this Declaration of Trust and are then in office, being
hereinafter called the "Trustees").
W I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS, the Trustees desire to form a trust fund under the laws of
Massachusetts for the investment and reinvestment of funds contributed thereto;
and
WHEREAS, it is provided that the beneficial interest in the trust assets be
divided into transferable shares of beneficial interest as hereinafter provided;
NOW, THEREFORE, the Trustees hereby declare that they will hold in trust,
all money and property contributed to the trust fund to manage and dispose of
the same for the benefit of the holders from time to time of the shares of
beneficial interest issued hereunder and subject to the provisions hereof, to
wit:
ARTICLE I
NAME AND DEFINITIONS
SECTION 1.1. NAME. The name of the trust created hereby is the "Active
Assets Institutional Money Trust," and so far as may be practicable the Trustees
shall conduct the Trust's activities, execute all documents and sue or be sued
under that name, which name (and the word "Trust" wherever herein used) shall
refer to the Trustees as Trustees, and not as individuals, or personally, and
shall not refer to the officers, agents, employees or Shareholders of the Trust.
Should the Trustees determine that the use of such name is not advisable, they
may use such other name for the Trust as they deem proper and the Trust may hold
its property and conduct its activities under such other name.
SECTION 1.2. DEFINITIONS. Wherever they are used herein, the following
terms have the following respective meanings:
(a) "BY-LAWS" means the By-Laws referred to in Section 3.9 hereof, as from
time to time amended.
(b) the terms "COMMISSION," "AFFILIATED PERSON" and "INTERESTED PERSON,"
have the meanings given them in the 1940 Act.
(c) "CLASS" means any division of Shares within a Series as may be
established and designated from time to time by the Trustees pursuant to Section
6.1 hereof.
(d) "DECLARATION" means this Declaration of Trust as amended from time to
time. Reference in this Declaration of Trust to "DECLARATION," "HEREOF,"
"HEREIN" and "HEREUNDER" shall be deemed to refer to this Declaration rather
than the article or section in which such words appear.
(e) "DISTRIBUTOR" means the party, other than the Trust, to a contract
described in Section 4.3 hereof.
(f) "FUNDAMENTAL POLICIES" shall mean the investment policies and
restrictions set forth in the Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information
and designated as fundamental policies therein.
(g) "INVESTMENT ADVISER" means any party, other than the Trust, to a
contract described in Section 4.1 hereof.
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<PAGE>
(h) "MAJORITY SHAREHOLDER VOTE" means the vote of the holders of a majority
of Shares, which shall consist of: (i) a majority of Shares represented in
person or by proxy and entitled to vote at a meeting of Shareholders at which a
quorum, as determined in accordance with the By-Laws, is present; (ii) a
majority of Shares issued and outstanding and entitled to vote when action is
taken by written consent of Shareholders; and (iii) a "majority of the
outstanding voting securities," as the phrase is defined in the 1940 Act, when
any action is required by the 1940 Act by such majority as so defined.
(i) "1940 ACT" means the Investment Company Act of 1940 and the rules and
regulations thereunder as amended from time to time.
(j) "PERSON" means and includes individuals, corporations, partnerships,
trusts, associations, joint ventures and other entities, whether or not legal
entities, and governments and agencies and political subdivisions thereof.
(k) "PROSPECTUS" means the Prospectus and Statement of Additional
Information constituting parts of the Registration Statement of the Trust under
the Securities Act of 1933 as such Prospectus and Statement of Additional
Information may be amended or supplemented and filed with the Commission from
time to time.
(l) "SERIES" means one of the separately managed components of the Trust
(or, if the Trust shall have only one such component, then that one) as may be
established and designated from time to time by the Trustees pursuant to
Section 6.1 hereof.
(m) "SHAREHOLDER" means a record owner of outstanding Shares.
(n) "SHARES" means the units of interest into which the beneficial interest
in the Trust shall be divided from time to time, including the shares of any and
all series or classes which may be established by the Trustees, and includes
fractions of Shares as well as whole Shares as set forth in Section 6.1 hereof.
(o) "TRANSFER AGENT" means the party, other than the Trust, to the contract
described in Section 4.4 hereof.
(p) "TRUST" means the Active Assets Institutional Money Trust.
(q) "TRUST PROPERTY" means any and all property, real or personal, tangible
or intangible, which is owned or held by or for the account of the Trust or the
Trustees.
(r) "TRUSTEES" means the persons who have signed the Declaration, so long as
they shall continue in office in accordance with the terms hereof, and all other
persons who may from time to time be duly elected or appointed, qualified and
serving as Trustees in accordance with the provisions hereof, and reference
herein to a Trustee or the Trustees shall refer to such person or persons in
their capacity as trustees hereunder.
ARTICLE II
TRUSTEES
SECTION 2.1. NUMBER OF TRUSTEES. The number of Trustees shall be such
number as shall be fixed from time to time by a written instrument signed by a
majority of the Trustees, provided, however, that the number of Trustees shall
in no event be less than three (3) nor more than fifteen (15).
SECTION 2.2. ELECTION AND TERM. The Trustees shall be elected by a vote of
a majority of the outstanding voting securities, as defined by the 1940 Act,
held by the initial shareholder(s) (i.e., the person(s) that supplied the seed
capital required under Section 14(a) of the 1940 Act). The Trustees shall have
the power to set and alter the terms of office of the Trustees, and they may at
any time lengthen or lessen their own terms or make their terms of unlimited
duration, subject to the resignation and removal provisions of Section 2.3
hereof. Subject to Section 16(a) of the 1940 Act, the Trustees may elect their
own successors and may, pursuant to Section 2.4 hereof, appoint Trustees to fill
vacancies. The Trustees shall
2
<PAGE>
adopt By-Laws not inconsistent with this Declaration or any provision of law to
provide for election of Trustees by Shareholders at such time or times as the
Trustees shall determine to be necessary or advisable.
SECTION 2.3. RESIGNATION AND REMOVAL. Any Trustee may resign his trust
(without need for prior or subsequent accounting) by an instrument in writing
signed by him and delivered to the other Trustees and such resignation shall be
effective upon such delivery, or at a later date according to the terms of the
instrument. Any of the Trustees may be removed (provided the aggregate number of
Trustees after such removal shall not be less than the number required by
Section 2.1 hereof) by the action of two-thirds of the remaining Trustees or by
the action of the Shareholders of record of not less than two-thirds of the
Shares outstanding (for purposes of determining the circumstances and procedures
under which such removal by the Shareholders may take place, the provisions of
Section 16(c) of the 1940 Act or of the corporate or business statute of any
state in which shares of the Trust are sold, shall be applicable to the same
extent as if the Trust were subject to the provisions of that Section). Upon the
resignation or removal of a Trustee, or his otherwise ceasing to be a Trustee,
he shall execute and deliver such documents as the remaining Trustees shall
require for the purpose of conveying to the Trust or the remaining Trustees any
Trust Property held in the name of the resigning or removed Trustee. Upon the
incapacity or death of any Trustee, his legal representative shall execute and
deliver on his behalf such documents as the remaining Trustees shall require as
provided in the preceding sentence.
SECTION 2.4. VACANCIES. The term of office of a Trustee shall terminate
and a vacancy shall occur in the event of the death, resignation, removal,
bankruptcy, adjudicated incompetence or other incapacity to perform the duties
of the office of a Trustee. No such vacancy shall operate to annul the
Declaration or to revoke any existing agency created pursuant to the terms of
the Declaration. In the case of an existing vacancy existing by reason of an
increase in the number of Trustees, subject to the provisions of Section
16(a) of the 1940 Act, the remaining Trustees shall fill such vacancy by the
appointment of such other person as they or he, in their or his discretion,
shall see fit, made by a written instrument signed by a majority of the
remaining Trustees. Any such appointment shall not become effective, however,
until the person named in the written instrument of appointment shall have
accepted in writing such appointment and agreed in writing to be bound by the
terms of the Declaration. An appointment of a Trustee may be made in
anticipation of a vacancy to occur at a later date by reason of retirement,
resignation or increase in the number of Trustees, provided that such
appointment shall not become effective prior to such retirement, resignation or
increase in the number of Trustees. Whenever a vacancy in the number of Trustees
shall occur, until such vacancy is filled as provided in this Section 2.4, the
Trustees in office, regardless of their number, shall have all the powers
granted to the Trustees and shall discharge all the duties imposed upon the
Trustees by the Declaration. A written instrument certifying the existence of
such vacancy signed by a majority of the Trustees shall be conclusive evidence
of the existence of such vacancy.
SECTION 2.5. DELEGATION OF POWER TO OTHER TRUSTEES. Any Trustee may, by
power of attorney, delegate his power for a period not exceeding six (6) months
at any one time to any other Trustee or Trustees; provided that in no case shall
less than two (2) Trustees personally exercise the powers granted to the
Trustees under the Declaration except as herein otherwise expressly provided.
ARTICLE III
POWERS OF TRUSTEES
SECTION 3.1. GENERAL. The Trustees shall have exclusive and absolute
control over the Trust Property and over the business of the Trust to the same
extent as if the Trustees were the sole owners of the Trust Property and
business in their own right, but with such powers of delegation as may be
permitted by the Declaration. The Trustees shall have power to conduct the
business of the Trust and carry on its operations in any and all of its branches
and maintain offices both within and without the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
In any and all states of the United States of America, in the District of
Columbia, and in any and all commonwealths, territories, dependencies, colonies,
possessions, agencies or instrumentalities wheresoever in the world they may be
located as they deem necessary, proper or desirable in order to
3
<PAGE>
promote the interests of the Trust although such things are not herein
specifically mentioned. Any determination as to what is in the interests of the
Trust made by the Trustees in good faith shall be conclusive. In construing the
provisions of the Declaration, the presumption shall be in favor of a grant of
power to the Trustees.
The enumeration of any specific power herein shall not be construed as
limiting the aforesaid power. Such powers of the Trustees may be exercised
without order of or resort to any court.
SECTION 3.2. INVESTMENTS. The Trustees shall have the power to:
(a) conduct, operate and carry on the business of an investment company;
(b) subscribe for, invest in, reinvest in, purchase or otherwise
acquire, hold, pledge, sell, assign, transfer, exchange, distribute, lend or
otherwise deal in or dispose of negotiable or non-negotiable instruments,
obligations, evidences of indebtedness, certificates of deposit or
indebtedness, commercial paper, repurchase agreements, reverse repurchase
agreements, options, commodities, commodity futures contracts and related
options, currencies, currency futures and forward contracts, and other
securities, investment contracts and other instruments of any kind,
including, without limitation, those issued, guaranteed or sponsored by any
and all Persons including, without limitation, states, territories and
possessions of the United States, the District of Columbia and any of the
political subdivisions, agencies or instrumentalities thereof, and by the
United States Government or its agencies or instrumentalities, foreign or
international instrumentalities, or by any bank or savings institution, or
by any corporation or organization organized under the laws of the United
States or of any state, territory or possession thereof, and of corporations
or organizations organized under foreign laws, or in "when issued" contracts
for any such securities, or retain Trust assets in cash and from time to
time change the investments of the assets of the Trust; and to exercise any
and all rights, powers and privileges of ownership or interest in respect of
any and all such investments of every kind and description, including,
without limitation, the right to consent and otherwise act with respect
thereto, with power to designate one or more persons, firms, associations or
corporations to exercise any of said rights, powers and privileges in
respect of any of said instruments; and the Trustees shall be deemed to have
the foregoing powers with respect to any additional securities in which the
Trust may invest should the Fundamental Policies be amended.
The Trustees shall not be limited to investing in obligations maturing before
the possible termination of the Trust, nor shall the Trustees be limited by any
law limiting the investments which may be made by fiduciaries.
SECTION 3.3. LEGAL TITLE. Legal title to all the Trust Property shall be
vested in the Trustees as joint tenants except that the Trustees shall have
power to cause legal title to any Trust Property to be held by or in the name of
one or more of the Trustees, or in the name of the Trust, or in the name of any
other Person as nominee, on such terms as the Trustees may determine, provided
that the interest of the Trust therein is appropriately protected. The right,
title and interest of the Trustees in the Trust Property shall vest
automatically in each Person who may hereafter become a Trustee. Upon the
resignation, removal or death of a Trustee he shall automatically cease to have
any right, title or interest in any of the Trust Property, and the right, title
and interest of such Trustee in the Trust Property shall vest automatically in
the remaining Trustees. Such vesting and cessation of title shall be effective
whether or not conveyancing documents have been executed and delivered.
SECTION 3.4. ISSUANCE AND REPURCHASE OF SECURITIES. The Trustees shall
have the power to issue, sell, repurchase, redeem, retire, cancel, acquire,
hold, resell, reissue, dispose of, transfer, and otherwise deal in Shares and,
subject to the provisions set forth in Articles VII, VIII and IX and Section 6.9
hereof, to apply to any such repurchase, redemption, retirement, cancellation or
acquisition of Shares any funds or property of the Trust, whether capital or
surplus or otherwise, to the full extent now or hereafter permitted by the laws
of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts governing business corporations.
4
<PAGE>
SECTION 3.5. BORROWING MONEY; LENDING TRUST ASSETS. Subject to the
Fundamental Policies, the Trustee shall have power to borrow money or otherwise
obtain credit and to secure the same by mortgaging, pledging or otherwise
subjecting as security the assets of the Trust, to endorse, guarantee, or
undertake the performance of any obligation, contract or engagement of any other
Person and to lend Trust assets.
SECTION 3.6. DELEGATION; COMMITTEES. The Trustees shall have power,
consistent with their continuing exclusive authority over the management of the
Trust and the Trust Property, to delegate from time to time to such of their
number or to officers, employees or agents of the Trust the doing of such things
and the execution of such instruments either in the name of the Trust or the
names of the Trustees or otherwise as the Trustees may deem expedient.
SECTION 3.7. COLLECTION AND PAYMENT. Subject to Section 6.9 hereof, the
Trustees shall have power to collect all property due to the Trust; to pay all
claims, including taxes, against the Trust Property; to prosecute, defend,
compromise or abandon any claims relating to the Trust Property; to foreclose
any security interest securing any obligations, by virtue of which any property
is owed to the Trust; and to enter into releases, agreements and other
instruments.
SECTION 3.8. EXPENSES. Subject to Section 6.9 hereof, the Trustees shall
have the power to incur and pay any expenses which in the opinion of the
Trustees are necessary or incidental to carry out any of the purposes of the
Declaration, and to pay reasonable compensation from the funds of the Trust to
themselves as Trustees. the Trustees shall fix the compensation of all officers,
employees and Trustees.
SECTION 3.9. MANNER OF ACTING; BY-LAWS. Except as otherwise provided
herein or in the By-Laws or by any provision of law, any action to be taken by
the Trustees may be taken by a majority of the Trustees present at a meeting of
Trustees (a quorum being present), including any meeting held by means of a
conference telephone circuit or similar communications equipment by means of
which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, or by
written consents of all the Trustees. The Trustees may adopt By-Laws not
inconsistent with this Declaration to provide for the conduct of the business of
the Trust and may amend or repeal such By-Laws to the extent such power is not
reserved to the Shareholders.
SECTION 3.10. MISCELLANEOUS POWERS. The Trustees shall have the power to:
(a) employ or contract with such Persons as the Trustees may deem desirable for
the transaction of the business of the Trust or any Series thereof; (b) enter
into joint ventures, partnerships and any other combinations or associations;
(c) remove Trustees or fill vacancies in or add to their number, elect and
remove such officers and appoint and terminate such agents or employees as they
consider appropriate, and appoint from their own number, and terminate, any one
or more committees which may exercise some or all of the power and authority of
the Trustees as the Trustees may determine; (d) purchase, and pay for out of
Trust Property or the property of the appropriate Series of the Trust, insurance
policies insuring the Shareholders, Trustees, officers, employees, agents,
investment advisers, distributors, selected dealers or independent contractors
of the Trust against all claims arising by reason of holding any such position
or by reason of any action taken or omitted to be taken by any such Person in
such capacity, whether or not constituting negligence, or whether or not the
Trust would have the power to indemnify such Person against such liability; (e)
establish pension, profit-sharing, Share purchase, and other retirement,
incentive and benefit plans for any Trustees, officers, employees and agents of
the Trust; (f) to the extent permitted by law, indemnify any person with whom
the Trust or any Series thereof has dealings, including any Investment Adviser,
Distributor, Transfer Agent and selected dealers, to such extent as the Trustees
shall determine; (g) guarantee indebtedness or contractual obligations of
others; (h) determine and change the fiscal year of the Trust or any
Series thereof and the method by which its accounts shall be kept; and
(i) adopt a seal for the Trust but the absence of such seal shall not impair the
validity of any instrument executed on behalf of the Trust.
SECTION 3.11. PRINCIPAL TRANSACTIONS. Except in transactions permitted by
the 1940 Act or any rule or regulation thereunder, or any order of exemption
issued by the Commission, or effected to implement the provisions of any
agreement to which the Trust is a party, the Trustees shall not, on behalf
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of the Trust, buy any securities (other than Shares) from or sell any securities
(other than Shares) to, or lend any assets of the Trust or any Series thereof
to, any Trustee or officer of the Trust or any firm of which any such Trustee or
officer is a member acting as principal, or have any such dealings with any
Investment Adviser, Distributor or Transfer Agent or with any Affiliated Person
of such Person; but the Trust or any Series thereof may employ any such Person,
or firm or company in which such Person is an Interested Person, as broker,
legal counsel, registrar, transfer agent, dividend disbursing agent or custodian
upon customary terms.
SECTION 3.12. LITIGATION. The Trustees shall have the power to engage in
and to prosecute, defend, compromise, abandon, or adjust, by arbitration, or
otherwise, any actions, suits, proceedings, disputes, claims, and demands
relating to the Trust, and out of the assets of the Trust or any Series thereof
to pay or to satisfy any debts, claims or expenses incurred in connection
therewith, including those of litigation, and such power shall include without
limitation the power of the Trustees or any appropriate committee thereof, in
the exercise of their or its good faith business judgment, to dismiss any
action, suit, proceeding, dispute, claim, or demand, derivative or otherwise,
brought by any person, including a Shareholder in its own name or the name of
the Trust, whether or not the Trust or any of the Trustees may be named
individually therein or the subject matter arises by reason of business for or
on behalf of the Trust.
ARTICLE IV
INVESTMENT ADVISER, DISTRIBUTOR, CUSTODIAN AND TRANSFER AGENT
SECTION 4.1. INVESTMENT ADVISER. Subject to approval by a Majority
Shareholder Vote, the Trustees may in their discretion from time to time enter
into one or more investment advisory or management contracts or, if the Trustees
establish multiple Series, separate investment advisory or management contracts
with respect to one or more Series whereby the other party or parties to any
such contracts shall undertake to furnish the Trust or such Series such
management, investment advisory, administration, accounting, legal, statistical
and research facilities and services, promotional or marketing activities, and
such other facilities and services, if any, as the Trustees shall from time to
time consider desirable and all upon such terms and conditions as the Trustees
may in their discretion determine. The vote of the initial shareholder(s) shall
constitute majority shareholder vote if such agreements are entered into prior
to a public offering of Shares of the Trust. Notwithstanding any provisions of
the Declaration, the Trustees may authorize the Investment Advisers, or any of
them, under any such contracts (subject to such general or specific instructions
as the Trustees may from time to time adopt) to effect purchases, sales, loans
or exchanges of portfolio securities and other investments of the Trust on
behalf of the Trustees or may authorize any officer, employee or Trustee to
effect such purchases, sales, loans or exchanges pursuant to recommendations of
such Investment Advisers, or any of them (and all without further action by the
Trustees). Any such purchases, sales, loans and exchanges shall be deemed to
have been authorized by all of the Trustees. the Trustees may, in the their sole
discretion, call a meeting of Shareholders in order to submit to a vote of
Shareholders at such meeting the approval or continuance of any such investment
advisory or management contract. If the Shareholders of any one or more of the
Series of the Trust should fail to approve any such investment advisory or
management contract, the Investment Adviser may nonetheless serve as Investment
Adviser with respect to any Series whose Shareholders approve such contract.
SECTION 4.2. ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES. The Trustees may in their discretion
from time to time contract for administrative personnel and services whereby the
other party shall agree to provide the Trustees or the Trust administrative
personnel and services to operate the Trust on a daily or other basis, on such
terms and conditions as the Trustees may in their discretion determine. Such
services may be provided by one or more persons or entities.
SECTION 4.3. DISTRIBUTOR. The Trustees may in their discretion from time
to time enter into one or more contracts, providing for the sale of Shares to
net the Trust or the applicable Series of the Trust not less than the net asset
value per Share (as described in Article VIII hereof) and pursuant to which the
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Trust may either agree to sell the Shares to the other parties to the contracts,
or any of them, or appoint any such other party its sales agent for such Shares.
In either case, any such contract shall be on such terms and conditions as the
Trustees may in their discretion determine not inconsistent with the provisions
of Article IV, including, without limitation, the provision for the repurchase
or sale of shares of the Trust by such other party as principal or as agent of
the Trust.
SECTION 4.4. TRANSFER AGENT. The Trustees may in their discretion from
time to time enter into a transfer agency and shareholder service contract
whereby the other party to such contract shall undertake to furnish transfer
agency and shareholder services to the Trust. The contract shall have such terms
and conditions as the Trustees may in their discretion determine not
inconsistent with the Declaration. Such services may be provided by one or more
Persons.
SECTION 4.5. CUSTODIAN. The Trustees may appoint or otherwise engage one
or more banks or trust companies, each having an aggregate capital, surplus and
undivided profits (as shown in its last published report) of at least
five million dollars ($5,000,000) to serve as Custodian with authority as its
agent, but subject to such restrictions, limitations and other requirements, if
any, as may be contained in the By-Laws of the Trust.
SECTION 4.6. PARTIES TO CONTRACT. Any contract of the character described
in Sections 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4 or 4.5 of this Article IV and any other contract
may be entered into with any Person, although one or more of the Trustees or
officers of the Trust may be an officer, director, trustee, shareholder, or
member of such other party to the contract, and no such contract shall be
invalidated or rendered voidable by reason of the existence of such
relationship; nor shall any Person holding such relationship be liable merely by
reason of such relationship for any loss or expense to the Trust under or by
reason of such contract or accountable for any profit realized directly or
indirectly therefrom, provided that the contract when entered into was not
inconsistent with the provisions of this Article IV. The same Person may be the
other party to any contracts entered into pursuant to Sections 4.1, 4.2, 4.3,
4.4 or 4.5 above or otherwise, and any individual may be financially interested
or otherwise affiliated with Persons who are parties to any or all of the
contracts mentioned in this Section 4.6.
ARTICLE V
LIMITATIONS OF LIABILITY OF SHAREHOLDERS,
TRUSTEES AND OTHERS
SECTION 5.1. NO PERSONAL LIABILITY OF SHAREHOLDERS, TRUSTEES, ETC. No
Shareholder shall be subject to any personal liability whatsoever to any Person
in connection with Trust Property or the acts, obligations or affairs of the
Trust. No Trustee, officer, employee or agent of the Trust shall be subject to
any personal liability whatsoever to any Person, other than the Trust or its
Shareholders, in connection with the Trust Property or the affairs of the Trust,
save only that arising from bad faith, willful misfeasance, gross negligence or
reckless disregard for his duty to such Person; and all such Persons shall look
solely to the Trust Property, or to the Property of one or more specific
Series of the Trust if the claim arises from the conduct of such Trustee,
officer, employee or agent with respect to only such Series, for satisfaction of
claims of any nature arising in connection with the affairs of the Trust. If any
Shareholder, Trustee, officer, employee or agent, as such, of the Trust is made
to any suit or proceeding to enforce any such liability, he shall not, on
account thereof, be held to any personal liability. the Trust shall indemnify
out of the property of the Trust and hold each Shareholder harmless from and
against all claims and liabilities, to which such Shareholder may become subject
by reason of his being or having been a Shareholder, and shall reimburse such
Shareholder for all legal and other expenses reasonably incurred by him in
connection with any such claim or liability; provided that, in the event the
Trust shall consist of more than one Series, Shareholders of a particular
Series who are faced with claims or liabilities solely by reason of their status
as Shareholders of that Series shall be limited to the assets of that
Series for recovery of such loss and related expenses. The rights accruing to a
Shareholder under this Section 5.1 shall not exclude any other right to which
such Shareholder may be lawfully entitled, nor shall anything herein contained
restrict the right of the Trust to
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indemnify or reimburse a Shareholder in any appropriate situation even though
not specifically provided herein.
SECTION 5.2. NON-LIABILITY OF TRUSTEES, ETC. No Trustee, officer, employee
or agent of the Trust shall be liable to the Trust, its Shareholders, or to any
Shareholder, Trustee, officer, employee, or agent thereof for any action or
failure to act (including without limitation the failure to compel in any way
any former or acting Trustee to redress any breach of trust) except for this own
bad faith, willful misfeasance, gross negligence or reckless disregard of his
duties.
SECTION 5.3. INDEMNIFICATION. (a) the Trustees shall provide for
indemnification by the Trust, or by one or more Series thereof if the claim
arises from his or her conduct with respect to only such Series, of any person
who is, or has been, a Trustee, officer, employee or agent of the Trust against
all liability and against all expenses reasonably incurred or paid by him in
connection with any claim, action, suit or proceeding in which he becomes
involved as a party or otherwise by virtue of his being or having been a
Trustee, officer, employee or agent and against amounts paid or incurred by him
in the settlement thereof, in such manner as the Trustees may provide from time
to time in the By-Laws.
(b) The words "claim", "action", "suit", or "proceeding" shall apply to all
claims, actions, suits or proceedings (civil, criminal, or other, including
appeals), actual or threatened; and the words "liability" and "expenses" shall
include, without limitation, attorneys' fees, costs, judgments, amounts paid in
settlement, fines, penalties and other liabilities.
SECTION 5.4. NO BOND REQUIRED OF TRUSTEES. No Trustee shall be obligated
to give any bond or other security for the performance of any of his duties
hereunder.
SECTION 5.5. NO DUTY OF INVESTIGATION; NOTICE IN TRUST INSTRUMENTS,
ETC. No purchaser, lender, transfer agent or other Person dealing with the
Trustees or any officer, employee or agent of the Trust or a Series thereof
shall be bound to make any inquiry concerning the validity of any transaction
purporting to be made by the Trustees or by said officer, employee or agent or
be liable for the application of money or property paid, loaned or delivered to
or on the order of the Trustees or of said officer, employee or agent. Every
obligation, contract, instrument, certificate, Share, other security of the
Trust or a Series thereof or undertaking, and every other act or thing
whatsoever executed in connection with the Trust shall be conclusively presumed
to have been executed or done by the executors thereof only in their capacity as
officers, employees or agents of the Trust or a Series thereof. Every written
obligation, contract, instrument, certificate, Share, other security of the
Trust or undertaking made or issued by the Trustees shall recite that the same
is executed or made by them not individually, but as Trustees under the
Declaration, and that the obligations of the Trust or a Series thereof under any
such instrument are not binding upon any of the Trustees or Shareholders,
individually, but bind only the Trust Estate (or, in the event the Trust shall
consist of more than one Series, in the case of any such obligation which
relates to a specific Series, only the Series which is a party thereto), and may
contain any further recital which they or he may deem appropriate, but the
omission of such recital shall not affect the validity of such obligation,
contract instrument, certificate, Share, security or undertaking and shall not
operate to bind the Trustees or Shareholders individually. The Trustees shall at
all times maintain insurance for the protection of the Trust Property, its
Shareholders, Trustees, officers, employees and agents in such amount as the
Trustees shall deem adequate to cover possible tort liability, and such other
insurance as the Trustees in their sole judgment shall deem advisable.
SECTION 5.6. RELIANCE ON EXPERTS, ETC. Each Trustee and officer or
employee of the Trust shall, in the performance of his duties, be fully and
completely justified and protected with regard to any act or any failure to act
resulting from reliance in good faith upon the books of account or other records
of the Trust, upon an opinion of counsel, or upon reports made to the Trust by
any of its officers or employees or by any Investment Adviser, Distributor,
Transfer Agent, selected dealers, accountants, appraisers or other experts or
consultants selected with reasonable care by the Trustees, officers or employees
of the Trust, regardless of whether such counsel or expert may also be a
Trustee.
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ARTICLE VI
SHARES OF BENEFICIAL INTEREST
SECTION 6.1. BENEFICIAL INTEREST. The beneficial interest in the Trust
shall be evidenced by transferable Shares of one or more Series, each of which
may be divided into one or more separate and distinct Classes. The number of
Shares of the Trust and of each Series and Class is unlimited and each Share
shall have a par value of $0.01 per Share. All Shares issued hereunder shall be
fully paid and nonassessable. Shareholders shall have no preemptive or other
right to subscribe to any additional Shares or other securities issued by the
Trust. The Trustees shall have full power and authority, in their sole
discretion and without obtaining Shareholder approval: to issue original or
additional Shares and fractional Shares at such times and on such terms and
conditions as they deem appropriate; to establish and to change in any manner
Shares of any Series or Classes with such preferences, terms of conversion,
voting powers, rights and privileges as the Trustees may determine (but the
Trustees may not change outstanding Shares in a manner materially adverse to the
Shareholders of such Shares); to divide or combine the Shares of any Series or
Classes into a greater or lesser number without thereby changing the
proportionate beneficial interests in that Series or Class; to classify or
reclassify any unissued Shares of any Series or Classes into one or more
Series or Classes of Shares; to abolish any one or more Series or Classes of
Shares; to issue Shares to acquire other assets (including assets subject to,
and in connection with, the assumption of liabilities) and businesses; and to
take such other action with respect to the Shares as the Trustees may deem
desirable.
The Trustees hereby establish and designate a single Series and Class of
Shares of the Trust. The Trustees may change the name of the Trust, or any
Series or Class, without shareholder approval.
SECTION 6.2. RIGHTS OF SHAREHOLDERS. The ownership of the Trust Property
of every description and the right to conduct any business hereinbefore
described are vested exclusively in the Trustees, and the Shareholders shall
have no interest therein other than the beneficial interest conferred by their
Shares, and they shall have no right to call for any partition of division of
any property, profits, rights or interests of the Trust nor can they be called
upon to assume any losses of the Trust or suffer an assessment of any kind by
virtue of their ownership of Shares. The Shares shall be personal property
giving only the rights in the Declaration specifically set forth. The Shares
shall not entitle the holder to preference, preemptive, appraisal, conversion or
exchange rights, except as the Trustees may determine with respect to any Series
of Shares.
SECTION 6.3. TRUST ONLY. It is the intention of the Trustees to create
only the relationship of Trustees and beneficiary between the Trustees and each
Shareholder from time to time. It is not the intention of the Trustee to create
a general partnership, limited partnership, joint stock association,
corporation, bailment or any form of legal relationship other than a trust.
Nothing in the Declaration shall be construed to make the Shareholders, either
by themselves or with the Trustees, partners or members of a joint stock
association.
SECTION 6.4. ISSUANCE OF SHARES. The Trustees, in their discretion may,
from time to time without vote of the Shareholders, issue Shares of any
Series or Class, in addition to the then issued and outstanding Shares and
Shares held in the treasury, to such party or parties and for such amount and
type of consideration, including cash or property, at such time or times and on
such terms as the Trustees may deem best, and may in such manner acquire other
assets (including the acquisition of assets subject to, and in connection with
the assumption of liabilities) and businesses. In connection with any issuance
of Shares, the Trustees may issue fractional Shares. Contributions to the Trust
may be accepted for, and Shares shall be redeemed as, whole Shares and/or
fractions of a Share as described in the Prospectus.
SECTION 6.5. REGISTER OF SHARES. A register shall be kept in respect of
each Series and Class at the principal office of the Trust or at an office of
the Transfer Agent which shall contain the names and addresses of the
Shareholders and the number of Shares of each Series and Class held by them
respectively
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and a record of all transfers thereof. Such register may be in written form or
any other form capable of being converted into written form within a reasonable
time for visual inspection. Such register shall be conclusive as to who are the
holders of the Shares and who shall be entitled to receive dividends or
distributions or otherwise to exercise or enjoy the rights of Shareholders. No
Shareholder shall be entitled to receive payment of any dividend or
distribution, nor to have notice given to him as herein or in the By-Laws
provided, until he has given his address to the Transfer Agent or such other
officer or agent of the Trustees as shall keep the said register for entry
thereon. It is not contemplated that certificates will be issued for the Shares;
however, the Trustees, in their discretion, may authorize the issuance of Share
certificates and promulgate appropriate rules and regulations as to their use.
SECTION 6.6. TRANSFER OF SHARES. Shares shall be transferable on the
records of the Trust only by the record holder or by his agent thereunto duly
authorized in writing, upon delivery to the Trustees or the Transfer Agent of a
duly executed instrument of transfer, together with such evidence of the
genuineness of each such execution and authorization and of other matters as may
reasonably be required. Upon such delivery the transfer shall be recorded on the
register of the Trust. Until such record is made, the Shareholder of record
shall be deemed to be the holder of such Shares for all purposes hereunder and
neither the Trustees nor any Transfer Agent or registrar nor any officer,
employee or agent of the Trust shall be affected by any notice of the proposed
transfer.
Any person becoming entitled to any Shares in consequence of the death,
bankruptcy, or incompetence of any Shareholder, or otherwise by operation of
law, shall be recorded on the register of Shares as the holder of such Shares
upon production of the proper evidence thereof to the Trustees or the Transfer
Agent, but until such record is made, the Shareholder of record shall be deemed
to be the holder of such Shares for all purposes hereunder and neither the
Trustees nor any Transfer Agent or registrar nor any officer or agent of the
Trust shall be affected by any notice of such death, bankruptcy or incompetence,
or other operation of law, except as may otherwise be provided by the laws of
the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
SECTION 6.7. NOTICES. Any and all notices to which any Shareholder may be
entitled and any and all communications shall be deemed duly served or given if
mailed, postage prepaid, addressed to any Shareholder of record at his last
known address as recorded on the register of the Trust. Annual reports and proxy
statements need not be sent to a shareholder if: (i) an annual report and proxy
statement for two consecutive annual meetings, or (ii) all, and at least two,
checks (if sent by first class mail) in payment of dividends or interest and
shares during a twelve month period have been mailed to such shareholder's
address and have been returned undelivered. However, delivery of such annual
reports and proxy statements shall resume once a Shareholder's current address
is determined.
SECTION 6.8. VOTING POWERS. The Shareholders shall have power to vote only
(i) for the election of Trustees as provided in Section 2.2 hereof, (ii) for the
removal of Trustees as provided in Section 2.3 hereof, (iii) with respect to any
investment advisory or management contract as provided in Section 4.1,
(iv) with respect to termination of the Trust as provided in Section 9.2, (v)
with respect to any amendment of the Declaration to the extent and as provided
in Section 9.3, (vi) with respect to any merger, consolidation or sale of assets
as provided in Section 9.4, (vii) with respect to incorporation of the Trust to
the extent and as provided in Section 9.5, (viii) to the same extent as the
stockholders of a Massachusetts business corporation as to whether or not a
court action, proceeding or claim should or should not be brought or maintained
derivatively or as a class action on behalf of the Trust or the Shareholders
(provided that Shareholders of a Series or Class are not entitled to vote in
connection with the bringing of a derivative or class action with respect to any
matter which only affects another Series or Class or its Shareholders),
(ix) with respect to any plan adopted pursuant to Rule 12b-1 (or any successor
rule) under the 1940 Act and (x) with respect to such additional matters
relating to the Trust as may be required by law, the Declaration, the By-Laws or
any registration of the Trust with the Commission (or any successor agency) or
any state, or as and when the Trustee may consider necessary or desirable. Each
whole Share shall be entitled to one vote as to any matter on which it is
entitled to vote and each fractional Share shall
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be entitled to a proportionate fractional vote, except that Shares held in the
treasury of the Trust as of the record date, as determined in accordance with
the By-Laws, shall not be voted. On any matter submitted to a vote of
Shareholders, all Shares shall be voted by individual Series or Class except
(1) when required by the 1940 Act, Shares shall be voted in the aggregate and
not by individual Series or Class; and (2) when the Trustees have determined
that the matter affects only the interests of one or more Series or Class, then
only the Shareholders of such Series or Class shall be entitled to vote thereon.
the Trustees may, in conjunction with the establishment of any further
Series or classes of Shares, establish conditions under which the several Series
or Classes of Shares shall have separate voting rights or no voting rights.
There shall be no cumulative voting in the election of Trustees. Until Shares
are issued, the Trustees may exercise all rights of Shareholders and may take
any action required by law, the Declaration or the By-Laws to be taken by
Shareholders. The By-Laws may include further provisions for Shareholders' votes
and meetings and related matters.
SECTION 6.9. SERIES OR CLASSES OF SHARES. The following provisions are
applicable regarding the Shares of the Trust established in Section 6.1 hereof
and shall be applicable if the Trustees shall establish additional Series or
shall divide the shares of any Series into Classes, also as provided in Section
6.1 hereof, and all provisions relating to the Trust shall apply equally to each
Series and Class thereof except as the context requires:
(a) The number of authorized shares and the number of shares of each
Series or of each Class that may be issued shall be unlimited. The Trustees
may classify or reclassify any unissued shares or any shares previously
issued and reacquired of any Series or Class into one or more Series or one
or more Classes that may be established and designated from time to time.
The Trustees may hold as treasury shares (of the same or some other
Series or Class), reissue for such consideration and on such terms as they
may determine, or cancel any shares of any Series or any Class reacquired by
the Trust at their discretion from time to time.
(b) The power of the Trustees to invest and reinvest the Trust Property
shall be governed by Section 3.2 of this Declaration with respect to any one
or more Series which represents the interests in the assets of the Trust
immediately prior to the establishment of any additional Series and the
power of the Trustees to invest and reinvest assets applicable to any other
Series shall be as set forth in the instrument of the Trustees establishing
such Series which is hereinafter described.
(c) All consideration received by the Trust for the issue or sale of
shares of a particular Series or Class together with all assets in which
such consideration is invested or reinvested, all income, earnings, profits,
and proceeds thereof, including any proceeds derived from the sale, exchange
or liquidation of such assets, and any funds or payments derived from any
reinvestment of such proceeds in whatever form the same may be, shall
irrevocably belong to that Series or Class for all purposes, subject only to
the rights of creditors, and shall be so recorded upon the books of account
of the Trust. In the event that there are any assets, income, earnings,
profits, and proceeds thereof, funds, or payment which are not readily
identifiable as belonging to any particular Series or Class, the Trustee
shall allocate them among any one or more of the Series or Classes
established and designated from time to time in such manner and on such
basis as they, in their sole discretion, deem fair and equitable. Each such
allocation by the Trustees shall be conclusive and binding upon the
shareholders of all Series or Classes for all purposes. No holder of Shares
of any Series or Class shall have any claim on or right to any assets
allocated or belonging to any other Series or Class.
(d) The assets belonging to each particular Series shall be charged with
the liabilities of the Trust in respect of that Series and all expenses,
costs, charges and reserves attributable to that Series. The liabilities,
expenses, costs, charges and reserves so charged to a Series are sometimes
herein referred to as "liabilities belonging to" that Series. Except as
provided in the next sentence or otherwise required or permitted by
applicable law or any rule or order of the Commission, each Class of a
Series shall bear a pro rata portion of the "liabilities belonging to" such
Series. To the extent
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permitted by rule or order of the Commission, the Trustees may allocate all
or a portion of any liabilities, expenses, costs, charges and reserves
belonging to a Series to a particular Class or Classes as the Trustees may
from time to time determine is appropriate. Without limitation of the
foregoing provisions, and subject to the right of the Trustees in their sole
discretion to allocate general liabilities, costs, expenses, charges or
reserves as hereinafter provided, all expenses and liabilities incurred or
arising in connection with a particular Series, or in connection with the
management thereof, shall be payable solely out of the assets of that
Series and creditors of a particular Series shall be entitled to look solely
to the property of such Series for satisfaction of their claims. Any general
liabilities, expenses, costs, charges or reserves of the Trust which are not
readily identifiable as belonging to any particular Series shall be
allocated and charged by the Trustees to and among any one or more of the
series established and designated from time to time in such manner and on
such basis as the Trustees in their sole discretion deem fair and equitable.
Each allocation of liabilities, expenses, costs, charges and reserves by the
Trustees shall be conclusive and binding upon the holders of all Series and
Classes and no Shareholder or former Shareholder of any Series or
Class shall have a claim on or any right to any assets allocated or
belonging to any other Series or Class for all purposes. The Trustees shall
have full discretion, to the extent not inconsistent with the 1940 Act, to
determine which items shall be treated as income and which items as capital;
and each such determination and allocation shall be conclusive and binding
upon the shareholders.
(e) The power of the Trustees to pay dividends and make distributions
shall be governed by Section 8.2 of this Declaration with respect to any one
or more Series or Classes which represents the interests in the assets of
the Trust immediately prior to the establishment of any additional
Series or Classes. With respect to any other Series or Class, dividends and
distributions on shares of a particular Series or Class may be paid with
such frequency as the Trustees may determine, which may be daily or
otherwise, pursuant to a standing resolution or resolutions adopted only
once or with such frequency as the Trustee may determine, to the holders of
shares of that Series or Class, from such of the income and capital gains,
accrued or realized, from the assets belonging to that Series or Class, as
the Trustees may determine, after providing for actual and accrued
liabilities belonging to that Series or Class. All dividends and
distributions on shares of a particular Series or Class shall be distributed
pro rata to the holders of that Series or Class in proportion ot the number
of shares of that Series or Class held by such holders at the date and time
of record established for the payment of such dividends or distributions.
(f) The Trustees shall have the power to determine the designations,
preferences, privileges, limitations and rights, including voting and
dividend rights, of each Class and Series of Shares.
(g) Subject to compliance with the requirements of the 1940 Act, the
Trustees shall have the authority to provide that the holders of Shares of
any Series or Class shall have the right to convert or exchange said Shares
into Shares of one or more Series or Classes of Shares in accordance with
such requirements and procedures as may be established by the Trustees.
(h) The establishment and designation of any Series or Class of shares
in addition to those established in Section 6.1 hereof shall be effective
upon the execution by a majority of the then Trustees of an instrument
setting forth such establishment and designation and the relative rights,
preferences, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends,
qualifications, and terms and conditions of redemption of such Series or
Class, or as otherwise provided in such instrument. At any time that there
are no shares outstanding of any particular Series or Class previously
established or designated, the Trustee may by an instrument executed by a
majority of their number abolish that Series or Class and the establishment
and designation thereof. Each instrument referred to in this paragraph shall
have the status of an amendment to this Declaration.
(i) Shareholders of a Series or Class shall not be entitled to
participate in a derivative or class action with respect to any matter which
only affects another Series or Class or its Shareholders.
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(j) Each Share of a Series of the Trust shall represent a beneficial
interest in the net assets of such Series. Each holder of Shares of a
Series shall be entitled to receive his pro rata share of distributions of
income and capital gains made with respect to such Series. In the event of
the liquidation of a particular Series, the Shareholders of that Series
which has been established and designated and which is being liquidated
shall be entitled to receive, when and as declared by the Trustees, the
excess of the assets belonging to that Series over the liabilities belonging
to that Series. The holders of Shares of any Series shall not be entitled
hereby to any distribution upon liquidation of any other Series. The assets
so distributable to the Shareholders of any Series shall be distributed
among such Shareholders in proportion to the number of Shares of that
Series held by them and recorded on the books of the Trust. The liquidation
of any particular Series in which there are Shares then outstanding may be
authorized by an instrument in writing, without a meeting, signed by a
majority of the Trustees then in office.
ARTICLE VII
REDEMPTIONS
SECTION 7.1. REDEMPTIONS. Each Shareholder of a particular Series or Class
shall have the right at such times as may be permitted by the Trust to require
the Trust to redeem all or any part of his Shares of that Series or Class, upon
and subject to the terms and conditions provided in this Article VII. The Trust
shall, upon application of any Shareholder or pursuant to authorization from any
Shareholder, redeem or repurchase from such Shareholder outstanding shares for
an amount per share determined by the Trustees in accordance with any applicable
laws and regulations; provided that (a) such amount per share shall not exceed
the cash equivalent of the proportionate interest of each share or of any class
or Series of shares in the assets of the Trust at the time of the redemption or
repurchase and (b) if so authorized by the Trustees, the Trust may, at any time
and from time to time charge fees for effecting such redemption or repurchase,
at such rates as the Trustees may establish, as and to the extent permitted
under the 1940 Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and
may, at any time and from time to time, pursuant to such Act and such rules and
regulations, suspend such right of redemption. The procedures for effecting and
suspending redemption shall be as set forth in the Prospectus from time to time.
Payment will be made in such manner as described in the Prospectus.
SECTION 7.2. REDEMPTION AT THE OPTION OF THE TRUST. Each Share of the
Trust or any Series or Class thereof of the Trust shall be subject to redemption
at the option of the Trust at the redemption price which would be applicable if
such Shares were then being redeemed by the Shareholder pursuant to Section 7.1:
(i) at any time, if the Trustees determine in their sole discretion that failure
to so redeem may have materially adverse consequences to the holders of the
Shares of the Trust or of any Series or Class, or (ii) upon such other
conditions with respect to maintenance of Shareholder accounts of a minimum
amount as may from time to time be determined by the Trustees and set forth in
the then current Prospectus of the Trust. Upon such redemption the holders of
the Shares so redeemed shall have no further right with respect thereto other
than to receive payment of such redemption price.
SECTION 7.3. EFFECT OF SUSPENSION OF DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE. If,
pursuant to Section 7.4 hereof, the Trustees shall declare a suspension of the
determination of net asset value with respect to Shares of the Trust or of any
Series thereof, the rights of Shareholders (including those who shall have
applied for redemption pursuant to Section 7.1 hereof but who shall not yet have
received payment) to have Shares redeemed and paid for by the Trust or a
Series thereof shall be suspended until the termination of such suspension is
declared. Any record holder who shall have his redemption right so suspended
may, during the period of such suspension, by appropriate written notice of
revocation at the office or agency where application was made, revoke any
application for redemption not honored and withdraw any certificates on deposit.
The redemption price of Shares for which redemption applications have not been
revoked shall be the net asset value of such Shares next determined as set forth
in Section 8.1 after the termination of such suspension, and payment shall be
made within seven (7) days after
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<PAGE>
the date upon which the application was made plus the period after such
application during which the determination of net asset value was suspended.
SECTION 7.4. SUSPENSION OF RIGHT OF REDEMPTION. The Trust may declare a
suspension of the right of redemption or postpone the date of payment or
redemption for the whole or any part of any period (i) during which the New York
Stock Exchange is closed other than customary weekend and holiday closings,
(ii) during which trading on the New York Stock Exchange is restricted,
(iii) during which an emergency exists as a result of which disposal by the
Trust or a Series thereof of securities owned by it is not reasonably
practicable or it is not reasonably practicable for the Trust or a
Series thereof fairly to determine the value of its net assets, or (iv) during
any other period when the Commission may for the protection of security holders
of the Trust by order permit suspension of the rights of redemption or
postponement of the date of payment or redemption; provided that applicable
rules and regulations of the Commission shall govern as to whether the
conditions prescribed in (ii), (iii) or (iv) exist. Such suspension shall take
effect at such time as the Trust shall specify but not later than the close of
business on the business day next following the declaration of suspension, and
thereafter there shall be no right of redemption or payment on redemption until
the Trust shall declare the suspension at an end, except that the suspension
shall terminate in any event on the first day on which said stock exchange shall
have reopened or the period specified in (ii) or (iii) shall have expired (as to
which in the absence of an official ruling by the Commission, the determination
of the Trust shall be conclusive). In the case of a suspension of the right of
redemption, a Shareholder may either withdraw his request for redemption or
receive payment based on the net asset value existing after the termination of
the suspension.
ARTICLE VIII
DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE,
NET INCOME AND DISTRIBUTIONS
SECTION 8.1. NET ASSET VALUE. The net asset value of each outstanding
Share of each Series of the Trust shall be determined on such days and at such
time or times as the Trustees may determine. The method of determination of net
asset value shall be determined by the Trustees and shall be as set forth in the
Prospectus. The power and duty to make the daily calculations may be designated
by the Trustees to any Investment Adviser, the Custodian, the Transfer Agent or
such other person as the Trustees by resolution may determine. The Trustees may
suspend the daily determination of net asset value to the extent permitted by
the 1940 Act.
SECTION 8.2. DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS. The Trustees shall from time
to time distribute ratably among the Shareholders of the Trust or of any
Series such proportion of the net income, earnings, profits, gains, surplus
(including paid-in surplus), capital, or assets of the Trust or of such
Series held by the Trustees as they may deem proper. Such distribution may be
made in cash or property (including without limitation any type of obligations
of the Trust or of such Series or any assets thereof), and the Trustees may
distribute ratably among the Shareholders of the Trust or of that
Series additional Shares issuable hereunder in such manner, at such times, and
on such terms as the Trustees may deem proper. Such distributions may be among
the Shareholders of record (determined in accordance with the Prospectus) of the
Trust or of such Series at the time of declaring a distribution or among the
Shareholders of record of the Trust or of such Series at such later date as the
Trustees shall determine. The Trustees may always retain from the net income,
earnings, profits or gains of the Trust or of such Series such amount as they
may deem necessary to pay the debts or expenses of the Trust or of such
Series or to meet obligations of the Trust or of such Series, or as they may
deem desirable to use in the conduct of its affairs or to retain for future
requirements or extensions of the business. The Trustees may adopt and offer to
Shareholders of the Trust or of any Series such dividend reinvestment plans,
cash dividend payout plans or related plans as the Trustees deem appropriate.
Inasmuch as the computation of net income and gains for Federal income tax
purposes may vary from the computation thereof on the books, the above
provisions shall be interpreted to give the Trustees the
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power in their discretion to distribute for any fiscal year as ordinary
dividends and as capital gains distributions, respectively, additional amounts
sufficient to enable the Trust to avoid or reduce liability for taxes.
SECTION 8.3. DETERMINATION OF NET INCOME. The Trustees shall have the
power to determine the net income of any Series of the Trust and from time to
time to distribute such net income ratably among the Shareholders as dividends
in cash or additional Shares of such Series issuable hereunder. The
determination of net income and the resultant declaration of dividends shall be
as set forth in the Prospectus. The Trustees shall have full discretion to
determine whether any cash or property received by any Series of the Trust shall
be treated as income or as principal and whether any item of expense shall be
charged to the income or the principal account, and their determination made in
good faith shall be conclusive upon the Shareholders. In the case of stock
dividends received, the Trustees shall have full discretion to determine, in the
light of the particular circumstances, how much, if any, of the value thereof
shall be treated as income, the balance, if any, to be treated as principal.
SECTION 8.4. POWER TO MODIFY FOREGOING PROCEDURES. Notwithstanding any of
the foregoing provisions of this Article VIII, the Trustees may prescribe, in
their absolute discretion, such other bases and times for determining the per
Share net asset value of the Shares or net income, or the declaration and
payment of dividends and distributions, as they may deem necessary or desirable
to enable the Trust to comply with any provision of the 1940 Act, or any
rule or regulation thereunder, including any rule or regulation adopted pursuant
to Section 22 of the 1940 Act by the Commission or any securities association
registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or any order of exemption
issued by said Commission, all as in effect now or hereafter amended or
modified. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Trustees may
establish classes or additional Series of Shares in accordance with Section 6.9.
ARTICLE IX
DURATION; TERMINATION OF TRUST; AMENDMENT; MERGERS, ETC.
SECTION 9.1. DURATION. The Trust shall continue without limitation of time
but subject to the provisions of this Article IX.
SECTION 9.2. TERMINATION OF TRUST. (a) the Trust or any Series may be
terminated (i) by a Majority Shareholder Vote at any meeting of Shareholders of
the Trust or the appropriate Series thereof, (ii) by an instrument in writing,
without a meeting, signed by a majority of the Trustees, or by such other vote
as may be established by the Trustees with respect to any Class or Series of
Shares, or (iii) with respect to a Series as provided in Section 6.9(h). Upon
the termination of the Trust or the Series:
(i) The Trust or the Series shall carry on no business except for the
purpose of winding up its affairs.
(ii) The Trustee shall proceed to wind up the affairs of the Trust or
the Series and all of the powers of the Trustees under this Declaration
shall continue until the affairs of the Trust shall have been wound up,
including the power to fulfill or discharge the contracts of the Trust or
the Series, collect its assets, sell, convey, assign, exchange, transfer or
otherwise dispose of all or any part of the remaining Trust Property or
Trust Property allocated or belonging to such Series to one or more persons
at public or private sale for consideration which may consist in whole or in
part of cash, securities or other property of any kind, discharge or pay its
liabilities, and to do all other acts appropriate to liquidate its business;
provided that any sale, conveyance, assignment, exchange, transfer or other
disposition of all or substantially all the Trust Property or Trust Property
allocated or belonging to such Series shall require Shareholder approval in
accordance with Section 9.4 hereof.
(iii) After paying or adequately providing for the payment of all
liabilities, and upon receipt of such releases, indemnities and refunding
agreements, as they deem necessary for their protection, the Trustees may
distribute the remaining Trust Property or Trust Property allocated or
belonging to such
15
<PAGE>
Series, in cash or in kind or partly each, among the Shareholders of the
Trust according to their respective rights.
SECTION 9.3. AMENDMENT PROCEDURE. (a) This Declaration may be amended by a
Majority Shareholder Vote, at a meeting of Shareholders, or by written consent
without a meeting. The Trustees may also amend this Declaration without the vote
or consent of Shareholders (i) to change the name of the Trust or any Series or
Classes of Shares, (ii) to supply any omission, or cure, correct or supplement
any ambiguous, defective or inconsistent provision hereof, (iii) if they deem it
necessary to conform this Declaration to the requirements of applicable federal
or state laws or regulations or the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code,
or to eliminate or reduce any federal, state or local taxes which are or may be
payable by the Trust or the Shareholders, but the Trustees shall not be liable
for failing to do so, or (iv) for any other purpose which does not adversely
affect the rights of any Shareholder with respect to which the amendment is or
purports to be applicable.
(b) No amendment may be made under this Section 9.3 which would change
any rights with respect to any Shares of the Trust or of any Series of the
Trust by reducing the amount payable thereon upon liquidation of the Trust
or of such Series of the Trust or by diminishing or eliminating any voting
rights pertaining thereto, except with the vote or consent of the holders of
two-thirds of the Shares of the Trust or of such Series outstanding and
entitled to vote, or by such other vote as may be established by the
Trustees with respect to any Series or Class of Shares. Nothing contained in
this Declaration shall permit the amendment of this Declaration to impair
the exemption from personal liability of the Shareholders, Trustees,
officers, employees and agents of the Trust or to permit assessments upon
Shareholders.
(c) A certificate signed by a majority of the Trustees or by the
Secretary or any Assistant Secretary of the Trust, setting forth an
amendment and reciting that it was duly adopted by the Shareholders or by
the Trustees as aforesaid or a copy of the Declaration, as amended, and
executed by a majority of the Trustees or certified by the Secretary or any
Assistant Secretary of the Trust, shall be conclusive evidence of such
amendment when lodged among the records of the Trust. Unless such amendment
or such certificate sets forth some later time for the effectiveness of such
amendment, such amendment shall be effective when lodged among the records
of the Trust.
Notwithstanding any other provision hereof, until such time as a
Registration Statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, covering
the first public offering of securities of the Trust shall have become
effective, this Declaration may be terminated or amended in any respect by the
affirmative vote of a majority of the Trustees or by an instrument signed by a
majority of the Trustees.
SECTION 9.4. MERGER, CONSOLIDATION AND SALE OF ASSETS. The Trust or any
Series thereof may merge or consolidate with any other corporation, association,
trust or other organization or may sell, lease or exchange all or substantially
all of the Trust Property or Trust Property allocated or belonging to such
Series, including its good will, upon such terms and conditions and for such
consideration when and as authorized, at any meeting of Shareholders called for
the purpose, by the affirmative vote of the holders of not less than two-thirds
of the Shares of the Trust or such Series outstanding and entitled to vote, or
by an instrument or instruments in writing without a meeting, consented to by
the holders of not less than two-thirds of such Shares, or by such other vote as
may be established by the Trustees with respect to any Series or Class of
Shares; provided, however, that, if such merger, consolidation, sale, lease or
exchange is recommended by the Trustees, a Majority Shareholder Vote shall be
sufficient authorization; and any such merger, consolidation, sale, lease or
exchange shall be deemed for all purposes to have been accomplished under and
pursuant to the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
SECTION 9.5. INCORPORATION. With approval of a Majority Shareholder Vote,
by such other vote as may be established by the Trustees with respect to any
Series or Class of Shares, the Trustees may cause to be organized or assist in
organizing a corporation or corporations under the laws of any jurisdiction or
any other trust, partnership, association or other organization to take over all
of the Trust Property or the Trust
16
<PAGE>
Property allocated or belonging to such Series or to carry on any business in
which the Trust shall directly or indirectly have any interest, and to sell,
convey and transfer the Trust Property or the Trust Property allocated or
belonging to such Series to any such corporation, trust, partnership,
association or organization in exchange for the shares or securities thereof or
otherwise, and to lend money to, subscribe for the shares or securities of, and
enter into any contracts with any such corporation, trust, partnership,
association or organization in which the Trust or such Series holds or is about
to acquire shares or any other interest. The Trustees may also cause a merger or
consolidation between the Trust or any successor thereto and any such
corporation, trust, partnership, association or other organization if and to the
extent permitted by law, as provided under the law then in effect. Nothing
contained herein shall be construed as requiring approval of Shareholders for
the Trustees to organize or assist in organizing one or more corporations,
trusts, partnerships, associations or other organizations and selling, conveying
or transferring a portion of the Trust Property to such organization or
entities.
ARTICLE X
REPORTS TO SHAREHOLDERS
The Trustees shall at least semi-annually submit or cause the officers of
the Trust to submit to the Shareholders a written financial report of each
Series of the Trust, including financial statements which shall at least
annually be certified by independent public accountants.
ARTICLE XI
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 11.1. FILING. This Declaration and any amendment hereto shall be
filed in the office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and in
such other places as may be required under the laws of Massachusetts and may
also be filed or recorded in such other places as the Trustees deem appropriate.
Each amendment so filed shall be accompanied by a certificate signed and
acknowledged by a Trustee or by the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary of the
Trust stating that such action was duly taken in a manner provided herein. A
restated Declaration, integrating into a single instrument all of the provisions
of the Declaration which are then in effect and operative, may be executed from
time to time by a majority of the Trustees and shall, upon filing with the
Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, be conclusive evidence of all
amendments contained therein and may thereafter be referred to in lieu of the
original Declaration and the various amendments thereto.
SECTION 11.2. RESIDENT AGENT. Corporation Service Company, 84 State
Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02109 is the resident agent of the Trust in the
Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
SECTION 11.3. GOVERNING LAW. This Declaration is executed by the Trustees
and delivered in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and with reference to the
laws thereof and the rights of all parties and the validity and construction of
every provision hereof shall be subject to and construed according to the laws
of said State.
SECTION 11.4. COUNTERPARTS. The Declaration may be simultaneously executed
in several counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, and
such counterparts, together, shall constitute one and the same instrument, which
shall be sufficiently evidenced by any such original counterpart.
SECTION 11.5. RELIANCE BY THIRD PARTIES. Any certificate executed by an
individual who, according to the records of the Trust, appears to be a Trustee
hereunder, or Secretary or Assistant Secretary of the Trust, certifying to:
(a) the number or identity of Trustees or Shareholders, (b) the due
authorization of the execution of any instrument or writing, (c) the form of any
vote passed at a meeting of Trustees or Shareholders, (d) the fact that the
number of Trustees or Shareholders present at any meeting or executing any
written instrument satisfies the requirements of this Declaration, (e) the form
of any By-Laws adopted by or the identity of any officers elected by the
Trustees, or (f) the existence of any fact or facts which in
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<PAGE>
any manner relate to the affairs of the Trust, shall be conclusive evidence as
to the matters so certified in favor of any Person dealing with the Trustees and
their successors.
SECTION 11.6. PROVISIONS IN CONFLICT WITH LAW OR REGULATIONS. (a) The
provisions of the Declaration are severable, and if the Trustees shall
determine, with the advice of counsel, that any of such provisions is in
conflict with the 1940 Act, the regulated investment company provisions of the
Internal Revenue Code or with other applicable laws and regulations, the
conflicting provisions shall be deemed superseded by such law or regulation to
the extent necessary to eliminate such conflict; provided, however, that such
determination shall not affect any of the remaining provisions of the
Declaration or render invalid or improper any action taken or omitted prior to
such determination.
(b) If any provision of the Declaration shall be held invalid or
unenforceable in any jurisdiction, such invalidity or unenforceability shall
pertain only to such provision in such jurisdiction and shall not in any
manner affect such provision in any other jurisdiction or any other
provision of the Declaration in any jurisdiction.
SECTION 11.7. PRINCIPAL PLACE OF BUSINESS. The principal place of business
of the Trust shall be Two World Trade Center, New York, New York 10048, or such
other location as the Trustees may designate from time to time.
18
<PAGE>
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed this Declaration of Trust
this 23rd day of November, 1999.
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
/s/ Charles A. Fiumefreddo /s/ Robert S. Giambrone
- ---------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------
Charles A. Fiumefreddo, as Robert S. Giambrone, as
Trustee and not individually Trustee and not individually
Two World Trade Center Two World Trade Center
New York, New York 10048 New York, New York 10048
/s/ Barry Fink
- ----------------------------------------
Barry Fink, as
Trustee and not individually
Two World Trade Center
New York, New York 10048
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C>
STATE OF NEW YORK
COUNTY OF NEW YORK ss.:
</TABLE>
On this 23rd day of November, 1999, CHARLES A. FIUMEFREDDO, BARRY FINK and
ROBERT S. GIAMBRONE, known to me and known to be the individuals described in
and who executed the foregoing instrument, personally appeared before me and
they severally acknowledged the foregoing instrument to be their free act and
deed.
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
/s/ Rosemarie Costagliola
----------------------------------------
Notary Public
ROSEMARIE COSTAGLIOLA
Notary Public, State of New York
No. 01006016161
Qualified in New York County
Commission Expires Nov. 9, 2000
My commission expires:
</TABLE>
19
<PAGE>
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this instrument this 23rd
day of November, 1999.
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
/s/ Joseph F. Mazzella
----------------------------------------
</TABLE>
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS
Suffolk, SS. Boston, MA
November 23, 1999
Then personally appeared before me the above-named Joseph F. Mazzella who
acknowledged the foregoing instrument to be his free act and deed.
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
/s/ Katherine M. Kozub
----------------------------------------
Notary Public
My commission expires: 10/13/06
</TABLE>
20
<PAGE>
BY-LAWS
OF
ACTIVE ASSETS INSTITUTIONAL MONEY TRUST
DATED NOVEMBER 23, 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 Active Assets Institutional Money
Trust dated November 23, 1999, 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
C60133 ACTIVE ASSETS INSTITUTIONAL MONEY TRUST
<PAGE>
issued and outstanding and entitled to vote thereat, present in person or
represented by proxy, shall be requisite and shall constitute a quorum for the
transaction of business. In the absence of a quorum, the Shareholders present or
represented by proxy and entitled to vote thereat shall have 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
2
<PAGE>
made by the Trustees in advance of the convening of the meeting or at the
meeting by the person acting as chairman. The Inspectors of Election shall
determine the number of Shares outstanding, the Shares represented at the
meeting, the existence of a quorum, the authenticity, validity and effect of
proxies, shall receive votes, ballots or consents, shall hear and determine all
challenges and questions in any way arising in connection with the right to
vote, shall count and tabulate all votes or consents, determine the results, and
do such other acts as may be proper to conduct the election or vote with
fairness to all Shareholders. On request of the chairman of the meeting, or of
any Shareholder or his proxy, the Inspectors of Election shall make a report in
writing of any challenge or question or matter determined by them and shall
execute a certificate of any facts found by them.
SECTION 3.8. INSPECTION OF BOOKS AND RECORDS. Shareholders shall have such
rights and procedures of inspection of the books and records of the Trust as are
granted to Shareholders under Section 32 of the 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
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or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Trustees may be taken without a
meeting if a consent in writing setting forth the action shall be signed by all
of the Trustees entitled to vote upon the action and such written consent is
filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Trustees.
SECTION 4.6. EXPENSES AND FEES. Each Trustee may be allowed expenses, if
any, for attendance at each regular or special meeting of the Trustees, and each
Trustee who is not an officer or employee of the Trust or of its investment
manager or underwriter or of any corporate affiliate of any of said persons
shall receive for services rendered as a Trustee of the Trust such compensation
as may be fixed by the Trustees. Nothing herein contained shall be construed to
preclude any Trustee from serving the Trust in any other capacity and receiving
compensation therefor.
SECTION 4.7. EXECUTION OF INSTRUMENTS AND DOCUMENTS AND SIGNING OF CHECKS
AND OTHER OBLIGATIONS AND TRANSFERS. All instruments, documents and other papers
shall be executed in the name and on behalf of the Trust and all checks, notes,
drafts and other obligations for the payment of money by the Trust shall be
signed, and all transfer of securities standing in the name of the Trust shall
be executed, by the Chairman, the President, any Vice President or the Treasurer
or by any one or more officers or agents of the Trust as shall be designated for
that purpose by vote of the Trustees; notwithstanding the above, nothing in this
Section 4.7 shall be deemed to preclude the electronic authorization, by
designated persons, of the Trust's Custodian (as described herein in Section
9.1) to transfer assets of the Trust, as provided for herein in Section 9.1.
SECTION 4.8. INDEMNIFICATION OF TRUSTEES, OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES AND AGENTS.
(a) The Trust shall indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened
to be made a party to any threatened, pending, or completed action, suit or
proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than
an action by or in the right of the Trust) by reason of the fact that he or she
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
or her in connection with the action, suit, or proceeding, if he acted in good
faith and in a manner he or she 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 or she 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 or her 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 or her in connection
therewith.
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(d) (1) Unless a court orders otherwise, any indemnification under
subsections (a) or (b) of this section may be made by the Trust only as
authorized in the specific case after a determination that indemnification of
the Trustee, officer, employee, or agent is proper in the circumstances because
he has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in subsections (a) or
(b).
(2) The determination shall be made:
(i) By the Trustees, by a majority vote of a quorum which consists of
Trustees who were not parties to the action, suit or proceeding; or
(ii) If the required quorum is not obtainable, or if a quorum of
disinterested Trustees so directs, by independent legal counsel in a
written opinion; or
(iii) By the Shareholders.
(3) Notwithstanding any provision of this Section 4.8, no person shall be
entitled to indemnification for any liability, whether or not there is an
adjudication of liability, arising by reason of willful misfeasance, bad
faith, gross negligence, or reckless disregard of duties as described in
Section 17(h) and (i) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 ("disabling
conduct"). A person shall be deemed not liable by reason of disabling
conduct if, either:
(i) a final decision on the merits is made by a court or other body
before whom the proceeding was brought that the person to be indemnified
("indemnitee") was not liable by reason of disabling conduct; or
(ii) in the absence of such a decision, a reasonable determination,
based upon a review of the facts, that the indemnitee was not liable by
reason of disabling conduct, is made by either--
(A) a majority of a quorum of Trustees who are neither "interested
persons" of the Trust, as defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the Investment
Company Act of 1940, nor parties to the action, suit or proceeding, or
(B) an independent legal counsel in a written opinion.
(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
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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 or her and incurred by him or her in any such
capacity, or arising out of his status as such. However, in no event will the
Trust purchase insurance to indemnify any officer or Trustee against liability
for any act for which the Trust itself is not permitted to indemnify him or her.
(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 or she 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,
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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.
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.
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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.
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
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delivered as though the person or persons who signed such certificate or
certificates or whose facsimile signature or signatures shall appear therein had
not ceased to be such officer or officers of the Trust.
No certificate shall be issued for any share until such share is fully
paid.
SECTION 8.2. LOST, STOLEN, DESTROYED AND MUTILATED CERTIFICATES. The
Trustees may direct a new certificate or certificates to be issued in place of
any certificate or certificates theretofore issued by the Trust alleged to have
been lost, stolen or destroyed, upon satisfactory proof of such loss, theft, or
destruction; and the Trustees may, in their discretion, require the owner of the
lost, stolen or destroyed certificate, or his legal representative, to give to
the Trust and to such Registrar, Transfer Agent and/or Transfer Clerk as may be
authorized or required to countersign such new certificate or certificates, a
bond in such sum and of such type as they may direct, and with such surety or
sureties, as they may direct, as indemnity against any claim that may be against
them or any of them on account of or in connection with the alleged loss, theft
or destruction of any such certificate.
ARTICLE IX
CUSTODIAN
SECTION 9.1. APPOINTMENT AND DUTIES. The Trust shall at times employ a bank
or trust company having capital, surplus and undivided profits of at least five
million dollars ($5,000,000) as custodian with authority as its agent, but
subject to such restrictions, limitations and other requirements, if any, as may
be contained in these By-Laws and the 1940 Act:
(1) to receive and hold the securities owned by the Trust and deliver
the same upon written or electronically transmitted order;
(2) to receive and receipt for any moneys due to the Trust and deposit
the same in its own banking department or elsewhere as the Trustees may
direct;
(3) to disburse such funds upon orders or vouchers;
all upon such basis of compensation as may be agreed upon between the Trustees
and the custodian. If so directed by a Majority Shareholder Vote, the custodian
shall deliver and pay over all property of the Trust held by it as specified in
such vote.
The Trustees may also authorize the custodian to employ one or more
sub-custodians from time to time to perform such of the acts and services of the
custodian and upon such terms and conditions as may be agreed upon between the
custodian and such sub-custodian and approved by the Trustees.
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.
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ARTICLE XI
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 11.1. LOCATION OF BOOKS AND RECORDS. The books and records of the
Trust may be kept outside the Commonwealth of Massachusetts at such place or
places as the Trustees may from time to time determine, except as otherwise
required by law.
SECTION 11.2. RECORD DATE. The Trustees may fix in advance a date as the
record date for the purpose of determining the Shareholders entitled to (i)
receive notice of, or to vote at, any meeting of Shareholders, or (ii) receive
payment of any dividend or the allotment of any rights, or in order to make a
determination of Shareholders for any other proper purpose. The record date, in
any case, shall not be more than one hundred eighty (180) days, and in the case
of a meeting of Shareholders not less than ten (10) days, prior to the date on
which such meeting is to be held or the date on which such other particular
action requiring determination of Shareholders is to be taken, as the case may
be. In the case of a meeting of Shareholders, the meeting date set forth in the
notice to Shareholders accompanying the proxy statement shall be the date used
for purposes of calculating the 180 day or 10 day period, and any adjourned
meeting may be reconvened without a change in record date. In lieu of fixing a
record date, the Trustees may provide that the transfer books shall be closed
for a stated period but not to exceed, in any case, twenty (20) days. If the
transfer books are closed for the purpose of determining Shareholders entitled
to notice of a vote at a meeting of Shareholders, such books shall be closed for
at least ten (10) days immediately preceding the meeting.
SECTION 11.3. SEAL. The Trustees shall adopt a seal, which shall be in such
form and shall have such inscription thereon as the Trustees may from time to
time provide. The seal of the Trust may be affixed to any document, and the seal
and its attestation may be lithographed, engraved or otherwise printed on any
document with the same force and effect as if it had been imprinted and attested
manually in the same manner and with the same effect as if done by a
Massachusetts business corporation under Massachusetts law.
SECTION 11.4. FISCAL YEAR. The fiscal year of the Trust shall end on such
date as the Trustees may by resolution specify, and the Trustees may by
resolution change such date for future fiscal years at any time and from time to
time.
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.
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ARTICLE XIV
DECLARATION OF TRUST
The Declaration of Trust establishing Active Assets Institutional Money
Trust, dated November 23, 1999, 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 Active Assets Institutional Money Trust
refers to the Trustees under the Declaration collectively as Trustees, but not
as individuals or personally; and no Trustee, Shareholder, officer, employee or
agent of Active Assets Institutional Money Trust shall be held to any personal
liability, nor shall resort be had to their private property for the
satisfaction of any obligation or claim or otherwise, in connection with the
affairs of said Active Assets Institutional Money Trust, but the Trust Estate
only shall be liable.
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