<PAGE>
AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON FEBRUARY 28, 2000
REGISTRATION NOS.: 33-21803
811-5554
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
----------------
FORM N-1A
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 /X/
PRE-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. ____ / /
POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. 13 /X/
AND/OR
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY
ACT OF 1940 /X/
AMENDMENT NO. 15 /X/
-------------------
MORGAN STANLEY DEAN WITTER CALIFORNIA TAX-FREE DAILY INCOME TRUST
(A MASSACHUSETTS BUSINESS TRUST)
(EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN CHARTER)
TWO WORLD TRADE CENTER
NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10048
(ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICE)
REGISTRANT'S TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING AREA CODE: (212) 392-1600
BARRY FINK, ESQ.
TWO WORLD TRADE CENTER
NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10048
(NAME AND ADDRESS OF AGENT FOR SERVICE)
------------------------
COPY TO:
STUART M. STRAUSS, ESQ.
MAYER, BROWN & PLATT
1675 BROADWAY
NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10019
----------------
APPROXIMATE DATE OF PROPOSED PUBLIC OFFERING:
As soon as practicable after this Post-Effective Amendment becomes effective.
IT IS PROPOSED THAT THIS FILING WILL BECOME EFFECTIVE (CHECK APPROPRIATE BOX)
___ immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b)
_X_ on February 28, 2000 pursuant to paragraph (b)
___ 60 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)
___ on (date) pursuant to paragraph (a) of rule 485
AMENDING THE PROSPECTUS AND UPDATING FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
PROSPECTUS - FEBRUARY 28, 2000
Morgan Stanley Dean Witter
CALIFORNIA TAX-FREE DAILY INCOME TRUST
[COVER PHOTO]
A MONEY MARKET FUND THAT SEEKS TO PROVIDE AS HIGH A LEVEL OF
DAILY INCOME EXEMPT FROM FEDERAL AND CALIFORNIA INCOME TAX
AS IS CONSISTENT WITH STABILITY OF PRINCIPAL AND LIQUIDITY
The Securities and Exchange Commission has not approved or disapproved these
securities or passed upon the adequacy of this PROSPECTUS. Any representation to
the contrary is a criminal offense.
<PAGE>
CONTENTS
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C>
The Fund Investment Objective.................................. 1
Principal Investment Strategies....................... 1
Principal Risks....................................... 2
Past Performance...................................... 3
Fees and Expenses..................................... 4
Fund Management....................................... 4
Shareholder Information Pricing Fund Shares................................... 5
How to Buy Shares..................................... 5
How to Exchange Shares................................ 7
How to Sell Shares.................................... 9
Distributions......................................... 11
Tax Consequences...................................... 12
Financial Highlights ...................................................... 13
Financial Statements -
December, 1999 ...................................................... 14
Our Family of Funds ...................................................... Inside Back Cover
THIS PROSPECTUS CONTAINS IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE FUND.
PLEASE READ IT CAREFULLY AND KEEP IT FOR FUTURE REFERENCE.
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
[Sidebar]
MONEY MARKET
A MUTUAL FUND HAVING THE GOAL TO SELECT SECURITIES TO PROVIDE CURRENT INCOME
WHILE SEEKING TO MAINTAIN A STABLE SHARE PRICE OF $1.00.
YIELD
THE FUND'S YIELD REFLECTS THE ACTUAL INCOME THE FUND PAYS TO YOU EXPRESSED AS A
PERCENTAGE OF THE FUND'S SHARE PRICE. BECAUSE THE FUND'S INCOME FROM ITS
PORTFOLIO SECURITIES WILL FLUCTUATE, THE INCOME IT IN TURN DISTRIBUTES TO YOU
AND THE FUND'S YIELD WILL VARY.
[End Sidebar]
THE FUND
[ICON] INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morgan Stanley Dean Witter California Tax-Free Daily Income Trust
(the "Fund") is a money market fund that seeks to provide as high a
level of daily income exempt from federal and California income tax
as is consistent with stability of principal and liquidity.
[ICON] PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Fund will invest in high quality, short-term securities that are
normally municipal obligations that pay interest exempt from federal
and California income taxes. The Fund's "Investment Manager," Morgan
Stanley Dean Witter Advisors Inc., seeks to maintain the Fund's share
price at $1.00. The share price remaining stable at $1.00 means that
the Fund would preserve the principal value of your investment.
The Investment Manager generally invests substantially all of the
Fund's assets in California municipal obligations. The interest on
these investments is exempt from California state and federal income
tax. The Fund may invest up to 20% of its total assets in securities
that pay interest income subject to the federal "alternative minimum
tax," and some taxpayers may have to pay tax on a Fund distribution
of this income; see the "Tax Consequences" section of this PROSPECTUS
for more details.
Municipal obligations are securities issued by state and local
governments and regional government authorities. These securities
typically are "general obligation" or "revenue" bonds, notes or
commercial paper. The general obligation securities are secured by
the issuer's faith and credit, as well as its taxing power, for
payment of principal and interest. Revenue bonds, however, are
generally payable from a specific revenue source. They are issued for
a wide variety of projects such as financing public utilities,
housing units, airports and highways, and schools. Included within
the revenue bonds category are participations in lease obligations
and installment contracts of municipalities.
The Fund has a fundamental policy of investing at least 80% of its
total assets in securities the interest on which is exempt from
federal and California income tax. The fundamental policies may not
be changed without shareholder approval.
1
<PAGE>
[ICON] PRINCIPAL RISKS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment
objective.
CREDIT AND INTEREST RATE RISKS. A principal risk of investing in the
Fund is associated with its municipal investments, particularly its
concentration in municipal obligations of a single state. Municipal
obligations, as with all debt securities, are subject to two types of
risks: credit risk and interest rate risk.
Credit risk refers to the possibility that the issuer of a security
will be unable to make interest payments and repay the principal on
its debt. However, unlike most fixed-income mutual funds, the Fund is
subject to the added credit risk of concentrating its investments in
a single state -- California -- and its municipalities. Because the
Fund concentrates its investments in securities issued by California
state and local governments and government authorities, the Fund
could be affected by political, economic and regulatory developments
concerning these issuers. Should any difficulties develop concerning
California issuers' ability to pay principal and/or interest on their
debt obligations, the Fund's value and yield could be adversely
affected.
Interest rate risk, another risk of debt securities, refers to
fluctuations in the value of a fixed-income security resulting from
changes in the general level of interest rates.
The Investment Manager, however, actively manages the Fund's assets
to reduce the risk of losing any principal investment as a result of
credit or interest rate risks. The Fund's assets are reviewed to
maintain or improve creditworthiness. In addition, federal
regulations require money market funds, such as the Fund, to invest
only in debt obligations of high quality and short-term maturities.
Shares of the Fund are not bank deposits and are not insured or
guaranteed by the FDIC or any other government agency. Although the
Fund seeks to preserve the value of your investment at $1.00 per
share, if it is unable to do so, it is possible to lose money by
investing in the Fund.
2
<PAGE>
[Sidebar]
ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS
THIS CHART SHOWS HOW THE PERFORMANCE OF THE FUND'S SHARES HAS VARIED FROM YEAR
TO YEAR DURING THE PAST 10 CALENDAR YEARS.
AVERAGE ANNUAL
TOTAL RETURNS
THIS TABLE SHOWS THE FUND'S AVERAGE ANNUAL RETURN.
[End Sidebar]
[ICON] PAST PERFORMANCE
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The bar chart and table below provide some indication of the risks of
investing in the Fund. For the Fund's most recent 7-day annualized
yield you may call (800) 869-NEWS. The Fund's past performance does
not indicate how the Fund will perform in the future.
ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS - CALENDAR YEARS
EDGAR REPRESENTATION OF DATA POINTS USED IN PRINTED GRAPHIC
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
1990 5.04%
'91 3.77%
'92 2.37%
'93 1.79%
'94 2.17%
'95 3.04%
'96 2.68%
'97 2.83%
'98 2.54%
'99 2.28%
</TABLE>
During the periods shown in the bar chart, the highest return for a
calendar quarter was 1.28% (quarter ended June 30, 1990) and the
lowest return for a calendar quarter was 0.40% (quarter ended
March 31, 1994).
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS AS OF DECEMBER 31, 1999
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
PAST 1 YEAR PAST 5 YEARS PAST 10 YEARS
<S> <C> <C> <C>
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
California Tax-Free Daily Income
Trust 2.28% 2.67% 2.85%
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
3
<PAGE>
[Sidebar]
ANNUAL FUND
OPERATING EXPENSES
THESE EXPENSES ARE DEDUCTED FROM THE FUND'S ASSETS AND ARE BASED ON EXPENSES
PAID FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1999.
MORGAN STANLEY DEAN WITTER ADVISORS INC.
THE INVESTMENT MANAGER IS WIDELY RECOGNIZED AS A LEADER IN THE MUTUAL FUND
INDUSTRY AND TOGETHER WITH MORGAN STANLEY DEAN WITTER SERVICES COMPANY INC., ITS
WHOLLY-OWNED SUBSIDIARY, HAD APPROXIMATELY $145 BILLION IN ASSETS UNDER
MANAGEMENT AS OF JANUARY 31, 2000.
[End Sidebar]
[ICON] FEES AND EXPENSES
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Fund is a no-load fund. The table below briefly describes the
fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the
Fund. The Fund does not impose any sales charges and does not charge
account or exchange fees.
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
ANNUAL FUND OPERATING EXPENSES
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------
Management fee 0.50%
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees 0.10%
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------
Other expenses 0.12%
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------
Total annual Fund operating expenses 0.72%
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
EXAMPLE
This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in
the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.
The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund, your
investment has a 5% return each year, and the Fund's operating
expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or
lower, the table below shows your costs at the end of each period
based on these assumptions.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1 YEAR 3 YEARS 5 YEARS 10 YEARS
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
---------------------------------------------------
$73 $229 $398 $889
---------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
[ICON] FUND MANAGEMENT
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Fund has retained the Investment Manager -- Morgan Stanley Dean
Witter Advisors Inc. -- to provide administrative services, manage
its business affairs and invest its assets, including the placing of
orders for the purchase and sale of portfolio securities. The
Investment Manager is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Morgan Stanley
Dean Witter & Co., a preeminent global financial services firm that
maintains leading market positions in each of its three primary
businesses: securities, asset management and credit services. Its
main business office is located at Two World Trade Center, New York,
NY 10048.
The Fund pays the Investment Manager a monthly management fee as full
compensation for the services and facilities furnished to the Fund,
and for Fund expenses assumed by the Investment Manager. The fee is
based on the Fund's average daily net assets. For the fiscal year
ended December 31, 1999, the Fund accrued total compensation to the
Investment Manager amounting to 0.50% of the Fund's average daily net
assets.
4
<PAGE>
[Sidebar]
CONTACTING A FINANCIAL ADVISOR
IF YOU ARE NEW TO THE MORGAN STANLEY DEAN WITTER FAMILY OF FUNDS AND WOULD LIKE
TO CONTACT A FINANCIAL ADVISOR, CALL (877) 937-MSDW (TOLL-FREE) FOR THE
TELEPHONE NUMBER OF THE MORGAN STANLEY DEAN WITTER OFFICE NEAREST YOU.
YOU MAY ALSO ACCESS OUR OFFICE LOCATOR ON OUR INTERNET SITE AT:
www.msdw.com/individual/funds
[End Sidebar]
SHAREHOLDER INFORMATION
[ICON] PRICING FUND SHARES
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The price of Fund shares, called "net asset value," is based on the
amortized cost of the Fund's portfolio securities. The amortized cost
valuation method involves valuing a debt obligation in reference to
its cost, rather than market forces.
The net asset value per share of the Fund is determined once daily at
4:00 p.m. Eastern time on each day that the New York Stock Exchange
is open (or, on days when the New York Stock Exchange closes prior to
4:00 p.m., at such earlier time). Shares will not be priced on days
that the New York Stock Exchange is closed.
[ICON] HOW TO BUY SHARES
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
You may open a new account to buy Fund shares or buy additional
Fund shares for an existing account in several ways. When you buy
Fund shares, the shares are purchased at the next share price
calculated after we receive your investment in proper form and
accompanied by federal or other immediately available funds. You
begin earning dividends the business day after the shares are
purchased. We reserve the right to reject any order for the
purchase of Fund shares.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
MINIMUM INVESTMENT AMOUNTS
--------------------------------------------------------------------
MINIMUM INVESTMENT
--------------------------
INVESTMENT OPTIONS INITIAL ADDITIONAL
<S> <C> <C>
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Regular Accounts
$5,000 $100
--------------------------------------------------------------------
EASYINVEST-SM-
(Automatically from your checking or
savings account)
Not Available $100
--------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
There is no minimum investment amount if you purchase Fund shares
through: (1) the Investment Manager's mutual fund asset allocation
plan, or (2) a program, approved by the Fund's distributor, in which
you pay an asset-based fee for advisory, administrative and/or
brokerage services, or (3) employer-sponsored employee benefit plan
accounts.
5
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
INVESTMENT
OPTIONS PROCEDURES
<S> <C>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Contact Your NEW ACCOUNTS AND SUBSEQUENT INVESTMENTS
Financial You may buy Fund shares by contacting your Morgan Stanley
Advisor Dean Witter Financial Advisor or other authorized financial
representative. Your Financial Advisor will assist you,
ICON step-by-step, with the procedures to invest in the Fund.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
By Mail NEW ACCOUNTS
To open a new account to buy Fund shares:
ICON
- Complete and sign the attached Application.
- Make out a check for the investment amount to:
Morgan Stanley Dean Witter California Tax-Free Daily Income
Trust.
- Mail the Application and check to Morgan Stanley Dean
Witter Trust FSB at P.O. Box 1040, Jersey City, NJ 07303.
------------------------------------------------------------
SUBSEQUENT INVESTMENTS
To buy additional shares for an existing Fund account:
- Write a "letter of instruction" to the Fund specifying the
name(s) on the account, the account number and the social
security or tax identification number, and the additional
investment amount. The letter must be signed by the
account owner(s).
- Make out a check for the investment amount to:
Morgan Stanley Dean Witter California Tax-Free Daily Income
Trust.
- Mail the letter and check to Morgan Stanley Dean Witter
Trust FSB at the same address as for new accounts.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
By wire NEW ACCOUNTS
To open a new account to buy Fund shares:
ICON
- Mail the attached Application, completed and signed, to
Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Trust FSB at P.O. Box 1040,
Jersey City, NJ 07303.
- Before sending instructions by wire, call us at
(800) 869-NEWS advising us of your purchase and to confirm
we have received your Application.
- Wire the instructions specifying the name of the Fund and
your account number, along with the additional investment
amount, to The Bank of New York, for credit to the account
of "Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Trust FSB, Harborside
Financial Center, Plaza Two, Jersey City, NJ 07303,
Account No. 8900188413."
(When you buy Fund shares, wire purchase instructions
received by Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Trust FSB prior to
12:00 noon Eastern time are normally effective that day and
wire purchase instructions received after 12:00 noon are
normally effective the next business day.)
------------------------------------------------------------
SUBSEQUENT INVESTMENTS
To buy additional shares for an existing Fund account:
- Before sending instructions by wire, call us at
(800) 869-NEWS advising us of your purchase.
- Wire the instructions specifying the name of the Fund and
your account number, along with the investment amount, to
The Bank of New York, for credit to the account of Morgan
Stanley Dean Witter Trust FSB in the same manner as
opening an account.
(Also, when you buy Fund shares, wire purchase instructions
received by Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Trust FSB prior to
12:00 noon Eastern time are normally effective that day and
wire purchase instructions received after 12:00 noon are
normally effective the next business day.)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EASYINVEST-SM- NEW ACCOUNTS
(Automatically This program is not available to open a new Fund account or
from your a new account of another Money Market Fund.
checking or ------------------------------------------------------------
savings SUBSEQUENT INVESTMENTS
account) EASYINVEST-SM- is a purchase plan that allows you to
transfer money automatically from your checking or savings
account to an existing Fund account on a semi-monthly,
monthly or quarterly basis. Contact your Morgan Stanley Dean
Witter Financial Advisor for further
ICON
information about this service.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
6
<PAGE>
ADDITIONAL PURCHASE INFORMATION. If you are a customer of Dean Witter
Reynolds or another authorized dealer of Fund shares, you may upon
request: (a) have the proceeds from the sale of listed securities
invested in Fund shares the day after you receive the proceeds; and
(b) pay for the purchase of certain listed securities by automatic
sale of Fund shares that you own. If you are a customer of Dean
Witter Reynolds or another authorized dealer of the Fund's shares,
you may have cash balances in your securities account of $1,000 or
more automatically invested in shares of the Fund on the next
business day after the balance is accrued in your account. Cash
balances of less than $1,000 may be automatically invested in Fund
shares on a weekly basis.
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION. The Fund has adopted a Plan of Distribution in
accordance with Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940.
The Plan allows the Fund to pay distribution fees for the sale and
distribution of these shares. It also allows the Fund to pay for
services to shareholders. Because these fees are paid out of the
Fund's assets on an ongoing basis, over time these fees will increase
the cost of your investment and may cost you more than paying other
types of sales charges.
[ICON] HOW TO EXCHANGE SHARES
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PERMISSIBLE FUND EXCHANGES. You may only exchange shares of the Fund
for shares of other continuously offered Morgan Stanley Dean Witter
Funds if the Fund shares were acquired in an exchange of shares
initially purchased in a Multi-Class Fund or an FSC Fund (subject to
a front-end sales charge). In that case, the shares may be
subsequently re-exchanged for shares of the same Class of any
Multi-Class Fund or FSC Fund or for shares of another Money Market
Fund, No-Load Fund, North American Government Income Trust, or
Short-Term U.S. Treasury Trust. Of course, if an exchange is not
permitted, you may sell shares of the Fund and buy another Fund's
shares with the proceeds.
See the inside back cover of this PROSPECTUS for each Morgan Stanley
Dean Witter Fund's designation as a Multi-Class Fund, FSC Fund,
No-Load Fund or Money Market Fund. If a Morgan Stanley Dean Witter
Fund is not listed, consult the inside back cover of that Fund's
PROSPECTUS for its designation. For purposes of exchanges, shares of
FSC Funds are treated as Class A shares of a Multi-Class Fund.
The current PROSPECTUS for each fund describes its investment
objective(s), policies and investment minimums, and should be read
before investing.
EXCHANGE PROCEDURES. You can process an exchange by contacting your
Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Financial Advisor or other authorized
financial representative. Otherwise, you must forward an exchange
privilege authorization form to the Fund's transfer agent - Morgan
Stanley Dean Witter Trust FSB - and then write the transfer agent or
call (800) 869-NEWS to place an exchange order. You can obtain an
exchange privilege authorization form by contacting your Financial
Advisor or other authorized financial representative or by calling
(800) 869-NEWS. If you hold share certificates, no exchanges may be
processed until we have received all applicable share certificates.
7
<PAGE>
An exchange to any Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Fund (except a Money
Market Fund) is made on the basis of the next calculated net asset
values of the Funds involved after the exchange instructions are
accepted. When exchanging into a Money Market Fund, the Fund's shares
are sold at their next calculated net asset value and the Money
Market Fund's shares are purchased at their net asset value on the
following business day.
The Fund may terminate or revise the exchange privilege upon required
notice. The check writing privilege is not available for Money Market
Fund shares you acquire in an exchange.
TELEPHONE EXCHANGES. For your protection when calling Morgan Stanley
Dean Witter Trust FSB, we will employ reasonable procedures to
confirm that exchange instructions communicated over the telephone
are genuine. These procedures may include requiring various forms of
personal identification such as name, mailing address, social
security or other tax identification number. Telephone instructions
also may be recorded.
Telephone instructions will be accepted if received by the Fund's
transfer agent between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Eastern time on any
day the New York Stock Exchange is open for business. During periods
of drastic economic or market changes, it is possible that the
telephone exchange procedures may be difficult to implement, although
this has not been the case with the Fund in the past.
MARGIN ACCOUNTS. If you have pledged your Fund shares in a margin
account, contact your Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Financial Advisor or
other authorized financial representative regarding restrictions on
the exchange of such shares.
EXCHANGING SHARES OF ANOTHER FUND SUBJECT TO A CONTINGENT DEFERRED
SALES CHARGE ("CDSC"). There are special considerations when you
exchange shares subject to a CDSC of another Morgan Stanley Dean
Witter Fund for shares of the Fund. When determining the length of
time you held the shares and the corresponding CDSC rate, any period
(starting at the end of the month) during which you held shares of
the Fund WILL NOT BE COUNTED. Thus, in effect the "holding period"
for purposes of calculating the CDSC is frozen upon exchanging into
the Fund. Nevertheless, if shares subject to a CDSC are exchanged for
shares of the Fund, you will receive a credit when you sell the
shares equal to the distribution (12b-1) fees, if any, you paid on
those shares while in the Fund up to the amount of any applicable
CDSC. See the PROSPECTUS of the Fund that charges the CDSC for more
details.
LIMITATIONS ON EXCHANGES. Certain patterns of exchanges may result in
the Fund limiting or prohibiting, at its discretion, additional
purchases and/or exchanges. Determinations in this regard may be
based on the frequency or dollar amount of previous exchanges. The
Fund will notify you in advance of limiting your exchange privileges.
For further information regarding exchange privileges, you should
contact your Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Financial Advisor or call
(800) 869-NEWS.
8
<PAGE>
[ICON] HOW TO SELL SHARES
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
You can sell some or all of your Fund shares at any time. Your shares
will be sold at the next share price calculated after we receive your
order to sell as described below.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
OPTIONS PROCEDURES
<S> <C>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Contact your To sell your shares, simply call your Morgan Stanley Dean
Financial Advisor Witter Financial Advisor or other authorized financial
representative.
------------------------------------------------------------
ICON
Payment will be sent to the address to which the account is
registered or deposited in your brokerage account.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Check-writing You may order a supply of blank checks by requesting them on
Option the investment application or by contacting your Morgan
Stanley Dean Witter Financial Advisor.
------------------------------------------------------------
ICON
Checks may be written in any amount not less than $500. You
must sign checks exactly as your shares are registered. If
the account is a joint account, the check may contain one
signature unless the joint owners have specified on an
investment application that all owners are required to sign
checks. Only accounts in which no share certificates have
been issued are eligible for the check-writing privilege.
------------------------------------------------------------
Payment of check proceeds normally will be made on the next
business day after we receive your check in proper form.
Shares purchased by check (including a certified or bank
cashier's check) are not normally available to cover
redemption checks until fifteen days after Morgan Stanley
Dean Witter Trust FSB receives the check used for
investment. A check will not be honored in an amount
exceeding the value of the account at the time the check is
presented for payment.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
By Letter You may also sell your shares by writing a "letter of
instruction" that includes:
- your account number;
ICON
- the dollar amount or the number of shares you wish to
sell; and
- the signature of each owner as it appears on the account.
------------------------------------------------------------
If you are requesting payment to anyone other than the
registered owner(s)or that payment be sent to any address
other than the address of the registered owner(s) or
pre-designated bank account, you will need a signature
guarantee. You can generally obtain a signature guarantee
from an eligible guarantor acceptable to Morgan Stanley Dean
Witter Trust FSB. (You should contact Morgan Stanley Dean
Witter Trust FSB at (800) 869-NEWS for a determination as to
whether a particular institution is an eligible guarantor.)
A notary public CANNOT provide a signature guarantee.
Additional documentation may be required for shares held by
a corporation, partnership, trustee or executor.
------------------------------------------------------------
Mail the letter to Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Trust FSB at
P.O. Box 983, Jersey City, NJ 07303. If you hold share
certificates, you must return the certificates, along with
the letter and any required additional documentation.
------------------------------------------------------------
A check will be mailed to the name(s) and address in which
the account is registered, or otherwise according to your
instructions.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
9
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
OPTIONS PROCEDURES
<S> <C>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Systematic If your investment in all of the Morgan Stanley Dean Witter
Withdrawal Family of Funds has a total market value of at least
Plan $10,000, you may elect to withdraw amounts of $25 or more,
or in any whole percentage of a Fund's balance (provided the
amount is at least $25), on a monthly, quarterly,
ICON
semi-annual or annual basis, from any Fund with a balance of
at least $1,000. Each time you add a Fund to the plan, you
must meet the plan requirements.
------------------------------------------------------------
To sign up for the Systematic Withdrawal Plan, contact your
Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Financial Advisor or call
(800) 869-NEWS. You may terminate or suspend your plan at
any time. Please remember that withdrawals from the plan are
sales of shares, not Fund "distributions," and ultimately
may exhaust your account balance. The Fund may terminate or
revise the plan at any time.
------------------------------------------------------------
When you sell Fund shares through the Systematic Withdrawal
Plan, the shares may be subject to a contingent deferred
sales charge ("CDSC") if they were obtained in exchange for
shares subject to a CDSC of another Morgan Stanley Dean
Witter Fund. The CDSC, however, will be waived in an amount
up to 12% annually of the Fund's value, although Fund shares
with no CDSC will be sold first, followed by those with the
lowest CDSC. As such, the waiver benefit will be reduced by
the amount of your shares that are not subject to a CDSC.
See the PROSPECTUS of the Fund that charges the CDSC for
more details.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
By Telephone To sell shares by telephone or wire, first complete a
or Wire telephone redemption application designating a bank account.
Redemptions for more than $1,000 will be wired to your bank
ICON account (your bank may charge a fee for this service). For
redemptions for less than $1,000, a check will be mailed to
your bank account. If you hold share certificates, you may
ICON not redeem those shares by this method. For more information
or to request a telephone redemption application, call
Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Trust FSB at (800) 869-NEWS.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
PAYMENT FOR SOLD SHARES. After we receive your complete instructions
to sell as described above, a check will be mailed to you within
seven days, although we will attempt to make payment within one
business day. Payment may also be sent to your brokerage account.
Payment may be postponed or the right to sell your shares suspended
under unusual circumstances. If you request to sell shares that were
recently purchased by check, your sale will not be effected until it
has been verified that the check has been honored.
INVOLUNTARY SALES. The Fund reserves the right, on sixty days'
notice, to sell the shares of any shareholder whose shares, due to
sales by the shareholder, have a value below $1,000. However, before
the Fund sells your shares in this manner, we will notify you and
allow you sixty days to make an additional investment in an amount
that will increase the value of your account to at least the required
amount before the sale is processed.
MONEY MARKET FUND AUTOMATIC SALE PROCEDURES. If you maintain a
brokerage account with Dean Witter Reynolds or another authorized
dealer of Fund shares, you may elect to have your Fund shares
automatically sold from your account to satisfy amounts you owe as a
result of purchasing securities or other transactions in your
brokerage account.
10
<PAGE>
[Sidebar]
TARGETED DIVIDENDS-SM-
YOU MAY SELECT TO HAVE YOUR FUND DISTRIBUTIONS AUTOMATICALLY INVESTED IN ANOTHER
MORGAN STANLEY DEAN WITTER FUND THAT YOU OWN. CONTACT YOUR MORGAN STANLEY DEAN
WITTER FINANCIAL ADVISOR FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ABOUT THIS SERVICE.
[End Sidebar]
If you elect to participate by notifying Dean Witter Reynolds or
another authorized dealer of Fund shares, your brokerage account will
be scanned each business day prior to the close of business
(4:00 p.m. Eastern time). After any cash balances in the account are
applied, a sufficient number of Fund shares may be sold to satisfy
any amounts you are obligated to pay to Dean Witter Reynolds or
another authorized dealer of Fund shares. Sales will be effected on
the business day before the date you are obligated to make payment,
and Dean Witter Reynolds or another authorized dealer of Fund shares
will receive the sale proceeds on the following day.
EASYINVEST -SM- - AUTOMATIC REDEMPTION. You may invest in shares of
certain other Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Funds by subscribing to
EASYINVEST -SM-, an automatic purchase plan that provides for the
automatic investment of any amount from $100 to $5,000 in shares of
the specified fund. Under EASYINVEST -SM-, you may direct that a
sufficient number of shares of the Fund be automatically sold and the
proceeds transferred to Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Trust FSB, on a
semi-monthly, monthly or quarterly basis, for investment in shares of
the specified fund. Sales of your Fund shares will be made on the
business day preceding the investment date and Morgan Stanley Dean
Witter Trust FSB will receive the proceeds for investment on the day
following the sale date.
MARGIN ACCOUNTS. If you have pledged your Fund shares in a margin
account, contact your Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Financial Advisor or
other authorized financial representative regarding restrictions on
the sale of such shares.
[ICON] DISTRIBUTIONS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Fund passes substantially all of its earnings along to its
investors as "distributions." The Fund earns interest from
fixed-income investments. These amounts are passed along to Fund
shareholders as "income dividend distributions." The Fund realizes
capital gains whenever it sells securities for a higher price than it
paid for them. These amounts may be passed along as "capital gain
distributions;" the Investment Manager does not anticipate that there
will be significant capital gain distributions.
The Fund declares income dividends, payable on each day the New York
Stock Exchange is open for business, of all of its daily net income
to shareholders of record as of the close of business the preceding
business day. Capital gains, if any, are distributed periodically.
Distributions are reinvested automatically in additional shares of
the Fund (rounded to the last 1/100 of a share) and automatically
credited to your account unless you request in writing that
distributions be paid in cash. If you elect the cash option, the Fund
will reinvest the additional shares and credit your account during
the month, then redeem the credited amount no later than the last
business day of the month, and mail a check to you no later than
seven business days after the end of the month. No interest will
accrue on uncashed checks. If you wish to change how your
distributions are paid, your request
11
<PAGE>
should be received by the Fund's transfer agent, Morgan Stanley Dean
Witter Trust FSB, at least five business days prior to the record
date of the distributions.
[ICON] TAX CONSEQUENCES
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
As with any investment, you should consider how your Fund investment
will be taxed. The tax information in this PROSPECTUS is provided as
general information. You should consult your own tax professional
about the tax consequences of an investment in the Fund.
Your income dividend distributions are normally exempt from federal
and California state income taxes -- to the extent they are derived
from California municipal obligations. Income derived from other
portfolio securities may be subject to federal, state and/or local
income taxes.
Income derived from some municipal securities is subject to the
federal "alternative minimum tax." Certain tax-exempt securities
whose proceeds are used to finance private, for-profit organizations
are subject to this special tax system that ensures that individuals
pay at least some federal taxes. Although interest on these
securities is generally exempt from federal income tax, some
taxpayers who have many tax deductions or exemptions nevertheless may
have to pay tax on the income.
If the Fund makes any capital gain distributions, those distributions
will normally be subject to federal and state income tax when they
are paid, whether you take them in cash or reinvest them in Fund
shares. Any short-term capital gain distributions are taxable to you
as ordinary income. Any long-term capital gain distributions are
taxable to you as long-term capital gains, no matter how long you
have owned shares in the Fund.
Every January, you will be sent a statement (IRS Form 1099-DIV)
showing the distributions paid to you in the previous year. The
statement provides information on your dividends and capital gains
for tax purposes.
When you open your Fund account, you should provide your social
security or tax identification number on your investment application.
By providing this information, you will avoid being subject to a
federal backup withholding tax of 31% on taxable distributions and
redemption proceeds. Any withheld amount would be sent to the IRS as
an advance tax payment.
12
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
4 4 0 --
for office use only
[logo]
</TABLE>
[REMOVE APPLICATION CAREFULLY]
APPLICATION
MORGAN STANLEY DEAN WITTER CALIFORNIA TAX-FREE DAILY INCOME TRUST
Send to: Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Trust FSB (the "Transfer Agent"),
P.O. Box 1040, Jersey City, NJ 07303
INSTRUCTIONS For assistance in completing this application,
telephone Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Trust FSB at
(800) 869-NEWS (Toll-Free).
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C>
TO REGISTER
SHARES
(please print) 1.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
First Name Last Name
- -As joint
tenants,
use line 1 & 2 2.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
First Name Last Name
(Joint tenants with rights of survivorship unless otherwise specified)
---------------------------------------
Social Security Number
- -As custodian
for a minor,
use lines 1 & 3 3.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Minor's Name
---------------------------------------
Minor's Social Security Number
Under the ___________________________ Uniform Gifts to Minors Act
State of Residence of Minor
- -In the name of a
corporation, 4.
trust, ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
partnership
or other Name of Corporation, Trust (including trustee name(s)) or Other Organization
institutional
investors,
use
line 4 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------
Tax Identification Number
If Trust, Date of Trust Instrument: _____________________________
ADDRESS ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
City State Zip Code
TO PURCHASE
SHARES:
Minimum Initial / / CHECK (enclosed) $________________ (Make Payable to Morgan Stanley Dean Witter
Investment: California Tax-Free Daily Income Trust)
$5,000 / / WIRE* On_______________ MF* _________________________________
(Date) (Control number, this transaction)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Name of Bank Branch
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Address
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Telephone Number
* For an initial investment made by wiring funds, obtain a control number by calling: (800) 869-NEWS
(Toll-Free).
Your bank should wire to:
Bank of New York for credit to account of Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Trust FSB
Account Number: 8900188413
Re: Morgan Stanley Dean Witter California Tax-Free Daily Income Trust
Account Of: _____________________________________________
(Investor's Account as Registered at the Transfer Agent)
Control or Account Number:______________________________________
(Assigned by Telephone)
OPTIONAL SERVICES
NOTE: If you are a current shareholder of Morgan Stanley Dean Witter California Tax-Free Daily
Income Trust, please indicate your fund account number here.
[4] [4] [0] -
------------------------------
DIVIDENDS All dividends will be reinvested daily in additional shares, unless the following option is selected:
/ / Pay income dividends by check at the end of each month.
WRITE YOUR OWN / / Send an initial supply of checks.
CHECK FOR JOINT ACCOUNTS:
/ / CHECK THIS BOX IF ALL OWNERS ARE REQUIRED TO SIGN CHECKS.
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
PAYMENT TO / / Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Trust FSB is hereby authorized to honor telephonic or other
PREDESIGNATED instructions, without signature guarantee, from any person for the redemption of any
BANK ACCOUNT or all shares of Dean Witter California Tax-Free Daily Income Trust held in my (our)
account provided that proceeds are transmitted only to the following bank account.
(Absent its own negligence, neither Morgan Stanley Dean Witter California Tax-Free
Daily Income Trust nor Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Trust FSB (the "Transfer Agent")
shall be liable for any redemption caused by unauthorized instruction(s)):
Bank Account must be in
same name as shares are
registered -------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------
NAME & BANK ACCOUNT NUMBER BANK'S ROUTING TRASMITTAL CODE
(ASK YOUR BANK)
Minimum Amount:
$1,000 ---------------------------------------------------------------
NAME OF BANK
---------------------------------------------------------------
ADDRESS OF BANK
( )
---------------------------------------------------------------
TELEPHONE NUMBER OF BANK
SIGNATURE AUTHORIZATION
FOR ALL ACCOUNTS NOTE: RETAIN A COPY OF THIS DOCUMENT FOR YOUR RECORDS. ANY MODIFICATION OF THE INFORMATION
BELOW WILL REQUIRE AN AMENDMENT TO THIS FORM. THIS DOCUMENT IS IN FULL FORCE AND EFFECT
UNTIL ANOTHER DULY EXECUTED FORM IS RECEIVED BY THE TRANSFER AGENT.
The "Transfer Agent" is hereby authorized to act as agent for the registered owner of
shares of Morgan Stanley Dean Witter California Tax-Free Daily Income Trust (the "Fund")
in effecting redemptions of shares and is authorized to recognize the signature(s) below
in payment of funds resulting from such redemptions on behalf of the registered owners of
such shares. The Transfer Agent shall be liable only for its own negligence and not for
default or negligence of its correspondents, or for losses in transit. The Fund shall
not be liable for any default or negligence of the Transfer Agent.
I (we) certify to my (our) legal capacity, or the capacity of the investor named above, to
invest in and redeem shares of, and I (we) acknowledge receipt of a current prospectus of,
Morgan Stanley Dean Witter California Tax-Free Daily Income Trust and (we) further certify
my (our) authority to sign and act for and on behalf of the investor.
Under penalties of perjury, I certify (1) that the number shown on this form is my correct
taxpayer identification number and (2) that I am not subject to backup withholding either
because I have not been notified that I am subject to backup withholding as a result of a
failure to report all interest or dividends, or the Internal Revenue Service has notified
me that I am no longer subject to backup withholding. (Note: You must cross out item (2)
above if you have been notified by IRS that you are currently subject to backup
withholding because of underreporting interest or dividends on your tax return.)
For Individual, Joint and Custodial Accounts for Minors, Check Applicable Box:
/ / I am a United States Citizen. / / I am not a United States Citizen.
SIGNATURE(S) (IF JOINT TENANTS, ALL MUST SIGN)
Name(s) must be
signed exactly the
same as shown on
lines 1 to 4 on the
reverse side of this
application
SIGNATURE MUST BE KEPT WITHIN ABOVE AREA SIGNATURE MUST BE KEPT WITHIN ABOVE AREA
SIGNATURE MUST BE KEPT WITHIN ABOVE AREA SIGNATURE MUST BE KEPT WITHIN ABOVE AREA
SIGNED THIS ___________________ DAY OF ____________________, 20__.
FOR CORPORATIONS, TRUSTS, PARTNERSHIPS AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS
The following named persons are currently officers/trustees/general partners/other authorized
signatories of the Registered Owner, and any __* of them ("Authorized Person(s)") is/are currently
authorized under the applicable governing document to act with full power to sell, assign or
transfer securities of the Fund for the Registered Owner and to execute and deliver any
instrument necessary to effectuate the authority hereby conferred:
NAME/TITLE SIGNATURE
In addition,
complete
Section A or B
below.
SIGNATURE MUST BE KEPT WITHIN ABOVE AREA SIGNATURE MUST BE KEPT WITHIN ABOVE AREA
SIGNATURE MUST BE KEPT WITHIN ABOVE AREA SIGNATURE MUST BE KEPT WITHIN ABOVE AREA
SIGNATURE MUST BE KEPT WITHIN ABOVE AREA SIGNATURE MUST BE KEPT WITHIN ABOVE AREA
SIGNED THIS ___________________ DAY OF ____________________, 20__.
The Transfer Agent may, without inquiry, act only upon the instruction of ANY PERSON(S) purporting
to be (an) Authorized Person(s) as named in the Certification Form last received by the Transfer
Agent. The Transfer Agent and the Fund shall not be liable for any claims, expenses (including legal
fees) or losses resulting from the Transfer Agent having acted upon any instruction reasonably
believed genuine.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*INSERT A NUMBER. UNLESS OTHERWISE INDICATED, THE TRANSFER AGENT MAY HONOR INSTRUCTIONS OF ANY ONE
OF THE PERSONS NAMED ABOVE.
SECTION (A) NOTE: EITHER A SIGNATURE GUARANTEE OR CORPORATE SEAL IS REQUIRED.
CORPORATIONS AND
INCORPORATED
ASSOCIATIONS ONLY. I, ______________________, Secretary of the Registered Owner, do hereby certify that at a meeting
on _____________________ at which a quorum was present throughout, the Board of Directors of the
corporation/the officers of the association duly adopted a resolution, which is in full force and
SIGN ABOVE AND COM- effect and in accordance with the Registered Owner's charter and by-laws, which resolution did
PLETE THIS the following: (1) empowered the above-named Authorized Person(s) to effect securities
SECTION transactions for the Registered Owner on the terms described above; (2) authorized the Secretary
to certify, from time to time, the names and titles of the officers of the Registered Owner and
to notify the Transfer Agent when changes in office occur; and (3) authorized the Secretary to
certify that such a resolution has been duly adopted and will remain in full force and effect
until the Transfer Agent receives a duly execute amendment to the Certification Form.
SIGNATURE
GUARANTEE** Witness my hand on behalf of the corporation/association this__________ day of ___________ , 20__.
(or Corporate Seal)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Secretary**
The undersigned officer (other than the Secretary) hereby certifies that the foregoing instrument
has been signed by the Secretary of the corporation/association.
SIGNATURE
GUARANTEE**
(or Corporate Seal)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Certifying Officer of the Corporation or Incorporated Association**
SECTION (B) ALL NOTE: A SIGNATURE GUARANTEE IS REQUIRED.
OTHER
INSTITUTIONAL
INVESTORS ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Certifying
SIGNATURE Trustee(s)/General Partner(s)/Other(s)**
GUARANTEE**
SIGN ABOVE AND COM- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PLETE THIS SECTION Certifying
Trustee(s)/General Partner(s)/Other(s)**
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
**SIGNATURE(S) MUST BE GUARANTEED BY AN ELIBIGLE GUARANTOR
DEALER Above signature(s) guaranteed. Prospectus has been delivered by undersigned to above-named applicant(s).
(if any)
Completion by
dealer only
------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------
Firm Name Office Number-Account Number at Dealer-F/A Number
------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------
Address Financial Advisor's Last Name
------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------
City, State, Zip Code Branch Office
- -Registered Trademark- 2000 Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Distributors Inc.
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
The financial highlights table is intended to help you understand the Fund's
financial performance for the past 5 fiscal years of the Fund. Certain
information reflects financial results for a single Fund share throughout each
year. The total returns in the table represent the rate an investor would have
earned or lost on an investment in the Fund (assuming reinvestment of all
dividends and distributions).
This information has been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, independent
accountants, whose report, along with the Fund's financial statements, is
included in this PROSPECTUS.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SELECTED PER SHARE DATA:
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net asset value, beginning of period $ 1.00 $ 1.00 $ 1.00 $ 1.00 $ 1.00
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net income from investment operations 0.023 0.025 0.028 0.026 0.030
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Less dividends from net investment income (0.023) (0.025) (0.028) (0.026) (0.030)
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net asset value, end of period $ 1.00 $ 1.00 $ 1.00 $ 1.00 $ 1.00
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTAL RETURN 2.28% 2.54% 2.83% 2.68% 3.04%
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET ASSETS:
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Expenses 0.72%(1) 0.70%(1) 0.72%(1) 0.72%(1) 0.75%(1)
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net investment income 2.25% 2.50% 2.79% 2.63% 3.00%
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SUPPLEMENTAL DATA:
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net assets, end of period, in thousands $281,541 $283,382 $287,001 $259,590 $254,376
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
(1) Does not reflect the effect of expense offset of 0.01%.
See Notes to Financial Statements
13
<PAGE>
MORGAN STANLEY DEAN WITTER CALIFORNIA TAX-FREE DAILY INCOME TRUST
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS DECEMBER 31, 1999
<TABLE>
PRINCIPAL
AMOUNT IN COUPON DEMAND
THOUSANDS RATE+ DATE* VALUE
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<C> <S> <C> <C> <C>
CALIFORNIA TAX-EXEMPT SHORT-TERM VARIABLE RATE MUNICIPAL OBLIGATIONS (65.2%)
$ 4,715 Alameda-Contra Costa Schools Financing Authority, Capital Improvements
Ser F COPs.......................................................... 4.70% 01/07/00 $ 4,715,000
California Educational Facilities Authority,
10,300 California Institute of Technology Ser 1994......................... 4.75 01/07/00 10,300,000
8,275 Stanford University Ser L-2......................................... 4.90 01/07/00 8,275,000
California Health Facilities Financing Authority,
8,000 Memorial Health Services 1994 Ser................................... 5.05 01/07/00 8,000,000
11,005 St Joseph Health System Ser 1985A................................... 4.20 01/03/00 11,005,000
California Pollution Control Financing Authority,
1,175 Chevron USA Inc Ser 1983............................................ 3.80 11/15/00 1,175,225
5,000 Chevron USA Inc Ser 1984B........................................... 3.15 06/15/00 5,000,762
12,000 Pacific Gas & Electric Co 1996 Ser F & 1997 Ser A................... 4.25 01/03/00 12,000,000
4,000 Southern California Edison Co 1986 Ser D............................ 4.10 01/03/00 4,000,000
10,000 California Public Capital Improvements Financing Authority, Pooled
Ser 1988 C.......................................................... 3.70 03/15/00 10,000,000
California Statewide Communities Development Authority,
3,000 House Ear Institute 1993 Ser A COPs................................. 4.25 01/03/00 3,000,000
4,185 John Muir/Mt Diablo Health System COPs (AMBAC)...................... 4.25 01/03/00 4,185,000
5,000 St Joseph Health System COPs........................................ 5.00 01/07/00 5,000,000
7,900 Sutter Health Ser 1995 COPs (AMBAC)................................. 4.20 01/03/00 7,900,000
4,000 Chula Vista, San Diego Gas & Electric Co Ser 1996 A................... 4.30 01/03/00 4,000,000
8,100 Los Angeles, Multi-Family 1985 Ser K.................................. 3.75 01/07/00 8,100,000
4,990 Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Prop C Sales
Tax
Refg Ser 1993-A (MBIA).............................................. 4.90 01/07/00 4,990,000
Metropolitan Water District of Southern California,
6,000 Water 1997 Ser B.................................................... 4.80 01/07/00 6,000,000
6,000 Water 1998 Ser C.................................................... 4.25 01/07/00 6,000,000
3,900 Monterey County Financing Authority, 1995 Ser A....................... 4.95 01/07/00 3,900,000
7,000 M-S-R Public Power Agency, San Juan Sub Lien 1998 Ser F (MBIA)........ 4.35 01/03/00 7,000,000
6,500 Newport Beach, Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian Ser 1992 &
1996 Ser A.......................................................... 4.40 01/03/00 6,500,000
5,000 Oakland Joint Powers Financing Authority, 1998 Ser A-2 (FSA).......... 4.70 01/07/00 5,000,000
6,000 Rancho California Water District Financing Authority, Ser 1998A
(FGIC).............................................................. 5.00 01/07/00 6,000,000
8,000 Sacramento County, Administration Center & Courthouse Ser 1990 COPs... 4.70 01/07/00 8,000,000
5,000 San Bernardino County, Medical Center Financing Ser 1998 COPs
(MBIA).............................................................. 4.95 01/07/00 5,000,000
4,000 Southern California Public Power Authority, Transmission Refg Sub 1991
Ser
(AMBAC)............................................................. 4.85 01/07/00 4,000,000
6,000 West Basin Municipal Water District, Ser 1997 B COPs.................. 4.80 01/07/00 6,000,000
PUERTO RICO
8,500 Puerto Rico Highway & Transportation Authority, Transportation 1998
Ser A (AMBAC)....................................................... 5.00 01/07/00 8,500,000
------------
TOTAL CALIFORNIA TAX-EXEMPT SHORT-TERM VARIABLE RATE MUNICIPAL OBLIGATIONS
(AMORTIZED COST $183,545,987).............................................................. 183,545,987
------------
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
YIELD TO
MATURITY
COUPON MATURITY ON DATE OF
RATE DATE PURCHASE
------- -------- ----------
<C> <S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
CALIFORNIA TAX-EXEMPT COMMERCIAL PAPER (23.3%)
4,000 California Pollution Control Financing Authority,
Southern California Edison Co Ser 1985 A............... 3.50% 01/20/00 3.50% 4,000,000
3,500 East Bay Municipal Utility District, Water............... 3.20 01/13/00 3.20 3,500,000
</TABLE>
SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
14
<PAGE>
MORGAN STANLEY DEAN WITTER CALIFORNIA TAX-FREE DAILY INCOME TRUST
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS DECEMBER 31, 1999, CONTINUED
<TABLE>
YIELD TO
PRINCIPAL MATURITY
AMOUNT IN COUPON MATURITY ON DATE OF
THOUSANDS RATE DATE PURCHASE VALUE
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<C> <S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
$7,000 Los Angeles, Wastewater Ser 1997......................... 3.35% 01/13/00 3.35% $ 7,000,000
5,000 Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority,
Sales Tax Ser A........................................ 3.55 02/08/00 3.55 5,000,000
San Diego,
4,000 San Diego Gas & Electric Co 1995 Ser A................. 3.45 01/19/00 3.45 4,000,000
5,000 San Diego Gas & Electric Co 1995 Ser B................. 3.55 01/12/00 3.55 5,000,000
San Diego County Regional Transportation Commission,
5,000 Ser A.................................................. 3.60 01/12/00 3.60 5,000,000
5,300 Ser A.................................................. 3.60 01/19/00 3.60 5,300,000
San Diego County Water Authority,
3,700 Ser # 1................................................ 3.50 02/09/00 3.50 3,700,000
6,000 Ser # 1................................................ 3.50 02/10/00 3.50 6,000,000
5,000 University of California Regents, Ser A.................. 3.45 02/09/00 3.45 5,000,000
PUERTO RICO
Puerto Rico Government Development Bank,
4,000 Ser 1996............................................... 3.20 01/20/00 3.20 4,000,000
5,000 Ser 1996............................................... 3.55 01/27/00 3.55 5,000,000
3,000 Ser 1996............................................... 3.55 03/07/00 3.55 3,000,000
------------
TOTAL CALIFORNIA TAX-EXEMPT COMMERCIAL PAPER
(AMORTIZED COST $65,500,000).............................................................. 65,500,000
------------
CALIFORNIA TAX-EXEMPT SHORT-TERM MUNICIPAL NOTES (11.0%)
3,000 Alameda County, Ser 1999-2000 TRANs, dtd 07/08/99........ 4.00 07/07/00 3.32 3,010,137
5,000 California Community College Financing Authority, 1999
Ser A TRANs, dtd 07/01/99.............................. 4.00 06/30/00 3.09 5,021,819
10,000 California School Cash Reserve Program Authority, 1999
Pool Ser A (AMBAC), dtd 07/02/99....................... 4.00 07/03/00 3.10 10,043,869
3,000 Kern County, 1999-2000 TRANs, dtd 07/01/99............... 4.00 06/30/00 3.15 3,012,214
10,000 Los Angeles County, 1999-2000 Ser A TRANs, dtd
07/01/99............................................... 4.00 06/30/00 3.32 10,032,530
------------
TOTAL CALIFORNIA TAX-EXEMPT SHORT-TERM MUNICIPAL NOTES
(AMORTIZED COST $31,120,569).............................................................. 31,120,569
------------
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C>
TOTAL INVESTMENTS
(AMORTIZED COST $280,166,556) (A)......................................................... 99.5% 280,166,556
CASH AND OTHER ASSETS IN EXCESS OF LIABILITIES............................................ 0.5 1,374,041
----- -------------
NET ASSETS................................................................................ 100.0% $ 281,540,597
----- -------------
----- -------------
</TABLE>
- ---------------------
COPs Certificates of Participation.
TRANs Tax Revenue Anticipation Notes.
+ Rate shown is rate in effect at December 31, 1999.
* Date on which the principal amount can be recovered through demand.
(a) Cost is the same for federal income tax purposes.
BOND INSURANCE:
AMBAC AMBAC Assurance Corporation.
FGIC Financial Guaranty Insurance Company.
FSA Financial Security Assurance Inc.
MBIA Municipal Bond Investors Assurance Corporation.
SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
15
<PAGE>
MORGAN STANLEY DEAN WITTER CALIFORNIA TAX-FREE DAILY INCOME TRUST
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
DECEMBER 31, 1999
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
ASSETS:
Investments in securities, at value
(amortized cost $280,166,556)............................................................... $280,166,556
Cash.......................................................................................... 1,110,887
Interest receivable........................................................................... 1,676,071
Prepaid expenses and other assets............................................................. 17,855
------------
TOTAL ASSETS............................................................................. 282,971,369
------------
LIABILITIES:
Payable for:
Shares of beneficial interest repurchased................................................. 1,196,472
Investment management fee................................................................. 119,173
Plan of distribution fee.................................................................. 23,835
Accrued expenses.............................................................................. 91,292
------------
TOTAL LIABILITIES........................................................................ 1,430,772
------------
NET ASSETS............................................................................... $281,540,597
============
COMPOSITION OF NET ASSETS:
Paid-in-capital............................................................................... $281,540,552
Accumulated undistributed net investment income............................................... 45
------------
NET ASSETS............................................................................... $281,540,597
============
NET ASSET VALUE PER SHARE,
281,540,552 SHARES OUTSTANDING (UNLIMITED SHARES AUTHORIZED OF $.01 PAR VALUE).............. $1.00
============
</TABLE>
SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
16
<PAGE>
MORGAN STANLEY DEAN WITTER CALIFORNIA TAX-FREE DAILY INCOME TRUST
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, CONTINUED
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1999
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
NET INVESTMENT INCOME:
INTEREST INCOME................................................................................. $8,075,695
----------
EXPENSES
Investment management fee....................................................................... 1,362,257
Plan of distribution fee........................................................................ 265,134
Transfer agent fees and expenses................................................................ 144,413
Professional fees............................................................................... 79,199
Shareholder reports and notices................................................................. 50,967
Trustees' fees and expenses..................................................................... 18,217
Custodian fees.................................................................................. 13,987
Registration fees............................................................................... 9,811
Other........................................................................................... 4,573
----------
TOTAL EXPENSES............................................................................. 1,948,558
Less: expense offset............................................................................ (13,987)
----------
NET EXPENSES............................................................................... 1,934,571
----------
NET INVESTMENT INCOME...................................................................... $6,141,124
==========
</TABLE>
SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
17
<PAGE>
MORGAN STANLEY DEAN WITTER CALIFORNIA TAX-FREE DAILY INCOME TRUST
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, CONTINUED
STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS
<TABLE>
FOR THE YEAR FOR THE YEAR
ENDED ENDED
DECEMBER 31, 1999 DECEMBER 31, 1998
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
INCREASE (DECREASE) IN NET ASSETS:
OPERATIONS:
Net investment income................................................. $ 6,141,124 $ 7,398,716
Dividends from net investment income.................................. (6,141,182) (7,398,744)
Net decrease from transactions in shares of beneficial interest....... (1,841,695) (3,618,367)
------------ ------------
NET DECREASE..................................................... (1,841,753) (3,618,395)
NET ASSETS:
Beginning of period................................................... 283,382,350 287,000,745
------------ ------------
END OF PERIOD
(INCLUDING UNDISTRIBUTED NET INVESTMENT INCOME OF $45 AND $103,
RESPECTIVELY)..................................................... $281,540,597 $283,382,350
============ ============
</TABLE>
SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
18
<PAGE>
MORGAN STANLEY DEAN WITTER CALIFORNIA TAX-FREE DAILY INCOME TRUST
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS DECEMBER 31, 1999
1. ORGANIZATION AND ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Morgan Stanley Dean Witter California Tax-Free Daily Income Trust (the "Fund")
is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "Act"),
as a diversified, open-end management investment company. The Fund's investment
objective is to provide a high level of daily income which is exempt from
federal and California income tax, consistent with stability of principal and
liquidity. The Fund was organized as a Massachusetts business trust on April 25,
1988 and commenced operations on July 22, 1988.
The preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted
accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that
affect the reported amounts and disclosures. Actual results could differ from
those estimates.
The following is a summary of significant accounting policies:
A. VALUATION OF INVESTMENTS -- Portfolio securities are valued at amortized
cost, which approximates market value.
B. ACCOUNTING FOR INVESTMENTS -- Security transactions are accounted for on the
trade date (date the order to buy or sell is executed). Realized gains and
losses on security transactions are determined by the identified cost method.
The Fund amortizes premiums and accretes discounts over the life of the
respective securities. Interest income is accrued daily.
C. FEDERAL INCOME TAX STATUS -- It is the Fund's policy to comply with the
requirements of the Internal Revenue Code applicable to regulated investment
companies and to distribute all of its taxable and nontaxable income to its
shareholders. Accordingly, no federal income tax provision is required.
D. DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS -- The Fund records dividends and
distributions to shareholders as of the close of each business day.
2. INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT
Pursuant to an Investment Management Agreement with Morgan Stanley Dean Witter
Advisors Inc. (the "Investment Manager"), the Fund pays the Investment Manager a
management fee, accrued daily and payable monthly, by applying the following
annual rates to the net assets of the Fund determined as of the close of each
business day: 0.50% to the portion of the daily net assets not exceeding $500
million; 0.425% to the portion of the daily net assets exceeding $500 million
but not
19
<PAGE>
MORGAN STANLEY DEAN WITTER CALIFORNIA TAX-FREE DAILY INCOME TRUST
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS DECEMBER 31, 1999, CONTINUED
exceeding $750 million; 0.375% to the portion of the daily net assets exceeding
$750 million but not exceeding $1 billion; 0.35% to the portion of the daily net
assets exceeding $1 billion but not exceeding $1.5 billion; 0.325% to the
portion of the daily net assets exceeding $1.5 billion but not exceeding $2
billion; 0.30% to the portion of the daily net assets exceeding $2 billion but
not exceeding $2.5 billion; 0.275% to the portion of the daily net assets
exceeding $2.5 billion but not exceeding $3 billion; and 0.25% to the portion of
the daily net assets exceeding $3 billion.
Under the terms of the Agreement, in addition to managing the Fund's
investments, the Investment Manager maintains certain of the Fund's books and
records and furnishes, at its own expense, office space, facilities, equipment,
clerical, bookkeeping and certain legal services and pays the salaries of all
personnel, including officers of the Fund who are employees of the Investment
Manager. The Investment Manager also bears the cost of telephone services, heat,
light, power and other utilities provided to the Fund.
3. PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Distributors Inc. (the "Distributor"), an affiliate
of the Investment Manager, is the distributor of the Fund's shares and, in
accordance with a Plan of Distribution (the "Plan") pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under
the Act, finances certain expenses in connection therewith.
Under the Plan, the Distributor bears the expense of all promotional and
distribution related activities on behalf of the Fund, except for expenses that
the Trustees determine to reimburse, as described below. The following
activities and services may be provided by the Distributor and other
broker-dealers under the Plan: (1) compensation to, and expenses of, Morgan
Stanley Dean Witter Financial Advisors and other selected broker-dealers; (2)
sales incentives and bonuses to sales representatives and to marketing personnel
in connection with promoting sales of the Fund's shares; (3) expenses incurred
in connection with promoting sales of the Fund's shares; (4) preparing and
distributing sales literature; and (5) providing advertising and promotional
activities, including direct mail solicitation and television, radio, newspaper,
magazine and other media advertisements.
The Fund is authorized to reimburse the Distributor for specific expenses the
Distributor incurs or plans to incur in promoting the distribution of the Fund's
shares. The amount of each monthly reimbursement payment may in no event exceed
an amount equal to a payment at the annual rate of 0.15% of the Fund's average
daily net assets during the month. Expenses incurred by the Distributor
20
<PAGE>
MORGAN STANLEY DEAN WITTER CALIFORNIA TAX-FREE DAILY INCOME TRUST
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS DECEMBER 31, 1999, CONTINUED
pursuant to the Plan in any fiscal year will not be reimbursed by the Fund
through payments accrued in any subsequent fiscal year. For the year ended
December 31, 1999, the distribution fee was accrued at the annual rate of 0.10%.
4. SECURITY TRANSACTIONS AND TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES
The cost of purchases and proceeds from sales/maturities of portfolio securities
for the year ended December 31, 1999 aggregated $525,611,410 and $529,890,000,
respectively.
Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Trust FSB, an affiliate of the Investment Manager and
Distributor, is the Fund's transfer agent. At December 31, 1999, the Fund had
transfer agent fees and expenses payable of approximately $1,700.
The Fund has an unfunded noncontributory defined benefit pension plan covering
all independent Trustees of the Fund who will have served as independent
Trustees for at least five years at the time of retirement. Benefits under this
plan are based on years of service and compensation during the last five years
of service. Aggregate pension costs for the year ended December 31, 1999
included in Trustees' fees and expenses in the Statement of Operations amounted
to $5,886. At December 31, 1999, the Fund had an accrued pension liability of
$52,582 which is included in accrued expenses in the Statement of Assets and
Liabilities.
5. SHARES OF BENEFICIAL INTEREST
Transactions in shares of beneficial interest, at $1.00 per share, were as
follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
FOR THE YEAR FOR THE YEAR
ENDED ENDED
DECEMBER 31, 1999 DECEMBER 31, 1998
----------------- -----------------
<S> <C> <C>
Shares sold...................................................... 466,839,199 526,385,736
Shares issued in reinvestment of dividends....................... 6,141,182 7,398,744
------------ ------------
472,980,381 533,784,480
Shares repurchased............................................... (474,822,076) (537,402,847)
------------ ------------
Net decrease in shares outstanding............................... (1,841,695) (3,618,367)
============ ============
</TABLE>
21
<PAGE>
MORGAN STANLEY DEAN WITTER CALIFORNIA TAX-FREE
DAILY INCOME TRUST
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
TO THE SHAREHOLDERS AND TRUSTEES
OF MORGAN STANLEY DEAN WITTER CALIFORNIA TAX-FREE DAILY INCOME TRUST
In our opinion, the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including
the portfolio of investments, and the related statements of operations and of
changes in net assets and the financial highlights present fairly, in all
material respects, the financial position of Morgan Stanley Dean Witter
California Tax-Free Daily Income Trust (the "Fund") at December 31, 1999, the
results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets
for each of the two years in the period then ended and the financial highlights
for each of the five years in the period then ended, in conformity with
accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. These financial
statements and financial highlights (hereafter referred to as "financial
statements") are the responsibility of the Fund's management; our responsibility
is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits. We
conducted our audits of these financial statements in accordance with auditing
standards generally accepted in the United States, which require that we plan
and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial
statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a
test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial
statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates
made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.
We believe that our audits, which included confirmation of securities at
December 31, 1999 by correspondence with the custodian, provide a reasonable
basis for the opinion expressed above.
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
1177 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS
NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10036
FEBRUARY 7, 2000
1999 FEDERAL TAX NOTICE (UNAUDITED)
For the year ended December 31, 1999, all of the Fund's dividends
from net investment income were exempt interest dividends,
excludable from gross income for Federal income tax purposes.
22
<PAGE>
NOTES
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23
<PAGE>
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24
<PAGE>
MORGAN STANLEY DEAN WITTER
FAMILY OF FUNDS
The Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Family of Funds offers investors a wide
range of investment choices. Come on in and meet the family!
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
GROWTH FUNDS
- ---------------------------------
GROWTH FUNDS
Aggressive Equity Fund
American Opportunities Fund
Capital Growth Securities
Developing Growth Securities
Growth Fund
Market Leader Trust
Mid-Cap Equity Trust
Next Generation Trust
Small Cap Growth Fund
Special Value Fund
21st Century Trend Fund
THEME FUNDS
Financial Services Trust
Health Sciences Trust
Information Fund
Natural Resource Development Securities
GLOBAL/INTERNATIONAL FUNDS
Competitive Edge Fund - "Best Ideas" Portfolio
European Growth Fund
Fund of Funds - International Portfolio
International Fund
International SmallCap Fund
Japan Fund
Latin American Growth Fund
Pacific Growth Fund
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
GROWTH AND INCOME FUNDS
- ---------------------------------
Balanced Growth Fund
Balanced Income Fund
Convertible Securities Trust
Dividend Growth Securities
Equity Fund
Fund of Funds - Domestic Portfolio
Income Builder Fund
Mid-Cap Dividend Growth Securities
S&P 500 Index Fund
S&P 500 Select Fund
Strategist Fund
Total Market Index Fund
Total Return Trust
Value Fund
Value-Added Market Series/Equity Portfolio
THEME FUNDS
Real Estate Fund
Utilities Fund
GLOBAL FUNDS
Global Dividend Growth Securities
Global Utilities Fund
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
INCOME FUNDS
- ---------------------------------
GOVERNMENT INCOME FUNDS
Federal Securities Trust
Short-Term U.S. Treasury Trust
U.S. Government Securities Trust
DIVERSIFIED INCOME FUNDS
Diversified Income Trust
CORPORATE INCOME FUNDS
High Yield Securities
Intermediate Income Securities
Short-Term Bond Fund (NL)
GLOBAL INCOME FUNDS
North American Government Income Trust
World Wide Income Trust
TAX-FREE INCOME FUNDS
California Tax-Free Income Fund
Hawaii Municipal Trust (FSC)
Limited Term Municipal Trust (NL)
Multi-State Municipal Series Trust (FSC)
New York Tax-Free Income Fund
Tax-Exempt Securities Trust
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MONEY MARKET FUNDS
- ---------------------------------
TAXABLE MONEY MARKET FUNDS
Liquid Asset Fund (MM)
U.S. Government Money Market Trust (MM)
TAX-FREE MONEY MARKET FUNDS
California Tax-Free Daily Income Trust (MM)
New York Municipal Money Market Trust (MM)
Tax-Free Daily Income Trust (MM)
There may be Funds created after this PROSPECTUS was published. Please consult
the inside back cover of a new Fund's PROSPECTUS for its designation, e.g.,
Multi-Class Fund or Money Market Fund.
Unless otherwise noted, each listed Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Fund, except for
North American Government Income Trust and Short-Term U.S. Treasury Trust, is a
Multi-Class Fund, which is a mutual fund offering multiple Classes of shares.
The other types of funds are: NL - No-Load (Mutual) Fund;
MM - Money Market Fund; FSC - A mutual fund sold with a front-end sales charge
and a distribution (12b-1) fee.
<PAGE>
PROSPECTUS - FEBRUARY 28, 2000
Additional information about the Fund's investments is available in the Fund's
ANNUAL AND SEMI-ANNUAL REPORTS TO SHAREHOLDERS (the current annual report is
included in this PROSPECTUS). The Fund's STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
also provides additional information about the Fund. The STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION is incorporated herein by reference (legally is part of this
PROSPECTUS). For a free copy of any of these documents, to request other
information about the Fund, or to make shareholder inquiries, please call:
(800) 869-NEWS
You also may obtain information about the Fund by calling your Morgan Stanley
Dean Witter Financial Advisor or by visiting our Internet site at:
www.msdw.com/individual/funds
Information about the Fund (including the STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION)
can be viewed and copied at the Securities and Exchange Commission's Public
Reference Room in Washington, DC. Information about the Reference Room's
operations may be obtained by calling the SEC at
(202) 942-8090. Reports and other information about the Fund are available on
the EDGAR Database on the SEC's Internet site at www.sec.gov, and copies of this
information may be obtained, after paying a duplicating fee, by electronic
request at the following e-mail address: [email protected], or by writing the
Public Reference Section of the SEC, Washington, DC 20549-0102.
TICKER SYMBOL: DSCXX
Morgan Stanley Dean Witter
CALIFORNIA TAX-FREE
DAILY INCOME TRUST
[BACK COVER PHOTO]
A MONEY MARKET FUND THAT SEEKS
TO PROVIDE AS HIGH A LEVEL OF
DAILY INCOME EXEMPT FROM FEDERAL
AND CALIFORNIA INCOME TAX AS IS
CONSISTENT WITH STABILITY OF
PRINCIPAL AND LIQUIDITY
(THE FUND'S INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT FILE NO. IS 811-5554.)
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION MORGAN STANLEY
FEBRUARY 28, 2000 DEAN WITTER
CALIFORNIA
TAX-FREE DAILY
INCOME TRUST
</TABLE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION is not a PROSPECTUS. The PROSPECTUS
(dated February 28, 2000) for the Morgan Stanley Dean Witter California Tax-Free
Daily Income Trust may be obtained without charge from the Fund at its address
or telephone number listed below or from Dean Witter Reynolds at any of its
branch offices.
Morgan Stanley Dean Witter
California Tax-Free Daily Income Trust
Two World Trade Center
New York, New York 10048
(800) 869-NEWS
<PAGE>
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
I. Fund History............................................. 4
II. Description of the Fund and Its Investments and Risks... 4
A. Classification......................................... 4
B. Investment Strategies and Risks........................ 4
C. Investment Objective/Policies/Investment
Restrictions............................................. 11
III. Management of the Fund................................. 13
A. Board of Trustees...................................... 13
B. Management Information................................. 13
C. Compensation........................................... 18
IV. Control Persons and Principal Holders of Securities..... 19
V. Investment Management and Other Services................. 19
A. Investment Manager..................................... 19
B. Principal Underwriter.................................. 20
C. Services Provided by the Investment Manager............ 20
D. Rule 12b-1 Plan........................................ 21
E. Other Service Providers................................ 23
VI. Brokerage Allocation and Other Practices................ 24
A. Brokerage Transactions................................. 24
B. Commissions............................................ 24
C. Brokerage Selection.................................... 25
D. Directed Brokerage..................................... 25
E. Regular Broker-Dealers................................. 25
VII. Capital Stock and Other Securities..................... 26
VIII. Purchase, Redemption and Pricing of Shares............ 26
A. Purchase/Redemptions of Shares......................... 26
B. Offering Price......................................... 27
IX. Taxation of the Fund and Shareholders................... 29
X. Underwriters............................................. 31
XI. Calculation of Performance Data......................... 31
XII. Financial Statements................................... 32
</TABLE>
2
<PAGE>
GLOSSARY OF SELECTED DEFINED TERMS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The terms defined in this glossary are frequently used in this STATEMENT OF
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION (other terms used occasionally are defined in the text of
the document).
"CUSTODIAN"--The Bank of New York.
"DEAN WITTER REYNOLDS"--Dean Witter Reynolds Inc., a wholly-owned broker-dealer
subsidiary of MSDW.
"DISTRIBUTOR"--Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Distributors Inc., a wholly-owned
broker-dealer subsidiary of MSDW.
"FINANCIAL ADVISORS"--Morgan Stanley Dean Witter authorized financial services
representatives.
"FUND"--Morgan Stanley Dean Witter California Tax-Free Daily Income Trust, a
registered no-load open-end investment company.
"INVESTMENT MANAGER"--Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Advisors Inc., a wholly-owned
investment advisor subsidiary of MSDW.
"INDEPENDENT TRUSTEES"--Trustees who are not "interested persons" (as defined by
the Investment Company Act) of the Fund.
"MORGAN STANLEY & CO."--Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated, a wholly-owned
broker-dealer subsidiary of MSDW.
"MORGAN STANLEY DEAN WITTER FUNDS"--Registered investment companies (i) for
which the Investment Manager serves as the investment advisor and (ii) that hold
themselves out to investors as related companies for investment and investor
services.
"MSDW"--Morgan Stanley Dean Witter & Co., a preeminent global financial services
firm.
"MSDW SERVICES COMPANY"--Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Services Company Inc., a
wholly-owned fund services subsidiary of the Investment Manager.
"TRANSFER AGENT"--Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Trust FSB, a wholly-owned transfer
agent subsidiary of MSDW.
"TRUSTEES"--The Board of Trustees of the Fund.
3
<PAGE>
I. FUND HISTORY
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Fund was organized as a Massachusetts business trust, under a
Declaration of Trust, on April 25, 1988, with the name Dean Witter/Sears
California Tax-Free Daily Income Trust. On February 19, 1993, the Fund's name
was changed to Dean Witter California Tax-Free Daily Income Trust. Effective
June 22, 1998, the Fund's name was changed to Morgan Stanley Dean Witter
California Tax-Free Daily Income Trust.
II. DESCRIPTION OF THE FUND AND ITS INVESTMENTS AND RISKS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A. CLASSIFICATION
The Fund is an open-end, diversified management investment company whose
investment objective is to provide as high a level of daily income exempt from
federal and California income tax as is consistent with stability of principal
and liquidity.
B. INVESTMENT STRATEGIES AND RISKS
The following discussion of the Fund's investment strategies and risks
should be read with the sections of the Fund's PROSPECTUS titled "Principal
Investment Strategies" and "Principal Risks."
LEASE OBLIGATIONS. Included within the revenue bonds category in which the
Fund may invest are participations in lease obligations or installment purchase
contracts (collectively called "lease obligations") of municipalities. State and
local governments issue lease obligations to acquire equipment and facilities.
Lease obligations may have risks not normally associated with general
obligation or other revenue bonds. Leases and installment purchase or
conditional sale contracts (which may provide for title to the leased asset to
pass eventually to the issuer) have developed as a means for governmental
issuers to acquire property and equipment without the necessity of complying
with the constitutional and statutory requirements generally applicable for the
issuance of debt. Certain lease obligations contain "non-appropriation" clauses
that provide that the governmental issuer has no obligation to make future
payments under the lease or contract unless money is appropriated for such
purpose by the appropriate legislative body on an annual or other periodic
basis. Consequently, continued lease payments on those lease obligations
containing "non-appropriation" clauses are dependent on future legislative
actions. If such legislative actions do not occur, the holders of the lease
obligation may experience difficulty in exercising their rights, including
disposition of the property.
TAXABLE SECURITIES. The Fund may invest up to 20% of its total assets in
taxable money market instruments, repurchase agreements and non-California
tax-exempt securities. Investments in taxable money market instruments would
generally be made under any one of the following circumstances: (a) pending
investment proceeds of sale of Fund shares or of portfolio securities;
(b) pending settlement of purchases of portfolio securities; and (c) to maintain
liquidity for the purpose of meeting anticipated redemptions. Only those
non-California tax-exempt securities which satisfy the standards established for
California tax-exempt securities may be purchased by the Fund.
The types of taxable money market instruments in which the Fund may invest
are limited to the following short-term fixed-income securities (maturing in one
year or less from the time of purchase): (i) obligations of the United States
Government, its agencies, instrumentalities or authorities; (ii) commercial
paper rated P-1 by Moody's Investors Services, Inc. ("Moody's") or A-1 by
Standard & Poor's Corporation ("S&P"); (iii) certificates of deposit of domestic
banks with assets of $1 billion or more; and (iv) repurchase agreements with
respect to portfolio securities.
VARIABLE RATE AND FLOATING RATE OBLIGATIONS. The Fund may invest in
Municipal Bonds and Municipal Notes ("Municipal Obligations") of the type called
variable rate and floating rate obligations. The interest rate payable on a
variable rate obligation is adjusted either at predesignated periodic intervals
and, on a floating rate obligation, whenever there is a change in the market
rate of interest on which the interest rate payable is based. Other features may
include the right whereby the Fund may
4
<PAGE>
demand prepayment of the principal amount of the obligation prior to its stated
maturity (a "demand feature") and the right of the issuer to prepay the
principal amount prior to maturity. The principal benefit of a variable rate
obligation is that the interest rate adjustment minimizes changes in the market
value of the obligation. As a result, the purchase of variable rate and floating
rate obligations should enhance the ability of the Fund to maintain a stable net
asset value per share and to sell obligations prior to maturity at a price that
is approximately the full principal amount of the obligations. The principal
benefit to the Fund of purchasing obligations with a demand feature is that
liquidity, and the ability of the Fund to obtain repayment of the full principal
amount of an obligation prior to maturity, is enhanced. The payment of principal
and interest by issuers of certain obligations purchased by the Fund may be
guaranteed by letters of credit or other credit facilities offered by banks or
other financial institutions. Such guarantees will be considered in determining
whether an obligation meets the Fund's investment quality requirements.
INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT AND POLLUTION CONTROL BONDS. The Fund may invest
more than 25% of its total assets in industrial development and pollution
control bonds (two kinds of tax-exempt Municipal Bonds) whether or not the users
of facilities financed by such bonds are in the same industry. In cases where
such users are in the same industry, there may be additional risk to the Fund in
the event of an economic downturn in such industry, which may result generally
in a lowered need for such facilities and a lowered ability of such users to pay
for the use of such facilities.
PUT OPTIONS. The Fund may purchase securities together with the right to
resell them to the seller at an agreed upon price or yield within a specified
period prior to the maturity date of such securities. Such a right to resell is
commonly known as a "put," and the aggregate price which the Fund pays for
securities with puts may be higher than the price which otherwise would be paid
for the securities. The primary purpose of this practice is to permit the Fund
to be fully invested in securities, the interest on which is exempt from Federal
and California personal income tax, while preserving the necessary flexibility
and liquidity to purchase securities on a when-issued basis, to meet unusually
large redemptions and to purchase at a later date securities other than those
subject to the put. The Fund's policy is, generally, to exercise the puts on
their expiration date, when the exercise price is higher than the current market
price for the related securities. Puts may be exercised prior to the expiration
date in order to fund obligations to purchase other securities or to meet
redemption requests. These obligations may arise during periods in which
proceeds from sales of Fund shares and from recent sales of portfolio securities
are insufficient to meet such obligations or when the funds available are
otherwise allocated for investment. In addition, puts may be exercised prior to
their expiration date in the event the Investment Manager revises its evaluation
of the creditworthiness of the issuer of the underlying security. In determining
whether to exercise puts prior to their expiration date and in selecting which
puts to exercise in such circumstances, the Investment Manager considers, among
other things, the amount of cash available to the Fund, the expiration dates of
the available puts, any future commitments for securities purchases, the yield,
quality and maturity dates of the underlying securities, alternative investment
opportunities and the desirability of retaining the underlying securities in the
Fund's portfolio.
The Fund values securities which are subject to puts at their amortized cost
and values the put, apart from the security, at zero. Thus, the cost of the put
will be carried on the Fund's books as an unrealized loss from the date of
acquisition and will be reflected in realized gain or loss when the put is
exercised or expires. Since the value of the put is dependent on the ability of
the put writer to meet its obligation to repurchase, the Fund's policy is to
enter into put transactions only with municipal securities dealers who are
approved by the Trustees. Each dealer will be approved on its own merits and it
is the Fund's general policy to enter into put transactions only with those
dealers which are determined to present minimal credit risks. In connection with
such determination, the Trustees will review, among other things, the ratings,
if available, of equity and debt securities of such municipal securities
dealers, their reputations in the municipal securities markets, the net worth of
such dealers and their efficiency in consummating transactions. Bank dealers
normally will be members of the Federal Reserve System, and other dealers will
be members of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. or members of
a national securities exchange. The Trustees have directed the Investment
Manager not to enter into put
5
<PAGE>
transactions with, and to exercise outstanding puts of, any municipal securities
dealer which, in the judgment of the Investment Manager, ceases at any time to
present a minimal credit risk. In the event that a dealer should default on its
obligation to repurchase an underlying security, the Fund is unable to predict
whether all or any portion of any loss sustained could be subsequently recovered
from such dealer.
In Revenue Ruling 82-144, the Internal Revenue Service stated that, under
certain circumstances, a purchaser of tax-exempt obligations which are subject
to puts will be considered the owner of the obligations for Federal income tax
purposes.
REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS. The Fund may invest in repurchase agreements. When
cash may be available for only a few days, it may be invested by the Fund in
repurchase agreements until such time as it may otherwise be invested or used
for payments of obligations of the Fund. These agreements, which may be viewed
as a type of secured lending by the Fund, 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 serving as collateral at a specified price
and at a fixed time in the future, usually not more than seven days from the
date of purchase. The Fund will accrue interest from the institution until the
time when the repurchase is to occur. Although this date is deemed by the Fund
to be the maturity date of a repurchase agreement, the maturities of securities
subject to repurchase agreements are not subject to any limits.
While repurchase agreements involve certain risks not associated with direct
investments in debt securities, the Fund follows procedures designed to minimize
such risks. These procedures include effecting repurchase transactions only with
large, well capitalized and well established financial institutions, whose
financial condition will be continuously monitored. In addition, the value of
the collateral underlying the repurchase agreement will always be at least equal
to the resale price which consists of the acquisition price paid to the seller
of the securities plus the accrued resale premium which is defined as the amount
specified in the repurchase agreement or the daily amortization of the
difference between the acquisition price and the resale price specified in the
repurchase agreement. Such collateral will consist entirely of securities that
are direct obligations of, or that are fully guaranteed as to principal and
interest by, the United States or any agency thereof, and/or certificates of
deposit, bankers' acceptances which are eligible for acceptance by a Federal
Reserve Bank, and, if the seller is a bank, mortgage related securities (as such
term is defined in section 3(a)(41) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that,
at the time the repurchase agreement is entered into, are rated in the highest
rating category by the Requisite NRSROs (as defined under Rule 2a-7 of the
Investment Company Act of 1940) . Additionally, Upon an Event of Insolvency (as
defined under Rule 2a-7) with respect to the seller, the collateral must qualify
the repurchase agreement for preferential treatment under a provision of
applicable insolvency law providing an exclusion from any automatic stay of
creditors' rights against the seller . In the event of a default or bankruptcy
by a selling financial institution, the Fund will seek to liquidate such
collateral. However, the exercise 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. It is the current
policy of the Fund not to invest in repurchase agreements that do not mature
within seven days if any such investment, together with any other illiquid
assets held by the Fund, amount to more than 10% of its total assets. The Fund's
investments in repurchase agreements may at times be substantial when, in the
view of the Fund's investment manager, liquidity or other considerations
warrant.
WHEN-ISSUED AND DELAYED DELIVERY SECURITIES. From time to time the Fund may
purchase tax-exempt securities on a when-issued or delayed delivery basis. When
these 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 commitment. While the Fund will only purchase securities on a
when-issued, delayed delivery with the intention of acquiring the securities,
the Fund may sell the securities before the settlement date, if it is deemed
advisable. The securities so purchased or sold are subject to market fluctuation
and no interest or dividends accrue to the purchaser prior to the settlement
date.
6
<PAGE>
At the time the Fund makes the commitment to purchase or sell securities on
a when-issued, delayed delivery, it will record the transaction and thereafter
reflect the value, each day, of such security purchased, or if a sale, the
proceeds to be received, in determining its net asset value. At the time of
delivery of the securities, their value may be more or less than the purchase or
sale price. An increase in the percentage of the Fund's assets committed to the
purchase of securities on a when-issued, delayed delivery may increase the
volatility of its net asset value. The Fund will also establish a segregated
account on the Fund's books in which it will continually maintain cash or cash
equivalents or other liquid portfolio securities equal in value to commitments
to purchase securities on a when-issued or delayed delivery basis.
YEAR 2000. The investment management services provided to the Fund by the
Investment Manager and the services provided to shareholders by the Distributor
and the Transfer Agent depend on the smooth functioning of their computer
systems. Many computer software systems in use today were designed in such a way
that they may not be able to recognize the year 2000, but revert to 1900 or some
other date, due to the manner in which dates were encoded and calculated. That
failure could have a negative impact on the handling of securities trades,
pricing and account services.
Improperly functioning trading systems may result in settlement problems and
liquidity issues. Corporate and governmental data processing errors could result
in production problems for individual issuers and overall economic
uncertainties. Operations ran smoothly from the last week in December through
the first few weeks of January, but the year 2000 issue may yet have an adverse
impact on financial market participants and other entities, including issuers
whose securities are contained in the Fund's portfolio.
THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA--SPECIAL INVESTMENT CONSIDERATIONS. The following
describes certain risks with respect to municipal obligations of California
issuers in which the Fund may invest. This summarized information is based on
information drawn from official statements and prospectuses relating to
securities offerings of the State of California and other public documents
available as of the date of this Statement of Additional Information.
The Fund will be affected by any political, economic or regulatory
developments affecting the ability of California issuers to pay interest or
repay principal. Provisions of the California Constitution and State statutes
which limit the taxing and spending authority of California governmental
entities may impair the ability of California issuers to maintain debt service
on their obligations. Future California political and economic developments,
constitutional amendments, legislative measures, executive orders,
administrative regulations, litigation and voter initiatives could have an
adverse effect on the debt obligations of California issuers.
Certain debt obligations held by the Fund may be obligations of issuers
which rely in whole or in substantial part on California state revenues for the
continuance of their operations and payment of their obligations. Whether and to
what extent the California Legislature will continue to appropriate a portion of
the State's General Fund to counties, cities and their various entities, is not
entirely certain. To the extent local entities do not receive money from the
State to pay for their operations and services, their ability to pay debt
service on obligations held by the Fund may be impaired.
In 1978, Proposition 13, an amendment to the California Constitution, was
approved, limiting real property valuation for property tax purposes and the
power of local governments to increase real property tax revenues and revenues
from other sources. Legislation adopted after Proposition 13 provided for
assistance to local governments, including the redistribution of the
then-existing surplus in the General Fund, reallocation of revenues to local
governments, and assumption by the State of certain local government
obligations. However, more recent legislation reduced such state assistance.
There can be no assurance that any particular level of State aid to local
governments will be maintained in future years. In NORDLINGER V. HAHN, the
United States Supreme Court upheld certain provisions of Proposition 13 against
claims that it violated the equal protection clause of the Constitution.
7
<PAGE>
In 1979, an amendment was passed adding Article XIIIB to the State
Constitution. As amended in 1990, Article XIIIB imposes an "appropriations
limit" on the spending authority of the State and local government entities. In
general, the appropriations limit is based on certain 1978-1979 expenditures,
adjusted annually to reflect changes in the cost of living, population and
certain services provided by State and local government entities.
"Appropriations limit" does not include appropriations for qualified capital
outlay projects, certain increases in transportation-related taxes, and certain
emergency appropriations.
If a government entity raises revenues beyond its "appropriations limit" in
any year, a portion of the excess which cannot be appropriated within the
following year's limit must be returned to the entity's taxpayers within two
subsequent fiscal years, generally by a tax credit, refund or temporary
suspension of tax rates or fee schedules. "Debt service" is excluded from these
limitations, and is defined as "appropriations required to pay the cost of
interest and redemption charges, including the funding of any reserve or sinking
fund required in connection therewith, on indebtedness existing or legally
authorized as of January 1, 1979 or on bonded indebtedness thereafter approved
[by the voters]." In addition, Article XIIIB requires the State Legislature to
establish a prudent State reserve, and to require the transfer of 50% of excess
revenue to the State School Fund; any amounts allocated to the State School Fund
will increase the appropriations limit.
In June 1982, the voters of California passed two initiative measures to
repeal the California gift and inheritance tax laws and to enact, in lieu
thereof, California death taxes. California voters also passed an initiative
measure to increase, for taxable years commencing on or after January 1, 1982,
the amount to account for the effects of inflation. Decreases in State and local
revenues in future fiscal years as a consequence of these initiatives may result
in reductions in allocations of state revenues to California issuers or in the
ability of California issuers to pay their obligations.
In 1986, California voters approved an initiative statute known as
Proposition 62. This initiative (i) requires that any tax for general
governmental purposes imposed by local governments be approved by resolution or
ordinance adopted by a two-thirds vote of the governmental entity's legislative
body and by a majority vote of the electorate of the governmental entity,
(ii) requires that any special tax (defined as tax levied for other than general
governmental purposes) imposed by a local governmental entity be approved by a
two-thirds vote of the voters within that jurisdiction, (iii) restricts the use
of revenues from a special tax to the purposes or for the service for which the
special tax was imposed, (iv) prohibits the imposition of ad valorem taxes on
real property by local governmental entities except as permitted by the
Proposition 13 amendment, (v) prohibits the imposition of transaction taxes and
sales taxes on the sale of real property by local governments, (vi) requires
that any tax imposed by a local government on or after August 1, 1985, be
ratified by a majority vote of the electorate within two years of the adoption
of the initiative or be terminated by November 15, 1989, (vii) requires that, in
the event a local government fails to comply with the provisions of this
measure, a reduction of the amount of property tax revenue allocated to such
local government occurs in an amount equal to the revenues received by such
entity attributable to the tax levied in violation of the initiative, and
(viii) permits these provisions to be amended exclusively by the voters of the
State of California.
In September 1995, the California Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality
of Proposition 62, creating uncertainty as to the legality of certain local
taxes enacted by non-charter cities in California without voter approval. It is
not possible to predict the impact of the decision.
In November 1996, California voters approved Proposition 218. The initiative
applied the provisions of Proposition 62 to all entities, including charter
cities. It requires that all taxes for general purposes obtain a simple majority
popular vote and that taxes for special purposes obtain a two-thirds majority
vote. Prior to the effectiveness of Proposition 218, charter cities could levy
certain taxes such as transient occupancy taxes and utility user's taxes without
a popular vote. Proposition 218 will also limit the authority of local
governments to impose property-related assessments, fees and charges, requiring
that
8
<PAGE>
such assessments be limited to the special benefit conferred and prohibiting
their use for general governmental services. Proposition 218 also allows voters
to use their initiative power to reduce or repeal previously-authorized taxes,
assessments, fees and charges.
In 1988, State voters approved Proposition 87, which amended Article XVI of
the State Constitution to authorize the State Legislature to prohibit
redevelopment agencies from receiving any property tax revenues raised by
increased property taxes to repay bonded indebtedness of local government which
is not approved by voters on or before January 1, 1989. It is not possible to
predict whether the State Legislature will enact such a prohibition, nor is it
possible to predict the impact of Proposition 87 on redevelopment agencies and
their ability to make payments on outstanding debt obligations.
In November 1988, California voters approved Proposition 98. This initiative
requires that (i) revenues in excess of amounts permitted to be spent and which
would otherwise be returned by revision of tax rates or fee schedules, be
transferred and allocated (up to a maximum of 40%) to the State School Fund and
be expended solely for purposes of instructional improvement and accountability.
No such transfer or allocation of funds will be required if certain designated
state officials determine that annual student expenditures and class size meet
certain criteria as set forth in Proposition 98. Any funds allocated to the
State School Fund shall cause the appropriation limits to be annually increased
for any such allocation made in the prior year. Proposition 98 also requires the
State of California to provide a minimum level of funding for public schools and
community colleges. The initiative permits the enactment of legislation, by a
two-thirds vote, to suspend the minimum funding requirement for one year.
Certain tax-exempt securities in which the Fund may invest may be
obligations payable solely from the revenues of specific institutions, or may be
secured by specific properties, which are subject to provisions of California
law which could adversely affect the holders of such obligations. For example,
the revenues of California health care institutions may be subject to state
laws, and California law limits the remedies of a creditor secured by a mortgage
or deed of trust on real property.
California is the most populous state in the nation with a total population
currently estimated at 33.4 million. The State now comprises 12.4% of the
nation's population and 12.7% of its total personal income. Its economy is broad
and diversified with major concentrations in high technology research and
manufacturing, aerospace and defense-related manufacturing, trade,
entertainment, real estate, and financial services. After experiencing strong
growth throughout much of the 1980s, from 1990-1993 the State suffered through a
severe recession, the worst since the 1930's, heavily influenced by large
cutbacks in defense/aerospace industries and military base closures and a major
drop in real estate construction. California's economy has been performing
strongly since 1994, to the point where the State's economic growth is outpacing
the rest of the nation. The unemployment rate, while still higher than the
national average, fell to an average of 5.9% in 1998, and to 4.8% in November,
1999 compared to over 10% at the worst of the recession.
A significant downturn in U.S. stock market prices could adversely affect
California's economy by reducing household spending and business investment,
particularly in the important high technology sector. Moreover, a large and
increasing share of the State's General Fund revenue in the form of income and
capital gains taxes in directly related to, and would be adversely affected by a
significant downturn in the performance of the stock market.
The recession severely affected state revenues while the State's health and
welfare costs were increasing. Consequently, the State had a lengthy period of
budget imbalance: the State's accumulated budget deficit approached $2.8 billion
at its peak at June 30, 1993. The large budget deficits depleted the State's
available cash resources and it had to use a series of external borrowings to
meet its cash needs. With the end of the recession, the State's financial
condition improved in the 1995-96 through 1998-99 fiscal years, with a
combination of better than expected revenues, slowdown in growth of social
welfare programs, and continued spending restraint. The accumulated budget
deficit from the recession years was eliminated. No deficit borrowing has
occurred at the end of the last four fiscal years and the State's cash flow
borrowing was limited to $1.7 billion in 1998-99. The State issued $1.0 billion
of revenue anticipation notes for the 1999-2000 fiscal year.
9
<PAGE>
On June 29, 1999, the Governor of California signed the 1999-2000 Budget
Act. The Budget Act estimated General Fund revenues and transfers of $63.0
billion, and contained expenditures totaling $63.7 billion. The Budget Act also
contained expenditures of $16.1 billion from special funds and $1.5 billion from
bond funds. The Administration estimated a budget reserve balance at June 30,
2000, of approximately $880 million. Not included in this amount was an
additional $300 million which (after the Governor's vetoes) was "set aside" to
provide funds for employee salary increases (to be negotiated in bargaining with
employee unions), and for litigation reserves. The Budget Act anticipates normal
cash flow borrowing during the fiscal year. Continued State economic expansion
and large revenue increases enabled the Governor and State legislature to
provide increases in spending programs in the 1999-2000 budget. These included
large increases in education and health and human services funding.
The Governor's 2000-2001 proposed budget provides for total State spending
of $85.1 billion (excluding expenditures of federal funds and selected bond
funds), an increase of 3.7% from the current year. Approximately 80% of this
total is from the General Fund and 20% from special funds. The proposed budget
assumes that General Fund revenues will total $68.2 billion in 2000-01, a 4.7%
increase from the current year. General Fund expenditures are proposed to be
$68.8 billion, an increase of 4.5%. After accounting for various set-asides, the
year-end reserve is estimated to be $1.2 billion, or about 1.8% of total 2000-01
General Fund revenues.
As of January 1, 2000, the State had over $17.5 billion aggregate amount of
its general obligation bonds outstanding. General obligation bond authorizations
in an aggregate amount of approximately $10.6 billion remained unissued as of
that date. At the November 3, 1998 election voters approved a bond measure
totaling $9.2 billion for public school construction and renovation, and for
higher education facilities. The State also builds and acquires capital
facilities through the use of lease purchase borrowing. As of January 1, 2000,
the State had approximately $6.7 billion of outstanding Lease-Purchase Debt.
In addition to the general obligation bonds, State agencies and authorities
had approximately $24.6 billion aggregate principal amount of revenue bonds and
notes outstanding as of June 30, 1999. Revenue bonds represent both obligations
payable from State revenue-producing enterprises and projects, which are not
payable from the General Fund, and conduit obligations payable only from
revenues paid by private users of facilities financed by such revenue bonds.
Such enterprises and projects include transportation projects, various public
works and exposition projects, educational facilities (including the California
State University and University of California systems), housing, health
facilities, and pollution control facilities.
Because of the State of California's budget problems, the State's General
Obligation bonds were downgraded in July 1994 to A1 from Aa by Moody's, to A
from A+ by S&P, and to A from AA by Fitch. Moody's, Fitch and S&P expressed
uncertainty in the State's ability to balance its budget by 1996. However, in
1996, citing California's improving economy and budget situation, both Fitch and
S&P raised their ratings from A to A+. In October, 1997, Fitch raised its rating
from A+ to AA- referring to the State's fundamental strengths, the extent of its
economic recovery and the return of financial stability. In October 1998,
Moody's raised its rating from A1 to Aa3 citing the State's continuing economic
recovery and a number of actions taken to improve the State's credit condition,
including the rebuilding of cash and budget reserves. In August 1999, S&P raised
its rating from A+ to AA- citing the State's strong economic performance and its
return to structural fiscal balance.
The State is a party to numerous legal proceedings, many of which normally
occur in governmental operations and which, if decided against the State, might
require the State to make significant future expenditures or impair future
revenue sources.
ORANGE COUNTY. Some local governments in California have experienced
notable financial difficulty. On December 6, 1994, Orange County, California,
became the largest municipality in the United States to file for protection
under the Federal bankruptcy laws. The filing stemmed from approximately $1.7
billion in losses suffered by the County's investment pool due to investments in
high risk "derivative" securities. On June 12, 1996, it emerged from bankruptcy
after the successful sale of $880 million in
10
<PAGE>
municipal bonds allowed the county to pay off the last of its creditors. On
January 7, 1997, Orange County returned to the municipal bond market with a
$136 million bond issue maturing in 13 years at an insured yield of 7.23%. In
December, 1997, Moody's raised its ratings on $325 million of Orange County
pension obligation bonds to Baa3 from Ba. In February 1998, Fitch assigned
outstanding Orange County pension obligation bonds a BBB rating. In September
1999, Moody's assigned the County an issuer (implied general obligation) rating
of Aa3 and, among other things, upgraded the ratings on the County's pension
obligation bonds to A1. In January 2000, S&P upgraded its rating on the County's
pension obligation bonds from BB to A-.
LOS ANGELES COUNTY. Los Angeles County, the nation's largest county, has
also experienced financial difficulty. Between 1992 and 1995, the County's
long-term bonds were downgraded three times. This occurred as a result of, and
among other things, severe operating deficits for the county's health care
system. In addition, the county was affected by an ongoing loss of revenue
caused by state property tax shift initiatives in 1993 through 1995. The
County's improving financial condition has been reflected in improved general
obligation bond ratings. In June 1999, the Los Angeles County Board of
Supervisors approved a budget of approximately $15 billion for 1999-2000, up
from the $13.6 billion approved for the previous fiscal year. The County's
financial condition will continue to be affected by the large number of County
residents who are dependent on government services and by a structural deficit
in its health department.
The effect of these various constitutional and statutory amendments and
budget developments upon the ability of California issuers to pay interest and
principal on their obligations remains unclear and in any event may depend upon
whether a particular California tax-exempt security is a general or limited
obligation bond and on the type of security provided for the bond. It is
possible that other measures affecting the taxing or spending authority of
California or its political subdivisions may be approved or enacted in the
future.
C. INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE/POLICIES/RESTRICTIONS
The investment objective, policies and restrictions listed below have been
adopted by the Fund as fundamental policies. Under the Investment Company Act of
1940 (the "Investment Company Act"), a fundamental policy may not be changed
without the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund.
The Investment Company Act defines a majority as the lesser of (a) 67% or more
of the shares present at a meeting of shareholders, if the holders of 50% of the
outstanding shares of the Fund are present or represented by proxy; or (b) more
than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Fund. For purposes of the following
restrictions: (i) all percentage limitations apply immediately after a purchase
or initial investment; and (ii) any subsequent change in any applicable
percentage resulting from market fluctuations or other changes in total or net
assets does not require elimination of any security from the portfolio.
In addition, for purposes of the following restrictions: (a) an "issuer" of
a security is the entity whose assets and revenues are committed to the payment
of interest and principal on that particular security, provided that the
guarantee of a security will be considered a separate security and provided
further that a guarantee of a security shall not be deemed a security issued by
the guarantor if the value of all securities guaranteed by the guarantor and
owned by the Fund does not exceed 10% of the value of the total assets of the
Fund; (b) a "taxable security" is any security the interest on which is subject
to federal income tax; and (c) all percentage limitations apply immediately
after a purchase or initial investment, and any subsequent change in any
applicable percentage resulting from market fluctuations or other changes in
total or net assets does not require elimination of any security from the
portfolio.
The Fund will:
1. Seek to provide as high a level of daily income exempt from federal
and California income tax as is consistent with stability of principal and
liquidity.
The Fund may not:
1. Invest in common stock.
11
<PAGE>
2. Write, purchase or sell puts, calls, or combinations thereof,
except that it may acquire rights to resell Municipal Obligations at an
agreed upon price and at or within an agreed upon time.
3. Invest 25% or more of the value of its total assets in taxable
securities of issuers in any one industry (industrial development and
pollution control bonds are grouped into industries based upon the business
in which the issuers of such obligations are engaged). This restriction does
not apply to obligations issued or guaranteed by the United States
Government, its agencies or instrumentalities or to Municipal Obligations,
including those issued by the State of California or its political
subdivisions, or to domestic bank obligations.
4. Invest in securities of any issuer if, to the knowledge of the
Fund, any officer or trustee of the Fund or of the Investment Manager owns
more than 1/2 of 1% of the outstanding securities of the issuer, and the
officers and trustees who own more than 1/2 of 1% own in the aggregate more
than 5% of the outstanding securities of the issuer.
5. Purchase or sell real estate or interests therein, although the
Fund may purchase securities secured by real estate or interests therein.
6. Purchase or sell commodities or commodity futures contracts.
7. Borrow money, except that the Fund may borrow from a bank for
temporary or emergency purposes in amounts not exceeding 5% (taken at the
lower of cost or current value) of the value of its total assets (not
including the amount borrowed).
8. Pledge its assets or assign or otherwise encumber them except to
secure permitted borrowings. To meet the requirements of regulations in
certain states, the Fund, as a matter of operating policy but not as a
fundamental policy, will limit any pledge of its assets to 10% of its net
assets so long as shares of the Fund are being sold in those states.
9. Issue senior securities as defined in the Investment Company Act
except insofar as the Fund may be deemed to have issued a senior security by
reason of: (a) purchasing any securities on a when-issued or delayed
delivery basis; or (b) borrowing money.
10. Make loans of money or securities, except: (a) by the purchase of
debt obligations in which the Fund may invest consistent with its investment
objective and policies; and (b) by investment in repurchase agreements.
11. Make short sales of securities.
12. Purchase securities on margin, except for such short-term loans as
are necessary for the clearance of purchases of portfolio securities.
13. Engage in the underwriting of securities, except insofar as the
Fund may be deemed an underwriter under the Securities Act in disposing of a
portfolio security.
14. Invest for the purpose of exercising control or management of any
other issuer.
15. Purchase oil, gas or other mineral leases, rights or royalty
contracts, or exploration or development programs.
16. Purchase securities of other investment companies, except in
connection with a merger, consolidation, reorganization or acquisition of
assets.
17. With respect to 75% of its total assets, purchase securities of any
issuer if, immediately thereafter, more than 5% of the value of its total
assets are in the securities of any one issuer (other than obligations
issued, or guaranteed by, the United States Government, its agencies or
instrumentalities, or by the State of California or its political
subdivisions).
18. With respect to 75% of its total assets, purchase more than 10% of
all outstanding taxable debt securities of any one issuer (other than debt
securities issued, or guaranteed as to principal and interest by, the United
States Government, its agencies or instrumentalities).
12
<PAGE>
Notwithstanding any other investment policy or restriction, the Fund may
seek to achieve its investment objective by investing all of its assets in
another mutual fund. The other fund would have substantially the same investment
objective and policies as the Fund.
III. MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A. BOARD OF TRUSTEES
The Board of Trustees of the Fund oversees the management of the Fund but
does not itself manage the Fund. The Trustees review various services provided
by or under the direction of the Investment Manager to ensure that the Fund's
general investment policies and programs are properly carried out. The Trustees
also conduct their review to ensure that administrative services are provided to
the Fund in a satisfactory manner.
Under state law, the duties of the Trustees are generally characterized as a
duty of loyalty and a duty of care. The duty of loyalty requires a Trustee to
exercise his or her powers in the interest of the Fund and not the Trustee's own
interest or the interest of another person or organization. A Trustee satisfies
his or her duty of care by acting in good faith with the care of an ordinarily
prudent person and in a manner the Trustee reasonably believes to be in the best
interest of the Fund and its shareholders.
B. MANAGEMENT INFORMATION
TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS. The Board of the Fund consists of eight (8)
Trustees. These same individuals also serve as directors or trustees for all of
the Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Funds. Six Trustees (75% of the total number)
have no affiliation or business connection with the Investment Manager or any of
its affiliated persons and do not own any stock or other securities issued by
the Investment Manager's parent company, MSDW. These are the "non-interested" or
"independent" Trustees. The other two Trustees (the "management Trustees") are
affiliated with the Investment Manager.
The Trustees and executive officers of the Fund, their principal business
occupations during the last five years and their affiliations, if any, with the
Investment Manager, and with the Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Funds (there were 93
such Funds as of the calendar year ended December 31, 1999), are shown below.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NAME, AGE, POSITION WITH FUND AND ADDRESS PRINCIPAL OCCUPATIONS DURING LAST FIVE YEARS
- --------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------
<S> <C>
Michael Bozic (59) .......................... Vice Chairman of Kmart Corporation (since
Trustee December 1998); Director or Trustee of the
c/o Kmart Corporation Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Funds; Trustee of
3100 West Big Beaver Road Discover Brokerage Index Series; formerly
Troy, Michigan Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Levitz
Furniture Corporation (November 1995-November
1998) and President and Chief Executive Officer
of Hills Department Stores (May, 1991-July
1995); formerly variously Chairman, Chief
Executive Officer, President and Chief
Operating Officer (1987-1991) of the Sears
Merchandise Group of Sears, Roebuck and Co.;
Director of Weirton Steel Corporation.
</TABLE>
13
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NAME, AGE, POSITION WITH FUND AND ADDRESS PRINCIPAL OCCUPATIONS DURING LAST FIVE YEARS
- --------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------
<S> <C>
Charles A. Fiumefreddo* (66) ................ Chairman, Director or Trustee and Chief
Chairman of the Board, Executive Officer of the Morgan Stanley Dean
Chief Executive Officer and Trustee Witter Funds; formerly Chairman, Chief
Two World Trade Center Executive Officer and Director of the
New York, New York Investment Manager, the Distributor and MSDW
Services Company; Executive Vice President and
Director of Dean Witter Reynolds; Chairman and
Director of the Transfer Agent; formerly
Director and/or officer of various MSDW
subsidiaries (until June 1998).
Edwin J. Garn (67) .......................... Director or Trustee of the Morgan Stanley Dean
Trustee Witter Funds; formerly United States Senator
c/o Huntsman Corporation (R-Utah) (1974-1992) and Chairman, Senate Bank-
500 Huntsman Way ing Committee (1980-1986); formerly Mayor of
Salt Lake City, Utah Salt Lake City, Utah (1971-1974); formerly
Astronaut, Space Shuttle Discovery (April
12-19, 1985); Vice Chairman, Huntsman
Corporation (chemical corporation); Director of
Franklin Covey (time management systems), BMW
Bank of North America, Inc. (industrial loan
corporation), United Space Alliance (joint
venture between Lockheed Martin and the Boeing
Company) and Nuskin Asia Pacific (multilevel
marketing); member of the board of various
civic and charitable organizations.
Wayne E. Hedien (66) ........................ Retired; Director or Trustee of the Morgan
Trustee Stanley Dean Witter Funds; Director of The PMI
c/o Mayer, Brown & Platt Group, Inc. (private mortgage insurance);
Counsel to the Independent Trustees Trustee and Vice Chairman of The Field Museum
1675 Broadway of Natural History; formerly associated with
New York, New York the Allstate Companies (1966-1994), most
recently as Chairman of The Allstate
Corporation (March 1993-December 1994) and
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of its
wholly-owned subsidiary, Allstate Insurance
Company (July 1989-December 1994); director of
various other business and charitable
organizations.
Dr. Manuel H. Johnson (51) .................. Senior Partner, Johnson Smick International,
Trustee Inc., a consulting firm; Co-Chairman and a
c/o Johnson Smick International, Inc. founder of the Group of Seven Council (G7C), an
1133 Connecticut Avenue, N.W. international economic commission; Chairman of
Washington, D.C. the Audit Committee and Director or Trustee of
the Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Funds; Director
of Greenwich Capital Markets, Inc.
(broker-dealer) and NVR, Inc. (home
construction); Chairman and Trustee of the
Financial Accounting Foundation (oversight
organization of the Financial Accounting
Standards Board); formerly Vice Chairman of the
Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve
System (1986-1990) and Assistant Secretary of
the U.S. Treasury.
</TABLE>
14
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NAME, AGE, POSITION WITH FUND AND ADDRESS PRINCIPAL OCCUPATIONS DURING LAST FIVE YEARS
- --------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------
<S> <C>
Michael E. Nugent (63) ...................... General Partner, Triumph Capital, L.P., a
Trustee private investment partnership; Chairman of the
c/o Triumph Capital, L.P. Insurance Committee and Director or Trustee of
237 Park Avenue the Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Funds; formerly
New York, New York Vice President, Bankers Trust Company and BT
Capital Corporation (1984-1988); director of
various business organizations.
Philip J. Purcell* (56) ..................... Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief
Trustee Executive Officer of MSDW, Dean Witter Reynolds
1585 Broadway and Novus Credit Services Inc.; Director of the
New York, New York Distributor; Director or Trustee of the Morgan
Stanley Dean Witter Funds; Director of American
Airlines, Inc. and its parent company, AMR
Corporation; Director and/ or officer of
various MSDW subsidiaries.
John L. Schroeder (69) ...................... Retired; Chairman of the Derivatives Committee
Trustee and Director or Trustee of the Morgan Stanley
c/o Mayer, Brown & Platt Dean Witter Funds; Director of Citizens
Counsel to the Independent Utilities Company (telecommunications, gas,
Trustees electric, and water utilities company);
1675 Broadway formerly Executive Vice President and Chief
New York, New York Investment Officer of the Home Insurance
Company (August 1991-September 1995).
Mitchell M. Merin (46) ...................... President and Chief Operating Officer of Asset
President Management of MSDW (since December 1998);
Two World Trade Center President and Director (since April 1997) and
New York, New York Chief Executive Officer (since June 1998) of
the Investment Manager and MSDW Services
Company; Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and
Director of the Distributor (since June 1998);
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (since
June 1998) and Director (since January 1998) of
the Transfer Agent; Director of various MSDW
subsidiaries; President of the Morgan Stanley
Dean Witter Funds (since May 1999); Trustee of
various Van Kampen investment companies (since
December 1999); previously Chief Strategic
Officer of the Investment Manager and MSDW
Services Company and Executive Vice President
of the Distributor (April 1997-June 1998), Vice
President of the Morgan Stanely Dean Witter
Funds (May 1997-April 1999), and Executive Vice
President of Dean Witter, Discover & Co.
</TABLE>
15
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NAME, AGE, POSITION WITH FUND AND ADDRESS PRINCIPAL OCCUPATIONS DURING LAST FIVE YEARS
- --------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------
<S> <C>
Barry Fink (45) ............................. Executive Vice President (since December 1999)
Vice President, and Secretary and General Counsel (since
Secretary and General Counsel February 1997) and Director (since July 1998)
Two World Trade Center of the Investment Manager and MSDW Services
New York, New York Company; Executive Vice President (since
December 1999) and Assistant Secretary and
Assistant General Counsel (since February 1997)
of the Distributor; Assistant Secretary of Dean
Witter Reynolds (since August 1996); Vice
President, Secretary and General Counsel of the
Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Funds (since
February 1997); previously Senior Vice
President (March 1997-December 1999), First
Vice President (June 1993-February 1997), Vice
President and Assistant Secretary and Assistant
General Counsel of the Investment Manager and
MSDW Services Company, Senior Vice President of
the Distributor (March 1997-December 1999) and
Assistant Secretary of the Morgan Stanley Dean
Witter Funds.
Katherine H. Stromberg (51) ................. Vice President of the Investment Manager; Vice
Senior Vice President President of various Morgan Stanley Dean Witter
Two World Trade Center Funds.
New York, New York
Thomas F. Caloia (53) ....................... First Vice President and Assistant Treasurer of
Treasurer the Investment Manager, the Distributor and
Two World Trade Center MSDW Services Company; Treasurer of the Morgan
New York, New York Stanley Dean Witter Funds.
</TABLE>
- ------------------------
*Denotes Trustees who are "interested persons" of the Fund as defined by the
Investment Company Act.
In addition, RONALD E. ROBISON, Executive Vice President, Chief
Administrative Officer and Director of the Investment Manager and MSDW Services
Company, ROBERT S. GIAMBRONE, Senior Vice President of the Investment Manager,
MSDW Services Company, the Distributor and the Transfer Agent and Director of
the Transfer Agent, JOSEPH J. MCALINDEN, Executive Vice President and Chief
Investment Officer of the Investment Manager and Director of the Transfer Agent,
and PETER M. AVELAR, Senior Vice President and Director of the High Yield Group
of the Investment Manager, JONATHAN R. PAGE, Senior Vice President and Director
of the Money Market Group of the Investment Manager, JAMES F. WILLISON, Senior
Vice President, and Director of the Tax-Exempt Fixed-Income Group of the
Investment Manager, JOSEPH R. ARCIERI, Senior Vice President of the Investment
Manager and GERARD J. LIAN, Vice President of the Investment Manager, are Vice
Presidents of the Fund.
In addition, MARILYN K. CRANNEY, TODD LEBO, LOU ANNE D. MCLNNIS, CARSTEN
OTTO and RUTH ROSSI, First Vice Presidents and Assistant General Counsels of the
Investment Manager and MSDW Services Company, and NATASHA KASSIAN, Assistant
Vice President and Assistant General Counsel of the Investment Manager and MSDW
Services Company, are Assistant Secretaries of the Fund.
INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS/TRUSTEES AND THE COMMITTEES. Law and regulation
establish both general guidelines and specific duties for the independent
directors/trustees. The Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Funds seek as independent
directors/trustees individuals of distinction and experience in business and
finance, government service or academia; these are people whose advice and
counsel are in demand by others and for whom there is often competition. To
accept a position on the Funds' boards,
16
<PAGE>
such individuals may reject other attractive assignments because the Funds make
substantial demands on their time. All of the independent directors/trustees
serve as members of the Audit Committee. In addition three of the
directors/trustees, including two independent directors/trustees, serve as
members of the Derivatives Committee and the Insurance Committee.
The independent directors/trustees are charged with recommending to the full
board approval of management, advisory and administration contracts, Rule 12b-1
plans and distribution and underwriting agreements; continually reviewing Fund
performance; checking on the pricing of portfolio securities, brokerage
commissions, transfer agent costs and performance, and trading among Funds in
the same complex; and approving fidelity bond and related insurance coverage and
allocations, as well as other matters that arise from time to time. The
independent directors/trustees are required to select and nominate individuals
to fill any independent directors/trustees vacancy on the board of any Fund that
has a Rule 12b-1 plan of distribution. Most of the Morgan Stanley Dean Witter
Funds have a Rule 12b-1 plan.
The Audit Committee is charged with recommending to the full board the
engagement or discharge of the Fund's independent accountants; directing
investigations into matters within the scope of the independent accountants'
duties, including the power to retain outside specialists; reviewing with the
independent accountants the audit plan and results of the auditing engagement;
approving professional services provided by the independent accountants and
other accounting firms prior to the performance of the services; reviewing the
independence of the independent accountants; considering the range of audit and
non-audit fees; reviewing the adequacy of the Fund's system of internal
controls; and preparing and submitting Committee meeting minutes to the full
board.
The board of each Fund has a Derivatives Committee to approve parameters for
and monitor the activities of the Fund with respect to derivative investments,
if any, made by the Fund.
Finally, the board of each Fund has formed an Insurance Committee to review
and monitor the insurance coverage maintained by the Fund.
ADVANTAGES OF HAVING SAME INDIVIDUALS AS INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS/TRUSTEES FOR
ALL MORGAN STANLEY DEAN WITTER FUNDS. The independent directors/trustees and
the Funds' management believe that having the same independent
directors/trustees for each of the Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Funds avoids the
duplication of effort that would arise from having different groups of
individuals serving as independent directors/trustees for each of the Funds or
even of sub-groups of Funds. They believe that having the same individuals serve
as independent directors/trustees of all the Funds tends to increase their
knowledge and expertise regarding matters which affect the Fund complex
generally and enhances their ability to negotiate on behalf of each Fund with
the Fund's service providers. This arrangement also precludes the possibility of
separate groups of independent directors/trustees arriving at conflicting
decisions regarding operations and management of the Funds and avoids the cost
and confusion that would likely ensue. Finally, having the same independent
directors/trustees serve on all Fund boards enhances the ability of each Fund to
obtain, at modest cost to each separate Fund, the services of independent
directors/trustees, of the caliber, experience and business acumen of the
individuals who serve as independent directors/trustees of the Morgan Stanley
Dean Witter Funds.
TRUSTEE AND OFFICER INDEMNIFICATION. The Fund's Declaration of Trust
provides that no Trustee, officer, employee or agent of the Fund is liable to
the Fund or to a shareholder, nor is any Trustee, officer, employee or agent
liable to any third persons in connection with the affairs of the Fund, except
as such liability may arise from his/her or its own bad faith, willful
misfeasance, gross negligence or reckless disregard of his/her or its duties. It
also provides that all third persons shall look solely to the Fund property for
satisfaction of claims arising in connection with the affairs of the Fund. With
the exceptions stated, the Declaration of Trust provides that a Trustee,
officer, employee or agent is entitled to be indemnified against all liability
in connection with the affairs of the Fund.
17
<PAGE>
C. COMPENSATION
The Fund pays each Independent Trustee an annual fee of $800 plus a per
meeting fee of $50 for meetings of the Board of Trustees, the Independent
Trustees or Committees of the Board of Trustees attended by the Trustee (the
Fund pays the Chairman of the Audit Committee an additional annual fee of $750
and the Chairmen of the Derivatives and the Insurance Committees additional
annual fees of $500). If a Board meeting and a meeting of the Independent
Trustees or a Committee meeting, or a meeting of the Independent Trustees and/or
more than one Committee meeting, take place on a single day, the Trustees are
paid a single meeting fee by the Fund. The Fund also reimburses such Trustees
for travel and other out-of-pocket expenses incurred by them in connection with
attending such meetings. Trustees and officers of the Fund who are or have been
employed by the Investment Manager or an affiliated company receive no
compensation or expense reimbursement from the Fund for their services as
Trustee.
The following table illustrates the compensation that the Fund paid to its
Independent Trustees for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1999.
FUND COMPENSATION
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
AGGREGATE
COMPENSATION
NAME OF INDEPENDENT TRUSTEE FROM THE FUND
- --------------------------- -------------
<S> <C>
Michael Bozic............................................... $1,550
Edwin J. Garn............................................... 1,600
Wayne E. Hedien............................................. 1,600
Dr. Manuel H. Johnson....................................... 2,100
Michael E. Nugent........................................... 1,933
John L. Schroeder........................................... 1,933
</TABLE>
The following table illustrates the compensation paid to the Fund's
Independent Trustees for the calendar year ended December 31, 1999 for services
to the 93 Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Funds that were in operation at December
31, 1999.
CASH COMPENSATION FROM MORGAN STANLEY DEAN WITTER FUNDS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
TOTAL CASH
COMPENSATION
FOR SERVICES TO
93 MORGAN
STANLEY
NAME OF DEAN WITTER
INDEPENDENT TRUSTEE FUNDS
- ------------------- ---------------
<S> <C>
Michael Bozic............................................... $134,600
Edwin J. Garn............................................... 138,700
Wayne E. Hedien............................................. 138,700
Dr. Manuel H. Johnson....................................... 208,638
Michael E. Nugent........................................... 193,324
John L. Schroeder........................................... 193,324
</TABLE>
As of the date of this STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, 55 of the Morgan
Stanley Dean Witter Funds, including the Fund, have adopted a retirement program
under which an independent director/ trustee who retires after serving for at
least five years (or such lesser period as may be determined by the Board) as an
independent director/trustee of any Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Fund that has
adopted the retirement program (each such Fund referred to as an "Adopting Fund"
and each such director/trustee referred to as an "Eligible Trustee") is entitled
to retirement payments upon reaching the eligible retirement age (normally,
after attaining age 72). Annual payments are based upon length of service.
18
<PAGE>
Currently, upon retirement, each Eligible Trustee is entitled to receive
from the Adopting Fund, commencing as of his or her retirement date and
continuing for the remainder of his or her life, an annual retirement benefit
(the "Regular Benefit") equal to 30.22% of his or her Eligible Compensation plus
0.5036662% of such Eligible Compensation for each full month of service as an
independent director/ trustee of any Adopting Fund in excess of five years up to
a maximum of 60.44% after ten years of service. The foregoing percentages may be
changed by the Board.(1) "Eligible Compensation" is one-fifth of the total
compensation earned by such Eligible Trustee for service to the Adopting Fund in
the five year period prior to the date of the Eligible Trustee's retirement.
Benefits under the retirement program are accrued as expenses on the books of
the Adopting Funds. Such benefits are not secured or funded by the Adopting
Funds.
The following table illustrates the retirement benefits accrued to the
Fund's Independent Trustees by the Fund for the fiscal year ended December 31,
1999 and by the 55 Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Funds (including the Fund) for the
year ended December 31, 1999, and the estimated retirement benefits for the
Independent Trustees, to commence upon their retirement, from the Fund as of
December 31, 1999 and from the 55 Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Funds as of
December 31, 1999.
RETIREMENT BENEFITS FROM THE FUND AND ALL MORGAN STANLEY DEAN WITTER FUNDS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
FOR ALL ADOPTING FUNDS
----------------------------- RETIREMENT BENEFITS ESTIMATED ANNUAL
ESTIMATED ACCRUED AS BENEFITS
CREDITED EXPENSES UPON RETIREMENT(2)
YEARS ESTIMATED ------------------- --------------------
OF SERVICE AT PERCENTAGE OF BY ALL FROM FROM ALL
RETIREMENT ELIGIBLE BY THE ADOPTING THE ADOPTING
NAME OF INDEPENDENT TRUSTEE (MAXIMUM 10) COMPENSATION FUND FUNDS FUND FUNDS
- --------------------------- ------------- ------------- -------- -------- -------- ---------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Michael Bozic.............. 10 60.44 378 $ 20,933 907 50,588
Edwin J. Garn.............. 10 60.44 557 31,737 909 50,675
Wayne E. Hedien............ 9 51.37 711 39,566 771 43,000
Dr. Manuel H. Johnson...... 10 60.44 229 13,129 1,360 75,520
Michael E. Nugent.......... 10 60.44 395 23,175 1,209 67,209
John L. Schroeder.......... 8 50.37 768 41,558 955 52,994
</TABLE>
- ------------------------
1 An Eligible Trustee may elect alternative payments of his or her retirement
benefits based upon the combined life expectancy of the Eligible Trustee
and his or her spouse on the date of such Eligible Trustee's retirement. In
addition, the Eligible Trustee may elect that the surviving spouse's
periodic payment of benefits will be equal to a lower percentage of the
periodic amount when both spouses were alive. The amount estimated to be
payable under this method, through the remainder of the later of the lives
of the Eligible Trustee and spouse, will be the actuarial equivalent of the
Regular Benefit.
2 Based on current levels of compensation. Amount of annual benefits also
varies depending on the Trustee's elections described in Footnote (1)
above.
IV. CONTROL PERSONS AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS OF SECURITIES
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
As of February 4, 2000, no person owned 5% or more of the outstanding shares
of the Fund.
As of the date of this STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, the aggregate
number of shares of beneficial interest of the Fund owned by the Fund's officers
and Trustees as a group was less than 1% of the Fund's shares of beneficial
interest outstanding.
V. INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT AND OTHER SERVICES
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A. INVESTMENT MANAGER
The Investment Manager to the Fund is Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Advisors
Inc., a Delaware corporation, whose address is Two World Trade Center, New York,
NY 10048. The Investment Manager is a wholly-owned subsidiary of MSDW, a
Delaware corporation. MSDW is a preeminent global financial services firm that
maintains leading market positions in each of its three primary businesses:
securities, asset management and credit services.
19
<PAGE>
Pursuant to an Investment Management Agreement (the "Management Agreement")
with the Investment Manager, the Fund has retained the Investment Manager to
provide administrative services and manage the investment of the Fund's assets,
including the placing of orders for the purchase and sale of portfolio
securities. The Fund pays the Investment Manager monthly compensation calculated
daily by applying the following annual rates to the net assets of the Fund,
determined as of the close of business on every business day: 0.50% of the
portion of the daily net assets not exceeding $500 million; 0.425% of the
portion of the daily net assets exceeding $500 million but not exceeding $750
million; 0.375% of the portion of the daily net assets exceeding $750 million
but not exceeding $1 billion; 0.35% of the portion of the daily net assets
exceeding $1 billion but not exceeding $1.5 billion; 0.325% of the portion of
the daily net assets exceeding $1.5 billion but not exceeding $2 billion; 0.30%
of the portion of the daily net assets exceeding $2 billion but not exceeding
$2.5 billion; 0.275% of the portion of the daily net assets exceeding $2.5
billion but not exceeding $3 billion; and 0.25% of the portion of the daily net
assets exceeding $3 billion.
For the fiscal years ended December 31, 1997, 1998 and 1999, the Investment
Manager accrued total compensation under the Management Agreement in the amounts
of $1,344,913, $1,479,199 and $1,362,257, respectively.
The Investment Manager has retained its wholly-owned subsidiary, MSDW
Services Company, to perform administrative services for the Fund.
B. PRINCIPAL UNDERWRITER
The Fund's principal underwriter is the Distributor (which has the same
address as the Investment Manager). In this capacity, the Fund's shares are
distributed by the Distributor. The Distributor has entered into a selected
dealer agreement with Dean Witter Reynolds, which through its own sales
organization sells shares of the Fund. In addition, the Distributor may enter
into similar agreements with other selected broker-dealers. The Distributor, a
Delaware corporation, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of MSDW.
The Distributor bears all expenses it may incur in providing services under
the Distribution Agreement. The Distributor also pays certain expenses in
connection with the distribution of the Fund's shares, including the costs of
preparing, printing and distributing advertising or promotional materials, and
the costs of printing and distributing prospectuses and supplements thereto used
in connection with the offering and sale of the Fund's shares. The Fund bears
the costs of initial typesetting, printing and distribution of prospectuses and
supplements thereto to shareholders. The Fund also bears the costs of
registering the Fund and its shares under federal and state securities laws and
pays filing fees in accordance with state securities laws.
The Fund and the Distributor have agreed to indemnify each other against
certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. Under the
Distribution Agreement, the Distributor uses its best efforts in rendering
services to the Fund, but in the absence of willful misfeasance, bad faith,
gross negligence or reckless disregard of its obligations, the Distributor is
not liable to the Fund or any of its shareholders for any error of judgment or
mistake of law or for any act or omission or for any losses sustained by the
Fund or its shareholders.
C. SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE INVESTMENT MANAGER
The Investment Manager manages the investment of the Fund's assets,
including the placing of orders for the purchase and sale of portfolio
securities. The Investment Manager obtains and evaluates the information and
advice relating to the economy, securities markets, and specific securities as
it considers necessary or useful to continuously manage the assets of the Fund
in a manner consistent with its investment objective.
Under the terms of the Management Agreement, in addition to managing the
Fund's investments, the Investment Manager maintains certain of the Fund's books
and records and furnishes, at its own expense, the office space, facilities,
equipment, clerical help, bookkeeping and certain legal services as the Fund may
reasonably require in the conduct of its business, including the preparation of
prospec-
20
<PAGE>
tuses, proxy statements and reports required to be filed with federal and state
securities commissions (except insofar as the participation or assistance of
independent accountants and attorneys is, in the opinion of the Investment
Manager, necessary or desirable). In addition, the Investment Manager pays the
salaries of all personnel, including officers of the Fund, who are employees of
the Investment Manager. The Investment Manager also bears the cost of telephone
service, heat, light, power and other utilities provided to the Fund.
Expenses not expressly assumed by the Investment Manager under the
Management Agreement or by the Distributor, will be paid by the Fund. These
expenses include, but are not limited to: expenses of the Plan of Distribution
pursuant to Rule 12b-1; charges and expenses of any registrar, custodian, stock
transfer and dividend disbursing agent; brokerage commissions; taxes; engraving
and printing share certificates; registration costs of the Fund and its shares
under federal and state securities laws; the cost and expense of printing,
including typesetting, and distributing prospectuses of the Fund and supplements
thereto to the Fund's shareholders; all expenses of shareholders' and Trustees'
meetings and of preparing, printing and mailing of proxy statements and reports
to shareholders; fees and travel expenses of Trustees or members of any advisory
board or committee who are not employees of the Investment Manager or any
corporate affiliate of the Investment Manager; all expenses incident to any
dividend, withdrawal or redemption options; charges and expenses of any outside
service used for pricing of the Fund's shares; fees and expenses of legal
counsel, including counsel to the Trustees who are not interested persons of the
Fund or of the Investment Manager (not including compensation or expenses of
attorneys who are employees of the Investment Manager); fees and expenses of the
Fund's independent accountants; membership dues of industry associations;
interest on Fund borrowings; postage; insurance premiums on property or
personnel (including officers and Trustees) of the Fund which inure to its
benefit; extraordinary expenses (including, but not limited to, legal claims and
liabilities and litigation costs and any indemnification relating thereto); and
all other costs of the Fund's operation.
The Management Agreement provides that in the absence of willful
misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of its
obligations thereunder, the Investment Manager is not liable to the Fund or any
of its investors for any act or omission by the Investment Manager or for any
losses sustained by the Fund or its investors.
The Management Agreement will remain in effect from year to year thereafter,
provided continuance of the Management Agreement is approved at least annually
by the vote of the holders of a majority, as defined in the Investment Company
Act, of the outstanding shares of the Fund, or by the Trustees; provided that in
either event such continuance is approved annually by the vote of a majority of
the Trustees, including a majority of the Independent Trustees.
D. RULE 12b-1 PLAN
In accordance with a Plan of Distribution pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the
Investment Company Act between the Fund and the Distributor, the Distributor
provides certain services in connection with the promotion of sales of Fund
shares (the "Plan").
The Plan provides that the Distributor bears the expense of all promotional
and distribution related activities on behalf of the Fund, except for expenses
that the Trustees determine to reimburse, as described below. The following
activities and services may be provided by the Distributor under the Plan:
(1) compensation to and expenses of Dean Witter Reynolds' and other selected
Broker-Dealers' Financial Advisors and other employees, including overhead and
telephone expenses; (2) sales incentives and bonuses to sales representatives
and to marketing personnel in connection with promoting sales of the Fund's
shares; (3) expenses incurred in connection with promoting sales of the Fund's
shares; (4) preparing and distributing sales literature; and (5) providing
advertising and promotional activities, including direct mail solicitation and
television, radio, newspaper, magazine and other media advertisements.
The Investment Manager will compensate Financial Advisors at an annual rate
of 0.025% of the value of shares of the Fund acquired by exchange from an MSDW
Open-end Fund provided that the shares exchanged would otherwise have been
eligible for the payment of a retention fee. Such eligible shares must have been
purchased after January 1, 2000 and held for at least one year. Shares owned in
21
<PAGE>
variable annuities, closed-end fund shares and shares held in 401(k) plans where
the Transfer Agent or Dean Witter Reynolds's Retirement Plan Services is either
recordkeeper or trustee are not eligible for a retention fee.
The retention fees are paid by the Investment Manager from its own assets,
which may include profits from investment management fees payable under the
Management Agreement, as well as from borrowed funds.
Dean Witter Reynolds Financial Advisors are paid an annual residual
commission, currently a residual of up to 0.10% of the current value of the
respective accounts for which they are the Financial Advisors of record. The
residual is a charge which reflects residual commissions paid by Dean Witter
Reynolds to its Financial Advisors and Dean Witter Reynolds' expenses associated
with the servicing of shareholders' accounts, including the expenses of
operating Dean Witter Reynolds' branch offices in connection with the servicing
of shareholders' accounts, which expenses include lease costs, the salaries and
employee benefits of operations and sales support personnel, utility costs,
communications costs and the costs of stationery and supplies and other expenses
relating to branch office serving of shareholder accounts.
The Fund is authorized to reimburse specific expenses incurred or to be
incurred in promoting the distribution of the Fund's shares. Reimbursement is
made through payments at the end of each month. The amount of each monthly
payment may in no event exceed an amount equal to a payment at the annual rate
of 0.15 of 1% of the Fund's average daily net assets during the month. No
interest or other financing charges will be incurred for which reimbursement
payments under the Plan will be made. In addition, no interest charges, if any,
incurred on any distribution expense incurred by the Distributor or other
selected dealers pursuant to the Plan, will be reimbursable under the Plan. In
the case of all expenses other than expenses representing a residual to
Financial Advisors, such amounts shall be determined at the beginning of each
calendar quarter by the Trustees, including a majority of the Independent 12b-1
Trustees. Expenses representing a residual to Financial Advisors may be
reimbursed without prior determination. In the event that the Distributor
proposes that monies shall be reimbursed for other than such expenses, then in
making quarterly determinations of the amounts that may be expended by the Fund,
the Investment Manager provides and the Trustees review a quarterly budget of
projected incremental distribution expenses to be incurred on behalf of the
Fund, together with a report explaining the purposes and anticipated benefits of
incurring such expenses. The Trustees determine which particular expenses, and
the portions thereof, that may be borne by the Fund, and in making such a
determination shall consider the scope of the Distributor's commitment to
promoting the distribution of the Fund's shares.
The Fund reimbursed $265,134 to the Distributor pursuant to the Plan which
amounted to 0.10 of 1% of the Fund's average daily net assets for the fiscal
year ended December 31, 1999. Based upon the total amounts spent by the
Distributor during the period, it is estimated that the amount paid by the Fund
to the Distributor for distribution was spent in approximately the following
ways: (i) advertising -- $0; (ii) printing and mailing PROSPECTUSES to other
than current shareholders -- $0; (iii) compensation to underwriters -- $0;
(iv) compensation to dealers -- $0; (v) compensation to sales personnel -- $0;
and (vi) other, which includes payments to Dean Witter Reynolds for expenses
substantially all of which relate to compensation of sales personnel and other
associated overhead expenses -- $265,134. No payments under the Plan were made
for interest, carrying or other financing charges.
Under the Plan, the Distributor uses its best efforts in rendering services
to the Fund, but in the absence of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross
negligence or reckless disregard of its obligations, the Distributor is not
liable to the Fund or any of its shareholders for any error of judgment or
mistake of law or for any act or omission or for any losses sustained by the
Fund or its shareholders.
Under the Plan, the Distributor provides the Fund, for review by the
Trustees, and the Trustees review, promptly after the end of each calendar
quarter, a written report regarding the incremental distribution expenses
incurred on behalf of the Fund during such calendar quarter, which report
includes
22
<PAGE>
(1) an itemization of the types of expenses and the purposes therefore; (2) the
amounts of such expenses; and (3) a description of the benefits derived by the
Fund. In the Trustees' quarterly review of the Plan they consider its continued
appropriateness and the level of compensation provided therein.
No interested person of the Fund nor any Independent Trustee has any direct
financial interest in the operation of the Plan except to the extent that the
Distributor, the Investment Manager, Dean Witter Reynolds, MSDW Services Company
or certain of their employees may be deemed to have such an interest as a result
of benefits derived from the successful operation of the Plan or as a result of
receiving a portion of the amounts expended thereunder by the Fund.
On an annual basis, the Trustees, including a majority of the Independent
Trustees, consider whether the Plan should be continued. Prior to approving the
most recent continuation of the Plan, the Trustees requested and received from
the Distributor and reviewed all the information which they deemed necessary to
arrive at an informed determination. In making their determination to continue
the Plan, the Trustees considered: (1) the Fund's experience under the Plan and
whether such experience indicates that the Plan is operating as anticipated;
(2) the benefits the Fund had obtained, was obtaining and would be likely to
obtain under the Plan, including that: (a) the Plan is essential in order to
implement the Fund's method and to enable the Fund to continue to grow and avoid
a pattern of net redemptions which, in turn, are essential for effective
investment management; and (b) without the reimbursement of distribution and
account maintenance expenses of Dean Witter Reynolds's branch offices made
possible by the 12b-1 fees, Dean Witter Reynolds could not establish and
maintain an effective system for distribution, servicing of Fund shareholders
and maintenance of shareholder accounts; and (3) what services had been provided
and were continuing to be provided under the Plan to the Fund and its
shareholders. Based upon their review, the Trustees, including each of the
Independent Trustees, determined that continuation of the Plan would be in the
best interest of the Fund and would have a reasonable likelihood of continuing
to benefit the Fund and its shareholders. In the Trustees' quarterly review of
the Plan, they will consider its continued appropriateness and the level of
compensation provided therein.
The Plan may not be amended to increase materially the amount to be spent
for the services described therein without approval by the shareholders of the
Fund, and all material amendments to the Plan must also be approved by the
Trustees in the manner described above. The Plan may be terminated at any time,
without payment of any penalty, by vote of a majority of the Independent
Trustees or by a vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the
Fund (as defined in the Investment Company Act) on not more than thirty days'
written notice to any other party to the Plan. So long as the Plan is in effect,
the election and nomination of Independent Trustees shall be committed to the
discretion of the Independent Trustees.
E. OTHER SERVICE PROVIDERS
(1) TRANSFER AGENT/DIVIDEND-PAYING AGENT
Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Trust FSB is the transfer agent for the Fund's
shares and the Dividend Disbursing Agent for payment of dividends and
distributions on Fund shares and Agent for shareholders under various investment
plans. The principal business address of the Transfer Agent is Harborside
Financial Center, Plaza Two, Jersey City, NJ 07311.
(2) CUSTODIAN AND INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
The Bank of New York, 100 Church Street, New York, NY 10007 is the Custodian
for the Fund's assets. Any of the Fund's cash balances with the Custodian in
excess of $100,000 are unprotected by federal deposit insurance. These balances
may, at times, be substantial.
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, 1177 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10036
serves as the independent accountants of the Fund. The independent accountants
are responsible for auditing the annual financial statements of the Fund.
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(3) AFFILIATED PERSONS
The Transfer Agent is an affiliate of the Investment Manager, and of the
Distributor. As Transfer Agent and Dividend Disbursing Agent, the Transfer
Agent's responsibilities include maintaining shareholder accounts, disbursing
cash dividends and reinvesting dividends, processing account registration
changes, handling purchase and redemption transactions, mailing prospectuses and
reports, mailing and tabulating proxies, processing share certificate
transactions, and maintaining shareholder records and lists. For these services,
the Transfer Agent receives a per shareholder account fee from the Fund and is
reimbursed for its out-of-pocket expenses in connection with such services.
VI. BROKERAGE ALLOCATION AND OTHER PRACTICES
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A. BROKERAGE TRANSACTIONS
Subject to the general supervision of the Trustees, the Investment Manager
is responsible for decisions to buy and sell securities for the Fund, the
selection of brokers and dealers to effect the transactions, and the negotiation
of brokerage commissions, if any. The Fund expects that the primary market for
the securities in which it intends to invest will generally be the
over-the-counter market. Securities are generally traded in the over-the-counter
market on a "net" basis with dealers acting as principal for their own accounts
without a stated commission, although the price of the security usually includes
a profit to the dealer. The Fund also expects that securities will be purchased
at times in underwritten offerings where the price includes a fixed amount of
compensation, generally referred to as the underwriter's concession or discount.
On occasion the Fund may also purchase certain money market instruments directly
from an issuer, in which case no commissions or discounts are paid.
During the fiscal years ended December 31, 1997, 1998 and 1999, the Fund
paid no such brokerage commissions or concessions.
B. COMMISSIONS
Pursuant to an order of the SEC, the Fund may effect principal transactions
in certain money market instruments with Dean Witter Reynolds. The Fund will
limit its transactions with Dean Witter Reynolds to U.S. Government and
Government Agency Securities, Bank Money Instruments (i.e. Certificates of
Deposit and Bankers' Acceptances) and Commercial Paper (not including Tax-Exempt
Municipal Paper). The transactions will be effected with Dean Witter Reynolds
only when the price available from Dean Witter Reynolds is better than that
available from other dealers.
During the fiscal years ended December 31, 1997, 1998 and 1999, the Fund did
not effect any principal transactions with Dean Witter Reynolds.
Brokerage transactions in securities listed on exchanges or admitted to
unlisted trading privileges may be effected through Dean Witter Reynolds, Morgan
Stanley & Co. and other affiliated brokers and dealers. In order for an
affiliated broker or dealer to effect any portfolio transactions on an exchange
for the Fund, the commissions, fees or other remuneration received by the
affiliated broker or dealer must be reasonable and fair compared to the
commissions, fees or other remuneration paid to other brokers in connection with
comparable transactions involving similar securities being purchased or sold on
an exchange during a comparable period of time. This standard would allow the
affiliated broker or dealer to receive no more than the remuneration which would
be expected to be received by an unaffiliated broker in a commensurate
arm's-length transaction. Furthermore, the Trustees, including the Independent
Trustees, have adopted procedures which are reasonably designed to provide that
any commissions, fees or other remuneration paid to an affiliated broker or
dealer are consistent with the foregoing standard. The Fund does not reduce the
management fee it pays to the Investment Manager by any amount of the brokerage
commissions it may pay to an affiliated broker or dealer.
During the fiscal years ended December 31, 1997, 1998 and 1999, the Fund
paid no brokerage commissions to an affiliated broker or dealer.
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C. BROKERAGE SELECTION
The policy of the Fund regarding purchases and sales of securities for its
portfolio is that primary consideration will be given to obtaining the most
favorable prices and efficient executions of transactions.
In seeking to implement the Fund's policies, the Investment Manager effects
transactions with those brokers and dealers who the Investment Manager believes
provide the most favorable prices and are capable of providing efficient
executions. If the Investment Manager believes the prices and executions are
obtainable from more than one broker or dealer, it may give consideration to
placing portfolio transactions with those brokers and dealers who also furnish
research and other services to the Fund or the Investment Manager. The services
may include, but are not limited to, any one or more of the following:
information as to the availability of securities for purchase or sale;
statistical or factual information or opinions pertaining to investment; wire
services; and appraisals or evaluations of portfolio securities.
The information and services received by the Investment Manager from brokers
and dealers may be of benefit to the Investment Manager in the management of
accounts of some of its other clients and may not in all cases benefit the Fund
directly. While the receipt of such information and services is useful in
varying degrees and would generally reduce the amount of research or services
otherwise performed by the Investment Manager and thereby reduce its expenses,
it is of indeterminable value and the Fund does not reduce the management fee it
pays to the Investment Manager by any amount that may be attributable to the
value of such services.
Subject to the principle of obtaining best price and execution, the
Investment Manager may consider a broker-dealer's sales of shares of the Fund as
a factor in selecting from among those broker-dealers qualified to provide
comparable prices and execution on the Fund's portfolio transactions. The Fund
does not, however, require a broker-dealer to sell shares of the Fund in order
for it to be considered to execute portfolio transactions, and will not enter
into any arrangement whereby a specific amount or percentage of the Fund's
transactions will be directed to a broker which sells shares of the Fund to
customers. The Trustees review, periodically, the allocation of brokerage orders
to monitor the operation of these policies.
The Investment Manager currently serves as investment manager to a number of
clients, including other investment companies, and may in the future act as
investment manager or advisor to others. It is the practice of the Investment
Manager to cause purchase and sale transactions to be allocated among the Fund
and others whose assets it manages in such manner as it deems equitable. In
making such allocations among the Fund and other client accounts, various
factors may be considered, including the respective investment objectives, the
relative size of portfolio holdings of the same or comparable securities, the
availability of cash for investment, the size of investment commitments
generally held and the opinions of the persons responsible for managing the
portfolios of the Fund and other client accounts. In the case of certain initial
and secondary public offerings, the Investment Manager utilizes a pro rata
allocation process based on the size of the Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Funds
involved and the number of shares available from the public offering.
D. DIRECTED BROKERAGE
During the fiscal year ended December 31, 1999, the Fund did not pay any
brokerage commissions to brokers because of research services provided.
E. REGULAR BROKER-DEALERS
During the fiscal year ended December 31, 1999, the Fund did not purchase
securities issued by brokers or dealers that were among the ten brokers or the
ten dealers which executed transactions for or with the Fund in the largest
dollar amounts during the year. At December 31, 1999, the Fund did not own any
securities issued by any of such issuers.
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VII. CAPITAL STOCK AND OTHER SECURITIES
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The shareholders of the Fund are entitled to a full vote for each full share
of beneficial interest held. The Fund is authorized to issue an unlimited number
of shares of beneficial interest. 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's Declaration of Trust permits the Trustees to authorize the
creation of additional series of shares (the proceeds of which would be invested
in separate, independently managed portfolios) and additional Classes of shares
within any series. The Trustees have not presently authorized any such
additional series or Classes of shares other than as set forth in the
PROSPECTUS.
The Fund is not required to hold annual meetings of shareholders and in
ordinary circumstances the Fund does not intend to hold such meetings. The
Trustees may call special meetings of shareholders for action by shareholder
vote as may be required by the Investment Company Act or the Declaration of
Trust. Under certain circumstances, the Trustees may be removed by action of the
Trustees. In addition, under certain circumstances, the shareholders may call a
meeting to remove the Trustees and the Fund is required to provide assistance in
communicating with shareholders about such a meeting. The voting rights of
shareholders are not cumulative, so that holders of more than 50 percent of the
shares voting can, if they choose, elect all Trustees being selected, while the
holders of the remaining shares would be unable to elect any Trustees.
Under Massachusetts law, shareholders of a business trust may, under certain
limited circumstances, be held personally liable as partners for the obligations
of the Fund. However, the Declaration of Trust contains an express disclaimer of
shareholder liability for acts or obligations of the Fund, requires that notice
of such Fund obligations include such disclaimer, and provides for
indemnification out of the Fund's property for any shareholder held personally
liable for the obligations of the Fund. Thus, the risk of a shareholder
incurring financial loss on account of shareholder liability is limited to
circumstances in which the Fund itself would be unable to meet its obligations.
Given the above limitations on shareholder personal liability, and the nature of
the Fund's assets and operations, the possibility of the Fund being unable to
meet its obligations is remote and thus, in the opinion of Massachusetts counsel
to the Fund, the risk to Fund shareholders of personal liability is remote.
All of the Trustees have been elected by the shareholders of the Fund, most
recently at a Special Meeting of Shareholders held on May 21, 1997. The Trustees
themselves have the power to alter the number and the terms of office of the
Trustees (as provided for in the Declaration of Trust), and they may at any time
lengthen or shorten their own terms or make their terms of unlimited duration
and appoint their own successors, provided that always at least a majority of
the Trustees has been elected by the shareholders of the Fund.
VIII. PURCHASE, REDEMPTION AND PRICING OF SHARES
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A. PURCHASE/REDEMPTION OF SHARES
Information concerning how Fund shares are offered to the public (and how
they are redeemed and exchanged) is provided in the Fund's PROSPECTUS.
TRANSFER AGENT AS AGENT. With respect to the redemption or repurchase of
Fund shares, the application of proceeds to the purchase of new shares in the
Fund or any other Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Funds and the general
administration of the exchange privilege, the Transfer Agent acts as agent for
the Distributor and for the shareholder's authorized broker-dealer, if any, in
the performance of such functions. With respect to exchanges, redemptions or
repurchases, the Transfer Agent shall be liable for its own negligence and not
for the default or negligence of its correspondents or for losses in transit.
The Fund shall not be liable for any default or negligence of the Transfer
Agent, the Distributor or any authorized broker-dealer.
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The Distributor and any authorized broker-dealer have appointed the Transfer
Agent to act as their agent in connection with the application of proceeds of
any redemption of Fund shares to the purchase of shares of any other Morgan
Stanley Dean Witter Fund and the general administration of the exchange
privilege. No commission or discounts will be paid to the Distributor or any
authorized broker-dealer for any transaction pursuant to the exchange privilege.
REDEMPTIONS. A check drawn by a shareholder against his or her account in
the Fund constitutes a request for redemption of a number of shares sufficient
to provide proceeds equal to the amount of the check. Payment of the proceeds
will normally be made on the next business day after receipt by the Transfer
Agent of the check in proper form. If a check is presented for payment to the
Transfer Agent by a shareholder or payee in person, the Transfer Agent will make
payment by means of a check drawn on the Fund's account or, in the case of a
shareholder payee, to the shareholder's predesignated bank account, but will not
make payment in cash.
B. OFFERING PRICE
The price of Fund shares, called "net asset value," is based on the value of
the Fund's portfolio securities.
The Fund utilizes the amortized cost method in valuing its portfolio
securities for purposes of determining the net asset value of its shares. The
Fund utilizes the amortized cost method in valuing its portfolio securities even
though the portfolio securities may increase or decrease in market value,
generally in connection with changes in interest rates. The amortized cost
method of valuation involves valuing a security at its cost at the time of
purchase adjusted by a constant amortization to maturity of any discount or
premium, regardless of the impact of fluctuating interest rates on the market
value of the instrument. While this method provides certainty in valuation, it
may result in periods during which value, as determined by amortized cost, is
higher or lower than the price the Fund would receive if it sold the investment.
During such periods, the yield to investors in the Fund may differ somewhat from
that obtained in a similar company which uses market-to-market values for all of
its portfolio securities. For example, if the use of amortized cost resulted in
a lower (higher) aggregate portfolio value on a particular day, a prospective
investor in the Fund would be able to obtain a somewhat higher (lower) yield
than would result from investment in such a similar company and existing
investors would receive less (more) investment income. The purpose of this
method of calculation is to facilitate the maintenance of a constant net asset
value per share of $1.00.
The use of the amortized cost method to value the portfolio securities of
the Fund and the maintenance of the per share net asset value of $1.00 is
permitted pursuant to Rule 2a-7 of the Act (the "Rule") and is conditioned on
its compliance with various conditions contained in the Rule including: (a) the
Trustees are obligated, as a particular responsibility within the overall duty
of care owed to the Fund's shareholders, to establish procedures reasonably
designed, taking into account current market conditions and the Fund's
investment objectives, to stabilize the net asset value per share as computed
for the purpose of distribution and redemption at $1.00 per share; (b) the
procedures include (i) calculation, at such intervals as the Trustees determine
are appropriate and as are reasonable in light of current market conditions, of
the deviation, if any, between net asset value per share using amortized cost to
value portfolio securities and net asset value per share based upon available
market quotations with respect to such portfolio securities; (ii) periodic
review by the Trustees of the amount of deviation as well as methods used to
calculate it; and (iii) maintenance of written records of the procedures, and
the Trustees' considerations made pursuant to them and any actions taken upon
such consideration; (c) the Trustees should consider what steps should be taken,
if any, in the event of a difference of more than 1/2 of 1% between the two
methods of valuation; and (d) the Trustees should take such action as they deem
appropriate (such as shortening the average portfolio maturity, realizing gains
or losses, withholding dividends or, as provided by the Declaration of Trust,
reducing the number of outstanding shares of the Fund) to eliminate or reduce to
the extent reasonably practicable material dilution or other unfair results to
investors or existing shareholders which might arise from differences between
the two method of valuation.
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Generally, for purposes of the procedures adopted under the Rule, the
maturity of a portfolio security is deemed to be the period remaining
(calculated from the trade date or such other date on which the Fund's interest
in the instrument is subject to market action) until the date on which in
accordance with the terms of the security the principal amount must
unconditionally be paid, or in the case of a security called for redemption, the
date on which the redemption payment must be made.
A variable rate security that is subject to a demand feature is deemed to
have a maturity equal to the period remaining until the principal amount can be
recovered through demand. A floating rate security that is subject to a demand
feature is deemed to have a maturity equal to the period remaining until the
principal amount can be recovered through demand.
An "NRSRO" is a nationally recognized statistical rating organization. The
term "Requisite NRSROs" means (i) any two NRSROs that have issued a rating with
respect to a security or class of debt obligations of an issuer, or (ii) if only
one NRSRO has issued a rating with respect to such security or issuer at the
time a fund purchases or rolls over the security, that NRSRO.
An Eligible Security is generally defined in the Rule to mean (i) a rated
security with a remaining maturity of 397 calendar days or less that has
received a rating from the Requisite NRSROs in one of the two highest short-term
rating categories (within which there may be sub-categories or gradations
indicating relative standing); or (ii) An Unrated Security that is of comparable
quality to a security meeting the requirements of (1) above, as determined by
Trustees; (iii) In addition, in the case of a security that is subject to a
Demand Feature or Guarantee: (A) The Guarantee has received a rating from an
NRSRO or the Guarantee is issued by a guarantor that has received a rating from
an NRSRO with respect to a class of debt obligations (or any debt obligation
within that class) that is comparable in priority and security to the Guarantee,
unless: (1) the Guarantee is issued by a person that directly or indirectly,
controls, is controlled by or is under a common control with the issuer of the
security subject to the Guarantee (other than a sponsor or a Special Purpose
Entity with respect to an Asset Backed Security: (2) the security subject to the
Guarantee is a repurchase agreement that is Collateralized Fully; or (3) the
Guarantee itself is a Government Security and (B) the issuer of the Demand
Feature, or another institution, has undertaken promptly to notify the holder of
the security in the event the Demand Feature or Guarantee is substituted with
another Demand Feature or Guarantee (if such substitution is permissible under
the terms of the Demand Feature or Guarantee). The Fund will limit its
investments to securities that meet the requirements for Eligible Securities.
As permitted by the Rule, the Trustees have delegated to the Fund's
Investment Manager the authority to determine which securities present minimal
credit risks and which unrated securities are comparable in quality to rated
securities.
Also, as required by the Rule, the Fund will limit its investments in
securities, other than Government securities, so that, at the time of purchase:
(a) except as further limited in (b) below with regard to certain securities,
with respect to 75% of its total assets no more than 5% of its total assets will
be invested in the securities of any one issuer; and (b) with respect to
Eligible Securities that have received a rating in less than the highest
category by any one of the NRSROs whose ratings are used to qualify the security
as an Eligible Security, or that have been determined to be of comparable
quality: (i) no more than 5% in the aggregate of the Fund's total assets in all
such securities, and (ii) no more than the greater of 1% of total assets, or $1
million, in the securities on any one issuer.
The presence of a line of credit or other credit facility offered by a bank
or other financial institution which guarantees the payment obligation of the
issuer, in the event of a default in the payment of principal or interest of an
obligation, may be taken into account in determining whether an investment is an
Eligible Security, provided that the guarantee itself is an Eligible Security.
The Rule further requires that the Fund limit its investments to U.S.
dollar-denominated instruments which the Trustees determine present minimal
credit risks and which are Eligible Securities. The Rule also requires the Fund
to maintain a dollar-weighted average portfolio maturity (not more than 90 days)
appropriate to its objective of maintaining a stable net asset value of $1.00
per share and precludes the
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purchase of any instrument with a remaining maturity of more than 397 days.
Should the disposition of a portfolio security result in a dollar-weighted
average portfolio maturity of more than 90 days, the Fund will invest its
available cash in such a manner as to reduce such maturity to 90 days or less a
soon as is reasonably practicable.
If the Trustees determine that it is no longer in the best interests of the
Fund and its shareholders to maintain a stable price of $1 per share or if the
Trustees believe that maintaining such price no longer reflects a market-based
net asset value per share, the Trustees have the right to change from an
amortized cost basis of valuation to valuation based on market quotations. The
Fund will notify shareholders of the Fund of any such change.
IX. TAXATION OF THE FUND AND SHAREHOLDERS
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The Fund generally will make three basic types of distributions: tax exempt
dividends, ordinary dividends and long-term capital gain distributions. These
types of distributions are reported differently on a shareholder's income tax
return and they are also subject to different rates of tax. The tax treatment of
the investment activities of the Fund will affect the amount and timing and
character of the distributions made by the Fund. Shareholders are urged to
consult their own tax professionals regarding specific questions as to federal,
state or local taxes.
INVESTMENT COMPANY TAXATION. The Fund intends to remain qualified as a
regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of
1986. As such, the Fund will not be subject to federal income tax on its net
investment income and capital gains, if any, to the extent that it distributes
such income and capital gains to its shareholders.
The Fund generally intends to distribute sufficient income and gains so that
the Fund will not pay corporate income tax on its earnings. The Fund also
generally intends to distribute to its shareholders in each calendar year a
sufficient amount of ordinary income and capital gains to avoid the imposition
of a 4% excise tax. However, the Fund may instead determine to retain all or
part of any ordinary income or capital gains in any year for reinvestment. In
such event, the Fund will pay federal income tax (and possibly excise tax) on
such retained gains.
Gains or losses on sales of securities by the Fund will be long-term capital
gains or losses if the securities have a tax holding period of more than one
year. Gains or losses on the sale of securities with a tax holding period of one
year or less will be short-term gains or losses.
In computing net investment income, the Fund will amortize any premiums and
original issue discounts on securities owned, if applicable. Capital gains or
losses realized upon sale or maturity of such securities will be based on their
amortized cost.
All or a portion of any of the Fund's gain from tax-exempt obligations
purchased at a market discount may be treated as ordinary income rather than
capital gain.
From time to time, proposals have been introduced before Congress for the
purpose of restricting or eliminating the federal income tax exemption for
interest on municipal securities. Similar proposals may be introduced in the
future. If such a proposal were enacted, the availability of municipal
securities for investment by the Fund could be affected. In that event, the Fund
would re-evaluate its investment objective and policies.
TAXATION OF DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS. The Fund intends to qualify to pay
"exempt-interest dividends" to its shareholders by maintaining, as of the close
of each quarter of each of its taxable years, at least 50% of the value of its
assets in tax-exempt securities. An exempt-interest dividend is that part of the
dividend distributions made by the Fund which consists of interest received by
the Fund on tax-exempt securities upon which the shareholder incurs no federal
income taxes. Exempt-interest dividends are included, however, in determining
what portion, if any, of a person's Social Security benefits are subject to
federal income tax.
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The Fund intends to invest a portion of its assets in certain "private
activity bonds." As a result, a portion of the exempt-interest dividends paid by
the Fund will be an item of tax preference to shareholders subject to the
alternative minimum tax. Certain corporations which are subject to the
alternative minimum tax may also have to include exempt-interest dividends in
calculating their alternative minimum taxable income in situations where the
"adjusted current earnings" of the corporation exceeds its alternative minimum
taxable income.
Shareholders will be subject to federal income tax on dividends paid from
interest income derived from taxable securities and on distributions of net
short-term capital gains. Such dividends and distributions 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
long-term capital gains, if any, are taxable as long-term capital gains,
regardless of how long the shareholder has held the Fund shares and regardless
of whether the distribution is received in additional shares or in cash. Since
the Fund's income is expected to be derived entirely from interest rather than
dividends, it is anticipated that no portion of such dividend distributions will
be eligible for the federal dividends received deduction available to
corporations.
Shareholders are generally taxed on any ordinary dividend or capital gain
distributions from the Fund in the year they are actually distributed. However,
if any such dividends or distributions are declared in October, November or
December and paid in January then such amounts will be treated for tax purposes
as received by the shareholders on December 31, to shareholders of record of
such month.
Shareholders who are not citizens or residents of the United States and
certain foreign entities may be subject to withholding of United States tax on
distributions made by the Fund of any taxable interest income and short term
capital gains.
After the end of each calendar year, shareholders will be sent information
on their dividends and capital gain distributions for tax purposes, including
the portion taxable as ordinary income, the portion taxable as long-term capital
gains and the percentage of any distributions which constitute an item of tax
preference for purposes of the alternative minimum tax.
PURCHASES AND REDEMPTIONS AND EXCHANGES OF FUND SHARES. Any dividend or
capital gains distribution received by a shareholder from the Fund will have the
effect of reducing the net asset value of the shareholder's stock in the Fund by
the exact amount of the dividend or capital gains distribution. Furthermore,
capital gains distributions and some portion of the dividends may be subject to
federal income taxes. If the net asset value of the shares should be reduced
below a shareholder's cost as a result of the payment of dividends or the
distribution of realized long-term capital gains, such payment or distribution
would be in part a return of the shareholder's investment but nonetheless would
be taxable to the shareholder. Therefore, an investor should consider the tax
implications of purchasing Fund shares immediately prior to a distribution
record date.
In general, a sale of shares results in capital gain or loss, and for
individual shareholders, is taxable at a federal rate dependent upon the length
of time the shares were held. A redemption of a shareholder's Fund shares is
normally treated as a sale for tax purposes. Fund shares held for a period of
one year or less will, for tax purposes, generally result in short-term gains or
losses and those held for more than one year generally result in long-term gain
or loss. Under current law, the maximum tax rate on long-term capital gains
realized by non-corporate shareholders is 20%.
Any loss realized by shareholders upon a sale or redemption of shares within
six months of the date of their purchase will be treated as a long-term capital
loss to the extent of any distributions of net long-term capital gains with
respect to such shares during the six-month period. If a shareholder of the Fund
receives exempt-interest dividends with respect to any share and if such share
is held by the shareholder for six months or less, then any loss on the sale or
redemption of such share may, to the extent of such exempt-interest dividends,
be disallowed.
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Gain or loss on the sale or redemption of shares in the Fund is measured by
the difference between the amount received and the tax basis of the shares.
Shareholders should keep records of investments made (including shares acquired
through reinvestment of dividends and distributions) so they can compute the tax
basis of their shares. Under certain circumstances a shareholder may compute and
use an average cost basis in determining the gain or loss on the sale or
redemption of shares.
Exchanges of Fund shares for shares of another fund, including shares of
other Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Funds, are also subject to similar tax
treatment. Such an exchange is treated for tax purposes as a sale of the
original shares in the first fund, followed by the purchase of shares in the
second fund.
If a shareholder realizes a loss on the redemption or exchange of a fund's
shares and reinvests in that fund's shares within 30 days before or after the
redemption or exchange, the transactions may be subject to the "wash sale"
rules, resulting in a postponement of the recognition of such loss for tax
purposes.
Interest on indebtedness incurred by shareholders to purchase or carry
shares of the Fund is not deductible. Furthermore, entities or persons who are
"substantial users" (or related persons) of facilities financed by industrial
development bonds should consult their tax advisers before purchasing shares of
the Fund. "Substantial user" is defined generally by Treasury Regulation Section
1.103-11(b) as including a "non-exempt person" who regularly uses in a trade or
business a part of a facility financed from the proceeds of industrial
development bonds.
CALIFORNIA STATE TAX
To the extent that dividends are derived from interest on California
tax-exempt securities and on certain U.S. government securities, such dividends
will also be exempt from California personal income taxes. Under California law,
a fund which qualifies as a regulated investment company must have at least 50%
of its total assets invested in California state and local issues or in U.S.
obligations which pay interest excludable from income or in a combination of
such obligations at the end of each quarter of its taxable year in order to be
eligible to pay dividends to California residents which will be exempt from
California personal income taxes. Unlike federal law, California law provides
that no portion of the exempt-interest dividends will constitute an item of tax
preference for California personal income alternative minimum tax purposes.
For California personal income tax purposes, the shareholders of the Fund
will not be subject to tax, or receive a credit for taxes paid by the Fund, on
undistributed capital gains, if any. Under the California Revenue and Taxation
Code, interest on indebtedness incurred or continued to purchase or carry shares
of an investment company paying exempt-interest dividends, such as the Fund,
will not be deductible by the investor for state personal income tax purposes.
The foregoing relates to federal income taxation and to California personal
income taxation as in effect as of the date of the Prospectus. Distributions
from interest income and capital gains, including exempt-interest dividends, may
be subject to California franchise taxes if received by a corporation doing
business in California, to state taxes in states other than California and to
local taxes.
X. UNDERWRITERS
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The Fund's shares are offered to the public on a continuous basis. The
Distributor, as the principal underwriter of the shares, has certain obligations
under the Distribution Agreement concerning the distribution of the shares.
These obligations and the compensation the Distributor receives are described
above in the sections titled "Principal Underwriter" and "Rule 12b-1 Plan."
XI. CALCULATION OF PERFORMANCE DATA
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The Fund's current yield for the seven days ending December 31, 1999 was
3.25%. The seven day effective yield on December 31, 1999 was 3.31% assuming
daily compounding.
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The Fund's annualized current yield, as may be quoted from time to time in
advertisements and other communications to shareholders and potential investors,
is computed by determining, for a stated seven-day period, the net change,
exclusive of capital changes and including the value of additional shares
purchased with dividends and any dividends declared therefrom (which reflect
deductions of all expenses of the Fund such as management fees), in the value of
a hypothetical pre-existing account having a balance of one share at the
beginning of the period, and dividing the difference by the value of the account
at the beginning of the base period to obtain the base period return, and then
multiplying the base period return by (365/7).
The Fund's annualized effective yield, as may be quoted from time to time in
advertisements and other communications to shareholders and potential investors,
is computed by determining (for the same stated seven-day period as for the
current yield), the net change, exclusive of capital changes and including the
value of additional shares purchased with dividends and any dividends declared
therefrom (which reflect deductions of all expenses of the Fund such as
management fees), in the value of a hypothetical pre-existing account having a
balance of one share at the beginning of the period, and dividing the difference
by the value of the account at the beginning of the base period to obtain the
base period return, and then compounding the base period return by adding 1,
raising the sum to a power equal to 365 divided by 7, and subtracting 1 from the
result.
The yields quoted in any advertisement or other communication should not be
considered a representation of the yields of the Fund in the future since the
yield is not fixed. Actual yields will depend not only on the type, quality and
maturities of the investments held by the Fund and changes in interest rates on
such investments, but also on changes in the Fund's expenses during the period.
Yield information may be useful in reviewing the performance of the Fund and
for providing a basis for comparison with other investment alternatives.
However, unlike bank deposits or other investments which typically pay a fixed
yield for a stated period of time, the Fund's yield fluctuates.
Based upon a combined Federal and California personal income tax bracket of
45.22%, the Fund's tax-equivalent yield for the seven days ending December 31,
1999, was 5.93%. Tax-equivalent yield is computed by dividing that portion of
the current yield (calculated as described above) which is tax-exempt by 1 minus
a stated tax rate and adding the quotient to that portion, if any, of the yield
of the Fund that is not tax-exempt.
The Fund may also advertise the growth of hypothetical investments of
$10,000, $50,000 and $100,000 in shares of the Fund by adding the sum of all
distributions on 10,000, 50,000 or 100,000 shares of the Fund since inception to
$10,000, $50,000 and $100,000, as the case may be. Investments of $10,000,
$50,000 and $100,000 in the Fund at inception would have grown to $14,338,
$71,690 and $143,380, respectively, at December 31, 1999.
XII. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EXPERTS. The financial statements of the Fund for the fiscal year ended
December 31, 1999 included in the PROSPECTUS and incorporated by reference in
the STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION have been so included and incorporated
herein in reliance on the report of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, independent
accountants, and on the authority of that firm as experts in auditing and
accounting.
*****
This STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION and the PROSPECTUS do not contain
all of the information set forth in the REGISTRATION STATEMENT the Fund has
filed with the SEC. The complete REGISTRATION STATEMENT may be obtained from the
SEC.
32
<PAGE>
MORGAN STANLEY DEAN WITTER CALIFORNIA TAX-FREE DAILY INCOME TRUST
PART C OTHER INFORMATION
Item 23. Exhibits
- ------- --------------------------------------
1(a). Declaration of Trust of the Registrant, dated April 20, 1988, is
incorporated by reference to Exhibit 1(a) of Post-Effective
Amendment No. 8 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A, filed on
February 23, 1996.
1(b). Amendment to the Declaration of Trust of the Registrant, dated
February 19, 1993, is incorporated by reference to Exhibit 1(b) of
Post-Effective Amendment No. 8 to the Registration Statement on Form
N-1A, filed on February 23, 1996.
2. Amended and Restated By-Laws of the Registrant, dated May 1, 1999,
filed herein.
3. Not applicable.
4. Amended Investment Management Agreement between the Registrant and
Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Advisors Inc., dated April 30, 1998, is
incorporated by reference to Exhibit 5 of Post-Effective Amendment
No. 11 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A, filed on
February 3, 1999.
5(a). Distribution Agreement between the Registrant and Morgan Stanley Dean
Witter Distributors Inc., dated May 31, 1997, is incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 6 of Post-Effective Amendment No. 10 to the
Registration Statement on Form N-1A, filed on February 26, 1998.
5(b). Selected Dealers Agreement between Morgan Stanley Dean Witter
Distributors Inc. and Dean Witter Reynolds Inc., dated June 7, 1993,
is incorporated by reference to Exhibit 6 (b) of Post-Effective
Amendment No. 6 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A, filed on
February 17, 1994.
6. Amended and Restated Retirement Plan for Non-Interested Trustees or
Directors, dated May 8, 1997, is incorporated by reference to Exhibit
6 of Post-Effective Amendment No. 12 to the Registration Statement on
Form N-1A, filed on April 1, 1999.
7(a). Custodian Agreement between The Bank of New York and the Registrant,
dated September 20, 1991, is incorporated by reference to Exhibit 8
of Post-Effective Amendment No. 8 to the Registration Statement on
Form N-1A, filed on February 23, 1996.
7(b). Amendment to the Custodian Agreement between The Bank of New York and
the Registrant, dated April 17,1996, is incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 8 of Post-Effective Amendment No. 9 to the Registration
Statement on Form N-1A, filed on February 25, 1997.
<PAGE>
8(a). Amended and Restated Transfer Agency Agreement between the Registrant
and Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Trust FSB, dated June 22, 1998, is
incorporated by reference to Exhibit 8 of Post-Effective Amendment
No. 11 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A, filed on
February 3, 1999.
8(b). Amended Services Agreement between Morgan Stanley Dean Witter
Advisors Inc. and Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Services Company Inc.,
dated June 22, 1998, is incorporated by reference to Exhibit 9 of
Post-Effective Amendment No. 11 to the Registration Statement on Form
N-1A, filed on February 3, 1999.
9. Opinion of Sheldon Curtis, Esq., dated June 30, 1988, filed herin.
10. Consent of Independent Accountants, filed herein.
11. Not applicable.
12. Not applicable.
13. Amended and Restated Plan of Distribution pursuant to Rule 12b-1
between the Registrant and Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Distributors
Inc., dated July 28, 1997, is incorporated by reference to Exhibit 15
of Post-Effective Amendment No. 10 to the Registration Statement on
Form N-1A, filed on February 26, 1998.
14. Not Applicable
Other. Powers of Attorney of Trustees are incorporated by reference to
Exhibit (Other) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 7 to the Registration
Statement on Form N-1A, filed on February 22,1995 and to Exhibit
(Other) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 10 to the Registration
Statement on Form N-1A, filed on February 26, 1998
Item 24. PERSONS CONTROLLED BY OR UNDER COMMON CONTROL WITH THE FUND.
None
Item 25. INDEMNIFICATION.
Pursuant to Section 5.3 of the Registrant's Declaration of Trust and under
Section 4.8 of the Registrant's By-Laws, the indemnification of the Registrant's
trustees, officers, employees and agents is permitted if it is determined that
they acted under the belief that their actions were in or not opposed to the
best interest of the Registrant, and, with respect to any criminal proceeding,
they had reasonable cause to believe their conduct was not unlawful. In
addition, indemnification is permitted only if it is determined that the actions
in question did not render them liable by reason of willful misfeasance, bad
faith or gross negligence in the performance of their duties or by reason of
reckless disregard of their obligations and duties to the Registrant. Trustees,
officers, employees and agents will be indemnified for the expense of litigation
if it is determined that they are entitled to indemnification against any
liability established in such litigation. The Registrant may also advance money
for these expenses provided that they give their undertakings to repay the
Registrant unless their conduct is later determined to permit indemnification.
2
<PAGE>
Pursuant to Section 5.2 of the Registrant's Declaration of Trust and
paragraph 8 of the Registrant's Investment Management Agreement, neither the
Investment Manager nor any trustee, officer, employee or agent of the Registrant
shall be liable for any action or failure to act, except in the case of bad
faith, willful misfeasance, gross negligence or reckless disregard of duties to
the Registrant.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act
of 1933 (the "Act") may be permitted to trustees, officers and controlling
persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions or otherwise, the
Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange
Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act
and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification
against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses
incurred or paid by a trustee, officer, or controlling person of the Registrant
in connection with the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is
asserted against the Registrant by such trustee, officer or controlling person
in connection with the shares being registered, the Registrant will, unless in
the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent,
submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such
indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act, and will
be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
The Registrant hereby undertakes that it will apply the indemnification
provision of its by-laws in a manner consistent with Release 11330 of the
Securities and Exchange Commission under the Investment Company Act of 1940, so
long as the interpretation of Sections 17(h) and 17(i) of such Act remains in
effect.
Registrant, in conjunction with the Investment Manager, Registrant's
Trustees, and other registered investment management companies managed by the
Investment Manager, maintains insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a
Trustee, officer, employee, or agent of Registrant, or who is or was serving at
the request of Registrant as a trustee, director, officer, employee or agent of
another trust or corporation, against any liability asserted against him and
incurred by him or arising out of his position. However, in no event will
Registrant maintain insurance to indemnify any such person for any act for which
Registrant itself is not permitted to indemnify him.
Item 26. BUSINESS AND OTHER CONNECTIONS OF INVESTMENT ADVISOR
See "The Fund and Its Management" in the Prospectus regarding the business
of the investment advisor. The following information is given regarding officers
of Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Advisors Inc. ("MSDW Advisors"). MSDW Advisors is
a wholly-owned subsidiary of Morgan Stanley Dean Witter & Co.
The term "Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Funds" refers to the following
registered investment companies:
CLOSED-END INVESTMENT COMPANIES
(1) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter California Insured Municipal Income Trust
(2) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter California Quality Municipal Securities
(3) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Government Income Trust
(4) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter High Income Advantage Trust
(5) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter High Income Advantage Trust II
(6) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter High Income Advantage Trust III
3
<PAGE>
(7) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Income Securities Inc.
(8) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Insured California Municipal Securities
(9) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Insured Municipal Bond Trust
(10) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Insured Municipal Income Trust
(11) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Insured Municipal Securities
(12) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Insured Municipal Trust
(13) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Municipal Income Opportunities Trust
(14) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Municipal Income Opportunities Trust II
(15) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Municipal Income Opportunities Trust III
(16) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Municipal Income Trust
(17) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Municipal Income Trust II
(18) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Municipal Income Trust III
(19) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Municipal Premium Income Trust
(20) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter New York Quality Municipal Securities
(21) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Prime Income Trust
(22) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Quality Municipal Income Trust
(23) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Quality Municipal Investment Trust
(24) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Quality Municipal Securities
OPEN-END INVESTMENT COMPANIES
(1) Active Assets California Tax-Free Trust
(2) Active Assets Government Securities Trust
(3) Active Assets Institutional Money Trust
(4) Active Assets Money Trust
(5) Active Assets Premier Money Trust
(6) Active Assets Tax-Free Trust
(7) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter 21st Century Trend Fund
(8) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Aggressive Equity Fund
(9) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter American Opportunities Fund
(10) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Balanced Growth Fund
(11) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Balanced Income Fund
(12) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter California Tax-Free Daily Income Trust
(13) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter California Tax-Free Income Fund
(14) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Capital Growth Securities
(15) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Competitive Edge Fund, "BEST IDEAS PORTFOLIO"
(16) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Convertible Securities Trust
(17) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Developing Growth Securities Trust
(18) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Diversified Income Trust
(19) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Dividend Growth Securities Inc.
(20) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Equity Fund
(21) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter European Growth Fund Inc.
(22) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Federal Securities Trust
(23) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Financial Services Trust
(24) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Fund of Funds
(25) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Global Dividend Growth Securities
(26) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Global Utilities Fund
(27) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Growth Fund
(28) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Hawaii Municipal Trust
(29) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Health Sciences Trust
(30) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter High Yield Securities Inc.
(31) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Income Builder Fund
4
<PAGE>
(32) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Information Fund
(33) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Intermediate Income Securities
(34) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter International Fund
(35) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter International SmallCap Fund
(36) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Japan Fund
(37) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Latin American Growth Fund
(38) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Limited Term Municipal Trust
(39) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Liquid Asset Fund Inc.
(40) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Market Leader Trust
(41) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Mid-Cap Dividend Growth Securities
(42) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Mid-Cap Equity Trust
(43) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Multi-State Municipal Series Trust
(44) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Natural Resource Development Securities Inc.
(45) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter New York Municipal Money Market Trust
(46) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter New York Tax-Free Income Fund
(47) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Next Generation Trust
(48) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter North American Government Income Trust
(49) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Pacific Growth Fund Inc.
(50) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Real Estate Fund
(51) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter S&P 500 Index Fund
(52) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter S&P 500 Select Fund
(53) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Select Dimensions Investment Series
(54) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Select Municipal Reinvestment Fund
(55) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Short-Term Bond Fund
(56) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Short-Term U.S. Treasury Trust
(57) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Small Cap Growth Fund
(58) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Special Value Fund
(59) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Strategist Fund
(60) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Tax-Exempt Securities Trust
(61) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Tax-Free Daily Income Trust
(62) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Total Market Index Fund
(63) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Total Return Trust
(64) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter U.S. Government Money Market Trust
(65) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter U.S. Government Securities Trust
(66) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Utilities Fund
(67) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Value-Added Market Series
(68) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Value Fund
(69) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Variable Investment Series
(70) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter World Wide Income Trust
5
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NAME AND POSITION WITH OTHER SUBSTANTIAL BUSINESS, PROFESSION, VOCATION
MORGAN STANLEY DEAN OR EMPLOYMENT, INCLUDING NAME, PRINCIPAL ADDRESS
WITTER ADVISORS INC. AND NATURE OF CONNECTION
- ---------------------- -----------------------------------------------
<S> <C>
Mitchell M. Merin President and Chief Operating Officer of Asset
President, Chief Management of Morgan Stanley Dean Witter & Co.
Executive Officer and ("MSDW); Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and Director
Director of Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Distributors Inc. ("MSDW
Distributors") and Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Trust FSB
("MSDW Trust"); President, Chief Executive Officer and
Director of Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Services Company
Inc. ("MSDW Services"); President of the Morgan Stanley
Dean Witter Funds; Executive Vice President and Director
of Dean Witter Reynolds Inc. ("DWR"); Director of various
MSDW subsidiaries; Trustee of various Van Kampen
investment companies.
Barry Fink Assistant Secretary of DWR; Executive Vice President,
Executive Vice President, Secretary, General Counsel and Director of MSDW
Secretary, General Services; Executive Vice President, Assistant Secretary
and Counsel and Director Assistant General Counsel of MSDW Distributors; Vice
President, Secretary and General Counsel of the Morgan
Stanley Dean Witter Funds.
Joseph J. McAlinden Vice President of the Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Funds;
Executive Vice President Director of MSDW Trust.
and Chief Investment
Officer
Ronald E. Robison President MSDW Trust; Executive Vice President, Chief
Executive Vice President, Administrative Officer and Director of MSDW Services;
Chief Administrative Vice President of the Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Funds.
Officer and Director
Edward C. Oelsner, III
Executive Vice President
Joseph R. Arcieri Vice President of various Morgan Stanley Dean Witter
Senior Vice President Funds.
Peter M. Avelar Vice President of various Morgan Stanley Dean Witter
Senior Vice President Funds.
and Director of the High
Yield Group
Mark Bavoso Vice President of various Morgan Stanley Dean Witter
Senior Vice President Funds.
Douglas Brown
Senior Vice President
6
<PAGE>
<CAPTION>
NAME AND POSITION WITH OTHER SUBSTANTIAL BUSINESS, PROFESSION, VOCATION
MORGAN STANLEY DEAN OR EMPLOYMENT, INCLUDING NAME, PRINCIPAL ADDRESS
WITTER ADVISORS INC. AND NATURE OF CONNECTION
<S> <C>
Rosalie Clough
Senior Vice President
and Director of Marketing
Richard Felegy
Senior Vice President
Sheila A. Finnerty Vice President of Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Prime
Senior Vice President Income Trust.
Edward F. Gaylor Vice President of various Morgan Stanley Dean Witter
Senior Vice President Funds.
Robert S. Giambrone Senior Vice President of MSDW Services, MSDW
Senior Vice President Distributors and MSDW Trust and Director of MSDW Trust;
Vice President of the Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Funds.
Rajesh K. Gupta Vice President of various Morgan Stanley Dean Witter
Senior Vice President, Funds.
Director of the Taxable
Fixed Income Group and
Chief Administrative Officer -
Investments
Kenton J. Hinchliffe Vice President of various Morgan Stanley Dean Witter
Senior Vice President Funds.
Kevin Hurley Vice President of various Morgan Stanley Dean Witter
Senior Vice President Funds.
Jenny Beth Jones Vice President of various Morgan Stanley Dean Witter
Senior Vice President Funds.
Michelle Kaufman Vice President of various Morgan Stanley Dean Witter
Senior Vice President Funds.
John B. Kemp, III President of MSDW Distributors.
Senior Vice President
Anita H. Kolleeny Vice President of various Morgan Stanley Dean Witter
Senior Vice President Funds.
and Director of Sector
Rotation
7
<PAGE>
<CAPTION>
NAME AND POSITION WITH OTHER SUBSTANTIAL BUSINESS, PROFESSION, VOCATION
MORGAN STANLEY DEAN OR EMPLOYMENT, INCLUDING NAME, PRINCIPAL ADDRESS
WITTER ADVISORS INC. AND NATURE OF CONNECTION
- ---------------------- ------------------------------------------------
<S> <C>
Jonathan R. Page Vice President of various Morgan Stanley Dean Witter
Senior Vice President Funds.
and Director of the Money
Market Group
Ira N. Ross Vice President of various Morgan Stanley Dean Witter
Senior Vice President Funds.
Guy G. Rutherfurd, Jr. Vice President of various Morgan Stanley Dean Witter
Senior Vice President Funds.
and Director of the Growth
Group
Rochelle G. Siegel Vice President of various Morgan Stanley Dean Witter
Senior Vice President Funds.
James Solloway
Senior Vice President
Katherine H. Stromberg Vice President of various Morgan Stanley Dean Witter
Senior Vice President Funds.
Paul D. Vance Vice President of various Morgan Stanley Dean Witter
Senior Vice President Funds.
and Director of the Growth
and Income Group
Elizabeth A. Vetell
Senior Vice President
and Director of Shareholder
Communication
James F. Willison Vice President of various Morgan Stanley Dean Witter
Senior Vice President Funds.
and Director of the
Tax-Exempt Fixed
Income Group
Raymond A. Basile
First Vice President
Thomas F. Caloia First Vice President and Assistant Treasurer of
First Vice President MSDW Services; Assistant Treasurer of MSDW
and Assistant Distributors; Treasurer and Chief Financial and Accounting
Treasurer Officer of the Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Funds.
8
<PAGE>
<CAPTION>
NAME AND POSITION WITH OTHER SUBSTANTIAL BUSINESS, PROFESSION, VOCATION
MORGAN STANLEY DEAN OR EMPLOYMENT, INCLUDING NAME, PRINCIPAL ADDRESS
WITTER ADVISORS INC. AND NATURE OF CONNECTION
- ---------------------- ------------------------------------------------
<S> <C>
Thomas Chronert
First Vice President
Marilyn K. Cranney Assistant Secretary of DWR; First Vice President and
First Vice President Assistant Secretary of MSDW Services; Assistant
and Assistant Secretary Secretary of MSDW Distributors and the Morgan Stanley
Dean Witter Funds.
Salvatore DeSteno First Vice President of MSDW Services.
First Vice President
Peter W. Gurman
First Vice President
Michael Interrante First Vice President and Controller of MSDW Services;
First Vice President Assistant Treasurer of MSDW Distributors; First Vice
and Controller President and Treasurer of MSDW Trust.
David Johnson
First Vice President
Stanley Kapica
First Vice President
Douglas J. Ketterer
First Vice President
Todd Lebo First Vice President and Assistant Secretary of MSDW
First Vice President and Services; Assistant Secretary of MSDW Distributors and
Assistant Secretary the Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Funds.
Lou Anne D. McInnis First Vice President and Assistant Secretary of MSDW
First Vice President and Services; Assistant Secretary of MSDW Distributors and
Assistant Secretary the Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Funds.
Carsten Otto First Vice President and Assistant Secretary of MSDW
First Vice President Services; Assistant Secretary of MSDW Distributors and
and Assistant Secretary the Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Funds.
Carl F. Sadler
First Vice President
Ruth Rossi First Vice President and Assistant Secretary of MSDW
First Vice President and Services; Assistant Secretary of MSDW Distributors and
Assistant Secretary the Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Funds.
9
<PAGE>
<CAPTION>
NAME AND POSITION WITH OTHER SUBSTANTIAL BUSINESS, PROFESSION, VOCATION
MORGAN STANLEY DEAN OR EMPLOYMENT, INCLUDING NAME, PRINCIPAL ADDRESS
WITTER ADVISORS INC. AND NATURE OF CONNECTION
- ---------------------- ------------------------------------------------
<S> <C>
James P. Wallin
First Vice President
Robert Abreu
Vice President
Dale Albright
Vice President
Joan G. Allman
Vice President
Andrew Arbenz Vice President of Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Global
Vice President Utilities Fund.
Armon Bar-Tur Vice President of various Morgan Stanley Dean Witter
Vice President Funds.
Maurice Bendrihem
Vice President and
Assistant Controller
Thomas A. Bergeron
Vice President
Philip Bernstein
Vice President
Dale Boettcher
Vice President
Michelina Calandrella
Vice President
Ronald Caldwell
Vice President
Joseph Cardwell
Vice President
Liam Carroll
Vice President
Philip Casparius
Vice President
10
<PAGE>
<CAPTION>
NAME AND POSITION WITH OTHER SUBSTANTIAL BUSINESS, PROFESSION, VOCATION
MORGAN STANLEY DEAN OR EMPLOYMENT, INCLUDING NAME, PRINCIPAL ADDRESS
WITTER ADVISORS INC. AND NATURE OF CONNECTION
- ---------------------- ------------------------------------------------
<S> <C>
Annette Celenza
Vice President
Aaron Clark
Vice President
William Connerly
Vice President
Michael J. Davey
Vice President
David Dineen Vice President of various Morgan Stanley Dean Witter
Vice President Funds.
Glen H. Frey Vice President of Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Information
Vice President Fund.
Jeffrey D. Geffen
Vice President
Sandra Gelpieryn
Vice President
Charmaine George
Vice President
Michael Geringer
Vice President
Gail Gerrity-Burke
Vice President
Peter Gewirtz
Vice President
Ellen Gold
Vice President
Stephen Greenhut
Vice President
Trey Hancock
Vice President
Laury A. Haskamp
Vice President
11
<PAGE>
<CAPTION>
NAME AND POSITION WITH OTHER SUBSTANTIAL BUSINESS, PROFESSION, VOCATION
MORGAN STANLEY DEAN OR EMPLOYMENT, INCLUDING NAME, PRINCIPAL ADDRESS
WITTER ADVISORS INC. AND NATURE OF CONNECTION
- ---------------------- ------------------------------------------------
<S> <C>
Matthew T. Haynes Vice President of various Morgan Stanley Dean Witter
Vice President Funds.
Peter Hermann Vice President of various Morgan Stanley Dean Witter
Vice President Funds.
David T. Hoffman
Vice President
Thomas G. Hudson II
Vice President
Kevin Jung Vice President of various Morgan Stanley Dean Witter
Vice President Funds.
Carol Espejo-Kane
Vice President
Nancy Karole-Kennedy
Vice President
Paula LaCosta Vice President of various Morgan Stanley Dean Witter
Vice President Funds.
Kimberly LaHart
Vice President
Thomas Lawlor
Vice President
Gerard J. Lian Vice President of various Morgan Stanley Dean Witter
Vice President Funds.
Cameron J. Livingstone
Vice President
Nancy Login
Vice President
Sharon Loguercio
Vice President
Steven MacNamara
Vice President
Catherine Maniscalco Vice President of various Morgan Stanley Dean Witter
Vice President Funds.
12
<PAGE>
<CAPTION>
NAME AND POSITION WITH OTHER SUBSTANTIAL BUSINESS, PROFESSION, VOCATION
MORGAN STANLEY DEAN OR EMPLOYMENT, INCLUDING NAME, PRINCIPAL ADDRESS
WITTER ADVISORS INC. AND NATURE OF CONNECTION
- ---------------------- ------------------------------------------------
<S> <C>
Peter R. McDowell
Vice President
Albert McGarity
Vice President
Teresa McRoberts Vice President of various Morgan Stanley Dean Witter
Vice President Funds.
Mark Mitchell
Vice President
Julie Morrone Vice President of various Morgan Stanley Dean Witter
Vice President Funds.
Mary Beth Mueller
Vice President
David Myers Vice President of Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Natural
Vice President Resource Development Securities Inc.
James Nash
Vice President
Richard Norris
Vice President
Hilary A. O'Neill
Vice President
Anne Pickrell
Vice President
Mori Paulson
Vice President
Frances Roman
Vice President
Dawn Rorke
Vice President
John Roscoe Vice President of Morgan Stanley Dean Witter
Vice President Real Estate Fund.
Hugh Rose
Vice President
13
<PAGE>
<CAPTION>
NAME AND POSITION WITH OTHER SUBSTANTIAL BUSINESS, PROFESSION, VOCATION
MORGAN STANLEY DEAN OR EMPLOYMENT, INCLUDING NAME, PRINCIPAL ADDRESS
WITTER ADVISORS INC. AND NATURE OF CONNECTION
- ---------------------- ------------------------------------------------
<S> <C>
Robert Rossetti Vice President of Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Competitive
Vice President Edge Fund.
Sally Sancimino
Vice President
Deborah Santaniello
Vice President
Patrice Saunders
Vice President
Howard A. Schloss Vice President of Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Federal
Vice President Securities Trust.
Alison M. Sharkey
Vice President
Peter J. Seeley Vice President of various Morgan Stanley Dean Witter
Vice President Funds.
Ronald B. Silvestri Vice President of various Morgan Stanley Dean Witter
Vice President Funds.
Robert Stearns
Vice President
Naomi Stein
Vice President
William Stevens
Vice President
Michael Strayhorn
Vice President
Marybeth Swisher
Vice President
Michael Thayer
Vice President
Robert Vanden Assem
Vice President
David Walsh
Vice President
14
<PAGE>
NAME AND POSITION WITH OTHER SUBSTANTIAL BUSINESS, PROFESSION, VOCATION
MORGAN STANLEY DEAN OR EMPLOYMENT, INCLUDING NAME, PRINCIPAL ADDRESS
WITTER ADVISORS INC. AND NATURE OF CONNECTION
- ---------------------- ------------------------------------------------
<S> <C>
Alice Weiss Vice President of various Morgan Stanley Dean Witter
Vice President Funds.
John Wong
Vice President
</TABLE>
The principal address of MSDW Advisors, MSDW Services, MSDW Distributors,
DWR, and the Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Funds is Two World Trade Center, New
York, New York 10048. The principal address of MSDW is 1585 Broadway, New York,
New York 10036. The principal address of MSDW Trust is 2 Harborside Financial
Center, Jersey City, New Jersey 07311.
Item 27. PRINCIPAL UNDERWRITERS
(a) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Distributors Inc. ("MSDW Distributors"), a
Delaware corporation, is the principal underwriter of the Registrant. MSDW
Distributors is also the principal underwriter of the following investment
companies:
(1) Active Assets California Tax-Free Trust
(2) Active Assets Government Securities Trust
(3) Active Assets Institutional Money Trust
(4) Active Assets Money Trust
(5) Active Assets Premier Money Trust
(6) Active Assets Tax-Free Trust
(7) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter 21st Century Trend Fund
(8) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Aggressive Equity Fund
(9) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter American Opportunities Fund
(10) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Balanced Growth Fund
(11) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Balanced Income Fund
(12) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter California Tax-Free Daily Income Trust
(13) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter California Tax-Free Income Fund
(14) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Capital Growth Securities
(15) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Competitive Edge Fund, "BEST IDEAS PORTFOLIO"
(16) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Convertible Securities Trust
(17) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Developing Growth Securities Trust
(18) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Diversified Income Trust
(19) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Dividend Growth Securities Inc.
(20) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Equity Fund
(21) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter European Growth Fund Inc.
(22) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Federal Securities Trust
(23) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Financial Services Trust
(24) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Fund of Funds
(25) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Global Dividend Growth Securities
(26) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Global Utilities Fund
(27) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Growth Fund
(28) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Hawaii Municipal Trust
(29) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Health Sciences Trust
15
<PAGE>
(30) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter High Yield Securities Inc.
(31) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Income Builder Fund
(32) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Information Fund
(33) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Intermediate Income Securities
(34) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter International Fund
(35) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter International SmallCap Fund
(36) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Japan Fund
(37) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Latin American Growth Fund
(38) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Limited Term Municipal Trust
(39) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Liquid Asset Fund Inc.
(40) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Market Leader Trust
(41) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Mid-Cap Dividend Growth Securities
(42) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Mid-Cap Equity Trust
(43) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Multi-State Municipal Series Trust
(44) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Natural Resource Development Securities Inc.
(45) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter New York Municipal Money Market Trust
(46) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter New York Tax-Free Income Fund
(47) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Next Generation Trust
(48) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter North American Government Income Trust
(49) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Pacific Growth Fund Inc.
(50) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Prime Income Trust
(51) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Real Estate Fund
(52) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter S&P 500 Index Fund
(53) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter S&P 500 Select Fund
(54) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Short-Term Bond Fund
(55) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Short-Term U.S. Treasury Trust
(56) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Small Cap Growth Fund
(57) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Special Value Fund
(58) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Strategist Fund
(59) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Tax-Exempt Securities Trust
(60) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Tax-Free Daily Income Trust
(61) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Total Market Index Fund
(62) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Total Return Trust
(63) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter U.S. Government Money Market Trust
(64) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter U.S. Government Securities Trust
(65) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Utilities Fund
(66) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Value-Added Market Series
(67) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Value Fund
(68) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Variable Investment Series
(69) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter World Wide Income Trust
(b) The following information is given regarding directors and officers of MSDW
Distributors not listed in Item 26 above. The principal address of MSDW
Distributors is Two World Trade Center, New York, New York 10048. Other than Mr.
Purcell, who is a Trustee of the Registrant, none of the following persons has
any position or office with the Registrant.
NAME POSITIONS AND OFFICE WITH MSDW DISTRIBUTORS
Michael T. Gregg Vice President and Assistant Secretary.
James F. Higgins Director
16
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Philip J. Purcell Director
John Schaeffer Director
Charles Vadala Senior Vice President and Financial Principal.
Item 28. LOCATION OF ACCOUNTS AND RECORDS
All accounts, books and other documents required to be maintained by
Section 31(a) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 and the Rules thereunder are
maintained by the Investment Manager at its offices, except records relating to
holders of shares issued by the Registrant, which are maintained by the
Registrant's Transfer Agent, at its place of business as shown in the
prospectus.
Item 29. MANAGEMENT SERVICES
Registrant is not a party to any such management-related service contract.
Item 30. UNDERTAKINGS
Registrant hereby undertakes to furnish each person to whom a prospectus is
delivered with a copy of the Registrant's latest annual report to shareholders,
upon request and without charge.
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 and the
Investment Company Act of 1940, the Registrant certifies that it meets all of
the requirements for effectiveness of this Registration Statement pursuant to
Rule 485(b) under the Securities Act of 1933 and has duly caused this
Post-Effective Amendment to the Registration Statement to be signed on its
behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of New York
and State of New York on the 28th day of February, 2000.
MORGAN STANLEY DEAN WITTER
CALIFORNIA TAX-FREE DAILY INCOME TRUST
By: /s/ Barry Fink
--------------------
Barry Fink
Vice President and Secretary
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Post-Effective Amendment No. 13 has been signed below by the following persons
in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Signatures Title Date
---------- ----- ----
<S> <C> <C>
(1) Principal Executive Officer Chairman, Chief Executive Officer
and Trustee
By: /s/ Charles A. Fiumefreddo 02/28/00
------------------------
Charles A. Fiumefreddo
(2) Principal Financial Officer Treasurer and Principal
Accounting Officer
By: /s/ Thomas F. Caloia 02/28/00
------------------------
Thomas F. Caloia
(3) Majority of the Trustees
Charles A. Fiumefreddo (Chairman)
Philip J. Purcell
By: /s/ Barry Fink 02/28/00
------------------------
Barry Fink
Attorney-in-Fact
Michael Bozic Manuel H. Johnson
Edwin J. Garn Michael E. Nugent
Wayne E. Hedien John L. Schroeder
By: /s/ David M. Butowsky 02/28/00
------------------------
David M. Butowsky
Attorney-in-Fact
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
MORGAN STANLEY DEAN WITTER CALIFORNIA TAX-FREE
DAILY INCOME TRUST
EXHIBIT INDEX
2. Amended and Restated By-Laws of the Registrant, dated May 1, 1999.
9. Opinion of Sheldon Curtis, Esq., dated June 30, 1988.
10. Consent of Independent Accountants.
<PAGE>
BY-LAWS
OF
MORGAN STANLEY DEAN WITTER
CALIFORNIA TAX-FREE DAILY INCOME TRUST
AMENDED AND RESTATED AS OF MAY 1, 1999
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
The terms "COMMISSION," "DECLARATION," "DISTRIBUTOR," "INVESTMENT
ADVISER," "MAJORITY SHAREHOLDER VOTE," "1940 ACT," "SHAREHOLDER," "SHARES,"
"TRANSFER AGENT," "TRUST," "TRUST PROPERTY," and "TRUSTEES" have the respective
meanings given them in the Declaration of Trust of Morgan Stanley Dean Witter
California Tax-Free Daily Income Trust dated April 25, 1988, as amended from
time to time.
ARTICLE II
OFFICES
SECTION 2.1. PRINCIPAL OFFICE. Until changed by the Trustees, the principal
office of the Trust in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts shall be in the City of
Boston, County of Suffolk.
SECTION 2.2. OTHER OFFICES. In addition to its principal office in the
Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the Trust may have an office or offices in the
City of New York, State of New York, and at such other places within and without
the Commonwealth as the Trustees may from time to time designate or the business
of the Trust may require.
ARTICLE III
SHAREHOLDERS' MEETINGS
SECTION 3.1. PLACE OF MEETINGS. Meetings of Shareholders shall be held at
such place, within or without the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as may be
designated from time to time by the Trustees.
SECTION 3.2. MEETINGS. Meetings of Shareholders of the Trust shall be held
whenever called by the Trustees or the President of the Trust and whenever
election of a Trustee or Trustees by Shareholders is required by the provisions
of Section 16(a) of the 1940 Act, for that purpose. Meetings of Shareholders
shall also be called by the Secretary upon the written request of the holders of
Shares entitled to vote as otherwise required by Section 16(c) of the 1940 Act
and to the extent required by the corporate or business statute of any state in
which the Shares of the Trust are sold, as made applicable to the Trust by the
provisions of Section 2.3 of the Declaration. Such request shall state the
purpose or purposes of such meeting and the matters proposed to be acted on
thereat. Except to the extent otherwise required by Section 16(c) of the 1940
Act, as made applicable to the Trust by the provisions of Section 2.3 of the
Declaration, the Secretary shall inform such Shareholders of the reasonable
estimated cost of preparing and mailing such notice of the meeting, and upon
payment to the Trust of such costs, the Secretary shall give notice stating the
purpose or purposes of the meeting to all entitled to vote at such meeting. No
meeting need be called upon the request of the holders of Shares entitled to
cast less than a majority of all votes entitled to be cast at such meeting, to
consider any matter which is substantially the same as a matter voted upon at
any meeting of Shareholders held during the preceding twelve months.
SECTION 3.3. NOTICE OF MEETINGS. Written or printed notice of every
Shareholders' meeting stating the place, date, and purpose or purposes thereof,
shall be given by the Secretary not less than ten (10) nor more than ninety
(90) days before such meeting to each Shareholder entitled to vote at such
meeting. Such notice shall be deemed to be given when deposited in the United
States mail, postage prepaid, directed to the Shareholder at his address as it
appears on the records of the Trust.
<PAGE>
SECTION 3.4. QUORUM AND ADJOURNMENT OF MEETINGS. Except as otherwise
provided by law, by the Declaration or by these By-Laws, at all meetings of
Shareholders, the holders of a majority of the Shares issued and outstanding and
entitled to vote thereat, present in person or represented by proxy, shall be
requisite and shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. In the
absence of a quorum, the Shareholders present or represented by proxy and
entitled to vote thereat shall have the power to adjourn the meeting from time
to time. The Shareholders present in person or represented by proxy at any
meeting and entitled to vote thereat also shall have the power to adjourn the
meeting from time to time if the vote required to approve or reject any proposal
described in the original notice of such meeting is not obtained (with proxies
being voted for or against adjournment consistent with the votes for and against
the proposal for which the required vote has not been obtained). The affirmative
vote of the holders of a majority of the Shares then present in person or
represented by proxy shall be required to adjourn any meeting. Any adjourned
meeting may be reconvened without further notice or change in record date. At
any reconvened meeting at which a quorum shall be present, any business may be
transacted that might have been transacted at the meeting as originally called.
SECTION 3.5. VOTING RIGHTS, PROXIES. At each meeting of Shareholders, each
holder of record of Shares entitled to vote thereat shall be entitled to one
vote in person or by proxy for each Share of beneficial interest of the Trust
and for the fractional portion of one vote for each fractional Share entitled to
vote so registered in his or her name on the records of the Trust on the date
fixed as the record date for the determination of Shareholders entitled to vote
at such meeting. Without limiting the manner in which a Shareholder may
authorize another person or persons to act for such Shareholder as proxy
pursuant hereto, the following shall constitute a valid means by which a
Shareholder may grant such authority:
(i) A Shareholder may execute a writing authorizing another person or
persons to act for such Shareholder as proxy. Execution may be accomplished
by the Shareholder or such Shareholder's authorized officer, director,
employee, attorney-in-fact or another agent signing such writing or causing
such person's signature to be affixed to such writing by any reasonable
means including, but not limited to, by facsimile or telecopy signature. No
written evidence of authority of a Shareholder's authorized officer,
director, employee, attorney-in-fact or other agent shall be required; and
(ii) A Shareholder may authorize another person or persons to act for such
Shareholder as proxy by transmitting or authorizing the transmission of a
telegram or cablegram or by other means of telephonic, electronic or
computer transmission to the person who will be the holder of the proxy or
to a proxy solicitation firm, proxy support service organization or like
agent duly authorized by the person who will be the holder of the proxy to
receive such transmission, provided that any such telegram or cablegram or
other means of telephonic, electronic or computer transmission must either
set forth or be submitted with information from which it can be determined
that the telegram, cablegram or other transmission was authorized by the
Shareholder.
No proxy shall be valid after eleven months from its date, unless otherwise
provided in the proxy. At all meetings of Shareholders, unless the voting is
conducted by inspectors, all questions relating to the qualification of voters
and the validity of proxies and the acceptance or rejection of votes shall be
decided by the chairman of the meeting. In determining whether a telegram,
cablegram or other electronic transmission is valid, the chairman or inspector,
as the case may be, shall specify the information upon which he or she relied.
Pursuant to a resolution of a majority of the Trustees, proxies may be
solicited in the name of one or more Trustees or Officers of the Trust. Proxy
solicitations may be made in writing or by using telephonic or other electronic
solicitation procedures that include appropriate methods of verifying the
identity of the Shareholder and confirming any instructions given thereby.
SECTION 3.6. VOTE REQUIRED. Except as otherwise provided by law, by the
Declaration of Trust, or by these By-Laws, at each meeting of Shareholders at
which a quorum is present, all matters shall be decided by Majority Shareholder
Vote.
SECTION 3.7. INSPECTORS OF ELECTION. In advance of any meeting of
Shareholders, the Trustees may appoint Inspectors of Election to act at the
meeting or any adjournment thereof. If Inspectors of Election are not so
appointed, the chairman of any meeting of Shareholders may, and on the request
of any
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<PAGE>
Shareholder or his proxy shall, appoint Inspectors of Election of the meeting.
In case any person appointed as Inspector fails to appear or fails or refuses
to act, the vacancy may be filled by appointment made by the Trustees in
advance of the convening of the meeting or at the meeting by the person acting
as chairman. The Inspectors of Election shall determine the number of Shares
outstanding, the Shares represented at the meeting, the existence of a quorum,
the authenticity, validity and effect of proxies, shall receive votes, ballots
or consents, shall hear and determine all challenges and questions in any way
arising in connection with the right to vote, shall count and tabulate all
votes or consents, determine the results, and do such other acts as may be
proper to conduct the election or vote with fairness to all Shareholders. On
request of the chairman of the meeting, or of any Shareholder or his proxy, the
Inspectors of Election shall make a report in writing of any challenge or
question or matter determined by them and shall execute a certificate of any
facts found by them.
SECTION 3.8. INSPECTION OF BOOKS AND RECORDS. Shareholders shall have such
rights and procedures of inspection of the books and records of the Trust as are
granted to Shareholders under Section 32 of the Business Corporation Law of the
Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
SECTION 3.9. ACTION BY SHAREHOLDERS WITHOUT MEETING. Except as otherwise
provided by law, the provisions of these By-Laws relating to notices and
meetings to the contrary notwithstanding, any action required or permitted to be
taken at any meeting of Shareholders may be taken without a meeting if a
majority of the Shareholders entitled to vote upon the action consent to the
action in writing and such consents are filed with the records of the Trust.
Such consent shall be treated for all purposes as a vote taken at a meeting of
Shareholders.
SECTION 3.10. PRESENCE AT MEETINGS. Presence at meetings of shareholders
requires physical attendance by the shareholder or his or her proxy at the
meeting site and does not encompass attendance by telephonic or other electronic
means.
ARTICLE IV
TRUSTEES
SECTION 4.1. MEETINGS OF THE TRUSTEES. The Trustees may in their discretion
provide for regular or special meetings of the Trustees. Regular meetings of the
Trustees may be held at such time and place as shall be determined from time to
time by the Trustees without further notice. Special meetings of the Trustees
may be called at any time by the President and shall be called by the President
or the Secretary upon the written request of any two (2) Trustees.
SECTION 4.2. NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETINGS. Written notice of special meetings
of the Trustees, stating the place, date and time thereof, shall be given not
less than two (2) days before such meeting to each Trustee, personally, by
telegram, by mail, or by leaving such notice at his place of residence or usual
place of business. If mailed, such notice shall be deemed to be given when
deposited in the United States mail, postage prepaid, directed to the Trustee at
his address as it appears on the records of the Trust. Subject to the provisions
of the 1940 Act, notice or waiver of notice need not specify the purpose of any
special meeting.
SECTION 4.3. TELEPHONE MEETINGS. Subject to the provisions of the 1940 Act,
any Trustee, or any member or members of any committee designated by the
Trustees, may participate in a meeting of the Trustees, or any such committee,
as the case may be, by means of a conference telephone or similar communications
equipment if all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other at the
same time. Participation in a meeting by these means constitutes presence in
person at the meeting.
SECTION 4.4. QUORUM, VOTING AND ADJOURNMENT OF MEETINGS. At all meetings of
the Trustees, a majority of the Trustees shall be requisite to and shall
constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. If a quorum is present, the
affirmative vote of a majority of the Trustees present shall be the act of the
Trustees, unless the concurrence of a greater proportion is expressly required
for such action by law, the Declaration or these By-Laws. If at any meeting of
the Trustees there be less than a quorum present, the Trustees present thereat
may adjourn the meeting from time to time, without notice other than
announcement at the meeting, until a quorum shall have been obtained.
3
<PAGE>
SECTION 4.5. ACTION BY TRUSTEES WITHOUT MEETING. The provisions of these
By-Laws covering notices and meetings to the contrary notwithstanding, and
except as required by law, any action required or permitted to be taken at any
meeting of the Trustees may be taken without a meeting if a consent in writing
setting forth the action shall be signed by all of the Trustees entitled to vote
upon the action and such written consent is filed with the minutes of
proceedings of the Trustees.
SECTION 4.6. EXPENSES AND FEES. Each Trustee may be allowed expenses, if
any, for attendance at each regular or special meeting of the Trustees, and each
Trustee who is not an officer or employee of the Trust or of its investment
manager or underwriter or of any corporate affiliate of any of said persons
shall receive for services rendered as a Trustee of the Trust such compensation
as may be fixed by the Trustees. Nothing herein contained shall be construed to
preclude any Trustee from serving the Trust in any other capacity and receiving
compensation therefor.
SECTION 4.7. EXECUTION OF INSTRUMENTS AND DOCUMENTS AND SIGNING OF CHECKS
AND OTHER OBLIGATIONS AND TRANSFERS. All instruments, documents and other papers
shall be executed in the name and on behalf of the Trust and all checks, notes,
drafts and other obligations for the payment of money by the Trust shall be
signed, and all transfer of securities standing in the name of the Trust shall
be executed, by the Chairman, the President, any Vice President or the Treasurer
or by any one or more officers or agents of the Trust as shall be designated for
that purpose by vote of the Trustees; notwithstanding the above, nothing in this
Section 4.7 shall be deemed to preclude the electronic authorization, by
designated persons, of the Trust's Custodian (as described herein in Section
9.1) to transfer assets of the Trust, as provided for herein in Section 9.1.
SECTION 4.8. INDEMNIFICATION OF TRUSTEES, OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES AND AGENTS.
(a) The Trust shall indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened
to be made a party to any threatened, pending, or completed action, suit or
proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than
an action by or in the right of the Trust) by reason of the fact that he is or
was a Trustee, officer, employee, or agent of the Trust. The indemnification
shall be against expenses, including attorneys' fees, judgments, fines, and
amounts paid in settlement, actually and reasonably incurred by him in
connection with the action, suit, or proceeding, if he acted in good faith and
in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests
of the Trust, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no
reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful. The termination of any
action, suit or proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction, or upon a
plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not, of itself, create a
presumption that the person did not act in good faith and in a manner which he
reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Trust,
and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had reasonable cause to
believe that his conduct was unlawful.
(b) The Trust shall indemnify any person who was or is a party or is
threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or
suit by or on behalf of the Trust to obtain a judgment or decree in its favor by
reason of the fact that he is or was a Trustee, officer, employee, or agent of
the Trust. The indemnification shall be against expenses, including attorneys'
fees actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with the defense or
settlement of the action or suit, if he acted in good faith and in a manner he
reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Trust;
except that no indemnification shall be made in respect of any claim, issue, or
matter as to which the person has been adjudged to be liable for negligence or
misconduct in the performance of his duty to the Trust, except to the extent
that the court in which the action or suit was brought, or a court of equity in
the county in which the Trust has its principal office, determines upon
application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all
circumstances of the case, the person is fairly and reasonably entitled to
indemnity for those expenses which the court shall deem proper, provided such
Trustee, officer, employee or agent is not adjudged to be liable by reason of
his willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of
the duties involved in the conduct of his office.
(c) To the extent that a Trustee, officer, employee, or agent of the Trust
has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any action, suit or
proceeding referred to in subsection (a) or (b) or in defense of any claim,
issue or matter therein, he shall be indemnified against expenses, including
attorneys' fees, actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection
therewith.
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<PAGE>
(d) (1) Unless a court orders otherwise, any indemnification under
subsections (a) or (b) of this section may be made by the Trust only as
authorized in the specific case after a determination that indemnification of
the Trustee, officer, employee, or agent is proper in the circumstances because
he has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in subsections (a) or
(b).
(2) The determination shall be made:
(i) By the Trustees, by a majority vote of a quorum which consists of
Trustees who were not parties to the action, suit or proceeding; or
(ii) If the required quorum is not obtainable, or if a quorum of
disinterested Trustees so directs, by independent legal counsel in a
written opinion; or
(iii) By the Shareholders.
(3) Notwithstanding any provision of this Section 4.8, no person shall
be entitled to indemnification for any liability, whether or not there is
an adjudication of liability, arising by reason of willful misfeasance,
bad faith, gross negligence, or reckless disregard of duties as described
in Section 17(h) and (i) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 ("disabling
conduct"). A person shall be deemed not liable by reason of disabling
conduct if, either:
(i) a final decision on the merits is made by a court or other body
before whom the proceeding was brought that the person to be indemnified
("indemnitee") was not liable by reason of disabling conduct; or
(ii) in the absence of such a decision, a reasonable determination,
based upon a review of the facts, that the indemnitee was not liable by
reason of disabling conduct, is made by either--
(A) a majority of a quorum of Trustees who are neither "interested
persons" of the Trust, as defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the Investment
Company Act of 1940, nor parties to the action, suit or proceeding, or
(B) an independent legal counsel in a written opinion.
(e) Expenses, including attorneys' fees, incurred by a Trustee, officer,
employee or agent of the Trust in defending a civil or criminal action, suit or
proceeding may be paid by the Trust in advance of the final disposition thereof
if:
(1) authorized in the specific case by the Trustees; and
(2) the Trust receives an undertaking by or on behalf of the Trustee,
officer, employee or agent of the Trust to repay the advance if it is not
ultimately determined that such person is entitled to be indemnified by
the Trust; and
(3) either, (i) such person provides a security for his undertaking,
or
(ii) the Trust is insured against losses by reason of any lawful
advances, or
(iii) a determination, based on a review of readily available facts,
that there is reason to believe that such person ultimately will be
found entitled to indemnification, is made by either--
(A) a majority of a quorum which consists of Trustees who are
neither "interested persons" of the Trust, as defined in Section
2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act, nor parties to the action, suit or
proceeding, or
(B) an independent legal counsel in a written opinion.
(f) The indemnification provided by this Section shall not be deemed
exclusive of any other rights to which a person may be entitled under any
by-law, agreement, vote of Shareholders or disinterested Trustees or otherwise,
both as to action in his official capacity and as to action in another capacity
while holding the office, and shall continue as to a person who has ceased to
be a Trustee, officer, employee, or agent and inure to the benefit of the
heirs, executors and administrators of such person; provided that no
5
<PAGE>
person may satisfy any right of indemnity or reimbursement granted herein or to
which he may be otherwise entitled except out of the property of the Trust, and
no Shareholder shall be personally liable with respect to any claim for
indemnity or reimbursement or otherwise.
(g) The Trust may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person
who is or was a Trustee, officer, employee, or agent of the Trust, against any
liability asserted against him and incurred by him in any such capacity, or
arising out of his status as such. However, in no event will the Trust purchase
insurance to indemnify any officer or Trustee against liability for any act for
which the Trust itself is not permitted to indemnify him.
(h) Nothing contained in this Section shall be construed to protect any
Trustee or officer of the Trust against any liability to the Trust or to its
security holders to which he would otherwise be subject by reason of willful
misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties
involved in the conduct of his office.
ARTICLE V
COMMITTEES
SECTION 5.1. EXECUTIVE AND OTHER COMMITTEES. The Trustees, by resolution
adopted by a majority of the Trustees, may designate an Executive Committee
and/or committees, each committee to consist of two (2) or more of the Trustees
of the Trust and may delegate to such committees, in the intervals between
meetings of the Trustees, any or all of the powers of the Trustees in the
management of the business and affairs of the Trust. In the absence of any
member of any such committee, the members thereof present at any meeting,
whether or not they constitute a quorum, may appoint a Trustee to act in place
of such absent member. Each such committee shall keep a record of its
proceedings.
The Executive Committee and any other committee shall fix its own rules or
procedure, but the presence of at least fifty percent (50%) of the members of
the whole committee shall in each case be necessary to constitute a quorum of
the committee and the affirmative vote of the majority of the members of the
committee present at the meeting shall be necessary to take action.
All actions of the Executive Committee shall be reported to the Trustees at
the meeting thereof next succeeding to the taking of such action.
SECTION 5.2. ADVISORY COMMITTEE. The Trustees may appoint an advisory
committee which shall be composed of persons who do not serve the Trust in any
other capacity and which shall have advisory functions with respect to the
investments of the Trust but which shall have no power to determine that any
security or other investment shall be purchased, sold or otherwise disposed of
by the Trust. The number of persons constituting any such advisory committee
shall be determined from time to time by the Trustees. The members of any such
advisory committee may receive compensation for their services and may be
allowed such fees and expenses for the attendance at meetings as the Trustees
may from time to time determine to be appropriate.
SECTION 5.3. COMMITTEE ACTION WITHOUT MEETING. The provisions of these
By-Laws covering notices and meetings to the contrary notwithstanding, and
except as required by law, any action required or permitted to be taken at any
meeting of any Committee of the Trustees appointed pursuant to Section 5.1 of
these By-Laws may be taken without a meeting if a consent in writing setting
forth the action shall be signed by all members of the Committee entitled to
vote upon the action and such written consent is filed with the records of the
proceedings of the Committee.
ARTICLE VI
OFFICERS
SECTION 6.1. EXECUTIVE OFFICERS. The executive officers of the Trust shall
be a Chairman, a President, one or more Vice Presidents, a Secretary and a
Treasurer. The Chairman shall be selected from among the Trustees but none of
the other executive officers need be a Trustee. Two or more offices, except
those of President and any Vice President, may be held by the same person, but
no officer shall execute,
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<PAGE>
acknowledge or verify any instrument in more than one capacity. The executive
officers of the Trust shall be elected annually by the Trustees and each
executive officer so elected shall hold office until his or her successor is
elected and has qualified.
SECTION 6.2. OTHER OFFICERS AND AGENTS. The Trustees may also elect one or
more Assistant Vice Presidents, Assistant Secretaries and Assistant Treasurers
and may elect, or may delegate to the Chairman the power to appoint, such other
officers and agents as the Trustees shall at any time or from time to time deem
advisable.
SECTION 6.3. TERM AND REMOVAL AND VACANCIES. Each officer of the Trust
shall hold office until his or her successor is elected and has qualified. Any
officer or agent of the Trust may be removed by the Trustees whenever, in their
judgment, the best interests of the Trust will be served thereby, but such
removal shall be without prejudice to the contractual rights, if any, of the
person so removed.
SECTION 6.4. COMPENSATION OF OFFICERS. The compensation of officers and
agents of the Trust shall be fixed by the Trustees, or by the Chairman to the
extent provided by the Trustees with respect to officers appointed by the
Chairman.
SECTION 6.5. POWERS AND DUTIES. All officers and agents of the Trust, as
between themselves and the Trust, shall have such authority and perform such
duties in the management of the Trust as may be provided in or pursuant to these
By-Laws or, to the extent not so provided, as may be prescribed by the Trustees;
provided that no rights of any third party shall be affected or impaired by any
such By-Law or resolution of the Trustees unless such third party has knowledge
thereof.
SECTION 6.6. THE CHAIRMAN. The Chairman shall be the chief executive
officer of the Trust, shall preside at all meetings of the Shareholders and of
the Trustees, shall have general and active management of the business of the
Trust, shall see that all orders and resolutions of the Trustees are carried
into effect and, in connection therewith, shall be authorized to delegate to the
President or to one or more Vice Presidents such of his or her powers and duties
at such times and in such manner as he or she may deem advisable, shall be a
signatory on all Annual and Semi-Annual Reports as may be sent to Shareholders,
and shall perform such other duties as the Trustees may from time to time
prescribe.
SECTION 6.7. THE PRESIDENT. The President shall perform such duties as the
Trustees and the Chairman may from time to time prescribe and shall, in the
absence or disability of the Chairman, exercise the powers and perform the
duties of the Chairman. The President shall be authorized to delegate to one or
more Vice Presidents such of his or her powers and duties at such times and in
such manner as he or she may deem advisable.
SECTION 6.8. THE VICE PRESIDENTS. The Vice Presidents shall be of such
number and shall have such titles as may be determined from time to time by the
Trustees. The Vice President, or, if there shall be more than one, the Vice
Presidents in such order as may be determined from time to time by the Trustees
or the Chairman, shall, in the absence or disability of the President, exercise
the powers and perform the duties of the President, and shall perform such other
duties as the Trustees or the Chairman may from time to time prescribe.
SECTION 6.9. THE ASSISTANT VICE PRESIDENTS. The Assistant Vice President,
or, if there shall be more than one, the Assistant Vice Presidents in such order
as may be determined from time to time by the Trustees or the Chairman, shall
perform such duties and have such powers as may be assigned them from time to
time by the Trustees or the Chairman.
SECTION 6.10. THE SECRETARY. The Secretary shall attend all meetings of the
Trustees and all meetings of the Shareholders and record all the proceedings of
the meetings of the Shareholders and of the Trustees in a book to be kept for
that purpose, and shall perform like duties for the standing committees when
required. He or she shall give, or cause to be given, notice of all meetings of
the Shareholders and special meetings of the Trustees, and shall perform such
other duties and have such powers as the Trustees or the Chairman may from time
to time prescribe. He or she shall keep in safe custody the seal of the Trust
and affix or cause the same to be affixed to any instrument requiring it, and,
when so affixed, it shall be attested by his or her signature or by the
signature of an Assistant Secretary.
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SECTION 6.11. THE ASSISTANT SECRETARIES. The Assistant Secretary, or, if
there shall be more than one, the Assistant Secretaries in such order as may be
determined from time to time by the Trustees or the Chairman, shall, in the
absence or disability of the Secretary, perform the duties and exercise the
powers of the Secretary and shall perform such duties and have such other powers
as the Trustees or the Chairman may from time to time prescribe.
SECTION 6.12. THE TREASURER. The Treasurer shall be the chief financial
officer of the Trust. He or she shall keep or cause to be kept full and accurate
accounts of receipts and disbursements in books belonging to the Trust, and he
or she shall render to the Trustees and the Chairman, whenever any of them
require it, an account of his or her transactions as Treasurer and of the
financial condition of the Trust, and he or she shall perform such other duties
as the Trustees or the Chairman may from time to time prescribe.
SECTION 6.13. THE ASSISTANT TREASURERS. The Assistant Treasurer, or, if
there shall be more than one, the Assistant Treasurers in such order as may be
determined from time to time by the Trustees or the Chairman, shall, in the
absence or disability of the Treasurer, perform the duties and exercise the
powers of the Treasurer and shall perform such other duties and have such other
powers as the Trustees or the Chairman may from time to time prescribe.
SECTION 6.14. DELEGATION OF DUTIES. Whenever an officer is absent or
disabled, or whenever for any reason the Trustees may deem it desirable, the
Trustees may delegate the powers and duties of an officer or officers to any
other officer or officers or to any Trustee or Trustees.
ARTICLE VII
DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS
Subject to any applicable provisions of law and the Declaration, dividends
and distributions upon the Shares may be declared at such intervals as the
Trustees may determine, in cash, in securities or other property, or in Shares,
from any sources permitted by law, all as the Trustees shall from time to time
determine.
Inasmuch as the computation of net income and net profits from the sales of
securities or other properties for federal income tax purposes may vary from the
computation thereof on the records of the Trust, the Trustees shall have power,
in their discretion, to distribute as income dividends and as capital gain
distributions, respectively, amounts sufficient to enable the Trust to avoid or
reduce liability for federal income taxes.
ARTICLE VIII
CERTIFICATES OF SHARES
SECTION 8.1. CERTIFICATES OF SHARES. Certificates for Shares of each series
or class of Shares shall be in such form and of such design as the Trustees
shall approve, subject to the right of the Trustees to change such form and
design at any time or from time to time, and shall be entered in the records of
the Trust as they are issued. Each such certificate shall bear a distinguishing
number; shall exhibit the holder's name and certify the number of full Shares
owned by such holder; shall be signed by or in the name of the Trust by the
President, or a Vice President, and countersigned by the Secretary or an
Assistant Secretary or the Treasurer and an Assistant Treasurer of the Trust;
shall be sealed with the seal; and shall contain such recitals as may be
required by law. Where any certificate is signed by a Transfer Agent or by a
Registrar, the signature of such officers and the seal may be facsimile, printed
or engraved. The Trust may, at its option, determine not to issue a certificate
or certificates to evidence Shares owned of record by any Shareholder.
In case any officer or officers who shall have signed, or whose facsimile
signature or signatures shall appear on, any such certificate or certificates
shall cease to be such officer or officers of the Trust, whether because of
death, resignation or otherwise, before such certificate or certificates shall
have been delivered by the Trust, such certificate or certificates shall,
nevertheless, be adopted by the Trust and be issued and
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delivered as though the person or persons who signed such certificate or
certificates or whose facsimile signature or signatures shall appear therein
had not ceased to be such officer or officers of the Trust.
No certificate shall be issued for any share until such share is fully
paid.
SECTION 8.2. LOST, STOLEN, DESTROYED AND MUTILATED CERTIFICATES. The
Trustees may direct a new certificate or certificates to be issued in place of
any certificate or certificates theretofore issued by the Trust alleged to have
been lost, stolen or destroyed, upon satisfactory proof of such loss, theft, or
destruction; and the Trustees may, in their discretion, require the owner of
the lost, stolen or destroyed certificate, or his legal representative, to give
to the Trust and to such Registrar, Transfer Agent and/or Transfer Clerk as may
be authorized or required to countersign such new certificate or certificates,
a bond in such sum and of such type as they may direct, and with such surety or
sureties, as they may direct, as indemnity against any claim that may be
against them or any of them on account of or in connection with the alleged
loss, theft or destruction of any such certificate.
ARTICLE IX
CUSTODIAN
SECTION 9.1. APPOINTMENT AND DUTIES. The Trust shall at times employ a bank
or trust company having capital, surplus and undivided profits of at least five
million dollars ($5,000,000) as custodian with authority as its agent, but
subject to such restrictions, limitations and other requirements, if any, as may
be contained in these By-Laws and the 1940 Act:
(1) to receive and hold the securities owned by the Trust and deliver
the same upon written or electronically transmitted order;
(2) to receive and receipt for any moneys due to the Trust and deposit
the same in its own banking department or elsewhere as the Trustees may
direct;
(3) to disburse such funds upon orders or vouchers;
all upon such basis of compensation as may be agreed upon between the Trustees
and the custodian. If so directed by a Majority Shareholder Vote, the custodian
shall deliver and pay over all property of the Trust held by it as specified in
such vote.
The Trustees may also authorize the custodian to employ one or more
sub-custodians from time to time to perform such of the acts and services of the
custodian and upon such terms and conditions as may be agreed upon between the
custodian and such sub-custodian and approved by the Trustees.
SECTION 9.2. CENTRAL CERTIFICATE SYSTEM. Subject to such rules, regulations
and orders as the Commission may adopt, the Trustees may direct the custodian to
deposit all or any part of the securities owned by the Trust in a system for the
central handling of securities established by a national securities exchange or
a national securities association registered with the Commission under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or such other person as may be permitted by the
Commission, or otherwise in accordance with the 1940 Act, pursuant to which
system all securities of any particular class or series of any issuer deposited
within the system are treated as fungible and may be transferred or pledged by
bookkeeping entry without physical delivery of such securities, provided that
all such deposits shall be subject to withdrawal only upon the order of the
Trust.
ARTICLE X
WAIVER OF NOTICE
Whenever any notice of the time, place or purpose of any meeting of
Shareholders, Trustees, or of any committee is required to be given in
accordance with law or under the provisions of the Declaration or these By-Laws,
a waiver thereof in writing, signed by the person or persons entitled to such
notice and filed with the records of the meeting, whether before or after the
holding thereof, or actual attendance at the meeting of shareholders, Trustees
or committee, as the case may be, in person, shall be deemed equivalent to the
giving of such notice to such person.
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ARTICLE XI
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 11.1. LOCATION OF BOOKS AND RECORDS. The books and records of the
Trust may be kept outside the Commonwealth of Massachusetts at such place or
places as the Trustees may from time to time determine, except as otherwise
required by law.
SECTION 11.2. RECORD DATE. The Trustees may fix in advance a date as the
record date for the purpose of determining the Shareholders entitled to (i)
receive notice of, or to vote at, any meeting of Shareholders, or (ii) receive
payment of any dividend or the allotment of any rights, or in order to make a
determination of Shareholders for any other proper purpose. The record date, in
any case, shall not be more than one hundred eighty (180) days, and in the case
of a meeting of Shareholders not less than ten (10) days, prior to the date on
which such meeting is to be held or the date on which such other particular
action requiring determination of Shareholders is to be taken, as the case may
be. In the case of a meeting of Shareholders, the meeting date set forth in the
notice to Shareholders accompanying the proxy statement shall be the date used
for purposes of calculating the 180 day or 10 day period, and any adjourned
meeting may be reconvened without a change in record date. In lieu of fixing a
record date, the Trustees may provide that the transfer books shall be closed
for a stated period but not to exceed, in any case, twenty (20) days. If the
transfer books are closed for the purpose of determining Shareholders entitled
to notice of a vote at a meeting of Shareholders, such books shall be closed for
at least ten (10) days immediately preceding the meeting.
SECTION 11.3. SEAL. The Trustees shall adopt a seal, which shall be in such
form and shall have such inscription thereon as the Trustees may from time to
time provide. The seal of the Trust may be affixed to any document, and the seal
and its attestation may be lithographed, engraved or otherwise printed on any
document with the same force and effect as if it had been imprinted and attested
manually in the same manner and with the same effect as if done by a
Massachusetts business corporation under Massachusetts law.
SECTION 11.4. FISCAL YEAR. The fiscal year of the Trust shall end on such
date as the Trustees may by resolution specify, and the Trustees may by
resolution change such date for future fiscal years at any time and from time to
time.
SECTION 11.5. ORDERS FOR PAYMENT OF MONEY. All orders or instructions for
the payment of money of the Trust, and all notes or other evidences of
indebtedness issued in the name of the Trust, shall be signed by such officer or
officers or such other person or persons as the Trustees may from time to time
designate, or as may be specified in or pursuant to the agreement between the
Trust and the bank or trust company appointed as Custodian of the securities and
funds of the Trust.
ARTICLE XII
COMPLIANCE WITH FEDERAL REGULATIONS
The Trustees are hereby empowered to take such action as they may deem to
be necessary, desirable or appropriate so that the Trust is or shall be in
compliance with any federal or state statute, rule or regulation with which
compliance by the Trust is required.
ARTICLE XIII
AMENDMENTS
These By-Laws may be amended, altered, or repealed, or new By-Laws may be
adopted, (a) by a Majority Shareholder Vote, or (b) by the Trustees; provided,
however, that no By-Law may be amended, adopted or repealed by the Trustees if
such amendment, adoption or repeal requires, pursuant to law, the Declaration,
or these By-Laws, a vote of the Shareholders. The Trustees shall in no event
adopt By-Laws which are in conflict with the Declaration, and any apparent
inconsistency shall be construed in favor of the related provisions in the
Declaration.
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ARTICLE XIV
DECLARATION OF TRUST
The Declaration of Trust establishing Morgan Stanley Dean Witter California
Tax-Free Daily Income Trust, dated April 25, 1988, a copy of which, together
with all amendments thereto, is on file in the office of the Secretary of the
Commonwealth of Massachusetts, provides that the name Morgan Stanley Dean Witter
California Tax-Free Daily Income Trust refers to the Trustees under the
Declaration collectively as Trustees, but not as individuals or personally; and
no Trustee, Shareholder, officer, employee or agent of Morgan Stanley Dean
Witter California Tax-Free Daily Income Trust shall be held to any personal
liability, nor shall resort be had to their private property for the
satisfaction of any obligation or claim or otherwise, in connection with the
affairs of said Morgan Stanley Dean Witter California Tax-Free Daily Income
Trust, but the Trust Estate only shall be liable.
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DEAN WITTER/SEARS CALIFORNIA TAX-FREE DAILY INCOME TRUST
June 30, 1988
Dean Witter/Sears California Tax-Free Daily Income Trust
One World Trade Center
New York, New York 10048
Dear Sirs:
With respect to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No.
33-21803) (the "Registration Statement") filed by Dean Witter Managed Assets
Trust, a Massachusetts business trust (the "Fund"), with the Securities and
Exchange Commission for the purpose of registering under the Securities Act
of 1933, as amended, an indefinite number of shares of Beneficial Interest of
$0.01 par value of the Fund (the "Shares"), I, as your counsel, have examined
such Fund records, certificates and other documents and reviewed such
questions of law as I have considered necessary or appropriate for the
purposes of this opinion, and on the basis of such examination and review, I
advise you that, in my opinion, proper trust proceedings have been taken by
the Fund so that the Shares have been validly authorized; and when the Shares
have been issued and sold in accordance with the terms of the Underwriting
Agreement referred to in the Registration Statement, the Shares will be
validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.
I hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement and to the reference to me under the caption "Validity of
Shares of Beneficial Interest" in the Statement of Additional Information
forming a part of the Registration Statement. In giving this consent, I do not
thereby admit that I am within the category of persons whose consent is
required under Section 7 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the rules
and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder.
Very truly yours,
/s/ Sheldon Curtis
Sheldon Curtis
General Counsel
0152B
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CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
We hereby consent to the use in this Registration Statement on Form N-1A of
our report dated February 7, 2000, relating to the financial statements and
financial highlights of Morgan Stanley Dean Witter California Tax-Free Daily
Income Trust which appears in such Registration Statement. We also consent to
the references to us under the headings "Custodian and Independent
Accountants," "Experts" and "Financial Highlights" in such Registration
Statement.
/s/ PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS LLP
- ------------------------------
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
1177 Avenue of the Americas
New York, New York 10038
February 28, 2000
