WITTER DEAN HIGH YIELD SECURITIES INC
DEFS14A, 1997-03-21
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             Schedule 14A Information required in proxy statement.
                           Schedule 14A Information
          Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities
                     Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No. )



Filed by the Registrant [ X ] 
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant [ ]

Check the appropriate box:

[   ]   Preliminary Proxy Statement
[   ]   Preliminary Additional Materials
[   ]   Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted
        by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
[ X ]   Definitive Proxy Statement
[   ]   Definitive Additional Materials
[   ]   Soliciting Material Pursuant to Section 240.149-11(c) or
        Section 240.14a-12

 ....  Dean Witter Dividend Growth Securities Inc. . . . . . . . .
      Dean Witter High Yield Securities Inc.
      Dean Witter Natural Resource Development Securities Inc.
          (Name of Registrant(s) Specified in its Charter)

 ....  Barry Fink . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
          (Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement)

        Payment of Filing Fee (check the appropriate box):


[ x ]   No fee required.
[   ]   Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules
        14a-6(j)(4) and 0-11.


1)       Title of each class of securities to which transaction
         applies:

 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .


2)       Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:

 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  .


3)       Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction
         computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11:

 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
         Set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state
         how it was determined.


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4)       Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:

 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .


5)       Fee previously paid:

 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

[     ]  Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by
         Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which
         the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous
         filing by registration statement number, or the Form or
         Schedule and the date of its filing.

1)       Amount Previously Paid:

 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .


2)       Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:

 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

3)       Filing Party:

 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .


4)       Date Filed:

 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .





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                 DEAN WITTER DIVIDEND GROWTH SECURITIES INC. 
                    DEAN WITTER HIGH YIELD SECURITIES INC. 
           DEAN WITTER NATURAL RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT SECURITIES INC. 

                  NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETINGS OF SHAREHOLDERS 
                           TO BE HELD MAY 21, 1997 

   Notice is hereby given that Special Meetings of Shareholders of each Dean 
Witter Fund listed above (each, a "Fund" and collectively, the "Funds") will 
be held jointly (the "Meeting") in the Career Development Room, 61st Floor, 2 
World Trade Center, New York, New York 10048, on May 21, 1997, at 9:00 a.m., 
New York City time, for the following purposes: 
    

     1. For each Fund, to approve or disapprove a new Investment Management 
    Agreement between the Fund and Dean Witter InterCapital Inc., a 
    wholly-owned subsidiary of Dean Witter, Discover & Co. ("DWDC"), in 
    connection with the proposed merger of Morgan Stanley Group Inc. with 
    DWDC; 

   
     2.  For each Fund, to elect nine (9) Directors to serve until their 
    successors shall have been elected and qualified; 
    

     3. For each Fund, to approve or disapprove an amendment to the Fund's 
    Articles of Incorporation to permit multiple classes or series of shares; 

     4. For each Fund, to approve or disapprove a new investment policy with 
    respect to investments in certain other investment companies; 

     5. For each Fund, to ratify or reject the selection of Price Waterhouse 
    LLP as the Fund's independent accountants for its current fiscal year; and 

     6. To transact such other business as may properly come before the 
    Meeting or any adjournments thereof. 

   Shareholders of record of each Fund as of the close of business on March 
12, 1997 are entitled to notice of and to vote at the Meeting. If you cannot 
be present in person, your management would greatly appreciate your filling 
in, signing and returning the enclosed proxy promptly in the envelope 
provided for that purpose. 

   In the event that the necessary quorum to transact business or the vote 
required to approve or reject any proposal is not obtained at the Meeting 
with respect to one or more Funds, the persons named as proxies may propose 
one or more adjournments of the Meeting for a total of not more than 60 days 
in the aggregate to permit further solicitation of proxies. Any such 
adjournment will require the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of 
the concerned Fund's shares present in person or by proxy at the Meeting. The 
persons named as proxies will vote in favor of such adjournment those proxies 
which they are entitled to vote in favor of Proposal 1 and will vote against 
any such adjournment those proxies to be voted against that Proposal. 

                                                        Barry Fink 
                                                         Secretary 

   
March 19, 1997 
New York, New York 
    

                                  IMPORTANT 
YOU CAN HELP AVOID THE NECESSITY AND EXPENSE OF SENDING FOLLOW-UP LETTERS TO 
ENSURE A QUORUM BY PROMPTLY RETURNING THE ENCLOSED PROXY. IF YOU ARE UNABLE 
TO BE PRESENT IN PERSON, PLEASE FILL IN, SIGN AND RETURN THE ENCLOSED PROXY 
IN ORDER THAT THE NECESSARY QUORUM MAY BE REPRESENTED AT THE MEETING. THE 
ENCLOSED ENVELOPE REQUIRES NO POSTAGE IF MAILED IN THE UNITED STATES. 

                                          
<PAGE>
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF EACH FUND RECOMMENDS THAT YOU CAST YOUR VOTE: 

  --        FOR approval of each new Investment Management Agreement. 

  --        FOR the election of all of the Directors nominated for election. 

  --        FOR approval of the amendment to the Articles of Incorporation of 
            each Fund to permit multiple classes or series of shares. 

  --        FOR approval of a new investment policy for each Fund relating to 
            investments in certain other investment companies. 

  --        FOR the ratification of the selection of independent public 
            accountants for the current fiscal year of each Fund. 

                            YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT 

                                2           
<PAGE>
   
                 DEAN WITTER DIVIDEND GROWTH SECURITIES INC. 
                    DEAN WITTER HIGH YIELD SECURITIES INC. 
           DEAN WITTER NATURAL RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT SECURITIES INC. 
    

               TWO WORLD TRADE CENTER, NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10048 

                                 ------------------
                               JOINT PROXY STATEMENT 
                                 ------------------
                           
   
                       SPECIAL MEETINGS OF SHAREHOLDERS 
                                 MAY 21, 1997 

   This statement is furnished in connection with the solicitation of proxies 
by the Board of Directors (the "Board" or "Directors") of each Dean Witter 
Fund listed above (each, a "Fund" and collectively, the "Funds") for use at 
the Special Meetings of Shareholders of each Fund to be held jointly on May 
21, 1997 (the "Meeting"), and at any adjournments thereof. The first mailing 
of this Proxy Statement is expected to be made on or about March 19, 1997. 
    

   If the enclosed form of proxy is properly executed and returned in time to 
be voted at the Meeting, the proxies named therein will vote the shares 
represented by the proxy in accordance with the instructions marked thereon. 
Unmarked proxies will be voted for each of the nominees for election as 
Director and in favor of Proposals 1, 3, 4 and 5 set forth in the attached 
Notice of Special Meetings of Shareholders. A proxy may be revoked at any 
time prior to its exercise by any of the following: written notice of 
revocation to the Secretary of the Funds, execution and delivery of a later 
dated proxy to the Secretary of the Funds (if returned and received in time 
to be voted), or attendance and voting at the Meeting. Attendance at the 
Meeting will not in and of itself revoke a proxy. 

   
   The holders of shares ("Shareholders") of record of each Fund as of the 
close of business on March 12, 1997, the record date for the determination of 
Shareholders entitled to notice of and to vote at the Meeting (the "Record 
Date"), are entitled to one vote for each share held and a fractional vote 
for a fractional share. The table below sets forth the number of shares 
outstanding for each Fund as of the Record Date. On the Record Date, Mellon 
Bank, N.A., Mutual Funds, P.O. Box 3198, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, as trustee 
of the Dean Witter START Plan and the SPS Transaction Services, Inc. START 
Plan, employee benefit plans established by Dean Witter Reynolds Inc. and SPS 
Transaction Services, Inc. (an affiliate of Dean Witter Reynolds Inc.) for 
their employees as qualified under Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue 
Code, owned 4,481,457 shares, or approximately 6.3% of the outstanding 
shares, of Dean Witter High Yield Securities Inc. No person was known to own 
as much as 5% of the outstanding shares of any of the other Funds on that 
date. The percentage ownership of shares of the Funds changes from time to 
time depending on purchases and redemptions by Shareholders and the total 
number of shares outstanding. 
    

   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                           NUMBER OF SHARES 
                                                           OUTSTANDING AS OF 
                                                            MARCH 12, 1997 
                       NAME OF FUND                          (RECORD DATE) 
- --------------------------------------------------------  ----------------- 
<S>                                                       <C>         
Dean Witter Dividend Growth Securities Inc. .............     277,532,470 
Dean Witter High Yield Securities Inc. ..................      70,718,517 
Dean Witter Natural Resource Development Securities Inc.       18,659,477 
</TABLE>
    

                                3           
<PAGE>
   
   The cost of soliciting proxies for the Meeting, which consists principally 
of printing and mailing expenses and which is expected to be approximately 
$830,500, will be allocated as follows: 90% of the cost will be borne by Dean 
Witter, Discover & Co. and 10% of the cost will be borne by the Funds. 
Therefore, the total cost of soliciting proxies borne by each Fund is 
estimated to be approximately as follows: Dean Witter Dividend Growth 
Securities Inc. -- $74,650; Dean Witter High Yield Securities Inc. -- $4,800; 
and Dean Witter Natural Resource Development Securities Inc. -- $3,600. The 
solicitation of proxies will be by mail, which may be supplemented by 
solicitation by mail, telephone or otherwise through Directors and officers 
of the Funds and officers and regular employees of certain affiliates of the 
Funds, including Dean Witter InterCapital Inc., Dean Witter Trust Company, 
Dean Witter Services Company Inc. and/or Dean Witter Reynolds Inc., without 
special compensation. In addition, Dean Witter InterCapital Inc. may employ 
First Data Corp. as proxy solicitor, the cost of which is estimated to be 
approximately $460,000 and will be borne by Dean Witter, Discover & Co. 

   First Data Corp. or Dean Witter Trust Company may call Shareholders to ask 
if they would be willing to have their votes recorded by telephone. The 
telephone voting procedure is designed to authenticate Shareholders' 
identities, to allow Shareholders to authorize the voting of their shares in 
accordance with their instructions and to confirm that their instructions 
have been recorded properly. No recommendation will be made as to how a 
Shareholder should vote on any Proposal other than to refer to the 
recommendations of each Board. The Funds have been advised by counsel that 
these procedures are consistent with the requirements of applicable law. 
Shareholders voting by telephone will be asked for their social security 
number or other identifying information and will be given an opportunity to 
authorize proxies to vote their shares in accordance with their instructions. 
To ensure that the Shareholders' instructions have been recorded correctly 
they will receive a confirmation of their instructions in the mail. A special 
toll-free number will be available in case the information contained in the 
confirmation is incorrect. Although a Shareholder's vote may be taken by 
telephone, each Shareholder will receive a copy of this Proxy Statement and 
may vote by mail using the enclosed proxy card. With respect to the 
solicitation of a telephonic vote by First Data Corp., additional expenses 
are expected to be approximately $6.00 per telephone vote transacted, which 
would be borne by Dean Witter, Discover & Co. 
    

                (1) APPROVAL OR DISAPPROVAL OF NEW INVESTMENT 
                             MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT 

BACKGROUND 

   Dean Witter InterCapital Inc. (the "Investment Manager" or "InterCapital") 
currently serves as investment manager of each Fund pursuant to an investment 
management agreement entered into by each Fund and InterCapital (each, a 
"Current Agreement" and collectively, the "Current Agreements"), and in that 
capacity provides investment advisory and certain other services to the 
Funds. InterCapital is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Dean Witter, Discover & 
Co. ("DWDC"). The approval of a new investment management agreement between 
each Fund and InterCapital (each, a "New Agreement" and collectively, the 
"New Agreements") is being sought in connection with the proposed merger of 
Morgan Stanley Group Inc. ("Morgan Stanley") and DWDC (the "Merger"). 

INFORMATION CONCERNING MORGAN STANLEY 

   
   Morgan Stanley and various of its directly or indirectly owned 
subsidiaries, including Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated ("Morgan Stanley & 
Co."), a registered broker-dealer and investment adviser, and Morgan Stanley 
International, provide a wide range of financial services on a global basis. 
Their principal businesses include securities underwriting, distribution and 
trading; merger, acquisition, restructuring, real estate, project 
    

                                4           
<PAGE>
   
finance and other corporate finance advisory activities; merchant banking and 
other principal investment activities; stock brokerage and research services; 
asset management; the trading of foreign exchange and commodities on a broad 
range of asset categories, rates and indices; and global custody, securities 
clearance services and securities lending. 
    

THE MERGER 

   Pursuant to the terms of the Merger, Morgan Stanley will be merged with 
and into DWDC with the surviving corporation to be named Morgan Stanley, Dean 
Witter, Discover & Co. Following the Merger, InterCapital will be a direct 
wholly-owned subsidiary of Morgan Stanley, Dean Witter, Discover & Co. 

   
   Under the terms of the Merger, each share of Morgan Stanley common stock 
will be converted into the right to receive 1.65 shares of DWDC common stock 
and each issued and outstanding share of DWDC common stock will remain 
outstanding and will thereafter represent one share of Morgan Stanley, Dean 
Witter, Discover & Co. common stock. Following the Merger, Morgan Stanley's 
shareholders will own approximately 45% and DWDC's shareholders will own 
approximately 55% of the outstanding shares of common stock of Morgan 
Stanley, Dean Witter, Discover & Co. 

   The Board of Directors of Morgan Stanley, Dean Witter, Discover & Co. will 
consist of fourteen members, two of which will be Morgan Stanley insiders and 
two of which will be DWDC insiders. The remaining ten directors will be 
outside directors, with Morgan Stanley and DWDC each designating five of the 
ten. The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Morgan Stanley, Dean Witter, 
Discover & Co. will be Philip J. Purcell, who is the current Chairman and 
Chief Executive Officer of DWDC. The President and Chief Operating Officer of 
Morgan Stanley, Dean Witter, Discover & Co. will be John Mack, who is the 
current President of Morgan Stanley. 

   The Merger is expected to be completed in mid-1997 and is subject to 
certain closing conditions, including certain regulatory approvals and the 
approval of shareholders of both DWDC and Morgan Stanley. 
    

APPROVAL OF NEW INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT AGREEMENTS 

   In order to assure continuity of investment management services to each 
Fund after the Merger, the Board of each Fund met in person for the purpose 
of considering whether it would be in the best interests of each Fund and its 
Shareholders to enter into a New Agreement between each Fund and the 
Investment Manager which would become effective upon the later of Shareholder 
approval of the New Agreement or consummation of the Merger. At its meetings, 
and for the reasons discussed below (see "The Boards' Consideration"), the 
Board of each Fund, including all of the Directors who are not "interested 
persons," as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the 
"1940 Act"), of the Investment Manager (the "Independent Directors"), 
unanimously approved the New Agreements and recommended their respective 
approval by Shareholders. 

   THE TERMS OF EACH NEW AGREEMENT, INCLUDING FEES PAYABLE BY A FUND 
THEREUNDER, ARE IDENTICAL, IN ALL MATERIAL RESPECTS, TO THOSE OF THE 
CORRESPONDING CURRENT AGREEMENT, EXCEPT FOR THE DATES OF EFFECTIVENESS AND 
TERMINATION. The terms of the Current Agreements are fully described under 
"The Current Investment Management Agreements" below. If approved by 
Shareholders, each New Agreement will continue in effect for an initial term 
expiring April 30, 1999. Each New Agreement will be continued in effect from 
year to year thereafter if each such continuance is approved by the Board or 
by a majority of the outstanding voting securities (as defined below) of the 
Fund and, in either event, by the vote cast in person of a majority of the 
Independent Trustees. In the event that Shareholders of a Fund do not approve 
a New Agreement, the Current Agreement will remain in effect and the Board 
will take such action, if any, as it deems to be in the best interests 

                                5           
<PAGE>
of the concerned Fund and its Shareholders, which may include proposing that 
Shareholders approve an agreement in lieu of the New Agreement. In the event 
that the Merger is not consummated, the Investment Manager will continue to 
provide services to the Funds in accordance with the terms of the Current 
Agreements for such periods as may be approved at least annually by the 
Board, including a majority of the Independent Directors. 

REQUIRED VOTE 

   Each New Agreement cannot be implemented unless approved at the Meeting, 
or any adjournment thereof, by a majority of the outstanding voting 
securities of the respective Fund. Such a majority means the affirmative vote 
of the holders of (a) 67% or more of the shares of the respective Fund 
present, in person or by proxy, at the Meeting, if the holders of more than 
50% of the outstanding shares are so present, or (b) more than 50% of the 
outstanding shares of the respective Fund, whichever is less. 

   THE BOARD OF EACH FUND UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT SHAREHOLDERS VOTE FOR 
APPROVAL OF THE NEW INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT. 

THE BOARDS' CONSIDERATION 

   At a special meeting of the Committee of the Independent Directors of the 
Funds held on February 20, 1997, at which each of the Independent Directors 
of the Funds was present, and a meeting of the full Board on February 21, 
1997, the Directors evaluated each of the New Agreements (the form of which 
is attached hereto as Appendix A). Prior to and during the meetings, the 
Independent Directors requested and received all information they deemed 
necessary to enable them to determine whether each of the New Agreements is 
in the best interests of the respective Fund and its Shareholders. They were 
assisted in their review and deliberations by independent legal counsel. In 
determining whether to approve the New Agreements, the Directors assessed the 
implications of the Merger for the Investment Manager and its ability to 
continue to provide services to the Funds of the same scope and quality as 
are presently provided. In particular, the Trustees inquired as to the impact 
of the Merger on the Investment Manager's personnel, management, facilities 
and financial capabilities, and received assurances in this regard from 
senior management of DWDC and the Investment Manager that the Merger would 
not adversely affect the Investment Manager's ability to fulfill its 
obligations under its respective agreements with the Funds or to operate its 
business in a manner consistent with past practices. In addition, the 
Directors considered the effects of the Investment Manager and Morgan Stanley 
becoming affiliated persons of each other. Following the Merger, the 1940 Act 
will prohibit or impose certain conditions on the ability of the Funds to 
engage in certain transactions with Morgan Stanley and its affiliates. For 
example, absent exemptive relief, the Funds will be prohibited from 
purchasing securities from Morgan Stanley & Co., a wholly-owned broker-dealer 
subsidiary of Morgan Stanley, in transactions in which Morgan Stanley & Co. 
acts as principal, and the Funds will have to satisfy certain conditions in 
order to engage in securities transactions in which Morgan Stanley & Co. acts 
as broker or to purchase securities in an underwritten offering in which 
Morgan Stanley & Co. acts as an underwriter. In this connection, senior 
management of the Investment Manager represented to the Directors that they 
do not believe these prohibitions or conditions will have a material effect 
on the management or performance of the Funds. 

   The Directors also considered that each New Agreement is identical, in all 
material respects, to the corresponding Current Agreement (other than the 
dates of effectiveness and termination). 

   Based upon the Directors' review and the evaluations of the materials they 
received, and after consideration of all factors deemed relevant to them, the 
Directors of each Fund, including all of the Independent Directors, 
determined that each of the New Agreements is in the best interests of each 
respective 

                                6           
<PAGE>
Fund and its Shareholders. ACCORDINGLY, THE BOARD OF EACH FUND, INCLUDING ALL 
OF THE INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS, APPROVED EACH NEW AGREEMENT AND VOTED TO 
RECOMMEND APPROVAL BY SHAREHOLDERS OF EACH FUND. 

THE CURRENT INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT AGREEMENTS 

   
   Each of the Current Agreements provides that the Investment Manager shall 
obtain and evaluate such information and advice relating to the economy and 
securities and commodities markets as it deems necessary or useful to 
discharge its duties under the respective Current Agreement, and that it 
shall continuously supervise the management of the assets of each Fund in a 
manner consistent with the investment objectives and policies of that Fund 
and subject to such other limitations and directions as the Board may, from 
time to time, prescribe. 

   The Investment Manager pays the compensation of the officers of the Funds 
and provides the Funds with office space and equipment, and clerical and 
bookkeeping services and telephone service, heat, light, power and other 
utilities. The Investment Manager also pays for the services of personnel in 
connection with the pricing of the Funds' shares and the preparation of 
prospectuses, statements of additional information, proxy statements and 
reports required to be filed with federal and state securities commissions 
(except insofar as the participation or assistance of independent accountants 
and attorneys is, in the opinion of the Investment Manager, necessary or 
desirable). In return for its services and the expenses the Investment 
Manager assumes under the Current Agreements, each Fund pays the Investment 
Manager compensation which is accrued daily and payable monthly and which is 
set forth in the table below. 

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                             MANAGEMENT FEE      NET ASSETS 
                                    MANAGEMENT               LAST FISCAL   PAID DURING FUND'S   AS OF FISCAL 
FUND                                 FEE RATE                 YEAR END      LAST FISCAL YEAR      YEAR END 
- ----------------------  ---------------------------------  -------------  ------------------  --------------- 
<S>                     <C>                                <C>            <C>                 <C>
Dean Witter Dividend    0.625% of daily net assets up to      02/28/97        $43,410,540      $12,906,778,735 
 Growth Securities      $250 million; 0.50% of the next 
 Inc.                   $750 million; 0.475% of the next 
                        $1 billion; 0.45% of the next $1 
                        billion; 0.425% of the next $1 
                        billion; 0.40% of the next $1 
                        billion; 0.375% of the next $1 
                        billion; 0.35% of the next $2 
                        billion; 0.325% of the next $2 
                        billion; and 0.30% of daily net 
                        assets over $10 billion 
Dean Witter High Yield  0.50% of daily net assets up to       08/31/96          2,271,578          460,202,839 
 Securities Inc.        $500 million; 0.425% of the next 
                        $250 million; 0.375% of the next 
                        $250 million; 0.35% of the next 
                        $1 billion; 0.325% of the next $1 
                        billion; and 0.30% of daily net 
                        assets over $3 billion 
Dean Witter Natural     0.625% of daily net assets up to      02/28/97          1,221,826          247,988,683 
 Resource Development   $250 million and 0.50% of daily 
 Securities Inc.        net assets over $250 million 
</TABLE>
    

   Under the Current Agreements, each Fund is obligated to bear all of the 
costs and expenses of its operation, except those specifically assumed by the 
Investment Manager or Dean Witter Distributors Inc. ("Distributors" or the 
"Distributor"), the Funds' Distributor, including, without limitation: fees 
pursuant to any plan of distribution that each Fund may adopt; charges and 
expenses of any registrar, custodian or depository appointed by each Fund for 
the safekeeping of its cash, portfolio securities or commodities and other 
property, and any stock transfer or dividend agent or agents appointed by 
each Fund; brokers' commissions chargeable 

                                7           
<PAGE>
to each Fund in connection with portfolio securities transactions to which 
the Fund is a party; all taxes, including securities or commodities issuance 
and transfer taxes, and corporate fees payable by each Fund to federal, state 
or other governmental agencies; costs and expenses of engraving or printing 
of certificates representing shares of each Fund; all costs and expenses in 
connection with registration and maintenance of registration of each Fund and 
of its shares with the Securities and Exchange Commission and various states 
and other jurisdictions (including filing fees and legal fees and 
disbursements of counsel); the cost and expense of printing, including 
typesetting, and distributing prospectuses of each Fund to its Shareholders; 
all expenses of Shareholders' and Directors' meetings and of preparing, 
printing and mailing proxy statements and reports to Shareholders; fees and 
travel expenses of Directors 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 the payment of any dividend, 
distribution, withdrawal or redemption, whether in shares or in cash; charges 
and expenses of any outside service used for the pricing of each Fund's 
shares; charges and expenses of legal counsel, including counsel to the 
Independent Directors of the Funds, and independent accountants in connection 
with any matter relating to each Fund (not including compensation or expenses 
of attorneys employed by the Investment Manager); association dues; interest 
payable on each Fund's borrowings; postage; insurance premiums on property or 
personnel (including officers and Directors) of each Fund which inure to the 
Fund's benefit; extraordinary expenses (including, but not limited to, legal 
claims and liabilities and litigation costs and any indemnification related 
thereto); and all other charges and costs of each Fund's operations unless 
otherwise explicitly provided in the respective Current Agreements. 

   The administrative services called for under the Current Agreements are 
performed by Dean Witter Services Company Inc. ("DWSC"), a wholly-owned 
subsidiary of InterCapital. 

   
   The Current Agreement of each Fund was first approved by the Board of 
Directors of the Fund, including a majority of the Independent Directors, on 
October 30, 1992 and was last approved by Shareholders at special meetings of 
Shareholders held on January 12, 1993. After its respective initial term, 
each Current Agreement continues in effect from year to year thereafter, 
provided that each such continuance is approved by the vote of a majority, as 
defined by the 1940 Act, of the outstanding voting securities of each Fund or 
by the Directors, and, in either event, by the vote cast in person by a 
majority of the Independent Directors at a meeting called for the purpose of 
voting on such approval. Each Current Agreement has been continued in effect 
from year to year by action of the Board, including the Independent 
Directors. Prior to the Board's February 21, 1997 meeting, the most recent 
approval occurred at a meeting of the Board held on April 17, 1996. 
    

   Each Current Agreement also provides that it may be terminated at any time 
by the Investment Manager, the Directors or by a vote of a majority of the 
outstanding voting securities of the applicable Fund, in each instance 
without the payment of any penalty, on thirty days' notice, and provides for 
its automatic termination in the event of its assignment. 

THE INVESTMENT MANAGER 

   Dean Witter InterCapital Inc. is each Fund's investment manager. 
InterCapital maintains its offices at Two World Trade Center, New York, New 
York 10048. InterCapital, which was incorporated in July 1992, is a 
wholly-owned subsidiary of DWDC, a balanced financial services organization 
providing a broad range of nationally marketed credit and investment 
products. 

   The Principal Executive Officer and Directors of InterCapital, and their 
principal occupations, are: 

   Philip J. Purcell, Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive 
Officer of DWDC and Dean Witter Reynolds Inc. ("DWR") and Director of 
InterCapital, DWSC and Distributors; Richard M. DeMartini, President and 
Chief Operating Officer of Dean Witter Capital, Executive Vice President of 
DWDC and Director of DWR, Distributors, InterCapital, DWSC and Dean Witter 
Trust Company ("DWTC"); James F. 

                                8           
<PAGE>
Higgins, President and Chief Operating Officer of Dean Witter Financial, 
Executive Vice President of DWDC and Director of DWR, Distributors, 
InterCapital, DWSC and DWTC; Charles A. Fiumefreddo, Executive Vice President 
and Director of DWR and Chairman of the Board of Directors, Chief Executive 
Officer and Director of InterCapital, DWSC and Distributors and Chairman of 
the Board of Directors and Director of DWTC; Christine A. Edwards, Executive 
Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel of DWDC, Executive Vice 
President, Secretary, General Counsel and Director of DWR, Executive Vice 
President, Secretary, Chief Legal Officer and Director of Distributors, and 
Director of InterCapital and DWSC; and Thomas C. Schneider, Executive Vice 
President and Chief Financial Officer of DWDC and Executive Vice President, 
Chief Financial Officer and Director of DWR, Distributors, InterCapital and 
DWSC. 

   The business address of the foregoing Directors and Executive Officer is 
Two World Trade Center, New York, New York 10048. DWDC has its offices at Two 
World Trade Center, New York, New York 10048. 

   
   InterCapital and its wholly-owned subsidiary, DWSC, serve in various 
investment management, advisory, management and administrative capacities to 
investment companies and pension plans and other institutional and individual 
investors. Appendix B lists the investment companies for which InterCapital 
provides investment management or investment advisory services and which have 
similar investment objectives to those of the Funds and sets forth the fees 
payable to InterCapital by such companies, including the Funds, and their net 
assets as of March 12, 1997. DWSC also has its offices at Two World Trade 
Center, New York, New York 10048. 
    

   Dean Witter Distributors Inc. acts as the Funds' Distributor. Like 
InterCapital, the Distributor is a wholly-owned subsidiary of DWDC. Pursuant 
to Rule 12b-1 plans adopted by Dean Witter Dividend Growth Securities Inc. 
and Dean Witter Natural Resource Development Securities Inc., each of those 
Funds pays the Distributor 12b-1 fees for distribution related services. 
DWTC, an affiliate of InterCapital, serves as transfer agent of the Funds. 
The table below sets forth for each Fund the distribution fees paid to the 
Distributor and the transfer agency fees paid to DWTC during the Fund's last 
fiscal year: 

   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                           DISTRIBUTION FEES PAID   TRANSFER AGENT FEES PAID 
                                                             TO THE DISTRIBUTOR          TO DWTC DURING 
FUND                                                       DURING LAST FISCAL YEAR      LAST FISCAL YEAR 
- --------------------------------------------------------  -----------------------  ------------------------ 
<S>                                                       <C>                      <C>
Dean Witter Dividend Growth Securities Inc. .............        $81,976,079               $8,533,374 
Dean Witter High Yield Securities Inc....................                 --                  539,994 
Dean Witter Natural Resource Development Securities Inc.           1,910,070                  222,190 
</TABLE>
    

   Once the Merger is consummated and the New Agreements are approved, the 
Distributor and DWTC fully intend to continue to provide, respectively, the 
same services to the Funds as are currently being provided. 

   
   The following table sets forth information as to the allocation of 
brokerage commissions by the Funds, during their respective last fiscal year, 
paid to DWR, which is an affiliated broker of the Funds because DWR and 
InterCapital are under the common control of DWDC: 

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                           BROKERAGE COMMISSIONS  PERCENTAGE OF AGGREGATE 
                                                           PAID TO DWR FOR LAST    BROKERAGE COMMISSIONS 
NAME OF FUND                                                    FISCAL YEAR        FOR LAST FISCAL YEAR 
- --------------------------------------------------------  ---------------------  ----------------------- 
<S>                                                       <C>                    <C>
Dean Witter Dividend Growth Securities Inc. .............        $460,302                  24.03% 
Dean Witter High Yield Securities Inc. ..................            --                     -- 
Dean Witter Natural Resource Development Securities Inc.          263,065                  26.68 
</TABLE>
    

                   (2) ELECTION OF DIRECTORS FOR EACH FUND 

   
   The number of Directors of each Fund has been fixed by the Board at nine. 
There are presently eight Directors, all of whom are standing for re-election 
at the Meeting for indefinite terms. In addition, the Board of each Fund has 
nominated Wayne E. Hedien for election as Director at the Meeting for the 
first time. 
    

                                9           
<PAGE>
   
   Six of the current eight Directors (Michael Bozic, Edwin J. Garn, John R. 
Haire, Manuel H. Johnson, Michael E. Nugent and John L. Schroeder) are 
Independent Directors. Mr. Hedien, who has been nominated for election at the 
Meeting, if elected, also will be an Independent Director. The other two 
current Directors, Charles A. Fiumefreddo and Philip J. Purcell, are 
"interested persons" (as such term is defined in the 1940 Act) of the Funds 
and InterCapital and, thus, are not Independent Directors. The nominees for 
election as Directors have been proposed by the Directors now serving or, in 
the case of the nominees for positions as Independent Directors, by the 
Independent Directors now serving. Other than Messrs. Bozic, Purcell and 
Schroeder, who were elected as Directors by the other Directors of the Funds, 
all of the members of the Board currently serving were previously elected at 
a meeting of Shareholders. 

   The following information regarding each of the nominees for election as 
Director includes principal occupations and employment for at least the last 
five years, age, shares of each Fund owned, if any, as of March 12, 1997 
(shown in parentheses), positions with the Funds, and directorships (or 
trusteeships) in other companies which file periodic reports with the 
Securities and Exchange Commission, including the 84 investment companies, 
including the Funds, for which InterCapital serves as investment manager or 
investment adviser (referred to herein as the "Dean Witter Funds") and the 14 
investment companies for which InterCapital's wholly-owned subsidiary, DWSC, 
serves as manager and TCW Funds Management, Inc. serves as investment adviser 
(referred to herein as the "TCW/DW Funds"). 
    

   The nominees for Director to be elected at the Meeting are: 

   MICHAEL BOZIC, Director since April 1994*; age 56; Chairman and Chief 
Executive Officer of Levitz Furniture Corporation (since November 1995); 
Director or Trustee of the Dean Witter Funds; formerly President and Chief 
Executive Officer of Hills Department Stores (May 1991-July 1995); formerly 
variously Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, President and Chief Operating 
Officer (1987-1991) of the Sears Merchandise Group of Sears, Roebuck and Co. 
("Sears"); Director of Eaglemark Financial Services, Inc., the United Negro 
College Fund and Weirton Steel Corporation. 

   
   CHARLES A. FIUMEFREDDO, Director since July 1991* ; age 63 (Dean Witter 
Dividend Growth Securities Inc.--6,683 shares; Dean Witter High Yield 
Securities Inc.--30,402 shares; Dean Witter Natural Resource Development 
Securities Inc.--673 shares); Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and Director 
of InterCapital, DWSC and Distributors; Executive Vice President and Director 
of DWR; Chairman, Director or Trustee, President and Chief Executive Officer 
of the Dean Witter Funds; Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and Trustee of 
the TCW/DW Funds; Chairman and Director of DWTC; Director and/or officer of 
various DWDC subsidiaries; formerly Executive Vice President and Director of 
DWDC (until February 1993). 

   EDWIN JACOB (JAKE) GARN, Director since January 1993*; age 64 (Dean Witter 
Dividend Growth Securities Inc.--649 shares); Director or Trustee of the Dean 
Witter Funds; formerly United States Senator (R-Utah) (1974-1992) and 
Chairman, Senate Banking Committee (1980-1986); formerly Mayor of Salt Lake 
City, Utah (1971-1974); formerly Astronaut, Space Shuttle Discovery (April 
12-19, 1985); Vice Chairman, Huntsman Corporation (since January 1993); 
Director of Franklin Quest (time management systems) and John Alden Financial 
Corp. (health insurance); member of the board of various civic and charitable 
organizations. 
    

   JOHN R. HAIRE, Director since January 1981*; age 72; Chairman of the Audit 
Committee and Chairman of the Committee of the Independent Directors or 
Trustees and Director or Trustee of the Dean Witter Funds; Chairman of the 
Audit Committee and Chairman of the Committee of the Independent Trustees and 
Trustee of the TCW/DW Funds; formerly President, Council for Aid to Education 
(1978-1989) and Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Anchor Corporation, 
an investment adviser (1964-1978); Director of Washington National 
Corporation (insurance). 

   
- ------------ 
* This date is the date the Director began serving the Dean Witter Funds 
complex. 
    

                               10           
<PAGE>
   
   WAYNE E. HEDIEN, age 63; Retired; Director of The PMI Group, Inc. (private 
mortgage insurance); Trustee and Vice Chairman of The Field Museum of Natural 
History; formerly associated with the Allstate Companies (1966-1994), most 
recently as Chairman of The Allstate Corporation (March 1993-December 1994) 
and Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of its wholly-owned subsidiary, 
Allstate Insurance Company (July 1989-December 1994); director of various 
other business and charitable organizations. 

   DR. MANUEL H. JOHNSON, Director since July 1991*; age 48 (Dean Witter 
Dividend Growth Securities Inc.--6,592 shares); Senior Partner, Johnson Smick 
International, Inc., a consulting firm; Co-Chairman and a founder of the 
Group of Seven Council (G7C), an international economic commission; Director 
or Trustee of the Dean Witter Funds; Trustee of the TCW/DW Funds; Director of 
NASDAQ (since June 1995); Director of Greenwich Capital Markets Inc. 
(broker-dealer); Trustee of the Financial Accounting Foundation (oversight 
organization for the FASB); formerly Vice Chairman of the Board of Governors 
of the Federal Reserve System (1986-1990) and Assistant Secretary of the U.S. 
Treasury (1982-1986). 

   MICHAEL E. NUGENT, Director since July 1991* ; age 60 (Dean Witter 
Dividend Growth Securities Inc.--1,902 shares); General Partner, Triumph 
Capital, L.P., a private investment partnership; Director or Trustee of the 
Dean Witter Funds; Trustee of the TCW/DW Funds; formerly Vice President, 
Bankers Trust Company and BT Capital Corporation (1984-1988); Director of 
various business organizations. 

   PHILIP J. PURCELL, Director since April 1994*; age 53 (Dean Witter 
Dividend Growth Securities Inc.--9,557 shares; Dean Witter High Yield 
Securities Inc.--37,294 shares); Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief 
Executive Officer of DWDC, DWR and Novus Credit Services Inc.; Director of 
InterCapital, DWSC and Distributors; Director or Trustee of the Dean Witter 
Funds; Director and/or officer of various DWDC subsidiaries. 

   JOHN L. SCHROEDER, Director since April 1994*; age 66; Retired; Director 
or Trustee of the Dean Witter Funds; Trustee of the TCW/DW Funds; Director of 
Citizens Utilities Company; formerly Executive Vice President and Chief 
Investment Officer of the Home Insurance Company (1991-1995). 

   The other executive officers of each Fund are: Barry Fink, Vice President, 
Secretary and General Counsel; Robert M. Scanlan, Vice President; Robert S. 
Giambrone, Vice President; Joseph J. McAlinden, Vice President; and Thomas F. 
Caloia, Treasurer; and, with respect to the individual Funds, the other 
executive officers are as follows: Dean Witter Dividend Growth Securities 
Inc.--Paul D. Vance, Vice President; Dean Witter High Yield Securities 
Inc.--Peter M. Avelar, Vice President; and Dean Witter Natural Resource 
Development Securities Inc.--Konrad Krill, Vice President. In addition, the 
following individuals serve as Vice Presidents of the various Funds: Dean 
Witter Dividend Growth Securities Inc.--Mark Bavoso, Kenton J. Hinchliffe and 
Ira N. Ross; Dean Witter High Yield Securities Inc.--Jonathan R. Page and 
James F. Willison; and Dean Witter Natural Resource Development Securities 
Inc.--Kenton J. Hinchliffe, Ira N. Ross and Paul D. Vance. In addition, Frank 
Bruttomesso, Marilyn K. Cranney, Lou Anne D. McInnis, Carsten Otto and Ruth 
Rossi serve as Assistant Secretaries of each Fund. 
    

   Mr. Fink is 42 years old and is currently First Vice President (since June 
1993), Secretary and General Counsel (since February 1997) of InterCapital 
and DWSC and (since August 1996) Assistant Secretary of DWR; he is also First 
Vice President, Assistant Secretary and Assistant General Counsel of 
Distributors (since February 1997). He was previously Vice President, 
Assistant Secretary and Assistant General Counsel of InterCapital and DWSC. 
Mr. Scanlan is 60 years old and is currently President and Chief Operating 
Officer of InterCapital (since March 1993) and DWSC; he is also Executive 
Vice President of Distributors and Executive 

   
- ------------ 
* This date is the date the Director began serving the Dean Witter Funds 
complex. 
    

                               11           
<PAGE>
   
Vice President and Director of DWTC. He was previously Executive Vice 
President of InterCapital (July 1992-March 1993) and prior thereto was 
Chairman of Harborview Group, Inc. Mr. Giambrone is 42 years old and is 
currently Senior Vice President of InterCapital, DWSC, Distributors and DWTC 
(since August 1995) and Director of DWTC (since April 1996). He was formerly 
a partner of KPMG Peat Marwick, LLP. Mr. McAlinden is 54 years old and is 
currently Executive Vice President of InterCapital (since April 1996); he is 
also Chief Investment Officer of InterCapital and Director of DWTC (since 
April 1996). He was previously Senior Vice President of InterCapital (June 
1995-April 1996) and prior thereto was a Managing Director of Dillon Reed. 
Mr. Caloia is 51 years old and is currently First Vice President and 
Assistant Treasurer of InterCapital and DWSC. Mr. Vance is 61 years old and 
is currently Senior Vice President of InterCapital. Mr. Avelar is 38 years 
old and is currently Senior Vice President of InterCapital. Mr. Krill is 37 
years old and is currently Vice President of InterCapital. Mr. Bavoso is 36 
years old and is currently Senior Vice President of InterCapital (since June, 
1993). He was previously Vice President of InterCapital. Mr. Hinchliffe is 52 
years old and is currently Senior Vice President of InterCapital. Mr. Ross is 
57 years old and is currently Senior Vice President of InterCapital. Other 
than Messrs. Scanlan, Giambrone and McAlinden, each of the above officers has 
been an employee of InterCapital or DWR (formerly the corporate parent of 
InterCapital) for over five years. 
    

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, THE INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS, AND THE COMMITTEES 

   
   The Board currently consists of eight (8) Directors. These same 
individuals also serve as directors or trustees for all of the Dean Witter 
Funds, and are referred to in this section as Directors. As of the date of 
this Proxy Statement, there are a total of 84 Dean Witter Funds, comprised of 
127 portfolios. As of February 28, 1997, the Dean Witter Funds had total net 
assets of approximately $84.2 billion and more than six million shareholders. 

   Six Directors and the new nominee (77% of the total number) have no 
affiliation or business connection with InterCapital or any of its affiliated 
persons. The other two Directors (the "Management Directors") are affiliated 
with InterCapital. For a period of at least three years after the 
consummation of the Merger, at least 75% of the members of the Board of 
Directors of each Fund will not be "interested persons" (as defined in the 
1940 Act) of the Investment Manager. Four of the six Independent Directors 
are also Independent Trustees of the TCW/DW Funds. 
    

   Law and regulation establish both general guidelines and specific duties 
for the Independent Directors. The Dean Witter Funds seek as Independent 
Directors individuals of distinction and experience in business and finance, 
government service or academia; these are people whose advice and counsel are 
in demand by others and for whom there is often competition. To accept a 
position on the Funds' Boards, such individuals may reject other attractive 
assignments because the Funds make substantial demands on their time. Indeed, 
by serving on the Funds' Boards, certain Directors who would otherwise be 
qualified and in demand to serve on bank boards would be prohibited by law 
from doing so. 

   All of the current Independent Directors serve as members of the Audit 
Committee and the Committee of the Independent Directors. Three of them also 
serve as members of the Derivatives Committee. The Committees hold some 
meetings at InterCapital's offices and some outside InterCapital. Management 
Directors or officers do not attend these meetings unless they are invited 
for purposes of furnishing information or making a report. The Funds do not 
have any nominating or compensation committees. 

   The Committee of the Independent Directors is charged with recommending to 
the full Board approval of management, advisory and administration contracts, 
Rule 12b-1 plans and distribution and underwriting agreements; continually 
reviewing Fund performance; checking on the pricing of portfolio securities, 
brokerage commissions, transfer agent costs and performance, and trading 
among Funds in the same complex; and 

                               12           
<PAGE>
approving fidelity bond and related insurance coverage and allocations, as 
well as other matters that arise from time to time. The Independent Directors 
are required to select and nominate individuals to fill any Independent 
Director vacancy on the Board of any Fund that has a Rule 12b-1 plan of 
distribution. Most of the Dean Witter Funds have such a 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 such 
services; reviewing the independence of the independent accountants; 
considering the range of audit and non-audit fees; reviewing the adequacy of 
the Fund's system of internal controls; and preparing and submitting 
Committee meeting minutes to the full Board. 

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

   The following chart sets forth the number of meetings of the Board, the 
Audit Committee, the Committee of the Independent Directors and the 
Derivatives Committee of each Fund during its most recent fiscal year. No 
Director attended fewer than 75% of the meetings of the Board, the Audit 
Committee, the Committee of the Independent Directors or the Derivatives 
Committee held while he served in such positions. 

     NUMBER OF BOARD AND COMMITTEE MEETINGS HELD DURING LAST FISCAL YEAR 

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                          COMMITTEE 
                                                                           OF THE 
                                                            BOARD OF     INDEPENDENT      AUDIT      DERIVATIVES 
                                                 FISCAL     DIRECTORS     DIRECTORS     COMMITTEE     COMMITTEE 
NAME OF FUND                                    YEAR-END    MEETINGS      MEETINGS      MEETINGS      MEETINGS 
- --------------------------------------------  ----------  -----------  -------------  -----------  ------------- 
<S>                                           <C>         <C>          <C>            <C>          <C>
Dean Witter Dividend Growth Securities Inc.     02/28/97        7            11             2             3 
Dean Witter High Yield Securities Inc.  .....   08/31/96        6            10             3             3 
Dean Witter Natural Resource Development 
 Securities Inc. ............................   02/28/97        7            11             2             3 
</TABLE>

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

   The Chairman of the Committee of the Independent Directors and the Audit 
Committee maintains an office at the Funds' headquarters in New York. He is 
responsible for keeping abreast of regulatory and industry developments and 
the Funds' operations and management. He screens and/or prepares written 
materials and identifies critical issues for the Independent Directors to 
consider, develops agendas for Committee meetings, determines the type and 
amount of information that the Committees will need to form a judgment on 
various issues, and arranges to have that information furnished to Committee 
members. He also arranges for the services of independent experts and 
consults with them in advance of meetings to help refine reports and to focus 
on critical issues. Members of the Committees believe that the person who 
serves as Chairman of both Committees and guides their efforts is pivotal to 
the effective functioning of the Committees. 

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

                               13           
<PAGE>
   The Chairman of the Committee of the Independent Directors and the Audit 
Committee is not employed by any other organization and devotes his time 
primarily to the services he performs as Committee Chairman and Independent 
Director of the Dean Witter Funds and as an Independent Trustee and, since 
July 1, 1996, as Chairman of the Committee of the Independent Trustees and 
the Audit Committee of the TCW/DW Funds. The current Committee Chairman has 
had more than 35 years experience as a senior executive in the investment 
company industry. 

ADVANTAGES OF HAVING SAME INDIVIDUALS AS INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS FOR ALL DEAN 
WITTER FUNDS 

   The Independent Directors and the Funds' management believe that having 
the same Independent Directors for each of the Dean Witter Funds avoids the 
duplication of effort that would arise from having different groups of 
individuals serving as Independent Directors for each of the Funds or even of 
sub-groups of Funds. They believe that having the same individuals serve as 
Independent Directors 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 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 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, and a Chairman of their Committees, of the caliber, experience and 
business acumen of the individuals who serve as Independent Directors of the 
Dean Witter Funds. 

SHARE OWNERSHIP BY DIRECTORS 

   The Directors have adopted a policy pursuant to which each Director and/or 
his or her spouse is required to invest at least $25,000 in any of the Funds 
in the Dean Witter Funds complex (and, if applicable, in the TCW/DW Funds 
complex) on whose boards the Director serves. In addition, the policy 
contemplates that the Directors will, over time, increase their aggregate 
investment in the Funds above the $25,000 minimum requirement. The Directors 
may allocate their investments among specific Funds in any manner they 
determine is appropriate based on their individual investment objectives. As 
of the date of this Proxy Statement, each Director is in compliance with the 
policy. Any future Director will be given a one year period following his or 
her election within which to comply with the foregoing. As of December 31, 
1996, the total value of the investments by the Directors and/or their 
spouses in shares of the Dean Witter Funds (and, if applicable, the TCW/DW 
Funds) was approximately $9.8 million. 

   As of the Record Date, the aggregate number of shares of each Fund owned 
by the Fund's officers and Directors as a group was less than 1 percent of 
each Fund's outstanding shares. 

COMPENSATION OF INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS 

   Each Fund pays each Independent Director an annual fee of $1,000 plus a 
per meeting fee of $50 for meetings of the Board of Directors or committees 
of the Board attended by the Director (each Fund pays the Chairman of the 
Audit Committee an annual fee of $750 and pays the Chairman of the Committee 
of the Independent Directors an additional annual fee of $1,200). Each Fund 
also reimburses such Directors for travel and other out-of-pocket expenses 
incurred by them in connection with attending such meetings. Directors 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. 

   As of the date of this Proxy Statement, 57 of the Dean Witter Funds, 
including all of the Funds represented in this Proxy Statement, have adopted 
a retirement program under which an Independent Director who retires 

                               14           
<PAGE>
after serving for at least five years (or such lesser period as may be 
determined by the Board) as an Independent Director or Trustee of any Dean 
Witter Fund that has adopted the retirement program (each such Fund referred 
to as an "Adopting Fund" and each such Director referred to as an "Eligible 
Director") 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 Director is 
entitled to receive from the Fund, commencing as of his or her retirement 
date and continuing for the remainder of his or her life, an annual 
retirement benefit (the "Regular Benefit") equal to 25.0% of his or her 
Eligible Compensation plus 0.4166666% of such Eligible Compensation for each 
full month of service as an Independent Director or Trustee of any Adopting 
Fund in excess of five years up to a maximum of 50.0% after ten years of 
service. The foregoing percentages may be changed by the Board. "Eligible 
Compensation" is one-fifth of the total compensation earned by such Eligible 
Director for service to the Fund in the five year period prior to the date of 
the Eligible Director's retirement. An Eligible Director may elect alternate 
payments of his or her retirement benefits based upon the combined life 
expectancy of such Eligible Director and his or her spouse on the date of 
such Eligible Director's retirement. The amount estimated to be payable under 
this method, through the remainder of the later of the lives of such Eligible 
Director and spouse, will be the actuarial equivalent of the Regular Benefit. 
In addition, the Eligible Director may elect that the surviving spouse's 
periodic payment of benefits will be equal to either 50% or 100% of the 
previous periodic amount, an election that, respectively, increases or 
decreases the previous periodic amount so that the resulting payments will be 
the actuarial equivalent of the Regular Benefit. Benefits under the 
retirement program are not secured or funded by the Funds. 

   
   The following tables illustrate the compensation paid to each Fund's 
Independent Directors by the Fund for its last fiscal year, the retirement 
benefits accrued to each Fund's Independent Directors by the Fund for its 
last fiscal year and the estimated retirement benefits for the Fund's 
Independent Directors, to commence upon their retirement, as of the end of 
the Fund's last fiscal year. 

DEAN WITTER DIVIDEND GROWTH SECURITIES INC. 

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                      FUND COMPENSATION                  ESTIMATED RETIREMENT BENEFITS 
                              --------------------------------  ---------------------------------------------- 
                                                                   ESTIMATED                        ESTIMATED 
                                                  RETIREMENT     CREDITED YEARS     ESTIMATED        ANNUAL 
                                  AGGREGATE         BENEFIT      OF SERVICE AT    PERCENTAGE OF     BENEFITS 
                                COMPENSATION      ACCRUED AS       RETIREMENT       ELIGIBLE          UPON 
NAME OF INDEPENDENT DIRECTOR    FROM THE FUND    FUND EXPENSES    (MAXIMUM 10)    COMPENSATION    RETIREMENT(1) 
- ----------------------------  ---------------  ---------------  --------------  ---------------  ------------- 
<S>                           <C>              <C>              <C>             <C>              <C>
Michael Bozic................      $1,750            $ 379             10             50.0%          $  925 
Edwin J. Garn ...............       1,850              549             10             50.0              925 
John R. Haire ...............       3,750             (385)(2)         10             50.0            2,246 
Dr. Manuel H. Johnson .......       1,800              230             10             50.0              925 
Michael E. Nugent ...........       1,850              394             10             50.0              925 
John L. Schroeder............       1,800              732              8             41.7              771 
</TABLE>

- ------------ 
(1)   Based on current levels of compensation. Amount of annual benefits also 
      varies depending on the Director's elections described in the discussion 
      of the retirement program contained in the text of the Proxy Statement. 
(2)   This number reflects the effect of the extension of Mr. Haire's term as 
      Director until June 1, 1998. 

                               15           
<PAGE>
DEAN WITTER HIGH YIELD SECURITIES INC. 

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                      FUND COMPENSATION                  ESTIMATED RETIREMENT BENEFITS 
                              --------------------------------  ---------------------------------------------- 
                                                                   ESTIMATED                        ESTIMATED 
                                                  RETIREMENT     CREDITED YEARS     ESTIMATED        ANNUAL 
                                  AGGREGATE         BENEFIT      OF SERVICE AT    PERCENTAGE OF     BENEFITS 
                                COMPENSATION      ACCRUED AS       RETIREMENT       ELIGIBLE          UPON 
NAME OF INDEPENDENT DIRECTOR    FROM THE FUND    FUND EXPENSES    (MAXIMUM 10)    COMPENSATION    RETIREMENT(1) 
- ----------------------------  ---------------  ---------------  --------------  ---------------  ------------- 
<S>                           <C>              <C>              <C>             <C>              <C>
Michael Bozic................      $1,750           $  405             10             50.0%          $  950 
Edwin J. Garn ...............       1,850              601             10             50.0              950 
John R. Haire ...............       3,963            1,026             10             50.0            2,343 
Dr. Manuel H. Johnson .......       1,800              248             10             50.0              950 
Michael E. Nugent ...........       1,750              430             10             50.0              950 
John L. Schroeder............       1,800              789              8             41.7              792 
</TABLE>

- ------------ 
(1)   Based on current levels of compensation. Amount of annual benefits also 
      varies depending on the Director's elections described in the discussion 
      of the retirement program contained in the text of the Proxy Statement. 

DEAN WITTER NATURAL RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT SECURITIES INC. 

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                      FUND COMPENSATION                  ESTIMATED RETIREMENT BENEFITS 
                              --------------------------------  ---------------------------------------------- 
                                                                   ESTIMATED                        ESTIMATED 
                                                  RETIREMENT     CREDITED YEARS     ESTIMATED        ANNUAL 
                                  AGGREGATE         BENEFIT      OF SERVICE AT    PERCENTAGE OF     BENEFITS 
                                COMPENSATION      ACCRUED AS       RETIREMENT       ELIGIBLE          UPON 
NAME OF INDEPENDENT DIRECTOR    FROM THE FUND    FUND EXPENSES    (MAXIMUM 10)    COMPENSATION    RETIREMENT(1) 
- ----------------------------  ---------------  ---------------  --------------  ---------------  ------------- 
<S>                           <C>              <C>              <C>             <C>              <C>
Michael Bozic................      $1,750            $ 379             10             50.0%          $  925 
Edwin J. Garn ...............       1,850              549             10             50.0              925 
John R. Haire ...............       3,750             (385)(2)         10             50.0            2,246 
Dr. Manuel H. Johnson .......       1,800              230             10             50.0              925 
Michael E. Nugent ...........       1,850              394             10             50.0              925 
John L. Schroeder............       1,850              732              8             41.7              771 
</TABLE>

- ------------ 
(1)   Based on current levels of compensation. Amount of annual benefits also 
      varies depending on the Director's elections described in the discussion 
      of the retirement program contained in the text of the Proxy Statement. 
(2)   This number reflects the effect of the extension of Mr. Haire's term as 
      Director until June 1, 1998. 

                               16           
<PAGE>
   The following table illustrates the compensation paid to the Independent 
Directors of the Funds for the calendar year ended December 31, 1996 for 
services to the 82 Dean Witter Funds and, in the case of Messrs. Haire, 
Johnson, Nugent and Schroeder, the 14 TCW/DW Funds that were in operation at 
December 31, 1996. With respect to Messrs. Haire, Johnson, Nugent and 
Schroeder, the TCW/DW Funds are included solely because of a limited exchange 
privilege between those Funds and five Dean Witter Money Market Funds. 

          CASH COMPENSATION FROM DEAN WITTER FUNDS AND TCW/DW FUNDS 

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                               FOR SERVICE AS 
                                                                CHAIRMAN OF 
                                                                COMMITTEE OF    FOR SERVICE AS 
                                FOR SERVICE                     INDEPENDENT      CHAIRMAN OF       TOTAL CASH 
                               AS DIRECTOR OR  FOR SERVICE AS    DIRECTORS/     COMMITTEES OF     COMPENSATION 
                                TRUSTEE AND     TRUSTEE AND     TRUSTEES AND     INDEPENDENT     FOR SERVICES TO 
                                 COMMITTEE       COMMITTEE         AUDIT         TRUSTEES AND    82 DEAN WITTER 
                                MEMBER OF 82       MEMBER        COMMITTEES    AUDIT COMMITTEES   FUNDS AND 14 
                                DEAN WITTER     OF 14 TCW/DW     OF 82 DEAN      OF 14 TCW/DW        TCW/DW 
NAME OF INDEPENDENT DIRECTOR       FUNDS           FUNDS        WITTER FUNDS        FUNDS             FUNDS 
- ----------------------------  --------------  --------------  --------------  ----------------  --------------- 
<S>                           <C>             <C>             <C>             <C>               <C>
Michael Bozic ...............     $138,850             --               --              --          $138,850 
Edwin J. Garn ...............      140,900             --               --              --           140,900 
John R. Haire ...............      106,400        $64,283         $195,450         $12,187           378,320 
Dr. Manuel H. Johnson .......      137,100         66,483               --              --           203,583 
Michael E. Nugent ...........      138,850         64,283               --              --           203,133 
John L. Schroeder ...........      137,150         69,083               --              --           206,233 
</TABLE>

   The following table illustrates the retirement benefits accrued to the 
Independent Directors of the Funds by the 57 Dean Witter Funds (including all 
of the Funds represented in this Proxy Statement) for the year ended December 
31, 1996, and the estimated retirement benefits for the Independent 
Directors, to commence upon their retirement, from the 57 Dean Witter Funds 
as of December 31, 1996. 

                RETIREMENT BENEFITS FROM ALL DEAN WITTER FUNDS 

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                 ESTIMATED                                          ESTIMATED ANNUAL 
                               CREDITED YEARS    ESTIMATED     RETIREMENT BENEFITS   BENEFITS UPON 
                                 OF SERVICE      PERCENTAGE        ACCRUED AS       RETIREMENT FROM 
                               AT RETIREMENT    OF ELIGIBLE        EXPENSES BY        ALL ADOPTING 
NAME OF INDEPENDENT DIRECTOR    (MAXIMUM 10)    COMPENSATION   ALL ADOPTING FUNDS       FUNDS(1) 
- ----------------------------  --------------  --------------  -------------------  ---------------- 
<S>                           <C>             <C>             <C>                  <C>
Michael Bozic ...............        10             50.0%            $20,147            $ 51,325 
Edwin J. Garn ...............        10             50.0              27,772              51,325 
John R. Haire ...............        10             50.0              46,952             129,550 
Dr. Manuel H. Johnson .......        10             50.0              10,926              51,325 
Michael E. Nugent ...........        10             50.0              19,217              51,325 
John L. Schroeder............         8             41.7              38,700              42,771 
</TABLE>

- ------------ 
(1)   Based on current levels of compensation. Amount of annual benefits also 
      varies depending on the Director's elections described in the discussion 
      of the retirement program contained in the text of the Proxy Statement. 

   The persons named as attorneys-in-fact in the enclosed proxy have advised 
the Funds that unless a proxy instructs them to withhold authority to vote 
for all listed nominees or for any individual nominee, they will vote all 
validly executed proxies for the election of the nominees named above. All of 
the nominees have consented to being named in this Proxy Statement and to 
serve, if elected, and no circumstances now known will prevent 

                               17           
<PAGE>
any of the nominees from serving (if elected, Mr. Hedien's term will commence 
September 1, 1997). If any nominee should be unable or unwilling to serve, 
the proxy will be voted for a substitute nominee proposed by the present 
Directors or, in the case of an Independent Director nominee, by the 
Independent Directors. With respect to each Fund, the election of each 
Director requires the approval of a majority of the shares of the Fund 
represented and entitled to vote at the Meeting. 
    

   THE BOARD OF EACH FUND UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT SHAREHOLDERS VOTE FOR 
THE ELECTION OF ALL OF THE DIRECTORS NOMINATED FOR ELECTION. 

               (3) APPROVAL OR DISAPPROVAL OF AMENDMENT TO THE 
                    ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION OF THE FUNDS 
                TO PERMIT MULTIPLE CLASSES OR SERIES OF SHARES 

   Shareholders of each Fund are being asked to approve an amendment to the 
Articles of Incorporation (the "Articles") for their Fund for the reasons 
discussed herein. InterCapital and Distributors, the distributor for each of 
the Funds, have informed the Board of each Fund that a number of competitive 
fund complexes are offering their shares in multiple classes, each with a 
different combination of sales charges, ongoing fees and other features, in 
order to meet the needs and desires of different types of investors in the 
choice of methods of payment of distribution charges. These different 
distribution arrangements are designed to permit an investor to choose the 
method of purchasing shares of a mutual fund that the investor believes is 
most beneficial given the amount of the purchase, the length of time the 
investor expects to hold the shares and other relevant circumstances. Each 
Board has been considering the implementation of multiple classes for the 
Dean Witter Funds, as proposed by InterCapital and DWR, but have not yet 
reached a final determination on the matter. Shareholder approval of an 
amendment to the Articles is necessary to implement a multiple class 
structure because the Articles for each of the Funds do not authorize 
issuance of more than one class of shares. Accordingly, although the Board 
has not yet taken action to approve a multiple class structure for any of the 
Dean Witter Funds, in the interest of efficiency and to eliminate the costs 
associated with a future proxy solicitation that would be necessary to amend 
the Articles, each Board has unanimously approved the submission to 
Shareholders of each of the Funds of a proposal to amend the Articles to give 
the Board of each Fund the authority to implement a multiple class structure 
for each Fund (the "Amendment"). NEITHER APPROVAL OF THE AMENDMENT NOR 
IMPLEMENTATION OF A MULTIPLE CLASS DISTRIBUTION STRUCTURE IN THE FUTURE WILL 
RESTRICT THE RIGHTS AND PRIVILEGES OF THE CURRENT SHAREHOLDERS OF THE FUNDS 
NOR WILL THEY DECREASE THE NET ASSET VALUE OF CURRENT SHAREHOLDERS' 
INVESTMENT IN THE FUNDS. 

   
   If approved by Shareholders, the Amendment will specifically empower the 
Board of each Fund to authorize the issuance and sale of additional classes 
or series of shares in the future with such preferences, rights and 
privileges as the Board determines, subject to the requirements of the 1940 
Act. The Articles also will be amended wherever necessary to make conforming 
changes to allow the issuance of multiple classes or series or to make the 
Articles more consistent with current Maryland law. 
    

   The Amendment would also permit the Funds to issue multiple series of 
shares so that they could offer additional investment portfolios. If the 
Amendment is approved, the Board of each Fund may approve the creation of new 
series from time to time, each of which would represent a distinct portfolio 
of investments. At the present time, the Board of each Fund has not 
authorized the creation of additional series nor do they contemplate doing so 
in the future. 

   
   If the Amendment is approved by Shareholders, each Fund will file Articles 
of Amendment, which set forth the form of the Amendment, with the State of 
Maryland as required by Maryland law. A form of such Articles of Amendment is 
attached to this Proxy Statement as Appendix C. 
    

                               18           
<PAGE>
REQUIRED VOTE 

   The proposed Amendment to each Fund's Articles must be approved by the 
holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of the respective Fund. If 
the Amendment is not approved by the requisite vote of Shareholders of a 
Fund, that Fund will continue to issue only one class of shares. 
Alternatively, the Board of each Fund may consider submitting to Shareholders 
at a future meeting other proposals to amend the Articles to authorize the 
issuance of multiple classes of stock. 

   THE BOARD OF EACH FUND UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT SHAREHOLDERS VOTE FOR 
THE AMENDMENT TO THE ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION. 

     (4) APPROVAL OR DISAPPROVAL OF A NEW INVESTMENT POLICY WITH RESPECT 
             TO INVESTMENTS IN CERTAIN OTHER INVESTMENT COMPANIES 

   
   The Board of each Fund has approved, subject to Shareholder approval, a 
new investment policy that has the effect of modifying certain investment 
restrictions of the Funds so as to permit each Fund to convert to a 
master/feeder structure. Under a master/feeder structure, the assets of 
mutual funds with common investment objectives and substantially the same 
investment policies are pooled together and, rather than being managed 
separately, are "fed" into a combined pool for portfolio management purposes. 
The individual pools are known as "feeder" funds and the combined pool is 
known as a "master" fund. 
    

   Upon conversion to a master/feeder structure, a Fund would invest all of 
its assets in a corresponding master fund and hold only beneficial interests 
in the master fund. The master fund, in turn, would invest directly in 
individual securities of other issuers. The Fund would otherwise continue its 
normal operations. The Board of each Fund would retain the right to withdraw 
a Fund's investment from the master fund at any time it determined that it 
would be in the best interests of Shareholders; the Fund would then resume 
investing directly in individual securities of other issuers or invest in 
another master fund. 

   As an investor in a master fund, a Fund would be entitled to vote in 
proportion to its relative interest in the master fund. Specifically, as to 
any issue on which Shareholders vote, a Fund would vote its interest in the 
master fund in proportion to the votes cast by its Shareholders. If there 
were other investors in the master fund, there could be no assurance that any 
issue that receives a majority of the votes cast by a Fund's Shareholders 
would receive a majority of votes cast by all master fund shareholders. 

   Conversion to a master/feeder structure would only be authorized by the 
Board of a Fund if it determined such structure to be in the best interests 
of Shareholders. Should the Board authorize any such conversion, a Fund's 
prospectus and statement of additional information would be amended to 
reflect the Fund's conversion to a master/feeder structure and its 
Shareholders would be notified. 

   While neither the Board nor InterCapital has determined that any Fund 
should participate in a master/feeder structure, the Directors believe that 
the Funds should have the flexibility to implement such structure at a future 
date, if appropriate. At present, however, certain fundamental investment 
restrictions of each Fund would prevent the Fund from doing so without 
seeking Shareholder approval. For example, each Fund has fundamental 
investment restrictions which limit the extent to which the Fund may invest 
in other investment companies or in any one issuer. As such, a vote of a 
Fund's Shareholders would be required before a Fund could participate in a 
master/feeder structure. In the interest of efficiency and to eliminate the 
costs associated with a future proxy statement that would be necessary to 
modify these investment restrictions, the Board of each Fund recommends that 
Shareholders vote to modify the Fund's investment restrictions by adding the 
following new investment policy: 

                               19           
<PAGE>
           "Notwithstanding any other investment policy or restriction, a 
         Fund may seek to achieve its investment objective by investing all 
         or substantially all of its assets in another investment company 
         having substantially the same investment objectives and policies as 
         the Fund." 

REQUIRED VOTE 

   To become effective, the proposed changes to each Fund's investment 
restrictions must be approved by the vote of a majority of the outstanding 
voting securities of the respective Fund. As indicated earlier, the "vote of 
a majority of the outstanding voting securities" is defined in the 1940 Act 
as the lesser of the vote of (i) 67% or more of the shares of the respective 
Fund entitled to vote thereon present at the Meeting if the holders of more 
than 50% of such outstanding shares are present in person or represented by 
proxy; or (ii) more than 50% of such outstanding shares of the Fund entitled 
to vote thereon. 

   THE BOARD OF EACH FUND UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT SHAREHOLDERS VOTE FOR 
APPROVAL OF THE NEW INVESTMENT POLICY WITH RESPECT TO INVESTMENTS IN CERTAIN 
OTHER INVESTMENT COMPANIES. 

                (5) RATIFICATION OR REJECTION OF SELECTION OF 
                           INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS 

   The Directors have unanimously selected the firm of Price Waterhouse LLP 
("Price Waterhouse") as each Fund's independent accountants for the fiscal 
year-ends indicated below next to the name of the Fund: 

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
 FUND                                                            FISCAL YEAR ENDING 
- ------------------------------------------------------------  ---------------------- 
<S>                                                           <C>
Dean Witter Dividend Growth Securities Inc. ................. February 28, 1998 
Dean Witter High Yield Securities Inc. ...................... August 31, 1997 
Dean Witter Natural Resource Development Securities Inc.  ... February 28, 1998 
</TABLE>

   The selection of Price Waterhouse is being submitted for ratification or 
rejection by Shareholders at the Meeting. Price Waterhouse has been the 
independent accountants for each of the Funds since its inception, and has no 
direct or indirect financial interest in the Funds. 

   A representative of Price Waterhouse is expected to be present at the 
Meeting and will be available to make a statement, and to respond to 
appropriate questions of Shareholders. 

   Ratification of the selection of Price Waterhouse requires the approval of 
a majority of the shares of each Fund represented and entitled to vote at the 
Meeting. 

   THE BOARD OF EACH FUND UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT SHAREHOLDERS OF EACH 
FUND RATIFY THE SELECTION OF PRICE WATERHOUSE AS THE INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS 
FOR THE FUND. 

                            ADDITIONAL INFORMATION 

   In the event that the necessary quorum to transact business or the vote 
required to approve or reject any proposal is not obtained at the Meeting 
with respect to one or more Funds, the persons named as proxies may propose 
one or more adjournments of the Meeting of the concerned Fund for a total of 
not more than 60 days in the aggregate, to permit further solicitation of 
proxies. Any such adjournment will require the affirmative vote of the 
holders of a majority of the concerned Fund's shares present in person or by 
proxy at the Meeting. The persons named as proxies will vote in favor of such 
adjournment those proxies which they are entitled to vote in favor of 
Proposal 1 and will vote against any such adjournment those proxies required 
to be voted against that proposal. 

                               20           
<PAGE>
   Abstentions and, if applicable, broker "non-votes" will not count as votes 
in favor of any of the proposals, and broker "non-votes" will not be deemed 
to be present at the meeting for purposes of determining whether a particular 
proposal to be voted upon has been approved. Broker "non-votes" are shares 
held in street name for which the broker indicates that instructions have not 
been received from the beneficial owners or other persons entitled to vote 
and for which the broker does not have discretionary voting authority. 

                            SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS 

   The Funds do not hold regular shareholders' meetings. Proposals of 
Shareholders of any Fund intended to be presented at the next meeting of 
Shareholders must be received a reasonable time prior to the mailing of the 
proxy materials sent in connection with the meeting, for inclusion in the 
proxy statement for that meeting. 

                           REPORTS TO SHAREHOLDERS 

   
   EACH FUND'S MOST RECENT ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE FUND'S MOST RECENT FISCAL 
YEAR AND, IN THE CASE OF DEAN WITTER DIVIDEND GROWTH SECURITIES INC. AND DEAN 
WITTER NATURAL RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT SECURITIES INC., THE SUCCEEDING 
SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT, HAVE BEEN SENT PREVIOUSLY TO SHAREHOLDERS AND IS 
AVAILABLE WITHOUT CHARGE UPON REQUEST FROM ADRIENNE RYAN-PINTO AT DWTC, 
HARBORSIDE FINANCIAL CENTER, PLAZA TWO, JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY 07311 
(TELEPHONE 1-800-869-NEWS (TOLL FREE)). 
    

                         INTEREST OF CERTAIN PERSONS 

   DWDC, DWR, the Investment Manager, DWSC, the Distributor and certain of 
their respective Directors, officers, and employees, including persons who 
are Directors or officers of the Funds, may be deemed to have an interest in 
certain of the proposals described in this Proxy Statement to the extent that 
certain of such companies and their affiliates have contractual and other 
arrangements, described elsewhere in this Proxy Statement, pursuant to which 
they are paid fees by the Funds, and certain of those individuals are 
compensated for performing services relating to the Funds and may also own 
shares of DWDC. Such companies and persons may thus be deemed to derive 
benefits from the approvals by Shareholders of such proposals. 

                                OTHER BUSINESS 

   The management of the Funds knows of no other matters which may be 
presented at the Meeting. However, if any matters not now known properly come 
before the Meeting, it is the intention of the persons named in the enclosed 
form of proxy to vote all shares that they are entitled to vote on any such 
matter, utilizing such proxy in accordance with their best judgment on such 
matters. 

                                      By Order of the Boards of Directors

 
                                      BARRY FINK 
                                      Secretary 

                               21           
<PAGE>
                                                                    APPENDIX A 

                 FORM OF NEW INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT 

   AGREEMENT made as of the [    ] day of [      ], 1997 by and between Dean 
Witter [       ], a Maryland corporation (hereinafter called the "Fund"), and 
Dean Witter InterCapital Inc., a Delaware corporation (hereinafter called the 
"Investment Manager"): 

   Whereas, The Fund is engaged in business as an open-end management 
investment company and is registered as such under the Investment Company Act 
of 1940, as amended (the "Act"); and 

   Whereas, The Investment Manager is registered as an investment adviser 
under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, and engages in the business of 
acting as investment adviser; and 

   Whereas, The Fund desires to retain the Investment Manager to render 
management and investment advisory services in the manner and on the terms 
and conditions hereinafter set forth; and 

   Whereas, The Investment Manager desires to be retained to perform services 
on said terms and conditions: 

   Now, Therefore, this Agreement 

                             W I T N E S S E T H: 

that in consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants hereinafter 
contained, the Fund and the Investment Manager agree as follows: 

   1. The Fund hereby retains the Investment Manager to act as investment 
manager of the Fund and, subject to the supervision of the Directors, to 
supervise the investment activities of the Fund as hereinafter set forth. 
Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Investment Manager 
shall obtain and evaluate such information and advice relating to the 
economy, securities and commodities markets and securities and commodities as 
it deems necessary or useful to discharge its duties hereunder; shall 
continuously manage the assets of the Fund in a manner consistent with the 
investment objectives and policies of the Fund; shall determine the 
securities and commodities to be purchased, sold or otherwise disposed of by 
the Fund and the timing of such purchases, sales and dispositions; and shall 
take such further action, including the placing of purchase and sale orders 
on behalf of the Fund, as the Investment Manager shall deem necessary or 
appropriate. The Investment Manager shall also furnish to or place at the 
disposal of the Fund such of the information, evaluations, analyses and 
opinions formulated or obtained by the Investment Manager in the discharge of 
its duties as the Fund may, from time to time, reasonably request. 

   2. The Investment Manager shall, at its own expense, maintain such staff 
and employ or retain such personnel and consult with such other persons as it 
shall from time to time determine to be necessary or useful to the 
performance of its obligations under this Agreement. Without limiting the 
generality of the foregoing, the staff and personnel of the Investment 
Manager shall be deemed to include persons employed or otherwise retained by 
the Investment Manager to furnish statistical and other factual data, advice 
regarding economic factors and trends, information with respect to technical 
and scientific developments, and such other information, advice and 
assistance as the Investment Manager may desire. The Investment Manager 
shall, as agent for the Fund, maintain the Fund's records and books of 
account (other than those maintained by the Fund's transfer agent, registrar, 
custodian and other agencies). All such books and records so maintained shall 
be the property of the Fund and, upon request therefor, the Investment 
Manager shall surrender to the Fund such of the books and records so 
requested. 

   3. The Fund will, from time to time, furnish or otherwise make available 
to the Investment Manager such financial reports, proxy statements and other 
information relating to the business and affairs of the Fund as the 
Investment Manager may reasonably require in order to discharge its duties 
and obligations hereunder. 

                               A-1           
<PAGE>
    4. The Investment Manager shall bear the cost of rendering the investment 
management and supervisory services to be performed by it under this 
Agreement, and shall, at its own expense, pay the compensation of the 
officers and employees, if any, of the Fund, and provide such office space, 
facilities and equipment and such clerical help and bookkeeping services as 
the Fund shall reasonably require in the conduct of its business. The 
Investment Manager shall also bear the cost of telephone service, heat, 
light, power and other utilities provided to the Fund. 

   5. The Fund assumes and shall pay or cause to be paid all other expenses 
of the Fund, including without limitation: fees pursuant to any plan of 
distribution that the Fund may adopt; the charges and expenses of any 
registrar, any custodian or depository appointed by the Fund for the 
safekeeping of its cash, portfolio securities or commodities and other 
property, and any stock transfer or dividend agent or agents appointed by the 
Fund; brokers' commissions chargeable to the Fund in connection with 
portfolio transactions to which the Fund is a party; all taxes, including 
securities or commodities issuance and transfer taxes, and fees payable by 
the Fund to federal, state or other governmental agencies; the cost and 
expense of engraving or printing certificates representing shares of the 
Fund; all costs and expenses in connection with the registration and 
maintenance of registration of the Fund and its shares with the Securities 
and Exchange Commission and various states and other jurisdictions (including 
filing fees and legal fees and disbursements of counsel); the cost and 
expense of printing, including typesetting, and distributing prospectuses and 
statements of additional information of the Fund and supplements thereto to 
the Fund's shareholders; all expenses of shareholders' and Directors' 
meetings and of preparing, printing and mailing proxy statements and reports 
to shareholders; fees and travel expenses of Directors 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 the payment of any dividend, distribution, withdrawal or redemption, 
whether in shares or in cash; charges and expenses of any outside service 
used for pricing of the Fund's shares; charges and expenses of legal counsel, 
including counsel to the Directors of the Fund who are not interested persons 
(as defined in the Act) of the Fund or the Investment Manager, and of 
independent accountants, in connection with any matter relating to the Fund; 
membership dues of industry associations; interest payable on Fund 
borrowings; postage; insurance premiums on property or personnel (including 
officers and Directors) of the Fund which inure to its benefit; extraordinary 
expenses (including but not limited to, legal claims and liabilities and 
litigation costs and any indemnification related thereto); and all other 
charges and costs of the Fund's operation unless otherwise explicitly 
provided herein. 

   6. For the services to be rendered, the facilities furnished, and the 
expenses assumed by the Investment Manager, the Fund shall pay to the 
Investment Manager monthly compensation determined by applying the following 
annual rates to the Fund's daily net assets: [   ]* . Except as hereinafter 
set forth, compensation under this Agreement shall be calculated and accrued 
daily and the amounts of the daily accruals shall be paid monthly. Such 
calculations shall be made by applying 1/365ths of the annual rates to the 
Fund's net assets each day determined as of the close of business on that day 
or the last previous business day. If this Agreement becomes effective 
subsequent to the first day of a month or shall terminate before the last day 
of a month, compensation for that part of the month this Agreement is in 
effect shall be prorated in a manner consistent with the calculation of the 
fees as set forth above. 

   Subject to the provisions of paragraph 7 hereof, payment of the Investment 
Manager's compensation for the preceding month shall be made as promptly as 
possible after completion of the computations contemplated by paragraph 7 
hereof. 

   7. In the event the operating expenses of the Fund, including amounts 
payable to the Investment Manager pursuant to paragraph 6 hereof, for any 
fiscal year ending on a date on which this Agreement 

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

*       See page 7 of the Proxy Statement for a table setting forth the 
        management fee rate(s) applicable to each Fund. 

                               A-2           
<PAGE>
is in effect, exceed the expense limitations applicable to the Fund imposed 
by state securities laws or regulations thereunder, as such limitations may 
be raised or lowered from time to time, the Investment Manager shall reduce 
its management fee to the extent of such excess and, if required, pursuant to 
any such laws or regulations, will reimburse the Fund for annual operating 
expenses in excess of any expense limitation that may be applicable; 
provided, however, there shall be excluded from such expenses the amount of 
any interest, taxes, brokerage commissions, distribution fees and 
extraordinary expenses (including but not limited to legal claims and 
liabilities and litigation costs and any indemnification related thereto) 
paid or payable by the Fund. Such reduction, if any, shall be computed and 
accrued daily, shall be settled on a monthly basis, and shall be based upon 
the expense limitation applicable to the Fund as at the end of the last 
business day of the month. Should two or more such expense limitations be 
applicable as at the end of the last business day of the month, that expense 
limitation which results in the largest reduction in the Investment Manager's 
fee shall be applicable. 

   For purposes of this provision, should any applicable expense limitation 
be based upon the gross income of the Fund, such gross income shall include, 
but not be limited to, interest on debt securities in the Fund's portfolio 
accrued to and including the last day of the Fund's fiscal year, and 
dividends declared on equity securities in the Fund's portfolio, the record 
dates for which fall on or prior to the last day of such fiscal year, but 
shall not include gains from the sale of securities. 

   8. The Investment Manager will use its best efforts in the supervision and 
management of the investment activities of the Fund, but in the absence of 
willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of its 
obligations hereunder, the Investment Manager shall not be liable to the Fund 
or any of its investors for any error of judgment or mistake of law or for 
any act or omission by the Investment Manager or for any losses sustained by 
the Fund or its investors. 

   9. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall prevent the Investment 
Manager or any affiliated person of the Investment Manager from acting as 
investment adviser or manager for any other person, firm or corporation and 
shall not in any way bind or restrict the Investment Manager or any such 
affiliated person from buying, selling or trading any securities or 
commodities for their own accounts or for the account of others for whom they 
may be acting. Nothing in this Agreement shall limit or restrict the right of 
any Director, officer or employee of the Investment Manager to engage in any 
other business or to devote his or her time and attention in part to the 
management or other aspects of any other business whether of a similar or 
dissimilar nature. 

   10. This Agreement shall remain in effect until April 30, 1999 and from 
year to year thereafter provided such continuance is approved at least 
annually by the vote of holders of a majority, as defined in the Investment 
Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "Act"), of the outstanding voting 
securities of the Fund or by the Directors of the Fund; provided that in 
either event such continuance is also approved annually by the vote of a 
majority of the Directors of the Fund who are not parties to this Agreement 
or "interested persons" (as defined in the Act) of any such party, which vote 
must be cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such 
approval; provided, however, that (a) the Fund may, at any time and without 
the payment of any penalty, terminate this Agreement upon thirty days' 
written notice to the Investment Manager, either by majority vote of the 
Directors of the Fund or by the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting 
securities of the Fund; (b) this Agreement shall immediately terminate in the 
event of its assignment (to the extent required by the Act and the rules 
thereunder) unless such automatic terminations shall be prevented by an 
exemptive order of the Securities and Exchange Commission; and (c) the 
Investment Manager may terminate this Agreement without payment of penalty on 
thirty days' written notice to the Fund. Any notice under this Agreement 
shall be given in writing, addressed and delivered, or mailed post-paid, to 
the other party at the principal office of such party. 

                               A-3           
<PAGE>
    11. This Agreement may be amended by the parties without the vote or 
consent of the shareholders of the Fund to supply any omission, to cure, 
correct or supplement any ambiguous, defective or inconsistent provision 
hereof, or if they deem it necessary to conform this Agreement to the 
requirements of applicable federal laws or regulations, but neither the Fund 
nor the Investment Manager shall be liable for failing to do so. 

   12. This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with the laws of the 
State of New York and the applicable provisions of the Act. To the extent the 
applicable law of the State of New York, or any of the provisions herein, 
conflicts with the applicable provisions of the Act, the latter shall 
control. 

   13. The Investment Manager and the Fund each agree that the name "Dean 
Witter," which comprises a component of the Fund's name, is a property right 
of Dean Witter Reynolds Inc. The Fund agrees and consents that (i) it will 
only use the name "Dean Witter" as a component of its name and for no other 
purpose, (ii) it will not purport to grant to any third party the right to 
use the name "Dean Witter" for any purpose, (iii) the Investment Manager or 
its parent, Morgan Stanley, Dean Witter, Discover & Co., or any corporate 
affiliate of the Investment Manager's parent, may use or grant to others the 
right to use the name "Dean Witter," or any combination or abbreviation 
thereof, as all or a portion of a corporate or business name or for any 
commercial purpose, including a grant of such right to any other investment 
company, (iv) at the request of the Investment Manager or its parent, the 
Fund will take such action as may be required to provide its consent to the 
use of the name "Dean Witter," or any combination or abbreviation thereof, by 
the Investment Manager or its parent or any corporate affiliate of the 
Investment Manager's parent, or by any person to whom the Investment Manager 
or its parent or any corporate affiliate of the Investment Manager's parent 
shall have granted the right to such use, and (v) upon the termination of any 
investment advisory agreement into which the Investment Manager and the Fund 
may enter, or upon termination of affiliation of the Investment Manager with 
its parent, the Fund shall, upon request by the Investment Manager or its 
parent, cease to use the name "Dean Witter" as a component of its name, and 
shall not use the name, or any combination or abbreviation thereof, as a part 
of its name or for any other commercial purpose, and shall cause its 
officers, Directors and shareholders to take any and all actions which the 
Investment Manager or its parent may request to effect the foregoing and to 
reconvey to the Investment Manager or its parent any and all rights to such 
name. 

   IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed and delivered this 
Agreement on the day and year first above written in New York, New York. 

                                                 DEAN WITTER [       ] 
                                                 By 

                                                  ........................... 

Attest: 

 ........................................ 

                                                 DEAN WITTER INTERCAPITAL INC. 

                                                 By 

                                                  ........................... 

Attest:
 
 ........................................ 

                               A-4           
<PAGE>
                                                                    APPENDIX B 

   InterCapital serves as investment manager to the Funds and the other 
investment companies listed below which have similar investment objectives to 
those of the Funds. Set forth below is a chart showing the net assets of each 
such investment company as of March 12, 1997 and the investment management 
fee rate(s) applicable to such investment company. 

   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                    CURRENT INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT 
                                                    NET ASSETS AS            FEE RATE(S) 
                                                         OF                AS A PERCENTAGE 
                                                      03/12/97              OF NET ASSETS 
                                                  ---------------  ------------------------------ 
<S>                                               <C>              <C>
1. DEAN WITTER AMERICAN VALUE FUND ...............  $ 3,370,632,376 $0.625% on assets up to $250 
                                                                    million, scaled down at 
                                                                    various asset levels to 0.475% 
                                                                    on assets over $2.5 billion 
2. DEAN WITTER BALANCED GROWTH FUND ..............  $   125,426,874 0.60% 
3. DEAN WITTER CAPITAL APPRECIATION FUND  ........  $   323,927,003 0.75% 
4. DEAN WITTER CAPITAL GROWTH SECURITIES  ........  $   505,754,103 0.65% on assets up to $500 
                                                                    million, scaled down at 
                                                                    various asset levels to 0.475% 
                                                                    on assets over $1.5 billion 
5. DEAN WITTER DEVELOPING GROWTH SECURITIES TRUST 
                                                    $   726,490,573 0.50% on assets up to $500 
                                                                    million and 0.475% on assets 
                                                                    over $500 million 
6. DEAN WITTER DIVIDEND GROWTH SECURITIES INC.  ..  $13,188,289,520 0.625% on assets up to $250 
                                                                    million, scaled down at 
                                                                    various asset levels to 0.30% 
                                                                    on assets over $10 billion 
7. DEAN WITTER EUROPEAN GROWTH FUND INC.  ........  $ 1,509,995,436 1.00% on assets up to $500 
                                                                    million and 0.95% on assets 
                                                                    over $500 million (of which 
                                                                    40% is paid to a Sub-Adviser) 
8. DEAN WITTER FINANCIAL SERVICES TRUST  .........  $   154,411,700 0.75% 
9. DEAN WITTER GLOBAL ASSET ALLOCATION FUND  .....  $    64,921,778 1.00% (of which 60% is paid to 
                                                                    two Sub-Advisers) 
10.DEAN WITTER GLOBAL DIVIDEND GROWTH SECURITIES 
                                                    $3,065,931,979 0.75% on assets up to 
                                                                   $1 billion, scaled down at 
                                                                   various asset levels to 0.675% 
                                                                   on assets over $2.5 billion 
11.DEAN WITTER GLOBAL UTILITIES FUND ............  $   354,011,304 0.65% 
12.DEAN WITTER HEALTH SCIENCES TRUST ............  $   463,792,920 1.00% on assets up to $500 
                                                                   million and 0.95% on assets 
                                                                   over $500 million 
13.DEAN WITTER INCOME BUILDER FUND ..............  $   245,689,401 0.75% 
14.DEAN WITTER INFORMATION FUND .................  $   239,136,659 0.75% 
15.DEAN WITTER INTERNATIONAL SMALLCAP FUND  .....  $   109,461,789 1.25% (of which 40% is paid to 
                                                                   a Sub-Adviser) 
16.DEAN WITTER JAPAN FUND .......................  $   193,493,375 1.0% (of which 40% is paid to 
                                                                   a Sub-Adviser) 
17.DEAN WITTER MARKET LEADER TRUST ..............  $       100,000 0.75% (1) 
18.DEAN WITTER MID-CAP GROWTH FUND ..............  $   409,527,028 0.75% 

                               B-1           
<PAGE>
                                                                    CURRENT INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT 
                                                    NET ASSETS AS            FEE RATE(S) 
                                                         OF                AS A PERCENTAGE 
                                                      03/12/97              OF NET ASSETS 
                                                  ---------------  ------------------------------ 
19.DEAN WITTER NATURAL RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT 
   SECURITIES INC. ..............................  $  255,182,300  0.625% on assets up to $250 
                                                                   million and 0.50% on assets 
                                                                   over $250 million 
20.DEAN WITTER PACIFIC GROWTH FUND INC.  ........  $1,504,922,981  1.00% on assets up to 
                                                                   $1 billion and 0.95% on assets 
                                                                   over $1 billion (of which 40% 
                                                                   is paid to a Sub-Adviser) 
21.DEAN WITTER PRECIOUS METALS AND MINERALS 
   TRUST ........................................  $   59,639,235  0.80% 
22.DEAN WITTER SPECIAL VALUE FUND ...............  $  246,216,395  0.75% 
23.DEAN WITTER STRATEGIST FUND ..................  $1,435,020,832  0.60% on assets up to $500 
                                                                   million, scaled down at 
                                                                   various asset levels to 0.475% 
                                                                   on assets over $1.5 billion 
24.DEAN WITTER UTILITIES FUND ...................  $2,517,911,689  0.65% on assets up to $500 
                                                                   million, scaled down at 
                                                                   various asset levels to 0.425% 
                                                                   on assets over $5 billion 
25.DEAN WITTER VALUE-ADDED MARKET SERIES  .......  $1,232,708,381  0.50% on assets up to $500 
                                                                   million, scaled down at 
                                                                   various asset levels to 0.425% 
                                                                   on assets over $1 billion 
26.DEAN WITTER WORLD WIDE INVESTMENT TRUST  .....  $  438,134,738  1.0% on assets up to $500 
                                                                   million and 0.95% on assets 
                                                                   over $500 million (of which 
                                                                   40% is paid to a Sub-Adviser) 
27.DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES: 
  (A) AMERICAN VALUE SERIES .....................  $   44,710,329  0.85% (2) 
  (B) CAPITAL GROWTH SERIES .....................  $    2,753,853  0.85% (2) 
  (C) DIVIDEND GROWTH SERIES ....................  $   92,596,787  0.75% (2) 
  (D) GLOBAL EQUITY SERIES ......................  $   16,316,755  1.00% (2) 
  (E) STRATEGIST SERIES .........................  $   22,235,461  0.85% (2) 
  (F) UTILITIES SERIES ..........................  $    5,890,044  0.75% (2) 
  (G) VALUE-ADDED MARKET SERIES .................  $   19,935,888  0.50% (2) 
28.DEAN WITTER SELECT DIMENSIONS INVESTMENT 
   SERIES:* 
  (A) AMERICAN VALUE PORTFOLIO ..................  $  142,691,109  0.625% 
  (B) BALANCED PORTFOLIO ........................  $   46,432,529  0.75% (of which 40% is paid to 
                                                                   a Sub-Adviser) 
  (C) CORE EQUITY PORTFOLIO .....................  $   22,871,602  0.85% (of which 40% is paid to 
                                                                   a Sub-Adviser) 
  (D) DEVELOPING GROWTH PORTFOLIO ...............  $   62,776,199  0.50% 
  (E) DIVIDEND GROWTH PORTFOLIO .................  $  313,542,513  0.625% 
  (F) EMERGING MARKETS PORTFOLIO ................  $   21,698,779  1.25% (of which 40% is paid to 
                                                                   a Sub-Adviser) 
  (G) GLOBAL EQUITY PORTFOLIO ...................  $   68,541,265  1.00% 
  (H) MID-CAP GROWTH PORTFOLIO ..................  $    3,805,149  0.75% (3) 

                               B-2           
<PAGE>
                                                                    CURRENT INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT 
                                                    NET ASSETS AS            FEE RATE(S) 
                                                         OF                AS A PERCENTAGE 
                                                      03/12/97              OF NET ASSETS 
                                                  ---------------  ------------------------------ 
  (I) UTILITIES PORTFOLIO .......................  $   36,684,324  0.65% 
  (J) VALUE-ADDED MARKET PORTFOLIO ..............  $   87,489,055  0.50% 
29.DEAN WITTER VARIABLE INVESTMENT SERIES:* 
  (A) CAPITAL APPRECIATION PORTFOLIO ............  $    8,143,548  0.75% (4) 
  (B) CAPITAL GROWTH PORTFOLIO ..................  $   94,830,181  0.65% 
  (C) DIVIDEND GROWTH PORTFOLIO .................  $1,411,963,686  0.625% on assets up to $500 
                                                                   million, scaled down at 
                                                                   various asset levels to 0.475% 
                                                                   on assets over $1 billion 
  (D) EQUITY PORTFOLIO ..........................  $  582,707,983  0.50% on assets up to 
                                                                   $1 billion and 0.475% on 
                                                                   assets over $1 billion 
  (E) EUROPEAN GROWTH PORTFOLIO .................  $  327,394,722  1.00% (of which 40% is paid to 
                                                                   a Sub-Adviser) 
  (F) GLOBAL DIVIDEND GROWTH PORTFOLIO  .........  $  361,396,602  0.75% 
  (G) INCOME BUILDER PORTFOLIO ..................  $    8,047,838  0.75% (4) 
  (H) PACIFIC GROWTH PORTFOLIO ..................  $  136,946,030  1.00% (of which 40% is paid to 
                                                                   a Sub-Adviser) 
  (I) STRATEGIST PORTFOLIO ......................  $  446,279,938  0.50% 
  (J) UTILITIES PORTFOLIO .......................  $  423,303,421  0.65% on assets up to $500 
                                                                   million and 0.55% on assets 
                                                                   over $500 million 
    

</TABLE>

- ------------ 
 *     Open-end investment company offered only to life insurance companies in 
       connection with variable annuity and/or variable life insurance 
       contracts. 
(1)    InterCapital has undertaken to assume all operating expenses of Dean 
       Witter Market Leader Trust (except for any 12b-1 fees and brokerage 
       fees) and to waive the compensation provided for in its investment 
       management agreement with that company until such time as that company 
       has $50 million of net assets or until six months from that company's 
       commencement of operations. Dean Witter Market Leader Trust is expected 
       to commence operations on or about April 28, 1997. 
(2)    InterCapital has undertaken, until July 31, 1997, to continue to assume 
       all operating expenses of the Series of Dean Witter Retirement Series 
       (except for any brokerage fees and a portion of organizational 
       expenses) and to waive the compensation provided for each Series in its 
       investment management agreement with that company to the extent that 
       such expenses and compensation on an annualized basis exceed 1.0% of 
       the daily net assets of the pertinent Series. 
(3)    InterCapital has undertaken, until the earlier of July 21, 1997 or the 
       attainment by the Portfolio of $50 million of net assets, to assume all 
       operating expenses (except for any brokerage fees) of the Mid-Cap 
       Growth Portfolio of Dean Witter Select Dimensions Investment Series and 
       to waive the compensation provided for that Portfolio in its investment 
       management agreement with the company. 
(4)    InterCapital has undertaken, until the earlier of July 21, 1997 or the 
       attainment by the respective Portfolio of $50 million of net assets, to 
       assume all operating expenses (except for any brokerage fees) of the 
       Income Builder Portfolio and the Capital Appreciation Portfolio of Dean 
       Witter Variable Investment Series and to waive the compensation 
       provided for each of these Portfolios in its investment management 
       agreement with that company. 

                               B-3           
<PAGE>
   
                                                                    APPENDIX C 
    

                        FORM OF ARTICLES OF AMENDMENT 

   Dean Witter [   ] Inc., a Maryland Corporation (the "Corporation") having 
its principal office in Baltimore, Maryland, hereby certifies to the State 
Department of Assessments and Taxation of Maryland that: 

   
   FIRST: The Articles of Incorporation of the Corporation (the "Articles") 
are hereby amended as follows: 

     Article V, Section (2) is renumbered as Section (3) and a new Section (2) 
    is hereby inserted to read as follows: 
    

        (2) The Corporation is authorized to issue its shares in two or more 
       series or two or more classes, and subject to the requirements of the 
       Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, particularly Section 18(f) 
       thereof and Rule 18f-2 thereunder, the different series or classes 
       shall be established and designated, and the variations in the 
       relative preferences, conversion and other rights, voting powers, 
       restrictions, limitations as to dividends, qualifications and terms 
       and conditions of redemption as between the different series or 
       classes shall be fixed and determined by the Board of Directors; 
       provided that the Board of Directors shall not classify or reclassify 
       any of such shares into any class or series of stock which is prior to 
       any class or series of stock then outstanding with respect to rights 
       upon the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of, or 
       upon any distribution of the general assets of, the Corporation, 
       except that there may be variations so fixed and determined between 
       different series or classes as to investment objective, purchase 
       price, right of redemption, special rights as to dividends and on 
       liquidation with respect to assets belonging to a particular series or 
       class, voting powers and conversion rights. All references to Common 
       Stock in these Articles shall be deemed to be shares of any or all 
       series and classes as the context may require. 

        The following is a description of the preferences, conversion and 
       other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to 
       dividends, qualifications and terms and conditions of redemption of 
       any additional class or series of Common Stock of the Corporation 
       (unless provided otherwise by the Board of Directors with respect to 
       any such additional class or series at the time of establishing and 
       designating such additional class or series): 

        (a) The number of authorized Common Stock and the number of Common 
       Stock of each series or of each class that may be issued shall be in 
       such number as may be determined by the Board of Directors and 
       reflected in Articles Supplementary filed with the Maryland State 
       Department of Assessments and Taxation. The Directors may classify or 
       reclassify any unissued Common Stock or any Common Stock 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 Directors may reissue for such consideration and on 
       such terms as they may determine, or cancel, any Common Stock of any 
       series or any class reacquired by the Corporation at their discretion 
       from time to time. 

        (b) All consideration received by the Corporation for the issue or 
       sale of Common Stock 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 

                               C-1           
<PAGE>
       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 Corporation. In the event that there are any assets, income, 
       earnings, profits and proceeds thereof funds, or payments which are 
       not readily identifiable as belonging to any particular series or 
       class, the Directors 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 Corporation shall be 
       conclusive and binding upon the stockholders of all series or classes 
       for all purposes. The Directors shall have full discretion, to the 
       extent not inconsistent with the Investment Company Act of 1940, as 
       amended, and the Maryland General Corporation Law, to determine which 
       items shall be treated as income and which items shall be treated as 
       capital; and each such determination and allocation shall be 
       conclusive and binding upon the stockholders. 

        (c) The assets belonging to each particular series or class shall be 
       charged with the liabilities of the Corporation in respect of that 
       series or class and all expenses, costs, charges and reserves 
       attributable to that series, and any general liabilities, expenses, 
       costs, charges or reserves of the Corporation which are not readily 
       identifiable as belonging to any particular series or class shall be 
       allocated and charged by the Directors to and 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 the Directors in their sole 
       discretion deem fair and equitable. Each allocation of liabilities, 
       expenses, costs, charges and reserves by the Directors shall be 
       conclusive and binding upon the stockholders of all series or classes 
       for all purposes. 

        (d) Dividends and distributions on Common Stock of a particular 
       series or class may be paid with such frequency as the Directors may 
       determine, which may be daily or otherwise, pursuant to a standing 
       resolution or resolutions adopted only once or with such frequency as 
       the Board of Directors may determine, to the holders of Common Stock 
       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 Directors may determine, after providing for actual and 
       accrued liabilities belonging to that series or class. All dividends 
       and distributions on Common Stock of a particular series or class 
       shall be distributed pro rata to the holders of that series or class 
       in proportion to the number of Common Stock 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 except that in 
       connection with any dividend or distribution program or procedure, the 
       Board of Directors may determine that no dividend or distribution 
       shall be payable on shares as to which the stockholder's purchase 
       order and/or payment in proper form have not been received by the time 
       or times established by the Board of Directors under such program or 
       procedure. 

        The Corporation intends to have each separate series qualify as a 
       "regulated investment company" under the Internal Revenue Code of 
       1986, or any successor comparable statute thereto, and regulations 
       promulgated thereunder. Inasmuch as the computation of net income and 
       gains for Federal income tax purposes may vary from the computation 
       thereof on the books of the Corporation, the Board of Directors shall 
       have the power, in its sole discretion, to distribute in any fiscal 
       year as dividends, including dividends designated in whole or in part 
       as capital gains distributions, amounts sufficient, in the opinion of 
       the Board of Directors, to enable the respective series to qualify as 
       regulated investment companies and to avoid liability of such series 
       for Federal income tax in respect of that year. However, nothing in 
       the foregoing shall limit the authority of the Board of Directors to 
       make distributions greater than or less than the amount necessary to 
       qualify the series as regulated investment companies and to avoid 
       liability of such series for such tax. 

                               C-2           
<PAGE>
         Dividends and distributions may be made in cash, property or 
       additional shares of the same or another class or series, or a 
       combination thereof, as determined by the Board of Directors or 
       pursuant to any program that the Board of Directors may have in effect 
       at the time for the election by each stockholder of the mode of the 
       making of such dividend or distribution to that stockholder. Any such 
       dividend or distribution paid in shares will be paid at the net asset 
       value thereof as defined in section (3) below. 

        (e) In the event of the liquidation or dissolution of the Corporation 
       or of a particular class or series, the stockholders of each class or 
       series that has been established and designated and is being 
       liquidated shall be entitled to receive, as a class or series, when 
       and as declared by the Board of Directors, the excess of the assets 
       belonging to the class or series over the liabilities belonging to 
       that class or series. The holders of shares of any particular class or 
       series shall not be entitled thereby to any distribution upon 
       liquidation of any other class or series. The assets so distributable 
       to the stockholders of any particular class or series shall be 
       distributed among such stockholders in proportion to the number of 
       shares of that class or series held by them and recorded on the books 
       of the Corporation. The liquidation of any particular class or series 
       in which there are shares then outstanding may be authorized by vote 
       of a majority of the outstanding securities of that class or series, 
       as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and 
       without the vote of the holders of any other class or series. The 
       liquidation or dissolution of a particular class or series may be 
       accomplished, in whole or in part, by the transfer of assets of such 
       class or series to another class of series or by the exchange of 
       shares of such class or series for the shares of another class or 
       series. 

        (f) On each matter submitted to a vote of the stockholders, each 
       holder of a share shall be entitled to one vote for each share 
       standing in his name on the books of the Corporation, irrespective of 
       the class or series thereof, and all shares of all classes or series 
       shall vote as a single class or series ("Single Class voting"); 
       provided, however, that (i) as to any matter with respect to which a 
       separate vote of any class or series is required by the Investment 
       Company Act of 1940, as amended, or by the Maryland General 
       Corporation Law, such requirement as to a separate vote by that class 
       or series shall apply in lieu of Single Class voting as described 
       above; (ii) in the event that the separate vote requirements referred 
       to in (i) above apply with respect to one or more classes or series, 
       then, subject to (iii) below, the shares of all other classes or 
       series shall vote as a single class or series; and (iii) as to any 
       matter which does not affect the interest of a particular class or 
       series, only the holders of shares of the one or more affected classes 
       shall be entitled to vote. 

        (g) The establishment and designation of any series or class of 
       Common Stock shall be effective upon the adoption by a majority of the 
       then Directors of a resolution setting forth such establishment and 
       designation and the relative rights and preferences of such series or 
       class, or as otherwise provided in such instrument, and the filing 
       with the proper authority of the State of Maryland of Articles 
       Supplementary setting forth such establishment and designation and 
       relative rights and preferences. 

   
   SECOND: The Amendment was recommended by the Corporation's Board of 
Directors and approved by the holders of a majority of the outstanding common 
stock entitled to vote thereon. 
    

                               C-3           
<PAGE>
    IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Dean Witter [        ] Inc. has caused these presents 
to be signed in its name and on its behalf by its President and witnessed by 
its Secretary on [     ], 1997. 

WITNESS: 


- ------------------------------------- 
Barry Fink 
Secretary 


DEAN WITTER [         ] INC. 

By: 

- ------------------------------------- 
    Charles A. Fiumefreddo 
    President 

   THE UNDERSIGNED, President of Dean Witter [        ] Inc. who executed on 
behalf of the Corporation the foregoing Articles of Amendment of which this 
certificate is made a part, hereby acknowledges in the name and on behalf of 
said Corporation the foregoing Articles of Amendment to be the corporate act 
of said Corporation and hereby certifies that to the best of his knowledge, 
information, and belief the matters and facts set forth therein with respect 
to the authorization and approval thereof are true in all material respects 
under the penalties of perjury. 

                                          ----------------------------------- 
                                          Charles A. Fiumefreddo 
                                          President 

                               C-4           





<PAGE>


               DEAN WITTER DIVIDEND GROWTH SECURITIES INC.

                              PROXY

         THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The undersigned hereby appoints Robert M. Scanlan, Barry Fink and Joseph J. 
McAlinden, or any of them, proxies, each with the power of substitution, to 
vote on behalf of the undersigned at the Special Meeting of Shareholders of 
Dean Witter Dividend Growth Securities Inc. on May 21, 1997, at 9:00 a.m., New 
York City time, and at any adjournment thereof, on the proposals set forth in 
the Notice of Meeting dated March 19, 1997 as follows:





                       (Continued on reverse side)

THIS PROXY WHEN PROPERLY EXECUTED WILL BE VOTED IN THE MANNER DIRECTED HEREIN 
BY THE UNDERSIGNED SHAREHOLDER. IF NO DIRECTION IS MADE, THIS PROXY WILL BE 
VOTED "FOR" THE DIRECTORS AND THE PROPOSALS SET FORTH ON THE REVERSE HEREOF 
AND AS RECOMMENDED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.


       IMPORTANT-THIS PROXY MUST BE SIGNED AND DATED ON THE REVERSE SIDE.

<PAGE>


[X]  PLEASE MARK VOTES AS
     IN THE EXAMPLE USING
     BLACK OR BLUE INK



                                                FOR      AGAINST      ABSTAIN
1.  Approval of New Investment Management       [ ]        [ ]          [ ]
    Agreement with Dean Witter InterCapital
    Inc. in connection with proposed merger.


                                                                      FOR ALL
                                                FOR      WITHHOLD      EXCEPT
2.  Election of Directors:                      [ ]        [ ]          [ ]

    Michael Bozic, Charles A. Fiumefreddo, 
    Edwin J. Garn, John R. Haire, Wayne E. Hedien, 
    Manuel H. Johnson, Michael E. Nugent, 
    Philip J. Purcell, John L. Schroeder

    IF YOU WISH TO WITHHOLD AUTHORITY FOR 
    ANY PARTICULAR NOMINEE, MARK THE "FOR ALL 
    EXCEPT" BOX AND STRIKE A LINE THROUGH THE 
    NOMINEE'S NAME.

                                                FOR      AGAINST      ABSTAIN
3.  Approval of Amendment to Articles           [ ]        [ ]          [ ]
    of Incorporation to permit multiple
    classes or series of shares.

4.  Approval of New Investment Policy with      [ ]        [ ]          [ ]
    respect to investments in certain other
    investment companies.

5.  Ratification of Appointment of Price        [ ]        [ ]          [ ]
    Waterhouse LLP as Independent
    Accountants.




Please make sure to sign and date
this Proxy using black or blue ink.                         Date_______________
- ----------------------------------           ----------------------------------


- ----------------------------------           ----------------------------------
Shareholder sign in the box above       Co-Owner (if any) sign in the box above



- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 
                         PLEASE DETACH AT PERFORATION


                    DEAN WITTER DIVIDEND GROWTH SECURITIES INC.

                                   IMPORTANT

                  PLEASE SEND IN YOUR PROXY............TODAY!


YOU ARE URGED TO DATE AND SIGN THE ATTACHED PROXY AND RETURN IT PROMPTLY IN 
THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE. THIS WILL HELP SAVE THE EXPENSE OF FOLLOW-UP LETTERS 
TO SHAREHOLDERS WHO HAVE NOT RESPONDED.





<PAGE>

               DEAN WITTER HIGH YIELD SECURITIES INC.

                              PROXY

          THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The undersigned hereby appoints Robert M. Scanlan, Barry Fink, and Joseph 
J. McAlinden, or any of them, proxies, each with the power of substitution, to 
vote on behalf of the undersigned at the Special Meeting of Shareholders of 
Dean Witter High Yield Securities Inc. on May 21, 1997, at 9:00 a.m., New York 
City time, and at any adjournment thereof, on the proposals set forth in the 
Notice of Meeting dated March 19, 1997 as follows:





                         (Continued on reverse side)

THIS PROXY WHEN PROPERLY EXECUTED WILL BE VOTED IN THE MANNER DIRECTED HEREIN 
BY THE UNDERSIGNED SHAREHOLDER. IF NO DIRECTION IS MADE, THIS PROXY WILL BE 
VOTED "FOR" THE DIRECTORS AND THE PROPOSALS SET FORTH ON THE REVERSE HEREOF 
AND AS RECOMMENDED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.


     IMPORTANT-This Proxy must be signed and dated on the reverse side.


<PAGE>

[X]  PLEASE MARK VOTES AS
     IN THE EXAMPLE USING
     BLACK OR BLUE INK

                                                  FOR     AGAINST     ABSTAIN
1.  Approval of New Investment Management         [ ]       [ ]         [ ]
    Agreement with Dean Witter InterCapital
    Inc. in connection with proposed merger.

                                                                     FOR ALL
                                                  FOR     WITHHOLD    EXCEPT
2.  Election of Directors:                        [ ]       [ ]         [ ]

    Michael Bozic, Charles A. Fiumefreddo, 
    Edwin J. Garn, John R. Haire, Wayne E. 
    Hedien, Manuel H. Johnson, Michael E.
    Nugent, Philip J. Purcell, 
    John L. Schroeder

    IF YOU WISH TO WITHHOLD AUTHORITY FOR 
    ANY PARTICULAR NOMINEE, MARK THE "FOR ALL 
    EXCEPT" BOX AND STRIKE A LINE THROUGH THE 
    NOMINEE'S NAME.

                                                  FOR     AGAINST     ABSTAIN
3.  Approval of Amendment to Articles             [ ]       [ ]         [ ]
    of Incorporation to permit multiple
    classes or series of shares.

4.  Approval of New Investment Policy with        [ ]       [ ]         [ ]
    respect to investments in certain other
    investment companies.

5.  Ratification of Appointment of Price          [ ]       [ ]         [ ]
    Waterhouse LLP as Independent
    Accountants.



Please make sure to sign and date
this Proxy using black or blue ink.                         Date_______________
- ----------------------------------           ----------------------------------


- ----------------------------------           ----------------------------------
Shareholder sign in the box above       Co-Owner (if any) sign in the box above



- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 
                            PLEASE DETACH AT PERFORATION


                        DEAN WITTER HIGH YIELD SECURITIES INC.


                                     IMPORTANT
     
                    PLEASE SEND IN YOUR PROXY............TODAY!


YOU ARE URGED TO DATE AND SIGN THE ATTACHED PROXY AND RETURN IT PROMPTLY IN 
THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE. THIS WILL HELP SAVE THE EXPENSE OF FOLLOW-UP LETTERS TO 
SHAREHOLDERS WHO HAVE NOT RESPONDED.



<PAGE>

          DEAN WITTER NATURAL RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT SECURITIES INC.

                                   PROXY

          THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The undersigned hereby appoints Robert M. Scanlan, Barry Fink, and Joseph 
J. McAlinden, or any of them, proxies, each with the power of substitution, to 
vote on behalf of the undersigned at the Special Meeting of Shareholders of 
Dean Witter Natural Resource Development Securities Inc. on May 21, 1997, at 
9:00 a.m., New York City time, and at any adjournment thereof, on the proposals 
set forth in the Notice of Meeting dated March 19, 1997 as follows:




                         (Continued on reverse side)

THIS PROXY WHEN PROPERLY EXECUTED WILL BE VOTED IN THE MANNER DIRECTED HEREIN 
BY THE UNDERSIGNED SHAREHOLDER. IF NO DIRECTION IS MADE, THIS PROXY WILL BE 
VOTED "FOR" THE DIRECTORS AND THE PROPOSALS SET FORTH ON THE REVERSE HEREOF 
AND AS RECOMMENDED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.

        IMPORTANT-THIS PROXY MUST BE SIGNED AND DATED ON THE REVERSE SIDE.

<PAGE>


[X]  PLEASE MARK VOTES AS
     IN THE EXAMPLE USING
     BLACK OR BLUE INK

                                                  FOR     AGAINST     ABSTAIN
1.  Approval of New Investment Management         [ ]       [ ]         [ ]
    Agreement with Dean Witter InterCapital
    Inc. in connection with proposed merger.

                                                                      FOR ALL
                                                  FOR     WITHHOLD     EXCEPT
2.  Election of Directors:                        [ ]       [ ]         [ ]

    Michael Bozic, Charles A. Fiumefreddo, 
    Edwin J. Garn, John R. Haire, Wayne E.
    Hedien, Manuel H. Johnson, Michael E. 
    Nugent, Philip J. Purcell, 
    John L. Schroeder

    IF YOU WISH TO WITHHOLD AUTHORITY FOR ANY 
    PARTICULAR NOMINEE, MARK THE "FOR ALL EXCEPT"
    BOX AND STRIKE A LINE THROUGH THE NOMINEE'S 
    NAME.

                                                  FOR     AGAINST     ABSTAIN
3.  Approval of Amendment to Articles             [ ]       [ ]         [ ]
    of Incorporation to permit multiple
    classes or series of shares.

4.  Approval of New Investment Policy with        [ ]       [ ]         [ ]
    respect to investments in certain other
    investment companies.

5.  Ratification of Appointment of Price          [ ]       [ ]         [ ]
    Waterhouse LLP as Independent
    Accountants.





Please make sure to sign and date
this Proxy using black or blue ink.                         Date_______________
- ----------------------------------           ----------------------------------


- ----------------------------------           ----------------------------------
Shareholder sign in the box above       Co-Owner (if any) sign in the box above



- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 
                              PLEASE DETACH AT PERFORATION


               DEAN WITTER NATURAL RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT SECURITIES INC.

                                     IMPORTANT

                    PLEASE SEND IN YOUR PROXY............TODAY!


YOU ARE URGED TO DATE AND SIGN THE ATTACHED PROXY AND RETURN IT PROMPTLY IN 
THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE. THIS WILL HELP SAVE THE EXPENSE OF FOLLOW-UP LETTERS TO 
SHAREHOLDERS WHO HAVE NOT RESPONDED.







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