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AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON FEBRUARY 10, 1998
REGISTRATION NOS.: 2-82510
811-3692
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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
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FORM N-1A
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 /X/
POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. 22 /X/
AND/OR
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940 /X/
AMENDMENT NO. 23 /X/
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DEAN WITTER VARIABLE INVESTMENT SERIES
(A MASSACHUSETTS BUSINESS TRUST)
(EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN CHARTER)
TWO WORLD TRADE CENTER
NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10048
(ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICE)
REGISTRANT'S TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING AREA CODE: (212) 392-1600
BARRY FINK, ESQ.
TWO WORLD TRADE CENTER
NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10048
(NAME AND ADDRESS OF AGENT FOR SERVICE)
COPY TO:
DAVID M. BUTOWSKY, ESQ.
GORDON ALTMAN BUTOWSKY
WEITZEN SHALOV & WEIN
114 WEST 47TH STREET
NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10036
APPROXIMATE DATE OF PROPOSED PUBLIC OFFERING: As soon as practicable after this
Post-Effective
Amendment becomes effective
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IT IS PROPOSED THAT THIS FILING WILL BECOME EFFECTIVE (CHECK APPROPRIATE BOX)
___ immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b)
___ on (date) pursuant to paragraph (b)
___ 60 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)
_X_ on May 1, 1998 pursuant to paragraph (a) of rule 485
AMENDING THE PROSPECTUS
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DEAN WITTER VARIABLE INVESTMENT SERIES
CROSS-REFERENCE SHEET
FORM N-1A
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ITEM CAPTION
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PART A PROSPECTUS
1. ......................................... Cover Page
2. ......................................... Prospectus Summary
3. ......................................... Financial Highlights
4. ......................................... Investment Objectives and Policies; The Fund and its Management;
Cover Page; Investment Restrictions; Prospectus Summary
5. ......................................... The Fund and Its Management; Investment Objectives and Policies
6. ......................................... Dividends, Distributions and Taxes; Additional Information
7. ......................................... Purchase of Fund Shares; Prospectus Summary
8. ......................................... Redemption of Fund Shares
9. ......................................... Not Applicable
PART B STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
10. ......................................... Cover Page
11. ......................................... Table of Contents
12. ......................................... The Fund and its Management
13. ......................................... Investment Practices and Policies; Investment Restrictions; Portfolio
Transactions and Brokerage
14. ......................................... The Fund and its Management; Trustees and Officers
15. ......................................... The Fund and its Management; Trustees and Officers
16. ......................................... The Fund and its Management; Custodian and Transfer Agent;
Independent Accountants
17. ......................................... Portfolio Transactions and Brokerage
18. ......................................... Description of Shares of the Fund
19. ......................................... Purchase and Redemption of Fund Shares; Financial Statements
20. ......................................... Dividends, Distributions and Taxes; Financial Statements
21. ......................................... Purchase and Redemption of Fund Shares
22. ......................................... Performance Information
23. ......................................... Experts; Financial Statements
PART C
Information required to be included in Part C is set forth under the appropriate item, so numbered, in Part C of
this Registration Statement.
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PROSPECTUS DATED
May 1, 1998
DEAN WITTER VARIABLE INVESTMENT SERIES
Two World Trade Center, New York, New York 10048
(212) 392-2550 or (800) 869-NEWS
Dean Witter Variable Investment Series (the "Fund") is an open-end diversified
management investment company which is intended to provide a broad range of
investment alternatives with its fifteen separate Portfolios, each of which has
distinct investment objectives and policies.
- THE MONEY MARKET PORTFOLIO
- THE QUALITY INCOME PLUS PORTFOLIO
- THE HIGH YIELD PORTFOLIO
- THE UTILITIES PORTFOLIO
- THE INCOME BUILDER PORTFOLIO
- THE DIVIDEND GROWTH PORTFOLIO
- THE CAPITAL GROWTH PORTFOLIO
- THE GLOBAL DIVIDEND GROWTH PORTFOLIO
- THE EUROPEAN GROWTH PORTFOLIO
- THE PACIFIC GROWTH PORTFOLIO
- THE CAPITAL APPRECIATION PORTFOLIO
- THE EQUITY PORTFOLIO
- THE S&P 500 INDEX PORTFOLIO
- THE COMPETITIVE EDGE "BEST IDEAS" PORTFOLIO
- THE STRATEGIST PORTFOLIO
There can be no assurance that the investment objectives of the Portfolios will
be achieved. SEE "Prospectus Summary" and "Investment Objectives and Policies."
An investment in the Money Market Portfolio is neither insured nor guaranteed by
the U.S. Government. There is no assurance that the Portfolio will be able to
maintain a stable net asset value of $1.00 per share.
Investors in the High Yield Portfolio should carefully consider the relative
risks of investing in high yield securities, which are commonly known as junk
bonds. Bonds of this type are considered to be speculative with regard to the
payment of interest and return of principal. Investors in the High Yield
Portfolio should also be cognizant of the fact that such securities are not
generally meant for short-term investing and should assess the risks associated
with an investment in the High Yield Portfolio.
Shares of the Portfolios of the Fund are not deposits or obligations of, or
guaranteed or endorsed by, any bank, and the shares are not federally insured by
the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Federal Reserve Board, or any
other agency.
Currently, the shares of the Fund will be sold only to (1) Northbrook Life
Insurance Company ("Northbrook") to fund the benefits under certain flexible
premium variable annuity contracts and certain flexible premium variable life
insurance contracts it issues, to (2) Allstate Life Insurance Company of New
York ("Allstate New York") to fund the benefits under certain flexible premium
deferred variable annuity contracts it issues, to (3) Glenbrook Life and Annuity
Company ("Glenbrook") to fund the benefits under certain flexible premium
deferred variable annuity contracts and certain flexible premium variable life
insurance contracts it issues, and to (4) Paragon Life Insurance Company
("Paragon") to fund the benefits under certain flexible premium variable life
insurance contracts it issues in connection with an employer-sponsored insurance
program offered only to certain employees of Dean Witter, Discover & Co., the
parent company of the Fund's Investment Manager. The variable annuity contracts
issued by Northbrook, Allstate New York and Glenbrook are sometimes referred to
as the "Variable Annuity Contracts," the variable life insurance contracts
issued by Northbrook, Glenbrook and Paragon are sometimes referred to as the
"Variable Life Contracts," and the Variable Annuity Contracts and the Variable
Life Contracts are sometimes referred to as the "Contracts." Northbrook,
Allstate New York, Glenbrook and Paragon are sometimes referred to as the
"Companies." In the future, shares may be sold to affiliated and/or
non-affiliated entities of the Companies. The Companies will invest in shares of
the Fund in accordance with allocation instructions received from Contract
Owners, which allocation rights are further described in the accompanying
Prospectus for either the Variable Annuity Contracts or the Variable Life
Contracts. The Companies will redeem shares to the extent necessary to provide
benefits under the Contracts.
This Prospectus sets forth concisely the information you should know before
allocating your investment under your Contract to the Fund. It should be read
and retained for future reference. Additional information about the Fund is
contained in the Statement of Additional Information, dated May 1, 1998, which
has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and which is
available at no charge upon request of the Fund at the address or telephone
numbers listed above. The Statement of Additional Information is incorporated
herein by reference.
THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION NOR HAS THE SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE
ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE
CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
------------------------
DEAN WITTER INTERCAPITAL INC. -- Investment Manager
This Prospectus must be accompanied by a current Prospectus for the Variable
Annuity Contracts issued by Northbrook Life Insurance Company, Allstate Life
Insurance Company of New York or Glenbrook Life and Annuity Company or by a
current Prospectus for the Variable Life Contracts issued by Northbrook Life
Insurance Company, Glenbrook Life and Annuity Company or Paragon Life Insurance
Company. Both Prospectuses should be read and retained for future reference.
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No dealer, salesman, or other person has been authorized to give any information
or to make any representations, other than those contained in the Prospectus and
in the Statement of Additional Information, in connection with the offer
contained in this Prospectus and in the Statement of Additional Information,
and, if given or made, such other information or representations must not be
relied upon as having been authorized by the Fund. This Prospectus and the
Statement of Additional Information do not constitute an offering in any State
in which such offering may not be lawfully made.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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Prospectus Summary.................................................................................. 3
Financial Highlights................................................................................ 8
The Fund and its Management......................................................................... 12
Investment Objectives and Policies.................................................................. 13
The Money Market Portfolio........................................................................ 13
The Quality Income Plus Portfolio................................................................. 14
The High Yield Portfolio.......................................................................... 16
The Utilities Portfolio........................................................................... 17
The Income Builder Portfolio...................................................................... 18
The Dividend Growth Portfolio..................................................................... 20
The Capital Growth Portfolio...................................................................... 21
The Global Dividend Growth Portfolio.............................................................. 21
The European Growth Portfolio..................................................................... 22
The Pacific Growth Portfolio...................................................................... 23
The Capital Appreciation Portfolio................................................................ 25
The Equity Portfolio.............................................................................. 26
The S&P 500 Index Portfolio....................................................................... 27
The Competitive Edge "Best Ideas" Portfolio....................................................... 28
The Strategist Portfolio.......................................................................... 30
General Portfolio Techniques...................................................................... 31
Investment Restrictions............................................................................. 41
Determination of Net Asset Value.................................................................... 42
Purchase of Fund Shares............................................................................. 43
Redemption of Fund Shares........................................................................... 44
Dividends, Distributions and Taxes.................................................................. 44
Performance Information............................................................................. 45
Additional Information.............................................................................. 46
Appendix -- Ratings of Corporate Debt
Instruments Investments.......................................................................... 48
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PROSPECTUS SUMMARY
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THE FUND The Fund is organized as a Trust, commonly known as a Massachusetts business
trust, and is an open-end diversified management investment company. The Fund is
comprised of fifteen separate Portfolios: the MONEY MARKET PORTFOLIO, the QUALITY
INCOME PLUS PORTFOLIO, the HIGH YIELD PORTFOLIO, the UTILITIES PORTFOLIO, the
INCOME BUILDER PORTFOLIO, the DIVIDEND GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the CAPITAL GROWTH
PORTFOLIO, the GLOBAL DIVIDEND GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the EUROPEAN GROWTH PORTFOLIO,
the PACIFIC GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the CAPITAL APPRECIATION PORTFOLIO, the EQUITY
PORTFOLIO, the S&P 500 INDEX PORTFOLIO, the COMPETITIVE EDGE "BEST IDEAS"
PORTFOLIO and the STRATEGIST PORTFOLIO (see pages 13 through 41). The Trustees of
the Fund may establish additional Portfolios at any time. To the extent that
shares are sold to the Companies in order to fund the benefits under Contracts,
the structure of the Fund permits Contract Owners, within the limitations
described in the Contracts, to allocate the investments underlying the Contracts
in response to or in anticipation of changes in market or economic conditions. See
the accompanying Prospectus for either the Variable Annuity Contracts or the
Variable Life Contracts for a description of the relationship between increases or
decreases in the net asset value of Fund shares and any distributions on such
shares, and benefits provided under a Contract.
Each Portfolio is managed for investment purposes as if it were a separate fund
issuing a separate class of shares of beneficial interest, with $.01 par value.
The assets of each Portfolio are segregated, so that an interest in the Fund is
limited to the assets of the Portfolio in which shares are held and shareholders,
such as the Companies, are each entitled to a pro rata share of all dividends and
distributions arising from the net investment income and capital gains, if any, of
such Portfolio (see pages 44 and 46).
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INVESTMENT Each Portfolio has distinct investment objectives and policies, and is subject to
OBJECTIVES, various investment restrictions, some of which apply to all the Portfolios. The
POLICIES, Money Market Portfolio seeks high current income, preservation of capital and
RESTRICTIONS liquidity by investing in short-term money market instruments (see pages 13-14).
AND RISKS The Quality Income Plus Portfolio seeks, as its primary objective, to earn a high
level of current income and, as a secondary objective, capital appreciation, but
only when consistent with its primary objective, by investing primarily in U.S.
Government securities and higher-rated fixed-income securities and by writing
covered options on such securities (see pages 14-15). The High Yield Portfolio
seeks, as a primary objective, to earn a high level of current income and, as a
secondary objective, seeks capital appreciation, but only when consistent with its
primary objective, by investing primarily in lower-rated fixed-income securities,
which are commonly known as junk bonds (see pages 16-17). The Utilities Portfolio
seeks to provide current income and long-term growth of income and capital by
investing primarily in equity and fixed-income securities of companies engaged in
the public utilities industry (see pages 17-18). The Income Builder Portfolio
seeks, as its primary objective, reasonable income and, as its secondary
objective, growth of capital, by investing primarily in income-producing equity
securities (see pages 18-20). The Dividend Growth Portfolio seeks to provide
reasonable current income and long-term growth of income and capital by investing
primarily in common stock of companies with a record of paying dividends and the
potential for increasing dividends (see pages 20-21). The Capital Growth Portfolio
seeks long-term capital growth by investing primarily in common stocks (see page
21). The Global Dividend Growth Portfolio seeks to provide reasonable current
income and long-term growth of income and capital by investing primarily in common
stock of companies, issued by issuers worldwide, with a record of paying dividends
and the potential for increasing dividends (see pages 21-22). The European Growth
Portfolio seeks to maximize the capital
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appreciation of its investments by investing primarily in securities issued by
issuers located in Europe (see pages 22-23). The Pacific Growth Portfolio seeks to
maximize the capital appreciation of its investments by investing primarily in
securities issued by issuers located in Asia, Australia and New Zealand (see pages
23-24). The Capital Appreciation Portfolio seeks long-term capital appreciation by
investing primarily in the common stocks of U.S. companies that offer the
potential for either superior earnings growth and/or appear to be undervalued (see
pages 25-26). The Equity Portfolio seeks, as a primary objective, capital growth
through investments in common stock and, as a secondary objective, income but only
when consistent with its primary objective (see pages 26-27). The S&P 500 Index
Portfolio seeks to provide investment results that, before expenses, correspond to
the total return (I.E., the combination of capital changes and income) of the
Standard & Poor's-Registered Trademark- 500 Composite Stock Price Index (the "S&P
500 Index") by investing, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of the value of
its total assets in common stocks included in the S&P 500 Index in approximately
the same weightings as the Index (see pages 27-28). The Competitive Edge "Best
Ideas" Portfolio seeks long-term capital growth by investing, under normal
circumstances, at least 80% of its net assets in the common stock of U.S. and
non-U.S. companies included in the "Best Ideas" subgroup of "Global Investing: The
Competitive Edge," a research compilation assembled and maintained by Morgan
Stanley Dean Witter Equity Research (see pages 29-31). The Strategist Portfolio
seeks a high total investment return through a fully managed investment policy
utilizing equity securities, investment grade fixed-income securities and money
market securities, and the writing of covered options on such securities and the
collateralized sale of stock index options (see pages 30-31).
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Although the MONEY MARKET PORTFOLIO will attempt to maintain a constant net asset
value per share of $1.00, there can be no assurance that the $1.00 net asset value
can be maintained. The net asset value of shares of each Portfolio other than the
MONEY MARKET PORTFOLIO will fluctuate with changes in the market value of its
portfolio holdings. The market value of the Portfolios' securities will increase
or decrease due to a variety of economic, market and political factors which
cannot be predicted. A decline in prevailing interest rates generally increases
the value of fixed-income securities, while an increase in rates generally reduces
the value of those securities. Dividends payable by each Portfolio will vary in
relation to the amounts of dividends and/or interest paid by its securities
holdings.
The QUALITY INCOME PLUS PORTFOLIO, the UTILITIES PORTFOLIO, the CAPITAL GROWTH
PORTFOLIO, the GLOBAL DIVIDEND GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the EUROPEAN GROWTH PORTFOLIO,
the PACIFIC GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the CAPITAL APPRECIATION PORTFOLIO, the COMPETITIVE
EDGE "BEST IDEAS" PORTFOLIO and the STRATEGIST PORTFOLIO may purchase put and call
options and may enter into transactions involving interest rate futures contracts
and bond index futures contracts and options thereon as a means of hedging against
changes in the market value of the Portfolio's investments. The UTILITIES
PORTFOLIO, the CAPITAL GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the GLOBAL DIVIDEND GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the
EUROPEAN GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the PACIFIC GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the CAPITAL APPRECIATION
PORTFOLIO, the COMPETITIVE EDGE "BEST IDEAS" PORTFOLIO and the STRATEGIST
PORTFOLIO may also hedge against such changes by entering into transactions
involving stock index futures contracts and options thereon, and (except for the
EUROPEAN GROWTH PORTFOLIO and the PACIFIC GROWTH PORTFOLIO) options on stock
indexes. The S&P 500 INDEX PORTFOLIO may enter into stock index futures contracts
to simulate full investment in the S&P 500 Index while retaining a cash balance
for portfolio management purposes, to facilitate trading, to reduce transaction
costs or to seek higher investment returns when a futures contract is priced more
attractively than stocks comprising the S&P 500 Index. Each Portfolio may invest,
to a different extent, in foreign securities. Foreign securities markets pose
different and generally greater risks than those customarily associated with
domestic securities and markets including fluctuations in foreign currency
exchange rates, foreign tax rates and foreign securities exchange controls.
Investment in the QUALITY INCOME PLUS PORTFOLIO, the
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HIGH YIELD PORTFOLIO, the UTILITIES PORTFOLIO, the INCOME BUILDER PORTFOLIO, the
DIVIDEND GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the CAPITAL GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the GLOBAL DIVIDEND
GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the EUROPEAN GROWTH PORTFOLIO, THE PACIFIC GROWTH PORTFOLIO, THE
CAPITAL APPRECIATION PORTFOLIO, the EQUITY PORTFOLIO, the S&P 500 INDEX PORTFOLIO,
the COMPETITIVE EDGE "BEST IDEAS" PORTFOLIO and the STRATEGIST PORTFOLIO involve
more risk than investment in the MONEY MARKET PORTFOLIO. The high yield, high risk
fixed-income securities in which the HIGH YIELD PORTFOLIO will invest, and the
INCOME BUILDER PORTFOLIO may invest, are subject to greater risk of loss of income
and principal than higher rated, lower yielding fixed-income securities. The
prices of high yield, high risk securities have been found to be less sensitive to
changes in prevailing interest rates than higher rated investments, but are likely
to be more sensitive to adverse economic changes or individual corporate
developments. Investors in these Portfolios should carefully consider the relative
risks of investing in high yield securities and should be cognizant of the fact
that such securities are not generally meant for short-term investing (see the
discussion of lower-rated securities beginning on page 33). Investors in the
CAPITAL APPRECIATION PORTFOLIO should be aware that the Portfolio is intended for
long-term investors who can accept the risks involved in seeking long-term
appreciation through the investment primarily in securities of companies that
offer the potential for either superior earnings growth and/or appear to be
undervalued (see the discussion of such securities beginning on page 25). In
selecting investments for the CAPITAL APPRECIATION PORTFOLIO, the Investment
Manager has no general criteria as to a company's asset size, earnings or industry
type. Investors in the COMPETITIVE EDGE "BEST IDEAS" PORTFOLIO should be aware
that there can be no assurance that the securities contained in the Competitive
Edge "Best Ideas" List, which currently consists of only 40 companies, will
perform as anticipated. Past performance of securities and issuers included in the
Competitive Edge "Best Ideas" List cannot be used to predict future results of the
Portfolio, which is actively managed by the Investment Manager and the results of
which are expected to vary from the performance of the Competitive Edge "Best
Ideas" List.
Contract Owners are also directed to the discussion of options and futures
transactions (page 36), repurchase agreements (page 35), foreign securities (page
31), forward foreign currency exchange contracts (page 32), public utilities
securities (page 18), convertible securities (page 34), warrants (page 36), zero
coupon securities (page 36), when-issued and delayed delivery securities and
forward commitments (page 35) and "when, as and if issued" securities (page 35),
concerning risks associated with such securities and management techniques. The
Fund is a single diversified investment company, consisting of fifteen Portfolios,
and each Portfolio itself is diversified. Diversification does not eliminate
investment risk. Contract Owners should review the investment objectives and
policies of the Portfolios carefully and consider their ability to assume the
risks involved in allocating the investments underlying the Contracts (see pages
13-41).
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INVESTMENT Dean Witter InterCapital Inc. ("InterCapital"), the Investment Manager of the
MANAGER Fund, and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Dean Witter Services Company Inc., serve in
various investment management, advisory, management and administrative capacities
to investment companies and other portfolios with assets of approximately $
billion at March 31, 1998. For its services as Investment Manager, InterCapital
receives a monthly advisory fee at an annual rate of 0.40% of the daily net assets
of the S&P 500 INDEX PORTFOLIO; at an annual rate of 0.50% of the daily net assets
of the QUALITY INCOME PLUS PORTFOLIO up to $500 million and 0.45% of the daily net
assets of that Portfolio exceeding $500 million; at an annual rate of 0.50% of the
daily net assets of the EQUITY PORTFOLIO up to $1 billion and 0.475% of the daily
net assets of that Portfolio exceeding $1 billion; at an annual rate of 0.50% of
the daily net assets of each of the MONEY MARKET PORTFOLIO, the HIGH YIELD
PORTFOLIO and the STRATEGIST PORTFOLIO; at an annual rate of 0.625% of the daily
net assets of the DIVIDEND GROWTH PORTFOLIO up to $500 million, 0.50% of the next
$500 million, and
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0.475% of the daily net assets of that Portfolio exceeding $1 billion; at an
annual rate of 0.65% of the daily net assets of the UTILITIES PORTFOLIO up to $500
million and 0.55% of the daily net assets of that Portfolio exceeding $500
million; at an annual rate of 0.65% of the daily net assets of each of the CAPITAL
GROWTH PORTFOLIO and the COMPETITIVE EDGE "BEST IDEAS" PORTFOLIO; at an annual
rate of 0.75% of the daily net assets of each of the INCOME BUILDER PORTFOLIO, the
GLOBAL DIVIDEND GROWTH PORTFOLIO and the CAPITAL APPRECIATION PORTFOLIO; and at an
annual rate of 1.0% of the daily net assets of each of the EUROPEAN GROWTH
PORTFOLIO and the PACIFIC GROWTH PORTFOLIO. The Investment Manager has agreed to
assume all expenses of the S&P 500 INDEX PORTFOLIO (except for any brokerage
expenses) and to waive the compensation provided for that Portfolio in its Manage-
ment Agreement with the Fund to the extent that such expenses and compensation on
an annualized basis exceed 0.50% of the daily net assets of the S&P 500 INDEX
PORTFOLIO (see page 12).
Morgan Grenfell Investment Services Limited has been retained by the Investment
Manager as Sub-Adviser to the EUROPEAN GROWTH PORTFOLIO and the PACIFIC GROWTH
PORTFOLIO to provide investment advice and manage the portfolios, subject to the
overall supervision of the Investment Manager. Morgan Grenfell Investment Services
Limited currently manages assets in excess of $ billion primarily for U.S.
corporate and public employee plans, endowments, investment companies and
foundations. The Sub-Adviser receives a monthly fee from the Investment Manager
equal to 40% of the Investment Manager's monthly fee in respect of each of the
EUROPEAN GROWTH PORTFOLIO and the PACIFIC GROWTH PORTFOLIO (see page 12).
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SHAREHOLDERS Currently, shares of the Fund are sold only to (1) Northbrook Life Insurance
Company ("Northbrook") for allocation to certain separate accounts established to
fund the benefits under certain flexible premium deferred variable annuity
contracts and certain flexible premium variable life insurance contracts issued by
Northbrook, to (2) Allstate Life Insurance Company of New York ("Allstate New
York") for allocation to certain separate accounts established to fund the
benefits under certain flexible premium deferred variable annuity contracts issued
by Allstate New York, to (3) Glenbrook Life and Annuity Company ("Glenbrook") for
allocation to certain separate accounts established to fund the benefits under
certain flexible premium deferred variable annuity contracts and certain flexible
premium variable life insurance contracts issued by Glenbrook, and to (4) Paragon
Life Insurance Company ("Paragon") for allocation to a separate account
established to fund the benefits under certain flexible premium variable life
insurance contracts it issues in connection with an employer-sponsored insurance
program offered only to certain employees of Morgan Stanley, Dean Witter, Discover
& Co., the parent company of the Fund's Investment Manager. The separate accounts
are sometimes referred to individually as an "Account" and collectively as the
"Accounts." The variable annuity contracts issued by Northbrook, Allstate New York
and Glenbrook are sometimes referred to as the "Variable Annuity Contracts," the
variable life insurance contracts issued by Northbrook, Glenbrook and Paragon are
sometimes referred to as the "Variable Life Contracts," and the Variable Annuity
Contracts and the Variable Life Contracts are sometimes referred to as the
"Contracts." Northbrook, Allstate New York, Glenbrook and Paragon are sometimes
referred to as the "Companies." Accordingly, the interest of the Contract Owner
with respect to the Fund is subject to the terms of the Contract and is described
in the accompanying Prospectus for the Variable Annuity Contracts or the Variable
Life Contracts, which should be reviewed carefully by a person considering the
purchase of a Contract. The accompanying Prospectus for the Variable Annuity
Contracts or the Variable Life Contracts describes the relationship between
increases or decreases in the net asset value of Fund shares and any distributions
on such shares, and the benefits provided under a Contract. The rights of the
Companies as shareholders of the Fund should be distinguished from the rights of a
Contract Owner which are described in the Contract. In the future, shares may be
allocated to certain other separate accounts or sold to affiliated and/or
non-affiliated entities of the Companies in connection with variable annuity
contracts or variable life insurance contracts.
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As long as shares of the Fund are sold only to the Companies, the terms
"shareholder" or "shareholders" in this Prospectus shall refer to the Companies.
It is conceivable that in the future it may become disadvantageous for both
variable life and variable annuity contract separate accounts to invest in the
same underlying fund (see pages 43 and 46).
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PURCHASES Dean Witter Distributors Inc. is the distributor of the Fund's shares. Shares of
AND the Fund are sold and redeemed at net asset value, I.E., without sales charge (see
REDEMPTIONS pages 43 and 44).
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THE ABOVE IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY THE DETAILED INFORMATION APPEARING
ELSEWHERE IN THIS PROSPECTUS, THE STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, AND THE
ACCOMPANYING PROSPECTUS FOR EITHER THE VARIABLE ANNUITY CONTRACTS OR THE VARIABLE
LIFE CONTRACTS.
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FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
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The following ratios and per share data for a share of beneficial interest
outstanding throughout each period for each of the MONEY MARKET PORTFOLIO, the
QUALITY INCOME PLUS PORTFOLIO, the HIGH YIELD PORTFOLIO, the UTILITIES
PORTFOLIO, the INCOME BUILDER PORTFOLIO, the DIVIDEND GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the
CAPITAL GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the GLOBAL DIVIDEND GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the EUROPEAN
GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the PACIFIC GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the CAPITAL APPRECIATION
PORTFOLIO, the EQUITY PORTFOLIO and the STRATEGIST PORTFOLIO have been audited
by Price Waterhouse LLP, independent accountants. The financial highlights
should be read in conjunction with the financial statements, notes thereto, and
the unqualified report of independent accountants, which are contained in the
Statement of Additional Information. Further information
Financial Highlights
[TO COME]
8
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about the performance of the Portfolios of the Fund is contained in the Fund's
Annual Report to Shareholders, which may be obtained without charge upon request
to the Fund. See the discussion under the caption "Charges and Other Deductions"
in the accompanying prospectus for either the Variable Annuity Contracts or the
Variable Life Contracts for a description of charges which may be imposed on the
Contracts by the applicable Account. Any such charges are not reflected in the
financial highlights below. Inclusion of any such charges would reduce the total
return figures for all periods shown. The S&P 500 INDEX PORTFOLIO and the
COMPETITIVE EDGE "BEST IDEAS" PORTFOLIO did not commence operations before
December 31, 1997.
Financial Highlights
[TO COME]
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FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS (CONTINUED)
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Financial Highlights
[TO COME]
10
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Financial Highlights
[TO COME]
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THE FUND AND ITS MANAGEMENT
- ----------------------------------------------------------
Dean Witter Variable Investment Series (the "Fund") is an open-end diversified
management investment company. The Fund is a Trust of the type commonly known as
a "Massachusetts business trust" and was organized under the laws of The
Commonwealth of Massachusetts on February 25, 1983.
Dean Witter InterCapital Inc. ("InterCapital" or the "Investment Manager"),
whose address is Two World Trade Center, New York, New York 10048, is the Fund's
Investment Manager. The Investment Manager, which was incorporated in July,
1992, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Morgan Stanley, Dean Witter, Discover &
Co. ("MSDWD"), a preeminent global financial services firm that maintains
leading market positions each of its three primary businesses--securities, asset
management and credit services.
InterCapital and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Dean Witter Services Company Inc.,
serve in various investment management, advisory, management and administrative
capacities to investment companies, 29 of which are listed on the New York
Stock Exchange, with combined total assets of approximately $ billion at March
31, 1998. The Investment Manager also manages portfolios of pension plans, other
institutions and individuals which aggregated approximately $ billion at such
date.
The Fund has retained the Investment Manager to provide administrative services,
manage its business affairs and manage the investment of the Fund's assets,
including the placing of orders for the purchase and sale of portfolio
securities. InterCapital has retained Dean Witter Services Company Inc. to
perform the aforementioned administrative services for the Fund.
With regard to the EUROPEAN GROWTH PORTFOLIO and the PACIFIC GROWTH PORTFOLIO,
under Sub-Advisory Agreements between Morgan Grenfell Investment Services
Limited (the "Sub-Adviser") and the Investment Manager, the Sub-Adviser provides
the EUROPEAN GROWTH PORTFOLIO with investment advice and portfolio management
relating to that Portfolio's investments in securities issued by issuers located
in Europe and in other countries located elsewhere around the world, and
provides the PACIFIC GROWTH PORTFOLIO with investment advice and portfolio
management relating to that Portfolio's investments in securities issued by
issuers located in Asia, Australia and New Zealand and in countries located
elsewhere around the world, in each case subject to the overall supervision of
the Investment Manager. The Sub-Adviser, whose address is 20 Finsbury Circus,
London, England, currently manages assets in excess of $ billion primarily for
U.S. corporate and public employee benefit plans, endowments, investment
companies and foundations. The Sub-Adviser is an indirect subsidiary of Deutsche
Bank AG, the largest commercial bank in Germany.
The Fund's Trustees review the various services provided by or under the
direction of the Investment Manager (and, for the EUROPEAN GROWTH PORTFOLIO and
the PACIFIC GROWTH PORTFOLIO, by the Sub-Adviser) to ensure that the Fund's
general investment policies and programs are being properly carried out and that
administrative services are being provided to the Fund in a satisfactory manner.
As full compensation for the services and facilities furnished to the Fund and
expenses of the Fund assumed by the Investment Manager, the Fund currently pays
the Investment Manager monthly compensation calculated daily by applying the
annual rate of 0.40% to the net assets of the S&P 500 INDEX PORTFOLIO, by
applying the annual rate of 0.50% to the net assets of the QUALITY INCOME PLUS
PORTFOLIO up to $500 million and the annual rate of 0.45% to the daily net
assets of that Portfolio exceeding $500 million, by applying the annual rate of
0.50% to the daily net assets of the EQUITY PORTFOLIO up to $1 billion and
0.475% to the daily net assets of that Portfolio exceeding $1 billion, by
applying the annual rate of 0.50% to the net assets of each of the MONEY MARKET
PORTFOLIO, the HIGH YIELD PORTFOLIO and the STRATEGIST PORTFOLIO, by applying
the annual rate of 0.625% to the net assets of the DIVIDEND GROWTH PORTFOLIO up
to $500 million, the annual rate of 0.50% to the next $500 million, and the
annual rate of 0.475% to the daily net assets of that Portfolio exceeding $1
billion, by applying the annual rate of 0.65% to the net assets of the UTILITIES
PORTFOLIO up to $500 million and the annual rate of 0.55% to the daily net
assets of that Portfolio exceeding $500 million, by applying the annual rate of
0.65% to the net assets of each of the CAPITAL GROWTH PORTFOLIO and the
COMPETITIVE EDGE "BEST IDEAS" PORTFOLIO, by applying the annual rate of 0.75% to
the net assets of each of the INCOME BUILDER PORTFOLIO, the GLOBAL DIVIDEND
GROWTH PORTFOLIO and the CAPITAL APPRECIATION PORTFOLIO, and by applying the
annual rate of 1.0% to the net assets of each of the EUROPEAN GROWTH PORTFOLIO
and the PACIFIC GROWTH PORTFOLIO, in each case determined as of the close of
each business day. As compensation for its services provided to the EUROPEAN
GROWTH PORTFOLIO and the PACIFIC GROWTH PORTFOLIO pursuant to the Sub-Advisory
Agreements in respect of those Portfolios, the Investment Manager pays the
Sub-Adviser monthly compensation equal to 40% of its monthly compensation in
respect of each of the EUROPEAN GROWTH PORTFOLIO and the PACIFIC GROWTH
PORTFOLIO.
For the year ended December 31, 1997, the Fund accrued total compensation to the
Investment Manager amounting to 0.50% of the average daily net assets of each of
the MONEY MARKET PORTFOLIO, the QUALITY INCOME PLUS PORTFOLIO, the HIGH YIELD
PORTFOLIO, the EQUITY PORTFOLIO and the STRATEGIST PORTFOLIO, % of the
average daily net assets of the DIVIDEND GROWTH PORTFOLIO, 0.65% of the average
daily net assets of each of the UTILITIES PORTFOLIO and the CAPITAL GROWTH
PORTFOLIO, 0.75% of the average daily net assets of the GLOBAL DIVIDEND GROWTH
PORTFOLIO, and 1.0% of the average daily net assets of each of the EUROPEAN
GROWTH PORTFOLIO and the PACIFIC GROWTH PORTFOLIO. The total expenses of the
MONEY MARKET PORTFOLIO amounted to % of its average daily net assets, the
total expenses of the QUALITY INCOME PLUS PORTFOLIO amounted to % of the
average daily net assets,
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the total expenses of the HIGH YIELD PORTFOLIO amounted to % of its average
daily net assets, the total expenses of the EQUITY PORTFOLIO amounted to % of
its average daily net assets, the total expenses of the STRATEGIST PORTFOLIO
amounted to % of its average daily net assets, the total expenses of the
DIVIDEND GROWTH PORTFOLIO amounted to % of its average daily net assets, the
total expenses of the UTILITIES PORTFOLIO amounted to % of its average daily
net assets, the total expenses of the CAPITAL GROWTH PORTFOLIO amounted to %
of its average daily net assets, the total expenses of the GLOBAL DIVIDEND
GROWTH PORTFOLIO amounted to % of its average daily net assets, the total
expenses of the EUROPEAN GROWTH PORTFOLIO amounted to % of its average daily
net assets, and the total expenses of the PACIFIC GROWTH PORTFOLIO amounted to
% of its average daily net assets.
The INCOME BUILDER PORTFOLIO and the CAPITAL APPRECIATION PORTFOLIO commenced
operations on January 21, 1997. The Investment Manager has undertaken to assume
all expenses of each of these Portfolios (except for any brokerage fees) and to
waive the compensation provided for each of these Portfolios in its Management
Agreement with the Fund until such time as the pertinent Portfolio has $50
million of net assets or until July 31, 1998, whichever occurs first. The INCOME
BUILDER PORTFOLIO attained $50 million of net assets on December 3, 1997.
The S&P 500 INDEX PORTFOLIO and the COMPETITIVE EDGE "BEST IDEAS" PORTFOLIO did
not commence operations prior to the date of this Prospectus. The Investment
Manager has undertaken to assume all expenses of each of these Portfolios
(except for any brokerage fees) and to waive the compensation provided for each
of these Portfolios in its Management Agreement with the Fund until such time as
the pertinent Portfolio has $50 million of net assets or until six months from
the date of the Portfolio's commencement of operations, whichever occurs first.
Thereafter, the Investment Manager has agreed to assume all expenses of the S&P
500 INDEX PORTFOLIO (except for any brokerage fees) and to waive the
compensation provided for that Portfolio in its Management Agreement with the
Fund to the extent that such expenses and compensation on an annualized basis
exceed 0.50% of the daily net assets of the S&P 500 INDEX PORTFOLIO.
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES AND POLICIES
- ----------------------------------------------------------
THE MONEY MARKET PORTFOLIO
The investment objectives of the MONEY MARKET PORTFOLIO are high current income,
preservation of capital and liquidity. The MONEY MARKET PORTFOLIO seeks to
achieve those objectives by investing in the following money market instruments:
U.S. Government Securities. Obligations issued or guaranteed as to principal and
interest by the United States or its agencies (such as the Export-Import Bank of
the United States, Federal Housing Administration, and Government National
Mortgage Association) or its instrumentalities (such as the Federal Home Loan
Bank, Federal Intermediate Credit Banks and Federal Land Bank), including
Treasury bills, notes and bonds;
Bank Obligations. Obligations (including certificates of deposit and bankers'
acceptances) of banks subject to regulation by the U.S. Government and having
total assets of $1 billion or more, and instruments secured by such obligations,
not including obligations of foreign branches of domestic banks except to the
extent below;
Eurodollar Certificates of Deposit. Eurodollar certificates of deposit issued by
foreign branches of domestic banks having total assets of $1 billion or more
(see the discussion of foreign securities under "General Portfolio Techniques"
below);
Obligations of Savings Institutions. Certificates of deposit of savings banks
and savings and loan associations, having total assets of $1 billion or more;
Fully Insured Certificates of Deposit. Certificates of deposit of banks and
savings institutions, having total assets of less than $1 billion, if the
principal amount of the obligation is insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance
Corporation or the Federal Savings and Loan Insurance Corporation, limited to
$100,000 principal amount per certificate and to 10% or less of the Portfolio's
total assets in all such obligations and in all illiquid assets, in the
aggregate;
Commercial Paper. Commercial paper rated within the two highest grades by
Standard & Poor's Corporation ("S&P") or the highest grade by Moody's Investors
Service, Inc. ("Moody's"), or, if not rated, issued by a company having an
outstanding debt issue rated at least AA by S&P or Aa by Moody's;
Corporate Obligations. Corporate obligations, rated at least A by S&P or
Moody's, maturing in one year or less.
See the Appendix for an explanation of S&P and Moody's ratings.
Variable Rate Obligations. The interest rates payable on certain securities in
which the MONEY MARKET PORTFOLIO may invest are not fixed and may fluctuate
based upon changes in market rates. Obligations of this type are called
"variable rate" obligations. The interest rate payable on a variable rate
obligation is adjusted either at predesignated periodic intervals or whenever
there is a change in the market rate of interest on which the interest rate
payable is based.
The MONEY MARKET PORTFOLIO may enter into repurchase agreements, may lend its
portfolio securities and purchase
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<PAGE>
securities on a when-issued or delayed delivery basis, in each case in
accordance with the description of those techniques (and subject to the risks)
set forth under "General Portfolio Techniques" below and in the Statement of
Additional Information.
The investment objectives and policies stated above may not be changed without
the approval of the shareholders of the MONEY MARKET PORTFOLIO. The MONEY MARKET
PORTFOLIO may not invest in securities other than the types of securities listed
above and is subject to other specific investment restrictions as detailed under
"Investment Restrictions" below and in the Statement of Additional Information.
Although the MONEY MARKET PORTFOLIO will not generally be managed with a policy
of active short-term trading, it may dispose of any portfolio security prior to
its maturity if, on the basis of a revised credit evaluation of the issuer or
other circumstances or considerations, the Investment Manager believes such
disposition advisable.
The MONEY MARKET PORTFOLIO is expected to have a high portfolio turnover due to
the short maturities of securities purchased, but this should not affect income
or net asset value as brokerage commissions are not normally charged on the
purchase or sale of money market instruments.
The MONEY MARKET PORTFOLIO will attempt to balance its objectives of high
income, capital preservation and liquidity by investing in securities of varying
maturities and risks. The MONEY MARKET PORTFOLIO will not, however, invest in
securities that mature in more than one year from the date of purchase (see
"Determination of Net Asset Value"). The amounts invested in obligations of
various maturities of one year or less will depend on management's evaluation of
the risks involved. Longer-term issues, while generally paying higher interest
rates, are subject to greater fluctuations in value resulting from general
changes in interest rates than shorter-term issues. Thus, when rates on new debt
securities increase, the value of outstanding securities may decline, and vice
versa. Such changes may also occur, but to a lesser degree, with short-term
issues. These changes, if realized, may cause fluctuations in the amount of
daily dividends and, in extreme cases, could cause the net asset value per share
to decline (see "Determination of Net Asset Value"). Longer-term issues also
increase the risk that the issuer may be unable to pay an installment of
interest or principal at maturity. Also, in the event of unusually large
redemption demands, such securities may have to be sold at a loss prior to
maturity, or the MONEY MARKET PORTFOLIO might have to borrow money and incur
interest expenses. Either occurrence would adversely impact the amount of daily
dividend and could result in a decline in net asset value per share or the
redemption by the MONEY MARKET PORTFOLIO of shares held in a shareholder's
account. The MONEY MARKET PORTFOLIO will attempt to minimize these risks by
investing in longer-term securities when it appears to management that interest
rates on such securities are not likely to increase substantially during the
period of expected holding, and then only in securities of high quality which
are readily marketable. However, there can be no assurance that the MONEY MARKET
PORTFOLIO will be successful in achieving this or its other objectives.
THE QUALITY INCOME PLUS PORTFOLIO
The primary investment objective of the QUALITY INCOME PLUS PORTFOLIO is to earn
a high level of current income, by investing primarily in U.S. Government
securities and other fixed-income securities. As a secondary objective, the
QUALITY INCOME PLUS PORTFOLIO will seek capital appreciation but only when
consistent with its primary objective. There is no assurance that the objectives
will be achieved. The objectives of the QUALITY INCOME PLUS PORTFOLIO are
fundamental policies of the Portfolio and, as such, may not be changed without
the approval of the shareholders of the QUALITY INCOME PLUS PORTFOLIO.
The QUALITY INCOME PLUS PORTFOLIO has also adopted the following investment
policies which are not fundamental policies and may be changed by the Trustees
of the Fund without shareholder approval.
In seeking to achieve its objectives, the QUALITY INCOME PLUS PORTFOLIO will
normally invest at least 65% of its net assets in a combination of U.S.
Government securities and debt securities (including straight debt securities
and debt securities convertible into common stock) and "Yankee government
bonds," which are U.S. dollar denominated debt securities issued by foreign
governments or their respective instrumentalities or agencies which securities
are either registered under the Securities Act of 1933 or eligible for resale
pursuant to Rule 144A under that Act and pay both principal and interest in U.S.
dollars, which have a rating at the time of purchase within the three highest
grades as determined by Moody's Investors Service, Inc. ("Moody's") (Aaa, Aa or
A) or Standard & Poor's Corporation ("S&P") (AAA, AA or A) or which, if not
rated, are deemed to be of comparable quality by the Fund's Trustees, with a
maximum of 20% of the Portfolio's net assets in "Yankee government bonds."
However, any security which subsequently receives a rating as low as Baa(3) by
Moody's or BBB- by S&P (the lowest investment grade ratings) will be eliminated
from the portfolio at such time as the Investment Manager determines that it is
practicable to sell the security without undue market or tax consequences to the
QUALITY INCOME PLUS PORTFOLIO. A description of corporate bond ratings is
contained in the Appendix. See "General Portfolio Techniques" below for a
discussion of convertible securities and foreign securities. Securities which
may be purchased include zero coupon securities (see "General Portfolio
Techniques" below).
Generally, as prevailing interest rates rise, the value of the U.S. Government
and other debt securities held by the QUALITY INCOME PLUS PORTFOLIO, and
concomitantly, the net asset value of the Portfolio's shares, will fall. Such
securities with longer maturities generally tend to produce higher yields and
are subject to greater market fluctuation as a result of changes in interest
rates than
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debt securities with shorter maturities. The Portfolio is not limited as to the
maturities of the U.S. Government and other debt securities in which it may
invest.
U.S. Government securities include:
(1) U.S. Treasury bills (maturities of one year or less), U.S. Treasury
notes (maturities of one to ten years) and U.S. Treasury bonds (generally
maturities of greater than ten years), all of which are direct obligations of
the U.S. Government and, as such, are backed by the "full faith and credit" of
the United States.
(2) Securities issued by agencies and instrumentalities of the U.S.
Government which are backed by the full faith and credit of the United States.
Among the agencies and instrumentalities issuing such obligations are the
Federal Housing Administration, the Government National Mortgage Association
("GNMA"), the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Export-Import
Bank, the Farmers Home Administration, the General Services Administration, the
Maritime Administration and the Small Business Administration. The maturities of
such obligations range from three months to thirty years.
(3) Securities issued by agencies and instrumentalities which are not backed
by the full faith and credit of the United States, but whose issuing agency or
instrumentality has the right to borrow, to meet its obligations, from an
existing line of credit with the U.S. Treasury. Among the agencies and
instrumentalities issuing such obligations are the Tennessee Valley Authority,
the Federal National Mortgage Association ("FNMA"), the Federal Home Loan
Mortgage Corporation ("FHLMC") and the U.S. Postal Service.
(4) Securities issued by agencies and instrumentalities which are not backed
by the full faith and credit of the United States, but which are backed by the
credit of the issuing agency or instrumentality. Among the agencies and
instrumentalities issuing such obligations are the Federal Farm Credit System
and the Federal Home Loan Banks.
Certain of the U.S. Government securities in which the QUALITY INCOME PLUS
PORTFOLIO may invest; E.G., certificates issued by GNMA, FNMA and FHLMC, are
"mortgage-backed securities," which evidence an interest in a specific pool of
mortgages. These certificates are, in most cases, "pass-through" instruments,
wherein the issuing agency guarantees the timely payment of principal and
interest on mortgages underlying the certificates, whether or not such amounts
are collected by the issuer on the underlying mortgages.
The average life of such certificates varies with the maturities of the
underlying mortgage instruments, which may be up to thirty years. This average
life is likely to be substantially shorter than the original maturity of the
mortgage pools underlying the certificates, as a pool's duration may be
shortened by unscheduled or early payments of principal on the underlying
mortgages. The occurrence of mortgage prepayments is affected by factors
including the prevailing level of interest rates, general economic conditions,
the location and age of the mortgage and other social and demographic
conditions. For example, during periods of declining interest rates, mortgage
prepayments can be expected to accelerate. As prepayment rates vary widely, it
is not possible to accurately predict the average life of a particular pool. The
net asset value of shares of the QUALITY INCOME PLUS PORTFOLIO and the
Portfolio's ability to achieve its investment objectives may be adversely
affected by mortgage prepayments.
While the QUALITY INCOME PLUS PORTFOLIO will invest primarily in U.S. Government
and other debt securities, it may invest up to 35% of its portfolio (including
options on debt instruments, options on futures contracts and futures contracts)
in money market instruments, including commercial paper, certificates of
deposit, bankers' acceptances and other obligations of domestic banks or
domestic branches of foreign banks, or foreign branches of domestic banks, in
each case having total assets of at least $500 million, and obligations issued
or guaranteed by the United States Government, and, within this portion of the
portfolio, up to 15% of its net assets in "Yankee corporate bonds," which are
U.S. dollar denominated debt securities issued by foreign corporations which
securities are either registered under the Securities Act of 1933 or eligible
for resale pursuant to Rule 144A under that Act and pay both principal and
interest in U.S. dollars, and which have a rating at the time of purchase within
the three highest grades as determined by Moody's or S&P or which, if not rated,
are deemed to be of comparable quality by the Fund's Trustees (any security
which subsequently receives a rating as low as Baa(3) by Moody's or BBB- by S&P
will be eliminated from the portfolio at such time as the Investment Manager
determines that it is practicable to sell the security without undue market or
tax consequences to the QUALITY INCOME PLUS PORTFOLIO) (see "General Portfolio
Techniques" below and in the Statement of Additional Information). Moreover, and
notwithstanding any of the above, the QUALITY INCOME PLUS PORTFOLIO may invest
in money market instruments without limitation when market conditions dictate a
"defensive" investment strategy.
The QUALITY INCOME PLUS PORTFOLIO may enter into repurchase agreements, lend its
portfolio securities, purchase securities on a when-issued or delayed delivery
basis or a "when, as and if issued" basis, and purchase or sell securities on a
forward commitment basis, in each case in accordance with the description of
those techniques (and subject to the risks) set forth under "General Portfolio
Techniques" below and in the Statement of Additional Information.
BORROWING. The QUALITY INCOME PLUS PORTFOLIO may borrow money, but only
from a bank and in an amount up to 25% of the Portfolio's gross assets taken at
the lower of market value or cost, not including the amount borrowed. When the
Portfolio borrows it will be because it seeks additional income by leveraging
its investments through purchasing securities with the borrowed funds. The
QUALITY INCOME PLUS PORTFOLIO will be required to maintain an asset coverage
(including the proceeds of borrowings) of at least 300% of such borrowings in
accordance with the provisions of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended
(the "Act").
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THE HIGH YIELD PORTFOLIO
The primary investment objective of the HIGH YIELD PORTFOLIO is to earn a high
level of current income by investing in a professionally managed diversified
portfolio consisting principally of fixed-income securities, which may include
both non-convertible and convertible debt securities and preferred stocks. As a
secondary objective, the HIGH YIELD PORTFOLIO will seek capital appreciation,
but only when consistent with its primary objective. Capital appreciation may
result, for example, from an improvement in the credit standing of an issuer
whose securities are held in the portfolio of the HIGH YIELD PORTFOLIO or from a
general decline in interest rates, or a combination of both. Conversely, capital
depreciation may result, for example, from a lowered credit standing or a
general rise in interest rates, or a combination of both. There is no assurance
that the objectives will be achieved.
The objectives of the HIGH YIELD PORTFOLIO may not be changed without the
approval of the shareholders of the HIGH YIELD PORTFOLIO. The following policies
may be changed by the Trustees of the Fund without shareholder approval:
The higher yields sought by the HIGH YIELD PORTFOLIO are generally obtainable
from securities rated in the lower categories by recognized rating services. The
HIGH YIELD PORTFOLIO seeks high current income by investing principally in
fixed-income securities, as described above, which are rated Baa or lower by
Moody's Investors Service, Inc. ("Moody's"), or BBB or lower by Standard &
Poor's Corporation ("S&P"). Fixed-income securities rated Baa by Moody's or BBB
by S&P have speculative characteristics greater than those of more highly-rated
bonds, while fixed-income securities rated Ba or BB or lower by Moody's and S&P,
respectively, are considered to be speculative investments. Furthermore, the
HIGH YIELD PORTFOLIO does not have any minimum quality rating standard for its
investments. As such, the High Yield Portfolio may invest in securities rated as
low as Caa, Ca or C by Moody's or CCC, CC, C or CI by S&P. Fixed-income
securities rated Caa or Ca by Moody's may already be in default on payment of
interest or principal, while bonds rated C by Moody's, their lowest bond rating,
can be regarded as having extremely poor prospects of ever attaining any real
investment standing. Bonds rated CI by S&P, their lowest bond rating, are no
longer making interest payments. For a further discussion of the characteristics
and risks associated with high yield securities, and for a discussion of
convertible securities, see "General Portfolio Techniques" below. A description
of corporate bond ratings is contained in the Appendix.
Non-rated securities will also be considered for investment by the HIGH YIELD
PORTFOLIO when the Investment Manager believes that the financial condition of
the issuers of such securities, or the protection afforded by the terms of the
securities themselves, makes them appropriate investments for the HIGH YIELD
PORTFOLIO.
All fixed-income securities are subject to two types of risks: the credit risk
and the interest rate risk. The credit risk relates to the ability of the issuer
to meet interest or principal payments or both as they come due. The interest
rate risk refers to the fact that there are fluctuations in net asset value of
any portfolio of fixed-income securities resulting from the inverse relationship
between price and yield of fixed-income securities; that is, when the general
level of interest rates rises, the prices of outstanding fixed-income securities
generally decline, and when interest rates fall, prices generally rise.
The ratings of fixed-income securities by Moody's and S&P are a generally
accepted barometer of credit risk. However, as the creditworthiness of issuers
of lower-rated fixed-income securities is more problematical than that of the
issuers of higher-rated fixed-income securities, the achievements of the HIGH
YIELD PORTFOLIO's investment objectives will be more dependent upon the
Investment Manager's own credit analysis than would be the case with a mutual
fund investing primarily in higher quality bonds. The Investment Manager will
utilize a security's credit rating as simply one indication of an issuer's
creditworthiness and will principally rely upon its own analysis of any security
currently held by the HIGH YIELD PORTFOLIO or potentially purchasable by the
Portfolio.
In determining which securities to purchase or hold for the portfolio of the
HIGH YIELD PORTFOLIO and in seeking to reduce the credit and interest rate
risks, the Investment Manager will rely on information from various sources,
including: the rating of the security; research, analysis and appraisals of
brokers and dealers, including Dean Witter Reynolds Inc.; the views of the
Trustees of the Fund and others regarding economic developments and interest
rate trends; and the Investment Manager's own analysis of factors it deems
relevant. The extent to which the Investment Manager is successful in reducing
depreciation or losses arising from either interest rate or credit risks depends
in part on the Investment Manager's portfolio management skills and judgment in
evaluating the factors affecting the value of securities. No assurance can be
given regarding the degree of success that will be achieved.
Consistent with its primary investment objective, the HIGH YIELD PORTFOLIO
anticipates that, under normal conditions, at least 65% of the value of its
total assets will be invested in the lower-rated and non-rated fixed-income
securities (including zero coupon securities) previously described. However,
when the yields derived from such securities and those derived from higher-rated
issues are relatively narrow, the HIGH YIELD PORTFOLIO may invest in the
higher-rated issues since they may provide similar yields with somewhat less
risk.
Pending investment of proceeds of sale of shares of the HIGH YIELD PORTFOLIO or
of its portfolio securities or at other times when market conditions dictate a
more "defensive" investment strategy, the HIGH YIELD PORTFOLIO may invest
without limit in money market instruments, including commercial paper of
corporations organized under the laws of any state or political subdivision of
the United States, certificates of deposit, bankers' acceptances and other
obligations of domestic banks or domestic branches of foreign banks, or foreign
branches of domestic banks, in each case having total assets of at least $500
million, and obligations
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issued or guaranteed by the United States Government, or foreign governments or
their respective instrumentalities or agencies. The yield on these securities
will generally tend to be lower than the yield on other securities that can be
purchased by the HIGH YIELD PORTFOLIO.
The HIGH YIELD PORTFOLIO may enter into repurchase agreements, invest in foreign
securities (including American Depository Receipts, European Depository Receipts
or other similar securities convertible into securities of foreign issuers),
lend its portfolio securities, purchase securities on a when-issued or delayed
delivery basis, or a "when, as and if issued" basis, and purchase or sell
securities on a forward commitment basis, in each case in accordance with the
description of those investments and techniques (and subject to the risks) set
forth under "General Portfolio Techniques" below and in the Statement of
Additional Information. The HIGH YIELD PORTFOLIO may purchase unit offerings
(where corporate debt securities are offered as a unit with convertible
securities, preferred or common stocks, warrants, or any combination thereof)
(see the discussion of warrants under "General Portfolio Techniques" below).
Public Utilities. The HIGH YIELD PORTFOLIO's investments in public utilities, if
any, may be subject to certain risks (see the description of the risks
associated with investment in public utilities set forth below under "The
Utilities Portfolio").
Special Investment Considerations. Because of the special nature of the HIGH
YIELD PORTFOLIO's investment in high yield securities, commonly known as "junk
bonds," the Investment Manager must take account of certain special
considerations in assessing the risks associated with such investments.
Investors should carefully consider the risks of investing in high yield
securities (see "General Portfolio Techniques" below and in the Statement of
Additional Information for a discussion of the risks of investments in high
yield securities).
During the fiscal year ended December 31, 1997, the monthly dollar weighted
average ratings of the debt obligations held by the HIGH YIELD PORTFOLIO,
expressed as a percentage of the Portfolio's total investments, were as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Percentage of
Ratings Total Investments
- --------------------------------------------- -----------------
<S> <C>
AAA/Aaa......................................
AA/Aa........................................
A/A..........................................
BBB/Baa......................................
BB/Ba........................................
B/B..........................................
CCC/Caa......................................
CC/Ca........................................
C/C..........................................
D............................................
Unrated......................................
-----
100.0%
</TABLE>
THE UTILITIES PORTFOLIO
The investment objective of the UTILITIES PORTFOLIO is to provide current income
and long-term growth of income and capital, by investing primarily in equity and
fixed-income securities of companies engaged in the public utilities industry.
The objective of the UTILITIES PORTFOLIO may not be changed without the approval
of the shareholders of the UTILITIES PORTFOLIO. The term "public utilities
industry" consists of companies engaged in the manufacture, production,
generation, transmission, sale and distribution of gas and electric energy, as
well as companies engaged in the communications field, including telephone,
telegraph, satellite, microwave and other companies providing communication
facilities for the public, but excluding public broadcasting companies. For
purposes of the UTILITIES PORTFOLIO, a company will be considered to be in the
public utilities industry if, during the most recent twelve month period, at
least 50% of the company's gross revenues, on a consolidated basis, is derived
from the public utilities industry. The following investment policies may be
changed by the Trustees of the Fund without shareholder approval:
In seeking to achieve its objective, the UTILITIES PORTFOLIO will normally
invest at least 65% of its total assets in securities of companies in the public
utilities industry. The Investment Manager believes the UTILITIES PORTFOLIO's
investment policies are suited to benefit from certain characteristics and
historical performance of the securities of public utility companies. Many of
these companies have historically set a pattern of paying regular dividends and
increasing their common stock dividends over time, and the average common stock
dividend yield of utilities historically has substantially exceeded that of
industrial stocks. The Investment Manager believes that these factors may not
only provide current income but also generally tend to moderate risk and thus
may enhance the opportunity for appreciation of securities owned by the
UTILITIES PORTFOLIO, although the potential for capital appreciation has
historically been lower for many utility stocks compared with most industrial
stocks. There can be no assurance that the historical investment performance of
the public utilities industry will be indicative of future events and
performance. There can be no assurance that the investment objective of the
UTILITIES PORTFOLIO will be achieved.
The UTILITIES PORTFOLIO will invest in both equity securities (common stocks and
securities convertible into common stock) and fixed income securities (bonds and
preferred stock) in the public utilities industry. The UTILITIES PORTFOLIO does
not have any set policies to concentrate within any particular segment of the
utilities industry. The UTILITIES PORTFOLIO will shift its asset allocation
without restriction between types of utilities and between equity and
fixed-income securities based upon the Investment Manager's determination of how
to achieve the UTILITIES PORTFOLIO's investment objective in light of prevailing
market, economic and financial conditions. For example, at a particular time the
Investment Manager may choose to allocate up to 100% of the UTILITIES
PORTFOLIO's assets in a particular type of security (for
17
<PAGE>
example, equity securities) or in a specific utility industry segment (for
example, electric utilities). See "General Portfolio Techniques" below for a
discussion of convertible securities.
Criteria to be utilized by the Investment Manager in the selection of equity
securities include the following screens: earnings and dividend growth; book
value; dividend discount; and price/ earnings relationships. In addition, the
Investment Manager makes continuing assessments of management, the prevailing
regulatory framework and industry trends. The Investment Manager may also
utilize computer-based equity selection models in connection with stock
allocation in the equity portion of the portfolio. In keeping with the UTILITIES
PORTFOLIO's objective, if in the opinion of the Investment Manager favorable
conditions for capital growth of equity securities are not prevalent at a
particular time, the UTILITIES PORTFOLIO may allocate its assets predominantly
or exclusively in debt securities with the aim of obtaining current income as
well as preserving capital and thus benefiting long term growth of capital.
The UTILITIES PORTFOLIO may purchase equity securities sold on the New York,
American and other stock exchanges and in the over-the-counter market.
Fixed-income securities in which the UTILITIES PORTFOLIO may invest are debt
securities and preferred stocks, which are rated at the time of purchase Baa or
better by Moody's Investors Service, Inc. or BBB or better by Standard & Poor's
Corporation or which, if unrated, are deemed to be of comparable quality by the
Fund's Trustees (see "General Portfolio Techniques" below for a discussion of
the characteristics and risks of investments in fixed-income securities rated
Baa or BBB). Under normal circumstances the average weighted maturity of the
debt portion of the portfolio is expected to be in excess of seven years. A
description of corporate bond ratings is contained in the Appendix.
While the UTILITIES PORTFOLIO will invest primarily in the securities of public
utility companies, under ordinary circumstances it may invest up to 35% of its
total assets in U.S. Government securities (securities issued or guaranteed as
to principal and interest by the United States or its agencies and
instrumentalities), money market instruments, repurchase agreements, options and
futures (see "General Portfolio Techniques" below and in the Statement of
Additional Information). U.S. Government securities are described above and in
the Statement of Additional Information under the caption "The Quality Income
Plus Portfolio." The UTILITIES PORTFOLIO may acquire warrants attached to other
securities purchased by the Portfolio (see "General Portfolio Techniques"
below).
There may be periods during which, in the opinion of the Investment Manager,
market conditions warrant reduction of some or all of the UTILITIES PORTFOLIO's
securities holdings. During such periods, the UTILITIES PORTFOLIO may adopt a
temporary "defensive" posture in which greater than 35% of its total assets are
invested in cash or money market instruments which would be eligible investments
for the Fund's MONEY MARKET PORTFOLIO (as set forth above under "The Money
Market Portfolio").
The UTILITIES PORTFOLIO may enter into repurchase agreements, invest in foreign
securities (including American Depository Receipts, European Depository Receipts
or other similar securities convertible into securities of foreign issuers),
invest in zero coupon securities, invest in real estate investment trusts, lend
its portfolio securities, purchase securities on a when-issued or delayed
delivery basis or a "when, as and if issued" basis, and purchase or sell
securities on a forward commitment basis, in each case in accordance with the
description of those investments and techniques (and subject to the risks) set
forth under "General Portfolio Techniques" below and in the Statement of
Additional Information.
Public Utilities Industry. The public utilities industry as a whole has certain
characteristics and risks particular to that industry. Unlike industrial
companies, the rates which utility companies may charge their customers
generally are subject to review and limitation by governmental regulatory
commissions. Although rate changes of a utility usually fluctuate in approximate
correlation with financing costs, due to political and regulatory factors rate
changes ordinarily occur only following a delay after the changes in financing
costs. This factor will tend to favorably affect a utility company's earnings
and dividends in times of decreasing costs, but conversely will tend to
adversely affect earnings and dividends when costs are rising. In addition, the
value of public utility debt securities (and, to a lesser extent, equity
securities) tends to have an inverse relationship to the movement of interest
rates.
Among the risks affecting the utilities industry are the following: risks of
increases in fuel and other operating costs; the high cost of borrowing to
finance capital construction during inflationary periods; restrictions on
operations and increased costs and delays associated with compliance with
environmental and nuclear safety regulations; the difficulties involved in
obtaining natural gas for resale or fuel for generating electricity at
reasonable prices; the risks in connection with the construction and operation
of nuclear power plants; the effects of energy conservation and the effects of
regulatory changes, such as the possible adverse effects of profits on recent
increased competition within the telecommunications, electric and natural gas
industries and the uncertainties resulting from companies within these
industries diversifying into new domestic and international businesses, as well
as from agreements by many such companies linking future rate increases to
inflation or other factors not directly related to the actual operating profits
of the enterprise.
THE INCOME BUILDER PORTFOLIO
The primary investment objective of the INCOME BUILDER PORTFOLIO is to seek
reasonable income. Growth of capital is a secondary objective. There can be no
assurance that the objectives will be achieved. The objectives of the INCOME
BUILDER PORTFOLIO may not
18
<PAGE>
be changed without the approval of the shareholders of the INCOME BUILDER
PORTFOLIO. The following policies may be changed by the Trustees of the Fund
without shareholder approval:
The INCOME BUILDER PORTFOLIO seeks to achieve its objectives by investing, under
normal market conditions, at least 65% of its total assets in income-producing
equity securities, including common stock, preferred stock and convertible
securities. Up to 35% of the Portfolio's assets may be invested in fixed-income
securities or common stocks that do not pay a regular dividend but are expected
to contribute to the Portfolio's ability to meet its investment objectives.
The INCOME BUILDER PORTFOLIO will invest, under normal market conditions,
primarily in common stocks of large-cap companies which have a record of paying
dividends and, in the opinion of the Investment Manager, have the potential for
maintaining dividends, in preferred stock and in securities convertible into
common stocks of small and mid-cap companies. See "General Portfolio Techniques"
below for a discussion of convertible securities, including a discussion of
"enhanced," "synthetic" and "exchangeable" convertible securities in which the
INCOME BUILDER PORTFOLIO may invest. The Investment Manager intends to use a
value-oriented investment style in the selection of securities for the portfolio
of the INCOME BUILDER PORTFOLIO.
The INCOME BUILDER PORTFOLIO also may invest up to 20% of its total assets in
fixed-income securities rated below investment grade. Securities below
investment grade are the equivalent of high yield, high risk bonds (commonly
known as "junk bonds"). Investment grade is generally considered to be debt
securities rated BBB or higher by Standard & Poor's Corporation ("S&P") or Baa
or higher by Moody's Investors Service, Inc. ("Moody's"). See "General Portfolio
Techniques" below for a discussion of investments in securities rated BBB by S&P
or Baa by Moody's. Fixed-income securities rated BBB by S&P or Baa by Moody's,
which generally are regarded to have an adequate capacity to pay interest and
repay principal, have speculative characteristics. However, the INCOME BUILDER
PORTFOLIO will not invest in fixed-income securities that are rated lower than B
by S&P or Moody's or, if not rated, are determined to be of comparable quality
by the Investment Manager. The INCOME BUILDER PORTFOLIO will not invest in
fixed-income securities that are in default in payment of principal or interest.
The 20% limitation on securities rated below investment grade in which the
INCOME BUILDER PORTFOLIO may invest does not include securities convertible into
common stock. A description of fixed-income security ratings is contained in the
Appendix. See "General Portfolio Techniques" below for a discussion of the risks
of investments in lower rated, high yield securities.
A portion of the INCOME BUILDER PORTFOLIO's assets may be invested in investment
grade fixed income (fixed-rate and adjustable rate) securities such as corporate
notes and bonds and obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government, its
agencies and instrumentalities. U.S. Government securities are described above
and in the Statement of Additional Information under "The Quality Income Plus
Portfolio."
The non-governmental debt securities in which the INCOME BUILDER PORTFOLIO will
invest will include: (a) corporate debt securities, including bonds, notes and
commercial paper, rated in the four highest categories by a nationally
recognized statistical rating organization ("NRSRO") including Moody's Investors
Service, Inc., Standard & Poor's Corporation, Duff and Phelps, Inc. and Fitch
Investors Service, Inc.; and (b) bank obligations, including CDs, banker's
acceptances and time deposits, issued by banks with a long-term CD rating in one
of the four highest categories by a NRSRO. Investments in securities rated
within the four highest rating categories by a NRSRO are considered "investment
grade." However, such securities rated within the fourth highest rating category
by a NRSRO have speculative characteristics and, therefore, changes in economic
conditions or other circumstances are more likely to weaken their capacity to
make principal and interest payments than would be the case with investments in
securities with higher credit ratings. Where a fixed-income security is not
rated by a NRSRO (as may be the case with a foreign security) the Investment
Manager will make a determination of its creditworthiness and may deem it to be
investment grade. A description of fixed-income security ratings is contained in
the Appendix.
Payments of interest and principal on U.S. Government securities are guaranteed
by the U.S. Government; however, neither the value nor the yield of corporate
notes and bonds and U.S. Government securities which may be invested in by the
INCOME BUILDER PORTFOLIO are guaranteed by the U.S. Government. Values and yield
of corporate and government bonds will fluctuate with changes in prevailing
interest rates and other factors. Generally, as prevailing interest rates rise,
the value of corporate notes and bonds and government bonds held by the
Portfolio will fall. Securities with longer maturities generally tend to produce
higher yields and are subject to greater market fluctuation as a result of
changes in interest rates than debt securities with shorter maturities. The
INCOME BUILDER PORTFOLIO is not limited as to the maturities of the debt
securities in which it may invest.
The Investment Manager intends to follow a "bottom-up" approach in the selection
of convertible securities for the INCOME BUILDER PORTFOLIO. Beginning with a
universe of about 500 companies, the Investment Manager will narrow the focus to
small and mid-cap companies and review the issues to determine if the
convertible is trading with the underlying equity security. The yield of the
underlying equity security will be evaluated and company fundamentals will be
studied to evaluate cash flow, risk/reward balance, valuation and the prospects
for growth. The Investment Manager intends to select convertible securities
that, in its judgment, are issued by companies with sound management practices
and that represent good value.
Money market instruments in which the INCOME BUILDER PORTFOLIO may invest
include securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government, its agencies and
instrumentalities (Treasury bills, notes and bonds, including zero coupon
securities); bank obligations; Eurodollar certificates of deposit; obligations
of savings institutions; fully insured certificates of deposit; and commercial
paper rated within the four highest grades by Moody's or S&P or,
19
<PAGE>
if not rated, issued by a company having an outstanding debt issue rated at
least AA by S&P or Aa by Moody's. Such securities may be used to invest
uncommitted cash balances. There may be periods during which, in the opinion of
the Investment Manager, market conditions warrant reduction of some or all of
the Portfolio's securities holdings. During such periods, the INCOME BUILDER
PORTFOLIO may adopt a temporary "defensive" posture in which up to 100% of its
total assets is invested in money market instruments or cash.
The INCOME BUILDER PORTFOLIO may enter into repurchase agreements, invest in
foreign securities (including American Depository Receipts, European Depository
Receipts or other similar securities convertible into securities of foreign
issuers), invest in warrants, zero coupon securities and real estate investment
trusts, lend its portfolio securities, purchase securities which are issued in
private placements or are otherwise not readily marketable, purchase securities
on a when-issued or delayed delivery basis or a "when, as and if issued" basis,
and purchase or sell securities on a forward commitment basis, in each case in
accordance with the description of these investments and techniques (and subject
to the risks) set forth under "General Portfolio Techniques" below and in the
Statement of Additional Information.
The INCOME BUILDER PORTFOLIO is authorized to engage in transactions involving
options and futures contracts that would be eligible for use by the STRATEGIST
PORTFOLIO, as described under "Options and Futures Transactions" under "General
Portfolio Techniques" below and in the Statement of Additional Information. The
INCOME BUILDER PORTFOLIO does not, however, presently intend to engage in such
options and futures transactions and will not do so unless and until the Fund's
prospectus has been revised to reflect this.
Special Investment Considerations. Because of the special nature of the INCOME
BUILDER PORTFOLIO's investments in high yield securities, commonly known as
"junk bonds," the Investment Manager must take account of certain special
considerations in assessing the risks associated with such investments.
Investors should carefully consider the risks of investing in high yield
securities (see "General Portfolio Techniques" below and in the Statement of
Additional Information for a discussion of the risks of investments in high
yield securities).
THE DIVIDEND GROWTH PORTFOLIO
The investment objective of the DIVIDEND GROWTH PORTFOLIO is to provide
reasonable current income and long-term growth of income and capital. There is
no assurance that the objective will be achieved. The DIVIDEND GROWTH PORTFOLIO
seeks to achieve its investment objective primarily through investments in
common stock of companies with a record of paying dividends and the potential
for increasing dividends. Net asset value of the DIVIDEND GROWTH PORTFOLIO's
shares will fluctuate with changes in market values of portfolio securities. The
DIVIDEND GROWTH PORTFOLIO will attempt to avoid speculative securities or those
with speculative characteristics.
The investment objective of the DIVIDEND GROWTH PORTFOLIO may not be changed
without the approval of the shareholders of the DIVIDEND GROWTH PORTFOLIO. The
following policies may be changed by the Trustees of the Fund without
shareholder approval:
(1) Up to 30% of the value of the DIVIDEND GROWTH PORTFOLIO's total assets
may be invested in: (a) convertible debt securities, convertible preferred
securities, warrants (see "General Portfolio Techniques" below), U.S. Government
securities (securities issued or guaranteed as to principal and interest by the
United States or its agencies and instrumentalities), corporate debt securities
which are rated at the time of purchase Baa or better by Moody's Investors
Service, Inc. or BBB or better by Standard & Poor's Corporation or which, if
unrated, are deemed to be of comparable quality by the Fund's Trustees (see
"General Portfolio Techniques" below for a discussion of the characteristics and
risks of investments in fixed-income securities rated Baa or BBB) and/or money
market instruments which would be eligible investments for the Fund's MONEY
MARKET PORTFOLIO (as set forth above under "The Money Market Portfolio") when,
in the opinion of the Investment Manager, the projected total return on such
securities is equal to or greater than the expected total return on equity
securities or when such holdings might be expected to reduce the volatility of
the portfolio (for purposes of this provision, the term "total return" means the
difference between the cost of a security and the aggregate of its market value
and dividends received); or (b) in money market instruments under any one or
more of the following circumstances: (i) pending investment of proceeds of sale
of the DIVIDEND GROWTH PORTFOLIO's shares or of portfolio securities; (ii)
pending settlement of purchases of portfolio securities; or (iii) to maintain
liquidity for the purpose of meeting anticipated redemptions.
(2) Notwithstanding any of the foregoing limitations, the DIVIDEND GROWTH
PORTFOLIO may invest more than 30% of the value of its total assets in money
market instruments to maintain, temporarily, a "defensive" posture when, in the
opinion of the Investment Manager, it is advisable to do so because of economic
or market conditions.
The DIVIDEND GROWTH PORTFOLIO may enter into repurchase agreements, invest in
American Depository Receipts, invest in zero coupon securities, invest in real
estate investment trusts, lend its portfolio securities, purchase securities on
a when-issued or delayed delivery basis or a "when, as and if issued" basis, and
purchase or sell securities on a forward commitment basis, in each case in
accordance with the description of those investments and techniques (and subject
to the risks) set forth under "General Portfolio Techniques" below and in the
Statement of Additional Information.
The DIVIDEND GROWTH PORTFOLIO is authorized to engage in transactions involving
options and futures contracts which
20
<PAGE>
would be eligible for use by the STRATEGIST PORTFOLIO. These transactions are
described under "Options and Futures Transactions" under "General Portfolio
Techniques" below and in the Statement of Additional Information. The DIVIDEND
GROWTH PORTFOLIO does not, however, presently intend to engage in such options
and futures transactions and will not do so unless and until the Fund's
prospectus were revised to reflect this.
THE CAPITAL GROWTH PORTFOLIO
The investment objective of the CAPITAL GROWTH PORTFOLIO is long-term capital
growth. There is no assurance that the objective will be achieved. The
investment objective of the CAPITAL GROWTH PORTFOLIO may not be changed without
the approval of the shareholders of the CAPITAL GROWTH PORTFOLIO. The following
policies may be changed by the Board of Trustees without shareholder approval:
The CAPITAL GROWTH PORTFOLIO seeks to achieve its investment objective by
investing, under normal circumstances, at least 65% of its total assets in
common stocks. As part of its management of the Portfolio, the Investment
Manager will utilize a screening process designed to find companies which have
demonstrated a history of consistent growth in earnings and revenues for the
past several years. Additionally, screened companies will have solid future
earnings growth characteristics and attractive valuations. Companies meeting
these requirements will be potential candidates for investment by the CAPITAL
GROWTH PORTFOLIO. Subject to the Portfolio's investment objective, the
Investment Manager, without notice, may modify the foregoing screening process
and/ or may utilize additional or different screening processes in connection
with the investment of the Portfolio's assets. Dividend income will not be a
consideration in the selection of stocks for purchase.
Although the CAPITAL GROWTH PORTFOLIO will invest primarily in common stocks,
the Portfolio may invest up to 35% of its total assets (taken at current value
and subject to restrictions appearing elsewhere in this Prospectus), in U.S.
Government securities (securities issued or guaranteed as to principal and
interest by the United States or its agencies or instrumentalities), and
corporate debt securities which are rated at the time of purchase Baa or better
by Moody's Investors Service, Inc. or BBB or better by Standard & Poor's
Corporation or which, if unrated, are deemed to be of comparable quality by the
Fund's Trustees (see "General Portfolio Techniques" below for a discussion of
the characteristics and risks of investments in fixed-income securities rated
Baa or BBB), convertible securities, money market instruments, repurchase
agreements, options and futures (see "General Portfolio Techniques" below and in
the Statement of Additional Information). The CAPITAL GROWTH PORTFOLIO may also
purchase unit offerings (where corporate debt securities are offered as a unit
with convertible securities, preferred or common stocks, warrants, or any
combination thereof) (see the discussion of warrants under "General Portfolio
Techniques" below). U.S. Government securities are described above and in the
Statement of Additional Information under "The Quality Income Plus Portfolio."
There may be periods during which, in the opinion of the Investment Manager,
market conditions warrant reduction of some or all of the CAPITAL GROWTH
PORTFOLIO's securities holdings. During such periods, the CAPITAL GROWTH
PORTFOLIO may adopt a temporary "defensive" posture in which greater than 35% of
its total assets are invested in cash or money market instruments which would be
eligible investments for the Fund's MONEY MARKET PORTFOLIO (as set forth above
under "The Money Market Portfolio").
The CAPITAL GROWTH PORTFOLIO may enter into repurchase agreements, invest in
foreign securities (including American Depository Receipts, European Depository
Receipts or other similar securities convertible into securities of foreign
issuers), invest in zero coupon securities, invest in real estate investment
trusts, lend its portfolio securities, purchase securities on a when-issued or
delayed delivery basis or a "when, as and if issued" basis, and purchase or sell
securities on a forward commitment basis, in each case in accordance with the
description of those investments and techniques (and subject to the risks) set
forth under "General Portfolio Techniques" below and in the Statement of
Additional Information.
THE GLOBAL DIVIDEND GROWTH PORTFOLIO
The investment objective of the GLOBAL DIVIDEND GROWTH PORTFOLIO is to provide
reasonable current income and long-term growth of income and capital. This
objective is fundamental and may not be changed without shareholder approval.
There is no assurance that the objective will be achieved. The GLOBAL DIVIDEND
GROWTH PORTFOLIO seeks to achieve its investment objective primarily through
investments in common stock of companies, issued by issuers worldwide, with a
record of paying dividends and the potential for increasing dividends. The
following policies may be changed by the Trustees of the Fund without
shareholder approval:
The GLOBAL DIVIDEND GROWTH PORTFOLIO will invest at least 65% of its total
assets in dividend-paying equity securities issued by issuers located in various
countries around the world. The Portfolio's investment portfolio will also be
invested in at least three separate countries.
The GLOBAL DIVIDEND GROWTH PORTFOLIO will maintain a flexible investment policy
and, based on a worldwide investment strategy, will invest in a diversified
portfolio of securities of companies located throughout the world. The
Investment Manager will seek those companies with what, in its opinion, is a
strong record of earnings. The percentage of the GLOBAL DIVIDEND GROWTH
PORTFOLIO's assets invested in particular geographic sectors will shift from
time to time in accordance with the judgement of the Investment Manager.
21
<PAGE>
Up to 35% of the value of the GLOBAL DIVIDEND GROWTH PORTFOLIO's total assets
may be invested in: (a) convertible debt securities, convertible preferred
securities, warrants (see "General Portfolio Techniques" below), U.S. Government
securities (securities issued or guaranteed as to principal and interest by the
United States or its agencies and instrumentalities), fixed-income securities
issued by foreign governments and international organizations, investment grade
corporate debt securities and/or money market instruments when, in the opinion
of the Investment Manager, the projected total return on such securities is
equal to or greater than the expected total return on equity securities or when
such holdings might be expected to reduce the volatility of the portfolio (for
purposes of this provision, the term "total return" means the difference between
the cost of a security and the aggregate of its market value and dividends
received) and forward foreign currency exchange contracts, futures contracts and
options (see "General Portfolio Techniques" below and in the Statement of
Additional Information); or (b) money market instruments under any one or more
of the following circumstances: (i) pending investment of proceeds of sale of
the Portfolio's shares or of portfolio securities; (ii) pending settlement of
purchases of portfolio securities; or (iii) to maintain liquidity for the
purpose of meeting anticipated redemptions. The term investment grade consists
of debt instruments rated Baa or higher by Moody's Investors Service, Inc. or
BBB or higher by Standard & Poor's Corporation or, if not rated, determined to
be of comparable quality by the Investment Manager (see "General Portfolio
Techniques" below for a discussion of the characteristics and risks of
investments in fixed-income securities rated Baa or BBB). U.S. Government
securities are described above and in the Statement of Additional Information
under "The Quality Income Plus Portfolio."
The GLOBAL DIVIDEND GROWTH PORTFOLIO may also invest in securities of foreign
issuers in the form of American Depository Receipts, European Depository
Receipts or other similar securities convertible into securities of foreign
issuers, invest in zero coupon securities, purchase equity and fixed-income
securities which are issued in private placements and invest up to 10% of its
total assets in securities issued by other investment companies (see the
discussion of these securities under "General Portfolio Techniques" below).
Notwithstanding the GLOBAL DIVIDEND GROWTH PORTFOLIO's investment objective of
seeking total return, the Portfolio may, for "defensive" purposes, without
limitation, invest in: obligations of the United States Government, its agencies
or instrumentalities; cash and cash equivalents in major currencies; repurchase
agreements; and money market instruments which would be eligible investments for
the Fund's MONEY MARKET PORTFOLIO (as set forth above under "The Money Market
Portfolio").
Investors should carefully consider the risks of investing in securities of
foreign issuers and securities denominated in non-U.S. currencies (see "General
Portfolio Techniques" below for a discussion of the characteristics and risks of
investments in foreign securities).
The GLOBAL DIVIDEND GROWTH PORTFOLIO may enter into repurchase agreements,
invest in real estate investment trusts, lend its portfolio securities, purchase
securities on a when-issued or delayed delivery basis or a "when, as and if
issued" basis, and purchase or sell securities on a forward commitment basis, in
each case in accordance with the description of those investments and techniques
(and subject to the risks) set forth under "General Portfolio Techniques" below
and in the Statement of Additional Information.
THE EUROPEAN GROWTH PORTFOLIO
The investment objective of the EUROPEAN GROWTH PORTFOLIO is to maximize the
capital appreciation of its investments. There is no assurance that the
objective will be achieved. The investment objective of the EUROPEAN GROWTH
PORTFOLIO may not be changed without the approval of the shareholders of the
EUROPEAN GROWTH PORTFOLIO. The following policies may be changed by the Board of
Trustees without shareholder approval:
The EUROPEAN GROWTH PORTFOLIO seeks to achieve its investment objective by
investing at least 65% of its total assets in securities issued by issuers
located in countries located in Europe. Such issuers will include companies (i)
which are organized under the laws of a European country and have a principal
office in a European country, or (ii) which derive 50% or more of their total
revenues from business in Europe, or (iii) the equity securities of which are
traded principally on a stock exchange in Europe.
The principal countries in which such issuers will be located are France, the
United Kingdom, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and Italy.
The Portfolio's investment portfolio will be invested in at least three separate
countries.
The securities invested in will primarily consist of equity securities issued by
companies based in European countries, but may also include fixed-income
securities issued or guaranteed by European governments, when it is deemed that
such investments are consistent with the EUROPEAN GROWTH PORTFOLIO's investment
objective. For example, there may be times when the Investment Manager or the
Sub-Adviser determines that the prices of government securities are more likely
to appreciate than those of equity securities. Such an occasion might arise when
inflation concerns have led to general increases in interest rates. Such
fixed-income securities which will be purchased by the Portfolio are likely to
be obligations of the treasuries of one of the major European nations. In
addition, the EUROPEAN GROWTH PORTFOLIO may invest in fixed-income securities
which are, either alone or in combination with a warrant, option or other right,
convertible into the common stock of a European issuer, when the Investment
Manager or the Sub-Adviser determines that such securities are more likely to
appreciate in value than the common stock of such issuers or when the Investment
Manager or the Sub-Adviser wishes to hedge the risk inherent in the direct
purchase of the equity of a given issuer. The EUROPEAN GROWTH PORTFOLIO will
select convertible securities of issuers whose common stock
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has, in the opinion of the Investment Manager or the Sub-Adviser, a superior
investment potential (see "General Portfolio Techniques" below). The EUROPEAN
GROWTH PORTFOLIO may also purchase equity and fixed-income securities which are
issued in private placements and warrants or other securities conveying the
right to purchase common stock, and may invest up to 10% of its total assets in
securities issued by other investment companies (see the discussion of these
securities under "General Portfolio Techniques" below).
The remainder of the assets of the EUROPEAN GROWTH PORTFOLIO, equalling, at
times, up to 35% of the Portfolio's total assets, may be invested in equity
and/or governmental and convertible securities issued by issuers located
anywhere in the world, including the United States, subject to the Portfolio's
investment objective. In addition, this portion of the portfolio will consist of
various other financial instruments such as forward foreign currency exchange
contracts, futures contracts and options (see "General Portfolio Techniques"
below and in the Statement of Additional Information). U.S. Government
securities are described above and in the Statement of Additional Information
under "The Quality Income Plus Portfolio."
It is anticipated that the securities held by the EUROPEAN GROWTH PORTFOLIO in
its portfolio will be denominated, principally, in liquid European currencies.
Such currencies include the German mark, French franc, British pound, Dutch
guilder, Swiss franc, Swedish krona, Italian lira, and Spanish peseta. In
addition, the Portfolio may hold securities denominated in the European Currency
Unit (a weighted composite of the currencies of member states of the European
Monetary System). Securities of issuers within a given country may be
denominated in the currency of a different country.
The EUROPEAN GROWTH PORTFOLIO may also invest in securities of foreign issuers
in the form of American Depository Receipts, European Depository Receipts or
other similar securities convertible into securities of foreign issuers (see the
discussion of these securities under "General Portfolio Techniques" below).
There may be periods during which market conditions warrant reduction of some or
all of the EUROPEAN GROWTH PORTFOLIO's securities holdings. During such periods,
the Portfolio may adopt a temporary "defensive" posture in which greater than
35% of its total assets are invested in cash or money market instruments which
would be eligible investments for the Fund's MONEY MARKET PORTFOLIO (as set
forth above under "The Money Market Portfolio").
Investors should carefully consider the risks of investing in securities of
foreign issuers and securities denominated in non-U.S. currencies (see "General
Portfolio Techniques" below for a discussion of the characteristics and risks of
investments in foreign securities).
The EUROPEAN GROWTH PORTFOLIO may enter into repurchase agreements, invest in
zero coupon securities, lend its portfolio securities, purchase securities on a
when-issued or delayed delivery basis or a "when, as and if issued" basis, and
purchase or sell securities on a forward commitment basis, in each case in
accordance with the description of those investments and techniques (and subject
to the risks) set forth under "General Portfolio Techniques" below and in the
Statement of Additional Information.
THE PACIFIC GROWTH PORTFOLIO
The investment objective of the PACIFIC GROWTH PORTFOLIO is to maximize the
capital appreciation of its investments. There is no assurance that the
objective will be achieved. The investment objective of the PACIFIC GROWTH
PORTFOLIO may not be changed without the approval of the shareholders of the
PACIFIC GROWTH PORTFOLIO. The following policies may be changed by the Board of
Trustees without shareholder approval:
The PACIFIC GROWTH PORTFOLIO seeks to achieve its investment objective by
investing at least 65% of its total assets in securities issued by issuers
located in Asia, Australia and New Zealand. Such issuers will include companies
which are organized under the laws of an Asian country, Australia or New Zealand
and have a principal office in an Asian country, Australia or New Zealand, or
which derive 50% or more of their total revenues from business in an Asian
country, Australia or New Zealand.
The principal countries in which such issuers will be located are Japan,
Australia, Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Thailand, the Philippines, Indonesia,
Taiwan and South Korea. The Portfolio's investment portfolio will be invested in
at least three separate countries.
The PACIFIC GROWTH PORTFOLIO may invest more than 25% of its total assets in
Japan, reflecting the dominance of the Japanese stock market in the Pacific
basin. The concentration of the Portfolio's assets in Japanese issuers will
subject the PACIFIC GROWTH PORTFOLIO to the risks of adverse social, political
or economic events which occur in Japan. Specifically, investments in the
Japanese stock market may entail a higher degree of risk than investments in
other markets as, by fundamental measures of corporate valuation, such as its
high price-earnings ratios and low dividend yields, the Japanese market as a
whole may appear expensive relative to other world stock markets (I.E., the
prices of Japanese stocks may be relatively high). In addition, the prices of
securities traded on the Japanese markets may be more volatile than many other
markets.
The PACIFIC GROWTH PORTFOLIO also may invest over 25% of its total assets in
securities issued by issuers located in Hong Kong. In common with the other
stock markets of the Pacific Basin, the Hong Kong stock market is more volatile,
as measured by standard deviation, than the major equity markets of North
America and Europe. On July 1, 1997, Hong Kong became part of the People's
Republic of China, and forms a Special Administrative Region within that
country. The Government of China has indicated that it will not seek to alter
the free market-oriented economic system of Hong Kong for at least fifty years
following 1997.
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The PACIFIC GROWTH PORTFOLIO may also invest over 25% of its total assets in
securities issued by issuers located in Malaysia. The Malaysian stock market may
also be more volatile than many other markets and, as in the case of other
international equity markets, the value of equities can be impacted by
unforeseen, adverse developments in the macro-economy or currency, political
and/or social instability, government regulatory changes or individual corporate
developments.
The securities invested in will primarily consist of equity securities issued by
companies based in Asian countries, Australia and New Zealand which the
Investment Manager and/or Sub-Adviser believe are most likely to help the
PACIFIC GROWTH PORTFOLIO meet its investment objective, but may also include
fixed-income securities issued or guaranteed by (I.E., are the direct
obligations of) the governments of such countries, when it is deemed by the
Investment Manager or Sub-Adviser that such investments are consistent with the
Portfolio's investment objective. For example, there may be times when the
Investment Manager or Sub-Adviser determines that the prices of government
securities are more likely to appreciate than those of equity securities. Such
an occasion might arise when inflation concerns have led to general increases in
interest rates. Such fixed-income securities which will be purchased by the
Portfolio are likely to be obligations of the treasuries of Australia or Japan.
In addition, the PACIFIC GROWTH PORTFOLIO may invest in fixed-income securities
which are, either alone or in combination with a warrant, option or other right,
convertible into the common stock of an issuer, when the Investment Manager or
the Sub-Adviser determines that such securities are more likely to appreciate in
value than the common stock of such issuers or when the Investment Manager or
Sub-Adviser wishes to hedge the risk inherent in the direct purchase of the
equity of a given issuer, by receiving a steady stream of interest payments. The
PACIFIC GROWTH PORTFOLIO will select convertible securities of issuers whose
common stock has, in the opinion of the Investment Manager or Sub-Adviser, a
potential to appreciate in price (see "General Portfolio Techniques" below). The
PACIFIC GROWTH PORTFOLIO may also purchase equity and fixed-income securities
which are issued in private placements and warrants or other securities
conveying the right to purchase common stock, and may invest up to 10% of its
total assets in securities issued by other investment companies (see the
discussion of these securities under "General Portfolio Techniques" below).
The decisions of the Investment Manager and Sub-Adviser to invest in securities
for the PACIFIC GROWTH PORTFOLIO will be based on a general strategy of
selecting those issuers which they believe have shown a high rate of growth in
earnings. Moreover, securities will primarily be selected which possess, on both
an absolute basis and as compared with other securities in their region and
around the world, attractive price/earnings, price/cash flow and price/revenue
ratios.
The remainder of the assets of the PACIFIC GROWTH PORTFOLIO, equalling, at
times, up to 35% of the Portfolio's total assets, may be invested in equity
and/or fixed-income and convertible securities issued by issuers located
anywhere in the world, including the United States, subject to the Fund's
investment objective. In addition, this portion of the portfolio will consist of
various other financial instruments such as forward foreign currency exchange
contracts, futures contracts and options (see "General Portfolio Techniques"
below and in the Statement of Additional Information). U.S. government
securities are described above and in the Statement of Additional Information
under "The Quality Income Plus Portfolio."
It is anticipated that the securities held by the PACIFIC GROWTH PORTFOLIO in
its portfolio will be denominated, principally, in the liquid Asian currencies
and the Australian dollar. Such currencies include the Japanese yen, Malaysian
ringgit, Singapore dollar, Hong Kong dollar, Thai baht, Philippine peso,
Indonesia rupiah, Taiwan dollar and South Korean won. Securities of issuers
within a given country may be denominated in the currency of a different
country.
The PACIFIC GROWTH PORTFOLIO may also invest in securities of foreign issuers in
the form of American Depository Receipts, European Depository Receipts or other
similar securities convertible into securities of foreign issuers (see the
discussion of these securities under "General Portfolio Techniques" below).
There may be periods during which market conditions warrant reduction of some or
all of the PACIFIC GROWTH PORTFOLIO's securities holdings. During such periods,
the Portfolio may adopt a temporary "defensive" posture in which greater than
35% of its net assets are invested in cash or money market instruments that
would be eligible investments for the Fund's MONEY MARKET PORTFOLIO (as set
forth above under "The Money Market Portfolio").
Investors should carefully consider the risks of investing in securities of
foreign issuers and securities denominated in non-U.S. currencies (see "General
Portfolio Techniques" below for a discussion of the characteristics and risks of
investments in foreign securities). In particular, the foreign securities in
which the PACIFIC GROWTH PORTFOLIO will be investing may be issued by issuers
located in developing countries. Compared to the United States and other
developed countries, developing countries may have relatively unstable
governments, economies based on only a few industries, and securities markets
which trade a small number of securities. Prices on these securities tend to be
especially volatile and, in the past, securities in these countries have offered
greater potential for gain (as well as loss) than securities of companies
located in developed countries.
The PACIFIC GROWTH PORTFOLIO may enter into repurchase agreements, invest in
zero coupon securities, lend its portfolio securities, purchase securities on a
when-issued or delayed delivery basis or a "when, as and if issued" basis, and
purchase or sell securities on a forward commitment basis, in each case in
accordance with the description of those investments and techniques (and subject
to the risks) set forth under "General Portfolio Techniques" below and in the
Statement of Additional Information.
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THE CAPITAL APPRECIATION PORTFOLIO
The investment objective of the CAPITAL APPRECIATION PORTFOLIO is long-term
capital appreciation. There is no assurance that the objective will be achieved.
The investment objective of the CAPITAL APPRECIATION PORTFOLIO may not be
changed without the approval of the shareholders of the CAPITAL APPRECIATION
PORTFOLIO. The following policies may be changed by the Board of Trustees
without shareholder approval:
The CAPITAL APPRECIATION PORTFOLIO seeks to achieve its investment objective by
investing, under normal circumstances, at least 65% of its total assets in the
common stocks of U.S. companies that, in the opinion of the Investment Manager,
offer the potential for either superior earnings growth and/or appear to be
undervalued.
The Investment Manager will base the selection of stocks for the portfolio of
the CAPITAL APPRECIATION PORTFOLIO on research and analysis, taking into
account, among other factors, a company's price/earnings ratio (that is, whether
the current stock price appears undervalued in relation to earnings, projected
cash flow, or asset value per share; or the price-to-earnings ratio is
attractive relative to the company's underlying earnings growth rate), growth in
sales, market-to-book ratio, the quality of a company's balance sheet,
sales-per-share and profitability in order to determine whether the current
market valuation is less than the Investment Manager's view of a company's
intrinsic value. Also, when reviewing investments for selection, the Investment
Manager will consider the following characteristics of a company: capable
management; attractive business niches; pricing flexibility; sound financial and
accounting practices and a demonstrated ability or prospects to consistently
grow revenues, earnings and cash flow. Stocks may also be selected on the basis
of whether the Investment Manager believes that the potential exists for some
catalyst (such as increased investor attention, asset sales, a new
product/innovation, or a change in management) to cause the stock's price to
rise. Such factors are part of the Investment Manager's overall investment
selection process.
The Investment Manager has no general criteria as to asset size, earnings or
industry type which would make an investment unsuitable for purchase by the
CAPITAL APPRECIATION PORTFOLIO. In addition, since the Investment Manager is
seeking investments in companies whose securities may appear to be undervalued,
there is no limitation on the stock price of any particular investment. However,
as a result of the selection process, which focuses on fundamentals in relation
to prices, such review of investments will include companies with low-priced
stocks. In this category are large companies with low-priced stocks (so-called
"fallen angels") which, in the opinion of the Investment Manager, may appear to
be undervalued because they are overlooked by many investors, may not be closely
followed through investment research and/or their prices may reflect pessimism
about the companies' (and/or their industries') outlook. Such companies, by
virtue of their stock price, may be takeover candidates. Low-priced stocks are
also associated with smaller companies whose securities' value may reflect a
discount because of smaller size and lack of research coverage, emerging growth
companies and private companies undergoing their initial public offering. The
CAPITAL APPRECIATION PORTFOLIO will invest in companies of all sizes. For a
discussion of the risks of investing in the securities of such companies, see
below.
Consequently, the CAPITAL APPRECIATION PORTFOLIO looks for quality businesses
with an investment outlook based upon a mix of growth potential, financial
strength and fundamental value. The focus on price and fundamentals sets the
Portfolio apart from pure "growth" or pure "value" funds. The CAPITAL
APPRECIATION PORTFOLIO's holdings will be widely diversified by industry and
company and under most circumstances, at the time of initial purchase, the
average position will be less than 1.5% of the Portfolio's net assets.
In addition to U.S. common stock, up to 35% of the CAPITAL APPRECIATION
PORTFOLIO's total assets may be invested in debt or preferred equity securities
convertible into or exchangeable for equity securities, rights and warrants,
when considered by the Investment Manager to be consistent with the Portfolio's
investment objective. (For a discussion of each of these types of securities,
see "General Portfolio Techniques" below.)
The CAPITAL APPRECIATION PORTFOLIO may also invest in other debt securities
without regard to quality or rating, if in the opinion of the Investment Manager
such securities meet the investment criteria of the CAPITAL APPRECIATION
PORTFOLIO. However, the CAPITAL APPRECIATION PORTFOLIO will not purchase a
non-investment grade debt security (or junk bond) if, immediately after such
purchase, the Portfolio would have more than 5% of its total assets invested in
such securities. See "General Portfolio Techniques" below for a discussion of
investment in securities rated Baa by Moody's Investors Service, Inc. or BBB by
Standard & Poor's Corporation (the lowest credit ratings designated "investment
grade") and a discussion of investments in securities rated lower than
investment grade.
The securities in which the CAPITAL APPRECIATION PORTFOLIO invests may or may
not be listed on a national stock exchange, but if they are not so listed will
generally have an established over-the-counter market.
Given the investment risks described below, an investment in shares of the
CAPITAL APPRECIATION PORTFOLIO should not be considered a complete investment
program and is not appropriate for all investors. Investors should carefully
consider their ability to assume these risks before making an investment in the
CAPITAL APPRECIATION PORTFOLIO.
The net asset value of the shares of the CAPITAL APPRECIATION PORTFOLIO will
fluctuate with changes in the market value of its portfolio securities. The
market value of the portfolio securities of the CAPITAL APPRECIATION PORTFOLIO
will increase or decrease due to a variety of economic, market or political
factors which cannot be predicted. The CAPITAL APPRECIATION PORTFOLIO is
intended for long-term investors who can accept the risks involved in seeking
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<PAGE>
long-term capital appreciation through the investment primarily in the
securities of companies that offer the potential for either superior earnings
growth and/or appear to be undervalued. In selecting investments for the CAPITAL
APPRECIATION PORTFOLIO, the Investment Manager has no general criteria as to a
company's asset size, earnings or industry type. It should be recognized that
investing in such companies involves greater risk than is customarily associated
with investing in more established companies.
The CAPITAL APPRECIATION PORTFOLIO may invest in securities of companies that
are not well known to the investing public or followed by many securities
analysts, with the result that there may be less publicly available information
concerning such securities. Also, these securities may be more volatile in price
and have lower trading volumes. In addition, while companies in which the
CAPITAL APPRECIATION PORTFOLIO may invest often have sales and earnings growth
rates which may exceed those of large companies and may be reflected in more
rapid share price appreciation, such companies may have limited operating
histories, product lines, markets or financial resources and they may be
dependent upon one-person management. These companies may be subject to intense
competition from larger companies. The securities of such companies may have
limited marketability and may be subject to more abrupt or erratic movements in
price than securities of larger companies or in the market averages in general.
In the case of securities of large companies with lower-priced stock (the
so-called "fallen angels"), the risk associated with such investment is that the
price may continue to fall.
There may be periods during which, in the opinion of the Investment Manager,
market conditions warrant a reduction of some or all of the CAPITAL APPRECIATION
PORTFOLIO's securities holdings. During such periods, the Portfolio may adopt a
temporary "defensive" posture in which greater than 35% of its total assets is
invested in cash or money market instruments, including obligations issued or
guaranteed as to principal or interest by the United States Government, its
agencies or instrumentalities, certificates of deposit, bankers' acceptances and
other obligations of domestic banks having total assets of $1 billion or more,
and short-term commercial paper of corporations organized under the laws of any
state or political subdivision of the United States.
The CAPITAL APPRECIATION PORTFOLIO may enter into repurchase agreements, invest
in foreign securities (including American Depository Receipts), zero coupon
securities and real estate investment trusts, invest up to 10% of its total
assets in securities issued by other investment companies, engage in futures
contracts and options transactions, lend its portfolio securities, purchase
securities which are issued in private placements or are otherwise not readily
marketable, purchase securities on a when-issued or delayed delivery basis or a
"when, as and if issued" basis, and purchase or sell securities on a forward
commitment basis, in each case in accordance with the description of these
investments and techniques (and subject to the risks) set forth under "General
Portfolio Techniques" below and in the Statement of Additional Information.
THE EQUITY PORTFOLIO
The portfolio of the EQUITY PORTFOLIO will be actively managed by the Investment
Manager with a view to achieving the EQUITY PORTFOLIO's primary investment
objective of growth of capital through investments in common stock of companies
believed by the Investment Manager to have potential for superior growth. As a
secondary objective, the EQUITY PORTFOLIO will seek income, but only when
consistent with its primary objective. There can be no assurance that the
objectives will be achieved.
The investment objectives of the EQUITY PORTFOLIO may not be changed without the
approval of the shareholders of the EQUITY PORTFOLIO. The following policies may
be changed by the Trustees of the Fund without shareholder approval:
Consistent with its primary investment objective, the EQUITY PORTFOLIO will
invest principally in common stocks, under most conditions, but may also invest
in corporate debt securities which are rated at the time of purchase Aa or
better by Moody's Investors Service, Inc. or AA or better by Standard & Poor's
Corporation (the Portfolio may continue to hold a security even if its quality
rating is reduced by a rating service below those specified; see "General
Portfolio Techniques" below for a discussion of the risks of holding lower-rated
securities), U.S. Government securities (securities issued or guaranteed as to
principal and interest by the United States, its agencies or instrumentalities),
preferred stocks, securities convertible into common stock, including
convertible debt obligations and convertible preferred stocks, and warrants (see
the discussion of convertible securities and warrants under "General Portfolio
Techniques" below). The EQUITY PORTFOLIO will invest at least 65% of its net
assets at all times, except for temporary and defensive purposes, in equity
securities and securities convertible into equity securities. In determining the
percentage of the EQUITY PORTFOLIO's assets to be invested in equity securities,
the Investment Manager may employ valuation models based on various economic and
market indicators. Equity assets will be distributed among high-quality,
large-capitalization, dividend-oriented stocks, stocks of small-and medium-sized
growth-oriented companies, and stocks which it believes to be undervalued
regardless of capitalization size. Funds will be allocated among these different
approaches based on the Investment Manager's evaluation of economic and market
trends and on valuation parameters such as price/earnings ("P/E") ratios,
price/book ratios, dividend yields, P/E to growth rate ratios, and/or dividend
discount models. While the EQUITY PORTFOLIO may not invest in securities of
foreign issuers, it may invest in (a) securities of Canadian issuers registered
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and (b) American Depository Receipts
("ADRs") (see the discussion of ADRs under "General Portfolio Techniques"
below).
In order to maintain a liquid position or in periods in which general market
conditions warrant, in the opinion of the Investment Manager, the adoption of a
temporary "defensive" posture, part of the assets of the EQUITY PORTFOLIO may be
invested in money market instruments, including obligations issued or
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guaranteed as to principal or interest by the United States, its agencies or
instrumentalities, certificates of deposit, bankers' acceptances and other
obligations of domestic banks having total assets of $1 billion or more, and
short-term commercial paper of corporations organized under the laws of any
state or political subdivision of the United States.
The EQUITY PORTFOLIO may enter into repurchase agreements, invest in zero coupon
securities, invest in real estate investment trusts, lend its portfolio
securities, purchase securities on a when-issued or delayed delivery basis or a
"when, as and if issued" basis, and purchase or sell securities on a forward
commitment basis, in each case in accordance with the description of those
techniques (and subject to the same risks) set forth under "General Portfolio
Techniques" below and in the Statement of Additional Information.
THE S&P 500 INDEX PORTFOLIO
The investment objective of the S&P 500 INDEX PORTFOLIO is to provide investment
results that, before expenses, correspond to the total return (I.E., the
combination of capital changes and income) of the Standard &
Poor's-Registered Trademark- 500 Composite Stock Price Index (the "S&P 500
Index"). This is a fundamental policy and cannot be changed without the approval
of the shareholders of the S&P 500 INDEX PORTFOLIO. There is no assurance that
the investment objective of the S&P 500 INDEX PORTFOLIO will be achieved. The
following policies may be changed by the Trustees of the Fund without
shareholder approval:
The S&P 500 INDEX PORTFOLIO seeks to achieve its objective by investing, under
normal circumstances (including the attainment by the Portfolio of sufficient
asset size), at least 80% of its total assets in common stocks included in the
S&P 500 Index in approximately the same weightings as the Index. The Portfolio
intends to invest in substantially all of the stocks that comprise the S&P 500
Index in approximately the same weightings as they are represented in the Index.
The Portfolio operates as a "straight" index fund and will not be actively
managed; as such, adverse performance of a security will ordinarily not result
in the elimination of the security from the portfolio of the S&P 500 INDEX
PORTFOLIO. The Portfolio will remain fully invested in common stocks even when
stock prices are generally falling. Ordinarily, portfolio securities will not be
sold except to reflect additions or deletions of the stocks that comprise the
S&P 500 Index, including mergers, reorganizations and similar transactions, or
as may be necessary to satisfy redemption requests. Because of the difficulty
and expense of executing relatively small stock transactions, until the S&P 500
INDEX PORTFOLIO attains a sufficient level of assets (approximately $10
million), the Portfolio may have its portfolio weighted differently from the S&P
500 Index and may not invest in all 500 stocks represented in the Index.
Over the long term, the Investment Manager seeks a correlation between the
performance of the S&P 500 INDEX PORTFOLIO, before expenses, and that of the S&P
500 Index of 0.95 or better. A figure of 1.00 would indicate perfect
correlation. The Portfolio's ability to correlate its performance, before
expenses, with the S&P 500 Index may be affected by, among other things, changes
in securities markets, the manner in which the S&P 500 Index is calculated and
the timing of purchases and redemptions. The Portfolio's ability to correlate
its performance to the Index also depends to some extent on the size of the
portfolio of the S&P 500 INDEX PORTFOLIO and the size of cash flows into and out
of the Portfolio. To accommodate these cash flows, investment changes may be
made to maintain the similarity of the Portfolio's portfolio to the S&P 500
Index to the maximum practicable extent. The Investment Manager regularly
monitors the correlation and, in the event the desired correlation is not
achieved, the Investment Manager will determine what additional investment
changes may need to be made.
The S&P 500 INDEX PORTFOLIO may purchase and sell stock index futures contracts,
for the following reasons: to simulate full investment in the S&P 500 Index
while retaining a cash balance for portfolio management purposes, to facilitate
trading, to reduce transaction costs or to seek higher investment returns when a
futures contract is priced more attractively than stocks comprising the S&P 500
Index (see the discussion of stock index futures under "General Portfolio
Techniques" below and in the Statement of Additional Information).
Additional Information Concerning the S&P 500 Index. The S&P 500 Index is a
well-known stock market index that includes common stocks of 500 companies from
several industrial sectors representing a significant portion of the market
value of all common stocks publicly traded in the United States, most of which
are listed on the New York Stock Exchange. Stocks in the S&P 500 Index are
weighted according to their market capitalization (I.E., the number of shares
outstanding multiplied by the stock's current price). The Investment Manager
believes that the performance of the S&P 500 Index is representative of the
performance of publicly traded common stocks in general. The composition of the
S&P 500 Index is determined by Standard & Poor's, a division of The McGraw-Hill
Companies, Inc. ("S&P"), and is based on such factors as the market
capitalization and trading activity of each stock and its adequacy as a
representation of stocks in a particular industry group, and may be changed from
time to time.
"Standard & Poor's-Registered Trademark-," "S&P-Registered Trademark-," "S&P
500-Registered Trademark-," "Standard & Poor's 500," and "500" are trademarks of
The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. and have been licensed for use by the S&P 500
INDEX PORTFOLIO. The Portfolio is not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by
S&P, and S&P makes no representation regarding the advisability of investing in
the S&P 500 INDEX PORTFOLIO.
Cash Flows; Expenses. The ability of the S&P 500 INDEX PORTFOLIO to meet its
investment objective depends to some extent on the Investment Manager's ability
to manage cash flows (primarily from purchases and redemptions and distributions
from the Portfolio's portfolio investments). Generally, the Investment Manager
will employ stock index futures to provide liquidity necessary to meet
anticipated redemptions or for day-to-day operating purposes. In addition, if
considered
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appropriate, a portion of the Portfolio's assets not exceeding 20% of its total
assets may be invested in money market instruments. The Investment Manager will
also made investment changes to the portfolio of the S&P 500 INDEX PORTFOLIO to
accommodate cash flows while continuing to seek to replicate the total return of
the S&P 500 Index. Investors should also be aware that the S&P 500 Index is a
hypothetical number which does not take into account brokerage commissions and
other transaction costs, custody and other costs of investing, which will be
borne by the Fund, and any incremental operating costs (E.G., transfer agency,
accounting) borne by the Portfolio. Finally, since the Portfolio seeks to
provide investment results that, before expenses, correspond to the total return
of the S&P 500 Index, the Investment Manager will generally not attempt to judge
the merits of any particular security as an investment.
Temporary Investments. A portion of the S&P 500 INDEX PORTFOLIO's assets, not
exceeding 20% of its total assets, may be invested temporarily in money market
instruments under any one or more of the following circumstances: (a) pending
investment of proceeds of sale of shares of the Portfolio, (b) pending
settlement of purchases of portfolio securities, or (c) to maintain liquidity
for the purpose of meeting anticipated redemptions. The money market instruments
in which the Portfolio may invest are: certificates of deposit of U.S. domestic
banks with assets of $1 billion or more, bankers' acceptances, time deposits,
U.S. Government and U.S. Government agency securities, and commercial paper
rated within the two highest grades by S&P or Moody's Investors Service, Inc. or
which, if not rated, are of comparable quality as determined by the Fund's
Trustees, and which mature within one year from the date of purchase.
Standard & Poor's Depositary Receipts ("SPDRs"). The S&P 500 INDEX PORTFOLIO may
purchase interests in a unit investment trust holding a portfolio of securities
linked to the S&P 500 Index. SPDRs closely track the underlying portfolio of
securities, trade like a share of common stock and pay periodic dividends
proportionate to those paid by the portfolio of stocks that comprise the S&P 500
Index. The Portfolio will not invest in excess of 10% of its total assets in
SPDRs. See the Statement of Additional Information for a further discussion of
SPDRs.
The S&P 500 INDEX PORTFOLIO may enter into repurchase agreements, invest in zero
coupon securities and foreign securities (including American Depository
Receipts) of foreign corporations represented in the S&P 500 Index, and lend its
portfolio securities, in each case in accordance with the description of those
techniques (and subject to the same risks) set forth under "General Portfolio
Techniques" below and in the Statement of Additional Information.
THE COMPETITIVE EDGE "BEST IDEAS" PORTFOLIO
The investment objective of the COMPETITIVE EDGE "BEST IDEAS" PORTFOLIO is
long-term capital growth. This is a fundamental policy and cannot be changed
without the approval of the shareholders of the COMPETITIVE EDGE "BEST IDEAS"
PORTFOLIO. There is no assurance that the investment objective of the
COMPETITIVE EDGE "BEST IDEAS" PORTFOLIO will be achieved. The following policies
may be changed by the Trustees of the Fund without shareholder approval:
The COMPETITIVE EDGE "BEST IDEAS" PORTFOLIO seeks to achieve its investment
objective by investing, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of its net
assets in the common stock (including depository receipts, such as American
Depository Receipts or European Depository Receipts)(see "General Portfolio
Techniques" below) of U.S. and non-U.S. companies included in the "Best Ideas"
subgroup of "Global Investing: The Competitive Edge," a research compilation
assembled and maintained by Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Equity Research ("MSDW
Equity Research") and such Supplemental Securities (as defined below) chosen by
the Investment Manager.
MSDW Equity Research. MSDW Equity Research is recognized as a world leader in
global financial research and provides comprehensive research and in-depth
knowledge about general markets and specific companies from around the world. It
believes that companies with a sustainable competitive edge in the operations of
their businesses are worth more than their weaker competitors. Through its
ongoing research and analysis, MSDW Equity Research has developed and undertaken
a comprehensive study which it calls "Global Investing: The Competitive Edge"
which represents the list of those companies.
Specifically, MSDW Equity Research group's research analysts and strategists
presently evaluate approximately 2,000 companies in 21 industry sectors
worldwide (the "MSDW Covered Securities"). An initial comprehensive review was
conducted in October 1996 and identified 238 companies from the MSDW Covered
Securities (then nearly 1,650) as having a long-term sustainable competitive
advantage in the global arena (the "Competitive Edge List"). The criteria used
to select companies that have a global competitive advantage vary according to
industry sector. The Competitive Edge List is currently updated annually. From
the Competitive Edge List, MSDW Equity Research then assembled a subgroup of 40
companies which it considered at that time to be the most attractive investment
opportunities of the companies identified as having a long-term sustainable
competitive advantage in the global arena (the "Competitive Edge 'Best Ideas'
List"). MSDW Equity Research's Competitive Edge List and Competitive Edge "Best
Ideas" List are not compiled with any particular client or product in mind and
are not, and will not be, compiled with the COMPETITIVE EDGE "BEST IDEAS"
PORTFOLIO in mind. When selecting the companies for its Competitive Edge "Best
Ideas" List, MSDW Equity Research does not take into account country or currency
risk, and country or industry sector diversification concerns. MSDWD publishes
other lists of recommended securities that could be appropriate for Portfolio
investors but which will not be used by the Investment Manager for choosing
securities for the Portfolio. MSDWD could at any time cease publishing the
Competitive Edge List and the Competitive Edge
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"Best Ideas" List. In that event the Trustees of the Fund will make a
determination of how to proceed in the best interests of shareholders of the
COMPETITIVE EDGE "BEST IDEAS" PORTFOLIO consistent with the Portfolio's
investment objective. A list of the companies contained on the Competitive Edge
"Best Ideas" List as of September 30, 1997 is set forth in the Statement of
Additional Information. The Competitive Edge "Best Ideas" List is currently
updated by MSDW Equity Research quarterly.
In accordance with the COMPETITIVE EDGE "BEST IDEAS" PORTFOLIO's investment
restrictions described below, the Portfolio will not invest 25% or more of the
value of its total assets in any one industry. In addition, as the Portfolio
principally invests in the securities of companies on the Competitive Edge "Best
Ideas" List, which currently consists of only 40 companies, the Portfolio will
invest in a relatively small universe of securities. Accordingly, the
COMPETITIVE EDGE "BEST IDEAS" PORTFOLIO may be highly invested in any one
industry or country. It is the intention of the Investment Manager that at least
1% and not more than 5% of the Portfolio's net assets will be invested in each
company on the Competitive Edge "Best Ideas" List, determined at the time of
investment and subject to the specific investment policies and restrictions
described below. However, the Investment Manager may eliminate or reduce its
investment in any company on the Competitive Edge "Best Ideas" List below 1% of
the Portfolio's net assets, in the following circumstances: (a) the stock is no
longer publicly traded, such as in the case of a leveraged buyout or merger; (b)
in the view of the Investment Manager, there is a material adverse development
with respect to a company, including but not limited to the downgrading of the
company's rating by MSDW Equity Research; (c) concerns that, in view of the
price of the company's securities, the depth of the market in those securities
and the amount of those securities held or to be held by the Portfolio,
retaining shares of that company or making additional purchases would be
inadvisable because of liquidity concerns; or (d) the diversification and other
requirements that apply to registered investment companies. The Investment
Manager will monitor on an ongoing basis all companies falling within any of the
circumstances described in this paragraph, and may increase the Portfolio's
holdings in such company's shares when and if those conditions cease to exist.
The COMPETITIVE EDGE "BEST IDEAS" PORTFOLIO will purchase any security which is
added to the Competitive Edge "Best Ideas" List, and will sell a security which
is eliminated from the Competitive Edge "Best Ideas" List and any related
Supplemental Security (as defined below), as soon as practicable after the
Competitive Edge "Best Ideas" List has been updated by MSDW Equity Research,
unless the Investment Manager decides to hold such security as a Supplemental
Security. Accordingly, securities may be purchased and sold by the Portfolio
when such purchases and sales would not be made under traditional investment
criteria. The Investment Manager will not have access to the Competitive Edge
"Best Ideas" List prior to its quarterly update by MSDW Equity Research.
While the COMPETITIVE EDGE "BEST IDEAS" PORTFOLIO intends to invest in
securities on the Competitive Edge "Best Ideas" List, the Portfolio may purchase
one or more supplemental securities ("Supplemental Securities") that are not
included on the Competitive Edge "Best Ideas" List but are on the Competitive
Edge List or, in the event no suitable securities are on the Competitive Edge
List, such other securities deemed suitable by the Investment Manager.
Supplemental Securities will generally be selected by the Investment Manager
from the same or similar industry sector as the security which they are
supplementing or replacing. Accordingly, the Portfolio's holdings may not be
limited to those on the Competitive Edge "Best Ideas" List. While there is no
limit on the total number of Supplemental Securities that the Portfolio may
hold, Supplemental Securities and all other securities that are not on the
Competitive Edge "Best Ideas" List generally will not exceed 35% of the
Portfolio's total assets. In addition, each security on the Competitive Edge
"Best Ideas" List which is supplemented or replaced, together with its
corresponding Supplemental Securities, will have a combined weighting of no more
than 5% of the Portfolio's net assets, determined at the time of investment.
The COMPETITIVE EDGE "BEST IDEAS" PORTFOLIO may invest up to 20% of its total
assets in money market instruments or cash. The money market instruments in
which the Portfolio may invest are securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S.
Government (Treasury bills, notes and bonds (including zero coupon securities)
(see "General Portfolio Techniques" below), obligations of American banks and
savings institutions having total assets of $1 billion or more, Eurodollar
certificates of deposit issued by foreign branches of domestic banks having
total assets of $1 billion or more, fully insured certificates of deposit, and
commercial paper of American issuers rated within the two highest grades by
Moody's Investors Service Inc. ("Moody's") or Standard & Poor's Corporation
("S&P") or, if not rated, issued by a company having an outstanding debt issue
rated at least AA by S&P or Aa by Moody's.
There may be periods during which market conditions warrant reduction of some or
all of the COMPETITIVE EDGE "BEST IDEAS" PORTFOLIO's securities holdings. During
such periods, the Portfolio may adopt a temporary "defensive" posture in which
up to 100% of the Portfolio's net assets are invested in cash or money market
instruments.
Competitive Edge "Best Ideas" Selection. The net asset value of the Portfolio
will fluctuate depending upon, among other things, the performance of the
securities included on the Competitive Edge "Best Ideas" List, which currently
consists of 40 companies and which is only updated quarterly. The Portfolio is
subject to all the risks associated with investing in a small universe of
securities. There can be no assurance that the securities contained in the
Competitive Edge "Best Ideas" List will perform as anticipated. The selection of
companies on the Competitive Edge "Best Ideas" List is a subjective
determination by MSDW Equity Research. Past performance of the securities and
issuers included in the Competitive Edge "Best Ideas" List cannot be used to
predict future results of the Portfolio, which is
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actively managed by the Investment Manager and the results of which are expected
to vary from the performance of the Competitive Edge "Best Ideas" List.
Potential Investment Restrictions. The activities of an affiliate of the
Investment Manager, including but not limited to Dean Witter Reynolds Inc.
("DWR") or Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated ("Morgan Stanley"), may from time
to time limit the Portfolio's ability to purchase or sell securities on the
Competitive Edge "Best Ideas" List. For instance, when DWR or Morgan Stanley or
one of their affiliates is engaged in an underwriting or other distribution of
stock of an issuer, the Investment Manager may be prohibited from purchasing the
stock of that issuer for the Portfolio. In addition, the Competitive Edge "Best
Ideas" List is available to other clients of MSDWD and its affiliates, including
the Investment Manager, as well as the Portfolio. The lists are also subject to
restrictions related to MSDWD's other businesses and particular securities may
or may not be on the lists due to other business concerns of, or legal
restrictions applicable to, MSDWD.
MSDWD Businesses. As a diversified financial services firm, with three primary
businesses--securities, asset management and credit services, MSDWD provides a
wide range of financial services to issuers of securities and investors in
securities. MSDWD and others associated with it may create markets or specialize
in, have positions in and affect transactions in securities of companies
included on its research lists and may also perform or seek to perform
investment banking services for those companies. Within the last three years
MSDWD may have managed or co-managed public security offerings for companies
included on their research lists, and they or their employees may have a long or
short position on holdings in the securities, or options on securities, or other
related investments of companies included on their research lists.
The COMPETITIVE EDGE "BEST IDEAS" PORTFOLIO may enter into repurchase
agreements, invest in foreign securities, forward foreign currency exchange
contracts, rights and warrants, private placements and futures contracts and
options, and lend its portfolio securities, in each case in accordance with the
description of those techniques (and subject to the same risks) set forth under
"General Portfolio Techniques" below and in the Statement of Additional
Information.
THE STRATEGIST PORTFOLIO
The investment objective of the STRATEGIST PORTFOLIO is to seek a high total
investment return through a fully managed investment policy utilizing equity,
fixed-income and money market securities, and the writing of covered call and
put options. This is a fundamental policy and cannot be changed without the
approval of the shareholders of the STRATEGIST PORTFOLIO. In seeking to achieve
its objective, the STRATEGIST PORTFOLIO actively allocates assets among the
major asset categories of equity securities, fixed-income securities and money
market instruments. Total investment return consists of current income
(including dividends, interest and, in the case of discounted instruments,
discount accretion) and capital appreciation. There can be no assurance that the
investment objective of the STRATEGIST PORTFOLIO will be achieved. The following
policies may be changed by the Trustees of the Fund without shareholder
approval:
The achievement of the STRATEGIST PORTFOLIO's investment objective depends on
the ability of the Investment Manager to assess the effect of economic and
market trends on different sectors of the market. The Investment Manager
believes that superior investment returns at a lower risk are achievable by
actively allocating resources to the equity, debt and money market sectors of
the market as opposed to relying solely on just one market. At times, the equity
market may hold a higher potential return than the debt market and would warrant
a higher asset allocation. The reverse would be true when the bond market
potential return is higher. Short duration bonds and money market instruments
can be used to soften market declines when both bonds and equities are fully
priced. Conserving capital during declining markets can contribute to maximizing
total return over a longer period of time. In addition, the securities of
companies within various economic sectors may at times offer higher returns than
other sectors and can thus contribute to superior returns. Finally, the
Investment Manager believes that superior stock selection can also contribute to
superior total return.
Within the equity sector, the Investment Manager actively allocates funds to
those economic sectors expected to benefit from major trends and to individual
stocks which are deemed to have superior investment potential. The STRATEGIST
PORTFOLIO may purchase equity securities (including warrants, convertible debt
obligations and convertible preferred stock) sold on the New York, American and
other stock exchanges and in the over-the-counter market. See the discussion of
convertible securities and warrants under " General Portfolio Techniques" below.
Within the fixed-income sector of the market, the Investment Manager seeks to
maximize the return on its investments by adjusting maturities and coupon rates
as well as by exploiting yield differentials among different types of investment
grade bonds. Fixed-income securities in which the STRATEGIST PORTFOLIO may
invest are short-term to intermediate (one to five year maturities) and
intermediate to long-term (greater than five year maturities) debt securities
and preferred stocks, including U.S. Government securities (securities issued or
guaranteed as to principal and interest by the United States or its agencies and
instrumentalities) and corporate securities which are rated at the time of
purchase Baa or better by Moody's Investor Service, Inc. or BBB or better by
Standard & Poor's Corporation, or which, if unrated, are deemed to be of
comparable quality by the Fund's Trustees (a description of corporate bond
ratings is contained in the Appendix). Fixed-income securities which may be
purchased include zero coupon securities. See the discussion of the
characteristics and risks of investments in fixed-income securities rated Baa or
BBB and zero coupon securities under "General Portfolio Techniques" below.
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Within the money market sector of the market, the Investment Manager seeks to
maximize returns by exploiting spreads among short-term instruments. The
STRATEGIST PORTFOLIO may invest in money market securities which would be
eligible investments for the Fund's MONEY MARKET PORTFOLIO (as set forth above
under "The Money Market Portfolio").
The STRATEGIST PORTFOLIO may enter into repurchase agreements, invest in foreign
securities (including American Depository Receipts, European Depository Receipts
or other similar securities convertible into securities of foreign issuers),
invest in real estate investment trusts, lend its portfolio securities, invest
in futures contracts and options, purchase securities on a when-issued or
delayed delivery basis or a "when, as and if issued" basis, and purchase or sell
securities on a forward commitment basis, in each case in accordance with the
description of those investments and techniques (and subject to the risks) set
forth under "General Portfolio Techniques" below and in the Statement of
Additional Information.
GENERAL PORTFOLIO TECHNIQUES
Foreign Securities. The EUROPEAN GROWTH PORTFOLIO and the PACIFIC GROWTH
PORTFOLIO will invest primarily in foreign securities. The GLOBAL DIVIDEND
GROWTH PORTFOLIO will invest a substantial portion of its assets in foreign
securities. The COMPETITIVE EDGE "BEST IDEAS" PORTFOLIO may invest a substantial
portion of its assets in foreign securities. Each of the INCOME BUILDER
PORTFOLIO and the CAPITAL GROWTH PORTFOLIO may invest up to 25% of the value of
its total assets, at the time of purchase, in foreign securities (other than
securities of Canadian issuers registered under the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 or American Depository Receipts ("ADRs") (described below), on which there
is no such limit; investments in certain Canadian issuers may be speculative due
to certain political risks and may be subject to substantial price
fluctuations). The CAPITAL GROWTH PORTFOLIO's investments in unlisted foreign
securities are subject to the overall restrictions applicable to investments in
illiquid securities (see "Investment Restrictions"). Each of the HIGH YIELD
PORTFOLIO and the STRATEGIST PORTFOLIO may invest up to 20% of its total assets
in securities issued by foreign governments and other foreign issuers and in
foreign currency issues of domestic issuers, but not more than 10% of its total
assets in such securities, whether issued by a foreign or a domestic issuer,
which are denominated in foreign currency. The QUALITY INCOME PLUS PORTFOLIO may
invest up to 20% of its net assets in "Yankee government bonds," and up to 15%
of its net assets in "Yankee corporate bonds," which are U.S. dollar denominated
debt securities issued, respectively, by foreign governments or their respective
instrumentalities or agencies or by foreign corporations, which securities in
each case are either registered under the Securities Act of 1933, or eligible
for resale pursuant to Rule 144A under that Act and pay both principal and
interest in U.S. dollars. The UTILITIES PORTFOLIO may invest up to 20% of the
value of its total assets, at the time of purchase, in securities issued by
foreign issuers, with a maximum of 10% of the value of its total assets, at the
time of purchase, invested in such securities that are not ADRs. The CAPITAL
APPRECIATION PORTFOLIO may invest up to 10% of the value of its total assets in
foreign securities. The S&P 500 INDEX PORTFOLIO may purchase common stocks,
including American Depository Receipts, of foreign corporations represented in
the S&P 500 Index (such securities are listed on the New York Stock Exchange,
the American Stock Exchange or the NASDAQ Market System). The QUALITY INCOME
PLUS PORTFOLIO and the HIGH YIELD PORTFOLIO may invest in money market
obligations of domestic branches of foreign banks, or foreign branches of
domestic banks, including Eurodollar Certificates of Deposit, as set forth above
under the description of these Portfolios. The MONEY MARKET PORTFOLIO, the
UTILITIES PORTFOLIO, the INCOME BUILDER PORTFOLIO, the DIVIDEND GROWTH
PORTFOLIO, the CAPITAL GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the GLOBAL DIVIDEND GROWTH PORTFOLIO,
the EUROPEAN GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the PACIFIC GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the CAPITAL
APPRECIATION PORTFOLIO, the COMPETITIVE EDGE "BEST IDEAS" PORTFOLIO and the
STRATEGIST PORTFOLIO may invest in Eurodollar certificates of deposit issued by
foreign branches of domestic banks having total assets of $1 billion or more.
Foreign securities investments may be affected by changes in currency rates or
exchange control regulations, changes in governmental administration or economic
or monetary policy (in the United States and abroad) or changed circumstances in
dealings between nations. Fluctuations in the relative rates of exchange between
the currencies of different nations will affect the value of a Portfolio's
investments denominated in foreign currency. Changes in foreign currency
exchange rates relative to the U.S. dollar will affect the U.S. dollar value of
a Portfolio's assets denominated in that currency and thereby impact upon the
Portfolio's total return on such assets.
Foreign currency exchange rates are determined by forces of supply and demand on
the foreign exchange markets. These forces are themselves affected by the
international balance of payments and other economic and financial conditions,
government intervention, speculation and other factors. Moreover, foreign
currency exchange rates may be affected by the regulatory control of the
exchanges on which the currencies trade. The foreign currency transactions of a
Portfolio will be conducted on a spot basis or, in the case of the GLOBAL
DIVIDEND GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the EUROPEAN GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the PACIFIC GROWTH
PORTFOLIO, and the COMPETITIVE EDGE "BEST IDEAS" PORTFOLIO, through forward
foreign currency exchange contracts (described below) or, in the case of those
four Portfolios and the CAPITAL APPRECIATION PORTFOLIO, futures contracts
(described below under "Options and Futures Transactions"). A Portfolio will
incur certain costs in connection with these currency transactions.
Investments in foreign securities will also occasion risks relating to political
and economic developments abroad, including the possibility of expropriations or
confiscatory taxation, limitations on the use or transfer of Portfolio assets
and any effects of foreign social, economic or political instability. Political
and economic developments in Europe, especially as they relate to changes in the
structure of the European Economic Community and the
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anticipated development of a unified common market, may have profound effects
upon the value of a large segment of the GLOBAL DIVIDEND GROWTH PORTFOLIO and
the EUROPEAN GROWTH PORTFOLIO, in particular. Continued progress in the
evolution of, for example, a united European common market may be slowed by
unanticipated political or social events and may, therefore, adversely affect
the value of certain of the securities held by a Portfolio. Foreign companies
are not subject to the regulatory requirements of U.S. companies and, as such,
there may be less publicly available information about such companies. Moreover,
foreign companies are not subject to uniform accounting, auditing and financial
reporting standards and requirements comparable to those applicable to U.S.
companies.
Securities of foreign issuers may be less liquid than comparable securities of
U.S. issuers and, as such, their price changes may be more volatile.
Furthermore, foreign exchanges and broker-dealers are generally subject to less
government and exchange scrutiny and regulation than their American
counterparts. Brokerage commissions, dealer concessions and other transaction
costs may be higher on foreign markets than in the U.S. In addition, differences
in clearance and settlement procedures on foreign markets may occasion delays in
settlements of Portfolio trades effected in such markets. Inability to dispose
of portfolio securities due to settlement delays could result in losses to a
Portfolio due to subsequent declines in value of such securities and the
inability of the Portfolio to make intended security purchases due to settlement
problems could result in a failure of the Portfolio to make potentially
advantageous investments. To the extent a Portfolio purchases Eurodollar
certificates of deposit issued by foreign branches of domestic United States
banks, consideration will be given to their domestic marketability, the lower
reserve requirements normally mandated for overseas banking operations, the
possible impact of interruptions in the flow of international currency
transactions, and future international political and economic developments which
might adversely affect the payment of principal or interest.
Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts. The GLOBAL DIVIDEND GROWTH
PORTFOLIO, the EUROPEAN GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the PACIFIC GROWTH PORTFOLIO and the
COMPETITIVE EDGE "BEST IDEAS" PORTFOLIO may engage in transactions involving
forward foreign currency exchange contracts ("forward contracts"). A forward
contract involves an obligation to purchase or sell a currency at a future date,
which may be any fixed number of days from the date of the contract agreed upon
by the parties, at a price set at the time of the contract. The GLOBAL DIVIDEND
GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the EUROPEAN GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the PACIFIC GROWTH PORTFOLIO
and the COMPETITIVE EDGE "BEST IDEAS" PORTFOLIO may enter into forward contracts
as a hedge against fluctuations in future foreign exchange rates.
The Portfolios will enter into forward contracts under various circumstances.
When a Portfolio enters into a contract for the purchase or sale of a security
denominated in a foreign currency, it may, for example, desire to "lock in" the
price of the security in U.S. dollars or some other foreign currency which the
Portfolio is temporarily holding in its portfolio. By entering into a forward
contract for the purchase or sale, for a fixed amount of dollars or other
currency, of the amount of foreign currency involved in the underlying security
transactions, the Portfolio will be able to protect itself against a possible
loss resulting from an adverse change in the relationship between the U.S.
dollar or other currency which is being used for the security purchase and the
foreign currency in which the security is denominated during the period between
the date on which the security is purchased or sold and the date on which
payment is made or received.
At other times, when, for example, it is believed that the currency of a
particular foreign country may suffer a substantial decline against the U.S.
dollar or some other foreign currency, a Portfolio may enter into a forward
contract to sell, for a fixed amount of dollars or other currency, the amount of
foreign currency approximating the value of some or all of the Portfolio's
securities (or securities which the Portfolio has purchased for its portfolio)
denominated in such foreign currency. Under identical circumstances, the
Portfolio may enter into a forward contract to sell, for a fixed amount of U.S.
dollars or other currency, an amount of foreign currency other than the currency
in which the securities to be hedged are denominated approximating the value of
some or all of the portfolio securities to be hedged. This method of hedging,
called "cross-hedging," will be selected when it is determined that the foreign
currency in which the portfolio securities are denominated has insufficient
liquidity or is trading at a discount as compared with some other foreign
currency with which it tends to move in tandem.
In addition, when a Portfolio anticipates purchasing securities at some time in
the future, and wishes to lock in the current exchange rate of the currency in
which those securities are denominated against the U.S. dollar or some other
foreign currency, it may enter into a forward contract to purchase an amount of
currency equal to some or all of the value of the anticipated purchase, for a
fixed amount of U.S. dollars or other currency. The Portfolio may, however,
close out the forward contract without purchasing the security which was the
subject of the "anticipatory" hedge.
Lastly, the Portfolios are permitted to enter into forward contracts with
respect to currencies in which certain of their portfolio securities are
denominated and on which options have been written (see "Options and Futures
Transactions" below and in the Statement of Additional Information).
In all of the above circumstances, if the currency in which portfolio securities
(or anticipated portfolio securities) are denominated rises in value with
respect to the currency which is being purchased (or sold), then the Portfolio
will have realized fewer gains than had the Portfolio not entered into the
forward contracts. Moreover, the precise matching of the forward contract
amounts and the value of the securities involved will not generally be possible,
since the future value of such securities in foreign currencies will change as a
consequence of market movements in the value of those securities between the
date the forward contract is entered into and the date it matures. The GLOBAL
DIVIDEND GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the EUROPEAN GROWTH
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PORTFOLIO, the PACIFIC GROWTH PORTFOLIO and the COMPETITIVE EDGE "BEST IDEAS"
PORTFOLIO are not required to enter into such transactions with regard to their
foreign currency-denominated securities and will not do so unless deemed
appropriate by the Investment Manager or, in the case of the EUROPEAN GROWTH
PORTFOLIO and the PACIFIC GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the Sub-Adviser. The Portfolios
generally will not enter into a forward contract with a term of greater than one
year, although they may enter into forward contracts for periods of up to five
years. The Portfolios may be limited in their ability to enter into hedging
transactions involving forward contracts by the Internal Revenue Code
requirements relating to qualifications as a regulated investment company (see
"Dividends, Distributions and Taxes").
American Depository Receipts and European Depository Receipts. The HIGH YIELD
PORTFOLIO, the UTILITIES PORTFOLIO, the INCOME BUILDER PORTFOLIO, the CAPITAL
GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the GLOBAL DIVIDEND GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the EUROPEAN GROWTH
PORTFOLIO, the PACIFIC GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the COMPETITIVE EDGE "BEST IDEAS"
PORTFOLIO and the STRATEGIST PORTFOLIO may also invest in securities of foreign
issuers in the form of American Depository Receipts ("ADRs"), European
Depository Receipts ("EDRs") or other similar securities convertible into
securities of foreign issuers. In addition, the DIVIDEND GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the
CAPITAL APPRECIATION PORFOLIO, the EQUITY PORTFOLIO and the S&P 500 INDEX
PORTFOLIO may invest in ADRs. These securities may not necessarily be
denominated in the same currency as the securities into which they may be
converted. ADRs are receipts typically issued by a United States bank or trust
company evidencing ownership of the underlying securities. EDRs are European
receipts evidencing a similar arrangement. Generally, ADRs, in registered form,
are designed for use in the United States securities markets and EDRs, in bearer
form, are designed for use in European securities markets.
Securities of Other Investment Companies. Each of the GLOBAL DIVIDEND GROWTH
PORTFOLIO, the EUROPEAN GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the PACIFIC GROWTH PORTFOLIO and the
CAPITAL APPRECIATION PORTFOLIO may invest up to 10% of its total assets in the
aggregate in shares of other investment companies and up to 5% of its total
assets in shares of any one investment company. A Portfolio may not own more
than 3% of the outstanding voting stock of any investment company. Such
investments may be the sole or most practical means by which the Portfolio may
participate in certain foreign securities markets. The Portfolio will incur any
indirect expenses incurred through investment in an investment company, such as
the payment of a management fee (which may result in the payment of an
additional advisory fee). Furthermore, it should be noted that foreign
investment companies are not subject to the U.S. securities laws and may be
subject to fewer or less stringent regulations than U.S. investment companies.
The S&P 500 INDEX PORTFOLIO may invest up to 10% of its total assets in a unit
investment trust holding a portfolio of securities linked to the S&P 500 Index
("Standard & Poor's Depositary Receipts").
Investments in Securities Rated Baa by Moody's or BBB by S&P. The UTILITIES
PORTFOLIO, the DIVIDEND GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the CAPITAL GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the
GLOBAL DIVIDEND GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the CAPITAL APPRECIATION PORTFOLIO and the
STRATEGIST PORTFOLIO may invest a portion of their assets in fixed-income
securities rated at the time of purchase Baa or better by Moody's Investors
Service, Inc. ("Moody's") or BBB or better by Standard & Poor's Corporation
("S&P"). Investments in fixed-income securities rated either Baa by Moody's or
BBB by S&P (the lowest credit ratings designated "investment grade") may have
speculative characteristics and, therefore, changes in economic conditions or
other circumstances are more likely to weaken their capacity to make principal
and interest payments than would be the case with investments in securities with
higher credit ratings. If a bond held by a Portfolio other than the CAPITAL
APPRECIATION PORTFOLIO is downgraded by a rating agency to a rating of below Baa
or BBB, the Portfolio will retain such security in its portfolio until the
Investment Manager determines that it is practicable to sell the security
without undue market or tax consequences to the Portfolio. In the case of the
CAPITAL APPRECIATION PORTFOLIO, the Portfolio may continue to hold downgraded
securities but will not purchase a non-investment grade debt security if,
immediately after such purchase, the Portfolio would have more than 5% of its
total assets invested in such securities. The risks of holding lower-rated
securities are described below.
Special Considerations for Investments in High Yield Securities. Because of the
special nature of the HIGH YIELD PORTFOLIO's, the INCOME BUILDER PORTFOLIO's and
the CAPITAL APPRECIATION PORTFOLIO's investments in lower rated, high yield
securities, commonly known as "junk bonds," the Investment Manager must take
account of certain special considerations in assessing the risks associated with
such investments. Although the growth of the high yield securities market in the
1980s had paralleled a long economic expansion, recently many issuers have been
affected by adverse economic and market conditions. It should be recognized that
an economic downturn or increase in interest rates is likely to have a negative
effect on the high yield bond market and on the value of the high yield
securities held by the Portfolios, as well as on the ability of the securities'
issuers to repay principal and interest on their borrowings.
The prices of high yield securities have been found to be less sensitive to
changes in prevailing interest rates than higher-rated investments, but are
likely to be more sensitive to adverse economic changes or individual corporate
developments. During an economic downturn or substantial period of rising
interest rates, highly leveraged issuers may experience financial stress which
would adversely affect their ability to service their principal and interest
payment obligations, to meet their projected business goals or to obtain
additional financing. If the issuer of a fixed-income security owned by a
Portfolio defaults, the Portfolio may incur additional expenses to seek
recovery. In addition, periods of economic uncertainty and change can be
expected to result in an increased volatility of market prices of high yield
securities and a concomitant volatility in the net asset value of a share of the
Portfolio. Moreover, the market prices of certain of the securities which are
structured as zero coupon and payment-in-kind securities are affected to a
greater extent by interest rate changes and thereby tend to be more volatile
than
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securities which pay interest periodically and in cash (see "Dividends,
Distributions and Taxes" for a discussion of the tax ramifications of
investments in such securities).
The secondary market for high yield securities may be less liquid than the
markets for higher quality securities and, as such, may have an adverse effect
on the market prices of certain securities. The illiquidity of the market may
also adversely affect the ability of the Fund's Trustees to arrive at a fair
value for certain high yield securities at certain times and could make it
difficult for the Portfolios to sell certain securities.
New laws and proposed new laws may have a potentially negative impact on the
market for high yield bonds. For example, present legislation requires
federally-insured savings and loan associations to divest their investments in
high yield bonds. This legislation and other proposed legislation may have an
adverse effect upon the value of high yield securities and a concomitant
negative impact upon the net asset value of a share of the HIGH YIELD PORTFOLIO,
the INCOME BUILDER PORTFOLIO and the CAPITAL APPRECIATION PORTFOLIO.
Convertible Securities. Each Portfolio (other than the MONEY MARKET PORTFOLIO,
the S&P 500 INDEX PORTFOLIO and the COMPETITIVE EDGE "BEST IDEAS" PORTFOLIO) may
acquire through purchase, and each Portfolio (other than the MONEY MARKET
PORTFOLIO) may acquire through a distribution by the issuer of a security held
in its portfolio, a fixed-income security which is convertible into common stock
of the issuer. Convertible securities rank senior to common stocks in a
corporation's capital structure and, therefore, entail less risk than the
corporation's common stock. The value of a convertible security is a function of
its "investment value" (its value as if it did not have a conversion privilege),
and its "conversion value" (the security's worth if it were to be exchanged for
the underlying security, at market value, pursuant to its conversion privilege).
To the extent that a convertible security's investment value is greater than its
conversion value, its price will be primarily a reflection of such investment
value and its price will be likely to increase when interest rates fall and
decrease when interest rates rise, as with a fixed-income security (the credit
standing of the issuer and other factors may also have an effect on the
convertible security's value). If the conversion value exceeds the investment
value, the price of the convertible security will rise above its investment
value and, in addition, will sell at some premium over its conversion value.
(This premium represents the price investors are willing to pay for the
privilege of purchasing a fixed-income security with a possibility of capital
appreciation due to the conversion privilege). At such times the price of the
convertible security will tend to fluctuate directly with the price of the
underlying equity security.
A portion of the convertible securities in which each of these Portfolios may
invest are not rated. With the exception of securities purchased by the QUALITY
INCOME PLUS PORTFOLIO (which may not invest in securities rated lower than A by
Moody's or S&P at the time of purchase), when such securities are rated, such
ratings will generally be below investment grade. Securities below investment
grade are the equivalent of high yield, high risk bonds, commonly known as "junk
bonds." However, with the exception of the HIGH YIELD PORTFOLIO (which invests
primarily in lower-rated securities), no Portfolio will invest in convertible
securities that are in default in payment of principal or interest and each
Portfolio other than the HIGH YIELD PORTFOLIO and the INCOME BUILDER PORTFOLIO
has no current intention of investing in excess of 10% of its net assets in
unrated or lower-rated convertible securities. The risks of holding lower-rated
securities are described above.
The INCOME BUILDER PORTFOLIO may invest up to 25% of its total assets in
"enhanced" convertible securities. Enhanced convertible securities offer holders
the opportunity to obtain higher current income than would be available from a
traditional equity security issued by the same company, in return for reduced
participation or a cap on appreciation in the underlying common stock of the
issuer which the holder can realize. In addition, in many cases, enhanced
convertible securities are convertible into the underlying common stock of the
issuer automatically at maturity, unlike traditional convertible securities
which are convertible only at the option of the security holder. Enhanced
convertible securities may be more volatile than traditional convertible
securities due to the mandatory conversion feature.
The INCOME BUILDER PORTFOLIO also may invest up to 10% of its total assets in
"synthetic" convertible securities. Unlike traditional convertible securities
whose conversion values are based on the common stock of the issuer of the
convertible security, "synthetic" convertible securities are preferred stocks or
debt obligations of an issuer which are combined with an equity component whose
conversion value is based on the value of the common stock of a different issuer
or a particular benchmark (which may include a foreign issuer or basket of
foreign stocks, or a company whose stock is not yet publicly traded). In many
cases, "synthetic" convertible securities are not convertible prior to maturity,
at which time the value of the security is paid in cash by the issuer.
"Synthetic" convertible securities may be less liquid than traditional
convertible securities and their price changes may be more volatile. Reduced
liquidity may have an adverse impact on the ability of the INCOME BUILDER
PORTFOLIO to sell particular synthetic securities promptly at favorable prices
and may also make it more difficult for the Portfolio to obtain market
quotations based on actual trades, for purposes of valuing the portfolio
securities of the INCOME BUILDER PORTFOLIO.
The INCOME BUILDER PORTFOLIO may invest without limitation in "exchangeable"
convertible bonds and convertible preferred stock which are issued by one
company, but convertible into the common stock of a different publicly traded
company. These securities generally have liquidity trading and risk
characteristics similar to traditional convertible securities noted above.
Real Estate Investment Trusts. Each of the UTILITIES PORTFOLIO, the INCOME
BUILDER PORTFOLIO, the DIVIDEND GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the CAPITAL GROWTH PORTFOLIO,
the GLOBAL DIVIDEND GROWTH PORTFOLIO,
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the CAPITAL APPRECIATION PORTFOLIO, the EQUITY PORTFOLIO and the STRATEGIST
PORTFOLIO may invest in real estate investment trusts, which pool investors'
funds for investments primarily in commercial real estate properties. Investment
in real estate investment trusts may be the most practical available means for
the Portfolios to invest in the real estate industry (the Portfolios are
prohibited from investing in real estate directly). As a shareholder in a real
estate investment trust, the Portfolio would bear its ratable share of the real
estate investment trust's expenses, including its advisory and administration
fees. At the same time the Portfolio would continue to pay its own investment
management fees and other expenses, as a result of which the Portfolio and its
shareholders in effect will be absorbing duplicate levels of fees with respect
to investments in real estate investment trusts. Real estate investment trusts
are not diversified and are subject to the risk of financing projects. They are
also subject to heavy cash flow dependency, defaults by borrowers or tenants,
self-liquidation, and the possibility of failing to qualify for tax-free status
under the Internal Revenue Code and failing to maintain exemption from the
Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
Lending of Portfolio Securities. Consistent with applicable regulatory
requirements, each Portfolio of the Fund may lend its portfolio securities to
brokers, dealers and other financial institutions, provided that such loans are
callable at any time by the Portfolio (subject to certain notice provisions
described in the Statement of Additional Information), and are at all times
secured by cash or money market instruments, which are maintained in a
segregated account pursuant to applicable regulations and that are equal to at
least the market value, determined daily, of the loaned securities. As with any
extensions of credit, there are risks of delay in recovery and in some cases
even loss of rights in the collateral should the borrower of the securities fail
financially. However, loans of portfolio securities will only be made to firms
deemed by the Investment Manager or, in the case of the EUROPEAN GROWTH
PORTFOLIO and the PACIFIC GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the Sub-Adviser to be creditworthy
and when the income which can be earned from such loans justifies the attendant
risks.
Repurchase Agreements. Each Portfolio of the Fund may enter into repurchase
agreements, which may be viewed as a type of secured lending by the Portfolio,
and which typically involve the acquisition by the Portfolio of debt securities
from a selling financial institution such as a bank, savings and loan
association or broker-dealer. The agreement provides that the Portfolio will
sell back to the institution, and that the institution will repurchase, the
underlying security ("collateral") at a specified price and at a fixed time in
the future, usually not more than seven days from the date of purchase. The
Portfolio will receive interest from the institution until the time when the
repurchase is to occur. Although such date is deemed by the Portfolio to be the
maturity date of a repurchase agreement, the maturities of securities subject to
repurchase agreements are not subject to any limits and may exceed one year.
While repurchase agreements involve certain risks not associated with direct
investments in debt securities, the Fund follows procedures designed to minimize
such risks. These procedures include effecting repurchase transactions only with
large, well-capitalized and well-established financial institutions and
specifying the required value of the collateral underlying the agreement.
When-Issued and Delayed Delivery Securities and Forward Commitments. From time
to time, in the ordinary course of business, each Portfolio of the Fund other
than the S&P 500 INDEX PORTFOLIO and the COMPETITIVE EDGE "BEST IDEAS" PORTFOLIO
may purchase securities on a when-issued or delayed delivery basis or may
purchase or sell securities on a forward commitment basis. When such
transactions are negotiated, the price is fixed at the time of the commitment,
but delivery and payment can take place a month or more after the date of the
commitment. While a Portfolio will only purchase securities on a when-issued,
delayed delivery or forward commitment basis with the intention of acquiring the
securities, a Portfolio may sell the securities before the settlement date, if
it is deemed advisable. The securities so purchased or sold are subject to
market fluctuation and no interest accrues to the purchaser during this period.
At the time a Portfolio makes the commitment to purchase or sell securities on a
when-issued, delayed delivery or forward commitment basis, it will record the
transaction and thereafter reflect the value, each day, of such security
purchased or, if a sale, the proceeds to be received, in determining its net
asset value. At the time of delivery of the securities, their value may be more
or less than the purchase or sale price. A Portfolio will also establish a
segregated account with its custodian bank in which it will continually maintain
cash or cash equivalents or other high grade debt portfolio securities equal in
value to commitments to purchase securities on a when-issued, delayed delivery
or forward commitment basis. An increase in the percentage of a Portfolio's
assets committed to the purchase of securities on a when-issued, delayed
delivery or forward commitment basis may increase the volatility of the
Portfolio's net asset value.
When, As and If Issued Securities. Each Portfolio (other than the MONEY MARKET
PORTFOLIO, the S&P 500 INDEX PORTFOLIO and the COMPETITIVE EDGE "BEST IDEAS"
PORTFOLIO) may purchase securities on a "when, as and if issued" basis under
which the issuance of the security depends upon the occurrence of a subsequent
event, such as approval of a merger, corporate reorganization or debt
restructuring. The commitment for the purchase of any such security will not be
recognized in the portfolio until the Investment Manager determines that the
issuance of the security is probable, whereupon the accounting treatment for
such commitment will be the same as for a commitment to purchase a security on a
when-issued, delayed delivery or forward commitment basis, described above and
in the Statement of Additional Information. An increase in the percentage of a
Portfolio's assets committed to the purchase of securities on a "when, as and if
issued" basis may increase the volatility of its net asset value.
Private Placements. As a fundamental policy, which may be changed only by the
shareholders of the affected Portfolios, each
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of the QUALITY INCOME PLUS PORTFOLIO, the DIVIDEND GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the EQUITY
PORTFOLIO and the STRATEGIST PORTFOLIO may invest up to 5% of its total assets
in securities which are subject to restrictions on resale because they have not
been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities
Act"), or which are otherwise not readily marketable. These securities are
generally referred to as private placements or restricted securities.
Limitations on the resale of such securities may have an adverse effect on their
marketability, and may prevent the Portfolio from disposing of them promptly at
reasonable prices. The Portfolio may have to bear the expense of registering
such securities for resale and the risk of substantial delays in effecting such
registration.
As a non-fundamental policy, which may be changed by the Trustees of the Fund,
each of the UTILITIES PORTFOLIO, the INCOME BUILDER PORTFOLIO, the CAPITAL
GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the GLOBAL DIVIDEND GROWTH PORTFOLIO and the CAPITAL
APPRECIATION PORTFOLIO may invest up to 5%, the EUROPEAN GROWTH PORTFOLIO may
invest up to 10%, and each of the HIGH YIELD PORTFOLIO, the PACIFIC GROWTH
PORTFOLIO and the COMPETITIVE EDGE "BEST IDEAS" PORTFOLIO may invest up to 15%,
of its total assets in private placements or restricted securities. (With regard
to these nine Portfolios, securities eligible for resale pursuant to Rule 144A
under the Securities Act, and determined to be liquid pursuant to the procedures
discussed in the following paragraph, are not subject to the foregoing
restriction.)
The Securities and Exchange Commission has adopted Rule 144A under the
Securities Act, which permits the thirteen Portfolios named above to sell
restricted securities to qualified institutional buyers without limitation. The
Investment Manager, pursuant to procedures adopted by the Trustees of the Fund,
will make a determination as to the liquidity of each restricted security
purchased by any of these Portfolios. If a restricted security is determined to
be "liquid," such security will not be included within the category "illiquid
securities," which is limited by the Fund's investment restrictions to 10% of
the total assets of each of these Portfolios other than the HIGH YIELD
PORTFOLIO, the INCOME BUILDER PORTFOLIO, the GLOBAL DIVIDEND GROWTH PORTFOLIO,
the PACIFIC GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the CAPITAL APPRECIATION PORTFOLIO and the
COMPETITIVE EDGE "BEST IDEAS" PORTFOLIO, and which under current policy is
limited to 15% of the net assets of each of the five Portfolios named above.
Zero Coupon Securities. A portion of the fixed-income purchased by each
Portfolio may be zero coupon securities. Such securities are purchased at a
discount from their face amount, giving the purchaser the right to receive their
full value at maturity. The interest earned on such securities is, implicitly,
automatically compounded and paid out at maturity. While such compounding at a
constant rate eliminates the risk of receiving lower yields upon reinvestment of
interest if prevailing interest rates decline, the owner of a zero coupon
security will be unable to participate in higher yields upon reinvestment of
interest received on interest-paying securities if prevailing interest rates
rise.
A zero coupon security pays no interest to its holder during its life.
Therefore, to the extent a Portfolio invests in zero coupon securities, it will
not receive current cash available for distribution to shareholders. In
addition, zero coupon securities are subject to substantially greater price
fluctuations during periods of changing prevailing interest rates than are
comparable securities which pay interest on a current basis. Current federal tax
law requires that a holder (such as a Portfolio) of a zero coupon security
accrue a portion of the discount at which the security was purchased as income
each year even though the Portfolio receives no interest payments in cash on the
security during the year.
Warrants. Each Portfolio (other than the MONEY MARKET PORTFOLIO and the QUALITY
INCOME PLUS PORTFOLIO) may acquire warrants attached to other securities. In
addition, each of the INCOME BUILDER PORTFOLIO, the DIVIDEND GROWTH PORTFOLIO,
the GLOBAL DIVIDEND GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the EUROPEAN GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the PACIFIC
GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the CAPITAL APPRECIATION PORTFOLIO, the EQUITY PORTFOLIO and
the STRATEGIST PORTFOLIO may invest in warrants not attached to other
securities, provided that each of the DIVIDEND GROWTH PORTFOLIO and the EQUITY
PORTFOLIO may only invest up to 5% of the value of its total assets in warrants
not attached to other securities, including up to 2% of such assets in warrants
not listed on either the New York or American Stock Exchange. In addition, the
COMPETITIVE EDGE "BEST IDEAS" PORTFOLIO may invest in warrants which are issued
as a distribution by the issuer or a security held in its portfolio. Warrants
are, in effect, an option to purchase equity securities at a specific price,
generally valid for a specific period of time, and have no voting rights, pay no
dividends and have no rights with respect to the corporation issuing them. If
warrants remain unexercised at the end of the exercise period, they will lapse
and the Portfolio's investment in them will be lost. The prices of warrants do
not necessarily move parallel to the prices of the underlying securities.
Options and Futures Transactions
As noted above, each of the QUALITY INCOME PLUS PORTFOLIO, the UTILITIES
PORTFOLIO, the CAPITAL GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the GLOBAL DIVIDEND GROWTH PORTFOLIO,
the EUROPEAN GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the PACIFIC GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the CAPITAL
APPRECIATION PORTFOLIO, the COMPETITIVE EDGE "BEST IDEAS" PORTFOLIO and the
STRATEGIST PORTFOLIO may write covered call options against securities held in
its portfolio and covered put options on eligible portfolio securities (the
UTILITIES PORTFOLIO, the CAPITAL GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the GLOBAL DIVIDEND GROWTH
PORTFOLIO, the CAPITAL APPRECIATION PORTFOLIO, the COMPETITIVE EDGE "BEST IDEAS"
PORTFOLIO and the STRATEGIST PORTFOLIO may also write covered put and call
options on stock indexes) and purchase options of the same or similar series to
effect closing transactions, and may hedge against potential changes in the
market value of its investments (or anticipated investments) by purchasing put
and call options on securities which it holds (or has the right to acquire) in
its portfolio and engaging in transactions involving interest rate futures
contracts and bond index futures contracts and options on such contracts. The
UTILITIES
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PORTFOLIO, the CAPITAL GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the GLOBAL DIVIDEND GROWTH PORTFOLIO,
the EUROPEAN GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the PACIFIC GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the CAPITAL
APPRECIATION PORTFOLIO, the COMPETITIVE EDGE "BEST IDEAS" PORTFOLIO and the
STRATEGIST PORTFOLIO may also hedge against such changes by entering into
transactions involving stock index futures contracts and options thereon, and
(except for the EUROPEAN GROWTH PORTFOLIO and the PACIFIC GROWTH PORTFOLIO)
options on stock indexes. The GLOBAL DIVIDEND GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the EUROPEAN
GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the PACIFIC GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the CAPITAL APPRECIATION
PORTFOLIO and the COMPETITIVE EDGE "BEST IDEAS" PORTFOLIO may also hedge against
potential changes in the market value of the currencies in which their
investments (or anticipated investments) are denominated by writing and/or
purchasing put and call options on currencies and engaging in transactions
involving currencies futures contracts and options on such contracts. The S&P
500 INDEX PORTFOLIO may purchase and sell stock index futures contracts that are
traded on U.S. commodity exchanges on the S&P 500 Index.
Call and put options on U.S. Treasury notes, bonds and bills, on various foreign
currencies and on equity securities are listed on Exchanges and are written in
over-the-counter transactions ("OTC options"). Listed options are issued or
guaranteed by the exchange on which they trade or by a clearing corporation such
as the Options Clearing Corporation ("OCC"). Ownership of a listed call option
gives the Portfolio the right to buy from the OCC (in the U.S.) or other
clearing corporation or exchange the underlying security covered by the option
at the stated exercise price (the price per unit of the underlying security) by
filing an exercise notice prior to the expiration of the option. The writer
(seller) of the option would then have the obligation to sell to the OCC (in the
U.S.) or other clearing corporation or exchange the underlying security at that
exercise price prior to the expiration date of the option, regardless of its
then current market price. Ownership of a listed put option would give the
Portfolio the right to sell the underlying security to the OCC (in the U.S.) or
other clearing corporation or exchange at the stated exercise price. Upon notice
of exercise of the put option, the writer of the put would have the obligation
to purchase the underlying security from the OCC (in the U.S.) or other clearing
corporation or exchange at the exercise price.
Exchange-listed options are issued by the OCC (in the U.S.) or other clearing
corporation or exchange which assures that all transactions in such options are
properly executed. OTC options are purchased from or sold (written) to dealers
or financial institutions which have entered into direct agreements with the
Portfolio. With OTC options, such variables as expiration date, exercise price
and premium will be agreed upon between the Portfolio and the transacting
dealer, without the intermediation of a third party such as the OCC. If the
transacting dealer fails to make or take delivery of the securities (or, in the
case of the GLOBAL DIVIDEND GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the EUROPEAN GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the
PACIFIC GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the CAPITAL APPRECIATION PORTFOLIO or the COMPETITIVE
EDGE "BEST IDEAS" PORTFOLIO, the currency) underlying an option it has written,
in accordance with the terms of that option, the Portfolio would lose the
premium paid for the option as well as any anticipated benefit of the
transaction. The Portfolios will engage in OTC option transactions only with
member banks of the Federal Reserve System or primary dealers in U.S. Government
securities or with affiliates of such banks or dealers which have capital of at
least $50 million or whose obligations are guaranteed by an entity having
capital of at least $50 million.
Covered Call Writing. The QUALITY INCOME PLUS PORTFOLIO, the UTILITIES
PORTFOLIO, the CAPITAL GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the GLOBAL DIVIDEND GROWTH PORTFOLIO,
the EUROPEAN GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the PACIFIC GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the CAPITAL
APPRECIATION PORTFOLIO, the COMPETITIVE EDGE "BEST IDEAS" PORTFOLIO and the
STRATEGIST PORTFOLIO are permitted to write covered call options on portfolio
securities, without limit, in order to aid them in achieving their investment
objectives. In the case of the GLOBAL DIVIDEND GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the EUROPEAN
GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the PACIFIC GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the CAPITAL APPRECIATION
PORTFOLIO and the COMPETITIVE EDGE "BEST IDEAS" PORTFOLIO, such options may be
denominated in either U.S. dollars or foreign currencies and may be on the U.S.
dollar and foreign currencies. As a writer of a call option, the Portfolio has
the obligation, upon notice of exercise of the option, to deliver the security
(or amount of currency) underlying the option prior to the expiration date of
the option (certain listed and OTC put options written by a Portfolio will be
exercisable by the purchaser only on a specific date).
Covered Put Writing. As a writer of covered put options, the QUALITY INCOME PLUS
PORTFOLIO, the UTILITIES PORTFOLIO, the CAPITAL GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the GLOBAL
DIVIDEND GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the EUROPEAN GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the PACIFIC GROWTH
PORTFOLIO, the CAPITAL APPRECIATION PORTFOLIO, the COMPETITIVE EDGE "BEST IDEAS"
PORTFOLIO or the STRATEGIST PORTFOLIO incurs an obligation to buy the security
underlying the option from the purchaser of the put, at the option's exercise
price at any time during the option period, at the purchaser's election (certain
listed and OTC put options written by a Portfolio will be exercisable by the
purchaser only on a specific date). The QUALITY INCOME PLUS PORTFOLIO, the
UTILITIES PORTFOLIO, the CAPITAL GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the GLOBAL DIVIDEND GROWTH
PORTFOLIO, the EUROPEAN GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the PACIFIC GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the
CAPITAL APPRECIATION PORTFOLIO, the COMPETITIVE EDGE "BEST IDEAS" PORTFOLIO and
the STRATEGIST PORTFOLIO will write put options for two purposes: (1) to receive
the income derived from the premiums paid by purchasers; and (2) when the
Portfolio's management wishes to purchase the security underlying the option at
a price lower than its current market price, in which case the Portfolio will
write the covered put at an exercise price reflecting the lower purchase price
sought. The aggregate value of the obligations underlying the puts determined as
of the date the options are sold will not exceed 50% of a Portfolio's net
assets.
Purchasing Call and Put Options. The QUALITY INCOME PLUS PORTFOLIO may purchase
listed and OTC call and put options in amounts equalling up to 10% of its total
assets. Each of the CAPITAL GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the GLOBAL DIVIDEND GROWTH
PORTFOLIO, the EUROPEAN GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the PACIFIC GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the
CAPITAL APPRECIATION PORTFOLIO and the COMPETITIVE EDGE "BEST
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IDEAS" PORTFOLIO may purchase such call and put options in amounts equalling up
to 5% of its total assets. Each of the UTILITIES PORTFOLIO, the GLOBAL DIVIDEND
GROWTH PORTFOLIO and the STRATEGIST PORTFOLIO may purchase such call and put
options and options on stock indexes in amounts equalling up to 10% of its total
assets, with a maximum of 5% of its total assets invested in the purchase of
stock index options. These Portfolios may purchase call options either to close
out a covered call position or to protect against an increase in the price of a
security a Portfolio anticipates purchasing or, in the case of call options on a
foreign currency, to hedge against an adverse exchange rate change of the
currency in which the security the GLOBAL DIVIDEND GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the
EUROPEAN GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the PACIFIC GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the CAPITAL
APPRECIATION PORTFOLIO or the COMPETITIVE EDGE "BEST IDEAS" PORTFOLIO
anticipates purchasing is denominated vis-a-vis the currency in which the
exercise price is denominated. The Portfolio may purchase put options on
securities which it holds (or has the right to acquire) in its portfolio only to
protect itself against a decline in the value of the security. Similarly, each
of the GLOBAL DIVIDEND GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the EUROPEAN GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the
PACIFIC GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the CAPITAL APPRECIATION PORTFOLIO or the COMPETITIVE
EDGE "BEST IDEAS" PORTFOLIO may purchase put options on currencies in which
securities it holds are denominated only to protect itself against a decline in
value of such currency vis-a-vis the currency in which the exercise price is
denominated. The Portfolios may also purchase put options to close out written
put positions in a manner similar to call option closing purchase transactions.
There are no other limits on the ability of these Portfolios to purchase call
and put options.
Stock Index Options. The UTILITIES PORTFOLIO, the CAPITAL GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the
GLOBAL DIVIDEND GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the CAPITAL APPRECIATION PORTFOLIO, the
COMPETITIVE EDGE "BEST IDEAS" PORTFOLIO and the STRATEGIST PORTFOLIO may invest
in options on stock indexes, which are similar to options on stock except that,
rather than the right to take or make delivery of stock at a specified price, an
option on a stock index gives the holder the right to receive, upon exercise of
the option, an amount of cash if the closing level of the stock index upon which
the option is based is greater than, in the case of a call, or lesser than, in
the case of a put, the exercise price of the option. See "Risks of Options on
Indexes," in the Statement of Additional Information.
Futures Contracts. The QUALITY INCOME PLUS PORTFOLIO, the UTILITIES PORTFOLIO,
the CAPITAL GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the GLOBAL DIVIDEND GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the EUROPEAN
GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the PACIFIC GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the CAPITAL APPRECIATION
PORTFOLIO, the COMPETITIVE EDGE "BEST IDEAS" PORTFOLIO and the STRATEGIST
PORTFOLIO may purchase and sell interest rate futures contracts that are
currently traded, or may in the future be traded, on U.S. commodity exchanges on
such underlying securities as U.S. Treasury bonds, notes, and bills and GNMA
Certificates and bond index futures contracts that are traded on U.S. commodity
exchanges on such indexes as the Moody's Investment-Grade Corporate Bond Index.
The UTILITIES PORTFOLIO, the CAPITAL GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the GLOBAL DIVIDEND
GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the EUROPEAN GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the PACIFIC GROWTH PORTFOLIO,
the CAPITAL APPRECIATION PORTFOLIO, the COMPETITIVE EDGE "BEST IDEAS" PORTFOLIO
and the STRATEGIST PORTFOLIO may also purchase and sell stock index futures
contracts that are currently traded, or may in the future be traded, on U.S.
commodity exchanges on such indexes as the S&P 500 Index and the New York Stock
Exchange Composite Index. The S&P 500 INDEX PORTFOLIO may invest in stock index
futures contracts that are traded on U.S. commodity exchanges on the S&P 500
Index. The GLOBAL DIVIDEND GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the EUROPEAN GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the
PACIFIC GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the CAPITAL APPRECIATION PORTFOLIO and the COMPETITIVE
EDGE "BEST IDEAS" PORTFOLIO may also purchase and sell futures contracts that
are currently traded, or may in the future be traded, on foreign commodity
exchanges on such underlying securities as common stocks or any foreign
government fixed-income security, on various currencies ("currency futures") and
on such indexes of foreign equity and fixed-income securities as may exist or
come into being, such as the Financial Times Equity Index. As a futures contract
purchaser, a Portfolio incurs an obligation to take delivery of a specified
amount of the obligation underlying the contract at a specified time in the
future for a specified price. As a seller of a futures contract, a Portfolio
incurs an obligation to deliver the specified amount of the underlying
obligation at a specified time in return for an agreed upon price.
The QUALITY INCOME PLUS PORTFOLIO, the UTILITIES PORTFOLIO, the CAPITAL GROWTH
PORTFOLIO, the GLOBAL DIVIDEND GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the EUROPEAN GROWTH PORTFOLIO,
the PACIFIC GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the CAPITAL APPRECIATION PORTFOLIO, the
COMPETITIVE EDGE "BEST IDEAS" PORTFOLIO and the STRATEGIST PORTFOLIO will
purchase or sell interest rate futures contracts and bond index futures
contracts for the purpose of hedging their fixed-income portfolio (or
anticipated portfolio) securities against changes in prevailing interest rates
or, in the case of the UTILITIES PORTFOLIO and the STRATEGIST PORTFOLIO, to
facilitate asset reallocations into and out of the fixed-income area. The
UTILITIES PORTFOLIO, the CAPITAL GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the GLOBAL DIVIDEND GROWTH
PORTFOLIO, the EUROPEAN GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the PACIFIC GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the
CAPITAL APPRECIATION PORTFOLIO, the COMPETITIVE EDGE "BEST IDEAS" PORTFOLIO and
the STRATEGIST PORTFOLIO will purchase or sell stock index futures contracts for
the purpose of hedging their equity portfolio (or anticipated portfolio)
securities against changes in their prices or, in the case of the UTILITIES
PORTFOLIO and the STRATEGIST PORTFOLIO, to facilitate asset reallocations into
and out of the equity area. The GLOBAL DIVIDEND GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the EUROPEAN
GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the PACIFIC GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the CAPITAL APPRECIATION
PORTFOLIO and the COMPETITIVE EDGE "BEST IDEAS" PORTFOLIO will purchase or sell
currency futures on currencies in which their portfolio securities (or
anticipated portfolio securities) are denominated for the purposes of hedging
against anticipated changes in currency exchange rates. The S&P 500 INDEX
PORTFOLIO may purchase and
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sell stock index futures contracts that are traded on U.S. commodity exchanges
on the S&P 500 Index, for the following reasons: to simulate full investment in
the S&P 500 Index while retaining a cash balance for portfolio management
purposes, to facilitate trading, to reduce transaction costs or to seek higher
investment returns when a futures contracts is priced more attractively than
stocks comprising the S&P 500 Index.
Options on Futures Contracts. The QUALITY INCOME PLUS PORTFOLIO, the UTILITIES
PORTFOLIO, the CAPITAL GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the GLOBAL DIVIDEND GROWTH PORTFOLIO,
the EUROPEAN GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the PACIFIC GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the CAPITAL
APPRECIATION PORTFOLIO, the COMPETITIVE EDGE "BEST IDEAS" PORTFOLIO and the
STRATEGIST PORTFOLIO may purchase and write call and put options on futures
contracts which are traded on an exchange and enter into closing transactions
with respect to such options to terminate an existing position. An option on a
futures contract gives the purchaser the right, in return for the premium paid,
to assume a position in a futures contract (a long position if the option is a
call and a short position if the option is a put) at a specified exercise price
at any time during the term of the option. The QUALITY INCOME PLUS PORTFOLIO,
the UTILITIES PORTFOLIO, the CAPITAL GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the GLOBAL DIVIDEND
GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the EUROPEAN GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the PACIFIC GROWTH PORTFOLIO,
the CAPITAL APPRECIATION PORTFOLIO, the COMPETITIVE EDGE "BEST IDEAS" PORTFOLIO
and the STRATEGIST PORTFOLIO will only purchase and write options on futures
contracts for identical purposes to those set forth above for the purchase of a
futures contract (purchase of a call option or sale of a put option) and the
sale of a futures contract (purchase of a put option or sale of a call option),
or to close out a long or short position in futures contracts.
Risks of Options and Futures Transactions. A Portfolio may close out its
position as writer of an option, or as a buyer or seller of a futures contract,
only if a liquid secondary market exists for options or futures contracts of
that series. There is no assurance that such a market will exist, particularly
in the case of OTC options, as such options will generally only be closed out by
entering into a closing purchase transaction with the purchasing dealer. Also,
exchanges limit the amount by which the price of a futures contract may move on
any day. If the price moves equal the daily limit on successive days, then it
may prove impossible to liquidate a futures position until the daily limit moves
have ceased.
While the futures contracts and options transactions to be engaged in by the
QUALITY INCOME PLUS PORTFOLIO, the UTILITIES PORTFOLIO, the CAPITAL GROWTH
PORTFOLIO, the GLOBAL DIVIDEND GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the EUROPEAN GROWTH PORTFOLIO,
the PACIFIC GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the CAPITAL APPRECIATION PORTFOLIO, the S&P 500
INDEX PORTFOLIO, the COMPETITIVE EDGE "BEST IDEAS" PORTFOLIO and the STRATEGIST
PORTFOLIO for the purpose of hedging their portfolio securities are not
speculative in nature, there are risks inherent in the use of such instruments.
One such risk is that the Portfolio's management could be incorrect in its
expectations as to the direction or extent of various interest rate movements or
the time span within which the movements take place. For example, if a Portfolio
sold interest rate futures contracts for the sale of securities in anticipation
of an increase in interest rates, and then interest rates went down instead,
causing bond prices to rise, the Portfolio would lose money on the sale.
Another risk which may arise in employing futures contracts to protect against
the price volatility of portfolio securities is that the prices of securities,
currencies and indexes subject to futures contracts (and thereby the futures
contract prices) may correlate imperfectly with the behavior of the U.S. dollar
cash prices of the portfolio securities (and, in the case of the GLOBAL DIVIDEND
GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the EUROPEAN GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the PACIFIC GROWTH PORTFOLIO,
the CAPITAL APPRECIATION PORTFOLIO and the COMPETITIVE EDGE "BEST IDEAS"
PORTFOLIO, the securities' denominated currencies). Another such risk is that
prices of interest rate futures contracts may not move in tandem with the
changes in prevailing interest rates against which the Portfolio seeks a hedge.
A correlation may also be distorted by the fact that the futures market is
dominated by short-term traders seeking to profit from the difference between a
contract or security price objective and their cost of borrowed funds. Such
distortions are generally minor and would diminish as the contract approached
maturity.
The GLOBAL DIVIDEND GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the EUROPEAN GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the PACIFIC
GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the CAPITAL APPRECIATION PORTFOLIO and the COMPETITIVE EDGE
"BEST IDEAS" PORTFOLIO, by entering into transactions in foreign futures and
options markets, will incur risks similar to those discussed above under
"Foreign Securities."
New options and futures contracts and other financial products and various
combinations thereof continue to be developed. The QUALITY INCOME PLUS
PORTFOLIO, the UTILITIES PORTFOLIO, the CAPITAL GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the GLOBAL
DIVIDEND GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the EUROPEAN GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the PACIFIC GROWTH
PORTFOLIO, the CAPITAL APPRECIATION PORTFOLIO, the COMPETITIVE EDGE "BEST IDEAS"
PORTFOLIO and the STRATEGIST PORTFOLIO may invest in any such options, futures
and products as may be developed to the extent consistent with their investment
objectives and applicable regulatory requirements, and the Fund will make any
and all pertinent disclosures relating to such investments in its Prospectus
and/or Statement of Additional Information. Except as otherwise noted above,
there are no limitations on the ability of any of these Portfolios to invest in
options, futures and options on futures.
Portfolio Trading
Although the Fund does not intend to engage in short-term trading of portfolio
securities as a means of achieving the investment objectives of the respective
Portfolios, each Portfolio may sell portfolio securities without regard to the
length of time they have been held whenever such sale will in the opinion of the
Investment Manager (or, in the case of the EUROPEAN GROWTH PORTFOLIO and the
PACIFIC GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the Sub-Adviser) strengthen the Portfolio's position
and contribute to its investment objectives. In determining which securities to
purchase for the Portfolios or hold in a Portfolio, the Investment Manager and,
in the case of the EUROPEAN GROWTH PORTFOLIO and the PACIFIC
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GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the Sub-Adviser will rely on information from various sources,
including research, analysis and appraisals of brokers and dealers, the views of
Trustees of the Fund and others regarding economic developments and interest
rate trends, and the Investment Manager's and, in the case of the EUROPEAN
GROWTH PORTFOLIO and the PACIFIC GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the Sub-Adviser's own
analysis of factors they deem relevant.
Personnel of the Investment Manager and, in the case of the EUROPEAN GROWTH
PORTFOLIO and the PACIFIC GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the Sub-Adviser have substantial
experience in the use of the investment techniques described above under the
heading "Options and Futures Transactions," which techniques require skills
different from those needed to select the portfolio securities underlying
various options and futures contracts.
Brokerage commissions are not normally charged on the purchase or sale of money
market instruments and U.S. Government obligations, or on currency conversions,
but such transactions will involve costs in the form of spreads between bid and
asked prices. Orders for transactions in portfolio securities and commodities
may be placed for the Fund with a number of brokers and dealers, including Dean
Witter Reynolds Inc. ("DWR"), the principal underwriter of certain of the
Variable Annuity Contracts and the Variable Life Contracts, Morgan Stanley & Co.
Incorporated ("Morgan Stanley") and other broker-dealer affiliates of
InterCapital, and certain affiliated broker-dealers of Morgan Grenfell
Investment Services Limited, the Sub-Adviser of the EUROPEAN GROWTH PORTFOLIO
and the PACIFIC GROWTH PORTFOLIO. Pursuant to an order of the Securities and
Exchange Commission, the Fund may effect principal transactions in certain money
market instruments with DWR. In addition, the Fund may incur brokerage
commissions on transactions conducted through DWR, Morgan Stanley and other
affiliated broker-dealers of InterCapital and affiliated broker-dealers of the
Sub-Adviser of the EUROPEAN GROWTH PORTFOLIO and the PACIFIC GROWTH PORTFOLIO.
Substantially all of the orders for transactions in portfolio securities and
commodities listed on exchanges are expected to be placed for the COMPETITIVE
EDGE "BEST IDEAS" PORTFOLIO with broker-dealers affiliated with InterCapital,
including DWR and Morgan Stanley. Transactions effected through such affiliated
broker-dealers are effected pursuant to procedures adopted by the Fund's Board
of Trustees that are designed to ensure that the commissions paid to such
affiliated broker-dealers are not more than the commissions expected to be paid
to unaffiliated brokers or dealers in a commensurate arms-length transaction.
The Money Market Portfolio is expected to have a high portfolio turnover due to
the short maturities of securities purchased, but this should not affect income
or net asset value as brokerage commissions are not normally charged on the
purchase or sale of money market instruments. It is not anticipated that the
portfolio turnover rates of the Portfolios will exceed the following percentages
in any year: QUALITY INCOME PLUS PORTFOLIO: 300%; HIGH YIELD PORTFOLIO: 300%;
UTILITIES PORTFOLIO: 100%; DIVIDEND GROWTH PORTFOLIO: 90%; INCOME BUILDER
PORTFOLIO: 90%; CAPITAL GROWTH PORTFOLIO: 200%; GLOBAL DIVIDEND GROWTH
PORTFOLIO: 100%; EUROPEAN GROWTH PORTFOLIO: 100%; PACIFIC GROWTH PORTFOLIO:
100%; CAPITAL APPRECIATION PORTFOLIO: 300%; EQUITY PORTFOLIO: 300%; S&P 500
INDEX PORTFOLIO: 100%; COMPETITIVE EDGE "BEST IDEAS" PORTFOLIO: 100%; and
STRATEGIST PORTFOLIO: 400%. A portfolio turnover rate exceeding 100% in any one
year is greater than that of many other investment companies. Each Portfolio of
the Fund will incur underwriting discount costs (on underwritten securities)
and/or brokerage costs commensurate with its portfolio turnover rate. The
expenses of the GLOBAL DIVIDEND GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the EUROPEAN GROWTH PORTFOLIO
and the PACIFIC GROWTH PORTFOLIO relating to their portfolio management are
likely to be greater than those incurred by other investment companies investing
primarily in securities issued by domestic issuers as custodial costs, brokerage
commissions and other transaction charges related to investing in foreign
markets are generally higher than in the United States. Short-term gains and
losses may result from portfolio transactions. See "Dividends, Distributions and
Taxes" for a discussion of the tax implications of the Portfolios' trading
policies. A more extensive discussion of the Portfolios' brokerage policies is
set forth in the Statement of Additional Information.
Portfolio Management
The following individuals are primarily responsible for the day-to-day
management of certain of the Portfolios of the Fund: Paula LaCosta, Vice
President of InterCapital, has been the primary portfolio manager of the QUALITY
INCOME PLUS PORTFOLIO for over five years and has been a portfolio manager with
InterCapital for over five years. Peter M. Avelar, Senior Vice President of
InterCapital, has been the primary portfolio manager of the HIGH YIELD PORTFOLIO
for over five years and has been a portfolio manager with InterCapital for over
five years. Edward F. Gaylor, Senior Vice President of InterCapital, has been
the primary portfolio manager of the UTILITIES PORTFOLIO since its inception and
has been a portfolio manager with InterCapital for over five years. Paul D.
Vance, Senior Vice President of InterCapital, and Mr. Avelar have been the
primary portfolio co-managers of the INCOME BUILDER PORTFOLIO since its
inception and since January 1998, respectively. Mr. Vance has been a portfolio
manager with InterCapital for over five years. Mr. Vance has also been the
primary portfolio manager of the DIVIDEND GROWTH PORTFOLIO since its inception.
Mr. Vance and Matthew Haynes, Vice President of InterCapital, have been the
primary portfolio co-managers of the GLOBAL DIVIDEND GROWTH PORTFOLIO since its
inception and since May 1997, respectively. Mr. Haynes has been a portfolio
manager with InterCapital for over five years. Peter Hermann, Vice President of
InterCapital, has been the primary portfolio manager of the CAPITAL GROWTH
PORTFOLIO since May 1996. Prior to joining InterCapital in March 1994, Mr.
Hermann was a portfolio manager at The Bank of New York. Jeremy G. Lodwick, a
Director of the Sub-Adviser, has been the primary portfolio manager of the
EUROPEAN GROWTH PORTFOLIO since April 1994 and has been a portfolio manager with
the Sub-Adviser for over five years. Graham D. Bamping, a Director of the Sub-
Adviser, has been the primary portfolio manager of the PACIFIC GROWTH PORTFOLIO
since its inception and has been a portfolio manager with the Sub-Adviser for
over five years. Ronald J. Worobel, Senior Vice President of InterCapital, has
been the
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primary portfolio manager of the CAPITAL APPRECIATION PORTFOLIO since its
inception and has been a portfolio manager with InterCapital for over five
years. Michelle Kaufman, Vice President of InterCapital, has been a primary
portfolio manager of the EQUITY PORTFOLIO since May 1996, and has been the sole
primary portfolio manager of that Portfolio since December 1996. Prior to
joining InterCapital in September 1993, Ms. Kaufman was a securities analyst
with Woodward and Associates. Kenton J. Hinchliffe, Senior Vice President of
InterCapital, has been designated the primary portfolio manager of the S&P 500
INDEX PORTFOLIO and has been a portfolio manager with InterCapital for over five
years. Mark Bavoso, Senior Vice President of InterCapital, has been designated
the primary portfolio manager of the COMPETITIVE EDGE "BEST IDEAS" PORTFOLIO,
has been the primary portfolio manager of the STRATEGIST PORTFOLIO since
September 1995 and has been a portfolio manager with InterCapital for over five
years.
INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS
- ----------------------------------------------------------
The investment restrictions listed below are among the restrictions that have
been adopted by the Fund as fundamental policies of each Portfolio. Under the
Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "Act"), a fundamental policy may
not be changed with respect to a Portfolio without the vote of a majority of the
outstanding voting securities of that Portfolio, as defined in the Act.
Each Portfolio of the Fund may not:
1. Invest more than 5% of the value of its total assets in the securities
of any one issuer (other than obligations issued or guaranteed by the United
States Government, its agencies or instrumentalities), or purchase more than 10%
of the voting securities, or more than 10% of any class of security, of any
issuer (for this purpose all outstanding debt securities of an issuer are
considered as one class and all preferred stock of an issuer are considered as
one class). With regard to the INCOME BUILDER PORTFOLIO, the CAPITAL GROWTH
PORTFOLIO, the GLOBAL DIVIDEND GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the EUROPEAN GROWTH PORTFOLIO,
the PACIFIC GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the CAPITAL APPRECIATION PORTFOLIO, the S&P 500
INDEX PORTFOLIO and the COMPETITIVE EDGE "BEST IDEAS" PORTFOLIO, these
limitations apply only as to 75% of the Portfolio's total assets.
2. Concentrate its investments in any particular industry, but if deemed
appropriate for attainment of its investment objective, a Portfolio may invest
up to 25% of its total assets (valued at the time of investment) in any one
industry classification used by that Portfolio for investment purposes. This
restriction does not apply to obligations issued or guaranteed by the United
States Government or its agencies or instrumentalities, or, in the case of the
MONEY MARKET PORTFOLIO, to domestic bank obligations (not including obligations
issued by foreign branches of such banks) or, in the case of the UTILITIES
PORTFOLIO, to the utilities industry, in which industry the Portfolio will
concentrate.
3. Invest more than 5% of the value of its total assets in securities of
issuers having a record, together with predecessors, of less than three years of
continuous operation. This restriction shall not apply to any obligation issued
or guaranteed by the United States Government, its agencies or
instrumentalities.
4. Purchase or sell commodities or commodity futures contracts, or oil, gas
or mineral exploration or developmental programs, except that a Portfolio may
invest in the securities of companies which operate, invest in, or sponsor such
programs, and (i) the QUALITY INCOME PLUS PORTFOLIO, the UTILITIES PORTFOLIO,
the INCOME BUILDER PORTFOLIO, the DIVIDEND GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the CAPITAL GROWTH
PORTFOLIO, the GLOBAL DIVIDEND GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the EUROPEAN GROWTH PORTFOLIO,
the PACIFIC GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the CAPITAL APRECIATION PORTFOLIO, the COMPETITIVE
EDGE "BEST IDEAS" PORTFOLIO and the STRATEGIST PORTFOLIO may purchase or sell
futures contracts and related options thereon, (ii) the GLOBAL DIVIDEND GROWTH
PORTFOLIO, the EUROPEAN GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the PACIFIC GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the
CAPITAL APPRECIATION PORTFOLIO and the COMPETITIVE EDGE "BEST IDEAS" PORTFOLIO
may purchase or sell currency futures contracts and related options thereon and
the S&P 500 INDEX PORTFOLIO may purchase or sell index futures contracts.
5. Borrow money (except insofar as the EUROPEAN GROWTH PORTFOLIO and the
PACIFIC GROWTH PORTFOLIO may be deemed to have borrowed by entrance into a
reverse repurchase agreement up to an amount not exceeding 10% of the
Portfolio's total assets), except from banks for temporary or emergency purposes
or to meet redemption requests which might otherwise require the untimely
disposition of securities, and, in the case of the Portfolios other than the
QUALITY INCOME PLUS PORTFOLIO, not for investment or leveraging, provided that
borrowing in the aggregate (other than, in the case of the QUALITY INCOME PLUS
PORTFOLIO, for investment or leveraging) may not exceed 5% of the value of the
Portfolio's total assets (including the amount borrowed) at the time of such
borrowing.
6. Pledge its assets or assign or otherwise encumber them except to secure
permitted borrowings. (For the purpose of this restriction, collateral
arrangements with respect to the writing of options and collateral arrangements
with respect to initial margin for futures are not deemed to be pledges of
assets.)
7. Purchase securities on margin (but the Portfolios may obtain short-term
loans as are necessary for the clearance of transactions). The deposit or
payment by the QUALITY INCOME PLUS PORTFOLIO, the UTILITIES PORTFOLIO, the
INCOME BUILDER PORTFOLIO, the DIVIDEND GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the CAPITAL GROWTH
PORTFOLIO, the GLOBAL DIVIDEND GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the EUROPEAN GROWTH PORTFOLIO,
the PACIFIC GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the CAPITAL APPRECIATION PORTFOLIO, the S&P 500
INDEX PORTFOLIO, the COMPETITIVE EDGE "BEST
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IDEAS" PORTFOLIO and the STRATEGIST PORTFOLIO of initial or variation margin in
connection with futures contracts or related options thereon is not considered
the purchase of a security on margin.
8. In the case of each Portfolio other than the S&P 500 INDEX PORTFOLIO and
the COMPETITIVE EDGE "BEST IDEAS" PORTFOLIO, purchase securities of other
investment companies, except in connection with a merger, consolidation,
reorganization or acquisition of assets or, in the case of the GLOBAL DIVIDEND
GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the EUROPEAN GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the PACIFIC GROWTH PORTFOLIO
and the CAPITAL APPRECIATION PORTFOLIO, in accordance with the provisions of
Section 12(d) of the Act and any Rules promulgated thereunder (E.G., each of
these Portfolios may not invest in more than 3% of the outstanding voting
securities of any investment company).
Each of the QUALITY INCOME PLUS PORTFOLIO, the DIVIDEND GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the
EQUITY PORTFOLIO and the STRATEGIST PORTFOLIO may not invest more than 5% of the
value of its total assets in securities which are restricted as to disposition
under the Federal securities laws or otherwise, provided that this restriction
shall not apply to securities received as a result of a corporate reorganization
or similar transaction affecting readily marketable securities already held by
the Portfolio; however, these Portfolios will attempt to dispose in an orderly
fashion of any securities received under these circumstances to the extent that
such securities, together with other illiquid securities, exceed 10% of the
Portfolio's total assets.
Each of the UTILITIES PORTFOLIO, the CAPITAL GROWTH PORTFOLIO and the EUROPEAN
GROWTH PORTFOLIO may not invest more than 10% of its total assets in "illiquid
securities" (securities for which market quotations are not readily available)
and repurchase agreements which have a maturity of longer than seven days. In
addition, no more than 15% of the EUROPEAN GROWTH PORTFOLIO's net assets will be
invested in such illiquid securities and foreign securities not traded on a
recognized domestic or foreign exchange. Generally, OTC options and the assets
used as "cover" for written OTC options are illiquid securities. However, these
Portfolios are permitted to treat the securities they use as cover for written
OTC options as liquid provided they follow a procedure whereby they will sell
OTC options only to qualified dealers who agree that the Portfolio may
repurchase such options at a maximum price to be calculated pursuant to a
predetermined formula set forth in the option agreement. The formula may vary
from agreement to agreement, but is generally based on a multiple of the premium
received by the Portfolio for writing the option plus the amount, if any, of the
option's intrinsic value. An OTC option is considered an illiquid asset only to
the extent that the maximum repurchase price under the formula exceeds the
intrinsic value of the option.
The HIGH YIELD PORTFOLIO may not acquire any common stocks, except (a) when
attached to or included in a unit with fixed-income securities; (b) when
acquired upon conversion of fixed-income securities; or (c) when acquired upon
exercise of warrants attached to fixed-income securities. However, the HIGH
YIELD PORTFOLIO may retain common stocks so acquired but not in excess of 10% of
its total assets. While the EQUITY PORTFOLIO may not invest in securities of
foreign issuers, it may invest in (a) securities of Canadian issuers registered
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and (b) American Depository Receipts.
All percentage limitations apply immediately after a purchase or initial
investment, and any subsequent change in any applicable percentage resulting
from market fluctuations or other changes in the amount of total assets does not
require elimination of any security from the Portfolio.
DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE
- ----------------------------------------------------------
The net asset value per share is calculated separately for each Portfolio. In
general, the net asset value per share is computed by taking the value of all
the assets of the Portfolio, subtracting all liabilities, dividing by the number
of shares outstanding and adjusting the result to the nearest cent. The Fund
will compute the net asset value per share of each Portfolio once daily at 4:00
p.m., New York time (or, on days when the New York Stock Exchange closes prior
to 4:00 p.m., at such earlier time), on days the New York Stock Exchange is open
for trading. The net asset value per share will not be determined on Good Friday
and on such other Federal and non-Federal holidays as are observed by the New
York Stock Exchange.
The MONEY MARKET PORTFOLIO utilizes the amortized cost method in valuing its
portfolio securities, which method involves valuing a security at its cost
adjusted by a constant amortization to maturity of any discount or premium,
regardless of the impact of fluctuating interest rates on the market value of
the instrument. The purpose of this method of calculation is to facilitate the
maintenance of a constant net asset value per share of $1.00. However, there can
be no assurance that the $1.00 net asset value will be maintained.
In the calculation of the net asset value of the Portfolios other than the MONEY
MARKET PORTFOLIO: (1) an equity portfolio security listed or traded on the New
York or American Stock Exchange or other domestic or foreign stock exchange is
valued at its latest sale price on that exchange prior to the time when assets
are valued (if there were no sales that day, the security is valued at the
latest bid price) (in cases where securities are traded on more than one
exchange, the securities are valued on the exchange designated as the primary
market pursuant to procedures adopted by the Trustees); and (2) all other
portfolio securities for which over-the-counter market quotations are readily
available are valued at the latest bid price prior to the time of valuation.
When market quotations are not readily available, including
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circumstances under which it is determined by the Investment Manager (or, in the
case of the EUROPEAN GROWTH PORTFOLIO and the PACIFIC GROWTH PORTFOLIO, by the
Sub-Adviser) that sale or bid prices are not reflective of a security's market
value, portfolio securities are valued at their fair value as determined in good
faith under procedures established by and under the general supervision of the
Fund's Board of Trustees (valuation of securities for which market quotations
are not readily available may also be based upon current market prices of
securities which are comparable in coupon, rating and maturity or an appropriate
matrix utilizing similar factors). For valuation purposes, quotations of foreign
portfolio securities, other assets and liabilities and forward contracts stated
in foreign currency are translated into U.S. dollar equivalents at the
prevailing market rates prior to the close of the New York Stock Exchange.
Dividends receivable are accrued as of the ex-dividend date except for certain
dividends from foreign securities which are accrued as soon as the Fund is
informed of such dividends after the ex-dividend date.
Short-term debt securities with remaining maturities of sixty days or less at
the time of purchase are valued at amortized cost, unless the Trustees determine
such does not reflect the securities' market value, in which case these
securities will be valued at their fair value as determined by the Trustees.
Certain of the portfolio securities of each Portfolio other than the MONEY
MARKET PORTFOLIO may be valued by an outside pricing service approved by the
Fund's Trustees. The pricing service may utilize a matrix system incorporating
security quality, maturity and coupon as the evaluation model parameters, and/or
research evaluations by its staff, including review of broker-dealer market
price quotations, in determining what it believes is the fair valuation of the
portfolio securities valued by such pricing service.
PURCHASE OF FUND SHARES
- ----------------------------------------------------------
Investments in the Fund may be made only by (1) Northbrook Life Insurance
Company ("Northbrook") for allocation to certain separate accounts established
and maintained by Northbrook for the purpose of funding variable annuity
contracts and variable life insurance contracts it issues, by (2) Allstate Life
Insurance Company of New York ("Allstate New York") for allocation to certain
separate accounts established and maintained by Allstate New York for the
purpose of funding variable annuity contracts it issues, by (3) Glenbrook Life
and Annuity Company ("Glenbrook") for allocation to certain separate accounts
established and maintained by Glenbrook for the purpose of funding variable
annuity contracts and variable life insurance contracts it issues, and by (4)
Paragon Life Insurance Company ("Paragon") for allocation to a separate account
established and maintained by Paragon for the purpose of funding variable life
insurance contracts it issues, in connection with an employer-sponsored
insurance program offered only to certain employees of MSDWD, the parent company
of the Fund's Investment Manager. The separate accounts are sometimes referred
to individually as an "Account" and collectively as the "Accounts." Persons
desiring to purchase annuity or life insurance contracts funded by any Portfolio
of the Fund should read this Prospectus in conjunction with the Prospectus of
the flexible premium deferred annuity contracts issued by Northbrook, Allstate
New York or Glenbrook (the "Variable Annuity Contracts") or in conjunction with
the Prospectus of the flexible premium variable life insurance contracts issued
by Northbrook, Glenbrook or Paragon (the "Variable Life Contracts").
In the future, shares of the Portfolios of the Fund may be allocated to certain
other separate accounts or sold to affiliated and/or non-affiliated entities of
Northbrook, Allstate New York, Glenbrook and Paragon (the "Companies") in
connection with variable annuity contracts or variable life insurance contracts.
It is conceivable that in the future it may become disadvantageous for both
variable life and variable annuity contract separate accounts to invest in the
same underlying fund. Although neither the Companies nor the Fund currently
foresee any such disadvantage, the Fund's Board of Trustees intends to monitor
events in order to identify any material irreconcilable conflict between the
interests of variable annuity contract owners and variable life insurance
contract owners and to determine what action, if any, should be taken in
response thereto.
Shares of each Portfolio of the Fund are offered to the Companies for allocation
to the Accounts without sales charge at the respective net asset values of the
Portfolios next determined after receipt by the Fund of the purchase payment in
the manner set forth above under "Determination of Net Asset Value." In the
interest of economy and convenience, certificates representing the Fund's shares
will not be physically issued. Dean Witter Distributors Inc. (the "Distributor")
acts without remuneration from the Fund as the exclusive Distributor of the
Fund's shares. (The Distributor is a wholly-owned subsidiary of MSDWD and an
affiliate of Dean Witter Reynolds Inc., which is the principal underwriter of
certain of the Variable Annuity Contracts and the Variable Life Contracts.) The
principal executive office of the Distributor is located at Two World Trade
Center, New York, New York 10048.
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<PAGE>
REDEMPTION OF FUND SHARES
- ----------------------------------------------------------
Shares of any Portfolio of the Fund can be redeemed by the Companies at any time
for cash, without sales charge, at the net asset value next determined after
receipt of the redemption request. (For information regarding charges which may
be imposed upon the Contracts by the applicable Account, see the accompanying
Prospectus for either the Variable Annuity Contracts or the Variable Life
Contracts.)
The Fund reserves the right to suspend the right of redemption or to postpone
the date of payment upon redemption of the
shares of any Portfolio for any period during which the New York Stock Exchange
is closed (other than weekend and holiday closings) or trading on that Exchange
is restricted, or during which an emergency exists (as determined by the
Securities and Exchange Commission) as a result of which disposal of the
portfolio securities owned by the Portfolio is not reasonably practicable or it
is not reasonably practicable for the Portfolio to determine the value of its
net assets, or for such other period as the Securities and Exchange Commission
may by order permit for the protection of shareholders.
DIVIDENDS, DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES
- ----------------------------------------------------------
Dividends and Distributions. The Fund intends to distribute substantially all of
the net investment income and net realized capital gains, if any, of each
Portfolio. Dividends from net investment income and any distributions of
realized capital gains will be paid in additional shares of the Portfolio paying
the dividend or making the distribution and credited to the shareholder's
account.
Money Market Portfolio. Dividends from net income on the MONEY MARKET PORTFOLIO
will be declared, payable on each day the New York Stock Exchange is open for
business to shareholders of record as of the close of business the preceding
business day. Net income, for dividend purposes, includes accrued interest and
accretion of original issue and market discount, less the amortization of market
premium and the estimated expenses of the MONEY MARKET PORTFOLIO. The amount of
dividend may fluctuate from day to day and may be omitted on some days if
realized losses on portfolio securities exceed the MONEY MARKET PORTFOLIO's net
investment income. Dividends are automatically reinvested daily in additional
shares of the MONEY MARKET PORTFOLIO at the net asset value per share at the
close of business that day. Any net realized capital gains will be declared and
paid at least once per calendar year; net short-term gains may be paid more
frequently, with the distribution of dividends from net investment income.
Quality Income Plus Portfolio and High Yield Portfolio. Dividends from net
investment income on the QUALITY INCOME PLUS PORTFOLIO and the HIGH YIELD
PORTFOLIO will be declared and paid monthly, and any net realized capital gains
will be declared and paid at least once per calendar year.
Utilities Portfolio, Income Builder Portfolio, Dividend Growth Portfolio, Global
Dividend Growth Portfolio, Equity Portfolio and Strategist Portfolio. Dividends
from net investment income, if any, on the UTILITIES PORTFOLIO, the INCOME
BUILDER PORTFOLIO, the DIVIDEND GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the GLOBAL DIVIDEND GROWTH
PORTFOLIO, the EQUITY PORTFOLIO and the STRATEGIST PORTFOLIO will be declared
and paid quarterly, and any net realized capital gains will be declared and paid
at least once per calendar year.
Capital Growth Portfolio, European Growth Portfolio, Pacific Growth Portfolio,
Capital Appreciation Portfolio, S&P 500 Index Portfolio and Competitive Edge
"Best Ideas" Portfolio. Dividends from net investment income and net realized
capital gains, if any, on the CAPITAL GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the EUROPEAN GROWTH
PORTFOLIO, the PACIFIC GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the CAPITAL APPRECIATION PORTFOLIO, the
S&P 500 INDEX PORTFOLIO and the COMPETITIVE EDGE "BEST IDEAS" PORTFOLIO will be
declared and paid at least once per calendar year.
Taxes. Because the Fund intends to distribute substantially all of the net
investment income and capital gains of each Portfolio and otherwise continue to
qualify each Portfolio as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of
the Internal Revenue Code (the "Code"), it is not expected that any Portfolio of
the Fund will be required to pay any Federal income tax on such income and
capital gains.
Gains or losses on a Portfolio's transactions in certain listed options and on
futures and options on futures generally are treated as 60% long-term and 40%
short-term. When a Portfolio engages in options and futures transactions,
various tax regulations applicable to the Portfolio may have the effect of
causing the Portfolio to recognize a gain or loss for tax purposes before that
gain or loss is realized, or to defer recognition of a realized loss for tax
purposes. Recognition, for tax purposes, of an unrealized loss may result in a
lesser amount of the realized net short-term gains of the QUALITY INCOME PLUS
PORTFOLIO, the UTILITIES PORTFOLIO, the CAPITAL GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the GLOBAL
DIVIDEND GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the EUROPEAN GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the PACIFIC GROWTH
PORTFOLIO, the CAPITAL APPRECIATION PORTFOLIO, the S&P 500 INDEX PORTFOLIO or
the COMPETITIVE EDGE "BEST IDEAS" PORTFOLIO or the STRATEGIST PORTFOLIO being
available for distribution. These Portfolios intend to make certain elections
which may minimize
44
<PAGE>
the impact of these rules but which could also result in a higher portion of the
Portfolio's gains being treated as short-term capital gains.
With respect to investments by a Portfolio in zero coupon bonds and investment
by the HIGH YIELD PORTFOLIO in payment-in-kind bonds, the Portfolios accrue
income prior to any actual cash payments by their issuers. In order to continue
to comply with Subchapter M of the Code and remain able to forego payment of
Federal income tax on their income and capital gains, each Portfolio must
distribute all of its net investment income, including income accrued from zero
coupon and payment-in-kind bonds. As such, a Portfolio may be required to
dispose of some of its portfolio securities under disadvantageous circumstances
to generate the cash required for distribution.
Dividends, interest and capital gains received by a Portfolio on investments in
foreign issuers or which are denominated in foreign currency may give rise to
withholding and other taxes imposed by foreign countries, which may or may not
be refunded to the Portfolio.
Since the Companies are the only shareholders of the Fund, no discussion is
stated herein as to the Federal income tax consequences at the shareholder
level. For information concerning the Federal income tax consequences to holders
of variable annuity or variable life insurance contracts, see the accompanying
Prospectus for either the Variable Annuity Contracts or the Variable Life
Contracts.
PERFORMANCE INFORMATION
- ----------------------------------------------------------
From time to time the Fund advertises the "yield" and "effective yield" of the
MONEY MARKET PORTFOLIO. Both yield figures are based on historical earnings and
are not intended to indicate future performance. The "yield" of the MONEY MARKET
PORTFOLIO refers to the income generated by an investment in the Portfolio over
a given period (which period will be stated in the advertisement). This income
is then annualized. The "effective yield" for a seven-day period is calculated
similarly but, when annualized, the income earned by an investment in the MONEY
MARKET PORTFOLIO is assumed to be reinvested each week within a 365-day period.
The "effective yield" will be slightly higher than the "yield" because of the
compounding effect of this assumed reinvestment. The MONEY MARKET PORTFOLIO's
"yield" and "effective yield" do not reflect the deduction of any charges which
may be imposed on the Contracts by the applicable Account and are therefore not
equivalent to total return under a Contract (for a description of such charges,
see the Prospectus for the Contracts).
From time to time the Fund advertises the "yield" of each of the QUALITY INCOME
PLUS PORTFOLIO, the HIGH YIELD PORTFOLIO and the UTILITIES PORTFOLIO. The yield
of a Portfolio is based on historical earnings and is not intended to indicate
future performance. The yield of a Portfolio is computed by dividing the
Portfolio's net investment income over a 30-day period by an average value
(using the average number of shares entitled to receive dividends and the net
asset value per share at the end of the period), all in accordance with
applicable regulatory requirements. Such amount is compounded for six months and
then annualized for a twelve-month period to derive the Portfolio's yield. The
"yield" of a Portfolio does not reflect the deduction of any charges which may
be imposed on the Contracts by the applicable Account and is therefore not
equivalent to total return under a Contract (for a description of such charges,
see the Prospectus for the Contracts).
From time to time the Fund may quote the "total return" of each Portfolio in
advertisements and sales literature. The total return of a Portfolio is based on
historical earnings and is not intended to indicate future performance. The
"average annual total return" of a Portfolio refers to a figure reflecting the
average annualized percentage increase (or decrease) in the value of an initial
investment in the Portfolio of $1,000 over periods of one, five and ten years,
as well as over the life of the Portfolio, if shorter than any of these periods.
Average annual total return reflects all income earned by the Portfolio, any
appreciation or depreciation of the Portfolio's assets and all expenses incurred
by the Portfolio for the stated periods. It also assumes reinvestment of all
dividends and distributions paid by the Portfolio. However, average annual total
return does not reflect the deduction of any charges which may be imposed on the
Contracts by the applicable Account which, if reflected, would reduce the
performance quoted.
In addition to the foregoing, the Fund may advertise the total return of the
Portfolios over different periods of time by means of aggregate, average,
year-by-year or other types of total return figures. Such calculations similarly
do not reflect the deduction of any charges which may be imposed on the
Contracts by the applicable Account. The Fund may also advertise the growth of
hypothetical investments of $10,000, $50,000 and $100,000 in shares of a
Portfolio. The Fund from time to time may also advertise the performance of the
Portfolios relative to certain performance rankings and indexes compiled by
independent organizations, such as Lipper Analytical Services, Inc.
45
<PAGE>
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
- ----------------------------------------------------------
The shares of beneficial interest of the Fund, with $0.01 par value, are divided
into fifteen separate Portfolios, and the shares of each Portfolio are equal as
to earnings, assets and voting privileges with all other shares of that
Portfolio. There are no conversion, pre-emptive or other subscription rights.
Upon liquidation of the Fund or any Portfolio, shareholders of a Portfolio are
entitled to share pro rata in the net assets of that Portfolio available for
distribution to shareholders after all debts and expenses have been paid. The
shares do not have cumulative voting rights.
The assets received by the Fund on the sale of shares of each Portfolio and all
income, earnings, profits and proceeds thereof, subject only to the rights of
creditors, are allocated to each Portfolio, and constitute the assets of such
Portfolio. The assets of each Portfolio are required to be segregated on the
Fund's books of account.
Additional Portfolios (the proceeds of which would be invested in separate,
independently managed portfolios with distinct investment objectives, policies
and restrictions) may be offered in the future, but such additional offerings
would not affect the interests of the current shareholders in the existing
Portfolios.
On any matters affecting only one Portfolio, only the shareholders of that
Portfolio are entitled to vote. On matters relating to all the Portfolios but
affecting the Portfolios differently, separate votes by Portfolio are required.
Approval of an Investment Management Agreement and a change in fundamental
policies would be regarded as matters requiring separate voting by each
Portfolio. To the extent required by law, Northbrook Life Insurance Company,
Allstate Life Insurance Company of New York, Glenbrook Life and Annuity Company
and Paragon Life Insurance Company, which are the only shareholders of the Fund,
will vote the shares of the Fund held in each Account in accordance with
instructions from Contract Owners, as more fully described under the caption
"Voting Rights" in the accompanying Prospectus for either the Variable Annuity
Contracts or the Variable Life Contracts. The Trustees of the Fund have been
elected by Northbrook Life Insurance Company, Allstate Life Insurance Company of
New York and Paragon Life Insurance Company, pursuant to the instructions of
Contract Owners.
The Fund is not required to hold Annual Meetings of Shareholders and in ordinary
circumstances the Fund does not intend to hold such meetings. The Trustees may
call Special Meetings of Shareholders for action by shareholder vote as may be
required by the Act or the Declaration of Trust.
Under Massachusetts law, shareholders of a business trust may, under certain
circumstances, be held personally liable as partners for the obligations of the
Fund. However, the Declaration of Trust contains an express disclaimer of
shareholder liability for acts or obligations of the Fund, requires that Fund
obligations include such disclaimer, and provides for indemnification and
reimbursement of expenses out of the Fund's property for any shareholder held
personally liable for the obligations of the Fund. Thus, the risk of a
shareholder incurring financial loss on account of shareholder liability is
limited to circumstances in which the Fund itself would be unable to meet its
obligations. Given the above limitations on shareholder personal liability, and
the nature of the Fund's assets and operations, in the opinion of Massachusetts
counsel to the Fund, the risk to shareholders of personal liability is remote.
Transfer Agent and Dividend Disbursing Agent. Dean Witter Trust FSB, an
affiliate of InterCapital, whose address is Harborside Financial Center, Plaza
Two, Jersey City, NJ 07311, is the Transfer Agent of the Fund's shares and
Dividend Disbursing Agent for payments of dividends and distributions on Fund
shares.
Code of Ethics. Directors, officers and employees of InterCapital, Dean Witter
Services Company Inc. and the Distributor are subject to a strict Code of Ethics
adopted by those companies. The Code of Ethics is intended to ensure that the
interests of shareholders and other clients are placed ahead of any personal
interest, that no undue personal benefit is obtained from a person's employment
activities and that actual and potential conflicts of interest are avoided. To
achieve these goals and comply with regulatory requirements, the Code of Ethics
requires, among other things, that personal securities transactions by employees
of the companies be subject to an advance clearance process to monitor that no
investment company managed or advised by InterCapital ("Dean Witter Fund") is
engaged at the same time in a purchase or sale of the same security. The Code of
Ethics bans the purchase of securities in an initial public offering, and also
prohibits engaging in futures and options transactions and profiting on
short-term trading (that is, a purchase within sixty days of a sale or a sale
within sixty days of a purchase) of a security. In addition, investment
personnel may not purchase or sell a security for their personal account within
thirty days before or after any transaction in any Dean Witter Fund managed by
them. Any violations of the Code of Ethics are subject to sanctions, including
reprimand, demotion or suspension or termination of employment. The Code of
Ethics comports with regulatory requirements and the recommendations in the 1994
report by the Investment Company Institute Advisory Group on Personal Investing.
The Sub-Adviser of the EUROPEAN GROWTH PORTFOLIO and the PACIFIC GROWTH
PORTFOLIO also has a Code of Ethics which complies with regulatory requirements
and, insofar as it relates to persons associated with the Fund, the 1994 report
by the Investment Company Institute Advisory Group on Personal Investing.
Year 2000. The investment management services provided to the Fund by the
Investment Manager and the services provided to shareholders by the Distributor
and the Transfer Agent
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<PAGE>
depend on the smooth functioning of their computer systems. Many computer
software systems in use today cannot recognize the year 2000, but revert to 1900
or some other date, due to the manner in which dates were encoded and
calculated. That failure could have a negative impact on the handling of
securities trades, pricing and account services. The Investment Manager, the
Distributor and the Transfer Agent have been actively working on necessary
changes to their own computer systems to prepare for the year 2000 and expect
that their systems will be adapted before that date, but there can be no
assurance that they will be successful, or that interaction with other
non-complying computer systems will not impair their services at that time.
Shareholder Inquiries. All inquiries regarding the Fund should be directed to
the Fund at the telephone numbers or address set forth on the front cover of
this Prospectus.
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<PAGE>
APPENDIX -- RATINGS OF CORPORATE DEBT
INSTRUMENTS INVESTMENTS
- ----------------------------------------------------------
Moody's Investors Service Inc. ("Moody's")
Fixed-Income Security Ratings
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
Aaa Fixed-income securities which are rated Aaa are judged to be of the best quality. They carry the
smallest degree of investment risk and are generally referred to as "gilt edge." Interest payments
are protected by a large or by an exceptionally stable margin and principal is secure. While the
various protective elements are likely to change, such changes as can be visualized are most
unlikely to impair the fundamentally strong position of such issues.
Aa Fixed-income securities which are rated Aa are judged to be of high quality by all standards.
Together with the Aaa group they comprise what are generally known as high grade fixed-income
securities. They are rated lower than the best fixed-income securities because margins of
protection may not be as large as in Aaa securities or fluctuation of protective elements may be of
greater amplitude or there may be other elements present which make the long-term risks appear
somewhat larger than in Aaa securities.
A Fixed-income securities which are rated A possess many favorable investment attributes and are to
be considered as upper medium grade obligations. Factors giving security to principal and interest
are considered adequate, but elements may be present which suggest a susceptibility to impairment
sometime in the future.
Baa Fixed-income securities which are rated Baa are considered as medium grade obligations; I.E., they
are neither highly protected nor poorly secured. Interest payments and principal security appear
adequate for the present but certain protective elements may be lacking or may be
characteristically unreliable over any great length of time. Such fixed-income securities lack
outstanding investment characteristics and in fact have speculative characteristics as well.
Fixed-income securities rated Aaa, Aa, A and Baa are considered investment grade.
Ba Fixed-income securities which are rated Ba are judged to have speculative elements; their future
cannot be considered as well assured. Often the protection of interest and principal payments may
be very moderate, and therefore not well safeguarded during both good and bad times in the future.
Uncertainty of position characterizes bonds in this class.
B Fixed-income securities which are rated B generally lack characteristics of the desirable
investment. Assurance of interest and principal payments or of maintenance of other terms of the
contract over any long period of time may be small.
Caa Fixed-income securities which are rated Caa are of poor standing. Such issues may be in default or
there may be present elements of danger with respect to principal or interest.
Ca Fixed-income securities which are rated Ca present obligations which are speculative in a high
degree. Such issues are often in default or have other marked shortcomings.
C Fixed-income securities which are rated C are the lowest rated class of fixed-income securities,
and issues so rated can be regarded as having extremely poor prospects of ever attaining any real
investment standing.
</TABLE>
RATING REFINEMENTS: Moody's may apply numerical modifiers, 1, 2, and 3 in
each generic rating classification from Aa through B in its municipal
fixed-income security rating system. The modifier 1 indicates that the security
ranks in the higher end of its generic rating category; the modifier 2 indicates
a mid-range ranking; and a modifier 3 indicates that the issue ranks in the
lower end of its generic rating category.
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Commercial Paper Ratings
Moody's Commercial Paper ratings are opinions of the ability to repay punctually
promissory obligations not having an original maturity in excess of nine months.
The ratings apply to Municipal Commercial Paper as well as taxable Commercial
Paper. Moody's employs the following three designations, all judged to be
investment grade, to indicate the relative repayment capacity of rated issuers:
Prime-1, Prime-2, Prime-3.
Issuers rated Prime-1 have a superior capacity for repayment of short-term
promissory obligations. Issuers rated Prime-2 have a strong capacity for
repayment of short-term promissory obligations; and Issuers rated Prime-3 have
an acceptable capacity for repayment of short-term promissory obligations.
Issuers rated Not Prime do not fall within any of the Prime rating categories.
Standard & Poor's Corporation ("Standard & Poor's")
Fixed-Income Security Ratings
A Standard & Poor's fixed-income security rating is a current assessment of the
creditworthiness of an obligor with respect to a specific obligation. This
assessment may take into consideration obligors such as guarantors, insurers, or
lessees.
The ratings are based on current information furnished by the issuer or obtained
by Standard & Poor's from other sources it considers reliable. The ratings are
based, in varying degrees, on the following considerations: (1) likelihood of
default-capacity and willingness of the obligor as to the timely payment of
interest and repayment of principal in accordance with the terms of the
obligation; (2) nature of and provisions of the obligation; and (3) protection
afforded by, and relative position of, the obligation in the event of
bankruptcy, reorganization or other arrangement under the laws of bankruptcy and
other laws affecting creditors' rights.
Standard & Poor's does not perform an audit in connection with any rating and
may, on occasion, rely on unaudited financial information. The ratings may be
changed, suspended or withdrawn as a result of changes in, or unavailability of,
such information, or for other reasons.
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
AAA Fixed-income securities rated "AAA" have the highest rating assigned by Standard & Poor's.
Capacity to pay interest and repay principal is extremely strong.
AA Fixed-income securities rated "AA" have a very strong capacity to pay interest and repay
principal and differs from the highest-rate issues only in small degree.
A Fixed-income securities rated "A" have a strong capacity to pay interest and repay principal
although they are somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances
and economic conditions than fixed-income securities in higher-rated categories.
BBB Fixed-income securities rated "BBB" are regarded as having an adequate capacity to pay interest
and repay principal. Whereas it normally exhibits adequate protection parameters, adverse
economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity to
pay interest and repay principal for fixed-income securities in this category than for fixed-
income securities in higher-rated categories.
Fixed-income securities rated AAA, AA, A and BBB are considered investment grade.
BB Fixed-income securities rated "BB" have less near-term vulnerability to default than other
speculative grade fixed-income securities. However, it faces major ongoing uncertainties or
exposures to adverse business, financial or economic conditions which could lead to inadequate
capacity or willingness to pay interest and repay principal.
B Fixed-income securities rated "B" have a greater vulnerability to default but presently have the
capacity to meet interest payments and principal repayments. Adverse business, financial or
economic conditions would likely impair capacity or willingness to pay interest and repay
principal.
CCC Fixed-income securities rated "CCC" have a current identifiable vulnerability to default, and are
dependent upon favorable business, financial and economic conditions to meet timely payments of
interest and repayments of principal. In the event of adverse business, financial or economic
conditions, they are not likely to have the capacity to pay interest and repay principal.
CC The rating "CC" is typically applied to fixed-income securities subordinated to senior debt which
is assigned an actual or implied "CCC" rating.
C The rating "C" is typically applied to fixed-income securities subordinated to senior debt which
is assigned an actual or implied "CCC-" rating.
</TABLE>
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<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
CI The rating "CI" is reserved for fixed-income securities on which no interest is being paid.
NR Indicates that no rating has been requested, that there is insufficient information on which to
base a rating or that Standard & Poor's does not rate a particular type of obligation as a matter
of policy.
Fixed-income securities rated "BB," "B," "CCC," "CC" and "C" are regarded as having predominantly
speculative characteristics with respect to capacity to pay interest and repay principal. "BB"
indicates the least degree of speculation and "C" the highest degree of speculation. While such
fixed-income securities will likely have some quality and protective characteristics, these are
outweighed by large uncertainties or major risk exposures to adverse conditions.
Plus (+) or minus (-): The rating from "AA" to "CCC" may be modified by the addition of a plus or
minus sign to show relative standing within the major ratings categories.
</TABLE>
Commercial Paper Ratings
Standard & Poor's commercial paper rating is a current assessment of the
likelihood of timely payment of debt having an original maturity of no more than
365 days. The commercial paper rating is not a recommendation to purchase or
sell a security. The ratings are based upon current information furnished by the
issuer or obtained by Standard & Poor's from other sources it considers
reliable. The ratings may be changed, suspended, or withdrawn as a result of
changes in or unavailability of such information. Ratings are graded into group
categories, ranging from "A" for the highest quality obligations to "D" for the
lowest. Ratings are applicable to both taxable and tax-exempt commercial paper.
The categories are as follows:
Issues assigned A ratings are regarded as having the greatest capacity for
timely payment. Issues in this category are further refined with the designation
1, 2, and 3 to indicate the relative degree of safety.
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
A-1 indicates that the degree of safety regarding timely payment is very strong.
A-2 indicates capacity for timely payment on issues with this designation is strong. However, the
relative degree of safety is not as overwhelming as for issues designated "A-1."
A-3 indicates a satisfactory capacity for timely payment. Obligations carrying this designation are,
however, somewhat more vulnerable to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances than
obligations carrying the higher designations.
</TABLE>
Fitch Investors Service, Inc. ("Fitch")
Bond Ratings
The Fitch Bond Ratings provides a guide to investors in determining the
investment risk associated with a particular security. The rating represents its
assessment of the issuer's ability to meet the obligations of a specific debt
issue or class of debt in a timely manner. Fitch bond ratings are not
recommendations to buy, sell or hold securities since they incorporate no
information on market price or yield relative to other debt instruments.
The rating takes into consideration special features of the issue, its
relationship to other obligations of the issuer, the record of the issuer and of
any guarantor, as well as the political and economic environment that might
affect the future financial strength and credit quality of the issuer.
Bonds which have the same rating are of similar but not necessarily identical
investment quality since the limited number of rating categories cannot fully
reflect small differences in the degree of risk. Moreover, the character of the
risk factor varies from industry to industry and between corporate, health care
and municipal .
In assessing credit risk, Fitch Investors Service relies on current information
furnished by the issuer and/or guarantor and other sources which it considers
reliable. Fitch does not perform an audit of the financial statements used in
assigning a rating.
Ratings may be changed, withdrawn or suspended at any time to reflect changes in
the financial condition of the issuer, the status of the issue relative to other
debt of the issuer, or any other circumstances that Fitch considers to have a
material effect on the credit of the obligor.
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
AAA rated bonds are considered to be investment grade and of the highest credit quality. The obligor
has an exceptionally strong ability to pay interest and repay principal, which is unlikely to be
affected by reasonably foreseeable events.
</TABLE>
50
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
AA rated bonds are considered to be investment grade and of very high credit quality. The obligor's
ability to pay interest and repay principal, while very strong, is somewhat less than for AAA
rated securities or more subject to possible change over the term of the issue.
A rated bonds are considered to be investment grade and of high credit quality. The obligor's
ability to pay interest and repay principal is considered to be strong, but may be more
vulnerable to adverse changes in economic conditions and circumstances than bonds with higher
ratings.
BBB rated bonds are considered to be investment grade and of satisfactory credit quality. The
obligor's ability to pay interest and repay principal is considered to be adequate. Adverse
changes in economic conditions and circumstances, however, are more likely to weaken this ability
than bonds with higher ratings.
BB rated bonds are considered speculative and of low investment grade. The obligor's ability to pay
interest and repay principal is not strong and is considered likely to be affected over time by
adverse economic changes.
B rated bonds are considered highly speculative. Bonds in this class are lightly protected as to
the obligor's ability to pay interest over the life of the issue and repay principal when due.
CCC rated bonds may have certain identifiable characteristics which, if not remedied, could lead to
the possibility of default in either principal or interest payments.
CC rated bonds are minimally protected. Default in payment of interest and/or principal seems
probable.
C rated bonds are in imminent default in payment of interest and/or principal.
</TABLE>
Short-Term Ratings
Fitch's short-term ratings apply to debt obligations that are payable on demand
or have original maturities of generally up to three years, including commercial
paper, certificates of deposit, medium-term notes, and municipal and investment
notes. Although the credit analysis is similar to Fitch's bond rating analysis,
the short-term rating places greater emphasis on the existence of liquidity
necessary to meet the issuer's obligations in a timely manner. Fitch's
short-term ratings are as follows:
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
Fitch-1+ (Exceptionally Strong Credit Quality) Issues assigned this rating are regarded as having the
strongest degree of assurance for timely payment.
Fitch-1 (Very Strong Credit Quality) Issues assigned this rating reflect an assurance of timely
payment only slightly less in degree than issues rated Fitch-1+.
Fitch-2 (Good Credit Quality) Issues assigned this rating have a satisfactory degree of assurance for
timely payment but the margin of safety is not as great as the two higher categories.
Fitch-3 (Fair Credit Quality) Issues assigned this rating have characteristics suggesting that the
degree of assurance for timely payment is adequate, however, near-term adverse change is
likely to cause these securities to be rated below investment grade.
Fitch-S (Weak Credit Quality) Issues assigned this rating have characteristics suggesting a minimal
degree of assurance for timely payment and are vulnerable to near term adverse changes in
financial and economic conditions.
D (Default) Issues assigned this rating are in actual or imminent payment default.
LOC This symbol LOC indicates that the rating is based on a letter of credit issued by a
commercial bank.
</TABLE>
Duff & Phelps, Inc.
Long-Term Ratings
These ratings represent a summary opinion of the issuer's long-term fundamental
quality. Rating determination is based on qualitative and quantitative factors
which may vary according to the basic economic and financial characteristics of
each industry and each issuer. Important considerations are vulnerability to
economic cycles as well as risks related to such factors as competition,
government action, regulation, technological obsolescence, demand shifts, cost
structure, and management depth and expertise. The projected viability of the
obligor at the trough of the cycle is a critical determination.
51
<PAGE>
Each rating also takes into account the legal form of the security, (E.G., first
mortgage bonds, subordinated debt, preferred stock, etc.). The extent of rating
dispersion among the various classes of securities is determined by several
factors including relative weightings of the different security classes in the
capital structure, the overall credit strength of the issuer, and the nature of
covenant protection. Review of indenture restrictions is important to the
analysis of a company's operating and financial constraints.
The Credit Rating Committee formally reviews all ratings once per quarter (more
frequently, if necessary).
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Rating
Scale Definition
- --------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C>
AAA Highest credit quality. The risk factors are negligible, being only slightly more than risk-free U.S. Treasury debt.
AA+ High credit quality. Protection factors are strong. Risk is modest, but may vary slightly from time to time because of
AA economic conditions.
AA-
A+ Protection factors are average but adequate. However, risk factors are more variable and greater in periods of economic
A stress.
A-
BBB+ Below average protection factors but still considered sufficient for prudent investment. Considerable variability in risk
BBB during economic cycles.
BBB-
BB+ Below investment grade but deemed likely to meet obligations when due. Present or prospective financial protection
BB factors fluctuate according to industry conditions or company fortunes. Overall quality may move up or down frequently
BB- within this category.
B+ Below investment grade and possessing risk that obligations will not be met when due. Financial protection factors will
B fluctuate widely according to economic cycles, industry conditions and/or company fortunes. Potential exists for frequent
B- changes in the quality rating within this category or into a higher or lower quality rating grade.
CCC Well below investment grade securities. May be in default or considerable uncertainty exists as to timely payment of
principal, interest or preferred dividends. Protection factors are narrow and risk can be substantial with unfavorable
economic/industry conditions, and/or with unfavorable company developments.
DD Defaulted debt obligations. Issuer failed to meet scheduled principal and/or interest payments.
DP Preferred stock with dividend arrearages.
</TABLE>
Short-Term Ratings
Duff & Phelps' short-term ratings are consistent with the rating criteria
utilized by money market participants. The ratings apply to all obligations with
maturities of under one year, including commercial paper, the uninsured portion
of certificates of deposit, unsecured bank loans, master notes, bankers
acceptances, irrevocable letters of credit, and current maturities of long-term
debt. Asset-backed commercial paper is also rated according to this scale.
Emphasis is placed on liquidity which is defined as not only cash from
operations, but also access to alternative sources of funds, including trade
credit, bank lines, and the capital markets. An important consideration is the
level of an obligor's reliance on short-term funds on an ongoing basis.
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
A. Category High Grade
1:
Duff 1+ Highest certainty of timely payment. Short-term liquidity, including internal operating
factors and/or access to alternative sources of funds, is outstanding, and safety is just
below risk-free U.S. Treasury short-term obligations.
Duff 1 Very high certainty of timely payment. Liquidity factors are excellent and supported by
good fundamental protection factors. Risk factors are minor.
Duff- High certainty of timely payment. Liquidity factors are strong and supported by good
fundamental protection factors. Risk factors are very small.
</TABLE>
52
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
B. Category Good Grade
2:
Duff 2 Good certainty of timely payment. Liquidity factors and company fundamentals are sound.
Although ongoing funding needs may enlarge total financing requirements, access to capital
markets is good. Risk factors are small.
C. Category Satisfactory Grade
3:
Duff 3 Satisfactory liquidity and other protection factors qualify issue as to investment grade.
Risk factors are larger and subject to more variation. Nevertheless, timely payment is
expected.
D. Category Non-investment Grade
4:
Duff 4 Speculative investment characteristics. Liquidity is not sufficient to insure against
disruption in debt service. Operating factors and market access may be subject to a high
degree of variation.
E. Category Default
5:
Duff 5 Issuer failed to meet scheduled principal and/or interest payments.
</TABLE>
53
<PAGE>
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<PAGE>
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<PAGE>
DEAN WITTER
VARIABLE INVESTMENT SERIES
TWO WORLD TRADE CENTER
NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10048
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Michael Bozic
Charles A. Fiumefreddo
Edwin J. Garn
John R. Haire
Wayne E. Hedien
Dr. Manuel H. Johnson
Michael E. Nugent
Philip J. Purcell
John L. Schroeder
OFFICERS
Charles A. Fiumefreddo
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Barry Fink
Vice President, Secretary and
General Counsel
Thomas F. Caloia
Treasurer
CUSTODIANS
The Bank of New York
90 Washington Street
New York, New York 10286
The Chase Manhattan Bank
One Chase Plaza
New York, New York 10081
TRANSFER AGENT AND
DIVIDEND DISBURSING AGENT
Dean Witter Trust FSB
Harborside Financial Center
Plaza Two
Jersey City, New Jersey 07311
INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
Price Waterhouse LLP
1177 Avenue of the Americas
New York, New York 10036
INVESTMENT MANAGER
Dean Witter InterCapital Inc.
SUB-ADVISER
(European Growth and Pacific
Growth Portfolios)
Morgan Grenfell Investment
Services Limited
<PAGE>
DEAN WITTER
VARIABLE
STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION INVESTMENT
MAY 1, 1998 SERIES
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
THE DEAN WITTER VARIABLE INVESTMENT SERIES (the "Fund") is an open-end
diversified management investment company which is intended to provide a broad
range of investment alternatives with its fifteen separate Portfolios, each of
which has distinct investment objectives and policies:
-THE MONEY MARKET PORTFOLIO
-THE QUALITY INCOME PLUS PORTFOLIO
-THE HIGH YIELD PORTFOLIO
-THE UTILITIES PORTFOLIO
-THE INCOME BUILDER PORTFOLIO
-THE DIVIDEND GROWTH PORTFOLIO
-THE CAPITAL GROWTH PORTFOLIO
-THE GLOBAL DIVIDEND GROWTH PORTFOLIO
-THE EUROPEAN GROWTH PORTFOLIO
-THE PACIFIC GROWTH PORTFOLIO
-THE CAPITAL APPRECIATION PORTFOLIO
-THE EQUITY PORTFOLIO
-THE S&P 500 INDEX PORTFOLIO
-THE COMPETITIVE EDGE "BEST IDEAS" PORTFOLIO
-THE STRATEGIST PORTFOLIO
There can be no assurance that the investment objectives of the Portfolios
will be achieved. See "Investment Practices and Policies."
A Prospectus for the Fund dated May 1, 1998, which provides the basic
information you should know before allocating your investment under your
Variable Annuity Contract or your Variable Life Contract to the Fund, may be
obtained without charge from the Fund at its address or telephone numbers listed
below or from the Fund's Distributor, Dean Witter Distributors Inc., or from
Dean Witter Reynolds Inc. at any of its branch offices. This Statement of
Additional Information is not a Prospectus. It contains information in addition
to and more detailed than that set forth in the Prospectus for the Fund. It is
intended to provide you additional information regarding the activities and
operations of the Fund, and should be read in conjunction with the Prospectuses
for the Fund and for the Variable Annuity Contracts or the Variable Life
Contracts.
Dean Witter
Variable Investment Series
Two World Trade Center
New York, New York 10048
(212) 392-2550 or (800) 869-NEWS
<PAGE>
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
The Fund and its Management........................................................... 3
Trustees and Officers................................................................. 9
Investment Practices and Policies..................................................... 16
Investment Restrictions............................................................... 39
Portfolio Transactions and Brokerage.................................................. 41
Purchase and Redemption of Fund Shares................................................ 45
Dividends, Distributions and Taxes.................................................... 49
Performance Information............................................................... 51
Description of Shares of the Fund..................................................... 54
Custodians and Transfer Agent......................................................... 55
Independent Accountants............................................................... 56
Reports to Shareholders............................................................... 56
Legal Counsel......................................................................... 56
Experts............................................................................... 56
Registration Statement................................................................ 56
Financial Statements -- December 31, 1997.............................................
Report of Independent Accountants.....................................................
</TABLE>
------------------------
Currently, the shares of the Fund will be sold only to (1) Northbrook Life
Insurance Company ("Northbrook") for allocation to certain separate accounts
established to fund the benefits under certain flexible premium deferred
variable annuity contracts and certain flexible premium variable life insurance
contracts issued by Northbrook, to (2) Allstate Life Insurance Company of New
York ("Allstate New York") for allocation to certain separate accounts
established to fund the benefits under certain flexible premium deferred
variable annuity contracts issued by Allstate New York, to (3) Glenbrook Life
and Annuity Company ("Glenbrook") for allocation to certain separate accounts
established to fund the benefits under certain flexible premium deferred
variable annuity contracts and certain flexible premium variable life insurance
contracts issued by Glenbrook, and to (4) Paragon Life Insurance Company
("Paragon") for allocation to a separate account established to fund the
benefits under certain flexible premium variable life insurance contracts it
issues in connection with an employer-sponsored insurance program offered only
to certain employees of Morgan Stanley, Dean Witter, Discover & Co., the parent
company of the Fund's Investment Manager. The separate accounts are sometimes
referred to individually as an "Account" and collectively as the "Accounts." The
variable annuity contracts issued by Northbrook, Allstate New York and Glenbrook
are sometimes referred to as the "Variable Annuity Contracts." The variable life
insurance contracts issued by Northbrook, Glenbrook and Paragon are sometimes
referred to as the "Variable Life Contracts." The Variable Annuity Contracts and
the Variable Life Contracts are sometimes referred to as the "Contracts."
Northbrook, Allstate New York, Glenbrook and Paragon are sometimes referred to
as the "Companies." In the future, shares may be allocated to certain other
separate accounts or sold to affiliated and/or non-affiliated entities of the
Companies in connection with variable annuity contracts or variable life
insurance contracts. The Companies will invest in shares of the Fund in
accordance with allocation instructions received from Contract Owners, which
allocation rights are further described in the Prospectus for either the
Variable Annuity Contracts or the Variable Life Contracts, which accompanies the
Prospectus for the Fund. The Companies will redeem shares to the extent
necessary to provide benefits under the Contracts. It is conceivable that in the
future it may become disadvantageous for both variable life insurance and
variable annuity contract separate accounts to invest in the same underlying
fund. Although neither the Companies nor the Fund currently foresee any such
disadvantage, the Fund's Board of Trustees intends to monitor events in order to
identify any material irreconcilable conflict between the interests of variable
annuity contract owners and variable life insurance contract owners and to
determine what action, if any, should be taken in response thereto.
2
<PAGE>
THE FUND AND ITS MANAGEMENT
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
THE FUND
The Fund was organized under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
on February 25, 1983 under the name Dean Witter Variable Annuity Investment
Series and is a trust of the type commonly known as a "Massachusetts business
trust." On February 23, 1988, the Trustees of the Fund adopted an Amendment to
the Declaration of Trust of the Fund changing the name of the Fund to Dean
Witter Variable Investment Series. On August 24, 1995, the Trustees of the Fund
adopted an amendment to the Declaration of Trust of the Fund changing the name
of the MANAGED ASSETS PORTFOLIO of the Fund to the STRATEGIST PORTFOLIO,
effective September 1, 1995.
THE INVESTMENT MANAGER
Dean Witter InterCapital Inc. (the "Investment Manager" or "InterCapital"),
a Delaware corporation, whose address is Two World Trade Center, New York, New
York 10048, is the Fund's Investment Manager. InterCapital is a wholly-owned
subsidiary of Morgan Stanley, Dean Witter, Discover & Co. ("MSDWD"), a Delaware
corporation. In an internal reorganization which took place in January, 1993,
InterCapital assumed the investment advisory, administrative and management
activities previously performed by the InterCapital Division of Dean Witter
Reynolds Inc. ("DWR"), a broker-dealer affiliate of InterCapital. (As
hereinafter used in this Statement of Additional Information, the terms
"InterCapital" and "Investment Manager" refer to DWR's InterCapital Division
prior to the internal reorganization and Dean Witter InterCapital Inc.
thereafter.) The daily management of the Fund and research relating to the
Fund's portfolios are conducted by or under the direction of officers of the
Fund and of the Investment Manager, subject to periodic review by the Fund's
Board of Trustees. Information as to these Trustees and officers is contained
under the caption, "Trustees and Officers."
Northbrook Life Insurance Company, an Illinois corporation, Allstate Life
Insurance Company of New York, a New York corporation, and Glenbrook Life and
Annuity Company, an Illinois corporation, which, with Paragon Life Insurance
Company, are the only shareholders of the Fund, are wholly-owned subsidiaries of
Allstate Life Insurance Company, an Illinois corporation, which in turn is a
wholly-owned subsidiary of Allstate Insurance Company, an Illinois corporation.
With the exception of directors' qualifying shares, all of the outstanding
capital stock of Allstate Insurance Company is owned by The Allstate
Corporation, which is a majority-owned subsidiary of Allstate Holdings Inc.,
which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sears, Roebuck and Co. Paragon Life
Insurance Company, a Missouri corporation, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of
General American Life Insurance Company, a Missouri corporation.
The Investment Manager is also the investment manager or investment adviser
of the following investment companies: Dean Witter Liquid Asset Fund Inc., Dean
Witter High Yield Securities Inc., Dean Witter Tax-Free Daily Income Trust, Dean
Witter Developing Growth Securities Trust, Dean Witter Tax-Exempt Securities
Trust, Dean Witter Natural Resource Development Securities Inc., Dean Witter
Dividend Growth Securities Inc., Dean Witter American Value Fund, Dean Witter
U.S. Government Money Market Trust, Dean Witter World Wide Investment Trust,
Dean Witter Select Municipal Reinvestment Fund, Dean Witter U.S. Government
Securities Trust, Dean Witter California Tax-Free Income Fund, Dean Witter New
York Tax-Free Income Fund, Dean Witter Convertible Securities Trust, Dean Witter
Federal Securities Trust, Dean Witter Value-Added Market Series, Dean Witter
Utilities Fund, Dean Witter California Tax-Free Daily Income Trust, Dean Witter
Strategist Fund, Dean Witter World Wide Income Trust, Dean Witter Intermediate
Income Securities, Dean Witter Capital Growth Securities, Dean Witter New York
Municipal Money Market Trust, Dean Witter European Growth Fund Inc., Dean Witter
Precious Metals and Minerals Trust, Dean Witter Global Short-Term Income Fund
Inc., Dean Witter Pacific Growth Fund Inc., Dean Witter Multi-State Municipal
Series Trust, Dean Witter Short-Term U.S. Treasury Trust, Dean Witter Health
Sciences Trust, Dean Witter Retirement Series, Dean Witter Global Dividend
Growth Securities, Dean Witter Limited Term Municipal Trust, Dean Witter
Short-Term Bond Fund, Dean Witter Global Utilities Fund, Dean Witter
International SmallCap Fund, Dean Witter Mid-Cap Growth Fund, Dean Witter
Balanced Growth Fund, Dean Witter Balanced Income Fund, Dean Witter Select
Dimensions Investment Series, Dean Witter Global Asset Allocation Fund, Dean
Witter Hawaii Municipal Trust,
3
<PAGE>
Dean Witter Capital Appreciation Fund, Dean Witter Information Fund, Dean Witter
Intermediate Term U.S. Treasury Trust, Dean Witter Japan Fund, Dean Witter
Income Builder Fund, Dean Witter Special Value Fund, Dean Witter Financial
Services Trust, Dean Witter Market Leader Trust, Dean Witter S&P 500 Index Fund,
Dean Witter Fund of Funds, Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Competitive Edge Fund,
"BEST IDEAS" PORTFOLIO, Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Growth Fund, InterCapital
Income Securities Inc., High Income Advantage Trust, High Income Advantage Trust
II, High Income Advantage Trust III, Dean Witter Government Income Trust,
InterCapital Insured Municipal Bond Trust, InterCapital Insured Municipal Trust,
InterCapital Insured Municipal Income Trust, InterCapital California Insured
Municipal Income Trust, InterCapital Insured Municipal Securities, InterCapital
Insured California Municipal Securities, InterCapital Quality Municipal
Investment Trust, InterCapital Quality Municipal Income Trust, InterCapital
Quality Municipal Securities, InterCapital California Quality Municipal
Securities, InterCapital New York Quality Municipal Securities, Active Assets
Money Trust, Active Assets Tax-Free Trust, Active Assets California Tax-Free
Trust, Active Assets Government Securities Trust, Municipal Income Trust,
Municipal Income Trust II, Municipal Income Trust III, Municipal Income
Opportunities Trust, Municipal Income Opportunities Trust II, Municipal Income
Opportunities Trust III, Municipal Premium Income Trust and Prime Income Trust.
The foregoing investment companies, together with the Fund, are collectively
referred to as the Dean Witter Funds.
In addition, Dean Witter Services Company Inc. ("DWSC"), a wholly-owned
subsidiary of InterCapital, serves as manager for the following investment
companies for which TCW Funds Management, Inc. is the investment adviser: TCW/DW
North American Government Income Trust, TCW/DW Latin American Growth Fund,
TCW/DW Income and Growth Fund, TCW/DW Small Cap Growth Fund, TCW/DW Mid-Cap
Equity Trust, TCW/DW Total Return Trust, TCW/DW Global Telecom Trust, TCW/DW
Emerging Markets Opportunities Trust, TCW/DW Term Trust 2000, TCW/DW Term Trust
2002 and TCW/DW Term Trust 2003 (the "TCW/DW Funds"). InterCapital also serves
as: (i) administrator of The BlackRock Strategic Term Trust Inc., a closed-end
investment company; (ii) sub-administrator of MassMutual Participation Investors
and Templeton Global Governments Income Trust, closed-end investment companies;
and (iii) investment adviser of Offshore Dividend Growth Fund and Offshore Money
Market Fund, mutual funds established under the laws of the Cayman Islands and
available only to investors who are participants in DWR's International Active
Assets Account program and are neither citizens nor residents of the United
States.
Pursuant to an Investment Management Agreement (the "Management Agreement")
with the Investment Manager, the Fund has retained the Investment Manager to
manage the investment of the assets of each Portfolio (other than the EUROPEAN
GROWTH PORTFOLIO and the PACIFIC GROWTH PORTFOLIO, discussed below), including
the placing of orders for the purchase and sale of portfolio securities. The
Investment Manager obtains and evaluates such information and advice relating to
the economy, securities markets, and specific securities as it considers
necessary or useful to continuously manage the assets of these Portfolios of the
Fund in a manner consistent with their investment objectives and policies.
Pursuant to the Management Agreement with the Investment Manager, the Fund
has retained the Investment Manager to supervise the investment of the assets of
each of the EUROPEAN GROWTH PORTFOLIO and the PACIFIC GROWTH PORTFOLIO. The
Investment Manager, through consultation with Morgan Grenfell Investment
Services Limited (the "Sub-Adviser") and through its own portfolio management
staff, obtains and evaluates such information and advice relating to the
economy, securities markets and specific securities as it considers necessary or
useful to continuously oversee the management of the assets of the EUROPEAN
GROWTH PORTFOLIO and the PACIFIC GROWTH PORTFOLIO in a manner consistent with
their investment objectives.
Under the terms of the Management Agreement, the Investment Manager also
maintains certain of the Fund's books and records and furnishes, at its own
expense, such office space, facilities, equipment, clerical help, bookkeeping
and certain legal services as the Fund may reasonably require in the conduct of
its business, including the preparation of prospectuses, statements of
additional information, proxy statements and reports required to be filed with
federal and state securities commissions (except insofar
4
<PAGE>
as the participation or assistance of independent accountants and attorneys is,
in the opinion of the Investment Manager, necessary or desirable). In addition,
the Investment Manager pays the salaries of all personnel, including officers of
the Fund, who are employees of the Investment Manager. The Investment Manager
also bears the cost of telephone service, heat, light, power and other utilities
provided to the Fund.
Effective December 31, 1993, pursuant to a Services Agreement between
InterCapital and DWSC, DWSC began to provide the administrative services to the
Fund which were previously performed directly by InterCapital. On April 17,
1995, DWSC was reorganized in the State of Delaware, necessitating the entry
into a new Services Agreement by InterCapital and DWSC on that date. The
foregoing internal reorganizations did not result in any change in the nature or
scope of the administrative services being provided to the Fund or any of the
fees being paid by the Fund for the overall services being performed under the
terms of the existing Management Agreement.
Expenses not expressly assumed by the Investment Manager under the
Management Agreement, by the Sub-Adviser of the EUROPEAN GROWTH PORTFOLIO and
the PACIFIC GROWTH PORTFOLIO pursuant to the Sub-Advisory Agreements (see
below), or by the Distributor of the Fund's shares, Dean Witter Distributors
Inc. ("Distributors" or the "Distributor"), (see "Purchase and Redemption of
Fund Shares -- The Distributor") will be paid by the Fund. Each Portfolio pays
all other expenses incurred in its operation and a portion of the Fund's general
administration expenses allocated on the basis of the asset size of the
respective Portfolios. Expenses that are borne directly by a Portfolio include,
but are not limited to: charges and expenses of any registrar, custodian, share
transfer and dividend disbursing agent; brokerage commissions; certain taxes;
registration costs of the Portfolio and its shares under federal and state
securities laws; shareholder servicing costs; charges and expenses of any
outside service used for pricing of the shares of the Portfolio; interest on
borrowings by the Portfolio; fees and expenses of legal counsel, including
counsel to the Trustees who are not interested persons of the Fund or of the
Investment Manager (or the Sub-Adviser) (not including compensation or expenses
of attorneys who are employees of the Investment Manager (or the Sub-Adviser))
and independent accountants; and all other expenses attributable to a particular
Portfolio. Expenses which are allocated on the basis of size of the respective
Portfolios include the costs and expenses of printing, including typesetting,
and distributing prospectuses and statements of additional information of the
Fund and supplements thereto to the Fund's shareholders; all expenses of
shareholders' and Trustees' meetings and of preparing, printing and mailing
proxy statements and reports to shareholders; fees and travel expenses of
Trustees or members of any advisory board or committee who are not employees of
the Investment Manager (or the Sub-Adviser) or any corporate affiliate of the
Investment Manager (or the Sub-Adviser); state franchise taxes; Securities and
Exchange Commission fees; membership dues of industry associations; postage;
insurance premiums on property or personnel (including officers and Trustees) of
the Fund which inure to its benefit; and all other costs of the Fund's
operations properly payable by the Fund and allocable on the basis of size of
the respective Portfolios. Depending on the nature of a legal claim, liability
or lawsuit, litigation costs, payment of legal claims or liabilities and any
indemnification relating thereto may be directly applicable to the Portfolio or
allocated on the basis of the size of the respective Portfolios. The Trustees
have determined that this is an appropriate method of allocation of expenses.
As full compensation for the services and facilities furnished to the Fund
and expenses of the Fund assumed by the Investment Manager, the Fund pays the
Investment Manager monthly compensation calculated daily by applying the annual
rate of (a) 0.40% to the net assets of the S&P 500 INDEX PORTFOLIO, (b) 0.50% to
the net assets of the QUALITY INCOME PLUS PORTFOLIO up to $500 million and 0.45%
to the net assets of that Portfolio exceeding $500 million; (c) 0.50% to the net
assets of the EQUITY PORTFOLIO up to $1 billion and 0.475% to the net assets of
that Portfolio exceeding $1 billion; (d) 0.50% to the net assets of each of the
MONEY MARKET PORTFOLIO, the HIGH YIELD PORTFOLIO and the STRATEGIST PORTFOLIO;
(e) 0.625% to the net assets of the DIVIDEND GROWTH PORTFOLIO up to $500
million, 0.50% to the net assets of that Portfolio exceeding $500 million but
not exceeding $1 billion, and 0.475% to the net assets of that Portfolio
exceeding $1 billion; (f) 0.65% to the net assets of the UTILITIES PORTFOLIO up
to $500 million and 0.55% to the net assets of that Portfolio exceeding $500
million; (g) 0.65% to the net assets of each of the CAPITAL
5
<PAGE>
GROWTH PORTFOLIO and the COMPETITIVE EDGE "BEST IDEAS" PORTFOLIO; (h) 0.75% to
the net assets of each of the INCOME BUILDER PORTFOLIO, the GLOBAL DIVIDEND
GROWTH PORTFOLIO and the CAPITAL APPRECIATION PORTFOLIO; and (i) 1.0% to the net
assets of each of the EUROPEAN GROWTH PORTFOLIO and the PACIFIC GROWTH
PORTFOLIO, in each case determined as of the close of each business day. The
Management Agreement also provides that if the total operating expenses of
certain of the Portfolios, exclusive of taxes, interest, brokerage fees and
certain legal claims and liabilities and litigation and indemnification
expenses, as described in the Management Agreement, for the fiscal year exceed
either 1.5% of the first $30,000,000 of average daily net assets of the
Portfolio and 1% of any excess over $30,000,000 (in the case of the MONEY MARKET
PORTFOLIO, the QUALITY INCOME PLUS PORTFOLIO, the HIGH YIELD PORTFOLIO, the
UTILITIES PORTFOLIO, the DIVIDEND GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the EQUITY PORTFOLIO and the
STRATEGIST PORTFOLIO) or 2.5% of the first $30,000,000 of average daily net
assets of the Portfolio, 2% of the next $70,000,000 and 1.5% of any excess over
$100,000,000 (in the case of the CAPITAL GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the GLOBAL DIVIDEND
GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the EUROPEAN GROWTH PORTFOLIO and the PACIFIC GROWTH
PORTFOLIO), the Investment Manager will reimburse the Portfolio for the amount
of such excess, up to the amount of the management fee for such Portfolio for
that year. Such amount, if any, will be calculated daily and credited on a
monthly basis. For the fiscal years ended December 31, 1995, 1996 and 1997, the
amount of compensation accrued to the Investment Manager under the Management
Agreements in effect for the then-existing Portfolios was as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
MANAGEMENT FEE MANAGEMENT FEE MANAGEMENT FEE
FOR FISCAL YEAR FOR FISCAL YEAR FOR FISCAL YEAR
NAME OF PORTFOLIO ENDED 12/31/95 ENDED 12/31/96 ENDED 12/31/97
- -------------------------------------------------------- ----------------- ----------------- -----------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Money Market Portfolio.................................. $ 1,243,727 $ 1,454,423 $
Quality Income Plus Portfolio........................... 2,323,329 2,407,993
High Yield Portfolio.................................... 673,472 1,009,452
Utilities Portfolio..................................... 2,749,873 2,972,835
Dividend Growth Portfolio............................... 4,179,067 5,902,896
Capital Growth Portfolio................................ 362,068 509,004
Global Dividend Growth Portfolio........................ 1,254,908 2,005,162
European Growth Portfolio............................... 1,686,856 2,332,742
Pacific Growth Portfolio................................ 828,671 1,397,813
Equity Portfolio........................................ 1,393,980 2,211,777
Strategist Portfolio.................................... 1,952,642 1,994,396
----------------- -----------------
Total............................................... $ 18,648,593 $ 24,198,493
</TABLE>
No Portfolio exceeded the applicable expense limitation during the fiscal
years ended December 31, 1995, 1996 and 1997. The Investment Manager assumed all
expenses of the GLOBAL DIVIDEND GROWTH PORTFOLIO and the PACIFIC GROWTH
PORTFOLIO and waived the compensation provided for in the Management Agreement
in respect of these Portfolios for the period from their commencement of
operations on February 23, 1994 through May 12, 1994, in the case of the GLOBAL
DIVIDEND GROWTH PORTFOLIO, and August 2, 1994, in the case of the PACIFIC GROWTH
PORTFOLIO. The INCOME BUILDER PORTFOLIO and the CAPITAL APPRECIATION PORTFOLIO
commenced operations on January 21, 1997. The Investment Manager has undertaken
to assume all expenses of each of these Portfolios (except for any brokerage
fees) and to waive the compensation provided for each of these Portfolios in the
Management Agreement until such time as the pertinent Portfolio has $50 million
of net assets or until July 31, 1998, whichever occurs first. The S&P 500 INDEX
PORTFOLIO and the COMPETITIVE EDGE "BEST IDEAS" PORTFOLIO did not commence
operations prior to the date of this Statement of Additional Information. The
Investment Manager has undertaken to assume all expenses of each of these
Portfolios (except for any brokerage fees) and to waive the compensation
provided for each of these Portfolios in the Management Agreement until such
time as the pertinent Portfolio has $50 million of net assets or until six
months from the date of the Portfolio's commencement of operations, whichever
occurs first. Thereafter, the Investment Manager has agreed to assume all
expenses of the S&P 500 INDEX PORTFOLIO (except for any brokerage fees) and to
waive the compensation provided for that Portfolio in the Management Agreement
to the
6
<PAGE>
extent that such expenses and compensation on an annualized basis exceed 0.50%
of the daily net assets of the S&P 500 INDEX PORTFOLIO.
The Management Agreement provides that in the absence of willful
misfeasance, bad faith, negligence or reckless disregard of its obligations
thereunder, the Investment Manager is not liable to the Fund or any of its
investors for any act or omission by the Investment Manager or for any losses
sustained by the Fund or its investors. The Management Agreement in no way
restricts the Investment Manager from acting as investment manager or adviser to
others.
Pursuant to Sub-Advisory Agreements between the Investment Manager and
Morgan Grenfell Investment Services Limited (the "Sub-Adviser"), the Sub-Adviser
has been retained, subject to the overall supervision of the Investment Manager
and the Trustees of the Fund, (a) to continuously furnish investment advice
concerning individual security selections, asset allocations and overall
economic trends with respect to Europe and to manage the portion of the assets
of the EUROPEAN GROWTH PORTFOLIO invested in securities issued by issuers
located in Europe, subject to the supervision of the Investment Manager, and (b)
to continuously furnish investment advice concerning individual security
selections, asset allocations and overall economic trends with respect to
Pacific basin issuers and to manage the portion of the assets of the PACIFIC
GROWTH PORTFOLIO invested in securities issued by issuers located in Asia,
Australia and New Zealand, subject to the supervision of the Investment Manager.
On occasion, the Sub-Adviser will also provide the Investment Manager with
investment advice concerning potential investment opportunities for the Fund
which are available outside of Europe, Asia, Australia and New Zealand.
Morgan Grenfell Investment Services Limited ("MGIS") was organized as a
British corporation in 1972 and currently manages assets of approximately $15.1
billion primarily for U.S. corporate and public employee benefit plans,
endowments, investment companies and foundations. MGIS' principal office is
located at 20 Finsbury Circus, London, England. MGIS is a subsidiary of
London-based Morgan Grenfell Asset Management Limited which is itself a
subsidiary of London-based Morgan Grenfell Group plc (which is owned by Deutsche
Bank AG, an international commercial and investment banking group) and is
registered as an investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940.
In 1838 Morgan Grenfell was founded to provide merchant banking services,
primarily trade financing between Great Britain and the United States. In 1958,
its investment management arm began operations. In recent years Morgan Grenfell
Group plc has achieved a prominent position in the securities industry by
providing investment and commercial banking services, financial services, and
discretionary management and advisory services covering all of the world's
leading securities markets. Morgan Grenfell Asset Management Limited, through
its various investment management subsidiaries, which have extensive experience
in global investment management, is currently managing in excess of $ billion
worldwide.
Both the Investment Manager and the Sub-Adviser have authorized any of their
directors, officers and employees who have been elected as Trustees or officers
of the Fund to serve in the capacities in which they have been elected. Services
furnished to the EUROPEAN GROWTH PORTFOLIO and the PACIFIC GROWTH PORTFOLIO by
the Investment Manager and the Sub-Adviser may be furnished by directors,
officers and employees of the Investment Manager and the Sub-Adviser. In
connection with the services rendered by the Sub-Adviser, the Sub-Adviser bears
the following expenses: (a) the salaries and expenses of its personnel; and (b)
all expenses incurred by it in connection with performing the services provided
by it as Sub-Adviser, as described above.
As full compensation for the services and facilities furnished to the
EUROPEAN GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the PACIFIC GROWTH PORTFOLIO and the Investment
Manager and expenses of these Portfolios and the Investment Manager assumed by
the Sub-Adviser, the Investment Manager pays the Sub-Adviser monthly
compensation equal to 40% of the Investment Manager's monthly compensation
payable under the Management Agreement in respect of the EUROPEAN GROWTH
PORTFOLIO and the PACIFIC GROWTH PORTFOLIO. Pursuant to the Sub-Advisory
Agreements, if any reimbursement is made by the Investment Manager to the
EUROPEAN GROWTH PORTFOLIO or the PACIFIC GROWTH PORTFOLIO as a result of the
Portfolio exceeding the
7
<PAGE>
expense limitation, the Investment Manager will be reimbursed for 40% of such
payment by the Sub-Adviser.
The present Management Agreement and the present Sub-Advisory Agreement in
respect of the EUROPEAN GROWTH PORTFOLIO and the PACIFIC GROWTH PORTFOLIO were
initially approved in respect of the then-existing Portfolios by the Board of
Trustees on February 21, 1997 and by Northbrook, Allstate New York and Paragon,
pursuant to the instructions of Contract Owners, at a Special Meeting of
Shareholders held on May 20, 1997, and took effect on May 31, 1997 upon the
merger of Dean Witter, Discover & Co. ("DWDC") with Morgan Stanley Group Inc.
The present Management Agreement was approved with respect to the S&P 500 INDEX
PORTFOLIO and the COMPETITIVE EDGE "BEST IDEAS" PORTFOLIO by the Board of
Trustees on January 29, 1998 and by Northbrook as the then sole shareholder of
each Portfolio on February 4, 1998. These Agreements are substantially identical
to the prior Investment Management Agreement in respect of all then-existing
Portfolios and the prior Sub-Advisory Agreement that had been initially approved
by the Board of Trustees in respect of the EUROPEAN GROWTH PORTFOLIO on October
30, 1992 and by Northbrook and Allstate New York, pursuant to the instructions
of Contract Owners, at a Special Meeting of Shareholders held on January 13,
1993, and which took effect on June 30, 1993 upon the spin-off by Sears, Roebuck
and Co. of its remaining shares of DWDC, as such Investment Management Agreement
had been amended by the Board of Trustees to lower the management fees charged
to certain Portfolios, as follows: At their meeting held on April 8, 1994, the
Fund's Board of Trustees, including all of the Independent Trustees, amended the
terms of the prior Investment Management Agreement to lower management fees
charged on average daily net assets of the DIVIDEND GROWTH PORTFOLIO and the
UTILITIES PORTFOLIO in excess of $500 million to 0.50% and 0.55%, respectively.
At their meeting held on April 20, 1995, the Fund's Board of Trustees, including
all of the Independent Trustees, amended the terms of the prior Investment
Management Agreement to lower management fees charged on average daily net
assets of the QUALITY INCOME PLUS PORTFOLIO in excess of $500 million to 0.45%.
At their meeting held on April 17, 1996, the Fund's Board of Trustees, including
all of the Independent Trustees, amended the terms of the prior Investment
Management Agreement to lower management fees charged on average daily net
assets of each of the EQUITY PORTFOLIO and the DIVIDEND GROWTH PORTFOLIO in
excess of $1 billion to 0.475%. Such prior Investment Management Agreement had
been initially approved with respect to the GLOBAL DIVIDEND GROWTH PORTFOLIO and
the PACIFIC GROWTH PORTFOLIO by the Board of Trustees on January 28, 1994 and
such prior Sub-Advisory Agreement had been initially approved with respect to
the PACIFIC GROWTH PORTFOLIO by the Board of Trustees on January 28, 1994 and by
Northbrook as the then sole shareholder of the Portfolio on February 8, 1994.
Such prior Investment Management Agreement had been initially approved with
respect to the INCOME BUILDER PORTFOLIO and the CAPITAL APPRECIATION PORTFOLIO
by the Board of Trustees on October 25, 1996 and by Northbrook as the then sole
shareholder of each Portfolio on October 29, 1996.
The Management and Sub-Advisory Agreements may be terminated at any time,
without penalty, on thirty days' notice by the Trustees of the Fund, by the
holders of a majority, as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as
amended (the "Act"), of the outstanding shares of the Fund, or by the Investment
Manager. Each Agreement will automatically terminate in the event of its
assignment (as defined in the Act). Under its terms, each Agreement has an
initial term ending April 30, 1999, and will continue in effect from year to
year thereafter, provided continuance of the Agreement is approved at least
annually by the vote of the holders of a majority, as defined in the Act, of the
outstanding shares of each Portfolio (or, in the case of the Sub-Advisory
Agreement, the outstanding shares of each sub-advised Portfolio), or by the
Trustees of the Fund; provided that in either event such continuance is approved
annually by the vote of a majority of the Trustees of the Fund who are not
parties to the Agreement or "interested persons" (as defined in the Act) of any
such party (the "Independent Trustees"), which vote must be cast in person at a
meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval. If the question of
continuance of the Management Agreement (or adoption of any new Management
Agreement) is presented to shareholders, continuance (or adoption) with respect
to a Portfolio shall be effective only if approved by a majority vote of the
outstanding voting securities of that Portfolio. If the shareholders of any one
or more of the Portfolios should fail to approve the Management Agreement, the
8
<PAGE>
Investment Manager may nonetheless serve as Investment Manager with respect to
any Portfolio whose shareholders approved the Management Agreement.
To the extent required by law, Northbrook, Allstate New York, Glenbrook and
Paragon, which are the only shareholders of the Fund, will vote the shares of
the Fund held by them in the Accounts in accordance with instructions from
Contract Owners, as more fully described under the caption "Voting Rights" in
the Prospectuses for the Contracts.
The Fund has acknowledged that the name "Dean Witter" is a property right of
DWR. The Fund has agreed that DWR or its parent company may use or, at any time,
permit others to use, the name "Dean Witter." The Fund has also agreed that in
the event the Management Agreement is terminated, or if the affiliation between
InterCapital and its parent company is terminated, the Fund will eliminate the
name "Dean Witter" from its name if DWR or its parent company shall so request.
TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Trustees and Executive Officers of the Fund, their principal business
occupations during the last five years and their affiliations, if any, with
InterCapital and with the Dean Witter Funds and the 11 TCW/DW Funds are shown
below.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NAME, AGE, POSITION WITH FUND
AND ADDRESS PRINCIPAL OCCUPATIONS DURING LAST FIVE YEARS
- ----------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C>
Michael Bozic (57) Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Levitz Furniture Corporation
Trustee (since November, 1995); Director or Trustee of the Dean Witter Funds;
c/o Levitz Furniture Corporation formerly President and Chief Executive Officer of Hills Department
6111 Broken Sound Parkway, N.W. Stores (May, 1991-July, 1995); formerly variously Chairman, Chief
Boca Raton, Florida Executive Officer, President and Chief Operating Officer (1987-1991) of
the Sears Merchandise Group of Sears, Roebuck and Co.; Director of
Eaglemark Financial Services, Inc. the United Negro College Fund and
Weirton Steel Corporation.
Charles A. Fiumefreddo* (64) Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and Director of InterCapital,
Chairman of the Board, Distributors and DWSC; Executive Vice President and Director of DWR;
President, Chief Executive Officer Chairman, Director or Trustee, President and Chief Executive Officer of
and Trustee the Dean Witter Funds; Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and Trustee of
Two World Trade Center the TCW/DW Funds; Chairman and Director of Dean Witter Trust FSB
New York, New York ("DWT"); Director and/or officer of various MSDWD subsidiaries.
Edwin J. Garn (65) Director or Trustee of the Dean Witter Funds; formerly United States
Trustee Senator (R-Utah) (1974-1992) and Chairman, Senate Banking Committee
c/o Huntsman Corporation (1980-1986); formerly Mayor of Salt Lake City, Utah (1971-1974);
500 Huntsman Way formerly Astronaut, Space Shuttle Discovery (April 12-19, 1985); Vice
Salt Lake City, Utah Chairman, Huntsman Corporation; Director of Franklin Covey (time
management systems), John Alden Financial Corp. (health insurance)
United Space Alliance (joint venture between Lockheed Martin and the
Boeing Company) and Nuskin Asia Pacific (multilevel marketing); member
of the board of various civic and charitable organizations.
</TABLE>
9
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NAME, AGE, POSITION WITH FUND
AND ADDRESS PRINCIPAL OCCUPATIONS DURING LAST FIVE YEARS
- ----------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C>
John R. Haire (73) Chairman of the Audit Committee and Chairman of the Committee of the
Trustee Independent Directors or Trustees and Director or Trustee of the Dean
Two World Trade Center Witter Funds; Chairman of the Audit Committee and Chairman of the
New York, New York 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).
Wayne E. Hedien (64) Retired; Director or Trustee of the Dean Witter Funds; Director of The
Trustee PMI Group, Inc. (private mortgage insurance); Trustee and Vice Chairman
c/o Gordon Altman Butowsky of The Field Museum of Natural History; formerly associated with the
Weitzen Shalov & Wein Allstate Companies (1966-1994), most recently as Chairman of The
Counsel to the Independent Allstate Corporation (March, 1993-December 1994) and Chairman and Chief
Trustees Executive Officer of its wholly-owned subsidiary, Allstate Insurance
114 West 47th Street Company (July, 1989-December, 1994); director of various other busi-
New York, New York ness and charitable organizations.
Dr. Manuel H. Johnson (49) Senior Partner, Johnson Smick International, Inc., a consulting firm;
Trustee Co-Chairman and a founder of the Group of Seven Council (G7C), an
c/o Johnson Smick International, international economic commission; Director or Trustee of the Dean
Inc. Witter Funds; Trustee of the TCW/DW Funds; Director of NASDAQ (since
1133 Connecticut Avenue, N.W. June, 1995); Director of Greenwich Capital Markets Inc.
Washington, DC (broker-dealer); Chairman and 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 (1982-1988).
Michael E. Nugent (61) General Partner, Triumph Capital, L.P., a private investment part-
Trustee nership; Director or Trustee of the Dean Witter Funds; Trustee of the
c/o Triumph Capital, L.P. TCW/DW Funds; formerly Vice President, Bankers Trust Company and BT
237 Park Avenue Capital Corporation (1984-1988); Director of various business
New York, New York organizations.
Philip J. Purcell* (53) Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer of
Trustee MSDWD, DWR and Novus Credit Services Inc.; Director of InterCapital,
1585 Broadway DWSC and Distributors; Director or Trustee of the Dean Witter Funds;
New York, New York Director and/or officer of various MSDWD subsidiaries.
John L. Schroeder (67) Retired; Director or Trustee of the Dean Witter Funds; Trustee of the
Trustee TCW/DW Funds; Director of Citizens Utilities Company; formerly
c/o Gordon Altman Butowsky Executive Vice President and Chief Investment Officer of the Home
Weitzen Shalov & Wein Insurance Company (August, 1991-September, 1995).
Counsel to the Independent
Trustees
114 West 47th Street
New York, New York
</TABLE>
10
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NAME, AGE, POSITION WITH FUND
AND ADDRESS PRINCIPAL OCCUPATIONS DURING LAST FIVE YEARS
- ----------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C>
Barry Fink (43) Senior Vice President (since March, 1997) and Secretary and General
Vice President, Secretary and Counsel (since February, 1997) of InterCapital and DWSC; Senior Vice
General Counsel President (since March, 1997) and Assistant Secretary and Assistant
Two World Trade Center General Counsel (since February, 1997) of Distributors; Assistant
New York, New York Secretary of DWR (since August, 1996); Vice President, Secretary and
General Counsel of the Dean Witter Funds and the TCW/DW Funds (since
February, 1997); previously First Vice President (June, 1993-February,
1997), Vice President (until June, 1993) and Assistant Secretary and
Assistant General Counsel of InterCapital and DWSC and Assistant
Secretary of the Dean Witter Funds and the TCW/DW Funds.
Peter M. Avelar (39) Senior Vice President of InterCapital; Vice President of various Dean
Vice President Witter Funds.
Two World Trade Center
New York, New York
Mark Bavoso (37) Senior Vice President of InterCapital (since June, 1993); Vice
Vice President President of various Dean Witter Funds; previously Vice President of
Two World Trade Center InterCapital.
New York, New York
Edward F. Gaylor (56) Senior Vice President of InterCapital; Vice President of various Dean
Vice President Witter Funds.
Two World Trade Center
New York, New York
Matthew Haynes (32) Vice President of InterCapital (since June, 1997) and portfolio manager
Vice President with InterCapital (since April, 1993); previously Assistant Vice
Two World Trade Center President of InterCapital (May, 1995-June, 1997).
New York, New York
Peter Hermann (38) Vice President of InterCapital (since May, 1995) and portfolio manager
Vice President with InterCapital (since March, 1994); previously portfolio manager
Two World Trade Center with The Bank of New York (August, 1987-February, 1994).
New York, New York
Kenton J. Hinchliffe (53) Senior Vice President of InterCapital; Vice President of various Dean
Vice President Witter Funds.
Two World Trade Center
New York, New York
Michelle Kaufman (33) Vice President of InterCapital (since June, 1997) and portfolio manager
Vice President with InterCapital (since September, 1993); previously Assistant Vice
Two World Trade Center President of InterCapital (May, 1995-June, 1997) and, prior to joining
New York, New York InterCapital, security analyst with Woodward and Associates.
Anita H. Kolleeny (42) Senior Vice President of InterCapital; Vice President of various Dean
Vice President Witter Funds.
Two World Trade Center
New York, New York
</TABLE>
11
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NAME, AGE, POSITION WITH FUND
AND ADDRESS PRINCIPAL OCCUPATIONS DURING LAST FIVE YEARS
- ----------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C>
Paula LaCosta (46) Vice President of InterCapital; Vice President of various Dean Witter
Vice President Funds.
Two World Trade Center
New York, New York
Jonathan R. Page (51) Senior Vice President of InterCapital; Vice President of various Dean
Vice President Witter Funds.
Two World Trade Center
New York, New York
Rochelle G. Siegel (49) Senior Vice President of InterCapital; Vice President of various Dean
Vice President Witter Funds.
Two World Trade Center
New York, New York
Paul D. Vance (62) Senior Vice President of InterCapital; Vice President of various Dean
Vice President Witter Funds.
Two World Trade Center
New York, New York
Ronald J. Worobel (55) Senior Vice President of InterCapital (since June, 1993); Vice
Vice President President of various Dean Witter Funds; formerly Vice President of
Two World Trade Center InterCapital.
New York, New York.
Thomas F. Caloia (52) First Vice President and Assistant Treasurer of InterCapital and DWSC;
Treasurer Treasurer of the Dean Witter Funds and the TCW/DW Funds.
Two World Trade Center
New York, New York
</TABLE>
- ---------
* Denotes Trustees who are "interested persons" of the Fund, as defined in the
Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
In addition, Robert M. Scanlan, President and Chief Operating Officer of
InterCapital and DWSC, Executive Vice President of Distributors and DWT and
Director of DWT, Mitchell M. Merin, President and Chief Strategic Officer of
InterCapital and DWSC, Executive Vice President of Distributors and DWT and
Director of DWT, Executive Vice President and Director of DWR, and Director of
SPS Transaction Services, Inc. and various other MSDWD subsidiaries, Joseph J.
McAlinden, Executive Vice President and Chief Investment Officer of InterCapital
and Director of DWT, Robert S. Giambrone, Senior Vice President of InterCapital,
DWSC, Distributors and DWT and Director of DWT, Kevin Hurley, Senior Vice
President of InterCapital, and Jayne Stevlingson, Vice President of
InterCapital, are Vice Presidents of the Fund, and Marilyn K. Cranney, First
Vice President and Assistant General Counsel of InterCapital and DWSC, LouAnne
D. McInnis, Carsten Otto and Ruth Rossi, Vice Presidents and Assistant General
Counsels of InterCapital and DWSC, and Frank Bruttomesso and Todd Lebo, staff
attorneys with InterCapital, are Assistant Secretaries of the Fund.
THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES, THE INDEPENDENT TRUSTEES, AND THE COMMITTEES
The Board of Trustees consists of nine (9) trustees. These same individuals
also serve as directors or trustees for all of the Dean Witter Funds, and are
referred to in this section as Trustees. As of the date of this Statement of
Additional Information, there are a total of Dean Witter Funds, comprised of
portfolios. As of March 31, 1998, the Dean Witter Funds had total net assets
of approximately $ billion and more than six million shareholders.
Seven Trustees (77% of the total number) have no affiliation or business
connection with InterCapital or any of its affiliated persons and do not own any
stock or other securities issued by
Inter-
12
<PAGE>
Capital's parent company, MSDWD. These are the "disinterested" or "independent"
Trustees. The other two Trustees (the "management Trustees") are affiliated with
InterCapital. Four of the seven independent Trustees are also Independent
Trustees of the TCW/DW Funds.
Law and regulation establish both general guidelines and specific duties for
the Independent Trustees. The Dean Witter Funds seek as Independent Trustees
individuals of distinction and experience in business and finance, government
service or academia; these are people whose advice and counsel are in demand by
others and for whom there is often competition. To accept a position on the
Funds' Boards, such individuals may reject other attractive assignments because
the Funds make substantial demands on their time. Indeed, by serving on the
Funds' Boards, certain Trustees who would otherwise be qualified and in demand
to serve on bank boards would be prohibited by law from doing so.
All of the Independent Trustees serve as members of the Audit Committee and
the Committee of the Independent Trustees. Three of them also serve as members
of the Derivatives Committee. During the calendar year ended December 31, 1997,
the three Committees held a combined total of seventeen meetings. The Committees
hold some meetings at InterCapital's offices and some outside InterCapital.
Management Trustees or officers do not attend these meetings unless they are
invited for purposes of furnishing information or making a report.
The Committee of the Independent Trustees is charged with recommending to
the full Board approval of management, advisory and administration contracts,
Rule 12b-1 plans and distribution and underwriting agreements; continually
reviewing Fund performance; checking on the pricing of portfolio securities,
brokerage commissions, transfer agent costs and performance, and trading among
Funds in the same complex; and approving fidelity bond and related insurance
coverage and allocations, as well as other matters that arise from time to time.
The Independent Trustees are required to select and nominate individuals to fill
any Independent Trustee vacancy on the Board of any Fund that has a Rule 12b-1
plan of distribution. 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 Fund's independent accountants; directing
investigations into matters within the scope of the independent accountants'
duties, including the power to retain outside specialists; reviewing with the
independent accountants the audit plan and results of the auditing engagement;
approving professional services provided by the independent accountants and
other accounting firms prior to the performance of such services; reviewing the
independence of the independent accountants; considering the range of audit and
non-audit fees; reviewing the adequacy of the Fund's system of internal
controls; and preparing and submitting Committee meeting minutes to the full
Board.
Finally, the Board of each Fund has formed a Derivatives Committee to
establish parameters for and oversee the activities of the Fund with respect to
derivative investments, if any, made by the Fund.
DUTIES OF CHAIRMAN OF COMMITTEE OF THE INDEPENDENT TRUSTEES AND AUDIT COMMITTEE
The Chairman of the Committee of the Independent Trustees 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 Trustees to consider,
develops agendas for Committee meetings, determines the type and amount of
information that the Committees will need to form a judgment on various issues,
and arranges to have that information furnished to Committee members. He also
arranges for the services of independent experts and 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 Committee of the Independent Trustees and the Audit
Committee also maintains continuous contact with the Funds' management, with
independent counsel to the Independent Trustees and with the Funds' independent
auditors. He arranges for a series of special meetings involving the annual
review of investment advisory, management and other operating contracts of the
13
<PAGE>
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 Trustees.
The Chairman of the Committees is not employed by any other organization and
devotes his time primarily to the services he performs as Committee Chairman and
Independent Trustee of the Dean Witter Funds and as an Independent Trustee and
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 TRUSTEES FOR ALL DEAN
WITTER FUNDS
The Independent Trustees and the Funds' management believe that having the
same Independent Trustees for each of the Dean Witter Funds avoids the
duplication of effort that would arise from having different groups of
individuals serving as Independent Trustees for each of the Funds or even of
sub-groups of Funds. They believe that having the same individuals serve as
Independent Trustees of all the Funds tends to increase their knowledge and
expertise regarding matters which affect the Fund complex generally and enhances
their ability to negotiate on behalf of each Fund with the Fund's service
providers. This arrangement also precludes the possibility of separate groups of
Independent Trustees arriving at conflicting decisions regarding operations and
management of the Funds and avoids the cost and confusion that would likely
ensue. Finally, having the same Independent Trustees serve on all Fund Boards
enhances the ability of each Fund to obtain, at modest cost to each separate
Fund, the services of Independent Trustees, and a Chairman of their Committees,
of the caliber, experience and business acumen of the individuals who serve as
Independent Trustees of the Dean Witter Funds.
COMPENSATION OF INDEPENDENT TRUSTEES
The Fund pays each Independent Trustee an annual fee of $800 plus a per
meeting fee of $50 for meetings of the Board of Trustees or committees of the
Board of Trustees attended by the Trustee (the Fund pays the Chairman of the
Audit Committee an annual fee of $750 and pays the Chairman of the Committee of
the Independent Trustees an additional annual fee of $1,200). If a Board meeting
and a Committee meeting, or more than one Committee meeting, take place on a
single day, the Trustees are paid a single meeting fee by the Fund. The Fund
also reimburses such Trustees for travel and other out-of-pocket expenses
incurred by them in connection with attending such meetings. Trustees and
officers of the Fund who are or have been employed by the Investment Manager or
an affiliated company receive no compensation or expense reimbursement from the
Fund.
The following table illustrates the compensation paid to the Fund's
Independent Trustees by the Fund for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1997.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
FUND COMPENSATION
AGGREGATE
COMPENSATION
FROM THE FUND
---------------
NAME OF INDEPENDENT TRUSTEE
- --------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C>
Michael Bozic................................................. $1,650
Edwin J. Garn................................................. 1,850
John R. Haire................................................. 3,800
Wayne E. Hedien............................................... 482
Dr. Manuel H. Johnson......................................... 1,800
Michael E. Nugent............................................. 1,850
John L. Schroeder............................................. 1,850
</TABLE>
The following table illustrates the compensation paid to the Fund's
Independent Trustees for the calendar year ended December 31, 1997 for services
to the 84 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, 1997.
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. Mr. Hedien's term as Director or
Trustee of each Dean Witter Fund commenced on September 1, 1997.
14
<PAGE>
CASH COMPENSATION FROM DEAN WITTER FUNDS AND TCW/DW FUNDS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
FOR SERVICE AS FOR SERVICE
CHAIRMAN OF AS TOTAL CASH
COMMITTEES OF CHAIRMAN OF COMPENSATION
FOR SERVICE INDEPENDENT COMMITTEES OF FOR SERVICES
AS DIRECTOR OR DIRECTORS/ INDEPENDENT TO
TRUSTEE AND FOR SERVICE AS TRUSTEES AND TRUSTEES AND 84 DEAN
COMMITTEE MEMBER TRUSTEE AND AUDIT AUDIT WITTER
OF 84 DEAN COMMITTEE MEMBER COMMITTEES OF COMMITTEES OF FUNDS AND
NAME OF WITTER OF 14 TCW/DW 84 DEAN WITTER 14 TCW/DW 14 TCW/DW
INDEPENDENT TRUSTEE FUNDS FUNDS FUNDS FUNDS FUNDS
- --------------------------- ---------------- ---------------- -------------- ------------- -------------
Michael Bozic.............. $133,602 -- -- -- $133,602
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Edwin J. Garn.............. 149,702 -- -- -- 149,702
John R. Haire.............. 149,702 $73,725 $157,463 $ 25,350 406,240
Wayne E. Hedien............ 39,010 -- -- -- 39,010
Dr. Manuel H. Johnson...... 145,702 71,125 -- -- 216,827
Michael E. Nugent.......... 149,702 73,725 -- -- 223,427
John L. Schroeder.......... 149,702 73,725 -- -- 223,427
</TABLE>
As of the date of this Statement of Additional Information, 57 of the Dean
Witter Funds, including the Fund, have adopted a retirement program under which
an Independent Trustee who retires after serving for at least five years (or
such lesser period as may be determined by the Board) as an Independent Director
or Trustee of any Dean Witter Fund that has adopted the retirement program (each
such Fund referred to as an "Adopting Fund" and each such Trustee referred to as
an "Eligible Trustee") is entitled to retirement payments upon reaching the
eligible retirement age (normally, after attaining age 72). Annual payments are
based upon length of service. Currently, upon retirement, each Eligible Trustee
is entitled to receive from the Adopting Fund, commencing as of his or her
retirement date and continuing for the remainder of his or her life, an annual
retirement benefit (the "Regular Benefit") equal to 25.0% of his or her Eligible
Compensation plus 0.4166666% of such Eligible Compensation for each full month
of service as an Independent Director or Trustee of any Adopting Fund in excess
of five years up to a maximum of 50.0% after ten years of service. The foregoing
percentages may be changed by the Board.(1) "Eligible Compensation" is one-fifth
of the total compensation earned by such Eligible Trustee for service to the
Adopting Fund in the five year period prior to the date of the Eligible
Trustee's retirement. Benefits under the retirement program are not secured or
funded by the Adopting Funds.
- ---------
(1) An Eligible Trustee may elect alternate payments of his or her retirement
benefits based upon the combined life expectancy of such Eligible Trustee
and his or her spouse on the date of such Eligible Trustee's retirement. The
amount estimated to be payable under this method, through the remainder of
the later of the lives of such Eligible Trustee and spouse, will be the
actuarial equivalent of the Regular Benefit. In addition, the Eligible
Trustee may elect that the surviving spouse's periodic payment of benefits
will be equal to either 50% or 100% of the previous periodic amount, an
election that, respectively, increases or decreases the previous periodic
amount so that the resulting payments will be the actuarial equivalent of
the Regular Benefit.
15
<PAGE>
The following table illustrates the retirement benefits accrued to the
Fund's Independent Trustees by the Fund for the fiscal year ended December 31,
1997 and by the 57 Dean Witter Funds (including the Fund) for the year ended
December 31, 1997, and the estimated retirement benefits for the Fund's
Independent Trustees, to commence upon their retirement, from the Fund as of
December 31, 1997 and from the 57 Dean Witter Funds as of December 31, 1997.
RETIREMENT BENEFITS FROM THE FUND AND ALL DEAN WITTER FUNDS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
FOR ALL FUNDS RETIREMENT ESTIMATED ANNUAL
-------------------------------------- BENEFITS BENEFITS
ESTIMATED ACCRUED AS UPON RETIREMENT(2)
CREDITED YEARS ESTIMATED EXPENSES ---------------------------
OF SERVICE AT PERCENTAGE OF ----------------------------- FROM
NAME OF RETIREMENT ELIGIBLE BY THE BY ALL THE FROM ALL
INDEPENDENT TRUSTEE (MAXIMUM 10) COMPENSATION FUND ADOPTING FUNDS FUND ADOPTING FUNDS
- -------------------------- ------------------- ----------------- ----------- ---------------- --------- ----------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Michael Bozic............. 10 50.0% $ 370 $ 20,499 $ 925 $ 47,025
Edwin J. Garn............. 10 50.0 530 30,878 925 47,025
John R. Haire............. 10 50.0 (857)(3) (19,823)(3) 2,246 127,897
Wayne E. Hedien........... 9 42.5 0 0 786 39,971
Dr. Manuel H. Johnson..... 10 50.0 224 12,832 925 47,025
Michael E. Nugent......... 10 50.0 380 22,546 925 47,025
John L. Schroeder......... 8 41.7 709 39,350 771 39,504
</TABLE>
- ---------
(2) Based on current levels of compensation. Amount of annual benefits also
varies depending on the Trustee's elections described in Footnote (1) above.
(3) This number reflects the effect of the extension of Mr. Haire's term as
Director or Trustee until June 1, 1998.
As of the date of this Statement of Additional Information, Northbrook Life
Insurance Company, Allstate Life Insurance Company of New York and Paragon Life
Insurance Company owned all of the outstanding shares of the Fund for allocation
to the Accounts, none of the Fund's Trustees was a Contract Owner under the
Accounts, and the aggregate number of shares of each Portfolio of the Fund
allocated to Contracts owned by the Fund's officers as a group was less than one
percent of each Portfolio's outstanding shares.
INVESTMENT PRACTICES AND POLICIES
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Fund is an open-end diversified management investment company which is
intended to provide a broad range of investment alternatives with its fifteen
separate Portfolios, each of which has distinct investment objectives and
policies, as set forth below and in the Prospectus:
-THE MONEY MARKET PORTFOLIO seeks high current income, preservation of
capital and liquidity by investing in short-term money market instruments.
-THE QUALITY INCOME PLUS PORTFOLIO seeks, as its primary objective, to earn
a high level of current income and, as a secondary objective, capital
appreciation, but only when consistent with its primary objective, by
investing primarily in debt securities issued by the U.S. Government, its
agencies and instrumentalities and in fixed-income securities rated A or
higher by Moody's Investors Service, Inc. ("Moody's") or Standard & Poor's
Corporation ("S&P") or non-rated securities of comparable quality.
-THE HIGH YIELD PORTFOLIO seeks, as its primary objective, to earn a high
level of current income and, as a secondary objective, capital
appreciation, but only when consistent with its primary objective, by
investing principally in fixed-income securities which are rated in the
lower categories by established rating services [Baa or lower by Moody's or
BBB or lower by S&P] or non-rated securities of comparable quality.
16
<PAGE>
-THE UTILITIES PORTFOLIO seeks to provide current income and long-term
growth of income and capital by investing primarily in equity and
fixed-income securities of companies engaged in the public utilities
industry.
-THE INCOME BUILDER PORTFOLIO seeks, as its primary investment objective,
reasonable income and, as its secondary objective, growth of capital, by
investing primarily in income producing common stocks and preferred stocks
and in securities convertible into common stock.
-THE DIVIDEND GROWTH PORTFOLIO seeks to provide reasonable current income
and long-term growth of income and capital by investing primarily in common
stock of companies with a record of paying dividends and the potential for
increasing dividends.
-THE CAPITAL GROWTH PORTFOLIO seeks to provide long-term capital growth by
investing principally in common stocks.
-THE GLOBAL DIVIDEND GROWTH PORTFOLIO seeks to provide reasonable current
income and long-term growth of income and capital by investing primarily in
common stock of companies, issued by issuers worldwide, with a record of
paying dividends and the potential for increasing dividends.
-THE EUROPEAN GROWTH PORTFOLIO seeks to maximize the capital appreciation of
its investments by investing primarily in securities issued by issuers
located in Europe.
-THE PACIFIC GROWTH PORTFOLIO seeks to maximize the capital appreciation of
its investments by investing primarily in securities issued by issuers
located in Asia, Australia and New Zealand.
-THE CAPITAL APPRECIATION PORTFOLIO seeks long-term capital appreciation by
investing primarily in the common stocks of U.S. companies that offer the
potential for either superior earnings growth and/or appear to be
undervalued.
-THE EQUITY PORTFOLIO seeks, as its primary objective, capital growth
through investments in common stock and, as a secondary objective, income
but only when consistent with its primary objective.
-THE S&P 500 INDEX PORTFOLIO seeks to provide investment results that,
before expenses, correspond to the total return (I.E., the combination of
capital changes and income) of the Standard & Poor's-Registered Trademark-
500 Composite Stock Price Index (the "S&P 500 Index") by investing, under
normal circumstances, at least 80% of the value of its total assets in
common stocks included in the S&P 500 Index in approximately the same
weightings as the Index.
-THE COMPETITIVE EDGE "BEST IDEAS" PORTFOLIO seeks long-term capital growth
by investing, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of its net assets in
the common stock of U.S. and non-U.S. companies included in the "Best
Ideas" subgroup of "Global Investing: The Competitive Edge," a research
compilation assembled and maintained by Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Equity
Research.
-THE STRATEGIST PORTFOLIO seeks a high total investment return through a
fully managed investment policy utilizing equity securities, fixed-income
securities rated Baa or higher by Moody's or BBB or higher by S&P (or
non-rated securities of comparable quality), and money market securities.
There can be no assurance that the Portfolios' investment objectives will be
achieved.
Each Portfolio of the Fund is subject to the diversification requirements of
Section 817(h) of the Internal Revenue Code relating to the favorable tax
treatment of variable annuity contracts. Regulations issued under such section
require each Portfolio to invest no more than 55% of its assets in any one
investment; no more than 70% of its assets in any two investments; no more than
80% of its total assets in any three investments; and no more than 90% of its
total assets in any four investments. For purposes of the regulations, all
securities of the same issuer are treated as a single investment. In addition,
the
17
<PAGE>
Portfolios are subject to the diversification requirements of the Act, as
described under the heading "Investment Restrictions" below and in the
Prospectus.
The investment objectives and policies of each Portfolio are set forth in
the Prospectus under the caption "Investment Objectives and Policies." There can
be no assurance that the Portfolios' investment objectives will be achieved.
QUALITY INCOME PLUS PORTFOLIO
As discussed in the Prospectus, certain of the U.S. Government securities
purchased by the QUALITY INCOME PLUS PORTFOLIO are "mortgaged-backed
securities," which evidence an interest in a specific pool of mortgages. Such
securities are issued by the Government National Mortgage Association ("GNMA"),
Federal National Mortgage Association ("FNMA") and the Federal Home Loan
Mortgage Corporation ("FHLMC").
GNMA CERTIFICATES. GNMA Certificates evidence an interest in a specific
pool of mortgages insured by the Federal Housing Administration ("FHA") or the
Farmers Home Administration or guaranteed by the Veterans Administration ("VA").
Scheduled payments of principal and interest are made to the registered holders
of GNMA Certificates. The GNMA Certificates that the QUALITY INCOME PLUS
PORTFOLIO will invest in are of the modified pass-through type. GNMA guarantees
the timely payment of monthly installments of principal and interest on modified
pass-through certificates at the time such payments are due, whether or not such
amounts are collected by the issuer on the underlying mortgages. The National
Housing Act provides that the full faith and credit of the United States is
pledged to the timely payment of principal and interest by GNMA of amounts due
on these GNMA Certificates.
The average life of GNMA Certificates varies with the maturities of the
underlying mortgage instruments, with maximum maturities of 30 years. The
average life is likely to be substantially less than the original maturity of
the mortgage pools underlying the securities as the result of prepayments or
refinancing of such mortgages or foreclosure. Such prepayments are passed
through to the registered holder with the regular monthly payments of principal
and interest, which has the effect of reducing future payments. Due to the GNMA
guarantee, foreclosures impose no risk to principal investments.
The average life of pass-through pools varies with the maturities of the
underlying mortgage instruments. In addition, a pool's term may be shortened by
unscheduled or early payments of principal on the underlying mortgages. The
occurrence of mortgage prepayments is affected by such factors as the level of
interest rates, general economic conditions, the location and age of the
mortgage and other social and demographic conditions. As prepayment rates vary
widely, it is not possible to accurately predict the average life of a
particular pool. However, statistics indicate that the average life of the type
of mortgages backing the majority of GNMA Certificates is approximately 12
years. For this reason, it is standard practice to treat GNMA Certificates as
30-year mortgage-backed securities which prepay fully in the twelfth year. Pools
of mortgages with other maturities or different characteristics will have
varying assumptions for average life. The assumed average life of pools of
mortgages having terms of less than 30 years is less than 12 years, but
typically not less than 5 years.
The coupon rate of interest of GNMA Certificates is lower than the interest
rate paid on the VA-guaranteed or FHA-insured mortgages underlying the
Certificates, but only by the amount of the fees paid to GNMA and the issuer.
Such fees in the aggregate usually amount to approximately .50 of 1%.
Yields on pass-through securities are typically quoted by investment dealers
and vendors based on the maturity of the underlying instruments and the
associated average life assumption. In periods of falling interest rates, the
rate of prepayment tends to increase, thereby shortening the actual average life
of a pool of mortgage-related securities. Conversely, in periods of rising
rates, the rate of prepayment tends to decrease, thereby lengthening the actual
average life of the pool. Reinvestment by the Quality Income Plus Portfolio of
prepayments may occur at higher or lower interest rates than the original
investment. Historically, actual average life has been consistent with the
12-year assumption referred to above. The actual yield of each GNMA Certificate
is influenced by the prepayment experience of the
18
<PAGE>
mortgage pool underlying the Certificates. Interest on GNMA Certificates is paid
monthly, rather than semiannually, as is the case with traditional bonds.
FHLMC SECURITIES. The Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation was created in
1970 through enactment of Title III of the Emergency Home Finance Act of 1970.
Its purpose is to promote development of a nationwide secondary market in
conventional residential mortgages.
The FHLMC issues two types of mortgage pass-through securities, mortgages
participation certificates ("PCs") and guaranteed mortgages certificates
("GMCs"). PCs resemble GNMA Certificates in that each PC represents a pro rata
share of all interest and principal payments made and owned on the underlying
pool. The FHLMC guarantees timely monthly payment of interest on PC's and the
full return of principal when due. PC's have an assumed average life similar to
GNMA Certificates.
GMCs also represent a pro rata interest in a pool of mortgages. However,
these instruments pay interest semi-annually and return principal once a year in
guaranteed minimum payments. The expected average life of these securities is
approximately ten years.
FNMA SECURITIES. The Federal National Mortgage Association was established
in 1938 to create a secondary market in mortgages insured by the FHA.
FNMA issues guaranteed mortgage pass-through certificates ("FNMA
Certificates"). FNMA Certificates resemble GNMA Certificates in that each FNMA
Certificate represents a pro rata share of all interest and principal payments
made and owed on the underlying pool. FNMA guarantees timely payment of interest
on FNMA Certificates and the full return of principal. FNMA Certificates have an
assumed average life similar to GNMA Certificates.
LEVERAGING. As discussed in the Prospectus, the QUALITY INCOME PLUS
PORTFOLIO may borrow money, but only from a bank and in an amount up to 25% of
the Portfolio's gross assets taken at the lower of market value or cost, not
including the amount borrowed, to seek additional income by leveraging its
investments through purchasing securities with the borrowed funds. Such
borrowings will be subject to current margin requirements of the Federal Reserve
Board and where necessary the Portfolio may use any or all of its securities as
collateral for such borrowings. Any investment gains (and/ or investment income)
made with the additional monies in excess of interest paid will cause the net
asset value of the Portfolio's shares (and/or the Portfolio's net income per
share) to rise to a greater extent than would otherwise be the case. Conversely,
if the investment performance of the additional monies fails to cover their cost
to the Portfolio, net asset value (and/or net income per share) will decrease to
a greater extent than would otherwise be the case. This is the speculative
factor involved in leverage.
The QUALITY INCOME PLUS PORTFOLIO will be required to maintain an asset
coverage (including the proceeds of borrowings) of at least 300% of such
borrowings in accordance with the provisions of the Act. If due to market
fluctuations or other reasons, the value of the Portfolio's assets (including
the proceeds of borrowings) becomes at any time less than three times the amount
of any outstanding bank debt, the Portfolio, within three business days, will
reduce its bank debt to the extent necessary to meet the required 300% asset
coverage. In restoring the 300% asset coverage, the Portfolio may have to sell a
portion of its investments at a time when it may be disadvantageous to do so.
The investment policy provides that the Portfolio may not purchase or sell a
security on margin. The margin and bank borrowing restrictions will prevent the
ordinary purchase of a security which involves a cash borrowing from a broker of
any part of the purchase price of a security.
In addition to borrowings for leverage, the Portfolio may also borrow from
banks an additional amount as a temporary measure for extraordinary or emergency
purposes, and for these purposes, in no event an amount greater than 5% of gross
assets taken at the lower of market value or cost.
S&P 500 INDEX PORTFOLIO
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONCERNING THE S&P 500 INDEX. As set forth above,
the investment objective of the S&P 500 INDEX PORTFOLIO is to provide investment
results that, before expenses, correspond to the total return of the S&P 500
Index.
19
<PAGE>
The S&P 500 INDEX PORTFOLIO is not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by
Standard & Poor's, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. ("S&P"). S&P
makes no representation or warranty, express or implied, to the owners of shares
of the Portfolio or any member of the public regarding the advisability of
investing in securities generally or in the Portfolio particularly or the
ability of the S&P 500 Index to track general stock market performance. S&P's
only relationship to the S&P 500 INDEX PORTFOLIO is the licensing of certain
trademarks and trade names of S&P and of the S&P 500 Index which is determined,
composed and calculated by S&P without regard to the Portfolio. S&P has no
obligation to take the needs of the Portfolio or the owners of shares of the
Portfolio into consideration in determining, composing or calculating the S&P
500 Index. S&P is not responsible for and has not participated in the
determination of the prices and amount of the Portfolio or the timing of the
issuance or sale of shares of the Portfolio. S&P has no obligation or liability
in connection with the administration, marketing or trading of the Portfolio.
S&P does not guarantee the accuracy and/or the completeness of the S&P 500
Index or any data included therein and S&P shall have no liability for any
errors, omissions, or interruptions therein. S&P makes no warranty, express or
implied, as to results to be obtained by the Portfolio, owners of shares of the
Portfolio, or any other person or entity from the use of the S&P 500 Index or
any data included therein. S&P makes no express or implied warranties, and
expressly disclaims all warranties of merchantability or fitness for a
particular purpose or use with respect to the S&P 500 Index or any data included
therein. Without limiting any of the foregoing, in no event shall S&P have any
liability for any special, punitive, indirect, or consequential damages
(including lost profits), even if notified of the possibility of such damages.
STANDARD & POOR'S DEPOSITARY RECEIPTS ("SPDRS"). SPDRs are interests in a
unit investment trust ("UIT") that may be obtained from the UIT or purchased in
the secondary market as SPDRs listed on the American Stock Exchange.
The UIT will issue SPDRs in aggregations of 50,000 known as "Creation Units"
in exchange for a "Portfolio Deposit" consisting of (a) a portfolio of
securities substantially similar to the component securities ("Index
Securities") of the S&P 500 Index, (b) a cash payment equal to a pro rata
portion of the dividends accrued on the UIT's portfolio securities since the
last dividend payment by the UIT, net of expenses and liabilities, and (c) a
cash payment or credit ("Balancing Amount") designed to equalize the net asset
value of the S&P 500 Index and the net asset value of a Portfolio Deposit.
SPDRs are not individually redeemable, except upon termination of the UIT.
To redeem, the S&P 500 INDEX PORTFOLIO must accumulate enough SPDRs to
reconstitute a Creation Unit. The liquidity of small holdings of SPDRs,
therefore, will depend upon the existence of a secondary market. Upon redemption
of a Creation Unit, the Portfolio will receive Index Securities and cash
identical to the Portfolio Deposit required of an investor wishing to purchase a
Creation Unit that day.
The price of SPDRs is derived from and based upon the securities held by the
UIT. Accordingly, the level of risk involved in the purchase or sale of a SPDR
is similar to the risk involved in the purchase or sale of traditional common
stock, with the exception that the pricing mechanism for SPDRs is based on a
basket of stocks. Disruptions in the markets for the securities underlying SPDRs
purchased or sold by the Portfolio could result in losses on SPDRs.
COMPETITIVE EDGE "BEST IDEAS" PORTFOLIO
"BEST IDEAS" LIST. As of September 30, 1997, the list of companies in the
"Best Ideas" subgroup as published in "Global Industry -- The Competitive Edge"
Update -- October 1997 were as follows: AT&T, AES Corp., Asia Pulp & Paper, BMW,
Boeing, Cisco, Citicorp, Coca-Cola, Coca-Cola Enterprises, Corning, Dresser
Industries, DuPont, Emerson Electric, Federal Express, Four Seasons, Freeport
McMoRan Copper & Gold, General Electric, General Re, Grand Met, Holderbank,
Intel, Lilly (Eli), Lockheed Martin, MAN, Manpower, Mattel, Microsoft, Novartis,
Praxair, Proctor & Gamble, Sandvik, Sankyo, SAP, Schlumberger, Sealed Air,
SGS-Thompson, Sony, Siebe, Time Warner, and Unilever plc. The "Best Ideas" List
is updated quarterly.
20
<PAGE>
GENERAL PORTFOLIO TECHNIQUES
FORWARD FOREIGN CURRENCY EXCHANGE CONTRACTS
As discussed in the Prospectus, the GLOBAL DIVIDEND GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the
EUROPEAN GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the PACIFIC GROWTH PORTFOLIO and the COMPETITIVE EDGE
"BEST IDEAS" PORTFOLIO may enter into forward foreign currency exchange
contracts ("forward contracts") as a hedge against fluctuations in future
foreign exchange rates. Each of these Portfolios will conduct its foreign
currency exchange transactions either on a spot (i.e., cash) basis at the spot
rate prevailing in the foreign currency exchange market, or through entering
into forward contracts to purchase or sell foreign currencies. A forward
contract involves an obligation to purchase or sell a specific currency at a
future date, which may be any fixed number of days from the date of the contract
agreed upon by the parties, at a price set at the time of the contract. These
contracts are traded in the interbank market conducted directly between currency
traders (usually large, commercial banks) and their customers. Such forward
contracts will only be entered into with United States banks and their foreign
branches or foreign banks whose assets total $1 billion or more. A forward
contract generally has no deposit requirement, and no commissions are charged at
any stage for trades.
When management of the GLOBAL DIVIDEND GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the EUROPEAN GROWTH
PORTFOLIO, the PACIFIC GROWTH PORTFOLIO or the COMPETITIVE EDGE "BEST IDEAS"
PORTFOLIO believes that the currency of a particular foreign country may suffer
a substantial movement against the U.S. dollar, it may enter into a forward
contract to purchase or sell, for a fixed amount of dollars or other currency,
the amount of foreign currency approximating the value of some or all of the
Portfolio's securities denominated in such foreign currency. The Portfolio will
also not enter into such forward contracts or maintain a net exposure to such
contracts where the consummation of the contracts would obligate the Portfolio
to deliver an amount of foreign currency in excess of the value of the
Portfolio's securities or other assets denominated in that currency. Under
normal circumstances, consideration of the prospect for currency parities will
be incorporated into the longer term investment decisions made with regard to
overall diversification strategies. However, Management believes that it is
important to have the flexibility to enter into such forward contracts when it
determines that the best interests of the Portfolio will be served. The
Portfolio's custodian bank will place cash, U.S. Government securities or other
liquid portfolio securities in a segregated account of the Fund in an amount
equal to the value of the Portfolio's total assets committed to the consummation
of forward contracts entered into under the circumstances set forth above. If
the value of the securities placed in the segregated account declines,
additional cash or securities will be placed in the account on a daily basis so
that the value of the account will equal the amount of the Portfolio's
commitments with respect to such contracts.
Where, for example, the Portfolio is hedging a portfolio position consisting
of foreign fixed-income securities denominated in a foreign currency against
adverse exchange rate moves vis-a-vis the U.S. dollar, at the maturity of the
forward contract for delivery by the Portfolio of a foreign currency, the
Portfolio may either sell the portfolio security and make delivery of the
foreign currency, or it may retain the security and terminate its contractual
obligation to deliver the foreign currency by purchasing an "offsetting"
contract with the same currency trader obligating it to purchase, on the same
maturity date, the same amount of the foreign currency. It is impossible to
forecast the market value of portfolio securities at the expiration of the
contract. Accordingly, it may be necessary for the Portfolio to purchase
additional foreign currency on the spot market (and bear the expense of such
purchase) if the market value of the security is less than the amount of foreign
currency the Portfolio is obligated to deliver and if a decision is made to sell
the security and make delivery of the foreign currency. Conversely, it may be
necessary to sell on the spot market some of the foreign currency received upon
the sale of the portfolio securities if its market value exceeds the amount of
foreign currency the Portfolio is obligated to deliver.
If the Portfolio retains the portfolio securities and engages in an
offsetting transaction, the Portfolio will incur a gain or loss to the extent
that there has been movement in spot or forward contract prices. If the
Portfolio engages in an offsetting transaction, it may subsequently enter into a
new forward contract to sell the foreign currency. Should forward prices decline
during the period between the Portfolio's entering into a forward contract for
the sale of a foreign currency and the date it enters into an offsetting
21
<PAGE>
contract for the purchase of the foreign currency, the Portfolio will realize a
gain to the extent the price of the currency it has agreed to sell exceeds the
price of the currency it has agreed to purchase. Should forward prices increase,
the Portfolio will suffer a loss to the extent the price of the currency it has
agreed to purchase exceeds the price of the currency it has agreed to sell.
If the Portfolio purchases a fixed-income security which is denominated in
U.S. dollars but which will pay out its principal based upon a formula tied to
the exchange rate between the U.S. dollar and a foreign currency, it may hedge
against a decline in the principal value of the security by entering into a
forward contract to sell an amount of the relevant foreign currency equal to
some or all of the principal value of the security.
At times when the Portfolio has written a call option on a fixed-income
security or the currency in which it is denominated, it may wish to enter into a
forward contract to purchase or sell the foreign currency in which the security
is denominated. A forward contract would, for example, hedge the risk of the
security on which a call currency option has been written declining in value to
a greater extent than the value of the premium received for the options. The
Portfolio will maintain with its Custodian, at all times, cash, U.S. Government
securities, or other high grade debt obligations in a segregated account equal
in value to all forward contract obligations and option contract obligations
entered into in hedge situations such as this.
Although each Portfolio values its assets daily in terms of U.S. dollars,
the Portfolios do not intend to convert their holdings of foreign currencies
into U.S. dollars on a daily basis. Each Portfolio will, however, do so from
time to time, and investors should be aware of the costs of currency conversion.
Although foreign exchange dealers do not charge a fee for conversion, they do
realize a profit based on the spread between the prices at which they are buying
and selling various currencies. Thus, a dealer may offer to sell a foreign
currency to the Portfolio at one rate, while offering a lesser rate of exchange
should the Portfolio desire to resell that currency to the dealer.
HIGH YIELD SECURITIES
As discussed in the Prospectus, the HIGH YIELD PORTFOLIO will invest
principally in fixed-income securities rated Baa or lower by Moody's Investor's
Service Inc. ("Moody's"), or BBB or lower by Standard & Poor's Corporation
("S&P"), and the INCOME BUILDER PORTFOLIO may invest up to 20% of its total
assets in fixed-income securities rated below investment grade. Investment grade
is generally considered to be debt securities rated Baa or higher by Moody's or
BBB or higher by S&P. Lower-rated securities involve a higher degree of risk
than those securities with higher ratings. The ratings of fixed-income
securities by Moody's and S&P are a generally accepted barometer of credit risk.
They are, however, subject to certain limitations from an investor's standpoint.
Such limitations include the following: the rating of an issuer is heavily
weighted by past developments and does not necessarily reflect probable future
conditions; there is frequently a lag between the time a rating is assigned and
the time it is updated; and there may be varying degrees of difference in credit
risk of securities in each rating category. The Investment Manager will attempt
to reduce the overall portfolio credit risk through diversification and
selection of portfolio securities based on considerations mentioned below.
While the ratings provide a generally useful guide to credit risks, they do
not, nor do they purport to, offer any criteria for evaluating the interest rate
risk. Changes in the general level of interest rates cause fluctuations in the
prices of fixed-income securities already outstanding and will therefore result
in fluctuation in net asset value of the shares of the Portfolios. The extent of
the fluctuation is determined by a complex interaction of a number of factors.
The Investment Manager will evaluate those factors it considers relevant and
will make portfolio changes when it deems it appropriate in seeking to reduce
the risk of depreciation in the value Portfolios. However, in seeking to achieve
the Portfolio's primary objective, there will be times, such as during periods
of rising interest rates, when depreciation and realization of capital losses on
securities in the portfolio will be unavoidable. Moreover, medium and
lower-rated securities and non-rated securities of comparable quality tend to be
subject to wider fluctuations in yield and market values than higher-rated
securities. Such fluctuations after a security is
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acquired do not affect the cash income received from that security but are
reflected in the net asset value of the portfolio of the HIGH YIELD PORTFOLIO
and the INCOME BUILDER PORTFOLIO.
REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS
As discussed in the Prospectus, when cash may be available to a Portfolio
for only a few days, it may be invested by the Portfolio in repurchase
agreements until such time as it may otherwise be invested or used for payments
of obligations of the Portfolio. These agreements, which may be viewed as a type
of secured lending by the Portfolio, typically involve the acquisition by the
Portfolio of debt securities from a selling financial institution such as a
bank, savings and loan association or broker-dealer. The agreement provides that
the Portfolio will sell back to the institution, and that the institution will
repurchase, the underlying security ("collateral"), which is held by the
Portfolio's custodian bank, at a specified price and at a fixed time in the
future, usually not more than seven days from the date of purchase. The
Portfolio will receive interest from the institution until the time when the
repurchase is to occur. Although such date is deemed by the Portfolio to be the
maturity date of a repurchase agreement, the maturities of securities subject to
repurchase agreements are not subject to any limits and may exceed one year.
While repurchase agreements involve certain risks not associated with direct
investments in debt securities, the Portfolios follow procedures designed to
minimize such risks. These procedures include effecting repurchase transactions
only with large, well-capitalized and well-established financial institutions,
whose financial conditions will be continually monitored. In addition, the value
of the collateral underlying the repurchase agreement will always be at least
equal to the resale price, which consists of the purchase price paid to the
seller of the securities plus the accrued resale premium which is defined as the
amount specified in the repurchase agreement or the daily amortization of the
difference between the purchase price and the resale price specified in the
repurchase agreement. In the case of the MONEY MARKET PORTFOLIO, such collateral
will consist entirely of securities that are direct obligations of, or that are
fully guaranteed as to principal and interest by, the United States or any
agency thereof, and/or certificates of deposit, bankers' acceptances which are
eligible for acceptance by a Federal Reserve Bank, and, if the seller is a bank,
mortgage related securities (as such term is defined in section 3(a)(41) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that at the time the repurchase agreement is
entered into are rated in the highest rating category by the "Requisite NRSROs"
(see "Purchase and Redemption of Fund Shares--Determination of Net Asset
Value"). Additionally, in the case of the MONEY MARKET PORTFOLIO, the collateral
must qualify the repurchase agreement for preferential treatment under the
Federal Deposit Insurance Act of the Federal Bankruptcy Code. In the event of a
default or bankruptcy by a selling financial institution, the Portfolio will
seek to liquidate such collateral. However, the exercising of the right by a
Portfolio to liquidate such collateral could involve certain costs or delays
and, to the extent that proceeds from any sale upon a default of the obligation
to repurchase were less than the repurchase price, the Portfolio could suffer a
loss. It is the current policy of each Portfolio not to invest in repurchase
agreements that do not mature within seven days if any such investment, together
with any other illiquid assets held by the Portfolio, amounts to more than 10%
of its total assets (in the case of the MONEY MARKET PORTFOLIO, the QUALITY
INCOME PLUS PORTFOLIO, the UTILITIES PORTFOLIO, the DIVIDEND GROWTH PORTFOLIO,
the CAPITAL GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the EUROPEAN GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the EQUITY
PORTFOLIO and the STRATEGIST PORTFOLIO), or 15% of its net assets (in the case
of the other Portfolios). The investments by a Portfolio in repurchase
agreements may at times be substantial when, in the view of the Investment
Manager, liquidity, tax or other considerations warrant.
REVERSE REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS
Each of the QUALITY INCOME PLUS PORTFOLIO, the EUROPEAN GROWTH PORTFOLIO and
the PACIFIC GROWTH PORTFOLIO may also use reverse repurchase agreements as part
of its investment strategy. Reverse repurchase agreements involve sales by the
Portfolio of portfolio assets concurrently with an agreement by the Portfolio to
repurchase the same assets at a later date at a fixed price. Generally, the
effect of such a transaction is that the Portfolio can recover all or most of
the cash invested in the portfolio securities involved during the term of the
reverse repurchase agreement, while it will be able to keep the interest income
associated with those portfolio securities. Such transactions are only
advantageous if the interest cost to the Portfolio of the reverse repurchase
transaction is less than the cost of obtaining the
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cash otherwise. Opportunities to achieve this advantage may not always be
available, and the Portfolio intends to use the reverse repurchase technique
only when it will be to its advantage to do so. The Portfolio will establish a
segregated account with its custodian bank in which it will maintain cash or
cash equivalents or other portfolio securities (i.e., U.S. Government
securities) equal in value to its obligations in respect of reverse repurchase
agreements. Reverse repurchase agreements are considered borrowings by the
Portfolio and for purposes other than meeting redemptions may not exceed 10% of
the Portfolio's total assets.
LENDING OF PORTFOLIO SECURITIES
Consistent with applicable regulatory requirements and subject to Investment
Restriction (1) below, each Portfolio of the Fund may lend its portfolio
securities to brokers, dealers and other financial institutions, provided that
such loans are callable at any time by the Portfolio (subject to notice
provisions described below), and are at all times secured by cash or money
market instruments, which are maintained in a segregated account pursuant to
applicable regulations and that are equal to at least 100% of the market value,
determined daily, of the loaned securities. The advantage of such loans is that
the Portfolio continues to receive the income on the loaned securities while at
the same time earning interest on the cash amounts deposited as collateral,
which will be invested in short-term obligations. A Portfolio will not lend
portfolio securities having a value of more than 10% of its total assets.
A loan may be terminated by the borrower on one business day's notice, or by
the Portfolio on four business days' notice. If the borrower fails to deliver
the loaned securities within four days after receipt of notice, the Portfolio
could use the collateral to replace the securities while holding the borrower
liable for any excess of replacement cost over collateral. As with any
extensions of credit, there are risks of delay in recovery and in some cases
even loss of rights in the collateral should the borrower of the securities fail
financially. However, these loans of portfolio securities will only be made of
firms deemed by the Fund's management to be creditworthy and when the income
which can be earned from such loans justifies the attendant risks. Upon
termination of the loan, the borrower is required to return the securities to
the Fund. Any gain or loss in the market price during the loan period would
inure to the Portfolio.
When voting or consent rights which accompany loaned securities pass to the
borrower, a Portfolio will follow the policy of calling the loaned securities,
in whole or in part as may be appropriate, to be delivered within one day after
notice, to permit the exercise of such rights if the matters involved would have
a material effect on the Portfolio's investment in such loaned securities. The
Portfolio will pay reasonable finder's, administrative and custodial fees in
connection with a loan of its securities. The creditworthiness of firms to which
a Portfolio lends its portfolio securities will be monitored on an ongoing
basis.
WHEN-ISSUED AND DELAYED DELIVERY SECURITIES AND FORWARD COMMITMENTS
As discussed in the Prospectus, from time to time, in the ordinary course of
business, each Portfolio of the Fund other than the S&P 500 INDEX PORTFOLIO and
the COMPETITIVE EDGE "BEST IDEAS" PORTFOLIO may purchase securities on a
when-issued or delayed delivery basis or may purchase or sell securities on a
forward commitment basis. When such transactions are negotiated, the price is
fixed at the time of commitment, but delivery and payment can take place a month
or more after the date of the commitment. While the Fund will only purchase
securities on a when-issued, delayed delivery or forward commitment basis with
the intention of acquiring the securities, the Fund may sell the securities
before the settlement date, if it is deemed advisable. The securities so
purchased or sold are subject to market fluctuation and no interest or dividends
accrue to the purchaser prior to the settlement date. At the time the Portfolio
makes the commitment to purchase or sell securities on a when-issued, delayed
delivery or forward commitment basis, the Fund will record the transaction and
thereafter reflect the value, each day, of such security purchased or, if a
sale, the proceeds to be received, in determining the net asset value of the
Portfolio. At the time of delivery of the securities, the value may be more or
less than the purchase or sale price. The Portfolio will also establish a
segregated account with its custodian bank in which it will continually maintain
cash, U.S. Government securities or other liquid portfolio securities equal in
value to commitments to purchase securities on a when-issued, delayed delivery
or forward
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commitment basis; subject to this requirement, a Portfolio may purchase
securities on such basis without limit. An increase in the percentage of a
Portfolio's assets committed to the purchase of securities on a when-issued or
delayed delivery basis may increase the volatility of the Portfolio's net asset
value. The Investment Manager and the Board of Trustees do not believe that a
Portfolio's net asset value or income will be adversely affected by its purchase
of securities on such basis.
WHEN, AS AND IF ISSUED SECURITIES
As discussed in the Prospectus, each Portfolio other than the MONEY MARKET
Portfolio, the S&P 500 INDEX PORTFOLIO and the COMPETITIVE EDGE "BEST IDEAS"
PORTFOLIO may purchase securities on a "when, as and if issued" basis under
which the issuance of the security depends upon the occurrence of a subsequent
event, such as approval of a merger, corporate reorganization or debt
restructuring. The commitment for the purchase of any such security will not be
recognized in the portfolio of the Portfolio until the Investment Manager
determines that issuance of the security is probable. At such time, the Fund
will record the transaction and, in determining the net asset value of the
Portfolio, will reflect the value of the security daily. At such time, the
Portfolio will also establish a segregated account with its custodian bank in
which it will maintain cash, U.S. Government securities or other liquid
portfolio securities equal in value to recognized commitments for such
securities. The value of the Portfolio's commitments to purchase the securities
of any one issuer, together with the value of all securities of such issuer
owned by the Portfolio, may not exceed 5% of the value of the Portfolio's total
assets at the time the initial commitment to purchase such securities is made
(see "Investment Restrictions" in the Prospectus). Subject to the foregoing
restrictions, these Portfolios may purchase securities on such basis without
limit. An increase in the percentage of a Portfolio's assets committed to the
purchase of securities on a "when, as and if issued" basis may increase the
volatility of its net asset value. The Investment Manager and the Board of
Trustees do not believe that the net asset value of these Portfolios will be
adversely affected by their purchase of securities on such basis. These
Portfolios may also sell securities on a "when, as and if issued" basis provided
that the issuance of the security will result automatically from the exchange or
conversion of a security owned by the Portfolio at the time of the sale.
OPTIONS AND FUTURES TRANSACTIONS
As discussed in the Prospectus, each of the QUALITY INCOME PLUS PORTFOLIO,
the UTILITIES PORTFOLIO, the CAPITAL GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the GLOBAL DIVIDEND
GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the EUROPEAN GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the PACIFIC GROWTH PORTFOLIO,
the CAPITAL APPRECIATION PORTFOLIO, the COMPETITIVE EDGE "BEST IDEAS" PORTFOLIO
and the STRATEGIST PORTFOLIO may write covered call options against securities
held in its portfolio and covered put options on eligible portfolio securities
(the UTILITIES PORTFOLIO, the CAPITAL GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the GLOBAL DIVIDEND
GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the CAPITAL APPRECIATION PORTFOLIO, the COMPETITIVE EDGE "BEST
IDEAS" PORTFOLIO and the STRATEGIST PORTFOLIO may also write covered put and
call options on stock indexes) and purchase options of the same series to effect
closing transactions, and may hedge against potential changes in the market
value of investments (or anticipated investments) by purchasing put and call
options on portfolio (or eligible portfolio) securities and engaging in
transactions involving interest rate futures contracts and bond index futures
contracts and options on such contracts. In addition, the UTILITIES PORTFOLIO,
the CAPITAL GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the GLOBAL DIVIDEND GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the EUROPEAN
GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the PACIFIC GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the CAPITAL APPRECIATION
PORTFOLIO, the COMPETITIVE EDGE "BEST IDEAS" PORTFOLIO and the STRATEGIST
PORTFOLIO may also hedge against such changes by entering into transactions
involving stock index futures contracts and options thereon, and (except for the
EUROPEAN GROWTH PORTFOLIO and the PACIFIC GROWTH PORTFOLIO) options on stock
indexes. The GLOBAL DIVIDEND GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the EUROPEAN GROWTH PORTFOLIO,
the PACIFIC GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the CAPITAL APPRECIATION PORTFOLIO and the
COMPETITIVE EDGE "BEST IDEAS" PORTFOLIO may also hedge against potential changes
in the market value of the currencies in which their investments (or anticipated
investments) are denominated by writing and/or purchasing put and call options
on currencies and engaging in transactions involving currencies futures
contracts and options on such contracts. The S&P 500 INDEX PORTFOLIO may invest
in stock index futures contracts that are traded on U.S. commodity exchanges on
the S&P 500 Index.
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OPTIONS ON TREASURY BONDS AND NOTES. Because trading interest in options
written on Treasury bonds and notes tends to center on the most recently
auctioned issues, the exchanges on which such securities trade will not continue
indefinitely to introduce options with new expirations to replace expiring
options on particular issues. Instead, the expirations introduced at the
commencement of options trading on a particular issue will be allowed to run
their course, with the possible addition of a limited number of new expirations
as the original ones expire. Options trading on each issue of bonds or notes
will thus be phased out as new options are listed on more recent issues, and
options representing a full range of expirations will not ordinarily be
available for every issue on which options are traded.
OPTIONS ON TREASURY BILLS. Because a deliverable Treasury bill changes from
week to week, writers of Treasury bill calls cannot provide in advance for their
potential exercise settlement obligations by acquiring and holding the
underlying security. However, if a Portfolio holds a long position in Treasury
bills with a principal amount of the securities deliverable upon exercise of the
option, the position may be hedged from a risk standpoint by the writing of a
call option. For so long as the call option is outstanding, the Portfolio will
hold the Treasury bills in a segregated account with its Custodian, so that they
will be treated as being covered.
OPTIONS ON GNMA CERTIFICATES. Currently, options on GNMA Certificates are
only traded over-the-counter. Since the remaining principal balance of GNMA
Certificates declines each month as a result of mortgage payments, a Portfolio,
as a writer of a GNMA call holding GNMA Certificates as "cover" to satisfy its
delivery obligation in the event of exercise, may find that the GNMA
Certificates it holds no longer have a sufficient remaining principal balance
for this purpose. Should this occur, the Portfolio will purchase additional GNMA
Certificates from the same pool (if obtainable) or replacement GNMA Certificates
in the cash market in order to maintain its cover. A GNMA Certificate held by
the Portfolio to cover an option position in any but the nearest expiration
month may cease to represent cover for the option in the event of a decline in
the GNMA coupon rate at which new pools are originated under the FHA/VA loan
ceiling in effect at any given time, as such decline may increase the
prepayments made on other mortgage pools. If this should occur, the Portfolio
will no longer be covered, and the Portfolio will either enter into a closing
purchase transaction or replace such Certificate with a Certificate which
represents cover. When the Portfolio closes out its position or replaces such
Certificate, it may realize an unanticipated loss and incur transaction costs.
OPTIONS ON FOREIGN CURRENCIES. The GLOBAL DIVIDEND GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the
EUROPEAN GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the PACIFIC GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the CAPITAL
APPRECIATION PORTFOLIO and the COMPETITIVE EDGE "BEST IDEAS" PORTFOLIO may
purchase and write options on foreign currencies for purposes similar to those
involved with investing in forward foreign currency exchange contracts. For
example, in order to protect against declines in the dollar value of portfolio
securities which are denominated in a foreign currency, the Portfolio may
purchase put options on an amount of such foreign currency equivalent to the
current value of the portfolio securities involved. As a result, the Portfolio
would be enabled to sell the foreign currency for a fixed amount of U.S.
dollars, thereby "locking in" the dollar value of the portfolio securities (less
the amount of the premiums paid for the options). Conversely, these Portfolios
may purchase call options on foreign currencies in which securities they
anticipate purchasing are denominated to secure a set U.S. dollar price for such
securities and protect against a decline in the value of the U.S. dollar against
such foreign currency. These Portfolios may also purchase call and put options
to close out written option positions.
The GLOBAL DIVIDEND GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the EUROPEAN GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the
PACIFIC GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the CAPITAL APPRECIATION PORTFOLIO and the COMPETITIVE
EDGE "BEST IDEAS" PORTFOLIO may also write call options on foreign currency to
protect against potential declines in its portfolio securities which are
denominated in foreign currencies. If the U.S. dollar value of the portfolio
securities falls as a result of a decline in the exchange rate between the
foreign currency in which a security is denominated and the U.S. dollar, then a
loss to the Portfolio occasioned by such value decline would be ameliorated by
receipt of the premium on the option sold. At the same time, however, the
Portfolio gives up the benefit of any rise in value of the relevant portfolio
securities above the exercise price of the option and, in fact, only receives a
benefit from the writing of the option to the extent that the value of the
portfolio securities falls
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below the price of the premium received. The European Growth Portfolio may also
write options to close out long call option positions.
The markets in foreign currency options are relatively new and the ability
of the GLOBAL DIVIDEND GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the EUROPEAN GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the
PACIFIC GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the CAPITAL APPRECIATION PORTFOLIO and the COMPETITIVE
EDGE "BEST IDEAS" PORTFOLIO to establish and close out positions on such options
is subject to the maintenance of a liquid secondary market. Although a Portfolio
will not purchase or write such options unless and until, in the opinion of the
management of the Portfolio, the market for them has developed sufficiently to
ensure that the risks in connection with such options are not greater than the
risks in connection with the underlying currency, there can be no assurance that
a liquid secondary market will exist for a particular option at any specific
time. In addition, options on foreign currencies are affected by all of those
factors which influence foreign exchange rates and investments generally.
The value of a foreign currency option depends upon the value of the
underlying currency relative to the U.S. dollar. As a result, the price of the
option position may vary with changes in the value of either or both currencies
and have no relationship to the investment merits of a foreign security,
including foreign securities held in a "hedged" investment portfolio. Because
foreign currency transactions occurring in the interbank market involve
substantially larger amounts than those that may be involved in the use of
foreign currency options, investors may be disadvantaged by having to deal in an
odd lot market (generally consisting of transactions of less than $1 million)
for the underlying foreign currencies at prices that are less favorable than for
round lots.
There is no systematic reporting of last sale information for foreign
currencies or any regulatory requirement that quotations available through
dealers or other market sources be firm or revised on a timely basis. Quotation
information available is generally representative of very large transactions in
the interbank market and thus may not reflect relatively smaller transactions
(i.e., less than $1 million) where rates may be less favorable. The interbank
market in foreign currencies is a global, around-the-clock market. To the extent
that the U.S. options markets are closed while the markets for the underlying
currencies remain open, significant price and rate movements may take place in
the underlying markets that are not reflected in the options market.
COVERED CALL WRITING. As stated in the Prospectus, the QUALITY INCOME PLUS
PORTFOLIO, the UTILITIES PORTFOLIO, the CAPITAL GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the GLOBAL
DIVIDEND GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the EUROPEAN GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the PACIFIC GROWTH
PORTFOLIO, the COMPETITIVE EDGE "BEST IDEAS" PORTFOLIO and the STRATEGIST
PORTFOLIO are permitted to write covered call options on portfolio securities,
the GLOBAL DIVIDEND GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the EUROPEAN GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the PACIFIC
GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the CAPITAL APPRECIATION PORTFOLIO and the COMPETITIVE EDGE
"BEST IDEAS" PORTFOLIO are permitted to write covered call options on the U.S.
dollar and foreign currencies, in each case without limit, in order to aid in
achieving their investment objectives. Generally, a call option is "covered" if
the Portfolio owns, or has the right to acquire, without additional cash
consideration (or for additional cash consideration held for the Portfolio by
its Custodian in a segregated account) the underlying security (currency)
subject to the option except that in the case of call options on U.S. Treasury
Bills, a Portfolio might own U.S. Treasury Bills of a different series from
those underlying the call option, but with a principal amount and value
corresponding to the exercise price and a maturity date no later than that of
the securities (currency) deliverable under the call option. A call option is
also covered if the Portfolio holds a call on the same security (currency) as
the underlying security of the written option, where the exercise price of the
call used for coverage is equal to or less than the exercise price of the call
written or greater than the exercise price of the call written if the mark-
to-market difference is maintained by the Portfolio in cash, U.S. Government
securities or other liquid portfolio obligations which the Portfolio holds in a
segregated account maintained with the Portfolio's Custodian.
The Portfolio will receive from the purchaser, in return for a call it has
written, a "premium"; i.e., the price of the option. Receipt of these premiums
may better enable the QUALITY INCOME PLUS PORTFOLIO, the UTILITIES PORTFOLIO,
the CAPITAL GROWTH PORTFOLIO the GLOBAL DIVIDEND GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the EUROPEAN
GROWTH
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PORTFOLIO, the PACIFIC GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the CAPITAL APPRECIATION PORTFOLIO and
the COMPETITIVE EDGE "BEST IDEAS" PORTFOLIO to achieve a high current income
return for their shareholders and the STRATEGIST PORTFOLIO to achieve a more
consistent average total return than would be realized from holding the
underlying securities (and, in the case of the GLOBAL DIVIDEND GROWTH PORTFOLIO,
the EUROPEAN GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the PACIFIC GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the CAPITAL
APPRECIATION PORTFOLIO and the COMPETITIVE EDGE "BEST IDEAS" PORTFOLIO,
currencies) alone. Moreover, the premium received will offset a portion of the
potential loss incurred by the Portfolio if the securities (currencies)
underlying the option are ultimately sold (exchanged) by the Portfolio at a
loss. The premium received will fluctuate with varying economic market
conditions. If the market value of the portfolio securities (or, in the case of
the GLOBAL DIVIDEND GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the EUROPEAN GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the PACIFIC
GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the CAPITAL APPRECIATION PORTFOLIO and the COMPETITIVE EDGE
"BEST IDEAS" PORTFOLIO, the currencies in which they are denominated) upon which
call options have been written increases, the Portfolio may receive a lower
total return from the portion of its portfolio upon which calls have been
written than it would have had such calls not been written.
As regards listed options and certain over-the-counter ("OTC") options,
during the option period, the Portfolio may be required, at any time, to deliver
the underlying security (currency) against payment of the exercise price on any
calls it has written (exercise of certain listed and OTC options may be limited
to specific expiration dates). This obligation is terminated upon the expiration
of the option period or at such earlier time when the writer effects a closing
purchase transaction. A closing purchase transaction is accomplished by
purchasing an option of the same series as the option previously written.
However, once the Portfolio has been assigned an exercise notice, the Portfolio
will be unable to effect a closing purchase transaction.
Closing purchase transactions are ordinarily effected to realize a profit on
an outstanding call option, to prevent an underlying security (currency) from
being called, to permit the sale of an underlying security (or the exchange of
the underlying currency) or to enable the Portfolio to write another call option
on the underlying security (currency) with either a different exercise price or
expiration date or both. The Portfolio may realize a net gain or loss from a
closing purchase transaction depending upon whether the amount of the premium
received on the call option is more or less than the cost of effecting the
closing purchase transaction. Any loss incurred in a closing purchase
transaction may be wholly or partially offset by unrealized appreciation in the
market value of the underlying security (currency). Conversely, a gain resulting
from a closing purchase transaction could be offset in whole or in part or
exceeded by a decline in the market value of the underlying security (currency).
If a call option expires unexercised, the Portfolio realizes a gain in the
amount of the premium on the option less the commission paid. Such a gain,
however, may be offset by depreciation in the market value of the underlying
security (currency) during the option period. If a call option is exercised, the
Portfolio realizes a gain or loss from the sale of the underlying security
(currency) equal to the difference between the purchase price of the underlying
security (currency) and the proceeds of the sale of the security (currency) plus
the premium received when the option was written, less the commission paid.
Options written by a Portfolio normally have expiration dates of up to to
eighteen months from the date written. The exercise price of a call option may
be below, equal to or above the current market value of the underlying security
(currency) at the time the option is written. See "Risks of Options and Futures
Transactions," below.
COVERED PUT WRITING. As stated in the Prospectus, as a writer of a covered
put option, the QUALITY INCOME PLUS PORTFOLIO, the UTILITIES PORTFOLIO, the
CAPITAL GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the GLOBAL DIVIDEND GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the EUROPEAN
GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the PACIFIC GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the CAPITAL APPRECIATION
PORTFOLIO, the COMPETITIVE EDGE "BEST IDEAS" PORTFOLIO or the STRATEGIST
PORTFOLIO incurs an obligation to buy the security underlying the option from
the purchaser of the put, at the option's exercise price at any time during the
option period, at the purchaser's election (certain listed and OTC put options
written by the Portfolio will be exercisable by the purchaser only on a specific
date). A put is "covered" if the Portfolio maintains, in a segregated account
maintained on its behalf at its Custodian, cash, U.S. Government
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securities or other liquid portfolio securities in an amount equal to at least
the exercise price of the option, at all times during the option period.
Similarly, a written put position could be covered by the Portfolio by its
purchase of a put option on the same security as the underlying security of the
written option, where the exercise price of the purchased option is equal to or
more than the exercise price of the put written or less than the exercise price
of the put written if the mark-to-market difference is maintained by the
Portfolio in cash, U.S. Government securities or other liquid portfolio
securities which the Portfolio holds in a segregated account maintained at its
Custodian. In writing puts, the Portfolio assumes the risk of loss should the
market value of the underlying security decline below the exercise price of the
option (any loss being decreased by the receipt of the premium on the option
written). In the case of listed options, during the option period, the Portfolio
may be required, at any time, to make payment of the exercise price against
delivery of the underlying security. The operation of and limitations on covered
put options in other respects are substantially identical to those of call
options.
The QUALITY INCOME PLUS PORTFOLIO, the UTILITIES PORTFOLIO, the CAPITAL
GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the GLOBAL DIVIDEND GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the EUROPEAN GROWTH
PORTFOLIO, the PACIFIC GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the CAPITAL APPRECIATION PORTFOLIO, the
COMPETITIVE EDGE "BEST IDEAS" PORTFOLIO and the STRATEGIST PORTFOLIO will write
put options for two purposes: (1) to receive the income derived from the
premiums paid by purchasers; and (2) when the Investment Manager (or, for the
EUROPEAN GROWTH PORTFOLIO and the PACIFIC GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the Sub-Adviser)
wishes to purchase the security underlying the option at a price lower than its
current market price, in which case the Portfolio will write the covered put at
an exercise price reflecting the lower purchase price sought. The potential gain
on a covered put option is limited to the premium received on the option (less
the commissions paid on the transaction) while the potential loss equals the
difference between the exercise price of the option and the current market price
of the underlying securities when the put is exercised, offset by the premium
received (less the commissions paid on the transaction).
PURCHASING CALL AND PUT OPTIONS. As stated in the Prospectus, the QUALITY
INCOME PLUS PORTFOLIO may purchase listed and OTC call and put options in
amounts equalling up to 10% of its total assets. Each of the CAPITAL GROWTH
PORTFOLIO, the EUROPEAN GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the PACIFIC GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the
CAPITAL APPRECIATION PORTFOLIO and the COMPETITIVE EDGE "BEST IDEAS" PORTFOLIO
may purchase such call and put options in amounts equalling up to 5% of its
total assets. Each of the UTILITIES PORTFOLIO, the GLOBAL DIVIDEND GROWTH
PORTFOLIO and the STRATEGIST PORTFOLIO may purchase such call and put options
and options on stock indexes in amounts equalling 10% of its total assets, with
a maximum of 5% of its total assets invested in the purchase of stock index
options. These Portfolios may purchase call options in order to close out a
covered call position (see "Covered Call Writing" above) or purchase call
options on securities they intend to purchase. Each of the GLOBAL DIVIDEND
GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the EUROPEAN GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the PACIFIC GROWTH PORTFOLIO,
the CAPITAL APPRECIATION PORTFOLIO and the COMPETITIVE EDGE "BEST IDEAS"
PORTFOLIO may purchase a call option on foreign currency to hedge against an
adverse exchange rate move of the currency in which the security it anticipates
purchasing is denominated vis-a-vis the currency in which the exercise price is
denominated. The purchase of the call option to effect a closing transaction on
a call written over-the-counter may be a listed or an OTC option. In either
case, the call purchased is likely to be on the same securities (currencies) and
have the same terms as the written option. If purchased over-the-counter, the
option would generally be acquired from the dealer or financial institution
which purchased the call written by the Portfolio.
Each of the QUALITY INCOME PLUS PORTFOLIO, the UTILITIES PORTFOLIO, the
CAPITAL GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the GLOBAL DIVIDEND GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the EUROPEAN
GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the PACIFIC GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the COMPETITIVE EDGE "BEST
IDEAS" PORTFOLIO and the STRATEGIST PORTFOLIO may purchase put options on
securities (and, in the case of the GLOBAL DIVIDEND GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the
EUROPEAN GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the PACIFIC GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the CAPITAL
APPRECIATION PORTFOLIO and the COMPETITIVE EDGE "BEST IDEAS" PORTFOLIO, on
currencies) which it holds (or has the right to acquire) in its portfolio only
to protect itself against a decline in the value of the security (currency). If
the value of the underlying security (currency) were to fall below the exercise
price of the put purchased in an amount greater than the premium paid for the
option, the Portfolio would incur no additional loss. These Portfolios may also
purchase put options
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to close out written put positions in a manner similar to call options closing
purchase transactions. In addition, a Portfolio may sell a put option which it
has previously purchased prior to the sale of the securities (currencies)
underlying such option. Such a sale would result in a net gain or loss depending
on whether the amount received on the sale is more or less than the premium and
other transaction costs paid on the put option when it was purchased. Any such
gain or loss could be offset in whole or in part by a change in the market value
of the underlying security (currency). If a put option purchased by a Portfolio
expired without being sold or exercised, the Portfolio would realize a loss.
RISKS OF OPTIONS TRANSACTIONS. During the option period, the covered call
writer has, in return for the premium on the option, given up the opportunity
for capital appreciation above the exercise price should the market price of the
underlying security (or, in the case of the GLOBAL DIVIDEND GROWTH PORTFOLIO,
the EUROPEAN GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the CAPITAL APPRECIATION PORTFOLIO and the
COMPETITIVE EDGE "BEST IDEAS" PORTFOLIO, the value of the security's denominated
currency) increase, but has retained the risk of loss should the price of the
underlying security (or, in the case of the GLOBAL DIVIDEND GROWTH PORTFOLIO,
the EUROPEAN GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the PACIFIC GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the CAPITAL
APPRECIATION PORTFOLIO and the COMPETITIVE EDGE "BEST IDEAS" PORTFOLIO, the
value of the security's denominated currency) decline. The covered put writer
also retains the risk of loss should the market value of the underlying security
decline below the exercise price of the option less the premium received on the
sale of the option. In both cases, the writer has no control over the time when
it may be required to fulfill its obligation as a writer of the option. Once an
option writer has received an exercise notice, it cannot effect a closing
purchase transaction in order to terminate its obligation under the option and
must deliver or receive the underlying securities at the exercise price.
Prior to exercise or expiration, an option position can only be terminated
by entering into a closing purchase or sale transaction. If a covered call
option writer is unable to effect a closing purchase transaction or to purchase
an offsetting over-the-counter option, it cannot sell the underlying security
until the option expires or the option is exercised. Accordingly, a covered call
option writer may not be able to sell an underlying security at a time when it
might otherwise be advantageous to do so. A secured put option writer who is
unable to effect a closing purchase transaction or to purchase an offsetting
over-the-counter option would continue to bear the risk of decline in the market
price of the underlying security until the option expires or is exercised. In
addition, a covered writer would be unable to utilize the amount held in cash or
U.S. Government securities or other liquid portfolio securities as security for
the put option for other investment purposes until the exercise or expiration of
the option.
A Portfolio's ability to close out its position as a writer of an option is
dependent upon the existence of a liquid secondary market on option exchanges.
There is no assurance that such a market will exist, particularly in the case of
OTC options, as such options will generally only be closed out by entering into
a closing purchase transaction with the purchasing dealer. However, a Portfolio
may be able to purchase an offsetting option which does not close out its
position as a writer but constitutes an asset of equal value to the obligation
under the option written. If the Portfolio is not able to either enter into a
closing purchase transaction or purchase an offsetting position, it will be
required to maintain the securities subject to the call, or the collateral
underlying the put, even though it might not be advantageous to do so, until a
closing transaction can be entered into (or the option is exercised or expires).
Among the possible reasons for the absence of a liquid secondary market on
an Exchange are: (i) insufficient trading interest in certain options; (ii)
restrictions on transactions imposed by an Exchange; (iii) trading halts,
suspensions or other restrictions imposed with respect to particular classes or
series of options or underlying securities; (iv) interruption of the normal
operations on an Exchange; (v) inadequacy of the facilities of an Exchange or
the Options Clearing Corporation ("OCC") to handle current trading volume; or
(vi) a decision by one or more Exchanges to discontinue the trading of options
(or a particular class or series of options), in which event the secondary
market on that Exchange (or in that class or series of options) would cease to
exist, although outstanding options on that Exchange that had been issued by the
OCC as a result of trades on that Exchange would generally continue to be
exercisable in accordance with their terms.
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In the event of the bankruptcy of a broker through which a Portfolio engages
in transactions in options, the Portfolio could experience delays and/or losses
in liquidating open positions purchased or sold through the broker and/or incur
a loss of all or part of its margin deposits with the broker. Similarly, in the
event of the bankruptcy of the writer of an OTC option purchased by a Portfolio,
the Portfolio could experience a loss of all or part of the value of the option.
Transactions are entered into by a Portfolio only with brokers or financial
institutions deemed creditworthy by the Portfolio's management.
Each of the Exchanges has established limitations governing the maximum
number of call or put options on the same underlying security or futures
contract (whether or not covered) which may be written by a single investor,
whether acting alone or in concert with others (regardless of whether such
options are written on the same or different Exchanges or are held or written on
one or more accounts or through one or more brokers). An Exchange may order the
liquidation of positions found to be in violation of these limits and it may
impose other sanctions or restrictions. These position limits may restrict the
number of listed options which a Portfolio may write.
The hours of trading for options may not conform to the hours during which
the underlying securities are traded. To the extent that the option markets
close before the markets for the underlying securities, significant price and
rate movements can take place in the underlying markets that cannot be reflected
in the option markets.
STOCK INDEX OPTIONS. The UTILITIES PORTFOLIO, the CAPITAL GROWTH PORTFOLIO,
the GLOBAL DIVIDEND GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the CAPITAL APPRECIATION PORTFOLIO, the
COMPETITIVE EDGE "BEST IDEAS" PORTFOLIO and the STRATEGIST PORTFOLIO may invest
in options on stock indexes. As stated in the Prospectus, options on stock
indexes are similar to options on stock except that, rather than the right to
take or make delivery of stock at a specified price, an option on a stock index
gives the holder the right to receive, upon exercise of the option, an amount of
cash if the closing level of the stock index upon which the option is based is
greater than, in the case of a call, or less than, in the case of a put, the
exercise price of the option. This amount of cash is equal to such difference
between the closing price of the index and the exercise price of the option
expressed in dollars times a specified multiple (the "multiplier"). The
multiplier for an index option performs a function similar to the unit of
trading for a stock option. It determines the total dollar value per contract of
each point in the difference between the exercise price of an option and the
current level of the underlying index. A multiplier of 100 means that a
one-point difference will yield $100. Options on different indexes may have
different multipliers. The writer of the option is obligated, in return for the
premium received, to make delivery of this amount. Unlike stock options, all
settlements are in cash and a gain or loss depends on price movements in the
stock market generally (or in a particular segment of the market) rather than
the price movements in individual stocks. Currently, options are traded on,
among other indexes, the S&P 100 Index and the S&P 500 Index on the Chicago
Board Options Exchange, the Major Market Index and the Computer Technology
Index, Oil Index and Institutional Index on the American Stock Exchange and the
NYSE Index and NYSE Beta Index on the New York Stock Exchange, The Financial
News Composite Index on the Pacific Stock Exchange and the Value Line Index,
National O-T-C Index and Utilities Index on the Philadelphia Stock Exchange,
each of which and any similar index on which options are traded in the future
which include stocks that are not limited to any particular industry or segment
of the market is referred to as a "broadly based stock market index." Options on
broad-based stock indexes provide the Portfolio with a means of protecting the
Portfolio against the risk of market-wide price movements. If the Investment
Manager anticipates a market decline, the Portfolio could purchase a stock index
put option. If the expected market decline materialized, the resulting decrease
in the value of the Portfolio's portfolio would be offset to the extent of the
increase in the value of the put option. If the Investment Manager anticipates a
market rise, the Portfolio may purchase a stock index call option to enable the
Portfolio to participate in such rise until completion of anticipated common
stock purchases by the Portfolio. Purchases and sales of stock index options
also enable the Investment Manager to more speedily achieve changes in a
Portfolio's equity positions.
The UTILITIES PORTFOLIO, the CAPITAL GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the GLOBAL DIVIDEND
GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the CAPITAL APPRECIATION PORTFOLIO, the COMPETITIVE EDGE "BEST
IDEAS" PORTFOLIO and the STRATEGIST PORTFOLIO will write put options on stock
indexes only if such positions are covered by cash, U.S. Government securities
or
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other liquid portfolio securities equal to the aggregate exercise price of the
puts, or by a put option on the same stock index with a strike price no lower
than the strike price of the put option sold by the Portfolio, which cover is
held for the Portfolio in a segregated account maintained for it by its
Custodian. All call options on stock indexes written by a Portfolio will be
covered either by a portfolio of stocks substantially replicating the movement
of the index underlying the call option or by holding a separate call option on
the same stock index with a strike price no higher than the strike price of the
call option sold by the Portfolio.
RISKS OF OPTIONS ON INDEXES. Because exercises of stock index options are
settled in cash, call writers such as the UTILITIES PORTFOLIO, the CAPITAL
GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the GLOBAL DIVIDEND GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the CAPITAL APPRECIATION
PORTFOLIO, the COMPETITIVE EDGE "BEST IDEAS" PORTFOLIO and the STRATEGIST
PORTFOLIO cannot provide in advance for their potential settlement obligations
by acquiring and holding the underlying securities. A call writer can offset
some of the risk of its writing position by holding a diversified portfolio of
stocks similar to those on which the underlying index is based. However, most
investors cannot, as a practical matter, acquire and hold a portfolio containing
exactly the same stocks as the underlying index, and, as a result, bear a risk
that the value of the securities held will vary from the value of the index.
Even if an index call writer could assemble a stock portfolio that exactly
reproduced the composition of the underlying index, the writer still would not
be fully covered from a risk standpoint because of the "timing risk" inherent in
writing index options. When an index option is exercised, the amount of cash
that the holder is entitled to receive is determined by the difference between
the exercise price and the closing index level on the date when the option is
exercised. As with other kinds of options, the writer will not learn that it has
been assigned until the next business day, at the earliest. The time lag between
exercise and notice of assignment poses no risk for the writer of a covered call
on a specific underlying security, such as a common stock, because there the
writer's obligation is to deliver the underlying security, not to pay its value
as of a fixed time in the past. So long as the writer already owns the
underlying security, it can satisfy its settlement obligations by simply
delivering it, and the risk that its value may have declined since the exercise
date is borne by the exercising holder. In contrast, even if the writer of an
index call holds stocks that exactly match the composition of the underlying
index, it will not be able to satisfy its assignment obligations by delivering
those stocks against payment of the exercise price. Instead, it will be required
to pay cash in an amount based on the closing index value on the exercise date;
and by the time it learns that it has been assigned, the index may have
declined, with a corresponding decline in the value of its stock portfolio. This
"timing risk" is an inherent limitation on the ability of index call writers to
cover their risk exposure by holding stock positions.
A holder of an index option who exercises it before the closing index value
for that day is available runs the risk that the level of the underlying index
may subsequently change. If such a change causes the exercised option to fall
out-of-the-money, the exercising holder will be required to pay the difference
between the closing index value and the exercise price of the option (times the
applicable multiplier) to the assigned writer.
If dissemination of the current level of an underlying index is interrupted,
or if trading is interrupted in stocks accounting for a substantial portion of
the value of an index, the trading of options on that index will ordinarily be
halted. If the trading of options on an underlying index is halted, an exchange
may impose restrictions prohibiting the exercise of such options.
FUTURES CONTRACTS. As stated in the Prospectus, the QUALITY INCOME PLUS
PORTFOLIO, the UTILITIES PORTFOLIO, the CAPITAL GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the GLOBAL
DIVIDEND GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the EUROPEAN GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the PACIFIC GROWTH
PORTFOLIO, the CAPITAL APPRECIATION PORTFOLIO, the COMPETITIVE EDGE "BEST IDEAS"
PORTFOLIO and the STRATEGIST PORTFOLIO may purchase and sell interest rate
futures contracts that are traded, or may in the future be traded, on U.S.
commodity exchanges on such underlying securities as U.S. Treasury bonds, notes,
bills and GNMA Certificates and bond index futures contracts that are traded, or
may in the future be traded, on U.S. commodity exchanges on such indexes as the
Moody's Investment-Grade Corporate Bond Index. These Portfolios may also
purchase and sell stock index futures contracts that are traded on U.S.
commodity exchanges on such indexes as the S&P 500 Index and the New York Stock
Exchange Composite Index. The GLOBAL DIVIDEND GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the
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EUROPEAN GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the PACIFIC GROWTH PORTFOLIO and the CAPITAL
APPRECIATION PORTFOLIO may also purchase and sell futures contracts that are
currently traded, or may in the future be traded, on foreign commodity exchanges
on such underlying securities as common stocks or any foreign government
fixed-income security, on various currencies ("currency futures") and on such
indexes of foreign equity and fixed-income securities as may exist or come into
being, such as the Financial Times Equity Index. The S&P 500 INDEX PORTFOLIO may
invest in stock index futures contracts that are traded on U.S. commodity
exchanges on the S&P 500 Index.
As a futures contract purchaser, a Portfolio incurs an obligation to take
delivery of a specified amount of the obligation underlying the contract at a
specified time in the future for a specified price. As a seller of a futures
contract, a Portfolio incurs an obligation to deliver the specified amount of
the underlying obligation at a specified time in return for an agreed upon
price.
The QUALITY INCOME PLUS PORTFOLIO, the UTILITIES PORTFOLIO, the CAPITAL
GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the GLOBAL DIVIDEND GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the EUROPEAN GROWTH
PORTFOLIO, the PACIFIC GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the CAPITAL APPRECIATION PORTFOLIO, the
COMPETITIVE EDGE "BEST IDEAS" PORTFOLIO and the STRATEGIST PORTFOLIO will
purchase or sell interest rate futures contracts for the purpose of hedging
their fixed-income portfolio (or anticipated portfolio) securities against
changes in prevailing interest rates or, in the case of the UTILITIES PORTFOLIO
and the STRATEGIST PORTFOLIO, to alter the Portfolio's asset allocation in
fixed-income securities. If it is anticipated that interest rates may rise and,
concomitantly, the price of certain of its portfolio securities fall, a
Portfolio may sell an interest rate futures contract or a bond index futures
contract. If declining interest rates are anticipated, or if the Investment
Manager wishes to increase the UTILITIES PORTFOLIO's, or the STRATEGIST
PORTFOLIO's, allocation of fixed-income securities, a Portfolio may purchase an
interest rate futures contract or a bond index futures contract to protect
against a potential increase in the price of securities the Portfolio intends to
purchase. Subsequently, appropriate securities may be purchased by the Portfolio
in an orderly fashion; as securities are purchased, corresponding futures
positions would be terminated by offsetting sales of contracts.
The UTILITIES PORTFOLIO, the CAPITAL GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the GLOBAL DIVIDEND
GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the EUROPEAN GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the PACIFIC GROWTH PORTFOLIO,
the CAPITAL APPRECIATION PORTFOLIO, the COMPETITIVE EDGE "BEST IDEAS" PORTFOLIO
and the STRATEGIST PORTFOLIO will purchase or sell stock index futures contracts
for the purpose of hedging their equity portfolio (or anticipated portfolio)
securities against changes in their prices. If the Investment Manager
anticipates that the prices of stock held by a Portfolio may fall or wishes to
decrease the UTILITIES PORTFOLIO's, or the STRATEGIST PORTFOLIO's, asset
allocation in equity securities, the Portfolio may sell a stock index futures
contract. Conversely, if the Investment Manager wishes to increase the assets of
the UTILITIES PORTFOLIO or the STRATEGIST PORTFOLIO which are invested in stocks
or as a hedge against anticipated prices rises in those stocks which the
UTILITIES PORTFOLIO, the CAPITAL GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the GLOBAL DIVIDEND GROWTH
PORTFOLIO, the EUROPEAN GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the PACIFIC GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the
CAPITAL APPRECIATION PORTFOLIO, the COMPETITIVE EDGE "BEST IDEAS" PORTFOLIO OR
THE STRATEGIST PORTFOLIO intends to purchase, the Portfolio may purchase stock
index futures contracts. This allows the Portfolio to purchase equities, in
accordance with the asset allocations of the Portfolio's management, in an
orderly and efficacious manner.
The S&P 500 INDEX PORTFOLIO may purchase and sell stock index futures
contracts that are traded on U.S. commodity exchanges on the S&P 500 Index, for
the following reasons: to simulate full investment in the S&P 500 Index while
retaining a cash balance for portfolio management purposes, to facilitate
trading, to reduce transaction costs or to seek higher investment returns when a
futures contracts is priced more attractively than stocks comprising the S&P 500
Index.
The GLOBAL DIVIDEND GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the EUROPEAN GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the
PACIFIC GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the CAPITAL APPRECIATION PORTFOLIO and the COMPETITIVE
EDGE "BEST IDEAS" PORTFOLIO will purchase or sell currency futures on currencies
in which their portfolio securities (or anticipated portfolio securities) are
denominated for the purposes of hedging against anticipated changes in currency
exchange rates. These Portfolios will enter into currency futures contracts for
the same reasons as set forth under the heading "Forward Foreign Currency
Exchange Contracts" above for entering into forward foreign
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currency exchange contracts; namely, to "lock-in" the value of a security
purchased or sold in a given currency vis-a-vis a different currency or to hedge
against an adverse currency exchange rate movement of a portfolio security's (or
anticipated portfolio security's) denominated currency vis-a-vis a different
currency.
In addition to the above, interest rate and bond index and stock index (and
currency) futures contracts will be bought or sold in order to close out a short
or long position in a corresponding futures contract.
Although most interest rate futures contracts call for actual delivery or
acceptance of securities, the contracts usually are closed out before the
settlement date without the making or taking of delivery. Index futures
contracts provide for the delivery of an amount of cash equal to a specified
dollar amount times the difference between the index value at the open or close
of the last trading day of the contract and the futures contract price. A
futures contract sale is closed out by effecting a futures contract purchase for
the same aggregate amount of the specific type of security (or, in the case of
the GLOBAL DIVIDEND GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the EUROPEAN GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the PACIFIC
GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the CAPITAL APPRECIATION PORTFOLIO or the COMPETITIVE EDGE
"BEST IDEAS" PORTFOLIO, currency) and the same delivery date. If the sale price
exceeds the offsetting purchase price, the seller would be paid the difference
and would realize a gain. If the offsetting purchase price exceeds the sale
price, the seller would pay the difference and would realize a loss. Similarly,
a futures contract purchase is closed out by effecting a futures contract sale
for the same aggregate amount of the specific type of security (currency) and
the same delivery date. If the offsetting sale price exceeds the purchase price,
the purchaser would realize a gain, whereas if the purchase price exceeds the
offsetting sale price, the purchaser would realize a loss. There is no assurance
that a Portfolio will be able to enter into a closing transaction.
INTEREST RATE FUTURES CONTRACTS. When the QUALITY INCOME PLUS PORTFOLIO,
the UTILITIES PORTFOLIO, the CAPITAL GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the GLOBAL DIVIDEND
GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the EUROPEAN GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the PACIFIC GROWTH PORTFOLIO,
the CAPITAL APPRECIATION PORTFOLIO, the COMPETITIVE EDGE "BEST IDEAS" PORTFOLIO
or the STRATEGIST PORTFOLIO enters into a futures contract it is initially
required to deposit with its Custodian, in an account in the name of the broker
performing the transaction, an "initial margin" of cash or U.S. Government
securities or other liquid portfolio securities equal to approximately 2% of the
contract amount. Initial margin requirements are established by the Exchanges on
which futures contracts trade and may, from time to time, change. In addition,
brokers may establish margin deposit requirements in excess of those required by
the Exchanges.
Initial margin in futures transactions is different from margin in
securities transactions in that initial margin does not involve the borrowing of
funds by a brokers' client but is, rather, a good faith deposit on the futures
contract which will be returned to the Portfolio upon the proper termination of
the futures contract. The margin deposits made are marked to market daily and
the Portfolio may be required to make subsequent deposits of cash or U.S.
Government securities, called "variation margin", with the Portfolio's futures
contract clearing broker, which are reflective of price fluctuations in the
futures contract. Currently, interest rate futures contracts can be purchased on
debt securities such as U.S. Treasury Bills and Bonds, U.S. Treasury Notes with
Maturities between 6 1/2 and 10 years, GNMA Certificates and Bank Certificates
of Deposit.
INDEX FUTURES CONTRACTS. As discussed in the Prospectus, the QUALITY INCOME
PLUS PORTFOLIO, the UTILITIES PORTFOLIO, the CAPITAL GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the
GLOBAL DIVIDEND GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the EUROPEAN GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the PACIFIC
GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the CAPITAL APPRECIATION PORTFOLIO, the COMPETITIVE EDGE "BEST
IDEAS" PORTFOLIO and the STRATEGIST PORTFOLIO may invest in bond index futures
contracts, and the UTILITIES PORTFOLIO, the CAPITAL GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the GLOBAL
DIVIDEND GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the EUROPEAN GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the PACIFIC GROWTH
PORTFOLIO, the CAPITAL APPRECIATION PORTFOLIO, the COMPETITIVE EDGE "BEST IDEAS"
PORTFOLIO and the STRATEGIST PORTFOLIO may invest in stock index futures
contracts. An index futures contract sale creates an obligation by the
Portfolio, as seller, to deliver cash at a specified future time. An index
futures contract purchase would create an obligation by the Portfolio, as
purchaser, to take delivery of cash at a specified future time. Futures
contracts on indexes do not require the physical
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delivery of securities, but provide for a final cash settlement on the
expiration date which reflects accumulated profits and losses credited or
debited to each party's account.
The Portfolio is required to maintain margin deposits with brokerage firms
through which it effects index futures contracts in a manner similar to that
described above for interest rate futures contracts. Currently, the initial
margin requirements range from 3% to 10% of the contract amount for index
futures. In addition, due to current industry practice, daily variations in
gains and losses on open contracts are required to be reflected in cash in the
form of variation margin payments. The Portfolio may be required to make
additional margin payments during the term of the contract.
At any time prior to expiration of the futures contract, the Portfolio may
elect to close the position by taking an opposite position which will operate to
terminate the Portfolio's position in the futures contract. A final
determination of variation margin is then made, additional cash is required to
be paid by or released to the Portfolio and the Portfolio realizes a loss or a
gain.
Currently, index futures contracts can be purchased or sold with respect to,
among others, the Standard & Poor's 500 Stock Price Index and the Standard &
Poor's 100 Stock Price Index on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, the New York
Stock Exchange Composite Index on the New York Futures Exchange, the Major
Market Index on the American Stock Exchange, the Value Line Stock Index on the
Kansas City Board of Trade and the Moody's Investment-Grade Corporate Bond Index
on the Chicago Board of Trade.
CURRENCY FUTURES. As noted above, the GLOBAL DIVIDEND GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the
EUROPEAN GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the PACIFIC GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the CAPITAL
APPRECIATION PORTFOLIO, the COMPETITIVE EDGE "BEST IDEAS" PORTFOLIO may invest
in foreign currency futures. Generally, foreign currency futures provide for the
delivery of a specified amount of a given currency, on the exercise date, for a
set exercise price denominated in U.S. dollars or other currency. Foreign
currency futures contracts would be entered into for the same reason and under
the same circumstances as forward foreign currency exchange contracts. The
Portfolio's management will assess such factors as cost spreads, liquidity and
transaction costs in determining whether to utilize futures contracts or forward
contracts in its foreign currency transactions and hedging strategy. Currently,
currency futures exist for, among other foreign currencies, the Japanese yen,
German mark, Canadian dollar, British pound, Swiss franc and European currency
unit.
Purchasers and sellers of foreign currency futures contracts are subject to
the same risks that apply to the buying and selling of futures generally. In
addition, there are risks associated with foreign currency futures contracts and
their use as a hedging device similar to those associated with options on
foreign currencies described above. Further, settlement of a foreign currency
futures contract must occur within the country issuing the underlying currency.
Thus, the Portfolio must accept or make delivery of the underlying foreign
currency in accordance with any U.S. or foreign restrictions or regulation
regarding the maintenance of foreign banking arrangements by U.S. residents and
may be required to pay any fees, taxes or charges associated with such delivery
which are assessed in the issuing country.
Options on foreign currency futures contracts may involve certain additional
risks. Trading options on foreign currency futures contracts is relatively new.
The ability to establish and close out positions on such options is subject to
the maintenance of a liquid secondary market. To reduce this risk, the
Portfolios will not purchase or write options on foreign currency futures
contracts unless and until, in the opinion of the Portfolio's management, the
market for such options has developed sufficiently that the risks in connection
with such options are not greater than the risks in connection with transactions
in the underlying foreign currency futures contracts.
OPTIONS ON FUTURES CONTRACTS. The QUALITY INCOME PLUS PORTFOLIO, the
UTILITIES PORTFOLIO, the CAPITAL GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the GLOBAL DIVIDEND GROWTH
PORTFOLIO, the EUROPEAN GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the PACIFIC GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the
CAPITAL APPRECIATION PORTFOLIO, the COMPETITIVE EDGE "BEST IDEAS" PORTFOLIO and
the STRATEGIST PORTFOLIO may purchase and write call and put options on futures
contracts which are traded on an exchange and enter into closing transactions
with respect to such options to terminate an existing position. An option on a
futures contract gives the purchaser the right, in return for the premium paid,
to
35
<PAGE>
assume a position in a futures contract (a long position if the option is a call
and a short position if the option is a put) at a specified exercise price at
any time during the term of the option. Upon the exercise of the option, the
delivery of the futures position by the writer of the option to the holder of
the option is accompanied by delivery of the accumulated balance in the writer's
futures margin account, which represents the amount by which the market price of
the futures contract at the time of exercise exceeds, in the case of a call, or
is less than, in the case of a put, the exercise price of the option on the
futures contract.
The QUALITY INCOME PLUS PORTFOLIO, the UTILITIES PORTFOLIO, the CAPITAL
GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the GLOBAL DIVIDEND GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the EUROPEAN GROWTH
PORTFOLIO, the PACIFIC GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the CAPITAL APPRECIATION PORTFOLIO, the
COMPETITIVE EDGE "BEST IDEAS" PORTFOLIO and the STRATEGIST PORTFOLIO will only
purchase and write options on futures contracts for identical purposes to those
set forth above for the purchase of a futures contract (purchase of a call
option or sale of a put option) and the sale of a futures contract (purchase of
a put option or sale of a call option), or to close out a long or short position
in futures contracts. If, for example, the Investment Manager (or, in the case
of the EUROPEAN GROWTH PORTFOLIO and the PACIFIC GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the
Sub-Adviser) wished to protect against an increase in interest rates and the
resulting negative impact on the value of a portion of a Portfolio's
fixed-income portfolio, it might write a call option on an interest rate futures
contract, the underlying security of which correlates with the portion of the
portfolio the Portfolio's management seeks to hedge. Any premiums received in
the writing of options on futures contracts may, of course, augment the income
of the Portfolio and thereby provide a further hedge against losses resulting
from price declines in portions of its portfolio.
The writer of an option on a futures contract is required to deposit initial
and variation margin pursuant to requirements similar to those applicable to
futures contracts. Premiums received from the writing of an option on a futures
contract are included in initial margin deposits.
LIMITATIONS ON FUTURES CONTRACTS AND OPTIONS ON FUTURES. The QUALITY INCOME
PLUS PORTFOLIO, the UTILITIES PORTFOLIO, the CAPITAL GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the
GLOBAL DIVIDEND GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the EUROPEAN GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the PACIFIC
GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the CAPITAL APPRECIATION PORTFOLIO, the COMPETITIVE EDGE "BEST
IDEAS" PORTFOLIO and the STRATEGIST PORTFOLIO may not enter into futures
contracts or purchase related options thereon if, immediately thereafter, the
amount committed to margin plus the amount paid for premiums for unexpired
options on futures contracts exceeds 5% of the value of the Portfolio's total
assets, after taking into account unrealized gains and unrealized losses on such
contracts it has entered into, provided, however, that in the case of an option
that is in-the-money (the exercise price of the call (put) option is less (more)
than the market price of the underlying security) at the time of purchase, the
in-the-money amount may be excluded in calculating the 5%. However, there is no
overall limitation on the percentage of a Portfolio's assets which may be
subject to a hedge position. In addition, in accordance with the regulations of
the Commodity Futures Trading Commission ("CFTC") under which the Fund is
exempted from registration as a commodity pool operator, these Portfolios may
only enter into futures contracts and options on futures contracts transactions
for purposes of hedging a part or all of the Portfolio's portfolio. If the CFTC
changes its regulations so that a Portfolio would be permitted to write options
on futures contracts for income purposes without CFTC registration, these
Portfolios may engage in such transactions for those purposes. The S&P 500 INDEX
PORTFOLIO may enter into stock index futures contracts provided that not more
than 5% of its assets are required as an initial margin deposit and provided
that the contract prices of the stock index futures contracts do not exceed 20%
of its total assets. Except as described above, there are no other limitations
on the use of futures and options thereon by these Portfolios.
RISKS OF TRANSACTIONS IN FUTURES CONTRACTS AND RELATED OPTIONS. As stated
in the Prospectus, the QUALITY INCOME PLUS PORTFOLIO, the UTILITIES PORTFOLIO,
the CAPITAL GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the GLOBAL DIVIDEND GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the EUROPEAN
GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the PACIFIC GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the CAPITAL APPRECIATION
PORTFOLIO, the COMPETITIVE EDGE "BEST IDEAS" PORTFOLIO and the STRATEGIST
PORTFOLIO may sell a futures contract to protect against the decline in the
value of securities (or, in the case of the GLOBAL DIVIDEND GROWTH PORTFOLIO,
the EUROPEAN GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the PACIFIC GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the CAPITAL
APPRECIATION
36
<PAGE>
PORTFOLIO and the COMPETITIVE EDGE "BEST IDEAS" PORTFOLIO, the currency in which
securities are denominated) held by the Portfolio. However, it is possible that
the futures market may advance and the value of securities (or, in the case of
the GLOBAL DIVIDEND GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the EUROPEAN GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the PACIFIC
GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the CAPITAL APPRECIATION PORTFOLIO and the COMPETITIVE EDGE
"BEST IDEAS" PORTFOLIO, the currency in which they are denominated) held in the
Portfolio may decline. If this occurred, the Portfolio would lose money on the
futures contract and also experience a decline in value of its portfolio
securities. However, while this could occur for a very brief period or to a very
small degree, over time the value of a diversified portfolio will tend to move
in the same direction as the futures contracts.
If the QUALITY INCOME PLUS PORTFOLIO, the UTILITIES PORTFOLIO, the CAPITAL
GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the GLOBAL DIVIDEND GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the EUROPEAN GROWTH
PORTFOLIO, the PACIFIC GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the CAPITAL APPRECIATION PORTFOLIO and
the COMPETITIVE EDGE "BEST IDEAS" PORTFOLIO, or the STRATEGIST PORTFOLIO
purchases a futures contract to hedge against the increase in value of
securities it intends to buy (or, in the case of the GLOBAL DIVIDEND GROWTH
PORTFOLIO, the EUROPEAN GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the PACIFIC GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the
CAPITAL APPRECIATION PORTFOLIO or the COMPETITIVE EDGE "BEST IDEAS" PORTFOLIO,
the currency in which they are denominated), and the value of such securities
(currency) decreases, then the Portfolio may determine not to invest in the
securities as planned and will realize a loss on the futures contract that is
not offset by a reduction in the price of the securities.
In order to assure that the QUALITY INCOME PLUS PORTFOLIO, the UTILITIES
PORTFOLIO, the CAPITAL GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the GLOBAL DIVIDEND GROWTH PORTFOLIO,
the EUROPEAN GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the PACIFIC GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the CAPITAL
APPRECIATION PORTFOLIO and the COMPETITIVE EDGE "BEST IDEAS" PORTFOLIO, and the
STRATEGIST PORTFOLIO are utilizing futures transactions for hedging purposes as
such is defined by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission either: (1) a
substantial majority (i.e. approximately 75%) of all anticipatory hedge
transactions (transactions in which the Portfolio does not own at the time of
the transaction, but expects to acquire, the securities underlying the relevant
futures contract) involving the purchase of futures contracts or call options
thereon will be completed by the purchase of securities which are the subject of
the hedge, or (2) the underlying value of all long positions in futures
contracts will not exceed the total value of: (a) all short-term debt
obligations held by the Portfolio; (b) cash held by the Portfolio; (c) cash
proceeds due to the Portfolio on investments within thirty days; (d) the margin
deposited on the contracts; and (e) any unrealized appreciation in the value of
the contracts.
If a Portfolio maintains a short position in a futures contract or has sold
a call option on a futures contract, it will cover this position by holding, in
a segregated account maintained at its Custodian, cash, U.S. Government
securities or other high grade debt obligations equal in value (when added to
any initial or variation margin on deposit) to the market value of the
securities (currencies) underlying the futures contract or the exercise price of
the option. Such a position may also be covered by owning the securities
(currencies) underlying the futures contract (in the case of a stock index
futures contract a portfolio of securities substantially replicating the
relevant index), or by holding a call option permitting the Portfolio to
purchase the same contract at a price no higher than the price at which the
short position was established.
In addition, if a Portfolio holds a long position in a futures contract or
has sold a put option on a futures contract, it will hold cash, U.S. Government
securities or other liquid portfolio securities equal to the purchase price of
the contract or the exercise price of the put option (less the amount of initial
or variation margin on deposit) in a segregated account maintained for the
Portfolio by its Custodian. Alternatively, the Portfolio could cover its long
position by purchasing a put option on the same futures contract with an
exercise price as high or higher than the price of the contract held by the
Portfolio.
Exchanges limit the amount by which the price of a futures contract may move
on any day. If the price moves equal the daily limit on successive days, then it
may prove impossible to liquidate a futures position until the daily limit moves
have ceased. In the event of adverse price movements, the Portfolio would
continue to be required to make daily cash payments of variation margin on open
futures positions. In such situations, if the Portfolio has insufficient cash,
it may have to sell portfolio securities to meet daily variation margin
requirements at a time when it may be disadvantageous to do so. In addition,
37
<PAGE>
the Portfolio may be required to take or make delivery of the instruments
underlying interest rate futures contracts it holds at a time when it is
disadvantageous to do so. The inability to close out options and futures
positions could also have an adverse impact on the Portfolio's ability to
effectively hedge its portfolio.
With regard to the GLOBAL DIVIDEND GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the EUROPEAN GROWTH
PORTFOLIO, the PACIFIC GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the CAPITAL APPRECIATION PORTFOLIO and
the COMPETITIVE EDGE "BEST IDEAS" PORTFOLIO, futures contracts and options
thereon which are purchased or sold on foreign commodities exchanges may have
greater price volatility than their U.S. counterparts. Furthermore, foreign
commodities exchanges may be less regulated and under less governmental scrutiny
than U.S. exchanges. Brokerage commissions, clearing costs and other transaction
costs may be higher on foreign exchanges. Greater margin requirements may limit
the ability of these Portfolios to enter into certain commodity transactions on
foreign exchanges. Moreover, differences in clearance and delivery requirements
on foreign exchanges may occasion delays in the settlement of the Portfolio's
transactions effected on foreign exchanges.
In the event of the bankruptcy of a broker through which the Portfolio
engages in transactions in futures or options thereon, the Portfolio could
experience delays and/or losses in liquidating open positions purchased or sold
through the broker and/or incur a loss of all or part of its margin deposits
with the broker. Similarly, in the event of the bankruptcy of the writer of an
OTC option purchased by the Portfolio, the Portfolio could experience a loss of
all or part of the value of the option. Transactions are entered into by a
Portfolio only with brokers or financial institutions deemed creditworthy by the
Portfolio's management.
While the futures contracts and options transactions to be engaged in by a
Portfolio for the purpose of hedging the Portfolio's portfolio securities are
not speculative in nature, there are risks inherent in the use of such
instruments. One such risk which may arise in employing futures contracts to
protect against the price volatility of portfolio securities (and, for the
GLOBAL DIVIDEND GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the EUROPEAN GROWTH PORTFOLIO and the PACIFIC
GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the CAPITAL APPRECIATION PORTFOLIO and the COMPETITIVE EDGE
"BEST IDEAS" PORTFOLIO, the currencies in which they are denominated) is that
the prices of securities and indexes subject to futures contracts (and thereby
the futures contract prices) may correlate imperfectly with the behavior of the
cash prices of the Portfolio's portfolio securities (and the currencies in which
they are denominated). Another such risk is that prices of interest rate futures
contracts may not move in tandem with the changes in prevailing interest rates
against which the Portfolio seeks a hedge. A correlation may also be distorted
by the fact that the futures market is dominated by short-term traders seeking
to profit from the difference between a contract or security price objective and
their cost of borrowed funds. Such distortions are generally minor and would
diminish as the contract approached maturity.
As stated in the Prospectus, there may exist an imperfect correlation
between the price movements of futures contracts purchased by the QUALITY INCOME
PLUS PORTFOLIO, the UTILITIES PORTFOLIO, the CAPITAL GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the
GLOBAL DIVIDEND GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the EUROPEAN GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the PACIFIC
GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the CAPITAL APPRECIATION PORTFOLIO, the COMPETITIVE EDGE "BEST
IDEAS" PORTFOLIO or the STRATEGIST PORTFOLIO and the movements in the prices of
the securities (currencies) which are the subject of the hedge. If participants
in the futures market elect to close out their contracts through offsetting
transactions rather than meet margin deposit requirements, distortions in the
normal relationship between the debt securities and futures markets could
result. Price distortions could also result if investors in futures contracts
opt to make or take delivery of underlying securities rather than engage in
closing transactions due to the resultant reduction in the liquidity of the
futures market. In addition, due to the fact that, from the point of view of
speculators, the deposit requirements in the futures markets are less onerous
than margin requirements in the cash market, increased participation by
speculators in the futures market could cause temporary price distortions. Due
to the possibility of price distortions in the futures market and because of the
imperfect correlation between movements in the prices of securities and
movements in the prices of futures contracts, a correct forecast of interest
rate trends may still not result in a successful hedging transaction.
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<PAGE>
As stated in the Prospectus, there is no assurance that a liquid secondary
market will exist for futures contracts and related options in which the QUALITY
INCOME PLUS PORTFOLIO, the UTILITIES PORTFOLIO, the CAPITAL GROWTH PORTFOLIO,
the GLOBAL DIVIDEND GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the EUROPEAN GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the PACIFIC
GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the CAPITAL APPRECIATION PORTFOLIO, the COMPETITIVE EDGE "BEST
IDEAS" PORTFOLIO and the STRATEGIST PORTFOLIO may invest. In the event a liquid
market does not exist, it may not be possible to close out a futures position,
and in the event of adverse price movements, a Portfolio would continue to be
required to make daily cash payments of variation margin. In addition,
limitations imposed by an exchange or board of trade on which futures contracts
are traded may compel or prevent a Portfolio from closing out a contract which
may result in reduced gain or increased loss to the Portfolio. The absence of a
liquid market in futures contracts might cause these Portfolios to make or take
delivery of the underlying securities (currencies) at a time when it may be
disadvantageous to do so.
Compared to the purchase or sale of futures contracts, the purchase of call
or put options on futures contracts involves less potential risk to the QUALITY
INCOME PLUS PORTFOLIO, the UTILITIES PORTFOLIO, the CAPITAL GROWTH PORTFOLIO,
the GLOBAL DIVIDEND GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the EUROPEAN GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the PACIFIC
GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the CAPITAL APPRECIATION PORTFOLIO, the COMPETITIVE EDGE "BEST
IDEAS" PORTFOLIO or the STRATEGIST PORTFOLIO because the maximum amount at risk
is the premium paid for the options (plus transaction costs). However, there may
be circumstances when the purchase of a call or put option on a futures contract
would result in a loss to the Portfolio notwithstanding that the purchase or
sale of a futures contract would not result in a loss, as in the instance where
there is no movement in the prices of the futures contract or underlying
securities (currencies).
PORTFOLIO TURNOVER. Although the Fund does not intend to engage in
short-term trading of portfolio securities as a means of achieving the
investment objectives of the respective Portfolios, each Portfolio may sell
portfolio securities without regard to the length of time they have been held
whenever such sale will in the Investment Manager's opinion strengthen the
Portfolio's position and contribute to its investment objectives. A 100%
turnover rate would occur, for example, if all the portfolio securities of a
Portfolio (other than short-term money market securities) were replaced once
during the fiscal year. Based on this definition, it is anticipated that the
Money Market Portfolio's policy of investing in securities with remaining
maturities of less than one year will not result in a quantifiable portfolio
turnover rate. It is not anticipated that the portfolio turnover rates of the
Portfolios will exceed the following percentages in any one year: QUALITY INCOME
PLUS PORTFOLIO: 300%; HIGH YIELD PORTFOLIO: 300%; UTILITIES PORTFOLIO: 100%;
INCOME BUILDER PORTFOLIO: 90%; DIVIDEND GROWTH PORTFOLIO: 90%; CAPITAL GROWTH
PORTFOLIO: 200%; GLOBAL DIVIDEND GROWTH PORTFOLIO: 100%; EUROPEAN GROWTH
PORTFOLIO: 100%; PACIFIC GROWTH PORTFOLIO: 100%; CAPITAL APPRECIATION PORTFOLIO:
300%; EQUITY PORTFOLIO: 300%; S&P 500 INDEX PORTFOLIO: 100%; COMPETITIVE EDGE
"BEST IDEAS" PORTFOLIO: 100%; and STRATEGIST PORTFOLIO: 400%.
INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In addition to the investment restrictions enumerated in the Prospectus, the
investment restrictions listed below have been adopted by the Fund as
fundamental policies of the Portfolios, except as otherwise indicated. Under the
Act, a fundamental policy may not be changed with respect to a Portfolio without
the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of that Portfolio,
as defined in the Act. Such a majority is defined as the lesser of (a) 67% or
more of the shares of the Portfolio present at a meeting of shareholders of the
Fund, if the holders of more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Portfolio
are present or represented by proxy or (b) more than 50% of the outstanding
shares of the Portfolio. For purposes of the following restrictions and those
contained in the Prospectus: (i) all percentage limitations apply immediately
after a purchase or initial investment; and (ii) any subsequent change in any
applicable percentage resulting from market fluctuations or other changes in the
amount of total or net assets does not require elimination of any security from
the portfolio.
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<PAGE>
RESTRICTIONS APPLICABLE TO ALL PORTFOLIOS
Each Portfolio of the Fund may not:
1. Make loans of money or securities, except (a) by the purchase of
debt obligations in which the Portfolio may invest consistent with its
investment objectives and policies; (b) by investing in repurchase
agreements; or (c) by lending its portfolio securities, not in excess of 10%
of the value of a Portfolio's total assets, made in accordance with
guidelines adopted by the Fund's Board of Trustees, including maintaining
collateral from the borrower equal at all times to the current market value
of the securities loaned, provided that lending of portfolio securities is
not deemed to be loans in the case of the S&P 500 INDEX PORTFOLIO and the
COMPETITIVE EDGE "BEST IDEAS" PORTFOLIO.
2. In the case of each Portfolio other than the S&P 500 INDEX PORTFOLIO
and the COMPETITIVE EDGE "BEST IDEAS" PORTFOLIO, invest in securities of any
issuer if, to the knowledge of the Fund, any officer or Trustee of the Fund
or any officer or director of the Investment Manager owns more than 1/2 of
1% of the outstanding securities of such issuer, and such officers, Trustees
and directors who own more than 1/2 of 1% own in the aggregate more than 5%
of the outstanding securities of such issuer.
3. Purchase or sell real estate; however, the Portfolios may purchase
marketable securities of issuers which engage in real estate operations or
which invest in real estate or interests therein, including Real Estate
Investment Trusts (REIT's), and securities which are secured by real estate
or interests therein.
4. Engage in the underwriting of securities except insofar as the
Portfolio may be deemed an underwriter under the Securities Act of 1933 in
disposing of a portfolio security.
5. Invest for the purposes of exercising control or management of
another company.
6. Participate on a joint or a joint and several basis in any
securities trading account. The "bunching" of orders of two or more
Portfolios (or of one or more Portfolios and of other accounts under the
investment management of InterCapital) for the sale or purchase of portfolio
securities shall not be considered participating in a joint securities
trading account.
7. Issue senior securities as defined in the Act except insofar as the
Portfolio may be deemed to have issued a senior security by reason of: (a)
entering into any repurchase agreement (or, in the case of the QUALITY
INCOME PLUS PORTFOLIO, the EUROPEAN GROWTH PORTFOLIO and the PACIFIC GROWTH
PORTFOLIO, a reverse repurchase agreement); (b) borrowing money in
accordance with restrictions described above; (c) purchasing any security on
a when-issued, delayed delivery or forward commitment basis; (d) lending
portfolio securities; or (e) purchasing or selling futures contracts,
forward foreign exchange contracts or options, if such investments are
otherwise permitted for the Portfolio.
RESTRICTIONS APPLICABLE TO THE MONEY MARKET PORTFOLIO ONLY
The MONEY MARKET PORTFOLIO may not:
1. Invest in securities other than those listed in the description of
its investment objectives and policies above and in the Prospectus.
2. Invest in securities maturing more than one year from the date of
purchase, except that where securities are held subject to repurchase
agreements having a term of one year or less from the date of delivery, the
securities subject to the agreement may have maturity dates in excess of one
year from the date of delivery.
3. Purchase securities for which there are legal or contractual
restrictions on resale [i.e., restricted securities].
4. Write, purchase or sell puts, calls, straddles, spreads or
combinations thereof.
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<PAGE>
RESTRICTION APPLICABLE TO THE QUALITY INCOME PLUS PORTFOLIO ONLY
The QUALITY INCOME PLUS PORTFOLIO may not acquire any common stocks except
when acquired upon conversion of fixed-income securities. The QUALITY INCOME
PLUS PORTFOLIO will attempt to dispose in an orderly fashion of any common
stocks acquired under these circumstances.
RESTRICTIONS APPLICABLE TO THE HIGH YIELD PORTFOLIO ONLY
The HIGH YIELD PORTFOLIO may not:
1. Acquire any common stocks, except (a) when attached to or included
in a unit with fixed-income securities; (b) when acquired upon conversion of
fixed-income securities; or (c) when acquired upon exercise of warrants
attached to fixed-income securities. THE HIGH YIELD PORTFOLIO may retain
common stocks so acquired but not in excess of 10% of its total assets.
2. Write, purchase or sell puts, calls, straddles, spreads or
combinations thereof.
RESTRICTION APPLICABLE TO THE DIVIDEND GROWTH PORTFOLIO ONLY
The DIVIDEND GROWTH PORTFOLIO may not invest more than 5% of the value of
its total assets in warrants, including not more than 2% of such assets in
warrants not listed on either the New York or American Stock Exchange. However,
the acquisition of warrants attached to other securities is not subject to this
restriction.
RESTRICTIONS APPLICABLE TO THE EQUITY PORTFOLIO ONLY
The EQUITY PORTFOLIO may not:
1. Invest more than 5% of the value of its total assets in warrants,
including not more than 2% of such assets in warrants not listed on either
the New York or American Stock Exchange. However, the acquisition of
warrants attached to other securities is not subject to this restriction.
2. Purchase non-convertible corporate bonds unless rated at the time of
purchase Aa or better by Moody's or AA or better by S&P, or purchase
commercial paper unless issued by a U.S. corporation and rated at the time
of purchase Prime-1 by Moody's or A-1 by S&P, although it may continue to
hold a security if its quality rating is reduced by a rating service below
those specified.
3. Write, purchase or sell puts, calls, straddles, spreads or
combinations thereof.
PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS AND BROKERAGE
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subject to the general supervision of the Board of Trustees, the Investment
Manager and, for the EUROPEAN GROWTH PORTFOLIO and the PACIFIC GROWTH PORTFOLIO,
the Sub-Adviser are responsible for decisions to buy and sell securities for
each Portfolio of the Fund, the selection of brokers and dealers to effect the
transactions, and the negotiation of brokerage commissions, if any. Purchases
and sales of securities on a stock exchange are effected through brokers who
charge a commission for their services. In the over-the-counter market,
securities are generally traded on a "net" basis with dealers acting as
principal for their own accounts without a stated commission, although the price
of the security usually includes a profit to the dealer. In underwritten
offerings, securities are purchased at a fixed price which includes an amount of
compensation to the underwriter, generally referred to as the underwriter's
concession or discount. When securities are purchased or sold directly from or
to an issuer, no
41
<PAGE>
commissions or discounts are paid. For the fiscal years ended December 31, 1995,
1996 and 1997, the Portfolios of the Fund paid brokerage commissions as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
BROKERAGE BROKERAGE BROKERAGE
COMMISSIONS COMMISSIONS COMMISSIONS
PAID FOR FISCAL PAID FOR FISCAL PAID FOR FISCAL
YEAR YEAR YEAR
NAME OF PORTFOLIO ENDED 12/31/95 ENDED 12/31/96 ENDED 12/31/97
- -------------------------------------------------- ------------------- ------------------- -------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
High Yield Portfolio.............................. $ 98,275 $ 10,013
Utilities Portfolio............................... 29,800 120,935
Dividend Growth Portfolio......................... 565,780 796,688
Capital Growth Portfolio.......................... 53,746 176,767
Global Dividend Growth Portfolio.................. 604,355 762,353
European Growth Portfolio......................... 437,643 575,660
Pacific Growth Portfolio.......................... 581,012 878,874
Equity Portfolio.................................. 1,091,067 1,825,817
Strategist Portfolio.............................. 435,379 429,659
</TABLE>
Purchases of money market instruments are made from dealers, underwriters
and issuers; sales, if any, prior to maturity, are made to dealers and issuers.
The Fund does not normally incur brokerage commission expense on such
transactions. Money market instruments are generally traded on a "net" basis
with dealers acting as principal for their own accounts without a stated
commission, although the price of the security usually includes a profit to the
dealer.
The Investment Manager and, for the EUROPEAN GROWTH PORTFOLIO and the
PACIFIC GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the Sub-Adviser currently serve as investment advisors
to a number of clients, including other investment companies, and may in the
future act as investment manager or adviser to others. It is the practice of the
Investment Manager or the Sub-Adviser to cause purchase and sale transactions to
be allocated among the Portfolios of the Fund and others whose assets it manages
in such manner as it deems equitable. In making such allocations among the
Portfolios of the Fund and other client accounts, various factors may be
considered, including the respective investment objectives, the relative size of
portfolio holdings of the same or comparable securities, the availability of
cash for investment, the size of investment commitments generally held and the
opinions of the persons responsible for managing the portfolios of the Fund and
other client accounts. In the case of certain initial and secondary public
offerings, the Investment Manager or the Sub-Adviser may utilize a pro-rata
allocation process based on the size of the Dean Witter Funds involved and the
number of shares available from the public offering. These procedures may, under
certain circumstances, have an adverse effect on the Fund.
The policy of the Fund regarding purchases and sales of securities for the
various Portfolios is that primary consideration will be given to obtaining the
most favorable prices and efficient executions of transactions. Consistent with
this policy, when securities transactions are effected on a stock exchange, the
Fund's policy is to pay commissions which are considered fair and reasonable
without necessarily determining that the lowest possible commissions are paid in
all circumstances. The Fund believes that a requirement always to seek the
lowest possible commission cost could impede effective portfolio management and
preclude the Fund and the Investment Manager (or the Sub-Adviser) from obtaining
a high quality of brokerage and research services. In seeking to determine the
reasonableness of brokerage commissions paid in any transaction, the Investment
Manager (or the Sub-Adviser) relies upon its experience and knowledge regarding
commissions generally charged by various brokers and on its judgment in
evaluating the brokerage and research services received from the broker
effecting the transaction. Such determinations are necessarily subjective and
imprecise, as in most cases an exact dollar value for those services is not
ascertainable.
The Fund anticipates that certain of its transactions involving foreign
securities will be effected on securities exchanges. Fixed commissions on such
transactions are generally higher than negotiated commissions on domestic
transactions. There is also generally less government supervision and regulation
of foreign securities exchanges and brokers than in the United States.
In seeking to implement the policies of the Portfolios of the Fund, the
Investment Manager or the Sub-Adviser effects transactions with those brokers
and dealers who the Investment Manager or the
42
<PAGE>
Sub-Adviser believes provide the most favorable prices and are capable of
providing efficient executions. If the Investment Manager or the Sub-Adviser
believes such price and execution are obtainable from more than one broker or
dealer, it may give consideration to placing portfolio transactions with those
brokers and dealers who also furnish research and other services to the Fund,
the Investment Manager or the Sub-Adviser. Such services may include, but are
not limited to, any one or more of the following: information as to the
availability of securities for purchase or sale; statistical or factual
information or opinions pertaining to investment; wire services; and appraisals
or evaluations of portfolio securities.
The information and services received by the Investment Manager and the
Sub-Adviser are from brokers and dealers may be of benefit to the Investment
Manager or the Sub-Adviser in the management of accounts of some of its other
clients and may not in all cases benefit a Portfolio of the Fund directly. While
the receipt of such information and services is useful in varying degrees and
would generally reduce the amount of research or services otherwise performed by
the Investment Manager or the Sub-Adviser and thus reduce its expenses, it is of
indeterminable value and the fees paid to the Investment Manager and the
Sub-Adviser are not reduced by any amount that may be attributable to the value
of such services. For its fiscal year ended December 31, 1997, the Fund directed
the payment of commissions in connection with transactions in the following
aggregate amounts to brokers because of research services provided, as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
BROKERAGE COMMISSIONS
DIRECTED IN CONNECTION AGGREGATE DOLLAR AMOUNT
WITH RESEARCH SERVICES OF TRANSACTIONS FOR
PROVIDED WHICH SUCH COMMISSIONS
FOR FISCAL YEAR WERE PAID FOR FISCAL
NAME OF PORTFOLIO ENDED 12/31/97 YEAR ENDED 12/31/97
- ------------------------------------- ----------------------- -----------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Utilities Portfolio.................. $ $
Dividend Growth Portfolio............
Capital Growth Portfolio.............
Global Dividend Growth Portfolio.....
Equity Portfolio.....................
Strategist Portfolio.................
</TABLE>
Pursuant to an order of the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Fund may
effect principal transactions in certain money market instruments with DWR. The
Fund will limit its transactions with DWR to U.S. Government and Government
Agency Securities, Bank Money Instruments (i.e., Certificates of Deposit and
Bankers' Acceptances) and Commercial Paper. Such transactions will be effected
with DWR only when the price available from DWR is better than that available
from other dealers. During its fiscal years ended December 31, 1995, 1996 and
1997, the Fund did not effect any principal transactions with DWR.
Consistent with the policy described above, brokerage transactions in
securities listed on exchanges or admitted to unlisted trading privileges may be
effected through DWR, Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated ("MS & Co.") and/or
certain affiliated broker-dealers of the Investment Manager or of Morgan
Grenfell Investment Services Limited, the Sub-Adviser of the EUROPEAN GROWTH
PORTFOLIO and the PACIFIC GROWTH PORTFOLIO. In order for an affiliated broker or
dealer to effect any portfolio transactions for the Fund, the commissions, fees
or other remuneration received by the affiliated broker or dealer must be
reasonable and fair compared to the commissions, fees or other remuneration paid
to other brokers in connection with comparable transactions involving similar
securities being purchased or sold on an exchange during a comparable period of
time. This standard would allow the affiliated broker or dealer to receive no
more than the remuneration which would be expected to be received by an
unaffiliated broker in a commensurate arm's-length transaction. Furthermore, the
Trustees of the Fund, including a majority of the Trustees who are not
"interested" persons of the Fund, as defined in the Act, have adopted procedures
which are reasonably designed to provide that any commissions, fees or other
remuneration paid to these brokers are consistent with the foregoing standard.
The Fund does not reduce the management fee it pays to the Investment Manager by
any amount of the brokerage commissions it may pay to an affiliated broker or
dealer.
43
<PAGE>
For its fiscal years ended December 31, 1995 and 1996, the Fund paid a total
of $578,933 ($6,500 for the UTILITIES PORTFOLIO, $216,308 for the DIVIDEND
GROWTH PORTFOLIO, $32,841 for the CAPITAL GROWTH PORTFOLIO, $50,294 for the
GLOBAL DIVIDEND GROWTH PORTFOLIO, $192,565 for the EQUITY PORTFOLIO, and $80,425
for the STRATEGIST PORTFOLIO) and $558,707 ($49,500 for the UTILITIES PORTFOLIO,
$181,121 for the DIVIDEND GROWTH PORTFOLIO, $38,010 for the CAPITAL GROWTH
PORTFOLIO, $35,401 for the GLOBAL DIVIDEND GROWTH PORTFOLIO, $220,150 for the
EQUITY PORTFOLIO and $34,525 for the STRATEGIST PORTFOLIO), respectively, in
brokerage commissions to DWR. For its fiscal year ended December 31, 1997 the
Fund paid a total of $ in brokerage commissions to DWR for transactions as
follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PERCENTAGE OF AGGREGATE
DOLLAR AMOUNT OF EXECUTED
BROKERAGE COMMISSIONS PAID PERCENTAGE OF AGGREGATE TRADES ON WHICH BROKERAGE
TO DWR FOR FISCAL YEAR BROKERAGE COMMISSIONS FOR COMMISSIONS WERE PAID FOR
NAME OF PORTFOLIO ENDED 12/31/97 FISCAL YEAR ENDED 12/31/97 FISCAL YEAR ENDED 12/31/97
- ------------------------- -------------------------- -------------------------- --------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Utilities Portfolio...... $ % %
Dividend Growth
Portfolio...............
Capital Growth
Portfolio...............
Global Dividend Growth
Portfolio...............
Equity Portfolio.........
Strategist Portfolio.....
</TABLE>
During the period June 1 through December 31, 1997, the Fund paid a total of
$ in brokerage commissions to MS & Co., which broker-dealer became an
affiliate of the Investment Manager on May 31, 1997 upon consummation of the
merger of Dean Witter, Discover & Co. with Morgan Stanley Group Inc. These
commissions were paid for transactions as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PERCENTAGE OF AGGREGATE
BROKERAGE COMMISSIONS PAID DOLLAR AMOUNT OF EXECUTED
TO MS & CO. FOR FISCAL PERCENTAGE OF AGGREGATE TRADES ON WHICH BROKERAGE
YEAR BROKERAGE COMMISSIONS FOR COMMISSIONS WERE PAID FOR
NAME OF PORTFOLIO ENDED 12/31/97 FISCAL YEAR ENDED 12/31/97 FISCAL YEAR ENDED 12/31/97
- ------------------------- -------------------------- -------------------------- --------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Utilities Portfolio...... $ % %
Dividend Growth
Portfolio...............
Capital Growth
Portfolio...............
Global Dividend Growth
Portfolio...............
Equity Portfolio.........
Strategist Portfolio.....
</TABLE>
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 1995, the PACIFIC GROWTH PORTFOLIO
paid a total of $19,846 in brokerage commissions to Deutsche Morgan Grenfell &
Partners Securities Pte Ltd. and a total of $19,058 to Deutsche Morgan Grenfell
Securities Hong Kong Limited, affiliated brokers of the Sub-Adviser of the
EUROPEAN GROWTH PORTFOLIO and the PACIFIC GROWTH PORTFOLIO. For the fiscal year
ended December 31, 1996, the PACIFIC GROWTH PORTFOLIO paid a total of $ 2,110 in
brokerage commissions to Deutsche Morgan Grenfell & Partners Securities Pte Ltd.
and a total of $14,707 in brokerage commissions to Deutsche Morgan Grenfell
Securities Hong Kong Limited. For the fiscal year ended
Decem-
44
<PAGE>
ber 31, 1997, the EUROPEAN GROWTH PORTFOLIO and the PACIFIC GROWTH PORTFOLIO
paid brokerage commissions to affiliated brokers of the Sub-Adviser for
transactions as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
BROKERAGE
COMMISSIONS PAID
TO AFFILIATED PERCENTAGE OF
BROKER OF MORGAN AGGREGATE DOLLAR
GRENFELL PERCENTAGE OF AMOUNT OF
INVESTMENT AGGREGATE BROKERAGE EXECUTED TRADES
SERVICES LTD. FOR COMMISSIONS FOR ON WHICH BROKERAGE
FISCAL YEAR FISCAL YEAR COMMISSIONS WERE PAID
ENDED ENDED FOR FISCAL YEAR ENDED
NAME OF PORTFOLIO NAME OF BROKER 12/31/97 12/31/97 12/31/97
- ------------------ ------------------------------- ------------------ ------------------- ---------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
European Growth
Portfolio........ $ % %
Pacific Growth
Portfolio........ Deutsche Morgan Grenfell &
Partners Securities Pte Ltd.
Deutsche Morgan Grenfell
Securities Hong Kong Limited
</TABLE>
During the fiscal year ended December 31, 1997, the
purchased debt securities issued by
, which issuers were among the ten brokers or the ten
dealers which executed transactions for or with the Fund or the applicable
Portfolio in the largest dollar amounts during the year. At December 31, 1997,
the held debt securities issued by with a
market value of $ .
PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION OF FUND SHARES
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
As discussed in the Prospectus, investments in the Fund may be made only by
(1) Northbrook Life Insurance Company ("Northbrook"), for allocation to certain
separate accounts established and maintained by Northbrook for the purpose of
funding variable annuity contracts and variable life insurance contracts it
issues, by (2) Allstate Life Insurance Company of New York ("Allstate New York")
for allocation to certain separate accounts established and maintained by
Allstate New York for the purpose of funding variable annuity contracts it
issues, by (3) Glenbrook Life and Annuity Company ("Glenbrook"), for allocation
to certain separate accounts established and maintained by Glenbrook for the
purpose of funding variable annuity contracts and variable life insurance
contracts it issues, and by (4) Paragon Life Insurance Company ("Paragon") for
allocation to a separate account established and maintained by Paragon for the
purpose of funding variable life insurance contracts it issues, in connection
with an employer-sponsored insurance program offered only to certain employees
of MSDWD, the parent company of the Fund's Investment Manager. (The separate
accounts are sometimes referred to individually as an "Account" and collectively
as the "Accounts".) Shares of each Portfolio of the Fund are offered to
Northbrook, Allstate New York, Glenbrook and Paragon (the "Companies") without
sales charge at the respective net asset values of the Portfolios next
determined after receipt by the Fund of the purchase payment in the manner set
forth under the caption "Determination of Net Asset Value" below and in the
Prospectus. Shares of any Portfolio of the Fund can be redeemed by the Companies
at any time for cash, without sales charge, at the net asset value next
determined after receipt of the redemption request. Such payment may be
postponed or the right of redemption suspended at times when normal trading is
not taking place on the New York Stock Exchange, as discussed in the Prospectus.
(For information regarding charges which may be imposed upon the Contracts by
the applicable Account, see the Prospectus for the Variable Annuity Contracts or
the Variable Life Contracts which accompanies the Prospectus of the Fund.)
THE DISTRIBUTOR
As discussed in the Prospectus, Dean Witter Distributors Inc. (the
"Distributor"), a Delaware corporation, acts without remuneration from the Fund
as the exclusive Distributor of the Fund's shares, pursuant to a Distribution
Agreement entered into by the Fund and the Distributor on June 30, 1993. The
45
<PAGE>
Distributor, a Delaware corporation, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of MSDWD. The
Trustees who are not, and were not at the time they voted, interested persons of
the Fund, as defined in the Act, (the "Independent Trustees") approved, at their
meeting held on April 24, 1997, the current Distribution Agreement appointing
the Distributor as exclusive distributor of the Fund's shares and providing for
the Distributor to bear distribution expenses not borne by the Fund. The
Distribution Agreement took effect on May 31, 1997 upon the consummation of the
merger of Dean Witter, Discover & Co. with Morgan Stanley Group Inc., and is
identical to the Fund's previous Distribution Agreement except for its dates of
effectiveness and termination. By its terms, the Distribution Agreement had an
initial term ending April 30, 1998, and will remain in effect from year to year
thereafter if approved by the Board. At their meeting held on April 30, 1998,
the Fund's Board of Trustees, including all of the Independent Trustees,
approved continuation of the present Distribution Agreement until April 30,
1999.
The Distributor pays certain expenses in connection with the distribution of
the Fund's shares, including the costs of preparing, printing and distributing
advertising or promotional materials, and the costs of printing and distributing
prospectuses and supplements thereto used in connection with the offering and
sale of the Fund's shares. The Fund bears the costs of initial typesetting,
printing and distribution of prospectuses and supplements thereto to
shareholders. The Fund also bears the costs of registering the Fund and its
shares under federal and state securities laws. The Fund and the Distributor
have agreed to indemnify each other against certain liabilities, including
liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. Under the Distribution
Agreement, the Distributor uses its best efforts in rendering services to the
Fund, but in the absence of willful misfeasance, bad faith, negligence or
reckless disregard of its obligations, the Distributor is not liable to the Fund
or any of its shareholders for any error of judgment or mistake of law or for
any act or omission or for any losses sustained by the Fund or its shareholders.
DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE
As discussed in the Prospectus, the net asset value of the shares of the
each Portfolio is determined once daily at 4:00 p.m., New York time (or, on days
when the New York Stock Exchange closes prior to 4:00 p.m., at such earlier
time), on each day that the New York Stock Exchange is open for trading. The New
York Stock Exchange currently observes the following holidays: New Year's Day,
Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Presidents' Day, Good Friday, Memorial
Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day.
As discussed in the Prospectus, the MONEY MARKET PORTFOLIO utilizes the
amortized cost method in valuing its portfolio securities for purposes of
determining the net asset value of its shares. The MONEY MARKET PORTFOLIO
utilizes the amortized cost method in valuing its portfolio securities even
though the portfolio securities may increase or decrease in market value,
generally in connection with changes in interest rates. The amortized cost
method of valuation involves valuing a security at its cost at the time of
purchase adjusted by a constant amortization to maturity of any discount or
premium, regardless of the impact of fluctuating interest rates on the market
value of the instrument. While this method provides certainty in valuation, it
may result in periods during which value, as determined by amortized cost, is
higher or lower than the price the MONEY MARKET PORTFOLIO would receive if it
sold the investment. During such periods, the yield to investors in the MONEY
MARKET PORTFOLIO may differ somewhat from that obtained in a similar company
which uses mark-to-market values for all of its portfolio securities. For
example, if the use of amortized cost resulted in a lower (higher) aggregate
portfolio value on a particular day, a prospective investor in the MONEY MARKET
PORTFOLIO would be able to obtain a somewhat higher (lower) yield than would
result from investment in such a similar company and existing investors would
receive less (more) investment income. The purpose of this method of calculation
is to facilitate the maintenance of a constant net asset value per share of
$1.00.
46
<PAGE>
The use of the amortized cost method to value the portfolio securities of
the MONEY MARKET PORTFOLIO and the maintenance of the per share net asset value
of $1.00 is permitted pursuant to Rule 2a-7 of the Act (the "Rule") and is
conditioned on its compliance with various conditions contained in the Rule
including: (a) the Trustees are obligated, as a particular responsibility within
the overall duty of care owed to the Portfolio's shareholders, to establish
procedures reasonably designed, taking into account current market conditions
and the Portfolio's investment objectives, to stabilize the net asset value per
share as computed for the purpose of distribution and redemption at $1.00 per
share; (b) the procedures include (i) calculation, at such intervals as the
Trustees determine are appropriate and as are reasonable in light of current
market conditions, of the deviation, if any, between net asset value per share
using amortized cost to value portfolio securities and net asset value per share
based upon available market quotations with respect to such portfolio
securities; (ii) periodic review by the Trustees of the amount of deviation as
well as methods used to calculate it; and (iii) maintenance of written records
of the procedures, and the Trustees' considerations made pursuant to them and
any actions taken upon such consideration; (c) the Trustees should consider what
steps should be taken, if any, in the event of a difference of more than 1/2 of
1% between the two methods of valuation; and (d) the Trustees should take such
action as they deem appropriate (such as shortening the average portfolio
maturity, realizing gains or losses, withholding dividends or, as provided by
the Declaration of Trust, reducing the number of outstanding shares of the MONEY
MARKET PORTFOLIO) to eliminate or reduce to the extent reasonably practicable
material dilution or other unfair results to investors or existing shareholders
which might arise from differences between the two methods of valuation. Any
reduction of outstanding shares will be effected by having each shareholder
proportionately contribute to the MONEY MARKET PORTFOLIO'S capital the necessary
shares that represent the amount of excess upon such determination. Each
Contract Owner will be deemed to have agreed to such contribution in these
circumstances by allocating investment under his or her Contract to the MONEY
MARKET PORTFOLIO.
Generally, for purposes of the procedures adopted under the Rule, the
maturity of a portfolio instrument is deemed to be the period remaining
(calculated from the trade date or such other date on which the MONEY MARKET
PORTFOLIO'S interest in the instrument is subject to market action) until the
date noted on the face of the instrument as the date on which the principal
amount must be paid, or in the case of an instrument called for redemption, the
date on which the redemption payment must be made.
A variable rate obligation that is subject to a demand feature is deemed to
have a maturity equal to the longer of the period remaining until the next
readjustment of the interest rate or the period remaining until the principal
amount can be recovered through demand. A floating rate instrument that is
subject to a demand feature is deemed to have a maturity equal to the period
remaining until the principal amount can be recovered through demand.
A "NRSRO" is a nationally recognized statistical rating organization. The
term "Requisite NRSROs" means (i) any two NRSROs that have issued a rating with
respect to a security or class of debt obligations of an issuer, or (ii) if only
one NRSRO has issued a rating with respect to such security or issuer at the
time a fund purchases or rolls over the security, that NRSRO.
An Eligible Security is generally defined in the Rule to mean (i) a security
with a remaining maturity of 397 calendar days or less that has received a
short-term rating (or that has been issued by an issuer that has received a
short-term rating with respect to a class of debt obligations, or any debt
obligation within that class, that is comparable in priority and security with
the security) by the Requisite NRSROs in one of the two highest short-term
rating categories (within which there may be sub-categories or gradations
indicating relative standing); or (ii) a security: (A) that at the time of
issuance had a remaining maturity of more than 397 calendar days but that has a
remaining maturity of 397 calendar days or less; and (B) whose issuer has
received from the Requisite NRSROs a rating with respect to a class of debt
obligations (or any debt obligation within that class) that is now comparable in
priority and security with the security, in one of the two highest short-term
rating categories (within which there may be sub-categories or gradations
indicating relative standing); or (iii) an unrated security that is of
comparable quality to a security meeting the requirements of (i) or (ii) above,
as determined by the money market fund's board of
47
<PAGE>
directors. The MONEY MARKET PORTFOLIO will limit its investments to securities
that meet the requirements for Eligible Securities including the required
ratings by S&P or Moody's, as set forth in the prospectus.
As permitted by the Rule, the Board has delegated to the Fund's Investment
Manager, subject to the Board's oversight pursuant to guidelines and procedures
adopted by the Board, the authority to determine which securities present
minimal credit risks and which unrated securities are comparable in quality to
rated securities.
Also, as required by the Rule, the MONEY MARKET PORTFOLIO will limit its
investments in securities, other than Government securities, so that, at the
time of purchase: (a) except as further limited in (b) below with regard to
certain securities, no more than 5% of its total assets will be invested in the
securities of any one issuer; and (b) with respect to Eligible Securities that
have received a rating in less than the highest category by any one of the
NRSROs whose ratings are used to qualify the security as an Eligible Security,
or that have been determined to be of comparable quality: (i) no more than 5% in
the aggregate of the Portfolio's total assets in all such securities, and (ii)
no more than the greater of 1% of total assets, or $1 million, in the securities
on any one issuer.
The presence of a line of credit or other credit facility offered by a bank
or other financial institution which guarantees the payment obligation of the
issuer, in the event of a default in the payment of principal or interest of an
obligation, may be taken into account in determining whether an investment is an
Eligible Security, provided that the guarantee itself is an Eligible Security.
The Rule further requires that the MONEY MARKET PORTFOLIO limit its
investments to U.S. dollar-denominated instruments which the Trustees determine
present minimal credit risks and which are Eligible Securities. The Rule also
requires the Portfolio to maintain a dollar-weighted average portfolio maturity
(not more than 90 days) appropriate to its objective of maintaining a stable net
asset value of $1.00 per share and precludes the purchase of any instrument with
a remaining maturity of more than 397 days. (An Investment Restriction of the
Fund further precludes the Portfolio from investing in securities maturing more
than one year from the date of purchase.) Should the disposition of a portfolio
security result in a dollar-weighted average portfolio maturity of more than 90
days, the Portfolio will invest its available cash in such a manner as to reduce
such maturity to 90 days or less as soon as is reasonably practicable.
If the Board determines that it is no longer in the best interests of the
MONEY MARKET PORTFOLIO and its shareholders to maintain a stable price of $1 per
share or if the Board believes that maintaining such price no longer reflects a
market-based net asset value per share, the Board has the right to change from
an amortized cost basis of valuation to valuation based on market quotations.
The Fund will notify shareholders of the Portfolio of any such change.
As stated in the Prospectus, in the calculation of the net asset value of
the Portfolios other than the MONEY MARKET PORTFOLIO, short-term debt securities
with remaining maturities of sixty days or less at the time of purchase are
valued at amortized cost, unless the Trustees determine such does not reflect
the securities' market value, in which case these securities will be valued at
their fair value as determined by the Trustees. Other short-term debt securities
will be valued on a mark-to-market basis until such time as they reach a
remaining maturity of sixty days, whereupon they will be valued at amortized
cost using their value on the 61st day unless the Trustees determine such does
not reflect the securities' market value, in which case these securities will be
valued at their fair value as determined by the Trustees. Listed options on debt
securities are valued at the latest sale price on the exchange on which they are
listed unless no sales of such options have taken place that day, in which case
they will be valued at the mean between their latest bid and asked prices.
Unlisted options on debt securities and all options on equity securities are
valued at the mean between their latest bid and asked prices. Futures are valued
at the latest sale price on the commodities exchange on which they trade unless
the Trustees determine that such price does not reflect their market value, in
which case they will be valued at their fair value as determined by the
Trustees. All other securities and other assets are valued at their fair value
as determined in good faith under procedures established by and under the
general supervision of the Trustees.
48
<PAGE>
Generally, trading in foreign securities, as well as corporate bonds, United
States government securities and money market instruments, is substantially
completed each day at various times prior to the close of the New York Stock
Exchange. The values of such securities used in computing the net asset value of
a Portfolio's shares are determined as of such times. Foreign currency exchange
rates are also generally determined prior to the close of the New York Stock
Exchange. Occasionally, events which may affect the values of such securities
and such exchange rates may occur between the times at which they are determined
and the close of the New York Stock Exchange and will therefore not be reflected
in the computation of a Portfolio's net asset value. If events that may affect
the value of such securities occur during such period, then these securities may
be valued at their fair value as determined in good faith under procedures
established by and under the supervision of the Trustees.
DIVIDENDS, DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MONEY MARKET PORTFOLIO. As discussed in the Prospectus, dividends from net
income on the MONEY MARKET PORTFOLIO will be declared payable on each day the
New York Stock Exchange is open for business to shareholders of record as of the
close of business the preceding business day. Net income, for dividend purposes,
includes accrued interest and accretion of original issue and market discount,
less the amortization of market premium and the estimated expenses of the MONEY
MARKET PORTFOLIO. Net income will be calculated immediately prior to the
determination of net asset value per share of the MONEY MARKET PORTFOLIO (see
"Determination of Net Asset Value" above and in the Prospectus). The amount of
dividend may fluctuate from day to day and may be omitted on some days if
realized losses on portfolio securities exceed the MONEY MARKET PORTFOLIO's net
investment income. The Trustees may revise the above dividend policy, or
postpone the payment of dividends, if the MONEY MARKET PORTFOLIO should have or
anticipate any large unexpected expense, loss or fluctuation in net assets which
in the opinion of the Trustees might have a significant adverse effect on
shareholders. On occasion, in order to maintain a constant $1.00 per share net
asset value, the Trustees may direct that the number of outstanding shares of
the MONEY MARKET PORTFOLIO be reduced in each shareholder's account. Such
reduction may result in taxable income to a shareholder in excess of the net
increase (i.e., dividends, less such reductions), if any, in the shareholder's
account for a period. Furthermore, such reduction may be realized as a capital
loss when the shares are liquidated. Any net realized capital gains will be
declared and paid at least once per calendar year, except that net short-term
gains may be paid more frequently, with the distribution of dividends from net
investment income.
OTHER PORTFOLIOS. The dividend policies of the QUALITY INCOME PLUS
PORTFOLIO, the HIGH YIELD PORTFOLIO, the UTILITIES PORTFOLIO, the INCOME BUILDER
PORTFOLIO, the DIVIDEND GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the CAPITAL GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the
GLOBAL DIVIDEND GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the EUROPEAN GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the PACIFIC
GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the CAPITAL APPRECIATION PORTFOLIO, the EQUITY PORTFOLIO, the
S&P 500 INDEX PORTFOLIO, the COMPETITIVE EDGE "BEST IDEAS" PORTFOLIO and the
STRATEGIST PORTFOLIO are discussed in the Prospectus. In computing interest
income, these Portfolios will not accrete any discount or amortize any premium
resulting from the purchase of debt securities except those original issue
discounts for which accretion is required for federal income tax purposes.
Additionally, with respect to market discount on bonds, a portion of any capital
gain realized upon disposition may be recharacterized as taxable ordinary income
in accordance with the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code (the "Code").
Dividends, interest and capital gains received by the Portfolios on investments
in foreign issuers or which are denominated in foreign currency may give rise to
withholding and other taxes imposed by foreign countries. Realized gains and
losses on security transactions are determined on the identified cost method.
Gains or losses on sales of securities by the Fund will be long-term gains
or losses if the securities have been held by the Fund for more than twelve
months. Gains or losses on the sale of securities held for twelve months or less
will be short-term gains or losses.
OPTIONS AND FUTURES. Exchange-traded futures contracts, listed options on
futures contracts and certain listed options are classified as "Section 1256"
contracts under the Code. Unless the Portfolio makes an election as discussed
below, the character of gain or loss resulting from the sale, disposition,
49
<PAGE>
closing out, expiration or other termination of Section 1256 contracts would
generally be treated as long-term capital gain or loss to the extent of 60
percent thereof and short-term capital gain or loss to the extent of 40 percent
thereof and such Section 1256 contracts would also be required to be marked-to-
market at the end of the Fund's fiscal year, for purposes of federal income tax
calculations.
Over-the-counter options are not classified as Section 1256 contracts and
are not subject to the mark-to-market or 60 percent-40 percent taxation rules.
When call options written by a Portfolio, or put options purchased by a
Portfolio, are exercised, the gain or loss realized on the sales of the
underlying securities may be either short-term or long-term, depending upon the
holding period of the securities. In determining the amount of gain or loss, the
sales proceeds are reduced by the premium paid for over-the-counter puts or
increased by the premium received for over-the-counter calls.
If a Portfolio holds a security which is offset by a Section 1256 contract,
the Portfolio would be deemed to hold a "mixed straddle" position, as such is
defined in the Code. A Portfolio may elect to identify its mixed straddle
positions pursuant to Section 1256(d) of the Code and thereby avoid application
of both the mark-to-market and 60 percent-40 percent taxation rules. The
Portfolio may also make certain other elections with respect to mixed straddles
which could avoid or limit the application of certain rules which could, in
certain circumstances, cause deferral or disallowance of losses, change
long-term capital gains into short-term capital gains, or change short-term
capital losses into long-term capital losses.
Entering into a mixed straddle could result in the recognition of unrealized
gain or loss which would be taken into account in determining the amount of
income available for the Portfolio's distributions, and can result in an amount
which is greater or less than the Portfolio's net realized gains being available
for distribution. If an amount which is less than the Portfolio's net realized
gains is available for distribution, the Portfolio may elect to distribute more
than such available amount, up to the full amount of such net realized gains.
Such a distribution may, in part, constitute a return of capital to the
shareholders. If the Portfolio does not elect to identify a mixed straddle, no
recognition of gain or loss on the securities in its portfolio will result when
the mixed straddle is entered into. However, any losses realized on the straddle
will be governed by a number of tax rules which might, under certain
circumstances, defer or disallow the losses in whole or in part, change
long-term gains into short-term gains, or change short-term losses into
long-term losses. A deferral or disallowance of recognition of a realized loss
may result in an amount being available for the Portfolio's distributions which
is greater than the Portfolio's net realized gains.
SPECIAL RULES FOR CERTAIN FOREIGN CURRENCY TRANSACTIONS (GLOBAL DIVIDEND
GROWTH PORTFOLIO, EUROPEAN GROWTH PORTFOLIO, PACIFIC GROWTH PORTFOLIO, CAPITAL
APPRECIATION PORTFOLIO AND COMPETITIVE EDGE "BEST IDEAS" PORTFOLIO). In
general, gains from foreign currencies and from foreign currency options,
foreign currency futures and forward foreign exchange contracts relating to
investments in stock, securities or foreign currencies are currently considered
to be qualifying income for purposes of determining whether each of the GLOBAL
DIVIDEND GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the EUROPEAN GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the PACIFIC GROWTH
PORTFOLIO, the CAPITAL APPRECIATION PORTFOLIO and the COMPETITIVE EDGE "BEST
IDEAS" PORTFOLIO qualifies as a regulated investment company. It is currently
unclear, however, who will be treated as the issuer of certain foreign currency
instruments or how foreign currency options, futures, or forward foreign
currency contracts will be valued for purposes of the regulated investment
company diversification requirements applicable to the Portfolio. Until such
time as these uncertainties are resolved, the Fund will utilize the more
conservative, or limiting, definition or approach with respect to determining
permissible investments of these Portfolios.
Under Code Section 988, special rules are provided for certain transactions
in a foreign currency other than the taxpayer's functional currency (I.E.,
unless certain special rules apply, currencies other than the U.S. dollar). In
general, foreign currency gains or losses from forward contracts, from futures
contracts that are not "regulated futures contracts," and from unlisted options
will be treated as ordinary income or loss under Code Section 988. Also, certain
foreign exchange gains or losses derived with respect to foreign fixed-income
securities are also subject to Section 988 treatment. In general, therefore,
Code Section 988 gains or losses will increase or decrease the amount of the
Portfolio's investment
50
<PAGE>
company taxable income available to be distributed to shareholders as ordinary
income, rather than increasing or decreasing the amount of the Portfolio's net
capital gain. Additionally, if Code Section 988 losses exceed other investment
company taxable income during a taxable year, the affected Portfolio would not
be able to make any ordinary dividend distributions.
The GLOBAL DIVIDEND GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the EUROPEAN GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the
PACIFIC GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the CAPITAL APPRECIATION PORTFOLIO and the COMPETITIVE
EDGE "BEST IDEAS" PORTFOLIO may be subject to taxes in foreign countries in
which they invest. In addition, if the EUROPEAN GROWTH PORTFOLIO were deemed to
be a resident of the United Kingdom for United Kingdom tax purposes or if the
Portfolio were treated as being engaged in a trading activity through an agent
in the United Kingdom, there is a risk that the United Kingdom would attempt to
tax all or a portion of the Portfolio's gains or income. In light of the terms
and conditions of the Investment Management and Sub-Advisory Agreements, it is
believed that any such risk is minimal.
If any of the GLOBAL DIVIDEND GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the EUROPEAN GROWTH
PORTFOLIO, the PACIFIC GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the CAPITAL APPRECIATION PORTFOLIO or
the COMPETITIVE EDGE "BEST IDEAS" PORTFOLIO invests in an entity which is
classified as a "passive foreign investment company" ("PFIC") for U.S. tax
purposes, the application of certain technical tax provisions applying to such
companies could result in the imposition of federal income tax with respect to
such investments at the Portfolio level which could not be eliminated by
distributions to shareholders. The Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997 establishes a
mark-to-market regime which allows taxpayers investing in PFIC's to avoid most,
if not all, of the difficulties posed by the PFIC rules. In any event, it is not
anticipated that any taxes on a Portfolio with respect to investments in PFIC's
would be significant.
PERFORMANCE INFORMATION
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The annualized current yield of the MONEY MARKET PORTFOLIO, as may be quoted
from time to time in advertisements and other communications to shareholders and
potential investors, is computed by determining, for a stated seven-day period,
the net change, exclusive of capital changes and including the value of
additional shares purchased with dividends and any dividends declared therefrom,
in the value of a hypothetical pre-existing account having a balance of one
share at the beginning of the period, subtracting a hypothetical charge which
reflects deductions from shareholder accounts (such as management fees), and
dividing the difference by the value of the account at the beginning of the base
period to obtain the base period return, and then multiplying the base period
return by (365/7).
The MONEY MARKET PORTFOLIO's annualized effective yield, as may be quoted
from time to time in advertisements and other communications to shareholders and
potential investors, is computed by determining (for the same stated seven-day
period as for the current yield), the net change, exclusive of capital changes
and including the value of additional shares purchased with dividends and any
dividends declared therefrom, in the value of a hypothetical pre-existing
account having a balance of one share at the beginning of the period,
subtracting a hypothetical charge reflecting deductions from shareholder
accounts, and dividing the difference by the value of the account at the
beginning of the base period to obtain the base period return, and then
compounding the base period return by adding 1, raising the sum to a power equal
to 365 divided by 7, and subtracting 1 from the result.
The yields quoted in any advertisement or other communication should not be
considered a representation of the yields of the MONEY MARKET PORTFOLIO in the
future since the yield is not fixed. Actual yields will depend not only on the
type, quality and maturities of the investments held by the MONEY MARKET
PORTFOLIO and changes in interest rates on such investments, but also on changes
in the Portfolio's expenses during the period.
Yield information may be useful in reviewing the performance of the MONEY
MARKET PORTFOLIO and for providing a basis for comparison with other investment
alternatives. However unlike bank deposits or other investments which typically
pay a fixed yield for a stated period of time, the MONEY MARKET PORTFOLIO'S
yield fluctuates. Furthermore, the quoted yield does not reflect charges which
may be
51
<PAGE>
imposed on the Contracts by the applicable Account and therefore is not
equivalent to total return under a Contract (for a description of such charges,
see the Prospectus for the Contracts which accompanies the Prospectus for the
Fund).
The current yield of the MONEY MARKET PORTFOLIO for the seven days ending
December 31, 1997 was %. The effective annual yield on % is %, assuming
daily compounding.
As discussed in the Prospectus, from time to time the Fund may quote the
"yield" of each of the QUALITY INCOME PLUS PORTFOLIO, the HIGH YIELD PORTFOLIO
and the UTILITIES PORTFOLIO in advertising and sales literature. Yield is
calculated for any 30-day period as follows: the amount of interest and/or
dividend income for each security in the Portfolio is determined in accordance
with regulatory requirements; the total for the entire portfolio constitutes the
Portfolio's gross income for the period. Expenses accrued during the period are
subtracted to arrive at "net investment income." The resulting amount is divided
by the product of the net asset value per share on the last day of the period
multiplied by the average number of Portfolio shares outstanding during the
period that were entitled to dividends. This amount is added to 1 and raised to
the sixth power. 1 is then subtracted from the result and the difference is
multiplied by 2 to arrive at the annualized yield. The "yield" of a Portfolio
does not reflect the deduction of any charges which may be imposed on the
Contracts by the applicable Account which, if quoted, would reduce the yield
quoted. For the 30-day period ended December 31, 1997, the yield of the QUALITY
INCOME PLUS PORTFOLIO, calculated pursuant to this formula, was %, the yield
of the HIGH YIELD PORTFOLIO, calculated pursuant to this formula, was %, and
the yield of the UTILITIES PORTFOLIO, calculated pursuant to this formula, was
%.
As discussed in the Prospectus, from time to time the Fund may quote the
"total return" of each Portfolio in advertising and sales literature. A
Portfolio's "average annual total return" represents an annualization of the
Portfolio's total return over a particular period and is computed by finding the
annual percentage rate which will result in the ending redeemable value of a
hypothetical $1,000 investment made at the beginning of a one, five or ten year
period, or for the period from the date of commencement of the Portfolio's
operations, if shorter than any of the foregoing. For the purpose of this
calculation, it is assumed that all dividends and distributions are reinvested.
However, average annual total return does not reflect the deduction of any
charges which may be imposed on the Contracts by the applicable Account which,
if quoted, would reduce the performance quoted. The formula for computing the
average annual total return involves a percentage obtained by dividing the
ending redeemable value by the amount of the initial investment, taking a root
of the quotient (where the root is equivalent to the number of years in the
period) and subtracting 1 from the result.
The average annual total returns of the MONEY MARKET PORTFOLIO, the HIGH
YIELD PORTFOLIO and the EQUITY PORTFOLIO for the one, five and ten year periods
ended December 31, 1997 were %, % and %, respectively, for the MONEY
MARKET PORTFOLIO; %, % and %, respectively, for the QUALITY INCOME PLUS
PORTFOLIO; %, % and %, respectively, for the HIGH YIELD PORTFOLIO;
%, % and %, respectively, for the EQUITY PORTFOLIO; and %, % and
%, respectively, for the STRATEGIST PORTFOLIO. The average annual total
returns of the UTILITIES PORTFOLIO and the DIVIDEND GROWTH PORTFOLIO for the one
and five year periods ended December 31, 1997 and for the period from March 1,
1990 (commencement of these Portfolios' operations) through December 31, 1997
were % % and %, respectively, for the UTILITIES PORTFOLIO and %,
% and %, respectively, for the DIVIDEND GROWTH PORTFOLIO. The average
annual total returns of the CAPITAL GROWTH PORTFOLIO and the EUROPEAN GROWTH
PORTFOLIO for one and five year periods ended December 31, 1997 and for the
period from March 1, 1991 (commencement of these Portfolios' operations) through
December 31, 1997 were %, % and %, respectively, for the CAPITAL GROWTH
PORTFOLIO and %, % and %, respectively, for the EUROPEAN GROWTH
PORTFOLIO. The average annual total returns of the GLOBAL DIVIDEND GROWTH
PORTFOLIO and the PACIFIC GROWTH PORTFOLIO for the one year period ended
December 31, 1997 and for the period from February 23, 1994 (commencement of
these Portfolios' operations) through December 31, 1997 were % and %,
respectively, for the GLOBAL DIVIDEND GROWTH PORTFOLIO and % and %,
respectively, for the PACIFIC GROWTH PORTFOLIO.
52
<PAGE>
The Fund quotes the "total return" of a Portfolio that has been in operation
for less than one year on a non-annualized basis. The Fund may compute the
aggregate total return of each of the INCOME BUILDER PORTFOLIO and the CAPITAL
APPRECIATION PORTFOLIO, which commenced operations on January 21, 1997, for
specified periods by determining the aggregate percentage rate that will result
in the ending value of a hypothetical $1,000 investment made at the beginning of
the period. For the purpose of this calculation, it is assumed that all
dividends and distributions are reinvested. The formula for computing aggregate
total return involves a percentage obtained by dividing the ending value by the
initial $1,000 investment and subtracting 1 from the result. Based on the
foregoing calculation, the total returns of the INCOME BUILDER PORTFOLIO and the
CAPITAL APPRECIATION PORTFOLIO for the period January 21, 1997 through December
31, 1997 were % and %, respectively. The Investment Manager has undertaken
to assume all operating expenses of the INCOME BUILDER PORTFOLIO and the CAPITAL
APPRECIATION PORTFOLIO until the earlier of July 31, 1998 or the attainment by
the Portfolio of $50 million of net assets. The INCOME BUILDER PORTFOLIO
attained $50 million of net assets on December 3, 1997. Without the waiver of
fees and assumption of expenses by the Investment Manager, the total returns of
the INCOME BUILDER PORTFOLIO and the CAPITAL APPRECIATION PORTFOLIO for the
period January 21, 1997 through December 31, 1997 would have been % and %,
respectively.
In addition to the foregoing, the Fund may advertise the total return of the
Portfolios over different periods of time by means of aggregate, average,
year-by-year or other types of total return figures. Such calculations similarly
do not reflect the deduction of any charges which may be imposed on the
Contracts by an Account. The Fund may also compute the aggregate total returns
of the Portfolios for specified periods by determining the aggregate percentage
rate which will result in the ending value of a hypothetical $1,000 investment
made at the beginning of the period. For the purpose of this calculation, it is
assumed that all dividends and distributions are reinvested. The formula for
computing aggregate total return involves a percentage obtained by dividing the
ending value (without the reduction for any charges imposed on the Contracts by
the applicable Account) by the initial $1,000 investment and subtracting 1 from
the result. Based on the foregoing calculation, the total returns of the MONEY
MARKET PORTFOLIO, the QUALITY INCOME PLUS PORTFOLIO, the HIGH YIELD PORTFOLIO,
the EQUITY PORTFOLIO and the STRATEGIST PORTFOLIO for the one, five and ten year
periods ended December 31, 1997 were %, % and %, respectively, for the
MONEY MARKET PORTFOLIO, %, % and %, respectively, for the QUALITY
INCOME PLUS PORTFOLIO; %, % and %, respectively, for the HIGH YIELD
PORTFOLIO, %, % and %, respectively, for the EQUITY PORTFOLIO; and
%, % and %, respectively, for the STRATEGIST PORTFOLIO, the total
returns of the UTILITIES PORTFOLIO and the DIVIDEND GROWTH PORTFOLIO for the one
and five year periods ended December 31, 1997 and for the period from March 1,
1990 through December 31, 1997 were %, % and %, respectively, for the
UTILITIES PORTFOLIO and %, % and %, respectively, for the DIVIDEND
GROWTH PORTFOLIO, the total returns of the CAPITAL GROWTH PORTFOLIO and the
EUROPEAN GROWTH PORTFOLIO for the one and five year periods ended December 31,
1997 and for the period from March 1, 1991 through December 31, 1997 were %,
% and %, respectively, for the CAPITAL GROWTH PORTFOLIO and %, % and
%, respectively, for the EUROPEAN GROWTH PORTFOLIO, and the total returns of
the GLOBAL DIVIDEND GROWTH PORTFOLIO and the PACIFIC GROWTH PORTFOLIO for the
one year period ended December 31, 1997 and for the period from February 23,
1994 through December 31, 1997 were % and %, respectively, for the GLOBAL
DIVIDEND GROWTH PORTFOLIO and % and %, respectively, for the PACIFIC
GROWTH PORTFOLIO.
The Fund may also advertise the growth of hypothetical investments of
$10,000, $50,000 and $100,000 in shares of a Portfolio by adding 1 to the
Portfolio's aggregate total return to date (expressed as a decimal) and
multiplying by $10,000, $50,000 or $100,000, as the case may be. Investments of
53
<PAGE>
$10,000, $50,000 and $100,000 in each Portfolio of the Fund at inception of the
Portfolio would have grown (or declined) to the following amounts at December
31, 1997:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
INVESTMENT AT COMMENCEMENT OF
OPERATIONS OF
-----------------------------------
PORTFOLIO $10,000 $50,000 $100,000
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------- ----------- -----------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Money Market Portfolio...................................................... $ $ $
Quality Income Plus Portfolio...............................................
High Yield Portfolio........................................................
Utilities Portfolio.........................................................
Income Builder Portfolio....................................................
Dividend Growth Portfolio...................................................
Capital Growth Portfolio....................................................
Global Dividend Growth Portfolio............................................
European Growth Portfolio...................................................
Pacific Growth Portfolio....................................................
Capital Appreciation Portfolio..............................................
Equity Portfolio............................................................
Strategist Portfolio........................................................
</TABLE>
The Fund from time to time may also advertise the performance of the
Portfolios relative to certain performance rankings and indexes compiled by
independent organizations.
DESCRIPTION OF SHARES OF THE FUND
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Declaration of Trust permits the Trustees to issue an unlimited number
of full and fractional shares of separate Portfolios and to divide or combine
the shares of any Portfolio into a greater or lesser number of shares of that
Portfolio without thereby changing the proportionate beneficial interests in
that Portfolio. As discussed in the Prospectus, the shares of beneficial
interest of the Fund are divided into fifteen separate Portfolios, and the
shares of each Portfolio have equal rights and privileges with all other shares
of that Portfolio. Each share of a Portfolio represents an equal proportional
interest in that Portfolio with each other share. Upon liquidation of the Fund
or any Portfolio, shareholders of a Portfolio are entitled to share pro rata in
the net assets of that Portfolio available for distribution to shareholders.
Shares have no preemptive or conversion rights. The right of redemption is
described above and in the Prospectus. Shares of each Portfolio are fully paid
and non-assessable by the Fund. The Trustees are authorized to classify unissued
shares of the Fund by assigning them to a Portfolio for issuance.
The Declaration of Trust permits the Trustees to authorize the creation of
additional series of shares and additional classes of shares within any series,
as described in the Prospectus. Such additional offerings would not affect the
interests of the current shareholders in the existing Portfolios. All
consideration received by the Fund for shares of any additional Portfolios, and
all assets in which such consideration is invested, would belong to that
Portfolio (subject only to the rights of creditors of the Fund) and would be
subject to the liabilities related thereto. Pursuant to the Act, shareholders of
any additional Portfolio would normally have to approve the adoption of any
management contract relating to such Portfolio and of any changes in the
investment policies related thereto.
Shares of each Portfolio entitle their holders to one vote per share (with
proportionate voting for fractional shares). Shareholders have the right to vote
on the election of Trustees of the Fund and on any and all matters on which by
law or the provisions of the Fund's By-Laws they may be entitled to vote. To the
extent required by law, Northbrook Life Insurance Company, Allstate Life
Insurance Company of New York, Glenbrook Life and Annuity Company and Paragon
Life Insurance Company, which are the only shareholders of the Fund, will vote
the shares of the Fund held in each Account in accordance with instructions from
Contract Owners, as more fully described under the caption "Voting Rights" in
the Prospectus for the Variable Annuity Contracts or the Variable Life
Contracts. Shareholders of all Portfolios vote for a single set of Trustees. All
of the Trustees of the Fund have been elected by Northbrook Life
54
<PAGE>
Insurance Company, Allstate Life Insurance Company of New York and Paragon Life
Insurance Company, pursuant to the instructions of Contract Owners, most
recently at a Special Meeting of Shareholders held on May 21, 1997. The Trustees
themselves have the power to alter the number and the terms of office of the
Trustees, and they may at any time lengthen their own terms or make their terms
of unlimited duration and appoint their own successors, provided that always at
least a majority of the Trustees has been elected by the shareholders of the
Fund. Under certain circumstances the Trustees may be removed by action of the
Trustees. Under certain circumstances the shareholders may call a meeting to
remove Trustees and the Fund is required to provide assistance in communicating
with shareholders about such a meeting.
On any matters affecting only one Portfolio, only the shareholders of that
Portfolio are entitled to vote. On matters relating to all the Portfolios but
affecting the Portfolios differently, separate votes by Portfolio are required.
Approval of an Investment Management Agreement and a change in fundamental
policies would be regarded as matters requiring separate voting by each
Portfolio.
With respect to the submission to shareholder vote of a matter requiring
separate voting by Portfolio, the matter shall have been effectively acted upon
with respect to any Portfolio if a majority of the outstanding voting securities
of that Portfolio votes for the approval of the matter, notwithstanding that:
(1) the matter has not been approved by a majority of the outstanding voting
securities of any other Portfolio; or (2) the matter has not been approved by a
majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund. The voting rights of
shareholders are not cumulative, so that holders of more than 50 percent of the
shares voting can, if they choose, elect all Trustees being selected, while the
holders of the remaining shares would be unable to elect any Trustees.
The Declaration of Trust further provides that no Trustee, officer, employee
or agent of the Fund is liable to the Fund or to a shareholder, nor is any
Trustee, officer, employee or agent liable to any third persons in connection
with the affairs of the Fund, except as such liability may arise from his/her or
its own bad faith, willful misfeasance, gross negligence, or reckless disregard
of his/her or its duties. It also provides that all third persons shall look
solely to the Fund's property for satisfaction of claims arising in connection
with the affairs of the Fund. With the exceptions stated, the Declaration of
Trust provides that a Trustee, officer, employee or agent is entitled to be
indemnified against all liability in connection with the affairs of the Fund.
The Trust shall be of unlimited duration subject to the provisions in the
Declaration of Trust concerning termination by action of the shareholders.
CUSTODIANS AND TRANSFER AGENT
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Bank of New York, 90 Washington Street, New York, New York 10286 is the
Custodian of the assets of each Portfolio other than the GLOBAL DIVIDEND GROWTH
PORTFOLIO, the EUROPEAN GROWTH PORTFOLIO and the PACIFIC GROWTH PORTFOLIO. The
Chase Manhattan Bank, One Chase Plaza, New York, New York 10005 is the Custodian
of the assets of the Global Dividend Growth Portfolio, the European Growth
Portfolio and the Pacific Growth Portfolio in the United States and around the
world. As Custodian, The Chase Manhattan Bank has contracted with various
foreign banks and depositories to hold portfolio securities of non-U.S. issuers
on behalf of those Portfolios. All of a Portfolio's cash balances with the
Custodians in excess of $100,000 are unprotected by Federal deposit insurance.
Such balances may, at times, be substantial.
Dean Witter Trust FSB, Harborside Financial Center, Plaza Two, Jersey City,
New Jersey 07311 is the Transfer Agent of the Fund's shares and Dividend
Disbursing Agent for payment of dividends and distributions on Fund shares. Dean
Witter Trust FSB is an affiliate of Dean Witter InterCapital Inc., the Fund's
Investment Manager, and of Dean Witter Distributors Inc., the Fund's
Distributor. As Transfer Agent and Dividend Disbursing Agent, Dean Witter Trust
FSB's responsibilities include maintaining shareholder accounts; reinvesting
dividends; processing account registration changes; handling
pur-
55
<PAGE>
chase and redemption transactions; tabulating proxies; and maintaining
shareholder records and lists. For these services Dean Witter Trust FSB receives
a fee from each Portfolio of the Fund.
INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
serves as the independent accountants of the Fund. The
independent accountants are responsible for auditing the annual financial
statements of the Fund.
REPORTS TO SHAREHOLDERS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Statements showing the portfolio of each Portfolio and other information
will be furnished, at least semi-annually, to Contract Owners, and annually such
statements will be audited by independent accountants whose selection must be
approved annually by the Fund's Trustees. The Fund's fiscal year ends on
December 31.
LEGAL COUNSEL
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Barry Fink, Esq., who is an officer and the General Counsel of the
Investment Manager, is an officer and the General Counsel of the Fund.
EXPERTS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The annual financial statements of the Fund for the year ended December 31,
1997, which are included in this Statement of Additional Information and
incorporated by reference in the Prospectus, have been so included and
incorporated in reliance on the report of Price Waterhouse LLP, independent
accountants, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and
accounting.
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This Statement of Additional Information and the Prospectus do not contain
all of the information set forth in the Registration Statement the Fund has
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The complete Registration
Statement may be obtained from the Securities and Exchange Commission upon
payment of the fee prescribed by the rules and regulations of the Commission.
56
<PAGE>
1997 FINANCIALS TO BE FILED BY AMENDMENT
<PAGE>
DEAN WITTER VARIABLE INVESTMENT SERIES
PART C OTHER INFORMATION
Item 24. Financial Statements and Exhibits
(a) FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(1) Financial statements and schedules, included in Prospectus (Part
A):
None
(2) Financial statements included in the Statement of Additional
Information (Part B):
None
(3) Financial statements included in Part C:
None
(b) EXHIBITS:
1.- Instrument Establishing and Designating Additional Series
of Shares
2. - Amended and Restated By-Laws of the Registrant dated as of
October 23, 1997
5(a).- Form of Investment Management Agreement between the
Registrant and Dean Witter InterCapital Inc.
5(b).- Form of Sub-Advisory Agreement between Dean Witter
InterCapital Inc. and Morgan Grenfell Investment Services
Limited
6(a).- Form of Distribution Agreement between the Registrant and
Dean Witter Distributors Inc.
6(b).- Form of Participation Agreement between the Registrant and
Northbrook Life Insurance Company, Allstate Life Insurance
Company of New York, Glenbrook Life and Annuity Company
and Dean Witter Distributors Inc.
<PAGE>
6(c).- Form of Participation Agreement between the Registrant and
Paragon Life Insurance Company and Dean Witter
Distributors Inc.
8.- Form of Amended and Restated Transfer Agency and Service
Agreement between the Registrant and Dean Witter Trust
FSB
Other - Power of Attorney
---------------------------
All other exhibits were previously filed via EDGAR and are hereby
incorporated by reference.
Item 25. PERSONS CONTROLLED BY OR UNDER COMMON CONTROL WITH REGISTRANT.
None
Item 26. NUMBER OF HOLDERS OF SECURITIES.
(1) (2)
Number of Record Holders
Title of Class at January 31, 1998
-------------- ------------------------
Shares of Beneficial Interest 3
Item 27. INDEMNIFICATION
Pursuant to Section 5.3 of the Registrant's Declaration of Trust and under
Section 4.8 of the Registrant's By-Laws, the indemnification of the Registrant's
trustees, officers, employees and agents is permitted if it is determined that
they acted under the belief that their actions were in or not opposed to the
best interest of the Registrant, and, with respect to any criminal proceeding,
they had reasonable cause to believe their conduct was not unlawful. In
addition, indemnification is permitted only if it is determined that the actions
in question did not render them liable by reason of willful misfeasance, bad
faith or gross negligence in the performance of their duties or by reason of
reckless disregard of their obligations and duties to the Registrant. Trustees,
officers, employees and agents will be indemnified for the expense of litigation
if it is determined that they are entitled to indemnification against any
liability established in such litigation. The Registrant may also advance money
for these expenses provided that they give their undertakings to repay the
Registrant unless their conduct is later determined to permit indemnification.
Pursuant to Section 5.2 of the Registrant's Declaration of Trust and
paragraph 8 of the Registrant's Investment Management Agreement, neither the
Investment Manager nor any trustee, officer, employee or agent of the Registrant
shall be liable for any action or failure to act, except in the case of bad
faith, willful misfeasance, gross negligence or reckless disregard of duties to
the Registrant.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act
of 1933 (the "Act") may be permitted to trustees, officers and controlling
persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions or otherwise, the
Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the
2
<PAGE>
Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy
as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a
claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by
the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a trustee, officer, or
controlling person of the Registrant in connection with the successful defense
of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted against the Registrant by such
trustee, officer or controlling person in connection with the shares being
registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter
has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate
jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public
policy as expressed in the Act, and will be governed by the final adjudication
of such issue.
The Registrant hereby undertakes that it will apply the indemnification
provision of its by-laws in a manner consistent with Release 11330 of the
Securities and Exchange Commission under the Investment Company Act of 1940, so
long as the interpretation of Sections 17(h) and 17(i) of such Act remains in
effect.
Registrant, in conjunction with the Investment Manager, Registrant's
Trustees, and other registered investment management companies managed by the
Investment Manager, maintains insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a
Trustee, officer, employee, or agent of Registrant, or who is or was serving at
the request of Registrant as a trustee, director, officer, employee or agent of
another trust or corporation, against any liability asserted against him and
incurred by him or arising out of his position. However, in no event will
Registrant maintain insurance to indemnify any such person for any act for which
Registrant itself is not permitted to indemnify him.
Item 28. BUSINESS AND OTHER CONNECTIONS OF INVESTMENT ADVISER.
See "The Fund and Its Management" in the Prospectus regarding the business
of the investment adviser. The following information is given regarding
officers of Dean Witter InterCapital Inc. InterCapital is a wholly-owned
subsidiary of Morgan Stanley, Dean Witter, Discover & Co. The principal address
of the Dean Witter Funds is Two World Trade Center, New York, New York 10048.
The term "Dean Witter Funds" used below refers to the following registered
investment companies:
CLOSED-END INVESTMENT COMPANIES
(1) InterCapital Income Securities Inc.
(2) High Income Advantage Trust
(3) High Income Advantage Trust II
(4) High Income Advantage Trust III
(5) Municipal Income Trust
(6) Municipal Income Trust II
(7) Municipal Income Trust III
(8) Dean Witter Government Income Trust
(9) Municipal Premium Income Trust
(10) Municipal Income Opportunities Trust
(11) Municipal Income Opportunities Trust II
(12) Municipal Income Opportunities Trust III
(13) Prime Income Trust
3
<PAGE>
(14) InterCapital Insured Municipal Bond Trust
(15) InterCapital Quality Municipal Income Trust
(16) InterCapital Quality Municipal Investment Trust
(17) InterCapital Insured Municipal Income Trust
(18) InterCapital California Insured Municipal Income Trust
(19) InterCapital Insured Municipal Trust
(20) InterCapital Quality Municipal Securities
(21) InterCapital New York Quality Municipal Securities
(22) InterCapital California Quality Municipal Securities
(23) InterCapital Insured California Municipal Securities
(24) InterCapital Insured Municipal Securities
OPEN-END INVESTMENT COMPANIES:
(1) Dean Witter Short-Term Bond Fund
(2) Dean Witter Tax-Exempt Securities Trust
(3) Dean Witter Tax-Free Daily Income Trust
(4) Dean Witter Dividend Growth Securities Inc.
(5) Dean Witter Convertible Securities Trust
(6) Dean Witter Liquid Asset Fund Inc.
(7) Dean Witter Developing Growth Securities Trust
(8) Dean Witter Retirement Series
(9) Dean Witter Federal Securities Trust
(10) Dean Witter World Wide Investment Trust
(11) Dean Witter U.S. Government Securities Trust
(12) Dean Witter Select Municipal Reinvestment Fund
(13) Dean Witter High Yield Securities Inc.
(14) Dean Witter Intermediate Income Securities
(15) Dean Witter New York Tax-Free Income Fund
(16) Dean Witter California Tax-Free Income Fund
(17) Dean Witter Health Sciences Trust
(18) Dean Witter California Tax-Free Daily Income Trust
(19) Dean Witter Global Asset Allocation Fund
(20) Dean Witter American Value Fund
(21) Dean Witter Strategist Fund
(22) Dean Witter Utilities Fund
(23) Dean Witter World Wide Income Trust
(24) Dean Witter New York Municipal Money Market Trust
(25) Dean Witter Capital Growth Securities
(26) Dean Witter Precious Metals and Minerals Trust
(27) Dean Witter European Growth Fund Inc.
(28) Dean Witter Global Short-Term Income Fund Inc.
(29) Dean Witter Pacific Growth Fund Inc.
(30) Dean Witter Multi-State Municipal Series Trust
(31) Dean Witter Short-Term U.S. Treasury Trust
(32) Dean Witter Diversified Income Trust
(33) Dean Witter U.S. Government Money Market Trust
(34) Dean Witter Global Dividend Growth Securities
(35) Active Assets California Tax-Free Trust
4
<PAGE>
(36) Dean Witter Natural Resource Development Securities Inc.
(37) Active Assets Government Securities Trust
(38) Active Assets Money Trust
(39) Active Assets Tax-Free Trust
(40) Dean Witter Limited Term Municipal Trust
(41) Dean Witter Variable Investment Series
(42) Dean Witter Value-Added Market Series
(43) Dean Witter Global Utilities Fund
(44) Dean Witter International SmallCap Fund
(45) Dean Witter Mid-Cap Growth Fund
(46) Dean Witter Select Dimensions Investment Series
(47) Dean Witter Balanced Growth Fund
(48) Dean Witter Balanced Income Fund
(49) Dean Witter Hawaii Municipal Trust
(50) Dean Witter Capital Appreciation Fund
(51) Dean Witter Intermediate Term U.S. Treasury Trust
(52) Dean Witter Information Fund
(53) Dean Witter Japan Fund
(54) Dean Witter Income Builder Fund
(55) Dean Witter Special Value Fund
(56) Dean Witter Financial Services Trust
(57) Dean Witter Market Leader Trust
(58) Dean Witter S&P 500 Index Fund
(59) Dean Witter Fund of Funds
(60) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter "Competitive Edge" Fund,
"Best Ideas" Portfolio
The term "TCW/DW Funds" refers to the following registered investment companies:
OPEN-END INVESTMENT COMPANIES
(1) TCW/DW Core Equity Trust
(2) TCW/DW North American Government Income Trust
(3) TCW/DW Latin American Growth Fund
(4) TCW/DW Income and Growth Fund
(5) TCW/DW Small Cap Growth Fund
(6) TCW/DW Balanced Fund
(7) TCW/DW Total Return Trust
(8) TCW/DW Mid-Cap Equity Trust
(9) TCW/DW Global Telecom Trust
(10) TCW/DW Strategic Income Trust
(11) TCW/DW Emerging Markets Opportunities Trust
CLOSED-END INVESTMENT COMPANIES
(1) TCW/DW Term Trust 2000
(2) TCW/DW Term Trust 2002
(3) TCW/DW Term Trust 2003
5
<PAGE>
NAME AND POSITION OTHER SUBSTANTIAL BUSINESS, PROFESSION, VOCATION
WITH DEAN WITTER OR EMPLOYMENT, INCLUDING NAME, PRINCIPAL ADDRESS
INTERCAPITAL INC. AND NATURE OF CONNECTION
- ----------------- ------------------------------------------------
Charles A. Fiumefreddo Executive Vice President and Director of Dean
Chairman, Chief Executive Witter Reynolds Inc. ("DWR"); Chairman, Chief
Officer and Director Executive Officer and Director of Dean Witter
Distributors Inc. ("Distributors") and Dean Witter
Services Company Inc. ("DWSC"); Chairman and
Director of Dean Witter Trust FSB ("DWT");
Chairman, Director or Trustee, President and Chief
Executive Officer of the Dean Witter Funds and
Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and Trustee of
the TCW/DW Funds; Director and/or officer of
various Morgan Stanley, Dean Witter, Discover &
Co. ("MSDWD") subsidiaries; Formerly Executive
Vice President and Director of Dean Witter,
Discover & Co.
Philip J. Purcell Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and Director
Director of MSDWD and DWR; Director of DWSC and
Distributors; Director or Trustee of the Dean
Witter Funds; Director and/or officer of various
MSDWD subsidiaries.
Richard M. DeMartini President and Chief Operating Officer
Director of Dean Witter Capital, a division of DWR;
Director of DWR, DWSC, Distributors and DWT;
Trustee of the TCW/DW Funds.
James F. Higgins President and Chief Operating Officer of
Director Dean Witter Financial; Director of DWR, DWSC,
Distributors and DWT.
Thomas C. Schneider Executive Vice President and Chief Strategic
Executive Vice and Administrative Officer of MSDWD; Executive
President, Chief Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of
Financial Officer and DWSC and Distributors; Director of DWR,
Director DWSC, Distributors and MSDWD.
Christine A. Edwards Executive Vice President, Chief Legal Officer
Director and Secretary of MSDWD; Executive Vice President,
Secretary and Chief Legal Officer of Distributors;
Director of DWR, DWSC and Distributors.
Robert M. Scanlan President and Chief Operating Officer of DWSC,
President and Chief Executive Vice President of Distributors;
Operating Officer Executive Vice President and Director of DWT; Vice
President of the Dean Witter Funds and the TCW/DW
Funds.
6
<PAGE>
NAME AND POSITION OTHER SUBSTANTIAL BUSINESS, PROFESSION, VOCATION
WITH DEAN WITTER OR EMPLOYMENT, INCLUDING NAME, PRINCIPAL ADDRESS
INTERCAPITAL INC. AND NATURE OF CONNECTION
- ----------------- ------------------------------------------------
Mitchell M. Merin President and Chief Strategic Officer of DWSC,
President and Chief Executive Vice President of Distributors;
Strategic Officer Executive Vice President and Director of DWT;
Executive Vice President and Director of DWR;
Director of SPS Transaction Services, Inc. and
various other MSDWD subsidiaries.
John B. Van Heuvelen President, Chief Operating Officer and Director
Executive Vice of DWT.
President
Joseph J. McAlinden Vice President of the Dean Witter Funds and
Executive Vice President Director of DWT.
and Chief Investment
Officer
Barry Fink Assistant Secretary of DWR; Senior Vice President,
Senior Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel of DWSC; Senior Vice
Secretary and General President, Assistant Secretary and Assistant
Counsel General Counsel of Distributors; Vice President,
Secretary and General Counsel of the Dean Witter
Funds and the TCW/DW Funds.
Peter M. Avelar Vice President of various Dean Witter Funds.
Senior Vice President
Mark Bavoso Vice President of various Dean Witter Funds.
Senior Vice President
Richard Felegy
Senior Vice President
Edward F. Gaylor Vice President of various Dean Witter Funds.
Senior Vice President
Robert S. Giambrone Senior Vice President of DWSC, Distributors
Senior Vice President and DWT and Director of DWT; Vice President of the
Dean Witter Funds and the TCW/DW Funds.
Rajesh K. Gupta Vice President of various Dean Witter Funds.
Senior Vice President
Kenton J. Hinchliffe Vice President of various Dean Witter Funds.
Senior Vice President
Kevin Hurley Vice President of various Dean Witter Funds.
Senior Vice President
7
<PAGE>
NAME AND POSITION OTHER SUBSTANTIAL BUSINESS, PROFESSION, VOCATION
WITH DEAN WITTER OR EMPLOYMENT, INCLUDING NAME, PRINCIPAL ADDRESS
INTERCAPITAL INC. AND NATURE OF CONNECTION
- ----------------- ------------------------------------------------
Margaret Iannuzzi
Senior Vice President
Jenny Beth Jones Vice President of Dean Witter Special Value Fund.
Senior Vice President
John B. Kemp, III President of Distributors.
Senior Vice President
Anita H. Kolleeny Vice President of various Dean Witter Funds.
Senior Vice President
Jonathan R. Page Vice President of various Dean Witter Funds.
Senior Vice President
Ira N. Ross Vice President of various Dean Witter Funds.
Senior Vice President
Guy G. Rutherfurd, Jr. Vice President of Dean Witter Market Leader
Senior Vice President Trust.
Rafael Scolari Vice President of Prime Income Trust.
Senior Vice President
Rochelle G. Siegel Vice President of various Dean Witter Funds.
Senior Vice President
Jayne M. Stevlingson Vice President of various Dean Witter Funds.
Senior Vice President
Paul D. Vance Vice President of various Dean Witter Funds.
Senior Vice President
Elizabeth A. Vetell
Senior Vice President
James F. Willison Vice President of various Dean Witter Funds.
Senior Vice President
Ronald J. Worobel Vice President of various Dean Witter Funds.
Senior Vice President
Douglas Brown
First Vice President
8
<PAGE>
NAME AND POSITION OTHER SUBSTANTIAL BUSINESS, PROFESSION, VOCATION
WITH DEAN WITTER OR EMPLOYMENT, INCLUDING NAME, PRINCIPAL ADDRESS
INTERCAPITAL INC. AND NATURE OF CONNECTION
- ----------------- ------------------------------------------------
Thomas F. Caloia First Vice President and Assistant Treasurer of
First Vice President DWSC, Assistant Treasurer of Distributors;
and Assistant Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer of the
Treasurer Dean Witter Funds and the TCW/DW Funds.
Thomas Chronert
First Vice President
Rosalie Clough
First Vice President
Marilyn K. Cranney Assistant Secretary of DWR; First Vice President
First Vice President and Assistant Secretary of DWSC; Assistant and
Assistant Secretary Secretary of the Dean
Witter Funds and the TCW/DW Funds.
Michael Interrante First Vice President and Controller of DWSC;
First Vice President Assistant Treasurer of Distributors; First Vice
and Controller President and Treasurer of DWT.
David Johnson
First Vice President
Stanley Kapica
First Vice President
Robert Zimmerman
First Vice President
Dale Albright
Vice President
Joan G. Allman
Vice President
Andrew Arbenz
Vice President
Joseph Arcieri Vice President of various Dean Witter Funds.
Vice President
Nancy Belza
Vice President
9
<PAGE>
NAME AND POSITION OTHER SUBSTANTIAL BUSINESS, PROFESSION, VOCATION
WITH DEAN WITTER OR EMPLOYMENT, INCLUDING NAME, PRINCIPAL ADDRESS
INTERCAPITAL INC. AND NATURE OF CONNECTION
- ----------------- ------------------------------------------------
Maurice Bendrihem
Vice President and
Assistant Controller
Dale Boettcher
Vice President
Joseph Cardwell
Vice President
Philip Casparius
Vice President
B. Catherine Connelly
Vice President
Salvatore DeSteno Vice President of DWSC.
Vice President
Bruce Dunn
Vice President
Jeffrey D. Geffen
Vice President
Deborah Genovese
Vice President
Michael Geringer
Vice President
Stephen Greenhut
Vice President
Peter W. Gurman
Vice President
Matthew Haynes Vice President of Dean Witter
Vice President Variable Investment Series
Peter Hermann
Vice President Vice President of various Dean Witter Funds
Elizabeth Hinchman
Vice President
10
<PAGE>
NAME AND POSITION OTHER SUBSTANTIAL BUSINESS, PROFESSION, VOCATION
WITH DEAN WITTER OR EMPLOYMENT, INCLUDING NAME, PRINCIPAL ADDRESS
INTERCAPITAL INC. AND NATURE OF CONNECTION
- ----------------- ------------------------------------------------
David Hoffman
Vice President
Christopher Jones
Vice President
James P. Kastberg
Vice President
Michelle Kaufman Vice President of various Dean Witter Funds
Vice President
Paula LaCosta Vice President of various Dean Witter Funds.
Vice President
Thomas Lawlor
Vice President
Gerard J. Lian Vice President of various Dean Witter Funds.
Vice President
Catherine Maniscalco Vice President of Dean Witter Natural
Vice President Resource Development Securities Inc.
Albert McGarity
Vice President
LouAnne D. McInnis Vice President and Assistant Secretary of DWSC;
Vice President and Assistant Secretary of the Dean Witter Funds and
Assistant Secretary the TCW/DW Funds.
Sharon K. Milligan
Vice President
Julie Morrone
Vice President
Mary Beth Mueller
Vice President
David Myers Vice President of Dean Witter Natural
Vice President Resource Development Securities Inc.
James Nash
Vice President
11
<PAGE>
NAME AND POSITION OTHER SUBSTANTIAL BUSINESS, PROFESSION, VOCATION
WITH DEAN WITTER OR EMPLOYMENT, INCLUDING NAME, PRINCIPAL ADDRESS
INTERCAPITAL INC. AND NATURE OF CONNECTION
- ----------------- ------------------------------------------------
Richard Norris
Vice President
Carsten Otto Vice President and Assistant Secretary of DWSC;
Vice President and Assistant Secretary of the Dean Witter Funds and
Assistant Secretary the TCW/DW Funds.
George Paoletti
Vice President
Anne Pickrell Vice President of various Dean Witter Funds.
Vice President
Michael Roan
Vice President
John Roscoe
Vice President
Hugh Rose
Vice President
Robert Rossetti Vice President of Dean Witter Precious Metals and
Vice President Minerals Trust.
Ruth Rossi Vice President and Assistant Secretary of DWSC;
Vice President and Assistant Secretary of the Dean Witter Funds and
Assistant Secretary the TCW/DW Funds.
Carl F. Sadler
Vice President
Peter J. Seeley Vice President of various Dean Witter Funds.
Vice President
Naomi Stein
Vice President
Kathleen H. Stromberg Vice President of various Dean Witter Funds.
Vice President
Marybeth Swisher
Vice President
12
<PAGE>
NAME AND POSITION OTHER SUBSTANTIAL BUSINESS, PROFESSION, VOCATION
WITH DEAN WITTER OR EMPLOYMENT, INCLUDING NAME, PRINCIPAL ADDRESS
INTERCAPITAL INC. AND NATURE OF CONNECTION
- ----------------- ------------------------------------------------
Robert Vanden Assem
Vice President
James P. Wallin
Vice President
Alice Weiss Vice President of various Dean Witter Funds.
Vice President
Item 29. PRINCIPAL UNDERWRITERS
(a) Dean Witter Distributors Inc. ("Distributors"), a Delaware corporation,
is the principal underwriter of the Registrant. Distributors is also the
principal underwriter of the following investment companies:
(1) Dean Witter Liquid Asset Fund Inc.
(2) Dean Witter Tax-Free Daily Income Trust
(3) Dean Witter California Tax-Free Daily Income Trust
(4) Dean Witter Retirement Series
(5) Dean Witter Dividend Growth Securities Inc.
(6) Dean Witter Global Asset Allocation
(7) Dean Witter World Wide Investment Trust
(8) Dean Witter Capital Growth Securities
(9) Dean Witter Convertible Securities Trust
(10) Active Assets Tax-Free Trust
(11) Active Assets Money Trust
(12) Active Assets California Tax-Free Trust
(13) Active Assets Government Securities Trust
(14) Dean Witter Short-Term Bond Fund
(15) Dean Witter Mid-Cap Growth Fund
(16) Dean Witter U.S. Government Securities Trust
(17) Dean Witter High Yield Securities Inc.
(18) Dean Witter New York Tax-Free Income Fund
(19) Dean Witter Tax-Exempt Securities Trust
(20) Dean Witter California Tax-Free Income Fund
(21) Dean Witter Limited Term Municipal Trust
(22) Dean Witter Natural Resource Development Securities Inc.
(23) Dean Witter World Wide Income Trust
(24) Dean Witter Utilities Fund
(25) Dean Witter Strategist Fund
(26) Dean Witter New York Municipal Money Market Trust
(27) Dean Witter Intermediate Income Securities
(28) Prime Income Trust
(29) Dean Witter European Growth Fund Inc.
13
<PAGE>
(30) Dean Witter Developing Growth Securities Trust
(31) Dean Witter Precious Metals and Minerals Trust
(32) Dean Witter Pacific Growth Fund Inc.
(33) Dean Witter Multi-State Municipal Series Trust
(34) Dean Witter Federal Securities Trust
(35) Dean Witter Short-Term U.S. Treasury Trust
(36) Dean Witter Diversified Income Trust
(37) Dean Witter Health Sciences Trust
(38) Dean Witter Global Dividend Growth Securities
(39) Dean Witter American Value Fund
(40) Dean Witter U.S. Government Money Market Trust
(41) Dean Witter Global Short-Term Income Fund Inc.
(42) Dean Witter Value-Added Market Series
(43) Dean Witter Global Utilities Fund
(44) Dean Witter International SmallCap Fund
(45) Dean Witter Balanced Growth Fund
(46) Dean Witter Balanced Income Fund
(47) Dean Witter Hawaii Municipal Trust
(48) Dean Witter Variable Investment Series
(49) Dean Witter Capital Appreciation Fund
(50) Dean Witter Intermediate Term U.S. Treasury Trust
(51) Dean Witter Information Fund
(52) Dean Witter Japan Fund
(53) Dean Witter Income Builder Fund
(54) Dean Witter Special Value Fund
(55) Dean Witter Financial Services Trust
(56) Dean Witter Market Leader Trust
(57) Dean Witter S&P 500 Index Fund
(58) Dean Witter Fund of Funds
(59) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter "Competitive Edge" Fund
(1) TCW/DW Core Equity Trust
(2) TCW/DW North American Government Income Trust
(3) TCW/DW Latin American Growth Fund
(4) TCW/DW Income and Growth Fund
(5) TCW/DW Small Cap Growth Fund
(6) TCW/DW Balanced Fund
(7) TCW/DW Total Return Trust
(8) TCW/DW Mid-Cap Equity Trust
(9) TCW/DW Global Telecom Trust
(10) TCW/DW Strategic Income Trust
(11) TCW/DW Emerging Markets Opportunites Trust
(b) The following information is given regarding directors and officers of
Distributors not listed in Item 28 above. The principal address of
Distributors is Two World Trade Center, New York, New York 10048. None of
the following persons has any position or office with the Registrant.
14
<PAGE>
Name Positions and Office with Distributors
- ---- ---------------------------------------
Fredrick K. Kubler Senior Vice President, Assistant Secretary and Chief
Compliance Officer.
Michael T. Gregg Vice President and Assistant Secretary.
Item 30. LOCATION OF ACCOUNTS AND RECORDS
All accounts, books and other documents required to be maintained by
Section 31(a) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 and the Rules thereunder are
maintained by the Investment Manager at its offices, except records relating to
holders of shares issued by the Registrant, which are maintained by the
Registrant's Transfer Agent, at its place of business as shown in the
prospectus.
Item 31. MANAGEMENT SERVICES
Registrant is not a party to any such management-related service contract.
Item 32. UNDERTAKINGS
Registrant hereby undertakes to furnish each person to whom a prospectus is
delivered with a copy of the Registrant's latest annual report to shareholders,
upon request and without charge.
15
<PAGE>
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 and the
Investment Company Act of 1940, the Registrant certifies that it has duly caused
this Post-Effective Amendment to the Registration Statement to be signed on its
behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of New York
and State of New York on the 9th day of February, 1998.
DEAN WITTER VARIABLE INVESTMENT SERIES
By /s/Barry Fink
--------------------------------------
Barry Fink
Vice President and Secretary
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Post-Effective Amendment No. 22 has been signed below by the following persons
in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
Signatures Title Date
---------- ----- ----
(1) Principal Executive Officer President, Chief
Executive Officer,
Trustee and Chairman
By /s/ Charles A. Fiumefreddo 02/09/98
----------------------------
Charles A. Fiumefreddo
(2) Principal Financial Officer Treasurer and Principal
Accounting Officer
By /s/ Thomas F. Caloia 02/09/98
----------------------------
Thomas F. Caloia
(3) Majority of the Trustees
Charles A. Fiumefreddo (Chairman)
Philip J. Purcell
By /s/ Barry Fink 02/09/98
----------------------------
Barry Fink
Attorney-in-Fact
Michael Bozic
Edwin J. Garn
John R. Haire
Wayne E. Hedien
Manuel H. Johnson
Michael E. Nugent
John L. Schroeder
By /s/ David M. Butowsky 02/09/98
----------------------------
David M. Butowsky
Attorney-in-Fact
<PAGE>
DEAN WITTER VARIABLE INVESTMENT SERIES
EXHIBIT INDEX
1. - Instrument Establishing and Designating Additional Series of
Shares
2. - Amended and Restated By-Laws of the Registrant dated as of
October 23, 1997
5(a).- Form of Investment Management Agreement between the
Registrant and Dean Witter InterCapital Inc.
5(b).- Form of Sub-Advisory Agreement between Dean Witter
InterCapital Inc. and Morgan Grenfell Investment Services
Limited
6(a).- Form of Distribution Agreement between the Registrant and
Dean Witter Distributors Inc.
6(b).- Form of Participation Agreement between the Registrant and
Northbrook Life Insurance Company, Allstate Life Insurance
Company of New York, Glenbrook Life and Annuity Company and
Dean Witter Distributors Inc.
6(c). - Form of Participation Agreement between the Registrant and
Paragon Life Insurance Company and Dean Witter Distributors
Inc.
8. - Form of Amended and Restated Transfer Agency and Service
Agreememt between the Registrant and Dean Witter Trust FSB
Other - Power of Attorney
<PAGE>
C E R T I F I C A T E
The undersigned hereby certifies that he is the Secretary of Dean Witter
Variable Investment Series (the "Trust"), an unincorporated business trust
organized under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, that annexed
hereto is an Instrument Establishing and Designating Additional Series of Shares
of the Trust adopted by the Trustees of the Trust on January 29, 1998 as
provided in Section 9.3 of the said Declaration, said Instrument to take effect
immediately, and I do hereby further certify that such Instrument has not been
amended and is on the date hereof in full force and effect.
Date this 29th day of January, 1998.
/s/ Barry Fink
--------------------------------
Barry Fink
Secretary
<PAGE>
DEAN WITTER VARIABLE INVESTMENT SERIES
INSTRUMENT ESTABLISHING AND DESIGNATING
ADDITIONAL SERIES OF SHARES
WHEREAS, Dean Witter Variable Investment Series (the "Trust") was established by
the Declaration of Trust dated February 24, 1983, as amended from time to time
(the "Declaration"), under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts; and
WHEREAS, Section 6.9 (h) of the Declaration provides that the establishment and
designation of any additional Series of Shares shall be effective upon the
execution by a majority of the then Trustees of an instrument setting forth such
establishment and designation and the relative rights, preferences, voting
powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends, qualifications, and terms and
conditions of such Series, or as otherwise provided in such instrument which
instrument shall have the status of an amendment to the Declaration, and the
Trustees of the Trust have deemed it advisable to establish two additional
Series of Shares.
NOW, THEREFORE, pursuant to Section 6.9 (h) of the Declaration, there are hereby
established and designated two additional Series of Shares, to be known as the
S&P 500 Index Portfolio and the Competitive Edge "Best Ideas" Portfolio, which
shall be subject to the same relative rights, preferences, voting powers,
restrictions, limitations as to dividends, qualifications, and terms and
conditions of redemption as provided in the Declaration with respect to the
initial Series of Shares established in Section 6.1 of the Declaration.
This instrument may be executed in more than one counterpart, each of which
shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and
the same document.
<PAGE>
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned, the Trustees of the Trust, have executed
this instrument this 29th day of January, 1998.
/s/ Michael Bozic /s/ Manuel H. Johnson
- --------------------------------- ---------------------------------
Michael Bozic, as Trustee Manuel H. Johnson, as Trustee
and not individually and not individually
c/o Levitz Furniture Corp. c/o Johnson Smick International Inc.
6111 Broken Sound Parkway, NW 1133 Connecticut Avenue, NW
Boca Raton, FL 33487 Washington, D.C. 20036
/s/ Charles A. Fiumefreddo /s/ Michael E. Nugent
- --------------------------------- ---------------------------------
Charles A. Fiumefreddo, as Trustee Michael E. Nugent, as Trustee
and not individually and not individually
Two World Trade Center c/o Triumph Capital, L.P.
New York, NY 10048 237 Park Avenue
New York, NY 10017
/s/ Edwin J. Garn /s/ Philip J. Purcell
- --------------------------------- ---------------------------------
Edwin J. Garn, as Trustee Philip J. Purcell, as Trustee
and not individually and not individually
c/o Huntsman Corporation Two World Trade Center
500 Huntsman Way New York, NY 10048
Salt Lake City, UT 84111
/s/ John R. Haire /s/ John L. Schroeder
- --------------------------------- ---------------------------------
John R. Haire, as Trustee John L. Schroeder, as Trustee
and not individually and not individually
Two World Trade Center c/o Gordon Altman Butowsky Weitzen
New York, NY 10048 Shalov & Wein
Counsel to the Independent Trustees
114 West 47th Street
New York, NY 10036
/s/ Wayne E. Hedien
- ---------------------------------
Wayne E. Hedien, as Trustee
and not individually
c/o Gordon Altman Butowsky Weitzen
Shalov & Wein
Counsel to the Independent Trustees
114 West 47th Street
New York, NY 10036
<PAGE>
STATE OF NEW YORK )
)ss.:
COUNTY OF NEW YORK )
On this 29th day of January, 1998, MICHAEL BOZIC, CHARLES A. FIUMEFREDDO,
EDWIN J. GARN, JOHN R. HAIRE, WAYNE E. HEDIEN, MANUEL H. JOHNSON, MICHAEL E.
NUGENT, PHILIP J. PURCELL and JOHN L. SCHROEDER, known to me to be the
individuals described in and who executed the foregoing instrument, personally
appeared before me and they severally acknowledged the foregoing instrument to
be their free act and deed.
/s/ Marilyn K. Cranney
--------------------------------
Notary Public
MARILYN K. CRANNEY
NOTARY PUBLIC, State of New York
No. 24-4795538
Qualified in Kings County
Commission Expires May 31, 1999
<PAGE>
BY-LAWS
OF
DEAN WITTER VARIABLE INVESTMENT SERIES
AMENDED AND RESTATED AS OF OCTOBER 23, 1997
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
The terms "COMMISSION," "DECLARATION," "DISTRIBUTOR," "INVESTMENT ADVISER,"
"MAJORITY SHAREHOLDER VOTE," "1940 ACT," "SHAREHOLDER," "SHARES," "TRANSFER
AGENT," "TRUST," "TRUST PROPERTY," and "TRUSTEES" have the respective meanings
given them in the Declaration of Trust of Dean Witter Variable Investment Series
dated February 24, 1983, as amended from time to time.
ARTICLE II
OFFICES
SECTION 2.1. PRINCIPAL OFFICE. Until changed by the Trustees, the principal
office of the Trust in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts shall be in the City of
Boston, County of Suffolk.
SECTION 2.2. OTHER OFFICES. In addition to its principal office in the
Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the Trust may have an office or offices in the
City of New York, State of New York, and at such other places within and without
the Commonwealth as the Trustees may from time to time designate or the business
of the Trust may require.
ARTICLE III
SHAREHOLDERS' MEETINGS
SECTION 3.1. PLACE OF MEETINGS. Meetings of Shareholders shall be held at
such place, within or without the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as may be
designated from time to time by the Trustees.
SECTION 3.2. MEETINGS. Meetings of Shareholders of the Trust shall be held
whenever called by the Trustees or the President of the Trust and whenever
election of a Trustee or Trustees by Shareholders is required by the provisions
of Section 16(a) of the 1940 Act, for that purpose. Meetings of Shareholders
shall also be called by the Secretary upon the written request of the holders of
Shares entitled to vote not less than twenty-five percent (25%) of all the votes
entitled to be cast at such meeting. Such request shall state the purpose or
purposes of such meeting and the matters proposed to be acted on thereat. The
Secretary shall inform such Shareholders of the reasonable estimated cost of
preparing and mailing such notice of the meeting, and upon payment to the Trust
of such costs, the Secretary shall give notice stating the purpose or purposes
of the meeting to all entitled to vote at such meeting. No meeting need be
called upon the request of the holders of Shares entitled to cast less than a
majority of all votes entitled to be cast at such meeting, to consider any
matter which is substantially the same as a matter voted upon at any meeting of
Shareholders held during the preceding twelve months.
SECTION 3.3. NOTICE OF MEETINGS. Written or printed notice of every
Shareholders' meeting stating the place, date, and purpose or purposes thereof,
shall be given by the Secretary not less than ten (10) nor more than ninety (90)
days before such meeting to each Shareholder entitled to vote at such meeting.
Such notice shall be deemed to be given when deposited in the United States
mail, postage prepaid, directed to the Shareholder at his address as it appears
on the records of the Trust.
SECTION 3.4. QUORUM AND ADJOURNMENT OF MEETINGS. Except as otherwise
provided by law, the Declaration or by these By-Laws, at all meetings of
Shareholders, the holders of a majority of the Shares issued and outstanding and
entitled to vote thereat, present in person or represented by proxy, shall be
requisite and shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. In the
absence of a quorum, the
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Shareholders present or represented by proxy and entitled to vote thereat shall
have the power to adjourn the meeting from time to time. The Shareholders
present in person or represented by proxy at any meeting and entitled to vote
thereat also shall have the power to adjourn the meeting from time to time if
the vote required to approve or reject any proposal described in the original
notice of such meeting is not obtained (with proxies being voted for or against
adjournment consistent with the votes for and against the proposal for which the
required vote has not been obtained). The affirmative vote of the holders of a
majority of the Shares then present in person or represented by proxy shall be
required to adjourn any meeting. Any adjourned meeting may be reconvened without
further notice. At any reconvened meeting at which a quorum shall be present,
any business may be transacted that might have been transacted at the meeting as
originally called.
SECTION 3.5. VOTING RIGHTS, PROXIES. At each meeting of Shareholders, each
holder of record of Shares entitled to vote thereat shall be entitled to one
vote in person or by proxy, executed in writing by the Shareholder or his duly
authorized attorney-in-fact, for each Share of beneficial interest of the Trust
and for the fractional portion of one vote for each fractional Share entitled to
vote so registered in his name on the records of the Trust on the date fixed as
the record date for the determination of Shareholders entitled to vote at such
meeting. No proxy shall be valid after eleven months from its date, unless
otherwise provided in the proxy. At all meetings of Shareholders, unless the
voting is conducted by inspectors, all questions relating to the qualification
of voters and the validity of proxies and the acceptance or rejection of votes
shall be decided by the chairman of the meeting. Pursuant to a resolution of a
majority of the Trustees, proxies may be solicited in the name of one or more
Trustees or Officers of the Trust.
SECTION 3.6. VOTE REQUIRED. Except as otherwise provided by law, by the
Declaration of Trust, or by these By-Laws, at each meeting of Shareholders at
which a quorum is present, all matters shall be decided by Majority Shareholder
Vote.
SECTION 3.7. INSPECTORS OF ELECTION. In advance of any meeting of
Shareholders, the Trustees may appoint Inspectors of Election to act at the
meeting or any adjournment thereof. If Inspectors of Election are not so
appointed, the chairman of any meeting of Shareholders may, and on the request
of any Shareholder or his proxy shall, appoint Inspectors of Election of the
meeting. In case any person appointed as Inspector fails to appear or fails or
refuses to act, the vacancy may be filled by appointment made by the Trustees in
advance of the convening of the meeting or at the meeting by the person acting
as chairman. The Inspectors of Election shall determine the number of Shares
outstanding, the Shares represented at the meeting, the existence of a quorum,
the authenticity, validity and effect of proxies, shall receive votes, ballots
or consents, shall hear and determine all challenges and questions in any way
arising in connection with the right to vote, shall count and tabulate all votes
or consents, determine the results, and do such other acts as may be proper to
conduct the election or vote with fairness to all Shareholders. On request of
the chairman of the meeting, or of any Shareholder or his proxy, the Inspectors
of Election shall make a report in writing of any challenge or question or
matter determined by them and shall execute a certificate of any facts found by
them.
SECTION 3.8. INSPECTION OF BOOKS AND RECORDS. Shareholders shall have such
rights and procedures of inspection of the books and records of the Trust as
are granted to Shareholders under the Corporations and Associations Law of the
State of Maryland.
SECTION 3.9. ACTION BY SHAREHOLDERS WITHOUT MEETING. Except as otherwise
provided by law, the provisions of these By-Laws relating to notices and
meetings to the contrary notwithstanding, any action required or permitted to be
taken at any meeting of Shareholders may be taken without a meeting if a
majority of the Shareholders entitled to vote upon the action consent to the
action in writing and such consents are filed with the records of the Trust.
Such consent shall be treated for all purposes as a vote taken at a meeting of
Shareholders.
SECTION 3.10. PRESENCE AT MEETINGS. Presence at meetings of shareholders
requires physical attendance by the shareholder or his or her proxy at the
meeting site and does not encompass attendance by telephonic or other electronic
means.
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ARTICLE IV
TRUSTEES
SECTION 4.1. MEETINGS OF THE TRUSTEES. The Trustees may in their
discretion provide for regular or special meetings of the Trustees. Regular
meetings of the Trustees may be held at such time and place as shall be
determined from time to time by the Trustees without further notice. Special
meetings of the Trustees may be called at any time by the President and shall be
called by the President or the Secretary upon the written request of any two (2)
Trustees.
SECTION 4.2. NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETINGS. Written notice of special
meetings of the Trustees, stating the place, date and time thereof, shall be
given not less than two (2) days before such meeting to each Trustee,
personally, by telegram, by mail, or by leaving such notice at his place of
residence or usual place of business. If mailed, such notice shall be deemed to
be given when deposited in the United States mail, postage prepaid, directed to
the Trustee at his address as it appears on the records of the Trust. Subject to
the provisions of the 1940 Act, notice or waiver of notice need not specify the
purpose of any special meeting.
SECTION 4.3. TELEPHONE MEETINGS. Subject to the provisions of the 1940
Act, any Trustee, or any member or members of any committee designated by the
Trustees, may participate in a meeting of the Trustees, or any such committee,
as the case may be, by means of a conference telephone or similar communications
equipment if all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other at the
same time. Participation in a meeting by these means constitutes presence in
person at the meeting.
SECTION 4.4. QUORUM, VOTING AND ADJOURNMENT OF MEETINGS. At all meetings
of the Trustees, a majority of the Trustees shall be requisite to and shall
constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. If a quorum is present, the
affirmative vote of a majority of the Trustees present shall be the act of the
Trustees, unless the concurrence of a greater proportion is expressly required
for such action by law, the Declaration or these By-Laws. If at any meeting of
the Trustees there be less than a quorum present, the Trustees present thereat
may adjourn the meeting from time to time, without notice other than
announcement at the meeting, until a quorum shall have been obtained.
SECTION 4.5. ACTION BY TRUSTEES WITHOUT MEETING. The provisions of these
By-Laws covering notices and meetings to the contrary notwithstanding, and
except as required by law, any action required or permitted to be taken at any
meeting of the Trustees may be taken without a meeting if a consent in writing
setting forth the action shall be signed by all of the Trustees entitled to vote
upon the action and such written consent is filed with the minutes of
proceedings of the Trustees.
SECTION 4.6. EXPENSES AND FEES. Each Trustee may be allowed expenses, if
any, for attendance at each regular or special meeting of the Trustees, and each
Trustee who is not an officer or employee of the Trust or of its investment
manager or underwriter or of any corporate affiliate of any of said persons
shall receive for services rendered as a Trustee of the Trust such compensation
as may be fixed by the Trustees. Nothing herein contained shall be construed to
preclude any Trustee from serving the Trust in any other capacity and receiving
compensation therefor.
SECTION 4.7. EXECUTION OF INSTRUMENTS AND DOCUMENTS AND SIGNING OF CHECKS
AND OTHER OBLIGATIONS AND TRANSFERS. All instruments, documents and other papers
shall be executed in the name and on behalf of the Trust and all checks, notes,
drafts and other obligations for the payment of money by the Trust shall be
signed, and all transfer of securities standing in the name of the Trust shall
be executed, by the Chairman, the President, any Vice President or the Treasurer
or by any one or more officers or agents of the Trust as shall be designated for
that purpose by vote of the Trustees; notwithstanding the above, nothing in this
Section 4.7 shall be deemed to preclude the electronic authorization, by
designated persons, of the Trust's Custodian (as described herein in Section
9.1) to transfer assets of the Trust, as provided for herein in Section 9.1.
SECTION 4.8. INDEMNIFICATION OF TRUSTEES, OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES AND
AGENTS. (a) The Trust shall indemnify any person who was or is a party or is
threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending, or completed action,
suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative
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(other than an action by or in the right of the Trust) by reason of the fact
that he is or was a Trustee, officer, employee, or agent of the Trust. The
indemnification shall be against expenses, including attorneys' fees, judgments,
fines, and amounts paid in settlement, actually and reasonably incurred by him
in connection with the action, suit, or proceeding, if he acted in good faith
and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best
interests of the Trust, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding,
had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful. The termination of
any action, suit or proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction, or
upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not, of itself, create a
presumption that the person did not act in good faith and in a manner which he
reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Trust,
and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had reasonable cause to
believe that his conduct was unlawful.
(b) The Trust shall indemnify any person who was or is a party or is
threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or
suit by or on behalf of the Trust to obtain a judgment or decree in its favor by
reason of the fact that he is or was a Trustee, officer, employee, or agent of
the Trust. The indemnification shall be against expenses, including attorneys'
fees actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with the defense or
settlement of the action or suit, if he acted in good faith and in a manner he
reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Trust;
except that no indemnification shall be made in respect of any claim, issue, or
matter as to which the person has been adjudged to be liable for negligence or
misconduct in the performance of his duty to the Trust, except to the extent
that the court in which the action or suit was brought, or a court of equity in
the county in which the Trust has its principal office, determines upon
application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all
circumstances of the case, the person is fairly and reasonably entitled to
indemnity for those expenses which the court shall deem proper, provided such
Trustee, officer, employee or agent is not adjudged to be liable by reason of
his willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of
the duties involved in the conduct of his office.
(c) To the extent that a Trustee, officer, employee, or agent of the Trust
has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any action, suit or
proceeding referred to in subsection (a) or (b) or in defense of any claim,
issue or matter therein, he shall be indemnified against expenses, including
attorneys' fees, actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection
therewith.
(d) (1) Unless a court orders otherwise, any indemnification under
subsections (a) or (b) of this section may be made by the Trust only as
authorized in the specific case after a determination that indemnification of
the Trustee, officer, employee, or agent is proper in the circumstances because
he has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in subsections (a) or
(b).
(2) The determination shall be made:
(i) By the Trustees, by a majority vote of a quorum which consists of
Trustees who were not parties to the action, suit or proceeding; or
(ii) If the required quorum is not obtainable, or if a quorum of
disinterested Trustees so directs, by independent legal counsel in a written
opinion; or
(iii) By the Shareholders.
(3) Notwithstanding any provision of this Section 4.8, no person shall be
entitled to indemnification for any liability, whether or not there is an
adjudication of liability, arising by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith,
gross negligence, or reckless disregard of duties as described in Section 17(h)
and (i) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 ("disabling conduct"). A person
shall be deemed not liable by reason of disabling conduct if, either:
(i) a final decision on the merits is made by a court or other body
before whom the proceeding was brought that the person to be indemnified
("indemnitee") was not liable by reason of disabling conduct; or
(ii) in the absence of such a decision, a reasonable determination,
based upon a review of the facts, that the indemnitee was not liable by reason
of disabling conduct, is made by either--
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(A) a majority of a quorum of Trustees who are neither
"interested persons" of the Trust, as defined in Section 2(a)(19) of
the Investment Company Act of 1940, nor parties to the action, suit or
proceeding, or
(B) an independent legal counsel in a written opinion.
(e) Expenses, including attorneys' fees, incurred by a Trustee, officer,
employee or agent of the Trust in defending a civil or criminal action, suit or
proceeding may be paid by the Trust in advance of the final disposition thereof
if:
(1) authorized in the specific case by the Trustees; and
(2) the Trust receives an undertaking by or on behalf of the Trustee,
officer, employee or agent of the Trust to repay the advance if it is not
ultimately determined that such person is entitled to be indemnified by the
Trust; and
(3) either, (i) such person provides a security for his undertaking,
or
(ii) the Trust is insured against losses by reason of any lawful
advances, or
(iii) a determination, based on a review of readily available
facts, that there is reason to believe that such person ultimately
will be found entitled to indemnification, is made by either--
(A) a majority of a quorum which consists of Trustees who
are neither "interested persons" of the Trust, as defined in
Section 2(a)(19) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, nor
parties to the action, suit or proceeding, or
(B) an independent legal counsel in a written opinion.
(f) The indemnification provided by this Section shall not be deemed
exclusive of any other rights to which a person may be entitled under any
by-law, agreement, vote of Shareholders or disinterested Trustees or otherwise,
both as to action in his official capacity and as to action in another capacity
while holding the office, and shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be
a Trustee, officer, employee, or agent and inure to the benefit of the heirs,
executors and administrators of such person; provided that no person may satisfy
any right of indemnity or reimbursement granted herein or to which he may be
otherwise entitled except out of the property of the Trust, and no Shareholder
shall be personally liable with respect to any claim for indemnity or
reimbursement or otherwise.
(g) The Trust may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person
who is or was a Trustee, officer, employee, or agent of the Trust, against any
liability asserted against him and incurred by him in any such capacity, or
arising out of his status as such. However, in no event will the Trust purchase
insurance to indemnify any officer or Trustee against liability for any act for
which the Trust itself is not permitted to indemnify him.
(h) Nothing contained in this Section shall be construed to protect any
Trustee or officer of the Trust against any liability to the Trust or to its
security holders to which he would otherwise be subject by reason of willful
misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties
involved in the conduct of his office.
ARTICLE V
COMMITTEES
SECTION 5.1. EXECUTIVE AND OTHER COMMITTEES. The Trustees, by resolution
adopted by a majority of the Trustees, may designate an Executive Committee
and/or committees, each committee to consist of two (2) or more of the Trustees
of the Trust and may delegate to such committees, in the intervals between
meetings of the Trustees, any or all of the powers of the Trustees in the
management of the business and affairs of the Trust. In the absence of any
member of any such committee, the members thereof present at any meeting,
whether or not they constitute a quorum, may appoint a Trustee to act in place
of such absent member. Each such committee shall keep a record of its
proceedings.
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The Executive Committee and any other committee shall fix its own rules or
procedure, but the presence of at least fifty percent (50%) of the members of
the whole committee shall in each case be necessary to constitute a quorum of
the committee and the affirmative vote of the majority of the members of the
committee present at the meeting shall be necessary to take action.
All actions of the Executive Committee shall be reported to the Trustees at
the meeting thereof next succeeding to the taking of such action.
SECTION 5.2. ADVISORY COMMITTEE. The Trustees may appoint an advisory
committee which shall be composed of persons who do not serve the Trust in any
other capacity and which shall have advisory functions with respect to the
investments of the Trust but which shall have no power to determine that any
security or other investment shall be purchased, sold or otherwise disposed of
by the Trust. The number of persons constituting any such advisory committee
shall be determined from time to time by the Trustees. The members of any such
advisory committee may receive compensation for their services and may be
allowed such fees and expenses for the attendance at meetings as the Trustees
may from time to time determine to be appropriate.
SECTION 5.3. COMMITTEE ACTION WITHOUT MEETING. The provisions of these
By-Laws covering notices and meetings to the contrary notwithstanding, and
except as required by law, any action required or permitted to be taken at any
meeting of any Committee of the Trustees appointed pursuant to Section 5.1 of
these By-Laws may be taken without a meeting if a consent in writing setting
forth the action shall be signed by all members of the Committee entitled to
vote upon the action and such written consent is filed with the records of the
proceedings of the Committee.
ARTICLE VI
OFFICERS
SECTION 6.1. EXECUTIVE OFFICERS. The executive officers of the Trust
shall be a Chairman, a President, one or more Vice Presidents, a Secretary and a
Treasurer. The Chairman shall be selected from among the Trustees but none of
the other executive officers need be a Trustee. Two or more offices, except
those of President and any Vice President, may be held by the same person, but
no officer shall execute, acknowledge or verify any instrument in more than one
capacity. The executive officers of the Trust shall be elected annually by the
Trustees and each executive officer so elected shall hold office until his
successor is elected and has qualified.
SECTION 6.2. OTHER OFFICERS AND AGENTS. The Trustees may also elect one
or more Assistant Vice Presidents, Assistant Secretaries and Assistant
Treasurers and may elect, or may delegate to the President the power to appoint,
such other officers and agents as the Trustees shall at any time or from time to
time deem advisable.
SECTION 6.3. TERM, REMOVAL AND VACANCIES. Each officer of the Trust shall
hold office until his successor is elected and has qualified. Any officer or
agent of the Trust may be removed by the Trustees whenever, in their judgment,
the best interests of the Trust will be served thereby, but such removal shall
be without prejudice to the contractual rights, if any, of the person so
removed.
SECTION 6.4. COMPENSATION OF OFFICERS. The compensation of officers and
agents of the Trust shall be fixed by the Trustees, or by the President to the
extent provided by the Trustees with respect to officers appointed by the
President.
SECTION 6.5. POWER AND DUTIES. All officers and agents of the Trust, as
between themselves and the Trust, shall have such authority and perform such
duties in the management of the Trust as may be provided in or pursuant to these
By-Laws, or to the extent not so provided, as may be prescribed by the Trustees;
provided, that no rights of any third party shall be affected or impaired by any
such By-Law or resolution of the Trustees unless he has knowledge thereof.
SECTION 6.6. THE CHAIRMAN. The Chairman shall preside at all meetings of
the Shareholders and of the Trustees, shall be a signatory on all Annual and
Semi-Annual Reports as may be sent to shareholders, and he shall perform such
other duties as the Trustees may from time to time prescribe.
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SECTION 6.7. THE PRESIDENT. (a) The President shall be the chief
executive officer of the Trust; he shall have general and active management of
the business of the Trust, shall see that all orders and resolutions of the
Board of Trustees are carried into effect, and, in connection therewith, shall
be authorized to delegate to one or more Vice Presidents such of his powers and
duties at such times and in such manner as he may deem advisable.
(b) In the absence of the Chairman, the President shall preside at all
meetings of the shareholders and the Board of Trustees; and he shall perform
such other duties as the Board of Trustees may from time to time prescribe.
SECTION 6.8. THE VICE PRESIDENTS. The Vice Presidents shall be of such
number and shall have such titles as may be determined from time to time by the
Trustees. The Vice President, or, if there be more than one, the Vice Presidents
in the order of their seniority as may be determined from time to time by the
Trustees or the President, shall, in the absence or disability of the President,
exercise the powers and perform the duties of the President, and he or they
shall perform such other duties as the Trustees or the President may from time
to time prescribe.
SECTION 6.9. THE ASSISTANT VICE PRESIDENTS. The Assistant Vice President,
or, if there be more than one, the Assistant Vice Presidents, shall perform such
duties and have such powers as may be assigned them from time to time by the
Trustees or the President.
SECTION 6.10. THE SECRETARY. The Secretary shall attend all meetings of
the Trustees and all meetings of the Shareholders and record all the proceedings
of the meetings of the Shareholders and of the Trustees in a book to be kept for
that purpose, and shall perform like duties for the standing committees when
required. He shall give, or cause to be given, notice of all meetings of the
Shareholders and special meetings of the Trustees, and shall perform such other
duties and have such powers as the Trustees, or the President, may from time to
time prescribe. He shall keep in safe custody the seal of the Trust and affix or
cause the same to be affixed to any instrument requiring it, and, when so
affixed, it shall be attested by his signature or by the signature of an
Assistant Secretary.
SECTION 6.11. THE ASSISTANT SECRETARIES. The Assistant Secretary, or, if
there be more than one, the Assistant Secretaries in the order determined by the
Trustees or the President, shall in the absence or disability of the Secretary,
perform the duties and exercise the powers of the Secretary and shall perform
such duties and have such other powers as the Trustees or the President may from
time to time prescribe.
SECTION 6.12. THE TREASURER. The Treasurer shall be the chief financial
officer of the Trust. He shall keep or cause to be kept full and accurate
accounts of receipts and disbursements in books belonging to the Trust, and he
shall render to the Trustees and the President, whenever any of them require it,
an account of his transactions as Treasurer and of the financial condition of
the Trust; and he shall perform such other duties as the Trustees, or the
President, may from time to time prescribe.
SECTION 6.13. THE ASSISTANT TREASURERS. The Assistant Treasurer, or, if
there shall be more than one, the Assistant Treasurers in the order determined
by the Trustees or the President, shall, in the absence or disability of the
Treasurer, perform the duties and exercise the powers of the Treasurer and shall
perform such other duties and have such other powers as the Trustees, or the
President, may from time to time prescribe.
SECTION 6.14. DELEGATION OF DUTIES. Whenever an officer is absent or
disabled, or whenever for any reason the Trustees may deem it desirable, the
Trustees may delegate the powers and duties of an officer or officers to any
other officer or officers or to any Trustee or Trustees.
ARTICLE VII
DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS
Subject to any applicable provisions of law and the Declaration, dividends
and distributions upon the Shares may be declared at such intervals as the
Trustees may determine, in cash, in securities or other property, or in Shares,
from any sources permitted by law, all as the Trustees shall from time to time
determine.
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Inasmuch as the computation of net income and net profits from the sales of
securities or other properties for federal income tax purposes may vary from the
computation thereof on the records of the Trust, the Trustees shall have power,
in their discretion, to distribute as income dividends and as capital gain
distributions, respectively, amounts sufficient to enable the Trust to avoid or
reduce liability for federal income taxes.
ARTICLE VIII
CERTIFICATES OF SHARES
SECTION 8.1. CERTIFICATES OF SHARES. Certificates for Shares of each series
or class of Shares shall be in such form and of such design as the Trustees
shall approve, subject to the right of the Trustees to change such form and
design at any time or from time to time, and shall be entered in the records of
the Trust as they are issued. Each such certificate shall bear a distinguishing
number; shall exhibit the holder's name and certify the number of full Shares
owned by such holder; shall be signed by or in the name of the Trust by the
President, or a Vice President, and countersigned by the Secretary or an
Assistant Secretary or the Treasurer and an Assistant Treasurer of the Trust;
shall be sealed with the seal; and shall contain such recitals as may be
required by law. Where any certificate is signed by a Transfer Agent or by a
Registrar, the signature of such officers and the seal may be facsimile, printed
or engraved. The Trust may, at its option, determine not to issue a certificate
or certificates to evidence Shares owned of record by any Shareholder.
In case any officer or officers who shall have signed, or whose facsimile
signature or signatures shall appear on, any such certificate or certificates
shall cease to be such officer or officers of the Trust, whether because of
death, resignation or otherwise, before such certificate or certificates shall
have been delivered by the Trust, such certificate or certificates shall,
nevertheless, be adopted by the Trust and be issued and delivered as though the
person or persons who signed such certificate or certificates or whose facsimile
signature or signatures shall appear therein had not ceased to be such officer
or officers of the Trust.
No certificate shall be issued for any share until such share is fully
paid.
SECTION 8.2. LOST, STOLEN, DESTROYED AND MUTILATED CERTIFICATES. The
Trustees may direct a new certificate or certificates to be issued in place of
any certificate or certificates theretofore issued by the Trust alleged to have
been lost, stolen or destroyed, upon satisfactory proof of such loss, theft, or
destruction; and the Trustees may, in their discretion, require the owner of the
lost, stolen or destroyed certificate, or his legal representative, to give to
the Trust and to such Registrar, Transfer Agent and/or Transfer Clerk as may be
authorized or required to countersign such new certificate or certificates, a
bond in such sum and of such type as they may direct, and with such surety or
sureties, as they may direct, as indemnity against any claim that may be against
them or any of them on account of or in connection with the alleged loss, theft
or destruction of any such certificate.
ARTICLE IX
CUSTODIAN
SECTION 9.1. APPOINTMENT AND DUTIES. The Trust shall at times employ a bank
or trust company having capital, surplus and undivided profits of at
least five million dollars ($5,000,000) as custodian with authority as its
agent, but subject to such restrictions, limitations and other requirements, if
any, as may be contained in these By-Laws and the 1940 Act:
(1) to receive and hold the securities owned by the Trust and deliver
the same upon written or electronically transmitted order.
(2) to receive and receipt for any moneys due to the Trust and deposit
the same in its own banking department or elsewhere as the Trustees may
direct;
(3) to disburse such funds upon orders or vouchers;
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all upon such basis of compensation as may be agreed upon between the Trustees
and the custodian. If so directed by a Majority Shareholder Vote, the custodian
shall deliver and pay over all property of the Trust held by it as specified in
such vote.
The Trustees may also authorize the custodian to employ one or more
sub-custodians from time to time to perform such of the acts and services of the
custodian and upon such terms and conditions, as may be agreed upon between the
custodian and such sub-custodian and approved by the Trustees, provided that in
every case such sub-custodian shall be a bank or trust company organized under
the laws of the United States or one of the states thereof and having capital,
surplus and undivided profits of at least five million dollars ($5,000,000).
SECTION 9.2. CENTRAL CERTIFICATE SYSTEM. Subject to such rules, regulations
and orders as the Commission may adopt, the Trustees may direct the custodian to
deposit all or any part of the securities owned by the Trust in a system for the
central handling of securities established by a national securities exchange or
a national securities association registered with the Commission under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or such other person as may be permitted by the
Commission, or otherwise in accordance with the 1940 Act, pursuant to which
system all securities of any particular class or series of any issuer deposited
within the system are treated as fungible and may be transferred or pledged by
bookkeeping entry without physical delivery of such securities, provided that
all such deposits shall be subject to withdrawal only upon the order of the
Trust.
ARTICLE X
WAIVER OF NOTICE
Whenever any notice of the time, place or purpose of any meeting of
Shareholders, Trustees, or of any committee is required to be given in
accordance with law or under the provisions of the Declaration or these By-Laws,
a waiver thereof in writing, signed by the person or persons entitled to such
notice and filed with the records of the meeting, whether before or after the
holding thereof, or actual attendance at the meeting of Shareholders, Trustees
or committee, as the case may be, in person, shall be deemed equivalent to the
giving of such notice to such person.
ARTICLE XI
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 11.1. LOCATION OF BOOKS AND RECORDS. The books and records of the
Trust may be kept outside the Commonwealth of Massachusetts at such place or
places as the Trustees may from time to time determine, except as otherwise
required by law.
SECTION 11.2. RECORD DATE. The Trustees may fix in advance a date as the
record date for the purpose of determining the Shareholders entitled to (i)
receive notice of, or to vote at, any meeting of Shareholders, or (ii) receive
payment of any dividend or the allotment of any rights, or in order
to make a determination of Shareholders for any other proper purpose. The record
date, in any case, shall not be more than ninety (90) days, and in the case of a
meeting of Shareholders not less than ten (10) days, prior to the date on which
such meeting is to be held or the date on which such other particular action
requiring determination of Shareholders is to be taken, as the case may be. In
the case of a meeting of Shareholders, the meeting date set forth in the notice
to Shareholders accompanying the proxy statement shall be the date used for
purposes of calculating the 90 day or 10 day period, and any adjourned meeting
may be reconvened for up to 60 days from the original meeting without a change
in record date. In lieu of fixing a record date, the Trustees may provide that
the transfer books shall be closed for a stated period but not to exceed, in any
case, twenty (20) days. If the transfer books are closed for the purpose of
determining Shareholders entitled to notice of a vote at a meeting of
Shareholders, such books shall be closed for at least ten (10) days immediately
preceding the meeting.
SECTION 11.3. SEAL. The Trustees shall adopt a seal, which shall be in such
form and shall have such inscription thereon as the Trustees may from time to
time provide. The seal of the Trust may be affixed to any document, and the seal
and its attestation may be lithographed, engraved or otherwise
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printed on any document with the same force and effect as if it had been
imprinted and attested manually in the same manner and with the same effect as
if done by a Massachusetts business corporation under Massachusetts law.
SECTION 11.4. Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the Trust shall end on such
date as the Trustees may by resolution specify, and the Trustees may by
resolution change such date for future fiscal years at any time and from time to
time.
SECTION 11.5. Orders for Payment of Money. All orders or instructions for
the payment of money of the Trust, and all notes or other evidences of
indebtedness issued in the name of the Trust, shall be signed by such officer or
officers or such other person or persons as the Trustees may from time to time
designate, or as may be specified in or pursuant to the agreement between the
Trust and the bank or trust company appointed as Custodian of the securities and
funds of the Trust.
ARTICLE XII
COMPLIANCE WITH FEDERAL REGULATIONS
The Trustees are hereby empowered to take such action as they may deem to
be necessary, desirable or appropriate so that the Trust is or shall be in
compliance with any federal or state statute, rule or regulation with which
compliance by the Trust is required.
ARTICLE XIII
AMENDMENTS
These By-Laws may be amended, altered, or repealed, or new By-Laws may be
adopted, (a) by a Majority Shareholder Vote, or (b) by the Trustees; provided,
however, that no By-Law may be amended, adopted or repealed by the Trustees if
such amendment, adoption or repeal requires, pursuant to law, the Declaration,
or these By-Laws, a vote of the Shareholders. The Trustees shall in no event
adopt By-Laws which are in conflict with the Declaration, and any apparent
inconsistency shall be construed in favor of the related provisions in the
Declaration.
ARTICLE XIV
DECLARATION OF TRUST
The Declaration of Trust establishing Dean Witter Variable Investment
Series, dated February 24, 1983, a copy of which, together with all amendments
thereto, is on file in the office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth of
Massachusetts, provides that the name Dean Witter Variable Investment Series
refers to the Trustees under the Declaration collectively as Trustees, but not
as individuals or personally; and no Trustee, Shareholder, officer, employee or
agent of Dean Witter Variable Investment Series shall be held to any personal
liability, nor shall resort be had to their private property for the
satisfaction of any obligation or claim or otherwise, in connection with the
affairs of said Dean Witter Variable Investment Series, but the Trust Estate
only shall be liable.
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INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT
AGREEMENT made as of the 31st day of May, 1997, by and between Dean
Witter Variable Investment Series, an unincorporated business trust organized
under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts (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 is authorized to issue shares of beneficial interest in
separate portfolios (the "Portfolios") with each Portfolio representing
interests in a separate portfolio of securities and other assets; and
WHEREAS, The Fund presently offers shares in several Portfolios, such
Portfolios together with all other Portfolios subsequently established by the
Fund with respect to which 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 being collectively referred to
as the "Portfolios"; 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 Portfolios and, subject to the supervision of the Trustees, to
supervise the investment activities of the Portfolios 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; with respect
to the Portfolios other than the European Growth Portfolio and the Pacific
Growth Portfolio, shall continuously manage the assets of the Portfolios in a
manner consistent with the investment objectives and policies of the
Portfolios and shall determine the securities and commodities to be
purchased, sold or otherwise disposed of by the Portfolios and the timing of
such purchases, sales and dispositions; with respect to the European Growth
Portfolio and the Pacific Growth Portfolio, shall supervise the management of
the assets of the Portfolio in a manner consistent with the investment
objectives and policies of the Portfolio and subject to such other
limitations and directions as the Trustees of the Fund may from time to time
prescribe; and shall take such further action, including the placing of
purchase and sale orders on behalf of the Portfolios other than the European
Growth Portfolio and the Pacific Growth Portfolio, 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.
In the event the Fund establishes another Portfolio other than the
current Portfolios with respect to which it desires to retain the Investment
Manager to render investment advisory services hereunder, it shall notify the
Investment Manager in writing. If the Investment Manager is willing to render
such services, it shall notify the Fund in writing, whereupon such other
Portfolio shall become a Portfolio hereunder.
<PAGE>
2. The Investment Manager shall, at its own expense, enter into
Sub-Advisory Agreements in respect of the European Growth Portfolio and the
Pacific Growth Portfolio with a Sub-Adviser or Sub-Advisers to make
determinations as to the securities and commodities to be purchased, sold or
otherwise disposed of by the European Growth Portfolio or the Pacific Growth
Portfolio and the timing of such purchases, sales and dispositions and to
take such further action, including the placing of purchase and sale orders
on behalf of the Portfolio, as the Sub-Adviser, in consultation with the
Investment Manager, shall deem necessary or appropriate; provided that the
Investment Manager shall be responsible for monitoring compliance by such
Sub-Adviser with the investment policies and restrictions of the Portfolio
and with such other limitations or directions as the Trustees of the Fund may
from time to time prescribe.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. The Fund assumes and shall pay or cause to be paid all other expenses
of the Fund, including without limitation: 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 Trustees' meetings
and of preparing, printing and mailing proxy statements and reports to
shareholders; fees and travel expenses of Trustees or members of any advisory
board or committee who are not employees of the Investment Manager or any
corporate affiliate of the Investment Manager; all expenses incident to 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 Trustees 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
2
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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 Trustees) of the Fund which inure to its
benefit; extraordinary expenses (including but not limited to legal claims
and liabilities and litigation costs and any indemnification related
thereto); and all other charges and costs of the Fund's operation unless
otherwise explicitly provided herein.
7. For the services to be rendered, the facilities furnished, and the
expenses assumed by the Investment Manager, the various Portfolios of the
Fund shall pay to the Investment Manager monthly compensation determined by
applying the following annual rates to the daily net assets of the respective
Portfolios determined as of the close of each business day: (a) each of the
Money Market Portfolio, the High Yield Portfolio and the Strategist Portfolio
- -- 0.50% of daily net assets; (b) the Equity Portfolio -- 0.50% of daily net
assets up to $1 billion and 0.475% of daily net assets over $1 billion; (c)
the Quality Income Plus Portfolio -- 0.50% of daily net assets up to $500
million and 0.45% of daily net assets over $500 million; (d) the Utilities
Portfolio -- 0.65% of daily net assets up to $500 and 0.55% of daily net
assets over $500 million; (e) the Dividend Growth Portfolio -- 0.625% of
daily net assets up to $500 million; 0.50% of the next $500 million; and
0.475% of daily net assets over $1 billion; (f) the Capital Growth Portfolio
- -- 0.65% of daily net assets; (g) each of the Income Builder Portfolio, the
Global Dividend Growth Portfolio and the Capital Appreciation Portfolio --
0.75% of daily net assets; and (h) each of the European Growth Portfolio and
the Pacific Growth Portfolio -- 1.00% of 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 net assets of the respective Portfolios 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 8 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 8 hereof.
8. In the event that the operating expenses of any of the Money Market
Portfolio, the High Yield Portfolio, the Equity Portfolio, the Quality Income
Plus Portfolio, the Strategist Portfolio, the Utilities Portfolio or the
Dividend Growth Portfolio, including amounts payable to the Investment
Manager pursuant to paragraph 7 hereof, for any year ending on a date on
which this Agreement is in effect exceed 1.5% of the average daily net assets
of such Portfolio up to $30 million and 1.0% of the average daily net assets
of such Portfolio in excess of $30 million (the "expense limitation" of these
Portfolios), or in the event that the operating expenses of any of the
Capital Growth Portfolio, the Global Dividend Growth Portfolio, the European
Growth Portfolio or the Pacific Growth Portfolio, including amounts payable
to the Investment Manager pursuant to paragraph 7 hereof, for any year ending
on a date on which this Agreement is in effect exceed 2.5% of the average
daily net assets of such Portfolio up to $30 million, 2.0% of the next $70
million and 1.5% of the average daily net assets of such Portfolio in excess
of $100 million (the "expense limitation" of these Portfolios), the
Investment Manager shall reduce its management fee in respect of such
Portfolio to the extent of such excess and will reimburse such Portfolio for
annual operating expenses in excess of the applicable expense limitation, up
to the amount of the management fee for that Portfolio which otherwise would
be payable for that year; provided, however, there shall be excluded from
such expenses the amount of any interest, taxes, brokerage commissions and
extraordinary expenses (including but not limited to legal claims and
liabilities and litigation costs and any indemnification related thereto)
paid or payable by such Portfolio. 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 such Portfolio as at the end of the
last business day of the month.
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9. 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.
10. 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 Trustee, 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.
11. This Agreement shall remain in effect until April 30, 1999 and from
year to year thereafter with respect to each Portfolio provided such
continuance with respect to a Portfolio is approved at least annually by the
vote of holders of a majority (as defined in the Act) of the outstanding
voting securities of such Portfolio or by the Trustees of the Fund; provided
that in either event such continuance is also approved annually by the vote
of a majority of the Trustees 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 Trustees of the Fund or, with respect to a Portfolio, by the vote
of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of such Portfolio; (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.
Any approval of this Agreement by the holders of a majority of the
outstanding voting securities of any Portfolio shall be effective to continue
this Agreement with respect to such Portfolio notwithstanding (a) that this
Agreement has not been approved by the holders of a majority of the
outstanding voting securities of any other Portfolio or (b) that this
Agreement has not been approved by the vote of a majority of the outstanding
voting securities of the Fund, unless such approval shall be required by any
other applicable law or otherwise.
12. 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.
13. 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.
14. 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.,
4
<PAGE>
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, Trustees 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.
The Declaration of Trust establishing Dean Witter Variable Investment
Series, dated February 24, 1983, a copy of which, together with all
amendments thereto (the "Declaration"), is on file in the office of the
Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, provides that the name Dean
Witter Variable Investment Series refers to the Trustees under the
Declaration collectively as Trustees, but not as individuals or personally;
and no Trustee, shareholder, officer, employee or agent of Dean Witter
Variable Investment Series shall be held to any personal liability, nor shall
resort be had to their private property for the satisfaction of any
obligation or claim or otherwise, in connection with the affairs of said Dean
Witter Variable Investment Series, but the Trust Estate only shall be liable.
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 VARIABLE INVESTMENT SERIES
By:
......................................
Attest:
.....................................
DEAN WITTER INTERCAPITAL INC.
By:
......................................
Attest:
.....................................
5
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DEAN WITTER VARIABLE INVESTMENT SERIES
Two World Trade Center
New York, NY 10048
February 5, 1998
To Dean Witter InterCapital Inc.:
The Investment Management Agreement between you and this Fund (the
"Agreement") provides that in the event the Fund establishes additional
Portfolios with respect to which it desires to retain you to render investment
advisory services under the Agreement, it shall notify you in writing, and
further provides that if you are willing to render such services, you shall
notify the Fund in writing, whereupon such Portfolios shall become Portfolios
under the Agreement.
The Fund hereby informs you that it has established two additional
Portfolios, designated as the S&P 500 Index Portfolio and the Competitive Edge
"Best Ideas" Portfolio, and that it desires to retain you to render investment
advisory services to those Portfolios under the Agreement, for which the Fund
shall pay you monthly compensation determined by applying the annual rate of
0.40% to the net assets of the S&P 500 Index Portfolio and 0.65% to the net
assets of the Competitive Edge "Best Ideas" Portfolio, in each case determined
as of the close of each business day.
Very truly yours,
DEAN WITTER VARIABLE
INVESTMENT SERIES
by
--------------------------------------
Dean Witter InterCapital Inc. hereby notifies Dean Witter Variable Investment
Series of its willingness to render investment advisory services to the S&P 500
Index Portfolio and the Competitive Edge "Best Ideas" Portfolio under the
Agreement, with the fees as specified above.
DEAN WITTER INTERCAPITAL INC.
by
--------------------------------------
<PAGE>
SUB-ADVISORY AGREEMENT
AGREEMENT made as of the 31st day of May, 1997 by and between Dean Witter
InterCapital Inc., a Delaware corporation (hereinafter called the "Investment
Manager"), and Morgan Grenfell Investment Services Limited, a British
corporation (hereinafter called the "Sub-Adviser").
WHEREAS, Dean Witter Variable Investment Series (hereinafter called 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 has entered into an Investment Management
Agreement (hereinafter called the "Investment Management Agreement") with the
Fund wherein the Investment Manager has agreed to provide investment
management services to the thirteen current Portfolios of the Fund and may
provide such services to other Portfolios subsequently established by the
Fund; and
WHEREAS, the Sub-Adviser is registered as an investment advisor as under
the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 and is a member of the Investment
Management Regulatory Organization (IMRO), and, as such, is regulated by IMRO
in the conduct of its investment business in the U.K., and engages in the
business of acting as an investment adviser; and
WHEREAS, the Investment Manager desires to retain the services of the
Sub-Adviser to render investment advisory services for each of the European
Growth Portfolio and the Pacific Growth Portfolio in the manner and on the
terms and conditions hereinafter set forth (these Portfolios together with
all other Portfolios subsequently established by the Fund with respect to
which the Fund will have retained the Investment Manager to render management
and investment advisory services under the Investment Management Agreement
and with respect to which the Investment Manager desires to retain the
Sub-Adviser to render investment advisory services in the manner and on the
terms and conditions hereinafter set forth being collectively referred to as
the "Sub-Advisory Portfolios"); and
WHEREAS, the Sub-Adviser desires to be retained by the Investment Manager
to perform services on said terms and conditions:
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements
of the parties hereto as herein set forth, the parties covenant and agree as
follows:
1. Subject to the supervision of the Fund, its officers and Trustees, and
the Investment Manager, and in accordance with the investment objectives,
policies and restrictions set forth in the then current Registration
Statement relating to the Fund, and such investment objectives, policies and
restrictions from time to time prescribed by the Trustees of the Fund and
communicated by the Investment Manager to the Sub-Advisor, the Sub-Adviser
agrees to provide the European Growth Portfolio with investment advisory
services with respect to investments in issuers located in the British Isles,
continental Europe and Scandinavia and, at the discretion of the Investment
Manager, provide investment advisory services to that Portfolio with respect
to investments in issuers located outside of the British Isles, continental
Europe and Scandinavia; to provide the Pacific Growth Portfolio with
investment advisory services with respect to investments in issuers located
in Asia, Australia and New Zealand and, at the direction of the Investment
Manager, provide investment advisory services to that Portfolio with respect
to investments in issuers located outside of Asia, Australia and New Zealand;
to obtain and evaluate such information and advice relating to the economy,
securities markets and securities as it deems necessary or useful to
discharge its duties hereunder; to continuously manage the assets of each
Sub-Advisory Portfolio in a manner consistent with the investment objective
and policies of the Sub-Advisory Portfolio; to make decisions as to foreign
currency matters and make determinations as to forward foreign exchange
contracts and options and futures contracts in foreign currencies; shall
determine the securities to be purchased, sold or otherwise disposed of by
the Sub-Advisory Portfolio and the timing of such purchases, sales and
dispositions; to take such further action, including the placing of purchase
and sale orders on behalf of the Sub-Advisory Portfolio, as it shall deem
<PAGE>
necessary or appropriate; to furnish to or place at the disposal of the
Sub-Advisory Portfolio and the Investment Manager such of the information,
evaluations, analyses and opinions formulated or obtained by it in the
discharge of its duties as the Fund and the Investment Manager may, from time
to time, reasonably request. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Sub-Adviser
must obtain the Investment Manager's prior approval to the initial allocation
by the Sub-Adviser of the assets of the European Growth Portfolio among the
British Isles, continental Europe and Scandinavia and among the particular
countries of those regions; provided, further, that the Sub-Adviser must also
obtain the prior approval of the Investment Manager to: (a) any investment of
the assets of the European Growth Portfolio in the countries in the British
Isles, continental Europe and Scandinavia which countries were not
specifically approved of for investment at the time of the approval of the
initial investment; (b) any investment of the assets of the European Growth
Portfolio in any country outside of the British Isles, continental Europe or
Scandinavia; and (c) any subsequent investment by the Sub-Adviser which would
result in the reallocation of in excess of five (5%) percent of the European
Growth Portfolio's total assets; and the Sub-Adviser must obtain the
Investment Manager's prior approval to the initial allocation by the
Sub-Adviser of the assets of the Pacific Growth Portfolio among the national
markets of Asia, Australia and New Zealand; provided, further, that the
Sub-Adviser must also obtain the prior approval of the Investment Manager to:
(a) any investment of the assets of the Pacific Growth Portfolio in the
countries of Asia, Australia and New Zealand, which countries were not
specifically approved of for investment at the time of the approval of the
initial investment; (b) any investment of the assets of the Pacific Growth
Portfolio in any country outside of Asia, Australia and New Zealand, and (c)
any subsequent investment by the Sub-Adviser which would result in the
reallocation of in excess of five (5%) percent of the Pacific Growth
Portfolio's total assets. The Investment Manager and the Sub-Adviser shall
each make its officers and employees available to the other from time to time
at reasonable times to review investment policies of the Sub-Advisory
Portfolios and to consult with each other.
In the event the Fund establishes another Portfolio other than the
current Sub-Advisory Portfolios with respect to which the Investment Manager
desires to retain the Sub-Adviser to render investment advisory services
hereunder, the Investment Manager shall notify the Sub-Adviser in writing,
whereupon such Portfolio shall become a Sub-Advisory Portfolio hereunder.
2. The Sub-Adviser 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 Sub-Adviser shall
be deemed to include persons employed or otherwise retained by the
Sub-Adviser 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 Sub-Adviser shall maintain whatever
records as may be required to be maintained by it under the Act. All such
records so maintained shall be made available to the Fund, upon the request
of the Investment Manager or the Fund.
3. The Fund will from time to time, furnish or otherwise make available
to the Sub-Adviser such financial reports, proxy statements and other
information relating to the business and affairs of the Sub-Advisory
Portfolios as the Sub-Adviser may reasonably require in order to discharge
its duties and obligations hereunder or to comply with any applicable law and
regulations and the investment objectives, policies and restrictions from
time to time prescribed by the Trustees of the Fund.
4. The Sub-Adviser shall bear the cost of rendering the investment
advisory 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, employed by the Sub-Adviser, and such clerical help and
bookkeeping services as the Sub-Adviser shall reasonably require in
performing its duties hereunder.
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5. The Fund, on behalf of each Sub-Advisory Portfolio, assumes and shall
pay or cause to be paid all other expenses of the Sub-Advisory Portfolio,
including, without limitation: any fees paid to the Investment Manager; the
charges and expenses of any registrar, any custodian, sub-custodian or
depository appointed by the Fund for the safekeeping of the Sub-Advisory
Portfolio's cash, portfolio securities and other property, and any stock
transfer or dividend agent or agents appointed by the Fund; brokers'
commissions chargeable to the Sub-Advisory Portfolio in connection with
portfolio securities transactions to which the Sub-Advisory Portfolio is a
party; all taxes, including securities issuance and transfer taxes, and fees
payable by the Sub-Advisory Portfolio to federal, state or other governmental
agencies or pursuant to any foreign laws; the cost and expense of engraving
or printing certificates representing shares of the Sub-Advisory Portfolio;
all costs and expenses in connection with the registration and maintenance of
registration of the Sub-Advisory Portfolio and its shares with the Securities
and Exchange Commission and various states and other jurisdictions or
pursuant to any foreign laws (including filing fees and legal fees and
disbursements of counsel); the cost and expense of printing (including
typesetting) and distributing prospectuses of the Fund and supplements
thereto to the Sub-Advisory Portfolio's shareholders; all expenses of
shareholders' and Trustees' meetings and of preparing, printing and mailing
proxy statements and reports to shareholders; fees and travel expenses of
Trustees or members of any advisory board or committee who are not employees
of the Investment Manager or Sub-Adviser; 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 Sub-Advisory Portfolio's shares; charges and expenses of legal
counsel, including counsel to the Trustees of the Fund who are not interested
persons (as defined in the Act) of the Fund, the Investment Manager or the
Sub-Adviser, and of independent accountants, in connection with any matter
relating to the Portfolio; membership dues of industry associations; interest
payable on Sub-Advisory Portfolio borrowings; postage; insurance premiums on
property or personnel (including officers and Trustees) of the Sub-Advisory
Portfolio 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
Sub-Advisory Portfolio's operation unless otherwise explicitly provided
herein.
6. For the services to be rendered, the facilities furnished, and the
expenses assumed by the Sub-Adviser, the Investment Manager shall pay to the
Sub-Adviser monthly compensation equal to 40% of its monthly compensation
receivable pursuant to the Investment Management Agreement in respect of each
of the European Growth Portfolio and the Pacific Growth Portfolio. Any
subsequent change in the Investment Agreement which has the effect of raising
or lowering the compensation of the Investment Manager will have the
concomitant effect of raising or lowering the fee payable to the Sub-Adviser
under this Agreement. In addition, if the Investment Manager has undertaken
in the Fund's Registration Statement as filed under the Act or elsewhere to
waive all or part of its fee under the Investment Management Agreement, the
Sub-Adviser's fee payable under this Agreement will be proportionately waived
in whole or in part. The calculation of the fee payable to the Sub-Adviser
pursuant to this Agreement will be made, each month, at the time designated
for the monthly calculation of the fee payable to the Investment Manager
pursuant to the Investment Manager Agreement. 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 the part of the month this
Agreement is in effect shall be prorated in a manner consistent with the
calculation of the fee as set forth above. Subject to the provisions of
paragraph 7 hereof, payment of the Sub-Adviser'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 European Growth Portfolio
or the Pacific Growth Portfolio, including amounts payable to the Investment
Manager pursuant to the Investment Management Agreement in respect of either
of these Sub-Advisory Portfolios, for any fiscal year ending on a date on
which this Agreement is in effect, exceed, with respect to each of these
Sub-Advisory Portfolios, 2.5% of the average daily net assets of the
Sub-Advisory Portfolio up to $30 million, 2.0% of the next $70 million and
1.5% of the average daily net assets of
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the Sub-Advisory Portfolio in excess of $100 million (the "expense
limitation"), the Sub-Adviser shall reduce its advisory fee in respect of the
applicable Sub-Advisory Portfolio to the extent of 40% of such excess and
will reimburse the Investment Manager for annual operating expenses in the
amount of 40% of such excess of the expense limitation, up to the amount of
the Sub-Adviser's fee which would otherwise be payable in respect of the
applicable Sub-Advisory Portfolio under this Agreement for that year, it
being understood that the Investment Manager has agreed to effect a reduction
and reimbursement of 100% of such excess, up to the amount of its management
fee in respect of the Sub-Advisory Portfolio which otherwise would be payable
for that year, in accordance with the terms of the Investment Management
Agreement; provided, however, there shall be excluded from such expenses the
amount of any interest, taxes, brokerage commissions, 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 Sub-Advisory Portfolio. 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 Sub-Advisory Portfolio as at the end
of the last business day of the month.
8. The Sub-Adviser will use its best efforts in the performance of
investment activities on behalf of each Sub-Advisory Portfolio, but in the
absence of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless
disregard of its obligations hereunder, the Sub-Adviser shall not be liable
to the Investment Manager or the Fund or any of its investors for any error
of judgment or mistake of law or for any act or omission by the Sub-Adviser
or for any losses sustained by the Sub-Advisory Portfolio or its investors.
9. It is understood that any of the shareholders, Trustees, officers and
employees of the Fund may be a shareholder, director, officer or employee of,
or be otherwise interested in, the Sub-Adviser, and in any person controlled
by or under common control with the Sub-Adviser, and that the Sub-Adviser and
any person controlled by or under common control with the Sub-Adviser may
have an interest in the Fund. It is also understood that the Sub-Adviser and
any affiliated persons thereof or any persons controlled by or under common
control with the Sub-Adviser have and may have advisory, management service
or other contracts with other organizations and persons, and may have other
interests and businesses, and further may purchase, sell or trade any
securities or commodities for their own accounts or for the account of others
for whom they may be acting; provided, however, that neither the Sub-Adviser
nor any of its affiliates organized with a corporate name or other name under
which it is performing its business activities which contains the name
"Morgan Grenfell," with the exception of C.J. Lawrence, Morgan Grenfell,
Inc., shall undertake to act as investment adviser or sub-adviser for any
other U.S. registered investment company, sold primarily as the underlying
investment for variable annuity or variable life contracts, whose investment
policy is to invest primarily in equity securities of issuers located in
Europe or in Asia, Australia and New Zealand and which is sponsored,
distributed or managed by a U.S. registered broker-dealer or one of its
affiliates; and further provided, however, that if the net assets of a
Sub-Advisory Portfolio are less than $50 million on the first anniversary of
the commencement of the Sub-Advisory Portfolio's operations, then thereafter
the Sub-Adviser and its affiliates shall not be bound by the foregoing
provision.
10. This Agreement shall remain in effect until April 30, 1999 and from
year to year thereafter with respect to each Sub-Advisory Portfolio, provided
such continuance with respect to a Sub-Advisory Portfolio is approved at
least annually by the vote of holders of a majority, as defined in the Act,
of the outstanding voting securities of the Sub-Advisory Portfolio or by the
Trustees of the Fund; provided that in either event such continuance is also
approved annually by the vote of a majority of the Trustees 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 and the
Sub-Adviser, either by majority vote of the Trustees of the Fund or, with
respect to a Sub-Advisory Portfolio, by the vote of a majority of the
outstanding voting securities of such Sub-Advisory Portfolio;
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(b) this Agreement shall immediately terminate in the event of its assignment
(within the meaning of the Act) unless such automatic termination shall be
prevented by an exemptive order of the Securities and Exchange Commission;
(c) this Agreement shall immediately terminate in the event of the
termination of the Investment Management Agreement; (d) the Investment
Manager may terminate this Agreement without payment of penalty on thirty
days' written notice to the Fund and the Sub-Adviser and; (e) the Sub-Adviser
may terminate this Agreement without the payment of penalty on thirty days'
written notice to the Fund and the Investment Manager. 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.
11. This Agreement may be amended by the parties without the vote or
consent of the shareholders of the Sub-Advisory Portfolio 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, the Investment Manager nor the Sub-Adviser shall be liable
for failing to do so.
12. This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with the law 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,
conflict with the applicable provisions of the Act, the latter shall control.
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 INTERCAPITAL INC.
By: ..................................
Attest: ..............................
MORGAN GRENFELL INVESTMENT
SERVICES LIMITED
By: ..................................
Attest: ..............................
Accepted and agreed to as of
the day and year first above written:
DEAN WITTER VARIABLE INVESTMENT SERIES
By: ..................................
Attest: ..............................
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DEAN WITTER VARIABLE INVESTMENT SERIES
DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT
AGREEMENT made as of the 31st day of May, 1997, between Dean Witter
Variable Investment Series, an unincorporated business trust organized under the
laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts (the "Trust"), and Dean Witter
Distributors Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Distributor"):
W I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS, the Trust is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940,
as amended (the "1940 Act"), as a diversified open-end investment company and it
is in the interest of the Trust to offer its shares for sale continuously, and
WHEREAS, the Trust and the Distributor wish to enter into an agreement with
each other with respect to the continuous offering of each Portfolio of the
Trust's transferable shares of beneficial interest, of $.01 par value (the
"Shares"), in order to promote the growth of the Trust and facilitate the
distribution of its shares.
NOW, THEREFORE, the parties agree as follows:
SECTION 1. (a) APPOINTMENT OF THE DISTRIBUTOR. The Trust hereby appoints
the Distributor as the principal underwriter of the Trust to sell Shares to
Northbrook Life Insurance Company ("Northbrook") for allocation to Northbrook
Variable Annuity Account and Northbrook Variable Annuity Account II, to Allstate
Life Insurance Company of New York ("Allstate New York") for allocation to
Allstate Life Insurance Company of New York Variable Annuity Separate Account
and Allstate Life Insurance Company of New York Variable Annuity Separate
Account II, and such other separate accounts and affiliated entities of
Northbrook or Allstate New York as may be determined, in accordance with the
Trust's Prospectus (defined below), and to Paragon Life Insurance Company
("Paragon") for allocation to Separate Account B of Paragon Life Insurance
Company, on the terms set forth in this Agreement and the Trust's Prospectus,
and the Distributor hereby accepts such appointment and agrees to act hereunder.
The Trust, during the term of this Agreement, shall sell Shares to the
Distributor upon the terms and conditions set forth herein.
(b) The Distributor agrees to purchase Shares, as principal for its own
account, from the Trust and to sell Shares as principal to Northbrook, Allstate
New York and Paragon, upon the terms described herein and in the Trust's
prospectus (the "Prospectus") included in the Trust's registration statement
(the "Registration Statement") most recently filed from time to time with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") and effective under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act"), and 1940 Act or as said
Prospectus may be otherwise amended or supplemented and filed with the SEC
pursuant to Rule 424 under the 1933 Act.
SECTION 2. EXCLUSIVE NATURE OF DUTIES. The Distributor shall be the
exclusive principal underwriter and distributor of the Trust, except that the
exclusive rights granted to the Distributor to sell the Shares shall not apply
to Shares issued by the Trust: (i) in connection with the merger or
consolidation of any other investment company or personal holding company with
the Trust or the acquisition by purchase or otherwise of all (or substantially
all) the assets or the outstanding shares of any such company by the Trust; or
(ii) pursuant to reinvestment of dividends or capital gains distributions; or
(iii) pursuant to the reinstatement privilege afforded redeeming shareholders.
SECTION 3. PURCHASE OF SHARES FROM THE TRUST. (a) The Distributor shall
have the right to buy from the Trust the Shares needed, but not more than the
Shares needed (except for clerical errors in transmission), to fill
unconditional orders for Shares placed with the Distributor by Northbrook,
Allstate New York and Paragon. The price which the Distributor shall pay for the
Shares so purchased from the Trust shall be the net asset value, determined as
set forth in the Prospectus.
(b) The Shares are to be resold by the Distributor at the same net asset
value to Northbrook, Allstate New York and Paragon for which the Distributor
paid to the Trust for such Shares and at cost, as set forth in the Prospectus.
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(c) The Trust shall have the right to suspend the sale of the Shares at
times when redemption is suspended pursuant to the conditions set forth in
Section 4(b) hereof. The Trust shall also have the right to suspend the sale of
the Shares if trading on the New York Stock Exchange shall have been suspended,
if a banking moratorium shall have been declared by federal or New York
authorities, or if there shall have been some other extraordinary event which,
in the judgment of the Trust, makes it impracticable to sell the Shares.
(d) The Trust, or any agent of the Trust designated in writing by the
Trust, shall be promptly advised of all purchase orders for Shares received by
the Distributor. The Distributor will confirm orders upon their receipt, and the
Trust (or its agent) upon receipt of payment therefor and instructions will
deliver such Shares or a statement confirming the issuance of Shares. Payment
shall be made to the Trust in New York Clearing House funds. The Distributor
agrees to cause such payment and such instructions to be delivered promptly to
the Trust (or its agent).
SECTION 4. REPURCHASE OR REDEMPTION OF SHARES. (a) Any of the outstanding
Shares may be tendered for redemption at any time, and the Trust agrees to
redeem the Shares so tendered in accordance with the applicable provisions set
forth in the Prospectus. The price to be paid to redeem the Shares shall be
equal to the net asset value determined as set forth in the Prospectus. All
payments by the Trust hereunder shall be made in the manner set forth below.
The proceeds of any redemption of Shares shall be paid to Northbrook,
Allstate New York or Paragon in accordance with applicable provisions of the
Prospectus in New York Clearing House funds.
(b) Redemption of Shares or payment by the Trust may be suspended at times
when the New York Stock Exchange is closed, when trading on said Exchange is
restricted, when an emergency exists as a result of which disposal by the Trust
of securities owned by it is not reasonably practicable or it is not reasonably
practicable for the Trust fairly to determine the value of its net assets, or
during any other period when the Securities and Exchange Commission, by order,
so permits.
SECTION 5. DUTIES OF THE TRUST. (a) The Trust shall furnish to the
Distributor copies of all information, financial statements and other papers
which the Distributor may reasonably request for use in connection with the
distribution of the Shares, including one certified copy, upon request by the
Distributor, of all financial statements prepared by the Trust and examined by
independent accountants. The Trust shall, at the expense of the Distributor,
make available to the Distributor such number of copies of the Prospectus as the
Distributor shall reasonably request.
(b) The Trust shall take, from time to time, but subject to the necessary
approval of its shareholders, all necessary action to fix the number of its
authorized Shares and to register Shares under the 1933 Act, to the end that
there will be available for sale such number of shares as investors may
reasonably be expected to purchase.
(c) The Trust shall, at the expense of the Distributor, furnish, in
reasonable quantities upon request by the Distributor, copies of annual and
interim reports of the Trust.
SECTION 6. DUTIES OF THE DISTRIBUTOR. (a) The Distributor shall sell
shares of the Trust to Northbrook, Allstate New York and Paragon as orders from
Northbrook, Allstate New York and Paragon are received, but shall not be
obligated to sell any specific number of Shares. The services of the Distributor
hereunder are not exclusive and it is understood that the Distributor acts as
principal underwriter for other registered investment companies and intends to
do so in the future.
(b) The Distributor shall not give any information or make any
representations, other than those contained in the Registration Statement or
related Prospectus and any sales literature specifically approved by the Trust.
(c) The Distributor agrees that it will comply with the terms and
limitations of the Rules of Fair Practice of the National Association of
Securities Dealers, Inc.
SECTION 7. PAYMENT OF EXPENSES. (a) The Distributor shall bear all expenses
incurred by it in connection with its duties and activities under this Agreement
(except such expenses as are specifically undertaken herein by the Trust).
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<PAGE>
(b) The Trust shall bear all costs and expenses of the Trust, including
fees and disbursements of its counsel and independent accountants, in connection
with the preparation and filing of any required Registration Statements and
Prospectuses and all amendments and supplements thereto, and the expense of
preparing, printing, mailing and otherwise distributing prospectuses, annual or
interim reports or proxy materials to contract owners of the variable annuity
contracts issued by Northbrook and Allstate New York and contract owners of the
flexible premium variable life insurance contracts issued by Paragon.
(c) If deemed necessary or advisable to qualify the Shares for sale under
state securities laws, the Trust shall bear the cost and expenses of
qualification and, if necessary or advisable in connection therewith, of
qualifying the Trust as a broker or dealer, in such states of the United States
or other jurisdictions as shall be selected by the Trust and the Distributor
pursuant to Section 5(c) hereof and the cost and expenses payable to each such
state for continuing qualification therein until the Trust decides to
discontinue such qualification pursuant to Section 5(c) hereof.
SECTION 8. INDEMNIFICATION. (a) The Trust shall indemnify and hold harmless
the Distributor and each person, if any, who controls the Distributor against
any loss, liability, claim, damage or expense (including the reasonable cost of
investigating or defending any alleged loss, liability, claim, damage or expense
and reasonable counsel fees incurred in connection therewith) arising by reason
of any person acquiring any Shares, which may be based upon the 1933 Act, or on
any other statute or at common law, on the ground that the Registration
Statement or related Prospectus, as from time to time amended and supplemented,
or the annual or interim reports to shareholders of the Trust, includes an
untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a material fact required
to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not
misleading, unless such statement or omission was made in reliance upon, and in
conformity with, information furnished to the Trust in connection therewith by
or on behalf of the Distributor; provided, however, that in no case (i) is the
indemnity of the Trust in favor of the Distributor and any such controlling
persons to be deemed to protect such Distributor or any such controlling persons
thereof against any liability to the Trust or its security holders to which the
Distributor or any such controlling persons would otherwise be subject by reason
of willful misfeasance, bad faith or negligence in the performance of its duties
or by reason of reckless disregard of its obligations and duties under this
Agreement; or (ii) is the Trust to be liable under its indemnity agreement
contained in this paragraph with respect to any claim made against the
Distributor or any such controlling persons, unless the Distributor or such
controlling persons, as the case may be, shall have notified the Trust in
writing within a reasonable time after the summons or other first legal process
giving information of the nature of the claim shall have been served upon the
Distributor or such controlling persons (or after the Distributor or such
controlling persons shall have received notice of such service on any designated
agent), but failure to notify the Trust of any such claim shall not relieve it
from any liability which it may have to the person against whom such action is
brought otherwise than on account of its indemnity agreement contained in this
paragraph. The Trust will be entitled to participate at its own expense in the
defense, or if it so elects, to assume the defense, of any suit brought to
enforce any such liability, but if the Trust elects to assume the defense, such
defense shall be conducted by counsel chosen by it and satisfactory to the
Distributor or such controlling person or persons, defendant or defendants in
the suit. In the event the Trust elects to assume the defense of any such suit
and retain such counsel, the Distributor or such controlling person or persons,
defendant or defendants in the suit, shall bear the fees and expenses of any
additional counsel retained by them, but, in case the Trust does not elect to
assume the defense of any such suit, it will reimburse the Distributor or such
controlling person or persons, defendant or defendants in the suit, for the
reasonable fees and expenses of any counsel retained by them. The Trust shall
promptly notify the Distributor of the commencement of any litigation or
proceedings against it or any of its officers or trustees in connection with the
issuance or sale of the Shares.
(b)(i) The Distributor shall indemnify and hold harmless the Trust and each
of its Trustees and officers and each person, if any, who controls the Trust
against any loss, liability, claim, damage, or expense described in the
foregoing indemnity contained in subsection (a) of this Section, but only with
respect to statements or omissions made in reliance upon, and in conformity
with, information furnished to the Trust in writing by or on behalf of the
Distributor for use in connection with the Registration Statement or
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<PAGE>
related Prospectus, as from time to time amended, or the annual or interim
reports to shareholders; and as the result of willful misfeasance, bad faith or
negligence of the Distributor in the performance of its duties or by reason of
the reckless disregard of its obligations and duties under this Agreement.
(ii) The Distributor shall indemnify and hold harmless the Trust, the
Trust's transfer agent, individually and in its capacity as the Trust's
transfer agent, and the Trust's investment manager from and against any
claims, damages and liabilities which arise as a result of actions taken
pursuant to instructions from, or on behalf of, the Distributor to: (1)
redeem all or a part of shareholder accounts in the Trust and pay the
proceeds to, or as directed by, the Distributor for the account of each
shareholder whose Shares are so redeemed and (2) register Shares in the names
of investors, confirm the issuance thereof and receive payment therefor.
(iii) In case any action shall be brought against the Trust or any person
so indemnified by this subsection 8(b) in respect of which indemnity may be
sought against the Distributor, the Distributor shall have the rights and duties
given to the Trust, and the Trust and each person so indemnified shall have the
rights and duties given to the Distributor by the provisions of subsection (a)
of this Section 8.
SECTION 9. DURATION AND TERMINATION OF THIS AGREEMENT. This Agreement shall
remain in force until April 30, 1998 and from year to year thereafter, provided
such continuance is approved at least annually by (i) the Trustees of the Trust,
or by the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Trust,
cast in person or by proxy, and (ii) a majority of those Trustees who are not
parties to this Agreement or interested persons of any such party and who have
no direct or indirect financial interest in this Agreement or in any agreement
related thereto, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting
upon such approval.
This Agreement may be terminated at any time without the payment of any
penalty, by the Board of Trustees of the Trust, by a majority of the Trustees of
the Trust who are not interested persons of the Trust and who have no direct or
indirect financial interest in this Agreement or any agreement related thereto,
or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Trust, or
by the Distributor, on sixty days' written notice to the other party. This
Agreement shall automatically terminate in the event of its assignment.
The terms "vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities,"
"assignment" and "interested person," when used in this Agreement, shall have
the respective meanings specified in the 1940 Act.
SECTION 10. AMENDMENTS OF THIS AGREEMENT. This Agreement may be amended by
the parties only if such amendment is specifically approved by (i) the Trustees
of the Trust, or by the vote of a majority of outstanding voting securities of
the Trust, and (ii) a majority of those Trustees of the Trust who are not
parties to this Agreement or interested persons of any such party and who have
no direct or indirect financial interest in this Agreement or in any agreement
related thereto, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on
such approval.
SECTION 11. GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement shall be construed in accordance
with the law of the State of New York and the applicable provisions of the 1940
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 1940 Act, the
latter shall control.
SECTION 12. PERSONAL LIABILITY. The Declaration of Trust establishing Dean
Witter Variable Investment Series, dated February 24, 1983, a copy of which,
together with all amendments thereto (the "Declaration"), is on file in the
office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, provides that the
name Dean Witter Variable Investment Series refers to the Trustees under the
Declaration collectively as Trustees but not as individuals or personally; and
no Trustee, shareholder, officer, employee or agent of Dean Witter Variable
Investment Series shall be held to any personal liability, nor shall resort be
had to their private property for the satisfaction of any obligation or claim or
otherwise, in connection with the affairs of said Dean Witter Variable
Investment Series, but the Trust Estate only shall be liable.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
duly executed as of the day and year first written above.
DEAN WITTER VARIABLE INVESTMENT SERIES
By:
-----------------------------------
DEAN WITTER DISTRIBUTORS INC.
By:
-----------------------------------
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PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT
THIS AGREEMENT, made and entered into this the 31st day of May, 1997, by and
between each of NORTHBROOK LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY, ALLSTATE LIFE INSURANCE
COMPANY OF NEW YORK and GLENBROOK LIFE AND ANNUITY COMPANY (hereinafter
collectively the "Companies" and individually the "Company"), each on its own
behalf and on behalf of each of the segregated asset accounts of the Company set
forth in Schedule A hereto, as such Schedule A may be amended from time to time,
(hereinafter the "Accounts") and DEAN WITTER VARIABLE INVESTMENT SERIES, an
unincorporated business trust organized under the laws of the Commonwealth of
Massachusetts, (hereinafter the "Trust") and DEAN WITTER DISTRIBUTORS INC.
(hereinafter the "Distributor").
WHEREAS, the Trust 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, (hereinafter the "1940 Act") and has filed its registration
statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission, (hereinafter "S.E.C."),
which declared such registration statement effective on October 5, 1983;
WHEREAS, the Distributor is registered as a broker-dealer with the S.E.C.
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, (hereinafter the "1934
Act"), and is a member in good standing of the National Association of
Securities Dealers, Inc. (hereinafter "NASD");
WHEREAS, the Trust is available to act as the investment vehicle for
separate accounts established for variable annuity contracts and variable life
insurance contracts offered or to be offered by insurance companies which have
entered into participation agreements with the Trust and the Distributor
(hereinafter "Participating Insurance Companies");
WHEREAS, the Trust has obtained an order from the S.E.C., dated November
23, 1994 (File No. 812-9128), granting Participating Insurance Companies and
variable annuity and variable life insurance separate accounts exemptions from
the provisions of Sections 9(a), 13(a), 15(a) and 15(b) of the 1940 Act and
Rules 6e-2(b)(15) and 6e-3(T)(b)(15) thereunder, to the extent necessary to
permit shares of the Trust to be sold to and held by variable annuity and
variable life insurance separate accounts of both affiliated and unaffiliated
life insurance companies (hereinafter the "Shared Funding Exemptive Order");
WHEREAS, the Trust is presently comprised of thirteen Portfolios designated
as the Money Market Portfolio, the Quality Income Plus Portfolio, the High Yield
Portfolio, the Utilities Portfolio, the Income Builder Portfolio, the Dividend
Growth Portfolio, the Capital Growth Portfolio, the Global Dividend Growth
Portfolio, the European Growth Portfolio, the Pacific Growth Portfolio, the
Capital Appreciation Portfolio, the Equity Portfolio and the Strategist
Portfolio, and other Portfolios may be subsequently established by the Trust
(hereinafter the "Portfolios");
WHEREAS, the Portfolios of the Trust offered by the Trust to the Companies
and the Accounts are set forth on Schedule A attached hereto;
WHEREAS, the Companies will issue certain variable annuity and/or variable
life insurance contracts (hereinafter the "Contracts") which, if required by
applicable law, will be registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
(hereinafter the "1933 Act");
WHEREAS, the Accounts are duly organized, validly existing segregated asset
accounts, established by resolution of the Board of Directors of the applicable
Company, to set aside and invest assets attributable to the Contracts that are
allocated to the Accounts (the Contracts and the Accounts covered by this
Agreement, and each corresponding Portfolio covered by this Agreement in which
the Accounts invest, are specified in Schedule A attached hereto as such
Schedule A may be amended from time to time);
WHEREAS, the Companies have registered or will register the Accounts as
unit investment trusts under the 1940 Act (unless exempt therefrom);
1
<PAGE>
WHEREAS, to the extent permitted by applicable insurance laws and
regulations, each Company intends by purchasing shares of the Portfolios on
behalf of the Accounts to fund the Contracts and the Distributor is authorized
to sell such shares to the Companies for the benefit of the Accounts at net
asset value without the imposition of any charges;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of their mutual promises, each Company, the
Trust and the Distributor agree as follows:
1. PURCHASE OF SHARES. In accordance with the Trust's and the Distributor's
Distribution Agreement dated May 31, 1997, (the "Distribution Agreement"), the
Company agrees to purchase and redeem the Trust shares of each Portfolio offered
by the then current prospectus of the Trust (hereinafter the "Prospectus")
included in the Trust's registration statement (hereinafter the "Registration
Statement") most recently filed from time to time with the S.E.C. and effective
under the 1933 Act and the 1940 Act or as the Prospectus may be amended or
supplemented and filed with the S.E.C. pursuant to the 1933 Act. The Portfolios
to be offered to each Account are set forth on Schedule A attached hereto.
2. SALE OF SHARES. The Distributor agrees to sell shares of the Trust to
the Company for allocation to the Account as orders from the Company are
received at the next determined net asset value per share after receipt by the
Trust or its designee of the order for shares of the Trust, of the applicable
Portfolio determined as set forth in the Prospectus, except as provided in
paragraph 4(b).
3. REDEMPTION OF SHARES. At the Company's request, the Trust agrees to
redeem for cash without charge, any full or fractional shares of the Trust held
by the Company, executing such requests on a daily basis at the net asset value
of applicable Portfolio computed after receipt of the redemption request
provided, however, that the Trust reserves the right to suspend the right of
redemption or to postpone the date of payment upon redemption of the shares of
any Portfolio under the circumstances and for the period of time specified in
the Prospectus.
4. AVAILABILITY OF SHARES. (a) Subject to Sections 3(c) and 4(b) of the
Distribution Agreement, the terms of which are incorporated herein by reference,
and except as provided in section (b) of this paragraph, the Trust agrees to
make its shares available indefinitely for purchase by the Company.
(b) With respect to shares made available for purchase by the Company in
connection with products sold outside the Dean Witter distribution system, the
Trust may cease to make such shares available for purchase by the Company, and
the Distributor may cease to sell shares of the Trust to the Company, at the
option of the Trust and the Distributor and upon 60 days' written notice to the
Company, provided, however, that the Trust agrees to continue to make its shares
available for purchase by the Company, and the Distributor agrees to continue to
sell shares of the Trust to the Company, for allocation to the Account in
connection with (i) reinvestments of dividends and distributions on shares of
the Trust allocated to the Account in respect of Contracts in force as of the
date such notice is given by the Trust and the Distributor to the Company, for
which Contracts Trust shares serve as the underlying investment medium
("Existing Contracts"), (ii) investments in the Trust upon the making of
additional purchase payments under Existing Contracts, and (iii) reallocation of
investments from one Portfolio of the Trust to other Portfolios of the Trust
under Existing Contracts.
5. PAYMENT OF SHARES. The Company shall pay for Trust shares within five
days after it places the order for Trust shares. The Trust reserves the right to
delay issuing or transferring Trust shares and/or to delay accruing or declaring
dividends in accordance with any policy set forth in its then current prospectus
with respect to such shares until any payment check has cleared. If the Trust or
the Distributor does not receive payment within the five days period, the Trust
may, without notice, cancel the order and require the Company to reimburse the
Trust promptly for any loss the Trust suffered by reason of the Company failing
to timely pay for its shares.
6. FEE FOR SHARES. The Company shall purchase and redeem shares in the
Trust at net asset value and the Company shall not pay any commission, dealers
fee or other fee to the Distributor or any other broker dealer.
2
<PAGE>
7. TRUST'S REGISTRATION STATEMENT AND PROSPECTUS. The Trust shall amend the
Registration Statement for its shares under the 1933 Act and the 1940 Act from
time to time as required in order to effect the continuous offering of its
shares and, at its own expense, shall provide the Company with as many copies of
its current prospectus as the Company may reasonably request.
8. INVESTMENT OF ASSETS. The Trust agrees to invest its assets in
accordance with Section 817(h) of the Internal Revenue Code and Treasury
Regulation 1.817-5, as amended from time to time, and any Treasury
interpretations thereof, relating to the diversification requirements for
variable annuity contracts and any amendments or other modifications to such
Section or Regulations.
9. ADMINISTRATION OF CONTRACTS. The Company shall be responsible for
administering the Contracts and keeping records on the Contracts.
10. STOCKHOLDER INFORMATION. The Trust shall furnish the Company copies of
its proxy material, reports to stockholders and other communication to
stockholders in such quantity as the Company shall reasonably require for
distributing to owners or participants under the Contracts. The Company will
distribute these materials to such owners or participants as required.
11. VOTING. (a) To the extent required by law, the Company shall vote Trust
shares in accordance with instructions received from contract owners. If,
however, the 1940 Act or any regulation thereunder should be amended or if the
present interpretation thereof should change, and as a result the Company
determines that it is permitted to vote the Trust's shares in its own right, it
may elect to do so. The Company shall vote shares of a Portfolio for which no
instructions have been received in the same proportion as the vote of
shareholders of such Portfolio from which instructions have been received.
Neither the Company nor persons under its control shall recommend action in
connection with solicitation of proxies for Trust shares allocated to the
Account. The Company shall also vote shares it owns that are not attributable to
contract owners in the same proportion. Participating Insurance Companies shall
be responsible for assuring that each of their separate accounts participating
in the Trust calculates voting privileges in a manner consistent with other
Participating Insurance Companies.
(b) The Trust will comply with all provisions of the 1940 Act requiring
voting by shareholders, and in particular the Trust will either provide for
annual meetings or comply with Section 16(c) of the 1940 Act (although the Trust
is not one of the trusts described in Section 16(c) of that Act) as well as with
Section 16(a) and, if and when applicable, 16(b). Further, the Trust will act in
accordance with the S.E.C.'s interpretation of the requirements of Section 16(a)
with respect to periodic elections of trustees and with whatever rules the
S.E.C. may promulgate with respect thereto.
12. COMPANY APPROVAL. The Trust and the Distributor agree that the approval
of the Company will be required prior to the Trust and the Distributor entering
into any new agreements to sell shares of the Trust to other Participating
Companies.
13. TRUST'S WARRANTY. The Trust represents and warrants that Trust shares
sold pursuant to this Agreement shall be registered under the 1933 Act and duly
authorized for issuance in accordance with all applicable federal and state
laws.
14. COMPANY'S WARRANTY. Each of Northbrook Life Insurance Company and
Glenbrook Life and Annuity Company represents and warrants that it is an
insurance company duly organized and in good standing under Illinois law and
that it has legally and validly established the Accounts under Section 245.21 of
the Illinois Insurance Code. Allstate Life Insurance Company of New York
represents and warrants that it is an insurance company duly organized and in
good standing under New York law and that it has legally and validly established
the Accounts under Section 424.40 of the New York Insurance Laws. The Company
represents that it has registered the Accounts as unit investment trusts in
accordance with the provisions of the 1940 Act, unless exempt therefrom, to
serve as segregated investment accounts for certain Contracts. The Company
further represents and warrants that the Contracts will be registered under the
1933 Act, unless exempt therefrom, and the Contracts will be issued and sold in
compliance with all applicable Federal and State laws.
15. DISTRIBUTOR'S WARRANTY. The Distributor represents and warrants that it
is a member in good standing of the NASD and is registered as a broker-dealer
with the S.E.C. under the 1934 Act. The
3
<PAGE>
Distributor further represents that it will sell and distribute the shares in
accordance with the 1933, 1934 and 1940 Acts and will not make any
representations concerning the Account except those contained in the then
current registration statement or related prospectus and any sales literature
approved by the Trust. For purposes of this paragraph, Section 6 of the
Distribution Agreement is incorporated in this Agreement.
16. TERMINATION OF AGREEMENT. The parties may terminate this Agreement as
follows:
(1)(a) at the option of the Company or the Trust or the Distributor
upon 90 days' written notice to the other party;
(b) at the option of the Company if, for any reason, except for those
specified in Sections 3(c) and 4(b) of the Distribution Agreement, Trust
shares are not available to meet the requirements of the Contracts as
determined by the Company; or
(c) at the option of the Trust upon the NASD, the S.E.C., the Illinois
Insurance Commissioner, the New York Insurance Commissioner or any other
regulatory body instituting legal proceedings against the Company regarding
its duties under this Agreement.
(2) This Agreement shall automatically terminate in the event of its
assignment.
17. COMPANY'S INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT. (a) The Company agrees to
indemnify and hold harmless the Trust or Distributor and each of their Directors
or Trustees who is not an "interested person" of the Trust, as defined in the
1940 Act (collectively the "Indemnified Parties" for purposes of this paragraph
17) against any losses, claims, damages, liabilities (including amounts paid in
settlement with the written consent of the Company) or expenses or actions to
which such Indemnified Parties may become subject, under the Federal securities
laws or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or
expenses (or actions in respect thereof) or settlements arise as a result of any
failure by the Company to provide the services and furnish the materials under
terms of this Agreement or which arise from erroneous instructions by the
Company to the Distributor concerning the particular Portfolio or Portfolios
whose shares are to be allocated to the Account. This indemnity agreement is in
addition to any liability which the Company may otherwise have. Provided,
however, that in no case is the indemnity of the Company in favor of the
Distributor deemed to protect the Distributor against any liability to the Trust
or its shareholders to which the Distributor would otherwise be subject by
reason of its bad faith, wilful misfeasance or negligence in the performance of
its duties or by reason of reckless disregard of its obligations and duties
under this Agreement.
(b) The Company will reimburse the Indemnified Parties for any legal or
other expenses reasonably incurred by the Indemnified Parties in connection with
investigating or defending of any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action.
(c) Promptly after receipt by any of the Indemnified Parties of notice of
the commencement of any action, or the making of any claim for which indemnity
may apply under this paragraph, the Indemnified Parties will, if a claim thereof
is to be made against the Trust, notify the Company of the commencement thereof;
but the omission so to notify the Company will not relieve the Company from any
liability which it may have to the Indemnified Parties otherwise than under this
Agreement. In case any such action is brought against the Indemnified Parties,
and the Company is notified of the commencement thereof, the Company will be
entitled to participate therein and to assume the defense thereof, with counsel
satisfactory to the party named in the action, and after notice from the Company
to such party of the Company's election to assume the defense thereof, the
Company will not be liable to such party under this Agreement for any legal or
other expenses subsequently incurred by such party independently in connection
with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation.
18. TRUST AND DISTRIBUTOR INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENTS. (a) The Trust and
Distributor each agree to indemnify and hold harmless the Company and each of
its Directors who is not an "interested person" of the Company, as defined in
the 1940 Act (collectively the "Company's Indemnified Parties" for purposes of
this paragraph 18) against any losses, claims, damages, liabilities (including
amounts paid in
4
<PAGE>
settlement with the written consent of the Trust) or expenses or actions to
which such Indemnified Parties may become subject, under the Federal securities
laws or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or
expenses (or actions in respect thereof) or settlements:
(i) arise as a result of any failure by the Trust or Distributor to
provide the services and furnish the materials under the terms of this
Agreement; or
(ii) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged
untrue statement of any material fact contained in registration statement
or prospectus or sales literature of the Trust (or any amendment or
supplement to any of the foregoing), or arise out of or are based upon the
omission or the alleged omission to state therein a material fact required
to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not
misleading, provided that this Agreement to indemnify shall not apply as to
the Company's Indemnified Parties if such statement or omission was made in
reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished to the Trust or
Distributor by or on behalf of the Company for use in the registration
statement or prospectus for the Trust or in sales literature (or any
amendment or supplement) or otherwise for use in connection with the sale
of the Contracts or Trust shares; or
(iii) arise out of or result from any material breach of any
representation and/or warranty made by the Trust or the Distributor in this
Agreement or arise out of or result from any other material breach of this
Agreement by the Trust or the Distributor, including a failure, whether
unintentional or in good faith or otherwise, to comply with the
requirements specified in paragraph 8 of this Agreement.
(b) The Trust represents and warrants that the Trust will at all times
invest its assets in such a manner as to ensure that the Contracts will be
treated as an annuity under the Internal Revenue Code and the regulations
thereunder. Without limiting the scope of the foregoing, the Trust will at all
times comply with Section 817(h) of the Code and Treas. Reg. Sec. 1.817-5, as
amended from time to time, and any Treasury interpretations thereof, relating to
the diversification requirements for variable annuity contracts and any
amendments or other modifications to such section or Regulations.
(c) Trust shares will not be sold to any person or entity that would result
in the Contracts not being treated as annuity contracts in accordance with the
statutes and regulations referred to in the preceding paragraph.
(d) The Trust and the Distributor will reimburse the Company for any legal
or other expenses reasonably incurred by the Company's Indemnified Parties in
connection with investigating or defending of any such loss, claim, damage,
liability or action.
(e) Promptly after receipt by any of the Company's Indemnified Parties of
notice of the commencement of any action, or the making of any claim for which
indemnity may apply under this paragraph, the Company's Indemnified Parties
will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the Company, notify
the Trust or the Distributor of commencement thereof; but the omission so to
notify the Trust or the Distributor will not relieve the Trust or the
Distributor from any liability which it may have to the Company's Indemnified
Parties otherwise than under this Agreement. In case any such action is brought
against the Company's Indemnified Parties, and the Trust or the Distributor is
notified of the commencement thereof, the Trust or the Distributor will be
entitled to participate therein and to assume the defense thereof, with counsel
satisfactory to the party named in the action, and after notice from the Trust
or the Distributor to such party of the Trust's or the Distributor's election to
assume the defense thereof, the Trust or the Distributor will not be liable to
such party under this Agreement for any legal or other expenses subsequently
incurred by such party independently in connection with the defense thereof
other than reasonable costs of investigation.
19. INDEMNIFICATION OF TRUST BY OR OF DISTRIBUTOR. For purposes of this
Agreement, the Trust and the Distributor shall indemnify each other according to
the terms of the Distribution Agreement the terms of which are incorporated by
reference.
20. POTENTIAL CONFLICTS. (a) The Trustees of the Trust will monitor the
operations of the Trust for the existence of any material irreconcilable
conflict between the interests of the contract owners of all
5
<PAGE>
separate accounts investing in the Trust. An irreconcilable material conflict
may arise for a variety of reasons, including: (i) an action by any state
insurance regulatory authority; (ii) a change in applicable Federal or state
insurance, tax, or securities laws or regulations, or a public ruling, private
letter ruling, no-action or interpretative letter, or any similar action by
insurance, tax, or securities regulatory authorities; (iii) an administrative or
judicial decision in any relevant proceeding; (iv) the manner in which the
investments of any Portfolio are being managed; (v) a difference in voting
instructions given by variable annuity contract and variable life insurance
contract owners; or (vi) a decision by an insurer to disregard the voting
instructions of contract owners. The Trustees shall promptly inform the Company
if they determine that an irreconcilable material conflict exists and the
implications thereof.
(b) The Company will report any potential or existing conflicts of which it
is aware to the Trustees of the Trust. The Company will assist the Trustees in
carrying out their responsibilities under the Shared Funding Exemptive Order, by
providing the Trustees with all information reasonably necessary for the
Trustees to consider any issues raised. This includes, but is not limited to, an
obligation by the Company to inform the Trustees whenever contract owner voting
instructions are disregarded.
(c) If it is determined by a majority of the Trustees, or a majority of the
Trustees who are not parties to this Agreement or interested persons of any such
party and who have no direct or indirect financial interest in this Agreement or
any agreement related thereto (the "Independent Trustees"), that a material
irreconcilable conflict exists, the Company shall, at its expense and to the
extent reasonably practicable (as determined by a majority of the Independent
Trustees), take whatever steps are necessary to remedy or eliminate the
irreconcilable material conflict, up to and including: (i) withdrawing the
assets allocable to the affected Account from the Trust or any Portfolio and
reinvesting such assets in a different investment medium, including (but not
limited to) another Portfolio of the Trust, or submitting the question whether
such segregation should be implemented to a vote of all affected contract owners
and, as appropriate, segregating the assets of variable annuity contract owners
invested in the Account from those of any other appropriate group (i.e., annuity
contract owners, life insurance contract owners, or variable contract owners of
one or more Participating Insurance Companies) that votes in favor of such
segregation, or offering to the contract owners the option of making such a
change; and (ii) establishing a new registered management investment company or
managed separate account.
(d) If a material irreconcilable conflict arises because of a decision by
the Company to disregard contract owner voting instructions and that decision
represents a minority position or would preclude a majority vote, the Company
may be required, at the Trust's election, to withdraw the Account's investment
in the Trust and terminate this Agreement; provided, however, that such
withdrawal and termination shall be limited to the extent required by the
foregoing material irreconcilable conflict as determined by a majority of the
Independent Trustees. Any such withdrawal and termination must take place within
six (6) months after the Trust gives written notice that this provision is being
implemented, and until the end of that six month period the Distributor and
Trust shall continue to accept and implement orders by the Company for the
purchase (and redemption) of shares of the Trust.
(e) If a material irreconcilable conflict arises because a particular state
insurance regulator's decision applicable to the Company conflicts with the
majority of other state regulators, then the Company will withdraw the Account's
investment in the Trust and terminate this Agreement within six months after the
Trustees inform the Company in writing that they have determined that such
decision has created an irreconcilable material conflict; provided, however,
that such withdrawal and termination shall be limited to the extent required by
the foregoing material irreconcilable conflict as determined by a majority of
the Independent Trustees. Until the end of the foregoing six month period, the
Distributor and Trust shall continue to accept and implement orders by the
Company for the purchase (and redemption) of shares of the Trust.
(f) For purposes of sections (c) through (f) of this paragraph, a majority
of the Independent Trustees shall determine whether any proposed action
adequately remedies any irreconcilable material conflict, but in no event will
the Trust be required to establish a new funding medium for the Contracts. The
Company shall not be required by section (c) to establish a new funding medium
for the Contracts if an offer to do so has been declined by vote of a majority
of contract owners materially adversely affected by
6
<PAGE>
the irreconcilable material conflict. In the event that the Trustees determine
that any proposed action does not adequately remedy any irreconcilable material
conflict, then the Company will withdraw the Account's investment in the Trust
and terminate this Agreement within six (6) months after the Trustees inform the
Company in writing of the foregoing determination, provided, however, that such
withdrawal and termination shall be limited to the extent required by any such
material irreconcilable conflict as determined by a majority of the Independent
Trustees.
(g) If and to the extent that Rule 6e-2 and Rule 6e-3(T) are amended, or
Rule 6e-3 is adopted, to provide exemptive relief from any provision of the 1940
Act or the rules promulgated thereunder with respect to mixed or shared funding
(as defined in the Shared Funding Exemptive Order) on terms and conditions
materially different from those contained in the Shared Funding Exemptive Order,
then (a) the Trust and/or the Participating Insurance Companies, as appropriate,
shall take such steps as may be necessary to comply with Rules 6e-2 and 6e-3(T),
as amended, and Rule 6e-3, as adopted, to the extent such Rules are applicable;
and (b) paragraphs 11(a), 11(b), 20(a), 20(b), 20(c), 20(d), 20(e) and 20(f) of
this Agreement shall continue in effect only to the extent that terms and
conditions substantially identical to such paragraphs are contained in such
Rule(s) as so amended or adopted.
21. DURATION OF THIS AGREEMENT. This Agreement shall remain in force until
April 30, 1998 and from year to year thereafter, but only so long as such
continuance is specifically approved at least annually by the Trustees of the
Trust, or by the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the
Trust, cast in person or by proxy. This Agreement also may be terminated in
accordance with paragraph 16 hereof.
The terms "vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities,"
"assignment" and "interested person," when used in this Agreement, shall have
the respective meanings specified in the 1940 Act.
22. AMENDMENTS OF THIS AGREEMENT. This Agreement may be amended by the
parties only if such amendment is specifically approved by (i) the Trustees of
the Trust, or by the vote of a majority of outstanding voting securities of the
Trust, and (ii) a majority of those Trustees of the Trust who are not parties to
this Agreement or interested persons of any such party and who have no direct or
indirect financial interest in this Agreement or in any agreement related
thereto, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such
approval.
23. GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with the
law of the State of Illinois and the applicable provisions of the 1933, 1934 and
1940 Acts and the rules and regulations and rulings thereunder including such
exemptions from those statutes, rules and regulations as the S.E.C. may grant
and the terms hereof shall be interpreted and construed in accordance therewith.
To the extent the applicable law of the State of Illinois, or any of the
provisions herein, conflict with the applicable provisions of the 1940 Act, the
latter shall control. If any provision of this Agreement shall be held or made
invalid by a court decision, statute, rule or otherwise the remainder of the
Agreement shall not be affected thereby.
24. PERSONAL LIABILITY. The Declaration of Trust establishing Dean Witter
Variable Investment Series, dated February 24, 1983, a copy of which, together
with all amendments thereto (the "Declaration"), is on file in the office of the
Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, provides that the name Dean
Witter Variable Investment Series refers to the Trustees under the Declaration
collectively as Trustees, but not as individuals or personally; and no Trustee,
shareholder, officer, employee or agent of Dean Witter Variable Investment
Series shall be held to any personal liability, nor shall resort be had to their
private property for the satisfaction of any obligation or claim or otherwise,
in connection with the affairs of said Dean Witter Variable Investment Series,
but the Trust Estate only shall be liable.
7
<PAGE>
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
duly executed as of May 31, 1997.
COMPANIES:
ATTEST: NORTHBROOK LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
By:
- ---------------------------------- ----------------------------------
ALLSTATE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
ATTEST: OF NEW YORK
By:
- ---------------------------------- ----------------------------------
ATTEST: GLENBROOK LIFE AND ANNUITY COMPANY
By:
- ---------------------------------- ----------------------------------
TRUST:
ATTEST: DEAN WITTER VARIABLE INVESTMENT SERIES
By:
- ---------------------------------- ----------------------------------
DISTRIBUTOR:
DEAN WITTER DISTRIBUTORS INC.
By:
- ---------------------------------- ----------------------------------
8
<PAGE>
As of January 29, 1998
SCHEDULE A
ACCOUNTS AND PORTFOLIOS
SUBJECT TO THE PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S><C>
NAME OF
SEPARATE ACCOUNT AND DATE
NAME OF ESTABLISHED BY FUND PORTFOLIOS
INSURANCE COMPANY BOARD OF DIRECTORS APPLICABLE TO CONTRACTS
----------------- ------------------------- -----------------------
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Northbrook Life Insurance Company Northbrook Variable All
Annuity Account
(February 14, 1983)
---------------------------------
Northbrook Variable
Annuity Account II
(May 18, 1990)
---------------------------------
Northbrook Variable
Annuity Account III
(April 8, 1996)
---------------------------------
Northbrook Life
Variable Life Separate
Account A
(January 15, 1996)
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Allstate Life Insurance Company Allstate Life of New York All
of New York Variable Annuity
Account
(June 26, 1987)
---------------------------------
Allstate Life of New York
Variable Annuity Account II
(June 28, 1990)
Glenbrook Life and Annuity Company Glenbrook Life Dividend Growth Portfolio
Multi-Manager European Growth Portfolio
Variable Account Quality Income Plus Portfolio
(January 15, 1996) Utilities Portfolio
---------------------------------
Glenbrook Life
Variable Life Separate
Account A
(January 15, 1996)
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT
THIS AGREEMENT, made and entered into this the 31st day of May, 1997, by
and among PARAGON LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY (the "Company"), on its own behalf and
on behalf of the Separate Account B of Paragon Life Insurance Company (the
"Account"), a separate account of the Company, and DEAN WITTER VARIABLE
INVESTMENT SERIES, an unincorporated business trust organized under the laws of
the Commonwealth of Massachusetts (hereinafter the "Trust") and DEAN WITTER
DISTRIBUTORS INC. (the "Distributor").
WHEREAS, the Trust and the Distributor have previously entered into
Agreements to Purchase Shares with Northbrook Life Insurance Company and
Allstate Life Insurance Company of New York with regard to the purchase by those
companies of shares of the Trust on their own behalf and on behalf of certain
separate variable accounts of those companies, which Agreements shall continue
in effect with those companies following the entry by the Trust and the
Distributor into this Agreement with the Company; and
WHEREAS, by resolution of its Board of Directors on January 4, 1993, the
Company established the Account to set aside and invest assets attributable to
certain flexible premium variable life insurance contracts (the "Contracts")
issued by the Company; and
WHEREAS, the Company has registered the Account as a unit investment trust
under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act"); and
WHEREAS, the Trust is engaged in business as an open-end management
investment company and is registered as such under the 1940 Act and has filed
its registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC")
which declared such registration statement effective on October 5, 1983; and
WHEREAS, the Distributor is registered as a broker-dealer with the SEC
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "1934 Act"), and is a
member in good standing of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.
(the "NASD"); and
WHEREAS, the Trust is available to act as the investment vehicle for
separate accounts established for variable annuity contracts and variable
life insurance contracts offered or to be offered by insurance companies
which have entered into agreements to purchase shares or participation
agreements with the Trust and the Distributor (hereinafter "Participating
Insurance Companies"); and
WHEREAS, the Trust has obtained an order from the SEC, dated November
23, 1994 (File No. 812-9128), granting Participating Insurance Companies and
variable annuity and variable life insurance separate accounts exemptions
from the provisions of Sections 9(a), 13(a), 15(a) and 15(b) of the 1940 Act
and Rules 6e-2(b)(15) and 6e-3(T)(b)(15) thereunder, to the extent necessary
to permit shares of the Trust to be sold to and held by variable annuity and
variable life insurance separate accounts of both affiliated and unaffiliated
life insurance companies (hereinafter the "Shared Funding Exemptive Order");
and
WHEREAS, the Trust is presently comprised of thirteen Portfolios
designated as the Money Market Portfolio, the Quality Income Plus Portfolio,
the High Yield Portfolio, the Utilities Portfolio, the Income Builder
Portfolio, the Dividend Growth Portfolio, the Capital Growth Portfolio, the
Global Dividend Growth Portfolio, the European Growth Portfolio, the Pacific
Growth Portfolio, the Capital Appreciation Portfolio, the Equity Portfolio
and the Strategist Portfolio, and other Portfolios may be subsequently
established by the Trust (the "Portfolios"); and
WHEREAS, to the extent permitted by applicable insurance laws and
regulations, the Company intends by purchasing shares of the Portfolios on
behalf of the Account to fund the Contracts and the Distributor is authorized
to sell such shares to the Company for the benefit of the Account at net
asset value without the imposition of any charges;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of their mutual promises, the Company,
the Trust and the Distributor agree as follows:
1. PURCHASE OF SHARES. In accordance with the Trust's and the
Distributor's Distribution Agreement dated May 31, 1997 (the "Distribution
Agreement"), the Company agrees to purchase and redeem the
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<PAGE>
shares of each Portfolio of the Trust offered by the then current prospectus
of the Trust (the "Prospectus") included in the Trust's registration
statement (the "Registration Statement") most recently filed from time to
time with the SEC and effective under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended
(the "1933 Act") and the 1940 Act or as the Prospectus may be amended or
supplemented and filed with the SEC pursuant to the 1933 Act.
2. SALE OF SHARES. The Distributor agrees to sell shares of the Trust to
the Company for allocation to the Account, executing such orders on a daily
basis at the next determined net asset value per share after receipt by the
Trust or its designee of the order for shares of the applicable Portfolio of
the Trust determined as set forth in the Prospectus. The Company and the
Trust agree that shares of the Trust will be sold only to insurance companies
which have entered into agreements to purchase shares or participation
agreements substantially identical to this Agreement and their affiliated
insurance companies, and their separate accounts. No shares of any Portfolio
will be sold to the general public. The Distributor shall provide the Company
(at the Company's expense) with as many copies of the Trust's current
Prospectus as the Company may reasonably request.
3 REDEMPTION OF SHARES. At the Company's request, the Trust agrees to
redeem for cash without charge, any full or fractional shares of the Trust
held by the Company, executing such requests on a daily basis at the net
asset value of the applicable Portfolio computed after receipt of the
redemption request provided, however, that the Trust reserves the right to
suspend the right of redemption or to postpone the date of payment upon
redemption of the shares of any Portfolio under the circumstances and for the
period of time specified in the Prospectus.
4. AVAILABILITY OF SHARES. Subject to Sections 3(c) and 4(b) of the
Distribution Agreement, the terms of which are incorporated herein by
reference, the Trust agrees to make its shares available indefinitely for
purchase by the Company at the applicable net asset value per share on those
days on which the Trust calculates its net asset value pursuant to rules of
the SEC, and the Trust shall use reasonable efforts to calculate such net
asset value on each day on which the New York Stock Exchange is open for
trading.
5. PAYMENT OF SHARES. The Company shall pay for Trust shares within five
days after it places the order for Trust shares. The Trust reserves the right
to delay issuing or transferring Trust shares and/or to delay accruing or
declaring dividends in accordance with any policy set forth in the Prospectus
with respect to such shares until any payment check has cleared. If the Trust
or the Distributor does not receive payment within the five days period, the
Trust may, without notice, cancel the order and require the Company to
reimburse the Trust promptly for any loss the Trust suffered by reason of the
Company failing to timely pay for its shares.
6. FEE FOR SHARES. The Company shall purchase and redeem shares in the
Trust at net asset value and the Company shall not pay any commission,
dealers fee or other fee to the Distributor or any other broker dealer.
7. TRUST'S REGISTRATION STATEMENT AND PROSPECTUS. The Trust shall amend
the Registration Statement for its shares under the 1933 Act and the 1940 Act
from time to time as required in order to effect the continuous offering of
its shares and, at its own expense, shall provide the Company with as many
copies of its current prospectus as the Company may reasonably request.
8. INVESTMENT OF ASSETS. The Trust agrees to invest its assets in
accordance with its investment policies as disclosed in the Prospectus and
the provisions of Section 817(h) of the Internal Revenue Code (the "Code")
and Treasury Regulation 1.817-5, as amended from time to time, and any
Treasury interpretations thereof, relating to the diversification
requirements for variable annuity and variable life insurance contracts and
any amendments or other modifications to such Section or Regulations.
9. ADMINISTRATION OF CONTRACTS. The Company shall be responsible for
administering the Contracts and keeping records on the Contracts.
10. SHAREHOLDER INFORMATION. The Trust shall furnish the Company copies
of its proxy material, reports to shareholders and other communication to
shareholders in such quantity as the Company shall reasonably require for
distributing to owners or participants under the Contracts. The Company will
distribute these materials to such owners or participants as required.
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<PAGE>
11. VOTING. (a) To the extent required by law, the Company shall vote
Trust shares in accordance with instructions received from Contract owners.
If, however, the 1940 Act or any regulation thereunder should be amended or
if the present interpretation thereof should change, and as a result the
Company determines that it is permitted to vote the Trust's shares in its own
right, it may elect to do so. The Company shall vote shares of a Portfolio
for which no instructions have been received in the same proportion as the
voting instructions which are received with respect to all Contracts
participating in that Portfolio. Neither the Company nor persons under its
control shall recommend action in connection with solicitation of proxies for
Trust shares allocated to the Account. The Company shall also vote shares it
owns that are not attributable to Contract owners in the same proportion. The
Company may, when required by state insurance regulatory authorities,
disregard voting instructions if the instructions require that the shares be
voted so as to cause a change in the sub-classification or investment
objective of the Trust or one or more of its Portfolios or to approve or
disapprove an investment advisory contract for a Portfolio of the Trust.
Participating Insurance Companies shall be responsible for assuring that each
of their separate accounts participating in the Trust calculates voting
privileges in a manner consistent with other Participating Insurance
Companies.
(b) The Trust will comply with all provisions of the 1940 Act requiring
voting by shareholders, and in particular the Trust will either provide for
annual meetings or comply with Section 16(c) of the 1940 Act (although the
Trust is not one of the trusts described in Section 16(c) of that Act) as
well as with Section 16(a) and, if and when applicable, 16(b). Further, the
Trust will act in accordance with the SEC's interpretation of the
requirements of Section 16(a) with respect to periodic elections of trustees
and with whatever rules the SEC may promulgate with respect thereto.
12. TRUST'S WARRANTY. The Trust represents and warrants that Trust
shares sold pursuant to this Agreement shall be registered under the 1933 Act
and duly authorized for issuance in accordance with all applicable federal
and state laws.
13. COMPANY'S WARRANTY. The Company represents and warrants that it is
an insurance company duly organized and in good standing under Missouri law
and that it has legally and validly established the Account under Section
376.309, RSMo, and has registered the Account as a unit investment trust in
accordance with the provisions of the 1940 Act to serve as a segregated
investment account for certain Contracts. The Company further represents and
warrants that the Contracts will be registered under the 1933 Act and the
Contracts will be issued and sold in compliance with all applicable Federal
and State laws.
14. DISTRIBUTOR'S WARRANTY. The Distributor represents and warrants that
it is a member in good standing of the NASD and is registered as a
broker-dealer with the SEC under the 1934 Act. The Distributor further
represents that it will sell and distribute the shares in accordance with the
1933, 1934 and 1940 Acts and will not make any representations concerning the
Account except those contained in the then current registration statement or
related prospectus and any sales literature approved by the Trust. For
purposes of this paragraph, Section 6 of the Distribution Agreement is
incorporated in this Agreement.
15. TERMINATION OF AGREEMENT. The parties may terminate this Agreement
as follows:
(a)(i) at the option of the Company or the Trust or the Distributor
upon 180 days' written notice to the other party;
(ii) at the option of the Company if, for any reason, except for
those specified in Sections 3(c) and 4(b) of the Distribution Agreement,
Trust shares are not available to meet the requirements of the Contracts as
determined by the Company; or
(iii) at the option of the Trust upon the NASD, the SEC, the
director of the Missouri Department of Insurance or any other regulatory
body instituting legal proceedings against the Company regarding its duties
under this Agreement.
(b) This Agreement shall automatically terminate in the event of its
assignment.
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<PAGE>
(c) Notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement, the Trust and
the Distributor shall, at the Company's option, continue to make available
additional shares of the Trust pursuant to the terms and conditions of this
Agreement, for all Contracts in effect on the effective date of termination
of this Agreement (hereinafter referred to as "Existing Contracts"), so
long as the Trust is in existence. Specifically, without limitation, the
owners of the Existing Contracts shall be permitted to reallocate
investments in the Trust, redeem investments in the Trust, or invest in the
Trust upon the making of additional purchase payments under the Existing
Contracts. A termination under paragraph 19 of this Agreement shall end
rights of the owners of Existing Contracts.
(d) The Company shall not redeem Trust shares attributable to the
Contracts (as opposed to Trust shares attributable to the Company's assets
held in the Account) except (i) as necessary to implement Contract owner
initiated transactions, or (ii) as required by state or federal laws or
regulations or judicial or other legal precedent of general application
(hereinafter referred to as a "Legally Required Redemption"). Upon request,
the Company will promptly furnish to the Trust and the Distributor the
opinion of counsel for the Company (which counsel shall be reasonably
satisfactory to the Trust and the Distributor) to the effect that any
redemption pursuant to clause (ii) above is a Legally Required Redemption.
Furthermore, except in cases where permitted under the terms of the
Contracts, the Company shall not prevent Contract owners from allocating
payments to a Portfolio that was otherwise available under the Contracts
without first giving the Trust or the Distributor 90 days' notice of its
intention to do so.
16. COMPANY'S INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT. (a) The Company agrees to
indemnify and hold harmless the Trust or Distributor and each of their
Directors or Trustees who is not an "interested person" of the Trust, as
defined in the 1940 Act (collectively the "Indemnified Parties" for purposes
of this paragraph 16), against any losses, claims, damages, liabilities
(including amounts paid in settlement with the written consent of the
Company) or expenses or actions to which such Indemnified Parties may become
subject, under the Federal securities laws or otherwise, insofar as such
losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses (or actions in respect
thereof) or settlements arise as a result of any failure by the Company to
provide the services and furnish the materials under terms of this Agreement
or which arise from erroneous instructions by the Company to the Distributor
concerning the particular Portfolio or Portfolios whose shares are to be
allocated to the Account. This indemnity agreement is in addition to any
liability which the Company may otherwise have. However, in no case is the
indemnity of the Company in favor of the Distributor deemed to protect the
Distributor against any liability to the Trust or its shareholders to which
the Distributor would otherwise be subject by reason of its bad faith, wilful
misfeasance or negligence in the performance of its duties or by reason of
reckless disregard of its obligations and duties under this Agreement.
(b) The Company will reimburse the Indemnified Parties for any legal or
other expenses reasonably incurred by the Indemnified Parties in connection
with investigating or defending of any such loss, claim, damage, liability or
action.
(c) Promptly after receipt by any of the Indemnified Parties of notice
of the commencement of any action, or the making of any claim for which
indemnity may apply under this paragraph, the Indemnified Parties will, if a
claim thereof is to be made against the Trust, notify the Company of the
commencement thereof; but the omission so to notify the Company will not
relieve the Company from any liability which it may have to the Indemnified
Parties otherwise than under this Agreement. In case any such action is
brought against the Indemnified Parties, and the Company is notified of the
commencement thereof, the Company will be entitled to participate therein and
to assume the defense thereof, with counsel satisfactory to the party named
in the action, and after notice from the Company to such party of the
Company's election to assume the defense thereof, the Company will not be
liable to such party under this Agreement for any legal or other expenses
subsequently incurred by such party independently in connection with the
defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation.
17. TRUST AND DISTRIBUTOR INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENTS. (a) The Trust and
Distributor each agree to indemnify and hold harmless the Company and each of
its Directors who is not an "interested person" of the Company, as defined in
the 1940 Act (collectively the "Company's Indemnified Parties" for
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<PAGE>
purposes of this paragraph 17) against any losses, claims, damages,
liabilities (including amounts paid in settlement with the written consent of
the Trust) or expenses or actions to which such Indemnified Parties may
become subject, under the Federal securities laws or otherwise, insofar as
such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses (or actions in respect
thereof) or settlements:
(i) arise as a result of any failure by the Trust or Distributor to
provide the services and furnish the materials under the terms of this
Agreement; or
(ii) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged
untrue statement of any material fact contained in registration statement
or Prospectus or sales literature of the Trust (or any amendment or
supplement to any of the foregoing), or arise out of or are based upon the
omission or the alleged omission to state therein a material fact required
to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not
misleading, provided that this Agreement to indemnify shall not apply as to
the Company's Indemnified Parties if such statement or omission was made in
reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished to the Trust or
Distributor by or on behalf of the Company for use in the registration
statement or Prospectus for the Trust or in sales literature (or any
amendment or supplement) or otherwise for use in connection with the sale
of the Contracts or Trust shares; or
(iii) arise out of or result from any material breach of any
representation and/or warranty made by the Trust or the Distributor in this
Agreement or arise out of or result from any other material breach of this
Agreement by the Trust or the Distributor, including a failure, whether
unintentional or in good faith or otherwise, to comply with the
requirements specified in paragraph 8 of this Agreement.
(b) The Trust represents and warrants that the Trust will at all times
invest its assets in such a manner as to ensure that the Contracts will be
treated as variable annuity or flexible premium life insurance contracts
under the Code and the regulations thereunder. Without limiting the scope of
the foregoing, the Trust will at all times comply with Section 817(h) of the
Code and Treasury Regulation 1.817-5, as amended from time to time, and any
Treasury interpretations thereof, relating to the diversification
requirements for variable annuity or variable life insurance contracts and
any amendments or other modifications to such section or Regulations.
(c) Trust shares will not be sold to any person or entity that would
result in the Contracts not being treated as annuity contracts or variable
life contracts.
(d) The Trust and the Distributor will reimburse the Company for any
legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by the Company's Indemnified
Parties in connection with investigating or defending of any such loss,
claim, damage, liability or action.
(e) Promptly after receipt by any of the Company's Indemnified Parties
of notice of the commencement of any action, or the making of any claim for
which indemnity may apply under this paragraph, the Company's Indemnified
Parties will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the
Company, notify the Trust or the Distributor of commencement thereof; but the
omission so to notify the Trust or the Distributor will not relieve the Trust
or the Distributor from any liability which it may have to the Company's
Indemnified Parties otherwise than under this Agreement. In case any such
action is brought against the Company's Indemnified Parties, and the Trust or
the Distributor is notified of the commencement thereof, the Trust or the
Distributor will be entitled to participate therein and to assume the defense
thereof, with counsel satisfactory to the party named in the action, and
after notice from the Trust or the Distributor to such party of the Trust's
or the Distributor's election to assume the defense thereof, the Trust or the
Distributor will not be liable to such party under this Agreement for any
legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by such party independently in
connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of
investigation.
18. INDEMNIFICATION OF TRUST BY OR OF DISTRIBUTOR. For purposes of this
Agreement, the Trust and the Distributor shall indemnify each other according
to the terms of the Distribution Agreement, the terms of which are
incorporated by reference.
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19. POTENTIAL CONFLICTS. (a) The Trustees of the Trust will monitor the
operations of the Trust for the existence of any material irreconcilable
conflict between the interests of the contract owners of all separate
accounts investing in the Trust. An irreconcilable material conflict may
arise for a variety of reasons, including: (i) an action by any state
insurance regulatory authority; (ii) a change in applicable Federal or state
insurance, tax, or securities laws or regulations, or a public ruling,
private letter ruling, no-action or interpretative letter, or any similar
action by insurance, tax, or securities regulatory authorities; (iii) an
administrative or judicial decision in any relevant proceeding; (iv) the
manner in which the investments of any Portfolio are being managed; (v) a
difference in voting instructions given by variable annuity contract and
variable life insurance contract owners; or (vi) a decision by an insurer to
disregard the voting instructions of contract owners. The Trustees shall
promptly inform the Company if they determine that an irreconcilable material
conflict exists and the implications thereof.
(b) The Company will report any potential or existing conflicts of which
it is aware to the Trustees of the Trust. The Company will assist the
Trustees in carrying out their responsibilities under the Shared Funding
Exemptive Order, sections (a) and (b) of this paragraph, by providing the
Trustees with all information reasonably necessary for the Trustees to
consider any issues raised. This includes, but is not limited to, an
obligation by the Company to inform the Trustees whenever contract owner
voting instructions are disregarded.
(c) If it is determined by a majority of the Trustees, or a majority of
the Trustees who are not parties to this Agreement or interested persons of
any such party and who have no direct or indirect financial interest in this
Agreement or any agreement related thereto (the "Independent Trustees"), that
a material irreconcilable conflict exists, the Company shall, at its expense
and to the extent reasonably practicable (as determined by a majority of the
Independent Trustees), take whatever steps are necessary to remedy or
eliminate the irreconcilable material conflict, up to and including: (i)
withdrawing the assets allocable to the Account from the Trust or any
Portfolio and reinvesting such assets in a different investment medium,
including (but not limited to) another Portfolio of the Trust, or submitting
the question whether such segregation should be implemented to a vote of all
affected contract owners and, as appropriate, segregating the assets of life
insurance contract owners invested in the Account from those of any other
appropriate group (i.e., annuity contract owners, life insurance contract
owners, or variable contract owners of one or more Participating Insurance
Companies) that votes in favor of such segregation, or offering to the
contract owners the option of making such a change; and (ii) establishing a
new registered management investment company or managed separate account.
(d) If a material irreconcilable conflict arises because of a decision
by the Company to disregard contract owner voting instructions and that
decision represents a minority position or would preclude a majority vote,
the Company may be required, at the Trust's election, to withdraw the
Account's investment in the Trust and terminate this Agreement; provided,
however, that such withdrawal and termination shall be limited to the extent
required by the foregoing material irreconcilable conflict as determined by a
majority of the Independent Trustees. Any such withdrawal and termination
must take place within six (6) months after the Trust gives written notice
that this provision is being implemented, and until the end of that six month
period the Distributor and Trust shall continue to accept and implement
orders by the Company for the purchase (and redemption) of shares of the
Trust.
(e) If a material irreconcilable conflict arises because a particular
state insurance regulator's decision applicable to the Company conflicts with
the majority of other state regulators, then the Company will withdraw the
Account's investment in the Trust and terminate this Agreement within six
months after the Trustees inform the Company in writing that they have
determined that such decision has created an irreconcilable material
conflict; provided, however, that such withdrawal and termination shall be
limited to the extent required by the foregoing material irreconcilable
conflict as determined by a majority of the Independent Trustees. Until the
end of the foregoing six month period, the Distributor and Trust shall
continue to accept and implement orders by the Company for the purchase (and
redemption) of shares of the Trust.
(f) For purposes of sections (c) through (f) of this paragraph, a
majority Of the Independent Trustees shall determine whether any proposed
action adequately remedies any irreconcilable material conflict,
6
<PAGE>
but in no event will the Trust be required to establish a new funding medium
for the Contracts. The Company shall not be required by section (c) to
establish a new funding medium for the Contracts if an offer to do so has
been declined by vote of a majority of contract owners materially adversely
affected by the irreconcilable material conflict. In the event that the
Trustees determine that any proposed action does not adequately remedy any
irreconcilable material conflict, then the Company will withdraw the
Account's investment in the Trust and terminate this Agreement within six (6)
months after the Trustees inform the Company in writing of the foregoing
determination, provided, however, that such withdrawal and termination shall
be limited to the extent required by any such material irreconcilable
conflict as determined by a majority of the Independent Trustees.
(g) If and to the extent that Rule 6e-2 and Rule 6e-3(T) are amended, or
Rule 6e-3 is adopted, to provide exemptive relief from any provision of the
1940 Act or the rules promulgated thereunder with respect to mixed or shared
funding (as defined in the Shared Funding Exemptive Order) on terms and
conditions materially different from those contained in the Shared Funding
Exemptive Order, then (a) the Trust and/or the Participating Insurance
Companies, as appropriate, shall take such steps as may be necessary to
comply with Rules 6e-2 and 6e-3(T), as amended, and Rule 6e-3, as adopted, to
the extent such Rules are applicable; and (b) paragraphs 11(a), 11(b), 19(a),
19(b), 19(c), 19(d), 19(e) and 19(f) of this Agreement shall continue in
effect only to the extent that terms and conditions substantially identical
to such paragraphs are contained in such Rule(s) as so amended or adopted.
20. DURATION OF THIS AGREEMENT. This Agreement shall become effective as
of the date first above written and shall remain in force until April 30,
1998 and thereafter, but only so long as such continuance is specifically
approved at least annually by the Trustees of the Trust, or by the vote of a
majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Trust, cast in person or
by proxy. This Agreement also may be terminated in accordance with paragraph
15 hereof.
The terms "vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities,"
"assignment" and "interested person," when used in this Agreement, shall have
the respective meanings specified in the 1940 Act.
21. AMENDMENTS OF THIS AGREEMENT. This Agreement may be amended by the
parties only if such amendment is specifically approved by: (i) the Trustees
of the Trust, or by the vote of a majority of outstanding voting securities
of the Trust, and (ii) a majority of the Independent Trustees, cast in person
at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval.
22. GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with
the law of the State of New York and the applicable provisions of the 1933,
1934 and 1940 Acts and the rules and regulations and rulings thereunder
including such exemptions from those statutes, rules and regulations as the
SEC may grant and the terms hereof shall be interpreted and construed in
accordance therewith. To the extent the applicable law of the State of New
York, or any of the provisions herein, conflict with the applicable
provisions of the 1940 Act, the latter shall control. If any provision of
this Agreement shall be held or made invalid by a court decision, statute,
rule or otherwise the remainder of the Agreement shall not be affected
thereby.
23. NOTICES. Any notice under this Agreement shall be in writing and if
to the Trust, delivered or mailed postage prepaid to it at Two World Trade
Center, New York, NY 10048; if to the Distributor, delivered or mailed
postage prepaid to it at Two World Trade Center, New York, NY 10048; and if
to the Company, delivered or mailed postage prepaid to it at 100 South
Brentwood, Clayton, MO 63105. The parties shall have the right to designate
any other address hereafter by written notice to the other parties.
24. PERSONAL LIABILITY. The Declaration of Trust establishing Dean
Witter Variable Investment Series, dated February 24, 1983, a copy of which,
together with all amendments thereto (the "Declaration"), is on file in the
office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, provides that
the name Dean Witter Variable Investment Series refers to the Trustees under
the Declaration collectively as Trustees, but not as individuals or
personally; and no Trustee, shareholder, officer, employee or agent of Dean
Witter Variable Investment Series shall be held to any personal liability,
nor shall resort be had to their private property for the satisfaction of any
obligation or claim or otherwise, in connection with the affairs of said Dean
Witter Variable Investment Series, but the Trust Estate only shall be liable.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
duly executed as of the day and year first written above.
COMPANY:
ATTEST: PARAGON LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
By:
- --------------------------------- ---------------------------------
TRUST:
DEAN WITTER VARIABLE INVESTMENT SERIES
By:
- --------------------------------- ---------------------------------
DISTRIBUTOR:
DEAN WITTER DISTRIBUTORS INC.
By:
- --------------------------------- ---------------------------------
8
<PAGE>
AMENDED AND RESTATED
TRANSFER AGENCY AND SERVICE AGREEMENT
WITH
DEAN WITTER TRUST FSB
[open-end funds]
<PAGE>
TABLE OF CONTENTS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PAGE
----
<S> <C> <C>
Article 1 Terms of Appointment................................... 1
Article 2 Fees and Expenses...................................... 2
Article 3 Representations and Warranties of DWTFSB............... 3
Article 4 Representations and Warranties of the Fund............. 3
Article 5 Duty of Care and Indemnification....................... 3
Article 6 Documents and Covenants of the Fund and DWTFSB......... 4
Article 7 Duration and Termination of Agreement.................. 5
Article 8 Assignment............................................. 5
Article 9 Affiliations........................................... 6
Article 10 Amendment.............................................. 6
Article 11 Applicable Law......................................... 6
Article 12 Miscellaneous.......................................... 6
Article 13 Merger of Agreement.................................... 7
Article 14 Personal Liability..................................... 7
</TABLE>
i
<PAGE>
AMENDED AND RESTATED TRANSFER AGENCY AND SERVICE AGREEMENT
AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT made as of the 23rd day of October, 1997 by
and between each of the Funds listed on the signature pages hereof, each of such
Funds acting severally on its own behalf and not jointly with any of such other
Funds (each such Fund hereinafter referred to as the "Fund"), each such Fund
having its principal office and place of business at Two World Trade Center, New
York, New York, 10048, and DEAN WITTER TRUST FSB ("DWTFSB"), a federally
chartered savings bank, having its principal office and place of business at
Harborside Financial Center, Plaza Two, Jersey City, New Jersey 07311.
WHEREAS, the Fund desires to appoint DWTFSB as its transfer agent, dividend
disbursing agent and shareholder servicing agent and DWTFSB desires to accept
such appointment;
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants herein contained,
the parties hereto agree as follows:
Article 1 TERMS OF APPOINTMENT; DUTIES OF DWTFSB
1.1 Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, the
Fund hereby employs and appoints DWTFSB to act as, and DWTFSB agrees to act as,
the transfer agent for each series and class of shares of the Fund, whether now
or hereafter authorized or issued ("Shares"), dividend disbursing agent and
shareholder servicing agent in connection with any accumulation, open-account or
similar plans provided to the holders of such Shares ("Shareholders") and set
out in the currently effective prospectus and statement of additional
information ("prospectus") of the Fund, including without limitation any
periodic investment plan or periodic withdrawal program.
1.2 DWTFSB agrees that it will perform the following services:
(a) In accordance with procedures established from time to time by
agreement between the Fund and DWTFSB, DWTFSB shall:
(i) Receive for acceptance, orders for the purchase of Shares, and
promptly deliver payment and appropriate documentation therefor to the
custodian of the assets of the Fund (the "Custodian");
(ii) Pursuant to purchase orders, issue the appropriate number of
Shares and issue certificates therefor or hold such Shares in book form
in the appropriate Shareholder account;
(iii) Receive for acceptance redemption requests and redemption
directions and deliver the appropriate documentation therefor to the
Custodian;
(iv) At the appropriate time as and when it receives monies paid to
it by the Custodian with respect to any redemption, pay over or cause to
be paid over in the appropriate manner such monies as instructed by the
redeeming Shareholders;
(v) Effect transfers of Shares by the registered owners thereof upon
receipt of appropriate instructions;
(vi) Prepare and transmit payments for dividends and distributions
declared by the Fund;
(vii) Calculate any sales charges payable by a Shareholder on
purchases and/or redemptions of Shares of the Fund as such charges may be
reflected in the prospectus;
(viii) Maintain records of account for and advise the Fund and its
Shareholders as to the foregoing; and
(ix) Record the issuance of Shares of the Fund and maintain pursuant
to Rule 17Ad-10(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 ("1934 Act")
a record of the total number of Shares of the Fund which are authorized,
based upon data provided to it by the Fund, and issued and outstanding.
DWTFSB shall also provide to the Fund on a regular basis the total number
of Shares that are authorized, issued and outstanding and shall notify
the Fund in case any proposed issue of Shares by the Fund would result in
an overissue. In case any issue of Shares
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would result in an overissue, DWTFSB shall refuse to issue such Shares
and shall not countersign and issue any certificates requested for such
Shares. When recording the issuance of Shares, DWTFSB shall have no
obligation to take cognizance of any Blue Sky laws relating to the issue
of sale of such Shares, which functions shall be the sole responsibility
of the Fund.
(b) In addition to and not in lieu of the services set forth in the
above paragraph (a), DWTFSB shall:
(i) perform all of the customary services of a transfer agent,
dividend disbursing agent and, as relevant, shareholder servicing agent
in connection with dividend reinvestment, accumulation, open-account or
similar plans (including without limitation any periodic investment plan
or periodic withdrawal program), including but not limited to,
maintaining all Shareholder accounts, preparing Shareholder meeting
lists, mailing proxies, receiving and tabulating proxies, mailing
shareholder reports and prospectuses to current Shareholders, withholding
taxes on U.S. resident and non-resident alien accounts, preparing and
filing appropriate forms required with respect to dividends and
distributions by federal tax authorities for all Shareholders, preparing
and mailing confirmation forms and statements of account to Shareholders
for all purchases and redemptions of Shares and other confirmable
transactions in Shareholder accounts, preparing and mailing activity
statements for Shareholders and providing Shareholder account
information;
(ii) open any and all bank accounts which may be necessary or
appropriate in order to provide the foregoing services; and
(iii) provide a system that will enable the Fund to monitor the total
number of Shares sold in each State or other jurisdiction.
(c) In addition, the Fund shall:
(i) identify to DWTFSB in writing those transactions and assets to be
treated as exempt from Blue Sky reporting for each State; and
(ii) verify the inclusion on the system prior to activation of each
State in which Fund shares may be sold and thereafter monitor the daily
purchases and sales for shareholders in each State. The responsibility of
DWTFSB for the Fund's status under the securities laws of any State or
other jurisdiction is limited to the inclusion on the system of each
State as to which the Fund has informed DWTFSB that shares may be sold in
compliance with state securities laws and the reporting of purchases and
sales in each such State to the Fund as provided above and as agreed from
time to time by the Fund and DWTFSB.
(d) DWTFSB shall provide such additional services and functions not
specifically described herein as may be mutually agreed between DWTFSB and
the Fund. Procedures applicable to such services may be established from
time to time by agreement between the Fund and DWTFSB.
Article 2 FEES AND EXPENSES
2.1 For performance by DWTFSB pursuant to this Agreement, each Fund agrees
to pay DWTFSB an annual maintenance fee for each Shareholder account and certain
transactional fees, if applicable, as set out in the respective fee schedule
attached hereto as Schedule A. Such fees and out-of-pocket expenses and advances
identified under Section 2.2 below may be changed from time to time subject to
mutual written agreement between the Fund and DWTFSB.
2.2 In addition to the fees paid under Section 2.1 above, the Fund agrees to
reimburse DWTFSB for out of pocket expenses in connection with the services
rendered by DWTFSB hereunder. In addition, any other expenses incurred by DWTFSB
at the request or with the consent of the Fund will be reimbursed by the Fund.
2.3 The Fund agrees to pay all fees and reimbursable expenses within a
reasonable period of time following the mailing of the respective billing
notice. Postage for mailing of dividends, proxies, Fund reports and other
mailings to all Shareholder accounts shall be advanced to DWTFSB by the Fund
upon request prior to the mailing date of such materials.
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Article 3 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF DWTFSB
DWTFSB represents and warrants to the Fund that:
3.1 It is a federally chartered savings bank whose principal office is in
New Jersey.
3.2 It is and will remain registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange
Commission ("SEC") as a Transfer Agent pursuant to the requirements of Section
17A of the 1934 Act.
3.3 It is empowered under applicable laws and by its charter and By-Laws to
enter into and perform this Agreement.
3.4 All requisite corporate proceedings have been taken to authorize it to
enter into and perform this Agreement.
3.5 It has and will continue to have access to the necessary facilities,
equipment and personnel to perform its duties and obligations under this
Agreement.
Article 4 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE FUND
The Fund represents and warrants to DWTFSB that:
4.1 It is a corporation duly organized and existing and in good standing
under the laws of Delaware or Maryland or a trust duly organized and existing
and in good standing under the laws of Massachusetts, as the case may be.
4.2 It is empowered under applicable laws and by its Articles of
Incorporation or Declaration of Trust, as the case may be, and under its By-Laws
to enter into and perform this Agreement.
4.3 All corporate proceedings necessary to authorize it to enter into and
perform this Agreement have been taken.
4.4 It is an investment company registered with the SEC under the Investment
Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act").
4.5 A registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933 (the "1933
Act") is currently effective and will remain effective, and appropriate state
securities law filings have been made and will continue to be made, with respect
to all Shares of the Fund being offered for sale.
Article 5 DUTY OF CARE AND INDEMNIFICATION
5.1 DWTFSB shall not be responsible for, and the Fund shall indemnify and
hold DWTFSB harmless from and against, any and all losses, damages, costs,
charges, counsel fees, payments, expenses and liability arising out of or
attributable to:
(a) All actions of DWTFSB or its agents or subcontractors required to be
taken pursuant to this Agreement, provided that such actions are taken in
good faith and without negligence or willful misconduct.
(b) The Fund's refusal or failure to comply with the terms of this
Agreement, or which arise out of the Fund's lack of good faith, negligence
or willful misconduct or which arise out of breach of any representation or
warranty of the Fund hereunder.
(c) The reliance on or use by DWTFSB or its agents or subcontractors of
information, records and documents which (i) are received by DWTFSB or its
agents or subcontractors and furnished to it by or on behalf of the Fund,
and (ii) have been prepared and/or maintained by the Fund or any other
person or firm on behalf of the Fund.
(d) The reliance on, or the carrying out by DWTFSB or its agents or
subcontractors of, any instructions or requests of the Fund.
(e) The offer or sale of Shares in violation of any requirement under
the federal securities laws or regulations or the securities or Blue Sky
laws of any State or other jurisdiction that notice of
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offering of such Shares in such State or other jurisdiction or in violation
of any stop order or other determination or ruling by any federal agency or
any State or other jurisdiction with respect to the offer or sale of such
Shares in such State or other jurisdiction.
5.2 DWTFSB shall indemnify and hold the Fund harmless from or against any
and all losses, damages, costs, charges, counsel fees, payments, expenses and
liability arising out of or attributable to any action or failure or omission to
act by DWTFSB as a result of the lack of good faith, negligence or willful
misconduct of DWTFSB, its officers, employees or agents.
5.3 At any time, DWTFSB may apply to any officer of the Fund for
instructions, and may consult with legal counsel to the Fund, with respect to
any matter arising in connection with the services to be performed by DWTFSB
under this Agreement, and DWTFSB and its agents or subcontractors shall not be
liable and shall be indemnified by the Fund for any action taken or omitted by
it in reliance upon such instructions or upon the opinion of such counsel.
DWTFSB, its agents and subcontractors shall be protected and indemnified in
acting upon any paper or document furnished by or on behalf of the Fund,
reasonably believed to be genuine and to have been signed by the proper person
or persons, or upon any instruction, information, data, records or documents
provided to DWTFSB or its agents or subcontractors by machine readable input,
telex, CRT data entry or other similar means authorized by the Fund, and shall
not be held to have notice of any change of authority of any person, until
receipt of written notice thereof from the Fund. DWTFSB, its agents and
subcontractors shall also be protected and indemnified in recognizing stock
certificates which are reasonably believed to bear the proper manual or
facsimile signature of the officers of the Fund, and the proper countersignature
of any former transfer agent or registrar, or of a co-transfer agent or
co-registrar.
5.4 In the event either party is unable to perform its obligations under the
terms of this Agreement because of acts of God, strikes, equipment or
transmission failure or damage reasonably beyond its control, or other causes
reasonably beyond its control, such party shall not be liable for damages to the
other for any damages resulting from such failure to perform or otherwise from
such causes.
5.5 Neither party to this Agreement shall be liable to the other party for
consequential damages under any provision of this Agreement or for any act or
failure to act hereunder.
5.6 In order that the indemnification provisions contained in this Article 5
shall apply, upon the assertion of a claim for which either party may be
required to indemnify the other, the party seeking indemnification shall
promptly notify the other party of such assertion, and shall keep the other
party advised with respect to all developments concerning such claim. The party
who may be required to indemnify shall have the option to participate with the
party seeking indemnification in the defense of such claim. The party seeking
indemnification shall in no case confess any claim or make any compromise in any
case in which the other party may be required to indemnify it except with the
other party's prior written consent.
Article 6 DOCUMENTS AND COVENANTS OF THE FUND AND DWTFSB
6.1 The Fund shall promptly furnish to DWTFSB the following, unless
previously furnished to Dean Witter Trust Company, the prior transfer agent of
the Fund:
(a) If a corporation:
(i) A certified copy of the resolution of the Board of Directors of
the Fund authorizing the appointment of DWTFSB and the execution and
delivery of this Agreement;
(ii) A certified copy of the Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws of
the Fund and all amendments thereto;
(iii) Certified copies of each vote of the Board of Directors
designating persons authorized to give instructions on behalf of the Fund
and signature cards bearing the signature of any officer of the Fund or
any other person authorized to sign written instructions on behalf of the
Fund;
(iv) A specimen of the certificate for Shares of the Fund in the form
approved by the Board of Directors, with a certificate of the Secretary
of the Fund as to such approval;
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(b) If a business trust:
(i) A certified copy of the resolution of the Board of Trustees of
the Fund authorizing the appointment of DWTFSB and the execution and
delivery of this Agreement;
(ii) A certified copy of the Declaration of Trust and By-Laws of the
Fund and all amendments thereto;
(iii) Certified copies of each vote of the Board of Trustees
designating persons authorized to give instructions on behalf of the Fund
and signature cards bearing the signature of any officer of the Fund or
any other person authorized to sign written instructions on behalf of the
Fund;
(iv) A specimen of the certificate for Shares of the Fund in the form
approved by the Board of Trustees, with a certificate of the Secretary of
the Fund as to such approval;
(c) The current registration statements and any amendments and
supplements thereto filed with the SEC pursuant to the requirements of the
1933 Act or the 1940 Act;
(d) All account application forms or other documents relating to
Shareholder accounts and/or relating to any plan, program or service offered
or to be offered by the Fund; and
(e) Such other certificates, documents or opinions as DWTFSB deems to be
appropriate or necessary for the proper performance of its duties.
6.2 DWTFSB hereby agrees to establish and maintain facilities and procedures
reasonably acceptable to the Fund for safekeeping of Share certificates, check
forms and facsimile signature imprinting devices, if any; and for the
preparation or use, and for keeping account of, such certificates, forms and
devices.
6.3 DWTFSB shall prepare and keep records relating to the services to be
performed hereunder, in the form and manner as it may deem advisable and as
required by applicable laws and regulations. To the extent required by Section
31 of the 1940 Act, and the rules and regulations thereunder, DWTFSB agrees that
all such records prepared or maintained by DWTFSB relating to the services
performed by DWTFSB hereunder are the property of the Fund and will be
preserved, maintained and made available in accordance with such Section 31 of
the 1940 Act, and the rules and regulations thereunder, and will be surrendered
promptly to the Fund on and in accordance with its request.
6.4 DWTFSB and the Fund agree that all books, records, information and data
pertaining to the business of the other party which are exchanged or received
pursuant to the negotiation or the carrying out of this Agreement shall remain
confidential and shall not be voluntarily disclosed to any other person except
as may be required by law or with the prior consent of DWTFSB and the Fund.
6.5 In case of any request or demands for the inspection of the Shareholder
records of the Fund, DWTFSB will endeavor to notify the Fund and to secure
instructions from an authorized officer of the Fund as to such inspection.
DWTFSB reserves the right, however, to exhibit the Shareholder records to any
person whenever it is advised by its counsel that it may be held liable for the
failure to exhibit the Shareholder records to such person.
Article 7 DURATION AND TERMINATION OF AGREEMENT
7.1 This Agreement shall remain in full force and effect until August 1,
2000 and from year-to-year thereafter unless terminated by either party as
provided in Section 7.2 hereof.
7.2 This Agreement may be terminated by the Fund on 60 days written notice,
and by DWTFSB on 90 days written notice, to the other party without payment of
any penalty.
7.3 Should the Fund exercise its right to terminate, all out-of-pocket
expenses associated with the movement of records and other materials will be
borne by the Fund. Additionally, DWTFSB reserves the right to charge for any
other reasonable fees and expenses associated with such termination.
Article 8 ASSIGNMENT
8.1 Except as provided in Section 8.3 below, neither this Agreement nor any
rights or obligations hereunder may be assigned by either party without the
written consent of the other party.
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8.2 This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the
parties and their respective permitted successors and assigns.
8.3 DWTFSB may, in its sole discretion and without further consent by the
Fund, subcontract, in whole or in part, for the performance of its obligations
and duties hereunder with any person or entity including but not limited to
companies which are affiliated with DWTFSB; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that such person
or entity has and maintains the qualifications, if any, required to perform such
obligations and duties, and that DWTFSB shall be as fully responsible to the
Fund for the acts and omissions of any agent or subcontractor as it is for its
own acts or omissions under this Agreement.
Article 9 AFFILIATIONS
9.1 DWTFSB may now or hereafter, without the consent of or notice to the
Fund, function as transfer agent and/or shareholder servicing agent for any
other investment company registered with the SEC under the 1940 Act and for any
other issuer, including without limitation any investment company whose adviser,
administrator, sponsor or principal underwriter is or may become affiliated with
Morgan Stanley, Dean Witter, Discover & Co. or any of its direct or indirect
subsidiaries or affiliates.
9.2 It is understood and agreed that the Directors or Trustees (as the case
may be), officers, employees, agents and shareholders of the Fund, and the
directors, officers, employees, agents and shareholders of the Fund's investment
adviser and/or distributor, are or may be interested in DWTFSB as directors,
officers, employees, agents and shareholders or otherwise, and that the
directors, officers, employees, agents and shareholders of DWTFSB may be
interested in the Fund as Directors or Trustees (as the case may be), officers,
employees, agents and shareholders or otherwise, or in the investment adviser
and/or distributor as directors, officers, employees, agents, shareholders or
otherwise.
Article 10 AMENDMENT
10.1 This Agreement may be amended or modified by a written agreement
executed by both parties and authorized or approved by a resolution of the Board
of Directors or the Board of Trustees (as the case may be) of the Fund.
Article 11 APPLICABLE LAW
11.1 This Agreement shall be construed and the provisions thereof
interpreted under and in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.
Article 12 MISCELLANEOUS
12.1 In the event that one or more additional investment companies managed
or administered by Dean Witter InterCapital Inc. or any of its affiliates
("Additional Funds") desires to retain DWTFSB to act as transfer agent, dividend
disbursing agent and/or shareholder servicing agent, and DWTFSB desires to
render such services, such services shall be provided pursuant to a letter
agreement, substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto, between DWTFSB and
each Additional Fund.
12.2 In the event of an alleged loss or destruction of any Share
certificate, no new certificate shall be issued in lieu thereof, unless there
shall first be furnished to DWTFSB an affidavit of loss or non-receipt by the
holder of Shares with respect to which a certificate has been lost or destroyed,
supported by an appropriate bond satisfactory to DWTFSB and the Fund issued by a
surety company satisfactory to DWTFSB, except that DWTFSB may accept an
affidavit of loss and indemnity agreement executed by the registered holder (or
legal representative) without surety in such form as DWTFSB deems appropriate
indemnifying DWTFSB and the Fund for the issuance of a replacement certificate,
in cases where the alleged loss is in the amount of $1,000 or less.
12.3 In the event that any check or other order for payment of money on the
account of any Shareholder or new investor is returned unpaid for any reason,
DWTFSB will (a) give prompt notification to the Fund's distributor
("Distributor") (or to the Fund if the Fund acts as its own distributor) of such
non-payment; and (b) take such other action, including imposition of a
reasonable processing or handling fee, as DWTFSB may, in its sole discretion,
deem appropriate or as the Fund and, if applicable, the Distributor may instruct
DWTFSB.
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12.4 Any notice or other instrument authorized or required by this Agreement
to be given in writing to the Fund or to DWTFSB shall be sufficiently given if
addressed to that party and received by it at its office set forth below or at
such other place as it may from time to time designate in writing.
To the Fund:
[Name of Fund]
Two World Trade Center
New York, New York 10048
Attention: General Counsel
To DWTFSB:
Dean Witter Trust FSB
Harborside Financial Center
Plaza Two
Jersey City, New Jersey 07311
Attention: President
Article 13 MERGER OF AGREEMENT
13.1 This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties
hereto and supersedes any prior agreement with respect to the subject matter
hereof whether oral or written.
Article 14 PERSONAL LIABILITY
14.1 In the case of a Fund organized as a Massachusetts business trust, a
copy of the Declaration of Trust of the Fund is on file with the Secretary of
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and notice is hereby given that this
instrument is executed on behalf of the Board of Trustees of the Fund as
Trustees and not individually and that the obligations of this instrument are
not binding upon any of the Trustees or shareholders individually but are
binding only upon the assets and property of the Fund; provided, however, that
the Declaration of Trust of the Fund provides that the assets of a particular
Series of the Fund shall under no circumstances be charged with liabilities
attributable to any other Series of the Fund and that all persons extending
credit to, or contracting with or having any claim against, a particular Series
of the Fund shall look only to the assets of that particular Series for payment
of such credit, contract or claim.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Amended and Restated
Agreement to be executed in their names and on their behalf by and through their
duly authorized officers, as of the day and year first above written.
DEAN WITTER FUNDS
MONEY MARKET FUNDS
1. Dean Witter Liquid Asset Fund Inc.
2. Active Assets Money Trust
3. Dean Witter U.S. Government Money Market Trust
4. Active Assets Government Securities Trust
5. Dean Witter Tax-Free Daily Income Trust
6. Active Assets Tax-Free Trust
7. Dean Witter California Tax-Free Daily Income Trust
8. Dean Witter New York Municipal Money Market Trust
9. Active Assets California Tax-Free Trust
EQUITY FUNDS
10. Dean Witter American Value Fund
11. Dean Witter Mid-Cap Growth Fund
12. Dean Witter Dividend Growth Securities Inc.
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<PAGE>
13. Dean Witter Capital Growth Securities
14. Dean Witter Global Dividend Growth Securities
15. Dean Witter Income Builder Fund
16. Dean Witter Natural Resource Development Securities Inc.
17. Dean Witter Precious Metals and Minerals Trust
18. Dean Witter Developing Growth Securities Trust
19. Dean Witter Health Sciences Trust
20. Dean Witter Capital Appreciation Fund
21. Dean Witter Information Fund
22. Dean Witter Value-Added Market Series
23. Dean Witter World Wide Investment Trust
24. Dean Witter European Growth Fund Inc.
25. Dean Witter Pacific Growth Fund Inc.
26. Dean Witter International SmallCap Fund
27. Dean Witter Japan Fund
28. Dean Witter Utilities Fund
29. Dean Witter Global Utilities Fund
30. Dean Witter Special Value Fund
31. Dean Witter Financial Services Trust
32. Dean Witter Market Leader Trust
33. Dean Witter Managers' Select Fund
34. Dean Witter Fund of Funds
35. Dean Witter S&P 500 Index Fund
BALANCED FUNDS
36. Dean Witter Balanced Growth Fund
37. Dean Witter Balanced Income Trust
ASSET ALLOCATION FUNDS
38. Dean Witter Strategist Fund
39. Dean Witter Global Asset Allocation Fund
FIXED INCOME FUNDS
40. Dean Witter High Yield Securities Inc.
41. Dean Witter High Income Securities
42. Dean Witter Convertible Securities Trust
43. Dean Witter Intermediate Income Securities
44. Dean Witter Short-Term Bond Fund
45. Dean Witter World Wide Income Trust
46. Dean Witter Global Short-Term Income Fund Inc.
47. Dean Witter Diversified Income Trust
48. Dean Witter U.S. Government Securities Trust
49. Dean Witter Federal Securities Trust
50. Dean Witter Short-Term U.S. Treasury Trust
51. Dean Witter Intermediate Term U.S. Treasury Trust
52. Dean Witter Tax-Exempt Securities Trust
53. Dean Witter National Municipal Trust
55. Dean Witter Limited Term Municipal Trust
55. Dean Witter California Tax-Free Income Fund
56. Dean Witter New York Tax-Free Income Fund
57. Dean Witter Hawaii Municipal Trust
58. Dean Witter Multi-State Municipal Series Trust
59. Dean Witter Select Municipal Reinvestment Fund
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<PAGE>
SPECIAL PURPOSE FUNDS
60. Dean Witter Retirement Series
61. Dean Witter Variable Investment Series
62. Dean Witter Select Dimensions Investment Series
TCW/DW FUNDS
63. TCW/DW Core Equity Trust
64. TCW/DW North American Government Income Trust
65. TCW/DW Latin American Growth Fund
66. TCW/DW Income and Growth Fund
67. TCW/DW Small Cap Growth Fund
68. TCW/DW Balanced Fund
69. TCW/DW Total Return Trust
70. TCW/DW Global Telecom Trust
71. TCW/DW Strategic Income Trust
72. TCW/DW Mid-Cap Equity Trust
By: __________________________________
Barry Fink
Vice President and General Counsel
ATTEST:
_____________________________
Assistant Secretary
DEAN WITTER TRUST FSB
By: __________________________________
John Van Heuvelen
President
ATTEST:
_____________________________
Executive Vice President
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<PAGE>
EXHIBIT A
Dean Witter Trust FSB
Harborside Financial Center
Plaza Two
Jersey City, NJ 07311
Gentlemen:
The undersigned, (INSET NAME OF INVESTMENT COMPANY) a (Massachusetts
business trust/Maryland corporation) (the "Fund"), desires to employ and appoint
Dean Witter Trust FSB ("DWTFSB") to act as transfer agent for each series and
class of shares of the Fund, whether now or hereafter authorized or issued
("Shares"), dividend disbursing agent and shareholder servicing agent, registrar
and agent in connection with any accumulation, open-account or similar plan
provided to the holders of Shares, including without limitation any periodic
investment plan or periodic withdrawal plan.
The Fund hereby agrees that, in consideration for the payment by the Fund to
DWTFSB of fees as set out in the fee schedule attached hereto as Schedule A,
DWTFSB shall provide such services to the Fund pursuant to the terms and
conditions set forth in the Transfer Agency and Service Agreement annexed
hereto, as if the Fund was a signatory thereto.
Please indicate DWTFSB's acceptance of employment and appointment by the
Fund in the capacities set forth above by so indicating in the space provided
below.
Very truly yours,
(NAME OF FUND)
By: _________________________________
Barry Fink
Vice President and General Counsel
ACCEPTED AND AGREED TO:
DEAN WITTER TRUST FSB
By: __________________________________
Its: _________________________________
Date: ________________________________
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SCHEDULE A
Fund: Dean Witter Variable Investment Series
Fees: 1) Annual maintenance fee for each Portfolio of $500 per annum
per account.
(2) Out-of-pocket expenses in accordance with Section 2.2 of the
Agreement.
(3) Fees for additional services not set forth in this Agreement
shall be as negotiated between the parties.
f:\schedA\67
<PAGE>
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that WAYNE E. HEDIEN, whose signature
appears below, constitutes and appoints David M. Butowsky, Ronald Feiman and
Stuart Strauss, or any of them, his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and
agents, with full power of substitution among himself and each of the persons
appointed herein, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all
capacities, to sign any amendments to any registration statement of ANY OF THE
DEAN WITTER FUNDS SET FORTH ON SCHEDULE A ATTACHED HERETO, and to file the same,
with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, as fully to all intents and purposes as he
might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said
attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them, may lawfully do or cause to be
done by virtue hereof.
Dated: September 1, 1997
/s/ WAYNE E. HEDIEN
--------------------------------------
Wayne E. Hedien
97nyc12127
<PAGE>
SCHEDULE A
1. Active Assets Money Trust
2. Active Assets Tax-Free Trust
3. Active Assets Government Securities Trust
4. Active Assets California Tax-Free Trust
5. Dean Witter New York Municipal Money Market Trust
6. Dean Witter American Value Fund
7. Dean Witter Tax-Exempt Securities Trust
8. Dean Witter Tax-Free Daily Income Trust
9. Dean Witter Capital Growth Securities
10. Dean Witter U.S. Government Money Market Trust
11. Dean Witter Precious Metals and Minerals Trust
12. Dean Witter Developing Growth Securities Trust
13. Dean Witter World Wide Investment Trust
14. Dean Witter Value-Added Market Series
15. Dean Witter Utilities Fund
16. Dean Witter Strategist Fund
17. Dean Witter California Tax-Free Daily Income Trust
18. Dean Witter Convertible Securities Trust
19. Dean Witter Intermediate Income Securities
20. Dean Witter World Wide Income Trust
21. Dean Witter S&P 500 Index Fund
22. Dean Witter U.S. Government Securities Trust
23. Dean Witter Federal Securities Trust
24. Dean Witter Multi-State Municipal Series Trust
25. Dean Witter California Tax-Free Income Fund
26. Dean Witter New York Tax-Free Income Fund
27. Dean Witter Select Municipal Reinvestment Fund
28. Dean Witter Variable Investment Series
29. High Income Advantage Trust
30. High Income Advantage Trust II
31. High Income Advantage Trust III
32. InterCapital Insured Municipal Bond Trust
33. InterCapital Insured Municipal Trust
34. InterCapital Insured Municipal Income Trust
35. InterCapital Quality Municipal Investment Trust
36. InterCapital Quality Municipal Income Trust
37. Dean Witter Government Income Trust
38. Municipal Income Trust
39. Municipal Income Trust II
40. Municipal Income Trust III
41. Municipal Income Opportunities Trust
42. Municipal Income Opportunities Trust II
43. Municipal Income Opportunities Trust III
44. Municipal Premium Income Trust
45. Prime Income Trust
46. Dean Witter Short-Term U.S. Treasury Trust
47. Dean Witter Diversified Income Trust
48. InterCapital California Insured Municipal Income Trust
49. Dean Witter Health Sciences Trust
50. Dean Witter Global Dividend Growth Securities
51. InterCapital Quality Municipal Securities
<PAGE>
52. InterCapital California Quality Municipal Securities
53. InterCapital New York Quality Municipal Securities
54. Dean Witter Retirement Series
55. Dean Witter Limited Term Municipal Trust
56. Dean Witter Short-Term Bond Fund
57. Dean Witter Global Utilities Fund
58. InterCapital Insured Municipal Securities
59. InterCapital Insured California Municipal Securities
60. Dean Witter High Income Securities
61. Dean Witter National Municipal Trust
62. Dean Witter International SmallCap Fund
63. Dean Witter Mid-Cap Growth Fund
64. Dean Witter Select Dimensions Investment Series
65. Dean Witter Global Asset Allocation Fund
66. Dean Witter Balanced Growth Fund
67. Dean Witter Balanced Income Fund
68. Dean Witter Intermediate Term U.S. Treasury Trust
69. Dean Witter Hawaii Municipal Trust
70. Dean Witter Japan Fund
71. Dean Witter Capital Appreciation Fund
72. Dean Witter Information Fund
73. Dean Witter Fund of Funds
74. Dean Witter Special Value Fund
75. Dean Witter Income Builder Fund
76. Dean Witter Financial Services Trust
77. Dean Witter Market Leader Trust
78. Dean Witter Managers' Select Fund
79. Dean Witter Liquid Asset Fund Inc.
80. Dean Witter Natural Resource Development Securities Inc.
81. Dean Witter Dividend Growth Securities Inc.
82. Dean Witter European Growth Fund Inc.
83. Dean Witter Pacific Growth Fund Inc.
84. Dean Witter High Yield Securities Inc.
85. Dean Witter Global Short-Term Income Fund Inc.
86. InterCapital Income Securities Inc.
