<PAGE>
DEAN WITTER
FEDERAL SECURITIES TRUST
PROSPECTUS--DECEMBER 26, 1996
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DEAN WITTER FEDERAL SECURITIES TRUST (THE "FUND") IS AN OPEN-END DIVERSIFIED
MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANY WHOSE INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE IS TO EARN A HIGH LEVEL
OF CURRENT INCOME. THE FUND WILL SEEK TO ACHIEVE ITS INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE BY
INVESTING PRIMARILY IN DEBT SECURITIES ISSUED BY THE U.S. GOVERNMENT, ITS
AGENCIES OR INSTRUMENTALITIES, INCLUDING MORTGAGE-BACKED SECURITIES, AND BY
WRITING COVERED CALL AND PUT OPTIONS AGAINST SUCH SECURITIES. THE FUND MAY ALSO
PURCHASE OPTIONS ON SUCH SECURITIES TO EFFECT CLOSING TRANSACTIONS. IN ADDITION,
TO HEDGE THE FUND'S PORTFOLIO OF SECURITIES AGAINST CHANGES IN PREVAILING
INTEREST RATES, THE FUND MAY PURCHASE PUT OPTIONS ON U.S. GOVERNMENT SECURITIES
AND ENGAGE IN TRANSACTIONS INVOLVING INTEREST RATE FUTURES CONTRACTS AND OPTIONS
ON SUCH CONTRACTS. SHARES OF THE FUND ARE NOT ISSUED, INSURED OR GUARANTEED, AS
TO VALUE OR YIELD, BY THE U.S. GOVERNMENT, ITS AGENCIES OR INSTRUMENTALITIES.
Shares of the Fund are continuously offered at net asset value without the
imposition of a sales charge. However, redemptions and/or repurchases are
subject in most cases to a contingent deferred sales charge, scaled down from 5%
to 1% of the amount redeemed, if made within six years of purchase, which charge
will be paid to the Fund's Distributor, Dean Witter Distributors Inc. (See
"Redemptions and Repurchases--Contingent Deferred Sales Charge.") In addition,
the Fund pays the Distributor a Rule 12b-1 distribution fee pursuant to a Plan
of Distribution at the annual rate of 0.85% of the lesser of (i) the average
daily aggregate net sales or (ii) the average daily net assets of the Fund. (See
"Purchase of Fund Shares--Plan of Distribution.")
This Prospectus sets forth concisely the information you should know before
investing in 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 December 26, 1996, which has been filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, and which is available at no charge upon
request of the Fund at the address or telephone numbers listed on this page. The
Statement of Additional Information is incorporated herein by reference.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
TABLE OF CONTENTS
<S> <C>
Prospectus Summary................................ 2
Summary of Fund Expenses.......................... 3
Financial Highlights.............................. 4
The Fund and its Management....................... 5
Investment Objective and Policies................. 5
Risk Considerations............................. 9
Investment Restrictions........................... 12
Purchase of Fund Shares........................... 12
Shareholder Services.............................. 14
Redemptions and Repurchases....................... 16
Dividends, Distributions and Taxes................ 17
Performance Information........................... 18
Additional Information............................ 19
</TABLE>
SHARES OF THE FUND ARE NOT DEPOSITS OR OBLIGATIONS OF, OR GUARANTEED OR ENDORSED
BY, ANY BANK, AND THE SHARES ARE NOT FEDERALLY INSURED BY THE FEDERAL DEPOSIT
INSURANCE CORPORATION, THE FEDERAL RESERVE BOARD, OR ANY OTHER AGENCY.
DEAN WITTER
FEDERAL SECURITIES TRUST
TWO WORLD TRADE CENTER
NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10048
(212) 392-2550 or
(800) 869-NEWS (toll-free)
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THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION NOR HAS THE SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE
ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A
CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
DEAN WITTER DISTRIBUTORS INC., DISTRIBUTOR
<PAGE>
PROSPECTUS SUMMARY
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<TABLE>
<S> <C>
THE FUND The Fund is organized as a Trust, commonly known as a Massachusetts business trust, and
is an open-end diversified management investment company which invests principally in
U.S. Government securities.
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SHARES OFFERED Shares of beneficial interest with $.01 par value (see page 19).
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OFFERING At net asset value without sales charge (see page 12). Shares redeemed within six years
PRICE of purchase are subject to a contingent deferred sales charge under most circumstances
(see page 16).
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MINIMUM Minimum initial investment, $1,000 ($100 if the account is opened through
PURCHASE EasyInvest-SM-); minimum subsequent investments, $100 (see page 12).
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INVESTMENT The investment objective of the Fund is to earn a high level of current income.
OBJECTIVE
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INVESTMENT Dean Witter InterCapital Inc. ("InterCapital"), the Investment Manager of the Fund, and
MANAGER its wholly-owned subsidiary, Dean Witter Services Company, Inc., serve in various
investment management, advisory, management and administrative capacities to 100
investment companies and other portfolios with assets of approximately $91 billion at
November 30, 1996 (see page 5).
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MANAGEMENT The Investment Manager receives a monthly fee at the annual rate of 0.55% of the Fund's
FEE daily net assets not exceeding $1 billion, scaled down at various asset levels to 0.35%
of the Fund's daily net assets on assets exceeding $12.5 billion (see page 5).
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DIVIDENDS AND Dividends from net investment income are declared daily and paid monthly. Capital gains
DISTRIBUTIONS distributions are paid at least annually. Dividends and capital gains distributions are
automatically reinvested in additional shares at net asset value unless the shareholder
elects to receive cash (see pages 14 and 17).
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DISTRIBUTOR Dean Witter Distributors Inc. (the "Distributor"). The Distributor receives from the
AND Fund a distribution fee accrued daily and paid monthly at the rate of 0.85% per annum of
DISTRIBUTION the lesser of (i) the Fund's average daily aggregate net sales or (ii) the Fund's
FEE average daily net assets. This fee compensates the Distributor for the services provided
in distributing shares of the Fund and for sales-related expenses. The Distributor also
receives the proceeds of any contingent deferred sales charges (see pages 13 and 16).
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
REDEMPTION-- Shares are redeemable by the shareholder at net asset value. An account may be
CONTINGENT involuntarily redeemed if the total value of the account is less than $100 or, if the
DEFERRED SALES account was opened through EasyInvest-SM-, if after twelve months the shareholder has
CHARGE invested less than $1,000 in the account. Although no commission or sales load is
imposed upon the purchase of shares, a contingent deferred sales charge (scaled down
from 5% to 1%) is imposed on any redemption of shares if after such redemption the
aggregate current value of an account with the Fund falls below the aggregate amount of
the investor's purchase payments made during the six years preceding the redemption.
However, there is no charge imposed on redemption of shares purchased through
reinvestment of dividends or distributions (see pages 16-17).
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SPECIAL RISK The net asset value of the Fund's shares will fluctuate with changes in the market value
CONSIDERATIONS of its portfolio securities. The Fund's yield will also vary based on the yield of the
Fund's portfolio securities. The Fund may purchase and write options on debt
instruments, in both exchange-listed and over-the-counter transactions, and engage in
transactions involving futures contracts and options thereon. In addition, the Fund may
borrow money and thereby leverage its securities investments (in an amount up to 25% of
the Fund's total assets) and purchase securities on a when-issued and delayed delivery
and firm commitment basis. These investments may involve special risks (see pages 5-11).
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
THE ABOVE IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY THE DETAILED INFORMATION APPEARING
ELSEWHERE
IN THIS PROSPECTUS AND IN THE STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
2
<PAGE>
SUMMARY OF FUND EXPENSES
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The following table illustrates all expenses and fees that a shareholder of the
Fund will incur. The expenses and fees set forth in the table are for the fiscal
year ended October 31, 1996.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
SHAREHOLDER TRANSACTION EXPENSES
<S> <C>
Maximum Sales Charge Imposed on Purchases......... None
Maximum Sales Charge Imposed on Reinvested
Dividends........................................ None
Deferred Sales Charge
(as a percentage of the lesser of original
purchase price or redemption proceeds)......... 5.0%
</TABLE>
A deferred sales charge is imposed at the following declining rates:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
YEAR SINCE PURCHASE PAYMENT MADE PERCENTAGE
- -------------------------------------------------- -----------
<S> <C>
First............................................. 5.0%
Second............................................ 4.0%
Third............................................. 3.0%
Fourth............................................ 2.0%
Fifth............................................. 2.0%
Sixth............................................. 1.0%
Seventh and thereafter............................ None
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
Redemption Fees................................... None
Exchange Fees..................................... None
ANNUAL FUND OPERATING EXPENSES (AS A PERCENTAGE OF
AVERAGE NET ASSETS)
Management Fees................................... 0.55%
12b-1 Fees*....................................... 0.85%
Other Expenses.................................... 0.13%
Total Fund Operating Expenses..................... 1.53%
<FN>
- ------------------------
* A portion of the 12b-1 fee equal to 0.20% of the Fund's average daily net
assets is characterized as a service fee within the meaning of National
Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. ("NASD") guidelines (see "Purchase of
Fund Shares").
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
10
EXAMPLE 1 YEAR 3 YEARS 5 YEARS YEARS
- -------------------------------------------------- ------- ------- ------- -------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
You would pay the following expenses on a $1,000
investment, assuming (1) 5% annual return and (2)
redemption at the end of each time period:....... $66 $78 $103 $182
You would pay the following expenses on the same
investment, assuming no redemption:.............. $16 $48 $83 $182
</TABLE>
THE ABOVE EXAMPLE SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED A REPRESENTATION OF PAST OR FUTURE
EXPENSES OR PERFORMANCE. ACTUAL EXPENSES OF THE FUND MAY BE GREATER OR LESS THAN
THOSE SHOWN.
The purpose of this table is to assist the investor in understanding the various
costs and expenses that an investor in the Fund will bear directly or
indirectly. For a more complete description of these costs and expenses, see
"The Fund and its Management," "Plan of Distribution" and "Redemptions and
Repurchases."
Long-term shareholders of the Fund may pay more in sales charges and
distribution fees than the economic equivalent of the maximum front-end sales
charges permitted by the NASD.
3
<PAGE>
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
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The following ratios and per share data for a share of beneficial interest
outstanding throughout each period 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 about the performance of the Fund is contained
in the Fund's Annual Report to Shareholders, which may be obtained without
charge upon request to the Fund.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
FOR THE
PERIOD
MARCH 31,
1987*
FOR THE YEAR ENDED OCTOBER 31 THROUGH
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- OCTOBER
1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 31, 1987
---------- --------- --------- --------- ---------- --------- --------- ---------- --------- ----------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
PER SHARE
OPERATING
PERFORMANCE:
Net asset value,
beginning of
period.......... $9.49 $8.74 $10.03 $9.57 $9.46 $8.87 $9.27 $9.13 $9.27 $10.00
---------- --------- --------- --------- ---------- --------- --------- ---------- --------- ----------
Net investment
income.......... 0.59 0.59 0.60 0.65 0.68 0.72 0.72 0.71 0.74 0.43
Net realized and
unrealized gain
(loss).......... (0.25) 0.75 (1.28) 0.46 0.11 0.59 (0.40) 0.34 0.08 (0.58)
---------- --------- --------- --------- ---------- --------- --------- ---------- --------- ----------
Total from
investment
operations...... 0.34 1.34 (0.68) 1.11 0.79 1.31 0.32 1.05 0.82 (0.15)
---------- --------- --------- --------- ---------- --------- --------- ---------- --------- ----------
Less dividends
and
distributions
from:
Net investment
income........ (0.58) (0.59) (0.61) (0.65) (0.68) (0.72) (0.72) (0.71) (0.74) (0.43)
Net realized
gain.......... -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- (0.15)
Paid-in-capital... -- -- -- -- -- -- -- (0.20) (0.22) --
---------- --------- --------- --------- ---------- --------- --------- ---------- --------- ----------
Total dividends
and
distributions... (0.58) (0.59) (0.61) (0.65) (0.68) (0.72) (0.72) (0.91) (0.96) (0.58)
---------- --------- --------- --------- ---------- --------- --------- ---------- --------- ----------
Net asset value,
end of period... $9.25 $9.49 $8.74 $10.03 $9.57 $9.46 $8.87 $9.27 $9.13 $9.27
---------- --------- --------- --------- ---------- --------- --------- ---------- --------- ----------
---------- --------- --------- --------- ---------- --------- --------- ---------- --------- ----------
TOTAL INVESTMENT
RETURN +........ 3.79% 15.89% (6.92)% 12.03% 8.56% 15.26% 3.64% 12.32% 9.21% (1.47)%(1)
RATIOS TO AVERAGE
NET ASSETS:
Expenses......... 1.53% 1.52% 1.52% 1.50% 1.48% 1.50% 1.54% 1.47% 1.50% 1.54%(2)
Net investment
income.......... 6.31% 6.53% 6.56% 6.59% 7.18% 7.79% 7.92% 7.90% 8.04% 7.76%(2)
SUPPLEMENTAL
DATA:
Net assets, end
of period, in
millions........ $720 $829 $841 $1,128 $1,171 $1,252 $1,397 $1,824 $2,122 $2,067
Portfolio
turnover rate... 10% 7% 18% 7% 6% --% ++ 5% 19% 44% 32%(1)
</TABLE>
- ------------------------------
+ DOES NOT REFLECT THE DEDUCTION OF SALES CHARGE. CALCULATED BASED ON THE NET
ASSET VALUE AS OF THE LAST BUSINESS DAY OF THE PERIOD.
++ LESS THAN 0.5%.
(1) NOT ANNUALIZED.
(2) ANNUALIZED.
4
<PAGE>
THE FUND AND ITS MANAGEMENT
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Dean Witter Federal Securities Trust (the "Fund") is an open-end diversified
management investment company. The Fund is a trust of the type commonly known as
a "Massachusetts business trust" and was organized under the laws of
Massachusetts on November 20, 1986.
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 Dean Witter, Discover & Co. ("DWDC"), a
balanced financial services organization providing a broad range of nationally
marketed credit and investment products.
InterCapital and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Dean Witter Services Company
Inc., serve in various investment management, advisory, management and
administrative capacities to 100 investment companies, thirty of which are
listed on the New York Stock Exchange, with combined total assets of
approximately $3.1 billion at November 30, 1996. The Investment Manager also
manages portfolios of pension plans, other institutions and individuals which
aggregated approximately $87.9 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.
The Fund's Trustees review the various services provided by or under the
direction of the Investment Manager 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 for expenses of the Fund assumed by the Investment Manager, the Fund pays
the Investment Manager monthly compensation calculated daily by applying the
following annual rates to the Fund's net assets determined as of the close of
each business day: 0.55% of the portion of the Fund's daily net assets not
exceeding $1 billion, scaled down at various asset levels to 0.35% of the
portion of daily net assets exceeding $12.5 billion. For the fiscal year ended
October 31, 1996, the Fund accrued total compensation to the Investment Manager
amounting to 0.55% of the Fund's average daily net assets and the Fund's total
expenses amounted to 1.53% of the Fund's average daily net assets.
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE AND POLICIES
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The investment objective of the Fund is to earn a high level of current income.
There can be no assurance that the investment objective will be achieved. This
objective is fundamental and cannot be changed without shareholder approval. The
following policies may be changed by the Board of Trustees without shareholder
approval.
The Fund will seek to achieve its objective primarily by investing at least
65% of its total assets in U.S. Government securities (including such securities
purchased on a when-issued, delayed delivery or firm commitment basis). 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.
5
<PAGE>
The Fund is not limited as to the maturities of the U.S. Government
securities in which it may invest. For a discussion of the risks of investing in
such securities (including such securities purchased on a when-issued, delayed
delivery or firm commitment basis and zero coupon securities), see "Risk
Considerations" below.
MORTGAGE-BACKED SECURITIES. The Fund may invest in fixed-rate and adjustable
rate U.S. mortgage-backed securities ("Mortgage-Backed Securities"). There are
currently three basic types of U.S. Mortgage-Backed Securities: (i) those issued
or guaranteed by the U.S. Government or one of its agencies or
instrumentalities, such as GNMA, FNMA and FHLMC (securities issued by GNMA, but
not those issued by FNMA or FHLMC, are backed by the "full faith and credit" of
the United States); (ii) those issued by private issuers that represent an
interest in or are collateralized by Mortgage-Backed Securities issued or
guaranteed by the U.S. Government or one of its agencies or instrumentalities;
and (iii) those issued by private issuers that represent an interest in or are
collateralized by whole mortgage loans or Mortgage-Backed Securities without a
government guarantee but usually having some form of private credit enhancement.
The Fund will invest in mortgage pass-through securities representing
participation interests in pools of residential mortgage loans originated by
U.S. governmental or private lenders such as banks, broker-dealers and financing
corporations and guaranteed, to the extent provided in such securities, by the
U.S. Government or one of its agencies or instrumentalities. Such securities,
which are ownership interests in the underlying mortgage loans, differ from
conventional debt securities, which provide for periodic payment of interest in
fixed amounts (usually semi-annually) and principal payments at maturity or on
specified call dates. Mortgage pass-through securities provide for monthly
payments that are a "pass-through" of the monthly interest and principal
payments (including any prepayments) made by the individual borrowers on the
pooled mortgage loans, net of any fees paid to the guarantor of such securities
and the servicer of the underlying mortgage loans.
The guaranteed mortgage pass-through securities in which the Fund may invest
include those issued or guaranteed by GNMA, FNMA and FHLMC. GNMA certificates
are direct obligations of the U.S. Government and, as such, are backed by the
"full faith and credit" of the United States. FNMA and FHLMC certificates are
not backed by the full faith and credit of the United States but, as noted
above, the issuing agency or instrumentality has the right to borrow, to meet
its obligations, from an existing line of credit with the U.S. Treasury. The
U.S. Treasury has no legal obligation to provide such line of credit and may
choose not to do so.
Certificates for Mortgage-Backed Securities evidence an interest in a
specific pool of mortgages. These certificates are, in most cases, "modified
pass-through" instruments, wherein the issuing agency guarantees the payment of
principal and interest on mortgages underlying the certificates, whether or not
such amounts are collected by the issuer on the underlying mortgages.
ADJUSTABLE RATE MORTGAGE SECURITIES. The Fund may also invest in adjustable
rate mortgage securities ("ARMs"), which are pass-through mortgage securities
collateralized by mortgages with adjustable rather than fixed rates. ARMs
eligible for inclusion in a mortgage pool generally provide for a fixed initial
mortgage interest rate for either the first three, six, twelve or thirteen
scheduled monthly payments. Thereafter, the interest rates are subject to
periodic adjustment based on changes to a designated benchmark index.
ARMs contain maximum and minimum rates beyond which the mortgage interest
rate may not vary over the lifetime of the security. In addition, certain ARMs
provide for additional limitations on the maximum amount by which the mortgage
interest rate may adjust for any single adjustment period. Alternatively,
certain ARMs contain limitations on changes in the required monthly payment. In
the event that a monthly payment is not sufficient to pay the interest accruing
on an ARM, any such excess interest is added to the principal balance of the
mortgage loan, which is repaid through future monthly payments. If the monthly
payment for such an instrument exceeds the sum of the interest accrued at the
applicable mortgage interest rate and the principal payment required at such
point to amortize the outstanding principal balance over the remaining term of
the loan, the excess is utilized to reduce the then outstanding principal
balance of the ARM.
PRIVATE MORTGAGE PASS-THROUGH SECURITIES. The Fund may invest in private
mortgage pass-through securities, which are structured similarly to the GNMA,
FNMA and FHLMC mortgage pass-through securities and are issued by originators of
and investors in mortgage loans, including savings and loan associations,
mortgage banks, commercial banks, investment banks and special purpose
subsidiaries of the foregoing. These securities usually are backed by a pool of
conventional fixed rate or adjustable rate mortgage loans. Since private
mortgage pass-through securities typically are not guaranteed by an entity
having the credit status of GNMA, FNMA and FHLMC, such securities generally are
structured with one or more types of credit enhancement.
COLLATERALIZED MORTGAGE OBLIGATIONS AND MULTICLASS PASS-THROUGH SECURITIES. The
Fund may invest in collateralized mortgage obligations or "CMOs," which are debt
obligations collateralized by mortgage loans or mortgage pass-through
securities. Typically, CMOs are collateralized by GNMA, FNMA or FHLMC
certificates, but also may be collateralized by whole loans or private mortgage
pass-through securities (such collateral collectively hereinafter referred to as
"Mortgage Assets"). Multiclass pass-through securities are equity interests in a
trust composed of Mortgage Assets. Payments of principal of and interest
6
<PAGE>
on the Mortgage Assets, and any reinvestment income thereon, provide the funds
to pay debt service on the CMOs or make scheduled distributions on the
multiclass pass-through securities. CMOs may be issued by agencies or
instrumentalities of the U.S. government, or by private originators of, or
investors in, mortgage loans, including savings and loan associations, mortgage
banks, commercial banks, investment banks and special purpose subsidiaries of
the foregoing. The issuer of a series of CMOs may elect to be treated as a Real
Estate Mortgage Investment Conduit ("REMIC"). REMICs include governmental and/or
private entities that issue a fixed pool of mortgages secured by an interest in
real property. REMICs are similar to CMOs in that they issue multiple classes of
securities but, unlike CMOs, which are required to be structured as debt
securities, REMICs may be structured as indirect ownership interests in the
underlying assets of the REMICs themselves. However, there are no effects on the
Fund from investing in CMOs issued by entities that have elected to be treated
as REMICs, and all future references to CMOs shall also be deemed to include
REMICs. In addition, in reliance upon an interpretation by the staff of the
Securities and Exchange Commission, the Fund may invest without limitation in
CMOs and other Mortgage-Backed Securities which are not by definition excluded
from the provisions of the Act, and which have obtained exemptive orders from
such provisions from the Securities and Exchange Commission.
In a CMO, a series of bonds or certificates is issued in multiple classes.
Each class of CMOs, often referred to as a "tranche," is issued at a specific
fixed or floating coupon rate and has a stated maturity or final distribution
date. Principal prepayments on the Mortgage Assets may cause the CMOs to be
retired substantially earlier than their stated maturities or final distribution
dates. Interest is paid or accrues on all classes of the CMOs on a monthly,
quarterly or semi-annual basis. Certain CMOs may have variable or floating
interest rates and others may be stripped (securities which provide only the
principal or interest feature of the underlying security).
The principal of and interest on the Mortgage Assets may be allocated among
the several classes of a CMO series in a number of different ways. Generally,
the purpose of the allocation of the cash flow of a CMO to the various classes
is to obtain a more predictable cash flow to the individual tranches than exists
with the underlying collateral of the CMO. As a general rule, the more
predictable the cash flow is on a CMO tranche, the lower the anticipated yield
will be on that tranche at the time of issuance relative to prevailing market
yields on Mortgage-Backed Securities. As part of the process of creating more
predictable cash flows on most of the tranches in a series of CMOs, one or more
tranches generally must be created that absorb most of the volatility in the
cash flows on the underlying mortgage loans. The yields on these tranches are
generally higher than prevailing market yields on Mortgage-Backed Securities
with similar maturities. As a result of the uncertainty of the cash flows of
these tranches, the market prices of and yield on these tranches generally are
more volatile.
The Fund also may invest in, among other things, parallel pay CMOs and
Planned Amortization Class CMOs ("PAC Bonds"). Parallel pay CMOs are structured
to provide payments of principal on each payment date to more than one class.
These simultaneous payments are taken into account in calculating the stated
maturity date or final distribution date of each class which, as with other CMO
structures, must be retired by its stated maturity date or final distribution
date but may be retired earlier. PAC Bonds generally require payments of a
specified amount of principal on each payment date. PAC Bonds always are
parallel pay CMOs with the required principal payment on such securities having
the highest priority after interest has been paid to all classes.
TYPES OF CREDIT ENHANCEMENT. Mortgage-Backed Securities are often backed by a
pool of assets representing the obligations of a number of different parties. To
lessen the effect of failures by obligors on underlying assets to make payments,
those securities may contain elements of credit support, which fall into two
categories: (i) liquidity protection and (ii) protection against losses
resulting from ultimate default by an obligor on the underlying assets.
Liquidity protection refers to the provision of advances, generally by the
entity administering the pool of assets, to ensure that the receipt of payments
on the underlying pool occurs in a timely fashion. Protection against losses
resulting from default ensures ultimate payment of the obligations on at least a
portion of the assets in the pool. This protection may be provided through
guarantees, insurance policies or letters of credit obtained by the issuer or
sponsor from third parties, through various means of structuring the transaction
or through a combination of such approaches. The degree of credit support
provided for each issue is generally based on historical information respecting
the level of credit risk associated with the underlying assets. Delinquencies or
losses in excess of those anticipated could adversely affect the return on an
investment in a security. The Fund will not pay any fees for credit support,
although the existence of credit support may increase the price of a security.
For a discussion of the risks of investing in Mortgage-Backed Securities,
see "Risk Considerations" below.
To hedge against adverse changes in the prices of securities it anticipates
purchasing for its portfolio, the Fund may also write covered call and put
options against U.S. Government securities and cash held in its portfolio and
purchase options of the same or similar series to effect closing transactions.
In addition, the Fund may hedge portions of its portfolio securities against
potential changes in prevailing interest rates by purchasing put options on U.S.
Government securities and engaging in transactions involving interest rate
futures contracts and options on
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such contracts. See "Options and Futures Transactions" below.
While the Fund will be investing primarily in U.S. Government securities, it
may invest up to 35% of its total assets in options on U.S. Government
securities; options on futures contracts and futures contracts; repurchase
agreements; reverse repurchase agreements and dollar rolls (see "Risk
Considerations" below); money market instruments, including 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); certificates of deposit; bankers' acceptances and other
obligations of domestic banks or domestic branches of foreign banks, in each
case having total assets of at least $500 million; and obligations of foreign
governments or their respective instrumentalities or agencies. Moreover, and
notwithstanding any of the above, the Fund may invest in such instruments
without limitation, on a temporary basis, when market conditions dictate a
"defensive" investment strategy. The Fund may also borrow money for the purpose
of leveraging its investments and lend its portfolio securities, as discussed
under "Risk Considerations" below.
OPTIONS AND FUTURES TRANSACTIONS
OPTIONS. The Fund is permitted to enter into call and put options on U.S.
Treasury notes, bonds and bills which are listed on Exchanges and written in
over-the-counter transactions ("OTC options"). Listed options are issued by the
Options Clearing Corporation ("OCC"). Ownership of a listed call option gives
the Fund the right to buy from the OCC the underlying security covered by the
option at the stated exercise price (the price per unit of the underlying
security) by filing an exercise notice prior to the expiration date of the
option. The writer (seller) of the option would then have the obligation to sell
to the OCC the underlying security at that exercise price prior to the
expiration date of the option, regardless of its then current market price.
Ownership of a listed put option would give the Fund the right to sell the
underlying security to the OCC at the stated exercise price.
OTC OPTIONS. OTC options are purchased from or sold (written) to dealers or
financial institutions which have entered into direct agreements with the Fund.
With OTC options, such variables as expiration date, exercise price and premium
will be agreed upon between the Fund and the transacting dealer, without the
intermediation of a third party such as the OCC. The Fund will engage in OTC
option transactions only with member banks of the Federal Reserve System or
primary U.S. Government securities dealers 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 Fund is permitted to write covered call options on
U.S. Government securities only, without limit, in order to aid it in achieving
its investment objective. As a writer of a call option, the Fund has the
obligation, upon notice of exercise of the option, to deliver the security
underlying the option (certain listed call options written by the Fund will be
exercisable by the purchaser only on a specific date). See "Options and Futures
Transactions-- Covered Call Writing" in the Statement of Additional Information.
COVERED PUT WRITING. As a writer of covered put options, the Fund 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. The
Fund will write put options for two purposes: (1) to receive the premiums paid
by purchasers; and (2) when the Investment Manager wishes to purchase the
security underlying the option at a price lower than its current market price,
in which case it will write the covered put at an exercise price reflecting the
lower purchase price sought. The aggregate value of the obligations underlying
the puts determined as of the date the options are sold will not exceed 50% of
the Fund's net assets. See "Options and Futures Transactions--Covered Put
Writing" in the Statement of Additional Information.
PURCHASING CALL AND PUT OPTIONS. The Fund may invest up to 10% of its total
assets in the purchase of put and call options on U.S. Government securities.
The Fund may purchase call options only in order to close out a covered call
position. The Fund may purchase put options on U.S. Government 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. The Fund 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 Fund's ability
to purchase call and put options.
FUTURES CONTRACTS. The Fund may also purchase and sell interest rate futures
contracts ("futures contracts") that are traded on U.S. commodity exchanges on
such underlying securities as U.S. Treasury bonds, notes and bills and GNMA
certificates. As a futures contract purchaser, the Fund incurs an obligation to
take delivery of a specified amount of the obligation underlying the contract at
a specified time in the future for a specified price. As a seller of a futures
contract, the Fund incurs an obligation to deliver the specified amount of the
underlying obligation at a specified time in return for an agreed upon price.
The Fund will purchase or sell futures contracts only for the purpose of hedging
its portfolio (or anticipated portfolio) securities against changes in
prevailing interest rates. The Fund may also purchase and write call and put
options on futures contracts which are traded on an Exchange and enter into
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closing transactions with respect to such options to terminate an existing
position. See "Options and Futures Transactions--Futures Contracts" and "Options
on Futures Contracts" in the Statement of Additional Information.
For a discussion of the risks of options and futures transactions, see "Risk
Considerations" below and "Options and Futures Transactions" in the Statement of
Additional Information.
RISK CONSIDERATIONS
The net asset value of the Fund's shares will fluctuate with changes in the
market value of its portfolio securities. The Fund's yield will also vary based
on the yield of the Fund's portfolio securities. Neither the value nor the yield
of the U.S. Government securities invested in by the Fund (or the value or yield
of the shares of the Fund) is guaranteed by the U.S. Government. Such values and
yield will fluctuate with changes in prevailing interest rates and other
factors.
Generally, as prevailing interest rates rise, the value of the U.S.
Government securities held by the Fund, and, concomitantly, the net asset value
of the Fund'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 debt securities with
shorter maturities. As noted above, the Fund is not limited as to the maturities
of the U.S. Government securities in which it may invest.
RISKS OF MORTGAGE-BACKED SECURITIES. Mortgage-Backed Securities have certain
different characteristics than traditional debt securities. Among the major
differences are that interest and principal payments are made more frequently,
usually monthly, and that principal may be prepaid at any time because the
underlying mortgage loans or other assets generally may be prepaid at any time.
As a result, if the Fund purchases such a security at a premium, a prepayment
rate that is faster than expected may reduce yield to maturity, while a
prepayment rate that is slower than expected may have the opposite effect of
increasing yield to maturity. Alternatively, if the Fund purchases these
securities at a discount, faster than expected prepayments will increase, while
slower than expected prepayments may reduce, yield to maturity.
Mortgage-Backed Securities, like all fixed-income securities, generally
decrease in value as a result of increases in interest rates. In addition,
although generally the value of fixed-income securities increases during periods
of falling interest rates, Mortgage-Backed Securities may benefit less than
other fixed-income securities from declining interest rates because of the risk
of prepayments.
The average life of Mortgage-Backed Securities varies with the maturities of
the underlying mortgage instruments, which may be up to thirty years but which
may include mortgage instruments with maturities of fifteen years, adjustable
rate mortgage instruments, variable rate mortgage instruments, graduated rate
mortgage instruments and/or other types of mortgage instruments. The assumed
average life of mortgages backing the majority of GNMA and FNMA certificates is
twelve years, and of FHLMC certificates is ten 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. As
prepayment rates vary widely, it is not possible to accurately predict the
average life of a particular pool.
Although the extent of prepayments on a pool of mortgage loans depends on
various factors, including the prevailing level of interest rates, general
economic conditions, the location and age of the mortgage and other social and
demographic conditions, as a general rule prepayments on fixed rate mortgage
loans will increase during a period of falling interest rates and decrease
during a period of rising interest rates. If the Fund has purchased securities
backed by pools containing mortgages whose yields exceed the prevailing interest
rate, any premium paid for such securities may be lost. As a result, the net
asset value of shares of the Fund and the Fund's ability to achieve its
investment objective may be adversely affected by mortgage prepayments. Amounts
available for reinvestment by the Fund are likely to be greater during a period
of declining interest rates and, as a result, likely to be reinvested at lower
interest rates than during a period of rising interest rates.
There are certain risks associated specifically with CMOs. CMOs issued by
private entities are not U.S. Government securities and are not guaranteed by
any government agency, although the securities underlying a CMO may be subject
to a guarantee. Therefore, if the collateral securing the CMO, as well as any
third party credit support or guarantees, is insufficient to make payment, the
holder could sustain a loss. However, the Fund will invest in CMOs issued by
private entities only if the CMOs are rated Aaa by Moody's or AAA by S&P, or, if
unrated, such CMOs are determined to be of comparable quality to the permitted
rated investments. Also, a number of different factors, including the extent of
prepayment of principal of the Mortgage Assets, affect the availability of cash
for principal payments by the CMO issuer on any payment date and, accordingly,
affect the timing of principal payments on each CMO class.
RISKS OF OPTIONS AND FUTURES TRANSACTIONS. The Fund may close out its position
as writer of an option only if a liquid secondary market exists for options 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 may 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.
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The extent to which the Fund may enter into transactions involving options
and futures contracts may be limited by the Internal Revenue Code's requirements
for qualification as a regulated investment company and the Fund's intention to
qualify as such. See "Dividends, Distributions and Taxes."
While the futures contracts and options transactions to be engaged in by the
Fund for the purpose of hedging the Fund's portfolio securities are not
speculative in nature, there are risks inherent in the use of such instruments.
One such risk is that the Investment Manager could be incorrect in its
expectations as to the direction or extent of various interest rate movements or
the time span within which the movements take place. For example, if the Fund
sold futures contracts for the sale of securities in anticipation of an increase
in interest rates, and then interest rates went down instead, causing bond
prices to rise, the Fund 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 subject to futures
contracts (and thereby the futures contract prices) may correlate imperfectly
with the behavior of the cash prices of the Fund's portfolio securities. See the
Statement of Additional Information for further discussion of such risks.
REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS. The Fund may enter into repurchase agreements, which may
be viewed as a type of secured lending by the Fund, and which typically involve
the acquisition by the Fund of debt securities from a selling financial
institution such as a bank, savings and loan association or broker-dealer. The
agreement provides that the Fund will sell back to the institution, and that the
institution will repurchase, the underlying security at a specified price and at
a fixed time in the future, usually not more than seven days from the date of
purchase. While repurchase agreements involve certain risks not associated with
direct investments in debt securities, including the risks of default or
bankruptcy of the selling financial institution, the Fund follows procedures
designed to minimize those risks. These procedures include effecting repurchase
transactions only with large, well-capitalized and well-established financial
institutions whose financial condition will be continually monitored by the
Investment Manager subject to procedures established by the Board of Trustees of
the Fund. In addition, the value of the collateral underlying the repurchase
agreement will be at least equal to the repurchase price, including any accrued
interest earned on the repurchase agreement. In the event of a default or
bankruptcy by a selling financial institution, the Fund will seek to liquidate
such collateral. However, the exercising of the Fund's right to liquidate such
collateral could involve certain costs or delays and, to the extent that
proceeds from any sale upon a default of the obligation to repurchase were less
than the repurchase price, the Fund could suffer a loss. The Fund may not invest
in repurchase agreements that do not mature within seven days if any such
investment, together with any other illiquid assets held by the Fund, amounts to
more than 10% of its total assets.
LEVERAGING. The Fund may borrow money, but only from a bank and in an amount up
to 25% of the Fund's total assets taken at the lower of market value or cost,
not including the amount borrowed. When the Fund borrows it will be because it
seeks additional income by leveraging its investments through purchasing
securities with the borrowed funds. The Fund 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"). The investment policy provides that the Fund may
not purchase or sell a security on margin. Borrowings for leveraging will be
subject to current margin requirements of the Federal Reserve Board and where
necessary the Fund may use any or all of its securities as collateral for such
borrowings. Any investment gains made with the additional monies in excess of
interest paid will cause the net asset value of the Fund's shares 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 Fund, net
asset value will decrease to a greater extent than would otherwise be the case.
This is the speculative factor involved in leverage. If, due to market
fluctuations or other reasons, the value of the Fund's assets (including the
proceeds of borrowings) becomes at any time less than three times the amount of
any outstanding bank debt, the Fund, within three business days, will reduce its
bank debt to the extent necessary to meet the required 300% asset coverage. In
doing this, the Fund may have to sell a portion of its investments at a time
when it may be disadvantageous to do so.
ZERO COUPON SECURITIES. A portion of the fixed-income securities purchased by
the Fund 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 the Fund 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 the Fund) of a zero coupon security accrue a
portion of the discount at which the security was purchased
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as income each year even though the Fund receives no interest payments in cash
on the security during the year.
WHEN-ISSUED AND DELAYED DELIVERY SECURITIES AND FIRM COMMITMENTS. From time to
time, in the ordinary course of business, the Fund may purchase U.S. Government
securities on a when-issued or delayed delivery basis or may purchase or sell
U.S. Government securities on a firm 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.
There is no overall limit on the percentage of the Fund's assets which may be
committed to the purchase of securities on a when-issued, delayed delivery or
forward commitment basis. An increase in the percentage of the Fund's assets
committed to the purchase of securities on a when-issued, delayed delivery or
forward commitment basis may increase the volatility of the Fund's net asset
value.
REVERSE REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS AND DOLLAR ROLLS. The Fund may also use reverse
repurchase agreements and dollar rolls as part of its investment strategy.
Reverse repurchase agreements involve sales by the Fund of portfolio assets
concurrently with an agreement by the Fund to repurchase the same assets at a
later date at a fixed price. The Fund may enter into dollar rolls in which the
Fund sells securities for delivery in the current month and simultaneously
contracts to repurchase substantially similar (same type and coupon) securities
on a specified future date. Reverse repurchase agreements and dollar rolls
involve the risk that the market value of the securities the Fund is obligated
to repurchase under the agreement may decline below the repurchase price. In the
event the buyer of securities under a reverse repurchase agreement or dollar
roll files for bankruptcy or becomes insolvent, the Fund's use of the proceeds
of the agreement may be restricted pending a determination by the other party,
or its trustee or receiver, whether to enforce the Fund's obligation to
repurchase the securities.
Reverse repurchase agreements and dollar rolls are speculative techniques
involving leverage, and are considered borrowings by the Fund.
LENDING OF PORTFOLIO SECURITIES. Consistent with applicable regulatory
requirements, 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 Fund (subject to certain notice provisions described in the Statement of
Additional Information), and are at all times secured by cash or money market
instruments, which are maintained in a segregated account pursuant to applicable
regulations and that are equal to at least the market value, determined daily,
of the loaned securities. As with any extensions of credit, there are risks of
delay in recovery and in some cases even loss of rights in the collateral should
the borrower of the securities fail financially. However, loans of portfolio
securities will only be made to firms deemed by the Investment Manager to be
creditworthy and when the income which can be earned from such loans justifies
the attendant risks.
For additional risk disclosure, please refer to the discussion of specific
investments under the "Investment Objective and Policies" section of the
Prospectus and the "Investment Practices and Policies" section of the Statement
of Additional Information.
PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT
The Fund's portfolio is actively managed by its Investment Manager with a view
to achieving the Fund's investment objective. In determining which securities to
purchase for the Fund or hold in the Fund's portfolio, the Investment Manager
will rely on information from various sources, including research, analysis and
appraisals of brokers and dealers, including Dean Witter Reynolds Inc. ("DWR"),
a broker-dealer affiliate of InterCapital, the views of 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 Fund is
managed within InterCapital's Taxable Fixed-Income Group, which manages
twenty-five funds and fund portfolios, with approximately $13 billion in assets
at November 30, 1996. Rajesh K. Gupta, Senior Vice President of InterCapital and
a member of InterCapital's Taxable Fixed-Income Group, has been the primary
portfolio manager of the Fund since June, 1987 and has been managing portfolios
comprised of government securities at InterCapital for over five years.
Brokerage commissions are not normally charged on the purchase or sale of
U.S. Government obligations, but such transactions may involve costs in the form
of spreads between bid and asked prices. Orders for transactions in other
portfolio securities and commodities are placed for the Fund with a number of
brokers and dealers, including DWR. 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. It is not anticipated that
the portfolio trading engaged in by the Fund will result in its portfolio
turnover rate exceeding 100%.
Except as specified, the investment policies noted above are not fundamental
policies and may be changed without shareholder approval.
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INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The investment restrictions listed below are among the restrictions that have
been adopted by the Fund as fundamental policies. Under the Act, a fundamental
policy may not be changed without the vote of a majority of the outstanding
voting securities of the Fund, as defined in the Act.
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).
2. Purchase more than 10% of all outstanding voting securities or any
class of securities of any one issuer.
3. 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. The
staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") has taken the
position that purchased OTC options and the assets used as "cover" for
written OTC options are illiquid securities. The Investment Manager
disagrees with this position. Nevertheless, the Fund has agreed to treat OTC
options and the covering assets thereon as illiquid securities for purposes
of this investment restriction.
4. 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 of the United States Government, its agencies or
instrumentalities.
5. Purchase or sell commodities or commodities contracts except that the
Fund may purchase or write interest rate futures contracts and related
options thereon.
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 or variation margin for
futures are not deemed to be pledges of assets.)
7. Purchase securities on margin (but the Fund may obtain short-term
loans as are necessary for the clearance of transactions). The deposit or
payment by the Fund 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. Borrow money, except from banks for investment purposes or as a
temporary measure for extraordinary or emergency purposes in an amount up to
25% of the Fund's total assets, within the limits set forth in the Act or
enter into reverse repurchase agreements in an amount exceeding 10% of the
Fund's total assets other than for purposes of meeting redemptions.
If a percentage restriction is adhered to at the time of investment, a later
increase or decrease in percentage resulting from a change in values of
portfolio securities or amount of total or net assets will not be considered a
violation of any of the foregoing restrictions.
PURCHASE OF FUND SHARES
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Fund offers its shares for sale to the public on a continuous basis.
Pursuant to a Distribution Agreement between the Fund and Dean Witter
Distributors Inc. (the "Distributor"), an affiliate of the Investment Manager,
shares of the Fund are distributed by the Distributor and offered by DWR and
other dealers who have entered into selected dealer agreements with the
Distributor ("Selected Broker-Dealers"). The principal executive office of the
Distributor is located at Two World Trade Center, New York, New York 10048.
The minimum initial purchase is $1,000. Subsequent purchases of $100 or more
may be made by sending a check, payable to Dean Witter Federal Securities Trust,
directly to Dean Witter Trust Company (the "Transfer Agent") at P.O. Box 1040,
Jersey City, NJ 07303 or by contacting an account executive of DWR or other
Selected Broker-Dealer. The minimum initial purchase, in the case of investments
through EasyInvest-SM-, an automatic purchase plan (see "Shareholder Services"),
is $100, provided that the schedule of automatic investments will result in
investments totalling at least $1,000 within the first twelve months. In the
case of investments pursuant to Systematic Payroll Deduction Plans (including
Individual Retirement Plans), the Fund, in its discretion, may accept
investments without regard to any minimum amounts which would otherwise be
required if the Fund has reason to believe that additional investments will
increase the investment in all accounts under such Plans to at least $1,000.
Certificates for shares purchased will not be issued unless a request is made by
the shareholder in writing to the Transfer Agent. The offering price will be the
net asset value per share next determined following receipt of an order (see
"Determination of Net Asset Value" below).
Shares of the Fund are sold through the Distributor on a normal three
business day settlement basis; that is, payment is due on the third business day
(settlement date)
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<PAGE>
after the order is placed with the Distributor. Shares of the Fund purchased
through the Distributor are entitled to dividends beginning on the next business
day following settlement date. Since DWR and other Selected Broker-Dealers
forward investors' funds on settlement date, they will benefit from the
temporary use of the funds if payment is made prior thereto. Shares purchased
through the Transfer Agent are entitled to dividends beginning on the next
business day following receipt of an order. As noted above, orders placed
directly with the Transfer Agent must be accompanied by payment. Investors will
be entitled to receive capital gains distributions if their order is received by
the close of business on the day prior to the record date for such
distributions. While no sales charge is imposed at the time shares are
purchased, a contingent deferred sales charge may be imposed at the time of
redemption (see "Redemptions and Repurchases"). Sales personnel are compensated
for selling shares of the Fund at the time of their sale by the Distributor
and/or Selected Broker-Dealer. In addition, some sales personnel of the Selected
Broker-Dealer will receive various types of non-cash compensation as special
sales incentives, including trips, educational and/or business seminars and
merchandise. The Fund and the Distributor reserve the right to reject any
purchase orders.
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
The Fund has adopted a Plan of Distribution pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Act
(the "Plan"), under which the Fund pays the Distributor a fee, which is accrued
daily and paid monthly, at an annual rate of 0.85% of the lesser of: (a) the
average daily aggregate gross sales of the Fund's shares since the inception of
the Fund (not including reinvestments of dividends or distributions), less the
average daily aggregate net asset value of the Fund's shares redeemed since the
Fund's inception upon which a contingent deferred sales charge has been imposed
or waived, or (b) the Fund's average daily net assets. This fee is treated by
the Fund as an expense in the year it is accrued. A portion of the fee payable
pursuant to the Plan, equal to 0.20% of the Fund's average daily net assets, is
characterized as a service fee within the meaning of NASD guidelines. The
service fee is a payment made for personal service and/or the maintenance of
shareholder accounts.
Amounts paid under the Plan are paid to the Distributor to compensate it for
the services provided and the expenses borne by the Distributor and others in
the distribution of the Fund's shares, including the payment of commissions for
sales of the Fund's shares and incentive compensation to and expenses of DWR
account executives and others who engage in or support distribution of shares or
who service shareholder accounts, including overhead and telephone expenses;
printing and distribution of prospectuses and reports used in connection with
the offering of the Fund's shares to other than current shareholders; and
preparation, printing and distribution of sales literature and advertising
materials. In addition, the Distributor may utilize fees paid pursuant to the
Plan to compensate DWR and other Selected Broker-Dealers for their opportunity
costs in advancing such amounts, which compensation would be in the form of a
carrying charge on any unreimbursed distribution expenses.
For the fiscal year ended October 31, 1996, the Fund accrued payments under
the Plan amounting to $6,554,450, which amount is equal to 0.85% of the Fund's
average daily net assets for the fiscal year. The payments accrued under the
Plan were calculated pursuant to clause (b) of the compensation formula under
the Plan.
At any given time, the expenses of distributing shares of the Fund may be in
excess of the total of (i) the payments made by the Fund pursuant to the Plan,
and (ii) the proceeds of contingent deferred sales charges paid by investors
upon the redemption of shares (see "Redemptions and Repurchases--Contingent
Deferred Sales Charge"). For example, if $1 million in expenses in distributing
shares of the Fund had been incurred and $750,000 had been received as described
in (i) and (ii) above, the excess expense would amount to $250,000. The
Distributor has advised the Fund that such excess amount, including the carrying
charge described above, totalled $27,489,031 at October 31, 1996, which was
equal to 3.82% of the Fund's net assets on such date. Because there is no
requirement under the Plan that the Distributor be reimbursed for all
distribution expenses or any requirement that the Plan be continued from year to
year, this excess amount does not constitute a liability of the Fund. Although
there is no legal obligation for the Fund to pay expenses incurred in excess of
payments made to the Distributor under the Plan and the proceeds of contingent
deferred sales charges paid by investors upon redemption of shares, if for any
reason the Plan is terminated the Trustees will consider at that time the manner
in which to treat such expenses. Any cumulative expenses incurred, but not yet
recovered through distribution fees or contingent deferred sales charges, may or
may not be recovered through future distribution fees or contingent deferred
sales charges.
DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE
The net asset value per share of the Fund 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 by taking the value of all assets of the Fund, subtracting all its
liabilities, dividing by the number of shares outstanding and adjusting to the
nearest cent. 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.
In the calculation of the Fund's net asset value: (1) all 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, and (2) when
market
quota-
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tions are not readily available, including circumstances under which it is
determined by the Investment Manager that sale or bid prices are not reflective
of a security's market value, portfolio securities are valued at their fair
value as determined in good faith under procedures established by and under the
general supervision of the Fund's 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).
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. The value of other assets will be determined in good faith under
procedures established by and under the supervision of the Trustees.
Certain of the Fund's portfolio securities 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.
SHAREHOLDER SERVICES
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AUTOMATIC INVESTMENT OF DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS. All income dividends and
capital gains distributions are automatically paid in full and fractional shares
of the Fund (or, if specified by the shareholder, any other open-end investment
company for which InterCapital serves as investment manager (collectively, with
the Fund, the "Dean Witter Funds")), unless the shareholder requests that they
be paid in cash. Shares so acquired are not subject to the imposition of a
contingent deferred sales charge upon their redemption (see "Redemptions and
Repurchases"). Such dividends and distributions will be paid, at the net asset
value per share, in shares of the Fund (or in cash if the shareholder so
requests) on the monthly payment date, which will be no later than the last
business day of the month for which the dividend or distribution is payable.
Processing of dividend checks begins immediately following the monthly payment
date. Shareholders who have requested to receive dividends in cash will normally
receive their monthly dividend check during the first ten days of the following
month.
INVESTMENT OF DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS RECEIVED IN CASH. Any shareholder who
receives a cash payment representing a dividend or capital gains distribution
may invest such dividend or distribution at the net asset value per share next
determined after receipt by the Transfer Agent, by returning the check or the
proceeds to the Transfer Agent within thirty days after the payment date. Shares
so acquired are not subject to the imposition of a contingent deferred sales
charge upon their redemption (see "Redemptions and Repurchases.")
EASYINVEST-SM-. Shareholders may subscribe to EasyInvest, an automatic purchase
plan which provides for any amount from $100 to $5,000 to be transferred
automatically from a checking or savings account, on a semi-monthly, monthly or
quarterly basis, to the Transfer Agent for investment in shares of the Fund (see
"Purchase of Fund Shares" and "Redemptions and Repurchases--Involuntary
Redemption").
SYSTEMATIC WITHDRAWAL PLAN. A systematic withdrawal plan (the "Withdrawal
Plan") is available for shareholders who own or purchase shares of the Fund
having a minimum value of $10,000 based upon the then current net asset value.
The Withdrawal Plan provides for monthly or quarterly (March, June, September
and December) checks in any dollar amount, not less than $25, or in any whole
percentage of the account balance, on an annualized basis. Any applicable
contingent deferred sales charge will be imposed on shares redeemed under the
Withdrawal Plan (see "Redemptions and Repurchases--Contingent Deferred Sales
Charge"). Therefore, any shareholder participating in the Withdrawal Plan will
have sufficient shares redeemed from his or her account so that the proceeds
(net of any applicable contingent deferred sales charge) to the shareholder will
be the designated monthly or quarterly amount.
Shareholders should contact their DWR or other Selected Broker-Dealer
account executive or the Transfer Agent for further information about any of the
above services.
TAX-SHELTERED RETIREMENT PLANS. Retirement plans are available through the
Distributor for use by corporations, the self-employed, Individual Retirement
Accounts and Custodial Accounts under Section 403(b)(7) of the Internal Revenue
Code. Adoption of such plans should be on advice of legal counsel or tax
adviser.
For further information regarding plan administration, custodial fees and
other details, investors should contact their account executive or the Fund.
EXCHANGE PRIVILEGE. The Fund makes available to its shareholders an "Exchange
Privilege" allowing the exchange of shares of the Fund for shares of other Dean
Witter Funds sold with a contingent deferred sales charge ("CDSC funds"), and
for shares of Dean Witter Short-Term U.S. Treasury Trust, Dean Witter Limited
Term Municipal Trust, Dean Witter Short-Term Bond Fund, Dean Witter Balanced
Growth Fund, Dean Witter Balanced Income Fund, Dean Witter Intermediate Term
U.S. Treasury Trust and five Dean Witter Funds which are money market funds (the
foregoing eleven non-CDSC funds are hereinafter referred to as the
14
<PAGE>
"Exchange Funds"). Exchanges may be made after the shares of the Fund acquired
by purchase (not by exchange or dividend reinvestment) have been held for thirty
days. There is no waiting period for exchanges of shares acquired by exchange or
dividend reinvestment.
An exchange to another CDSC fund or any Exchange Fund that is not a money
market fund is on the basis of the next calculated net asset value per share of
each fund after the exchange order is received. When exchanging into a money
market fund from the Fund, shares of the Fund are redeemed out of the Fund at
their next calculated net asset value and the proceeds of the redemption are
used to purchase shares of the money market fund at their net asset value
determined the following business day. Subsequent exchanges between any of the
money market funds and any of the CDSC funds can be effected on the same basis.
No contingent deferred sales charge ("CDSC") is imposed at the time of any
exchange, although any applicable CDSC will be imposed upon ultimate redemption.
Shares of the Fund acquired in exchange for shares of another CDSC fund having a
different CDSC schedule than that of this Fund will be subject to the CDSC
schedule of this Fund, even if such shares are subsequently re-exchanged for
shares of the CDSC fund originally purchased. During the period of time the
shareholder remains in the Exchange Fund (calculated from the last day of the
month in which the Exchange Fund shares were acquired), the holding period (for
the purpose of determining the rate of the CDSC) is frozen. If those shares are
subsequently reexchanged for shares of a CDSC fund, the holding period
previously frozen when the first exchange was made resumes on the last day of
the month in which shares of a CDSC fund are reacquired. Thus, the CDSC is based
upon the time (calculated as described above) the shareholder was invested in a
CDSC fund (see "Redemptions and Repurchases--Contingent Deferred Sales Charge").
However, in the case of shares exchanged into an Exchange Fund on or after April
23, 1990, upon a redemption of shares which results in a CDSC being imposed, a
credit (not to exceed the amount of the CDSC) will be given in an amount equal
to the Exchange Fund 12b-1 distribution fees incurred on or after that date
which are attributable to those shares. (Exchange Fund 12b-1 distribution fees
are described in the prospectuses for those funds.)
In addition, shares of the Fund may be acquired in exchange for shares of
Dean Witter Funds sold with a front-end sales charge ("front-end sales charge
funds"), but shares of the Fund, however acquired, may not be exchanged for
shares of front-end sales charge funds. Shares of a CDSC fund acquired in
exchange for shares of a front-end sales charge fund (or in exchange for shares
of other Dean Witter Funds for which shares of a front-end sales charge fund
have been exchanged) are not subject to any CDSC upon their redemption.
Purchases and exchanges should be made for investment purposes only. A
pattern of frequent exchanges may be deemed by the Investment Manager to be
abusive and contrary to the best interests of the Fund's other shareholders and,
at the Investment Manager's discretion, may be limited by the Fund's refusal to
accept additional purchases and/or exchanges from the investor. Although the
Fund does not have any specific definition of what constitutes a pattern of
frequent exchanges, and will consider all relevant factors in determining
whether a particular situation is abusive and contrary to the best interests of
the Fund and its other shareholders, investors should be aware that the Fund and
each of the other Dean Witter Funds may in their discretion limit or otherwise
restrict the number of times this Exchange Privilege may be exercised by any
investor. Any such restriction will be made by the Fund on a prospective basis
only, upon notice to the shareholder not later than ten days following such
shareholder's most recent exchange. Also, the Exchange Privilege may be
terminated or revised at any time by the Fund and/or any of such Dean Witter
Funds for which shares of the Fund have been exchanged, upon such notice as may
be required by applicable regulatory agencies. Shareholders maintaining margin
accounts with DWR or another Selected Broker-Dealer are referred to their
account executive regarding restrictions on exchange of shares of the Fund
pledged in the margin account.
The current prospectus for each fund describes its investment objective(s)
and policies, and shareholders should obtain a copy and examine it carefully
before investing. Exchanges are subject to the minimum investment requirement
and any other conditions imposed by each fund. An exchange will be treated for
federal income tax purposes the same as a repurchase or redemption of shares, on
which the shareholder may realize a capital gain or loss. However, the ability
to deduct capital losses on an exchange may be limited in situations where there
is an exchange of shares within ninety days after the shares are purchased. The
Exchange Privilege is only available in states where an exchange may legally be
made.
If DWR or another Selected Broker-Dealer is the current dealer of record and
its account numbers are part of the account information, shareholders may
initiate an exchange of shares of the Fund for shares of any of the Dean Witter
Funds (for which the Exchange Privilege is available) pursuant to this Exchange
Privilege by contacting their account executive (no Exchange Privilege
Authorization Form is required). Other shareholders (and those shareholders who
are clients of DWR or another Selected Broker-Dealer but who wish to make
exchanges directly by writing or telephoning the Transfer Agent) must complete
and forward to the Transfer Agent an Exchange Privilege Authorization Form,
copies of which may be obtained from the Transfer Agent, to initiate an
exchange. If the Authorization Form is used, exchanges may be made in writing or
by contacting the Transfer Agent at (800) 869-NEWS (toll-free).
The Fund will employ reasonable procedures to confirm that exchange
instructions communicated over the telephone are genuine. Such procedures may
include requiring various forms of personal identification such as name, mailing
address,
15
<PAGE>
social security or other tax identification number and DWR or other Selected
Broker-Dealer account number (if any). Telephone instructions may also be
recorded. If such procedures are not employed, the Fund may be liable for any
losses due to unauthorized or fraudulent instructions.
Telephone exchange instructions will be accepted if received by the Transfer
Agent between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., New York time, on any day the New York
Stock Exchange is open. Any shareholder wishing to make an exchange who has
previously filed an Exchange Privilege Authorization Form and who is unable to
reach the Fund by telephone should contact his or her DWR or other Selected
Broker-Dealer account executive, if appropriate, or make a written exchange
request. Shareholders are advised that during periods of drastic economic or
market changes, it is possible that the telephone exchange procedures may be
difficult to implement, although this has not been the case with the Dean Witter
Funds in the past.
Shareholders should contact their DWR or other Selected Broker-Dealer
account executive or the Transfer Agent for further information about the
Exchange Privilege.
REDEMPTIONS AND REPURCHASES
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
REDEMPTION. Shares of the Fund can be redeemed for cash at any time at the net
asset value per share next determined; however, such redemption proceeds may be
reduced by the amount of any applicable contingent deferred sales charges (see
below). If shares are held in a shareholder's account without a share
certificate, a written request for redemption to the Fund's Transfer Agent at
P.O. Box 983, Jersey City, NJ 07303 is required. If certificates are held by the
shareholder(s), the shares may be redeemed by surrendering the certificate(s)
with a written request for redemption, along with any additional information
required by the Transfer Agent.
CONTINGENT DEFERRED SALES CHARGE. Shares of the Fund which are held for six
years or more after purchase (calculated from the last day of the month in which
the shares were purchased) will not be subject to any charge upon redemption.
Shares redeemed sooner than six years after purchase may, however, be subject to
a charge upon redemption. This charge is called a "contingent deferred sales
charge" ("CDSC"), which will be a percentage of the dollar amount of shares
redeemed and will be assessed on an amount equal to the lesser of the current
market value or the cost of the shares being redeemed. The size of this
percentage will depend upon how long the shares have been held, as set forth in
the table below:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
CONTINGENT DEFERRED
YEAR SINCE SALES CHARGE
PURCHASE ON A PERCENTAGE OF
PAYMENT MADE AMOUNT REDEEMED
- ------------------------------------------ ----------------------
<S> <C>
First..................................... 5.0%
Second.................................... 4.0%
Third..................................... 3.0%
Fourth.................................... 2.0%
Fifth..................................... 2.0%
Sixth..................................... 1.0%
Seventh and thereafter.................... None
</TABLE>
A CDSC will not be imposed on: (i) any amount which represents an increase
in value of shares purchased within the six years preceding the redemption; (ii)
the current net asset value of shares purchased more than six years prior to the
redemption; and (iii) the current net asset value of shares purchased through
reinvestment of dividends or distributions and/or shares acquired in exchange
for shares of Dean Witter Funds sold with a front-end sales charge or of other
Dean Witter Funds acquired in exchange for such shares. Moreover, in determining
whether a CDSC is applicable it will be assumed that amounts described in (i),
(ii), and (iii) above (in that order) are redeemed first.
In addition, the CDSC, if otherwise applicable, will be waived in the case
of:
(1) redemptions of shares held at the time a shareholder dies or becomes
disabled, only if the shares are: (A) registered either in the name of an
individual shareholder (not a trust), or in the names of such shareholder and
his or her spouse as joint tenants with right of survivorship; or (B) held in a
qualified corporate or self-employed retirement plan, Individual Retirement
Account ("IRA") or Custodial Account under Section 403(b)(7) of the Internal
Revenue Code ("403(b) Custodial Account"), provided in either case that the
redemption is requested within one year of the death or initial determination of
disability;
(2) redemptions in connection with the following retirement plan
distributions: (A) lump-sum or other distributions from a qualified corporate or
self-employed retirement plan following retirement (or, in the case of a "key
employee" of a "top heavy" plan, following attainment of age 59 1/2);
(B) distributions from an IRA or 403(b) Custodial Account following attainment
of age 59 1/2; or (C) a tax-free return of an excess contribution to an IRA; and
(3) all redemptions of shares held for the benefit of a participant in a
corporate or self-employed retirement plan qualified under Section 401(k) of the
Internal Revenue Code which offers investment companies managed by the
Investment Manager or its subsidiary, Dean Witter Services Company Inc., as
self-directed investment alternatives and for which Dean Witter Trust Company or
Dean Witter Trust FSB, each of which is an affiliate of the
Invest-
16
<PAGE>
ment Manager, serves as Trustee ("Eligible 401(k) Plan"), provided that either:
(A) the plan continues to be an Eligible 401(k) Plan after the redemption; or
(B) the redemption is in connection with the complete termination of the plan
involving the distribution of all plan assets to participants.
With reference to (1) above, for the purpose of determining disability, the
Distributor utilizes the definition of disability contained in Section 72(m)(7)
of the Internal Revenue Code, which relates to the inability to engage in
gainful employment. With reference to (2) above, the term "distribution" does
not encompass a direct transfer of IRA, 403(b) Custodial Account or retirement
plan assets to a successor custodian or trustee. All waivers will be granted
only following receipt by the Distributor of confirmation of the shareholder's
entitlement.
REPURCHASE. DWR and other Selected Broker-Dealers are authorized to repurchase
shares represented by a share certificate which is delivered to any of their
offices. Shares held in a shareholder's account without a share certificate may
also be repurchased by DWR and other Selected Broker-Dealers upon the telephonic
request of the shareholder. The repurchase price is the net asset value next
computed (see "Purchase of Fund Shares") after such repurchase order is received
by DWR or other Selected Broker-Dealer, reduced by any applicable CDSC.
The CDSC, if any, will be the only fee imposed upon repurchase by the Fund,
the Distributor, DWR and other Selected Broker-Dealers. The offer by DWR and
other Selected Broker-Dealers to repurchase shares may be suspended without
notice by them at any time. In that event, shareholders may redeem their shares
through the Fund's Transfer Agent as set forth above under "Redemption."
PAYMENT FOR SHARES REDEEMED OR REPURCHASED. Payment for shares presented for
repurchase or redemption will be made by check within seven days after receipt
by the Transfer Agent of the certificate and/or written request in good order.
Such payment may be postponed or the right of redemption suspended under unusual
circumstances; e.g., when normal trading is not taking place on the New York
Stock Exchange. If the shares to be redeemed have recently been purchased by
check, payment of the redemption proceeds may be delayed for the minimum time
needed to verify that the check used for investment has been honored (not more
than fifteen days from the time of receipt of the check by the Transfer Agent).
Shareholders maintaining margin accounts with DWR or another Selected
Broker-Dealer are referred to their account executive regarding restrictions on
redemption of shares of the Fund pledged in the margin account.
REINSTATEMENT PRIVILEGE. A shareholder who has had his or her shares redeemed
or repurchased and has not previously exercised this reinstatement privilege
may, within thirty days after the date of the redemption or repurchase,
reinstate any portion or all of the proceeds of such redemption or repurchase in
shares of the Fund at the net asset value next determined after a reinstatement
request, together with the proceeds, is received by the Transfer Agent and
receive a pro-rata credit for any CDSC paid in connection with such redemption
or repurchase.
INVOLUNTARY REDEMPTION. The Fund reserves the right, on sixty days' notice, to
redeem, at their net asset value, the shares of any shareholder (other than
shares held in an Individual Retirement Account or Custodial Account under
Section 403(b)(7) of the Internal Revenue Code) whose shares due to redemptions
by the shareholder have a value of less than $100 or such lesser amount as may
be fixed by the Trustees or, in the case of an account opened through
EasyInvest-SM-, if after twelve months the shareholder has invested less than
$1,000 in the account. However, before the Fund redeems such shares and sends
the proceeds to the shareholder, it will notify the shareholder that the value
of the shares is less than the applicable amount and allow him or her sixty days
to make an additional investment in an amount which will increase the value of
his of her account to at least the applicable amount before the redemption is
processed. No CDSC will be imposed on any involuntary redemption.
DIVIDENDS, DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS. The Fund declares dividends from net investment
income 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.
Such dividends are paid monthly. The Fund intends to distribute all of the
Fund's net investment income on an annual basis.
The Fund may pay quarterly dividends of realized net short-term capital
gains, if any. Such dividends may include a portion of the premiums received by
the Fund from expired call and put options written by the Fund on U.S.
Government securities, and of the net gains realized on closing purchase
transactions with respect to such options. The Fund may elect to retain a
portion of any net short-term capital gains for reinvestment. Net realized
long-term capital gains, if any, will be distributed at least once per year,
although the Investment Manager reserves the right to retain a portion of such
gains for reinvestment.
As of October 31, 1996, the Fund had a net capital loss carryover of
approximately $58,206,000. To the extent of such carryover, the Fund could
retain gains realized in future years without either the Fund or its
shareholders being required to pay a tax on such gains. However, the Fund may
distribute to shareholders realized gains. Such
17
<PAGE>
distributions could, notwithstanding the loss carryover, be taxable to
shareholders to the extent of the Fund's realized gains. Also, the Fund may at
times make payments from sources other than income or net capital gains.
Payments from such sources will, in effect, represent a return of a portion of
each shareholder's investment. All, or a portion, of such payments will not be
taxable to shareholders.
All dividends and capital gains distributions will be paid in additional
Fund shares (without sales charge) and automatically credited to the
shareholder's account without issuance of a share certificate unless the
shareholder requests in writing that all dividends be paid in cash. (See
"Shareholder Services--Automatic Investment of Dividends and Distributions".)
TAXES. Because the Fund intends to distribute all of its net investment income
and net short-term capital gains to shareholders and otherwise continue to
qualify as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Internal
Revenue Code, it is not expected that the Fund will be required to pay any
federal income tax on such income and capital gains.
Gains or losses on the Fund's transactions in listed options on securities,
futures and options on futures may be treated as 60% long-term and 40%
short-term. When the Fund engages in options and futures transactions, various
tax regulations applicable to the Fund may have the effect of causing the Fund
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 Fund's realized net short-term gains being available for quarterly
distribution.
As a regulated investment company, the Fund is subject to the requirement
that less than 30% of its gross income be derived from the sale or other
disposition of securities held for less than three months. Accordingly, the Fund
may be restricted in the writing of options on securities held for less than
three months, in the writing of options which expire in less than three months,
and in effecting closing transactions with respect to call or put options which
have been written or purchased less than three months prior to such
transactions. The Fund may also be restricted in its ability to engage in
transactions involving futures contracts.
Shareholders who are required to pay taxes on their income will normally
have to pay federal income taxes, and any applicable state and/or local income
taxes, on the dividends and distributions they receive from the Fund. Such
dividends and distributions, to the extent that they are derived from net
investment income and net short-term capital gains, are taxable to the
shareholder as ordinary dividend income regardless of whether the shareholder
receives such distributions in additional shares or in cash.
Distributions of net long-term capital gains, if any, are taxable to
shareholders as long-term capital gains regardless of how long a shareholder has
held the Fund's shares and regardless of whether the distribution is received in
additional shares or in cash. Capital gains distributions are not eligible for
the corporate dividends received deduction.
After the end of the calendar year, shareholders will be sent full
information on their dividends and capital gains distributions for tax purposes.
To avoid being subject to a 31% federal backup withholding tax on taxable
dividends, distributions and the proceeds of redemptions and repurchases,
shareholders' taxpayer identification numbers must be furnished and certified as
to their accuracy.
The foregoing discussion relates solely to the federal income tax
consequences of an investment in the Fund. Distributions may also be subject to
state and local taxes; therefore, each shareholder is advised to consult his or
her own tax adviser.
PERFORMANCE INFORMATION
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From time to time the Fund may quote its "yield" and/or its "total return" in
advertisements and sales literature. Both the yield and the total return of the
Fund are based on historical earnings and are not intended to indicate future
performance. The yield of the Fund is computed by dividing the Fund'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 Fund's yield.
The "average annual total return" of the Fund refers to a figure reflecting
the average annualized percentage increase (or decrease) in the value of an
initial investment in the Fund of $1,000 over periods of one, five and ten
years, or the life of the Fund, if less than any of the foregoing. Average
annual total return reflects all income earned by the Fund, any appreciation or
depreciation of the Fund's assets, all expenses incurred by the Fund and all
sales charges incurred by shareholders, for the stated periods. It also assumes
reinvestment of all dividends and distributions paid by the Fund.
In addition to the foregoing, the Fund may advertise its total return over
different periods of time by means of aggregate, average, year-by-year or other
types of total return figures. Such calculations may or may not reflect the
deduction of the contingent deferred sales charge which, if reflected, would
reduce the performance quoted. The Fund may also advertise the growth of
hypothetical investments of $10,000, $50,000 and $100,000 in shares of the Fund.
The Fund from time to time may also advertise its performance
18
<PAGE>
relative to certain performance rankings and indexes compiled by independent
organizations (such as Lipper Analytical Services, Inc. and Salomon Brothers
Treasury Index, Shearson Lehman Government Bond Index, Merrill Lynch Mortgage
Master Index and Donahue's Money Market Index).
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
VOTING RIGHTS. All shares of beneficial interest of the Fund are of $0.01 par
value and are equal as to earnings, assets and voting privileges.
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 certain
circumstances the Trustees may be removed by action of the Trustees or by the
shareholders.
Under Massachusetts law, shareholders of a business trust may, under certain
circumstances, be held personally liable as partners for 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, the possibility of the Fund
being unable to meet its obligations is remote and, in the opinion of
Massachusetts counsel to the Fund, the risk to Fund shareholders of personal
liability is remote.
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
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.
SHAREHOLDER INQUIRES. 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.
19
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<PAGE>
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<PAGE>
DEAN WITTER
FEDERAL SECURITIES TRUST
TWO WORLD TRADE CENTER
NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10048
TRUSTEES
Michael Bozic
Charles A. Fiumefreddo
Edwin J. Garn
John R. Haire
Dr. Manuel H. Johnson
Michael E. Nugent
Philip J. Purcell
John L. Schroeder
OFFICERS
Charles A. Fiumefreddo
Chairman and Chief Executive
Officer
Sheldon Curtis
Vice President, Secretary and
General Counsel
Rajesh K. Gupta
Vice President
Thomas F. Caloia
Treasurer
CUSTODIAN
The Bank of New York
90 Washington Street
New York, New York 10286
TRANSFER AGENT AND
DIVIDEND DISBURSING AGENT
Dean Witter Trust Company
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.
