<PAGE>
AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON SEPTEMBER 20, 1994
REGISTRATION NOS.: 33-23669
811-5654
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- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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. 7 /X/
AND/OR
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY
ACT OF 1940 /X/
AMENDMENT NO. 8 /X/
------------------
DEAN WITTER STRATEGIST FUND
(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
SHELDON CURTIS, ESQ.
TWO WORLD TRADE CENTER
NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10048
(NAME AND ADDRESS OF AGENT FOR SERVICE)
------------------------
COPY TO:
DAVID M. BUTOWSKY, ESQ.
GORDON ALTMAN BUTOWSKY
WEITZEN SHALOV & WEIN
114 WEST 47TH STREET
NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10036
----------------
APPROXIMATE DATE OF PROPOSED PUBLIC OFFERING:
As soon as practicable after this Post-Effective Amendment becomes effective.
IT IS PROPOSED THAT THIS FILING WILL BECOME EFFECTIVE (CHECK APPROPRIATE BOX)
___ immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b)
_X_ on September 26, 1994 pursuant to paragraph (b)
___ 60 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)
___ on (date) pursuant to paragraph (a) of rule 485.
THE REGISTRANT HAS REGISTERED AN INDEFINITE NUMBER OF ITS SHARES UNDER THE
SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 PURSUANT TO SECTION (A)(1) OF RULE 24F-2 UNDER THE
INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940. THE REGISTRANT FILED THE RULE 24F-2 NOTICE FOR
ITS FISCAL YEAR ENDING JULY 31, 1994 WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
ON AUGUST 16, 1994.
AMENDING THE PROSPECTUS AND UPDATING FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
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<PAGE>
DEAN WITTER STRATEGIST FUND
CROSS-REFERENCE SHEET
FORM N-1A
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
ITEM CAPTION
- ----------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C>
PART A PROSPECTUS
1. .......................................... Cover Page
2. .......................................... Prospectus Summary; Summary of Fund Expenses
3. .......................................... Financial Highlights; Performance Information
4. .......................................... Prospectus Summary; Financial Highlights; Investment Objective and
Policies; The Fund and its Management; Cover Page; Investment
Restrictions
5. .......................................... The Fund and Its Management; Back Cover; Investment Objective and
Policies
6. .......................................... Dividends, Distributions and Taxes; Additional Information
7. .......................................... Purchase of Fund Shares; Shareholder Services; Prospectus Summary
8. .......................................... Redemptions and Repurchases; Shareholder Services;
9. .......................................... Not Applicable
PART B STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
10. .......................................... Cover Page
11. .......................................... Table of Contents
12. .......................................... The Fund and Its Management
13. .......................................... Investment Practices and Policies; Investment Restrictions; Portfolio
Transactions and Brokerage
14. .......................................... The Fund and Its Management; Trustees and Officers
15. .......................................... The Fund and Its Management; Trustees and Officers
16. .......................................... The Fund and Its Management; The Distributor; Custodian and Transfer
Agent; Independent Accountants; Shareholder Services
17. .......................................... Portfolio Transactions and Brokerage
18. .......................................... Description of Shares
19. .......................................... The Distributor; Redemptions and Repurchases; Financial Statements;
Determination of Net Asset Value; Shareholder Services
20. .......................................... Dividends, Distributions and Taxes
21. .......................................... The Distributor
22. .......................................... Performance Information
23. .......................................... Financial Statements
</TABLE>
PART C
Information required to be included in Part C is set forth under the
appropriate item, so numbered, in Part C of this Registration Statement.
<PAGE>
PROSPECTUS
SEPTEMBER 26, 1994
Dean Witter Strategist Fund (the "Fund") is an open-end,
non-diversified management investment company, the objective of which is to
maximize the total return on its investments. The Fund seeks to achieve its
investment objective by actively allocating its assets among the major asset
categories of equity securities, fixed-income securities and money market
instruments. See "Investment Objective and Policies."
Shares of the Fund are continuously offered at net asset value.
However, redemptions and/or repurchases are subject, in most circumstances, to a
contingent deferred sales charge, scaled down from 5% to 1% of the amount
redeemed, if made within six years of purchase, which charge will be paid to the
Fund's Distributor, Dean Witter Distributors Inc. See "Redemptions and
Repurchases--Contingent Deferred Sales Charge." In addition, the Fund pays the
Distributor a distribution fee pursuant to a Plan of Distribution at the annual
rate of (i) 1% of the lesser of the (a) average daily aggregate net sales since
implementation of the amended Plan of Distribution or (b) average daily net
assets of the Fund attributable to shares issued since implementation of the
amended Plan of Distribution plus (ii) 0.25% of average daily net assets of the
Fund attributable to shares issued prior to inception of the amended Plan of
Distribution. See "Purchase of Fund Shares--Plan of Distribution."
This Prospectus sets forth concisely the information you should
know before investing in the Fund. It should be read and retained for future
reference. Additional information about the Fund is contained in the Statement
of Additional Information, dated September 26, 1994, which has been filed with
the Securities and Exchange Commission, and which is available at no charge upon
request of the Fund at the address or telephone numbers listed on this page. The
Statement of Additional Information is incorporated herein by reference.
DEAN WITTER DISTRIBUTORS INC.
DISTRIBUTOR
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Prospectus Summary/2
Summary of Fund Expenses/3
Financial Highlights/4
The Fund and its Management/5
Investment Objective and Policies/5
Risk Considerations/9
Investment Restrictions/12
Purchase of Fund Shares/13
Shareholder Services/15
Redemptions and Repurchases/18
Dividends, Distributions and Taxes/20
Performance Information/21
Additional Information/21
SHARES OF THE FUND ARE NOT DEPOSITS OR OBLIGATIONS OF, OR GUARANTEED OR ENDORSED
BY, ANY BANK, AND THE SHARES ARE NOT FEDERALLY INSURED BY THE FEDERAL DEPOSIT
INSURANCE CORPORATION, THE FEDERAL RESERVE BOARD, OR ANY OTHER AGENCY.
THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION NOR HAS THE SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE
ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A
CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
Dean Witter
Strategist Fund
Two World Trade Center
New York, New York 10048
(212) 392-2550 or
(800) 526-3143
<PAGE>
PROSPECTUS SUMMARY
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<TABLE>
<S> <C>
The The Fund is organized as a Trust, commonly known as a Massachusetts business trust, and is an open-end,
Fund non-diversified management investment company. The Fund invests in equity securities, fixed-income securities
and money market instruments in portions determined by the Investment Manager to best enable the Fund to
maximize the total return on a shareholder's investment.
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shares Shares of beneficial interest with $0.01 par value (see page 21).
Offered
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Offering At net asset value without sales charge (see page 13). Shares redeemed within six years of purchase are subject
Price to a contingent deferred sales charge under most circumstances (see page 18).
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Minimum Minimum initial investment, $1,000; minimum subsequent investments, $100 (see page 13).
Purchase
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Investment The investment objective of the Fund is to maximize the total return on its investments.
Objective
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Investment Dean Witter InterCapital Inc., the Investment Manager of the Fund, and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Dean Witter
Manager Services Company Inc., serve in various investment management, advisory, management and administrative
capacities to eighty-eight investment companies and other portfolios with assets of approximately $71.3 billion
at August 31, 1994 (see page 5).
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Management The Investment Manager receives a monthly fee at the annual rate of 0.60% of daily net assets on assets not
Fee exceeding $500 million, scaled down at various asset levels to 0.50% on daily net assets exceeding $1 billion
(see page 5).
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dividends Dividends from net investment income are paid quarterly; distributions from net capital gains, if any, are paid
at least once each year. Dividends and capital gains distributions are automatically reinvested in additional
shares at net asset value unless the shareholder elects to receive cash (see page 20).
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Distributor and Dean Witter Distributors Inc. (the "Distributor"). The Distributor receives from the Fund a distribution fee,
Distribution Fee accrued daily and payable monthly, at the rate of: (i) 1% per annum of the lesser of (a) the Fund's average
daily aggregate net sales since the implementation of an amended plan of distribution pursuant to Rule 12b-1
under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "Plan"), or (b) the Fund's average daily net assets
attributable to shares issued since the implementation of the Plan plus (ii) 0.25% of the Fund's average daily
net assets attributable to shares issued prior to implementation of the Plan. This fee compensates the
Distributor for the services provided in distributing shares of the Fund and for its sales related expenses. The
Distributor also receives the proceeds of any contingent deferred sales charges (see pages 14 and 18).
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Redemption-- Shares are redeemable by the shareholder at net asset value. An account may be involuntarily redeemed if the
Contingent total value of the account is less than $100. Although no commission or sales load is imposed upon the purchase
Deferred Sales of shares, a contingent deferred sales charge (scaled down from 5% to 1%) is imposed on any redemption of shares
Charge if after such redemption the aggregate current value of an account with the Fund falls below the aggregate
amount of the investor's purchase payments made during the six years preceding the redemption, but after the
implementation of the Plan on November 8, 1989. However, there is no charge imposed on redemption of shares
purchased through reinvestment of dividends or distributions (see pages 18 through 20).
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Special The net asset value of the Fund's shares will fluctuate with changes in the market value of its portfolio
Risk securities. The level of income payable to the investor will vary depending upon the market allocation
Considerations determined by the Fund's Investment Manager and with various market determinants such as interest rates. The
Fund may make various investments and may engage in various investment strategies including option and futures
transactions, when-issued and delayed delivery securities and forward commitments, when, as and if issued
securities, foreign securities and repurchase agreements (pages 5-12). The Fund is a non-diversified investment
company and, as such, is not subject to the diversification requirements of the Investment Company Act of 1940,
as amended (see page 11).
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</TABLE>
THE ABOVE IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY THE DETAILED INFORMATION APPEARING
ELSEWHERE
IN THIS PROSPECTUS AND IN THE STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
2
<PAGE>
SUMMARY OF FUND EXPENSES
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The following table illustrates all expenses and fees that a shareholder of
the Fund will incur. The expenses and fees set forth in the table are for the
fiscal year ended July 31, 1994.
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
SHAREHOLDER TRANSACTION EXPENSES
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Maximum Sales Charge Imposed on Purchases.............................................. None
Maximum Sales Charge Imposed on Reinvested Dividends................................... None
Deferred Sales Charge
(as a percentage of the lesser of original purchase price or redemption proceeds).... 5.0%
A contingent deferred sales charge is imposed at the following declining rates:
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
YEAR SINCE PURCHASE PERCENTAGE OF
PAYMENT MADE AMOUNT REDEEMED
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------
<S> <C>
First............................................................................. 5.0%
Second............................................................................ 4.0%
Third............................................................................. 3.0%
Fourth............................................................................ 2.0%
Fifth............................................................................. 2.0%
Sixth............................................................................. 1.0%
Seventh and thereafter............................................................ None
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
Redemption Fees....................................................................... None
Exchange Fee.......................................................................... None
ANNUAL FUND OPERATING EXPENSES (AS A PERCENTAGE OF AVERAGE NET ASSETS)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Management Fees....................................................................... 0.58%
12b-1 Fees*........................................................................... 0.88%
Other Expenses........................................................................ 0.16%
Total Fund Operating Expenses......................................................... 1.62%
<FN>
- ------------
* A PORTION OF THE 12B-1 FEE EQUAL TO 0.25% OF THE FUND'S AVERAGE DAILY NET
ASSETS IS CHARACTERIZED AS A SERVICE FEE WITHIN THE MEANING OF NATIONAL
ASSOCIATION OF SECURITIES DEALERS, INC. ("NASD") GUIDELINES.
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
EXAMPLE 1 year 3 years 5 years 10 years
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
You would pay the following expenses on a $1,000 investment, assuming
(1) 5% annual return and (2) redemption at the end of each time
period:.............................................................. $ 66 $ 81 $ 108 $ 192
You would pay the following expenses on the same investment, assuming
no redemption:....................................................... $ 16 $ 51 $ 88 $ 192
</TABLE>
THE ABOVE EXAMPLE SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED A REPRESENTATION OF PAST OR
FUTURE EXPENSES OR PERFORMANCE. ACTUAL EXPENSES OF THE FUND MAY BE GREATER OR
LESS THAN THOSE SHOWN.
The purpose of this table is to assist the investor in understanding the
various costs and expenses that an investor in the Fund will bear directly or
indirectly. For a more complete description of these costs and expenses, see
"The Fund and its Management," "Plan of Distribution" and "Redemptions and
Repurchases."
Long-term shareholders of the Fund may pay more in sales charges and
distribution fees than the economic equivalent of the maximum front-end sales
charges permitted by the NASD.
3
<PAGE>
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The following ratios and per share data for a share of beneficial interest
outstanding throughout each period have been audited by Price Waterhouse LLP,
independent accountants. The financial highlights should be read in conjunction
with the financial statements, notes thereto, and the unqualified report of
independent accountants which are contained in the Statement of Additional
Information. Further information about the performance of the Fund is contained
in the Fund's Annual Report to Shareholders, which may be obtained without
charge upon request to the Fund.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
FOR THE PERIOD
FOR THE YEAR ENDED JULY 31, OCTOBER 31, 1988*
-------------------------------------------------------------- THROUGH
1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 JULY 31, 1989
---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
PER SHARE OPERATING PERFORMANCE:
Net asset value, beginning of period.... $ 14.59 $ 14.39 $ 13.09 $ 11.65 $ 11.37 $ 9.45
---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- --------
Net investment income................... 0.30 0.26 0.27 0.27 0.23 0.38
Net realized and unrealized gain on
investments........................... 0.22 0.81 1.27 1.50 0.55 1.84
---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- --------
Total from investment operations........ 0.52 1.07 1.54 1.77 0.78 2.22
---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- --------
Less dividends and distributions from:
Net investment income................. (0.26) (0.31) (0.24) (0.26) (0.29) (0.30)
Net realized gains on investments..... (0.42) (0.56) 0.00 (0.07) (0.21) 0.00
---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- --------
Total dividends and distributions....... (0.68) (0.87) (0.24) (0.33) (0.50) (0.30)
---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- --------
Net asset value, end of period.......... $ 14.43 $ 14.59 $ 14.39 $ 13.09 $ 11.65 $ 11.37
---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- --------
---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- --------
TOTAL INVESTMENT RETURN+................ 3.53% 7.59% 11.88% 15.67% 7.21% 23.76%(1)
RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA:
Net assets, end of period (in
thousands)............................ $ 806,249 $ 782,833 $ 440,802 $ 238,432 $ 195,687 $ 47,921
Ratio of expenses to average net
assets................................ 1.62% 1.62% 1.63% 1.59% 1.53% 0.97%(2)(3)
Ratio of net investment income to
average net assets.................... 2.03% 1.90% 2.19% 2.37% 2.39% 6.00%(2)(3)
Portfolio turnover rate................. 90% 98% 79% 140% 101% 70%
<FN>
- ---------------
* DATE OF COMMENCEMENT OF OPERATIONS.
+ DOES NOT REFLECT THE DEDUCTION OF SALES LOAD.
(1) NOT ANNUALIZED.
(2) ANNUALIZED.
(3) IF THE FUND HAD BOR NE ALL ITS EXPENSES THAT WERE ASSUMED OR WAIVED BY THE
INVESTMENT MANAGER, THE ABOVE EXPENSE RATIO WOULD HAVE BEEN 1.48% AND THE
ABOVE NET INVESTMENT INCOME RATIO WOULD HAVE BEEN 5.48%.
</TABLE>
SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
4
<PAGE>
THE FUND AND ITS MANAGEMENT
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dean Witter Strategist Fund (the "Fund") is an open-end, non-diversified
management investment company. The Fund is a trust of the type commonly known as
a "Massachusetts business trust" and was organized under the laws of
Massachusetts on August 5, 1988.
Dean Witter InterCapital Inc. ("InterCapital" or the "Investment Manager"),
whose address is Two World Trade Center, New York, New York 10048, is the Fund's
Investment Manager. The Investment Manager, which was incorporated in July,
1992, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Dean Witter, Discover & Co. ("DWDC"), a
balanced financial services organization providing a broad range of nationally
marketed credit and investment products.
InterCapital and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Dean Witter Services Company
Inc., serve in various investment management, advisory, management and
administrative capacities to eighty-eight investment companies, thirty of which
are listed on the New York Stock Exchange, with combined assets of approximately
$69.3 billion as of August 31, 1994. The Investment Manager also manages and
advises portfolios of pension plans, other institutions and individuals which
aggregated approximately $2 billion at such date.
The Fund has retained the Investment Manager to provide administrative
services, manage its business affairs, manage the investment of the Fund's
assets and determine the allocations of the Fund's assets, including the placing
of orders for the purchase and sale of portfolio securities. InterCapital has
retained Dean Witter Services Company Inc. to perform the aforementioned
administrative services for the Fund.
The Fund's Trustees review the various services provided by or under the
direction of the Investment Manager to ensure that the Fund's general investment
policies and programs are being properly carried out and that administrative
services are being provided to the Fund in a satisfactory manner.
As full compensation for the services and facilities furnished to the Fund
and for expenses of the Fund assumed by the Investment Manager, the Fund pays
the Investment Manager monthly compensation calculated daily at the annual rate
of 0.60% of the portion of the Fund's net assets not exceeding $500 million,
scaled down at various asset levels to 0.50% on the portion of the Fund's net
assets exceeding $1 billion. For the fiscal year ended July 31, 1994, the Fund
accrued total compensation to the Investment Manager amounting to 0.58% of the
Fund's average daily net assets and the Fund's total expenses amounted to 1.62%
of the Fund's average daily net assets.
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE AND POLICIES
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The investment objective of the Fund is to maximize the total return on its
investments. This is a fundamental policy and cannot be changed without the
approval of the Fund's shareholders. In seeking to achieve its objective, the
Fund actively allocates assets among the major asset categories of equity
securities, fixed-income securities and money market instruments. Total return
consists of current income (including dividends, interest and, in the case of
discounted instruments, discount accruals) and capital appreciation (including
realized and unrealized capital gains and losses). There can be no assurance
that the investment objective of the Fund will be achieved.
The achievement of the Fund's investment objective depends upon the ability
of the Investment Manager to correctly assess the effects of economic and market
trends on different sectors of the market. The Investment Manager believes that
superior investment returns at lower risk are achievable by actively allocating
resources to the equity, debt and money market sectors of the market as opposed
to
5
<PAGE>
relying solely on just one market. At times, the equity market may hold a higher
potential return than the debt market and would warrant a higher asset
allocation. The reverse would be true when the bond market potential return is
higher. Short duration bonds and money market instruments can be used to soften
market declines when both bonds and equities are fully priced. Conserving
capital during declining markets can contribute to maximizing total return over
a longer period of time. In addition, the securities of companies within various
economic sectors may at times offer higher returns than other sectors and can
thus contribute to superior returns. Finally, the Investment Manager believes
that superior stock selection can also contribute to superior total return.
To facilitate reallocation of the Fund's assets in accordance with the
Investment Manager's views as to shifts in the marketplace, the Investment
Manager employs transactions in futures contracts and options thereon. For
example, if the Investment Manager believes that a ten percent increase in that
portion of the Fund's assets invested in fixed-income securities and a
concomitant decrease in that portion of the Fund's assets invested in equity
securities is timely, the Fund might purchase interest rate futures, such as
Treasury bond futures, and sell stock index futures, such as the Standard &
Poor's Corporation ("S&P") 500 Stock Index futures, in equivalent amounts. The
utilization of futures transactions, rather than the purchase and sale of equity
and fixed-income securities, increases the speed and efficacy of the Fund's
asset reallocations. See below for a discussion of futures transactions.
Within the equity sector, the Investment Manager actively allocates funds to
those economic sectors expected to benefit from major trends and to individual
stocks which are deemed to have superior investment potential. The Fund may
purchase equity securities (including convertible debt obligations and
convertible preferred stock) sold on the New York, American and other stock
exchanges and in the over-the-counter market. In addition, the Fund may purchase
and sell warrants and purchase and write listed and over-the-counter options on
individual stocks and stock indexes to hedge against adverse price movements in
its equity portfolio and to increase its total return through the receipt of
premium income. The Fund may also purchase and sell stock index futures and
options thereon to hedge against adverse price movements in its equity portfolio
and to facilitate asset reallocations into and out of the equity area.
Within the fixed-income sector of the market, the Investment Manager seeks
to maximize the return on its investments by adjusting maturities and coupon
rates as well as by exploiting yield differentials among different types of
investment grade bonds. Fixed-income securities in which the Fund may invest are
short-term to intermediate (one to five year maturities) and intermediate to
long-term (greater than five year maturities) debt securities and preferred
stocks, including U.S. Government securities (securities issued or guaranteed as
to principal and interest by the United States or its agencies and
instrumentalities) and corporate securities which are rated at the time of
purchase Baa or better by Moody's Investors Service, Inc. ("Moody's") (while
bonds rated Baa by Moody's are considered investment grade, they have
speculative characteristics as well) or BBB or better by S&P, or which, if
unrated, are deemed to be of comparable quality by the Fund's Trustees (a
description of corporate bond ratings is contained in the Appendix to the
Statement of Additional Information). U.S. Government securities which may be
purchased include zero coupon securities. In addition, the Fund may purchase and
write listed and over-the-counter options on fixed-income securities to hedge
against adverse price movements in its fixed-income portfolio and to increase
its total return through the receipt of premium income. The Fund may also
purchase and sell interest rate futures and options thereon to hedge against
adverse price movements in its fixed-income portfolio and to facilitate asset
reallocations into and out of the fixed-income area.
6
<PAGE>
Within the money market sector of the market, the Investment Manager seeks
to maximize returns by exploiting spreads among short-term instruments. The
money market portion of the Fund's portfolio will contain short-term (maturities
of up to thirteen months) fixed-income securities, issued by private and
governmental institutions. Such securities may include: U.S. Government
securities; bank obligations; Eurodollar certificates of deposit issued by
foreign branches of domestic banks; obligations of savings institutions; fully
insured certificates of deposit; and commercial paper rated within the two
highest grades by S&P or the highest grade by Moody's or, if not rated, issued
by a company having an outstanding debt issue rated at least AA by S&P or Aa by
Moody's. For a discussion of the risks of investing in Eurodollar certificates
of deposit, see "Risk Considerations--Foreign Securities" below.
FOREIGN SECURITIES. The Fund may invest up to 20% of its total assets in
securities issued by foreign governments and other foreign issuers and in
foreign currency issues of domestic issuers, but not more than 10% of its total
assets in such securities, whether issued by a foreign or domestic issuer, which
are denominated in foreign currency. With regard to foreign fixed-income
securities, the Investment Manager believes that in many instances such
securities may provide higher yields than similar securities of domestic
issuers. For a discussion of the risks of investing in foreign securities, see
"Risk Considerations" below.
REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS. The Fund may enter into repurchase agreements, which
may be viewed as a type of secured lending by the Fund, and which typically
involve the acquisition by the Fund of debt securities from a selling financial
institution such as a bank, savings and loan association or broker-dealer. The
agreement provides that the Fund will sell back to the institution, and that the
institution will repurchase, the underlying security at a specified price and at
a fixed time in the future, usually not more than seven days from the date of
purchase. For a discussion of the risks of investing in repurchase agreements,
see "Risk Considerations" below.
PRIVATE PLACEMENTS. The Fund may invest in securities which are subject to
restrictions on resale because they have not been registered under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), or which are
otherwise not readily marketable. These securities are generally referred to as
private placements or restricted securities. The Securities and Exchange
Commission has adopted Rule 144A under the Securities Act, which permits the
Fund to sell restricted securities to qualified institutional buyers without
limitation. The Investment Manager, pursuant to procedures adopted by the
Trustees of the Fund, will make a determination as to the liquidity of each
restricted security purchased by the Fund. If a restricted security is
determined to be "liquid", such security will not be included within the
category "illiquid securities", which is limited by the Fund's investment
restrictions to 10% of the Funds's total assets. For a discussion of the risks
of investing in private placements, see "Risk Considerations" below.
OPTIONS.__The Fund also may purchase and sell (write) call and put options
on debt and equity securities which are listed on Exchanges or are written in
over-the-counter transactions ("OTC options"). Listed options, which are
currently listed on several different Exchanges, are issued by the Options
Clearing Corporation ("OCC"). Ownership of a listed call option gives the Fund
the right to buy from the OCC the underlying security covered by the option at
the stated exercise price (the price per unit of the underlying security) by
filing an exercise notice prior to the expiration date of the option. The writer
(seller) of the option would then have the obligation to sell to the OCC the
underlying security at that exercise price prior to the expiration date of the
option, regardless of its then current market price. Ownership of a listed put
option would give the Fund the right to sell the underlying security to the OCC
at the stated exercise price.
OTC OPTIONS.__OTC options are purchased from or sold (written) to dealers or
financial
institu-
7
<PAGE>
tions which have entered into direct agreements with the Fund. With OTC options,
such variables as expiration date, exercise price and premium will be agreed
upon between the Fund and the transacting dealer, without the intermediation of
a third party such as the OCC. The Fund will engage in OTC option transactions
only with primary U.S. Government securities dealers recognized by the Federal
Reserve Bank of New York.
COVERED CALL WRITING.__The Fund is permitted to write covered call options
on portfolio securities, without limit, in order to aid it in achieving its
investment objective. As a writer of a call option, the Fund has the obligation,
upon notice of exercise of the option, to deliver the security underlying the
option (certain listed call options written by the Fund will be exercisable by
the purchaser only on a specific date). See "Options and Futures Transactions--
Covered Call Writing" in the Statement of Additional Information.
COVERED PUT WRITING.__As a writer of covered put options, the Fund incurs an
obligation to buy the security underlying the option from the purchaser of the
put at the option's exercise price at any time during the option period. The
Fund will write put options for two purposes: (1) to receive the premiums paid
by purchasers; and (2) when the Investment Manager wishes to purchase the
security underlying the option at a price lower than its current market price,
in which case it will write the covered put at an exercise price reflecting the
lower purchase price sought. See "Options and Futures Transactions--Covered Put
Writing" in the Statement of Additional Information.
PURCHASING CALL AND PUT OPTIONS.__The Fund may invest up to 5% of its total
assets in the purchase of put and call options on securities and stock indexes.
The Fund may purchase call options only in order to close out a covered call
position. The Fund may purchase put options on securities which it holds (or has
the right to acquire) in its portfolio only to protect itself against a decline
in the value of the security. The Fund may also purchase put options to close
out written put positions in a manner similar to call option closing purchase
transactions. There are no other limits on the Fund's ability to purchase call
and put options.
STOCK INDEX OPTIONS.__The Fund may purchase and write options on stock
indexes. Options on stock indexes are similar to options on stock except that,
rather than the right to take or make delivery of stock at a specified price, an
option on a stock index gives the holder the right to receive, upon exercise of
the option, an amount of cash if the closing level of the stock index upon which
the option is based is greater than, in the case of a call, or less than, in the
case of a put, the exercise price of the option. See "Stock Index Options" and
"Risks of Options on Indexes" in the Statement of Additional Information.
FUTURES CONTRACTS. The Fund may purchase and sell interest rate and stock
index futures contracts ("futures contracts") that are traded on U.S. commodity
exchanges on such underlying securities as U.S. Treasury bonds, notes, and bills
and GNMA Certificates ("interest rate" futures) and such indexes as the S&P 500
Index and the New York Stock Exchange Composite Index ("stock index" futures)
and the Moody's Investment-Grade Corporate Bond Index ("bond index" futures). As
a futures contract purchaser, the Fund incurs an obligation to take delivery of
a specified amount of the obligation underlying the contract at a specified time
in the future for a specified price. As a seller of a futures contract, the Fund
incurs an obligation to deliver the specified amount of the underlying
obligation at a specified time in return for an agreed upon price. The Fund will
purchase or sell interest rate futures contracts and bond index futures
contracts for the purpose of hedging its fixed-income portfolio (or anticipated
portfolio) securities against changes in prevailing interest rates. The Fund
will purchase or sell stock index futures contracts for the purpose of hedging
its equity portfolio (or anticipated portfolio) securities against changes in
their prices. As noted above, the Fund may also engage in futures transactions
to facilitate reallocation of the Fund's assets. The Fund also may purchase and
write call and put
8
<PAGE>
options on futures contracts and enter into closing transactions with respect to
such options to terminate an existing position. See "Options and Futures
Transactions--Futures Contracts" and "Options on Futures Contracts" in the
Statement of Additional Information.
For a discussion of the risks of options and futures transactions, see "Risk
Considerations" below and "Options and Futures Transactions" in the Statement of
Additional Information.
------------------------
The Fund may purchase securities on a when-issued or delayed delivery basis,
may purchase or sell securities on a forward commitment basis, may purchase
securities on a "when, as and if issued" basis, may lend its portfolio
securities, and may enter into reverse repurchase agreements, as discussed under
"Risk Considerations" below.
RISK CONSIDERATIONS
The net asset value of the Fund's shares will fluctuate with changes in the
market value of its portfolio securities. The market value of the Fund's
portfolio securities will increase or decrease due to a variety of economic,
market or political factors which cannot be predicted. The level of income
payable to the investor will vary depending upon the market allocation
determined by the Investment Manager and with various determinants such as
interest rates.
FOREIGN SECURITIES.__Foreign securities investments may be affected by
changes in currency rates or exchange control regulations, changes in
governmental administration or economic or monetary policy (in the United States
and abroad) or changed circumstances in dealings between nations. Fluctuations
in the relative rates of exchange between the currencies of different nations
will affect the value of the Fund's investments denominated in foreign currency.
Changes in foreign currency exchange rates relative to the U.S. dollar will
affect the U.S. dollar value of the Fund's assets denominated in that currency
and thereby impact upon the Fund's total return on such assets.
Foreign currency exchange rates are determined by forces of supply and
demand on the foreign exchange markets. These forces are themselves affected by
the international balance of payments and other economic and financial
conditions, government intervention, speculation and other factors. Moreover,
foreign currency exchange rates may be affected by the regulatory control of the
exchanges on which the currencies trade. The Fund will incur costs in connection
with conversions between various currencies.
Investments in foreign securities will also occasion risks relating to
political and economic developments abroad, including the possibility of
expropriations or confiscatory taxation, limitations on the use or transfer of
Fund assets and any effects of foreign social, economic or political
instability. Foreign companies are not subject to the regulatory requirements of
U.S. companies and, as such, there may be less publicly available information
about such companies. Moreover, foreign companies are not subject to uniform
accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards and requirements
comparable to those applicable to U.S. companies. Finally, in the event of a
default of any foreign debt obligations, it may be more difficult for the Fund
to obtain or enforce a judgment against the issuers of such securities.
Securities of foreign issuers may be less liquid than comparable securities
of U.S. issuers and, as such, their price changes may be more volatile.
Furthermore, foreign exchanges and broker-dealers are generally subject to less
government and exchange scrutiny and regulation than their American
counterparts. Brokerage commissions, dealer concessions and other transaction
costs may be higher on foreign markets than in the U.S. In addition, differences
in clearance and settlement procedures on foreign markets may occasion delays in
settlements of the Fund's trades effected in such markets. As such, the
inability to dispose of portfolio securities due to settlement delays could
result in losses to the Fund due to subsequent declines in value of such
securities and the inability of the Fund
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<PAGE>
to make intended security purchases due to settlement problems could result in a
failure of the Fund to make potentially advantageous investments. To the extent
the Fund purchases Eurodollar certificates of deposit issued by foreign branches
of domestic United States banks, consideration will be given to their domestic
marketability, the lower reserve requirements normally mandated for overseas
banking operations, the possible impact of interruptions in the flow of
international currency transactions and future international political and
economic developments which might adversely affect the payment of principal or
interest.
REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS.__While repurchase agreements involve certain risks
not associated with direct investments in debt securities, the Fund follows
procedures designed to minimize those risks. These procedures include effecting
repurchase transactions only with large, well-capitalized and well-established
financial institutions whose financial condition will be continually monitored
by the Investment Manager subject to procedures established by the Board of
Trustees of the Fund. In addition, the value of the collateral underlying the
repurchase agreement will be at least equal to the repurchase price, including
any accrued interest earned on the repurchase agreement. In the event of a
default or bankruptcy by a selling financial institution, the Fund will seek to
liquidate such collateral. However, the exercising of the Fund's right to
liquidate such collateral could involve certain costs or delays and, to the
extent that proceeds from any sale upon a default of the obligation to
repurchase were less than the repurchase price, the Fund could suffer a loss.
The Fund may not invest in repurchase agreements that do not mature within seven
days if any such investment, together with any other illiquid assets held by the
Fund, amounts to more than 10% of its total assets.
PRIVATE PLACEMENTS.__Limitations on the resale of private placements may
have an adverse effect on their marketability, and may prevent the Fund from
disposing of them promptly at reasonable prices. The Fund may have to bear the
expense of registering such securities for resale and the risk of substantial
delays in effecting such registration. In the case of restricted securities
determined to be "liquid" pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act, the
Fund's illiquidity could increase if qualified institutional buyers become
unavailable.
WHEN-ISSUED AND DELAYED DELIVERY SECURITIES AND FORWARD COMMITMENTS.__From
time to time, in the ordinary course of business, the Fund may purchase
securities on a when-issued or delayed delivery basis or may purchase or sell
securities on a forward commitment basis. When such transactions are negotiated,
the price is fixed at the time of the commitment, but delivery and payment can
take place a month or more after the date of the commitment. There is no overall
limit on the percentage of the Fund's assets which may be committed to the
purchase of securities on a when-issued, delayed delivery or forward commitment
basis. An increase in the percentage of the Fund's assets committed to the
purchase of securities on a when-issued, delayed delivery or forward commitment
basis may increase the volatility of the Fund's net asset value.
WHEN, AS AND IF ISSUED SECURITIES. The Fund may purchase securities on a
"when, as and if issued" basis under which the issuance of the security depends
upon the occurrence of a subsequent event, such as approval of a merger,
corporate reorganization, leveraged buyout or debt restructuring. If the
anticipated event does not occur and the securities are not issued, the Fund
will have lost an investment opportunity. There is no overall limit on the
percentage of the Fund's assets which may be committed to the purchase of
securities on a "when, as and if issued" basis. An increase in the percentage of
the Fund's assets committed to the purchase of securities on a "when, as and if
issued" basis may increase the volatility of the Fund's net asset value.
OPTIONS AND FUTURES TRANSACTIONS. The Fund may close out its position as
writer of an option, or as a buyer or seller of a futures contract, only if a
liquid secondary market exists for options or futures
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<PAGE>
contracts of that series. There is no assurance that such a market will exist,
particularly in the case of OTC options, as such options will generally only be
closed out by entering into a closing purchase transaction with the purchasing
dealer. Also, exchanges may limit the amount by which the price of many futures
contracts may move on any day. If the price moves equal the daily limit on
successive days, then it may prove impossible to liquidate a futures position
until the daily limit moves have ceased.
The extent to which the Fund may enter into transactions involving options
and futures contracts may be limited by the Internal Revenue Code's requirements
for qualification as a regulated investment company and the Fund's intention to
qualify as such. See "Dividends, Distributions and Taxes."
While the futures contracts and options transactions to be engaged in by the
Fund for the purpose of hedging the Fund's portfolio securities are not
speculative in nature, there are risks inherent in the use of such instruments.
One such risk is that the Investment Manager could be incorrect in its
expectations as to the direction or extent of various interest rate or price
movements or the time span within which the movements take place. For example,
if the Fund sold futures contracts for the sale of securities in anticipation of
an increase in interest rates, and then interest rates went down instead,
causing bond prices to rise, the Fund would lose money on the sale. Another risk
which may arise in employing futures contracts to protect against the price
volatility of portfolio securities is that the prices of securities and indexes
subject to futures contracts (and thereby the futures contract prices) may
correlate imperfectly with the behavior of the cash prices of the Fund's
portfolio securities. See the Statement of Additional Information for further
discussion of such risks.
New futures contracts, options and other financial products and various
combinations thereof continue to be developed. The Fund may invest in any such
futures, options or products as may be developed, to the extent consistent with
its investment objective and applicable regulatory requirements.
REVERSE REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS. The Fund may enter into reverse repurchase
agreements, which involve sales by the Fund of portfolio assets concurrently
with an agreement by the Fund to repurchase the same assets at a later date at a
fixed price.
Reverse repurchase agreements involve the risk that the market value of the
securities the Fund is obligated to repurchase under the agreement may decline
below the repurchase price. In the event the buyer of securities under a reverse
repurchase agreement files for bankruptcy or becomes insolvent, the Fund's use
of the proceeds of the agreement may be restricted pending a determination by
the other party, or its trustee or receiver, whether to enforce the Fund's
obligation to repurchase the securities. Reverse repurchase agreements are
considered borrowings by the Fund and for purposes other than meeting
redemptions may not exceed 5% of the Fund's total assets.
LENDING OF PORTFOLIO SECURITIES. Consistent with applicable regulatory
requirements, the Fund may lend its portfolio securities to brokers, dealers and
other financial institutions, provided that such loans are callable at any time
by the Fund (subject to certain notice provisions described in the Statement of
Additional Information), and are at all times secured by cash or money market
instruments, which are maintained in a segregated account pursuant to applicable
regulations and that are equal to at least the market value, determined daily,
of the loaned securities. As with any extensions of credit, there are risks of
delay in recovery and in some cases even loss of rights in the collateral should
the borrower of the securities fail financially. However, loans of portfolio
securities will only be made to firms deemed by the Investment Manager to be
creditworthy and when the income which can be earned from such loans justifies
the attendant risks.
NON-DIVERSIFIED STATUS. The Fund is a non-diversified investment company
and, as such, is not
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<PAGE>
subject to the diversification requirements of the Investment Company Act of
1940 (the "Act"). As a non-diversified investment company, the Fund may invest a
greater portion of its assets in the securities of a single issuer and thus is
subject to greater exposure to risks such as a decline in the credit rating of
that issuer. However, the Fund anticipates that it will qualify as a regulated
investment company under the federal income tax laws and, if so qualified, will
be subject to the applicable diversification requirements of the Internal
Revenue Code (the "Code"). As a regulated investment company under the Code, the
Fund may not, as of the end of any of its fiscal quarters, have invested more
than 25% of its total assets in the securities of any one issuer (including a
foreign government), or as to 50% of its total assets, have invested more than
5% of its total assets in the securities of a single issuer.
For additional risk disclosure, please refer to the "Investment Objective
and Policies" section of the Prospectus and to the "Investment Practices and
Policies" section of the Statement of Additional Information.
PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT
The Fund's portfolio is actively managed by the Investment Manager with a
view to achieving the Fund's investment objective. In determining which
securities to purchase for the Fund or hold in the Fund's portfolio, the
Investment Manager will rely on information from various sources, including
research, analysis and appraisals of brokers and dealers, including Dean Witter
Reynolds Inc. ("DWR"), a broker-dealer affiliate of InterCapital, the views of
Trustees of the Fund and others regarding economic developments and interest
rate trends, and the Investment Manager's own analysis of factors it deems
relevant. The Fund's portfolio is managed within InterCapital's Large
Capitalization Equity Group, which manages twenty-seven funds and fund
portfolios, with approximately $18.7 in assets as of July 31, 1994. Mark Bavoso,
Senior Vice President of InterCapital and a member of InterCapital's Large
Capitalization Equity Group, has been the primary portfolio manager of the Fund
since January, 1994, and has been a portfolio manager at InterCapital for over
five years.
Orders for transactions in other portfolio securities and commodities are
placed for the Fund with a number of brokers and dealers, including DWR.
Pursuant to an order of the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Fund may
effect principal transactions in certain money market instruments with DWR. In
addition, the Fund may incur brokerage commissions on transactions conducted
through DWR.
It is not anticipated that the portfolio trading engaged in by the Fund will
result in its portfolio turnover rate exceeding 150% in any one year. The Fund
will incur underwriting discount costs (on underwritten securities) and
brokerage costs commensurate with its portfolio turnover rate, and thus a higher
level (over 100%) of portfolio transactions will increase the Fund's overall
brokerage expenses. See "Dividends, Distributions and Taxes" for a discussion of
the tax implications of the Fund's transactions. A more extensive discussion of
the Fund's portfolio brokerage policies is set forth in the Statement of
Additional Information.
Except as specifically noted, all investment objectives, policies and
practices discussed above are not fundamental policies of the Fund and, as such,
may be changed without shareholder approval.
INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The investment restrictions listed below are among the restrictions which
have been adopted by the Fund as fundamental policies. Under the Act, a
fundamental policy may not be changed without the vote of a majority of the
outstanding voting securities of the Fund, as defined in the Act. For purposes
of the following limitations: (i) all percentage limitations apply immediately
after a purchase or initial
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<PAGE>
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.
The Fund may not:
1. Invest 25% or more of the value of its total
assets in securities of issuers in any one industry. This restriction does not
apply to obligations issued or guaranteed by the United States Government or its
agencies or instrumentalities.
2. Invest more than 5% of the value of its total
assets in securities of issuers having a record, together with predecessors, of
less than three years of continuous operation. This restriction shall not apply
to any obligation issued or guaranteed by the United States Government, its
agencies or instrumentalities.
3. Purchase or sell commodities or
commodities contracts except that the Fund may purchase or write interest rate
and stock and bond index futures contracts and related options thereon.
4. Pledge its assets or assign or otherwise
encumber them except to secure permitted borrowings. (For the purpose of this
restriction, collateral arrangements with respect to the writing of options and
collateral arrangements with respect to initial or variation margin for futures
are not deemed to be pledges of assets.)
5. Purchase securities on margin (but the
Fund may obtain short-term loans as are necessary for the clearance of
transactions). The deposit or payment by the Fund of initial or variation margin
in connection with futures contracts or related options thereon is not
considered the purchase of a security on margin.
PURCHASE OF FUND SHARES
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Fund offers its shares for sale to the public on a continuous basis.
Pursuant to a Distribution Agreement between the Fund and Dean Witter
Distributors Inc. (the "Distributor"), an affiliate of the Investment Manager,
shares of the Fund are distributed by the Distributor and offered by DWR and
other dealers who have entered into selected dealer agreements with the
Distributor ("Selected Broker-Dealers"). The principal executive office of the
Distributor is located at Two World Trade Center, New York, New York 10048.
The minimum initial purchase is $1,000. Subsequent purchases of $100 or more
may be made by sending a check, payable to Dean Witter Strategist Fund, directly
to Dean Witter Trust Company (the "Transfer Agent") at P.O. Box 1040, Jersey
City, NJ 07303 or by contacting an account executive of DWR or other Selected
Broker-Dealer. In the case of investments pursuant to Systematic Payroll
Deduction Plans (including Individual Retirement Plans), the Fund, in its
discretion, may accept investments without regard to any minimum amounts which
would otherwise be required, if the Fund has reason to believe that additional
investments will increase the investment in each account under such Plans to at
least $1,000. Certificates for shares purchased will not be issued unless
requested by the shareholder in writing to the Transfer Agent. The offering
price will be the net asset value per share next determined following receipt of
an order (see "Determination of Net Asset Value" below).
Shares of the Fund are sold through the Distributor on a normal five
business day settlement basis; that is, payment is due on the fifth business day
(settlement date) after the order is placed with the Distributor. Since DWR and
other Selected Broker-Dealers forward investors' funds on settlement date, they
will benefit from the temporary use of the funds if payment is made prior
thereto. As noted above, orders placed directly with the Transfer Agent must be
accompanied by payment. Investors will be entitled to receive income dividends
and capital gains distributions if their order is received by the close of
business on the day prior to the record date for such
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<PAGE>
dividends and distributions. While no sales charge is imposed at the time shares
are purchased, a contingent deferred sales charge may be imposed at the time of
redemption (see "Redemptions and Repurchases"). Sales personnel are compensated
for selling shares of the Fund at the time of their sale by the Distributor
and/or Selected Broker-Dealer. In addition, some sales personnel of the Selected
Broker-Dealer will receive non-cash compensation in the form of trips to
educational and/or business seminars and merchandise as special sales
incentives. The Fund and the Distributor reserve the right to reject any
purchase orders.
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
The Fund has adopted an amended Plan of Distribution pursuant to Rule 12b-1
of the Act (the "Plan"), under which the Fund will pay the Distributor a fee,
which is accrued daily and payable monthly, at an annual rate of: (i) 1% of the
lesser of (a) the average daily aggregate gross sales of the Fund's shares since
the implementation of the Plan on November 8, 1989 (not including reinvestments
of dividends or capital gains distributions), less the average daily aggregate
net asset value of the Fund's shares redeemed since the Plan's implementation
upon which a contingent deferred sales charge has been imposed or waived; or (b)
the average daily net assets of the Fund attributable to shares issued, net of
related shares redeemed, since implementation of the Plan; plus (ii) 0.25% of
the Fund's average daily net assets attributable to shares issued, net of
related shares redeemed, prior to implementation of the Plan. This fee is
treated by the Fund as an expense in the year it is accrued. A portion of the
fee payable pursuant to the Plan, equal to 0.25% of the Fund's average daily net
assets, is characterized as a service fee within the meaning of NASD guidelines.
Amounts paid under the Plan are paid to the Distributor to compensate it for
the services provided and the expenses borne by the Distributor and others in
the distribution of the Fund's shares, including the payment of commissions for
sales of the Fund's shares and incentive compensation to and expenses of DWR
account executives and others who engage in or support distribution of shares or
who service shareholder accounts, including overhead and telephone expenses;
printing and distribution of prospectuses and reports used in connection with
the offering of the Fund's shares to other than current shareholders; and
preparation, printing and distribution of sales literature and advertising
materials. In addition, the Distributor may utilize fees paid pursuant to the
Plan to compensate DWR and other Selected Broker-Dealers for their opportunity
costs in advancing such amounts, which compensation would be in the form of a
carrying charge on any unreimbursed distribution expenses.
For the fiscal year ended July 31, 1994, the Fund accrued payments under the
Plan amounting to $7,177,296, which amount is equal to 0.88% of the Fund's
average daily net assets for the fiscal year. The payments accrued under the
Plan were calculated pursuant to clauses (i)(a) and (ii) of the compensation
formula under the Plan.
At any given time, the expenses in distributing shares of the Fund may be in
excess of the total of (i) the payments made by the Fund pursuant to the Plan,
and (ii) the proceeds of contingent deferred sales charges paid by investors
upon the redemption of shares (see "Redemptions and Repurchases--Contingent
Deferred Sales Charge"). For example, if $1 million in expenses in distributing
shares of the Fund had been incurred and $750,000 had been received as described
in (i) and (ii) above, the excess expense would amount to $250,000. The
Distributor has advised the Fund that such excess amounts, including the
carrying charge described above, totalled $25,663,533 at July 31, 1994, which
was equal to 3.18% of the Fund's net assets on such date. Because there is no
requirement under the Plan that the Distributor be reimbursed for all expenses
or any requirement that the Plan be continued from year to year, this excess
amount does not constitute a liability of the Fund. Although there is no legal
obligation for the Fund to pay expenses incurred in excess of payments made to
the
Distrib-
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<PAGE>
utor under the Plan and the proceeds of contingent deferred sales charges paid
by investors upon redemption of shares, if for any reason the Plan is
terminated, the Trustees will consider at that time the manner in which to treat
such expenses. Any cumulative expenses incurred, but not yet recovered through
distribution fees or contingent deferred sales charges, may or may not be
recovered through future distribution fees or contingent deferred sales charges.
DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE
The net asset value per share of the Fund is determined once daily at 4:00
p.m., New York time, on each day that the New York Stock Exchange is open by
taking the value of all assets of the Fund, subtracting all its liabilities,
dividing by the number of shares outstanding and adjusting to the nearest cent.
The net asset value per share will not be determined on Good Friday and on such
other federal and non-federal holidays as are observed by the New York Stock
Exchange.
In the calculation of the Fund's net asset value: (1) an equity portfolio
security listed or traded on the New York or American Stock Exchange is valued
at its latest sale price on that exchange; if there were no sales that day, the
security is valued at the latest bid price (in cases where a security is traded
on more than one exchange, the security is valued on the exchange designated as
the primary market by the Trustees), and (2) all other portfolio securities for
which over-the-counter market quotations are readily available are valued at the
latest bid price. When market quotations are not readily available, including
circumstances under which it is determined by the Investment Manager that sale
or bid prices are not reflective of a security's market value, portfolio
securities are valued at their fair value as determined in good faith under
procedures established by and under the general supervision of the Fund's
Trustees.
Certain of the Fund's portfolio securities may be valued by an outside
pricing service approved by the Fund's Trustees. The pricing service utilizes a
matrix system incorporating security quality, maturity and coupon as the
evaluation model parameters, and/or research evaluations by its staff, including
review of broker-dealer market price quotations, in determining what the pricing
service believes is the fair valuation of such portfolio securities.
Short-term debt securities with remaining maturities of sixty days or less
at the time of purchase are valued at amortized cost, unless the Trustees
determine such does not reflect the securities' fair value, in which case these
securities will be valued at their fair value as determined by the Trust
ees.
SHAREHOLDER SERVICES
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AUTOMATIC INVESTMENT OF DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS. All income dividends
and capital gains distributions are automatically paid in full and fractional
shares of the Fund (or, if specified by the shareholder, any other open-end
investment company for which InterCapital serves as investment manager
(collectively, with the Fund, the "Dean Witter Funds")), unless the shareholder
requests that they be paid in cash. Shares so acquired are not subject to the
imposition of a contingent deferred sales charge upon their redemption (see
"Redemptions and Repurchases").
INVESTMENT OF DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS RECEIVED IN CASH. Any shareholder
who receives a cash payment representing a dividend or capital gains
distribution may invest such dividend or distribution at the net asset value per
share next determined after receipt by the Transfer Agent, by returning the
check or the proceeds to the Transfer Agent within thirty days after the payment
date. Shares so acquired are not subject to the imposition of a contingent
deferred sales charge upon their redemption (see "Redemptions and Repurchases.")
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<PAGE>
EASYINVESTSM. Shareholders may subscribe to EasyInvest, an automatic
purchase plan which provides for any amount from $100 to $5,000 to be
transferred automatically from a checking or savings account, on a semi-monthly,
monthly or quarterly basis, to the Transfer Agent for investment in shares of
the Fund.
SYSTEMATIC WITHDRAWAL PLAN. A systematic withdrawal plan (the "Withdrawal
Plan") is available for shareholders who own or purchase shares of the Fund
having a minimum value of $10,000 based upon the then current net asset value.
The Withdrawal Plan provides for monthly or quarterly (March, June, September,
and December) checks in any dollar amount, not less than $25, or in any whole
percentage of the account balance, on an annualized basis. Any applicable
contingent deferred sales charge will be imposed on shares redeemed under the
Withdrawal Plan (See "Redemptions and Repurchases--Contingent Deferred Sales
Charge"). Therefore, any shareholder participating in the Withdrawal Plan will
have sufficient shares redeemed from his or her account so that the proceeds
(net of any applicable contingent deferred sales charge) to the shareholder will
be the designated monthly or quarterly amount.
Shareholders should contact their DWR or other Selected Broker-Dealer
account executive or the Transfer Agent for further information about any of the
above services.
TAX-SHELTERED RETIREMENT PLANS. Retirement plans are available for use by
corporations, the self-employed, eligible Individual Retirement Accounts and
Custodial Accounts under Section 403(b)(7) of the Internal Revenue Code.
Adoption of such plans should be on advice of legal counsel or tax adviser.
For further information regarding plan administration, custodial fees and
other details, investors should contact their DWR or other Selected Broker-
Dealer account executive or the Transfer Agent.
EXCHANGE PRIVILEGE
The Fund makes available to its shareholders an "Exchange Privilege"
allowing the exchange of shares of the Fund for shares of other Dean Witter
Funds sold with a contingent deferred sales charge ("CDSC funds"), and for
shares of Dean Witter Short-Term U.S. Treasury Trust, Dean Witter Limited Term
Municipal Trust, Dean Witter Short-Term Bond Fund and five Dean Witter Funds
which are money market funds (the foregoing eight non-CDSC funds are hereinafter
referred to as the "Exchange Funds"). Exchanges may be made after the shares of
the Fund acquired by purchase (not by exchange or dividend reinvestment) have
been held for thirty days. There is no waiting period for exchanges of shares
acquired by exchange or dividend reinvestment.
An exchange to another CDSC fund or any Exchange Fund that is not a money
market fund is on the basis of the next calculated net asset value per share of
each fund after the exchange order is received. When exchanging into a money
market fund from the Fund, shares of the Fund are redeemed out of the Fund at
their next calculated net asset value and the proceeds of the redemption are
used to purchase shares of the money market fund at their net asset value
determined the following business day. Subsequent exchanges between any of the
money market funds and any of the CDSC funds can be effected on the same basis.
No contingent deferred sales charge ("CDSC") is imposed at the time of any
exchange, although any applicable CDSC will be imposed upon ultimate redemption.
Shares of the Fund acquired in exchange for shares of another CDSC fund having a
different CDSC schedule than that of this Fund will be subject to the CDSC
schedule of this Fund, even if such shares are subsequently re-exchanged for
shares of the CDSC fund originally purchased. During the period of time the
shareholder remains in the Exchange Fund (calculated from the last day of the
month in which the Exchange Fund shares were acquired), the holding period (for
the purpose of determining the rate of the CDSC) is frozen. If those
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<PAGE>
shares are subsequently reexchanged for shares of a CDSC fund, the holding
period previously frozen when the first exchange was made resumes on the last
day of the month in which shares of a CDSC fund are reacquired. Thus, the CDSC
is based upon the time (calculated as described above) the shareholder was
invested in a CDSC fund (see "Redemptions and Repurchases--Contingent Deferred
Sales Charge"). However, in the case of shares exchanged into an Exchange Fund
on or after April 23, 1990, upon a redemption of shares which results in a CDSC
being imposed, a credit (not to exceed the amount of the CDSC) will be given in
an amount equal to the Exchange Fund 12b-1 distribution fees, if any, incurred
on or after that date which are attributable to those shares. (Exchange Fund
12b-1 distribution fees are described in the prospectus for those funds.)
In addition, shares of the Fund may be acquired in exchange for shares of
Dean Witter Funds sold with a front-end sales charge ("front-end sales charge
funds"), but shares of the Fund, however acquired, may not be exchanged for
shares of front-end sales charge funds. Shares of a CDSC fund acquired in
exchange for shares of a front-end sales charge fund (or in exchange for shares
of other Dean Witter Funds for which shares of a front-end sales charge fund
have been exchanged) are not subject to any CDSC upon their redemption.
Purchases and exchanges should be made for investment purposes only. A
pattern of frequent exchanges may be deemed by the Investment Manager to be
abusive and contrary to the best interests of the Fund's other shareholders and,
at the Investment Manager's discretion, may be limited by the Fund's refusal to
accept additional purchases and/ or exchanges from the investor. Although the
Fund does not have any specific definition of what constitutes a pattern of
frequent exchanges, and will consider all relevant factors in determining
whether a particular situation is abusive and contrary to the best interests of
the Fund and its other shareholders, investors should be aware that the Fund and
each of the other Dean Witter Funds may in their discretion limit or otherwise
restrict the number of times this Exchange Privilege may be exercised by any
investor. Any such restriction will be made by the Fund on a prospective basis
only, upon notice to the shareholder not later than ten days following such
shareholder's most recent exchange. Also, the Exchange Privilege may be
terminated or revised at any time by the Fund and/or any of such Dean Witter
Funds for which shares of the Fund have been exchanged, upon such notice as may
be required by applicable regulatory agencies. Shareholders maintaining margin
accounts with DWR or another Selected Broker-Dealer are referred to their
account executive regarding restrictions on exchange of shares of the Fund
pledged in the margin account.
The current prospectus for each fund describes its investment objective(s)
and policies, and shareholders should obtain a copy and examine it carefully
before investing. Exchanges are subject to the minimum investment requirement
and any other conditions imposed by each fund. An exchange will be treated for
federal income tax purposes the same as a repurchase or redemption of shares, on
which the shareholder may realize a capital gain or loss. However, the ability
to deduct capital losses on an exchange may be limited in situations where there
is an exchange of shares within ninety days after the shares are purchased. The
Exchange Privilege is only available in states where an exchange may legally be
made.
If DWR or another Selected Broker-Dealer is the current dealer of record and
its account numbers are part of the account information, shareholders may
initiate an exchange of shares of the Fund for shares of any of the Dean Witter
Funds (for which the Exchange Privilege is available) pursuant to this Exchange
Privilege by contacting their account executive (no Exchange Privilege
Authorization Form is required). Other shareholders (and those shareholders who
are clients of DWR or other Selected Broker-Dealers but who wish to make
exchanges directly by writing or telephoning the Transfer Agent) must complete
and forward to the Transfer Agent an Exchange Privilege Authorization
17
<PAGE>
Form, copies of which may be obtained from the Transfer Agent, to initiate an
exchange. If the Authorization Form is used, exchanges may be made in writing or
by contacting the Transfer Agent at (800) 526-3143 (toll free).
The Fund will employ reasonable procedures to confirm that exchange
instructions communicated over the telephone are genuine. Such procedures may
include requiring various forms of personal identification such as name, mailing
address, social security or other tax identification number and DWR or other
Selected Broker-Dealer account number (if any). Telephone instructions may also
be recorded. If such procedures are not employed, the Fund may be liable for any
losses due to unauthorized or fraudulent instructions.
Telephone exchange instructions will be accepted if received by the Transfer
Agent between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. New York time, on any day the New York
Stock Exchange is open. Any shareholder wishing to make an exchange who has
previously filed an Exchange Privilege Authorization Form and who is unable to
reach the Fund by telephone should contact his or her DWR or other Selected
Broker-Dealer account executive, if appropriate, or make a written exchange
request. Shareholders are advised that during periods of drastic economic or
market changes, it is possible that the telephone exchange procedures may be
difficult to implement, although this has not been the case with the Dean Witter
Funds in the past.
Shareholders should contact their DWR or other Selected Broker-Dealer
account executive or the Transfer Agent for further information about the
Exchange Privilege.
REDEMPTIONS AND REPURCHASES
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
REDEMPTION. Shares of the Fund can be redeemed for cash at any time at the
net asset value per share next determined; however, such redemption proceeds
will be reduced by the amount of any applicable contingent deferred sales
charges (see below). If shares are held in a shareholder's account without a
share certificate, a written request for redemption to the Fund's Transfer Agent
at P. O. Box 983, Jersey City, NJ 07303 is required. If certificates are held by
the shareholder, the shares may be redeemed by surrendering the certificates
with a written request for redemption, along with any additional documentation
required by the Transfer Agent.
CONTINGENT DEFERRED SALES CHARGE. Shares of the Fund purchased after
implementation of the Plan on November 8, 1989 (see "Purchase of Fund
Shares--Plan of Distribution") which are held for six years or more after
purchase (calculated from the last day of the month in which the shares were
purchased) will not be subject to any charge upon redemption. Shares purchased
after implementation to the Plan which are redeemed sooner than six years after
purchase may, however, be subject to a charge upon redemption. This charge is
called a "contingent deferred sales charge" ("CDSC"), and it will be a
percentage of the dollar amount of shares redeemed and will be assessed on an
amount equal to the lesser of the current market value or the cost of the shares
being redeemed. The size of this percentage will depend upon how long the shares
have been held, as set forth in the table below:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
CONTINGENT DEFERRED
YEAR SINCE SALES CHARGE
PURCHASE AS A PERCENTAGE OF
PAYMENT MADE AMOUNT REDEEMED
- ----------------------------------- ------------------------
<S> <C>
First.............................. 5.0%
Second............................. 4.0%
Third.............................. 3.0%
Fourth............................. 2.0%
Fifth.............................. 2.0%
Sixth.............................. 1.0%
Seventh and thereafter............. None
</TABLE>
A CDSC will not be imposed on: (i) any amount which represents an increase
in value of shares purchased within the six years preceding the redemption; (ii)
the current net asset value of shares
pur-
18
<PAGE>
chased more than six years prior to the redemption or prior to implementation of
the Plan; and (iii) the current net asset value of shares purchased through
reinvestment of dividends or distributions and/or shares acquired in exchange
for shares of Dean Witter Funds sold with a front-end sales charge or of other
Dean Witter Funds acquired in exchange for such shares. Moreover, in determining
whether a CDSC is applicable it will be assumed that amounts described in (i),
(ii) and (iii) above (in that order) are redeemed first. In addition, no CDSC
will be imposed on redemptions of shares which were purchased by the employee
benefit plans established by DWR and SPS Transaction Services, Inc. (an
affiliate of DWR) for their employees as qualified under Section 401(k) of the
Internal Revenue Code.
In addition, the CDSC, if otherwise applicable, will be waived in the case
of: (i) redemptions of shares held at the time a shareholder dies or becomes
disabled, only if the shares are (a) registered either in the name of an
individual shareholder (not a trust), or in the names of such shareholder and
his or her spouse as joint tenants with right of survivorship or (b) held in a
qualified corporate or self-employed retirement plan, Individual Retirement
Account or Custodial Account under Section 403(b)(7) of the Internal Revenue
Code, provided in either case that the redemption is requested within one year
of the death or initial determination of disability, and (ii) redemptions in
connection with the following retirement plan distributions: (a) lump-sum or
other distributions from a qualified corporate or self-employed retirement plan
following retirement (or in the case of a "key employee" of a "top heavy" plan,
following attainment of age 59 1/2); (b) distributions from an Individual
Retirement Account or Custodial Account under Section 403(b)(7) of the Internal
Revenue Code following attainment of age 59 1/2; or (c) a tax-free return of an
excess contribution to an IRA. For the purpose of determining disability, the
Distributor utilizes the definition of disability contained in Section 72(m)(7)
of the Internal Revenue Code, which relates to the inability to engage in
gainful employment. All waivers will be granted only following receipt by the
Distributor of confirmation of the shareholder's entitlement.
REPURCHASE. DWR and other Selected Broker-Dealers are authorized to
repurchase shares represented by a share certificate which is delivered to any
of their offices. Shares held in a shareholder's account without a share
certificate may also be repurchased by DWR and other Selected Broker-Dealers
upon the telephonic request of the shareholder. The repurchase price is the net
asset value next computed (see "Purchase of Fund Shares") after such repurchase
order is received by DWR or other Selected Broker-Dealer, reduced by any
applicable CDSC.
The CDSC, if any, will be the only fee imposed by the Fund, the Distributor,
DWR or other Selected Broker-Dealers. The offer by DWR and other Selected
Broker-Dealers to repurchase shares may be suspended without notice by them at
any time. In that event, shareholders may redeem their shares through the Fund's
Transfer Agent as set forth above under "Redemption".
PAYMENT FOR SHARES REDEEMED OR REPURCHASED. Payment for shares presented
for repurchase or redemption will be made by check within seven days after
receipt by the Transfer Agent of the certificate and/or written request in good
order. Such payment may be postponed or the right of redemption suspended under
unusual circumstances. If the shares to be redeemed have recently been purchased
by check, payment of the redemption proceeds may be delayed for the minimum time
needed to verify that the check used for investment has been honored (not more
than fifteen days from the time of investment of the check by the Transfer
Agent). Shareholders maintaining margin accounts with DWR or another Selected
Broker-Dealer are referred to their account executive regarding restrictions on
redemption of shares of the Fund pledged in the margin account.
REINSTATEMENT PRIVILEGE. A shareholder who has had his or her shares
redeemed or repurchased and has not previously exercised this reinstatement
19
<PAGE>
privilege may, within thirty days after the date of the redemption or
repurchase, reinstate any portion or all of the proceeds of such redemption or
repurchase in shares of the Fund at the net asset value next determined after a
reinstatement request, together with the proceeds, is received by the Transfer
Agent and receive a pro rata credit for any CDSC paid in connection with such
redemption or repurchase.
INVOLUNTARY REDEMPTION. The Fund reserves the right, on sixty days' notice,
to redeem, at their net asset value, the shares of any shareholder (other than
shares held in an Individual Retirement Account or custodial account under
Section 403(b)(7) of the Internal Revenue Code) whose shares have a value of
less than $100, or such lesser amount as may be fixed by the Trustees. No CDSC
will be imposed on any involuntary redemption.
DIVIDENDS, DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS. The Fund intends to distribute all of its net
investment income on a quarterly basis. The Fund may distribute quarterly net
realized short-term capital gains, if there are any. The Fund intends to
distribute net long-term capital gains, if any, at least once each year. The
Fund may, however, determine either to distribute or to retain all or part of
any long-term capital gains in any year for reinvestment.
All dividends and any capital gains distributions will be paid in additional
Fund shares and automatically credited to the shareholder's account without
issuance of a share certificate unless the shareholder requests in writing that
all dividends and/or distributions be paid in cash. (See "Shareholder
Services--Automatic Investment of Dividends and Distributions".)
TAXES. Because the Fund intends to distribute all of its net investment
income and net capital gains to shareholders and otherwise continue to qualify
as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue
Code, it is not expected that the Fund will be required to pay any federal
income tax. Shareholders who are required to pay taxes on their income will
normally have to pay federal income taxes, and any state income taxes, on the
dividends and distributions they receive from the Fund. Such dividends and
distributions, to the extent that they are derived from net investment income or
net short-term capital gains, are taxable to the shareholder as ordinary income
regardless of whether the shareholder receives such payments in additional
shares or in cash.
Gains or losses on the Fund's transactions in listed non-equity options,
futures and options on futures generally are treated as 60% long-term and 40%
short-term. When the Fund engages in options and futures transactions, various
tax regulations applicable to the Fund may have the effect of causing the Fund
to recognize a gain or loss for tax purposes before that gain or loss is
realized, or to defer recognition of a realized loss for tax purposes.
Recognition, for tax purposes, of an unrealized loss may result in a lesser
amount of the Fund's realized gains being available for annual distribution.
One of the requirements for the Fund to remain qualified as a regulated
investment company is that less than 30% of the Fund's gross income be derived
from gains from the sale or other disposition of securities held for less than
three months. Accordingly, the Fund may be restricted in the writing of options
on securities held for less than three months, in the writing of options which
expire in less than three months, and in effecting closing transactions with
respect to call or put options which have been written or purchased less than
three months prior to such transactions. The Fund may also be restricted in its
ability to engage in transactions involving futures contracts.
Distributions of net long-term capital gains, if any, are taxable to
shareholders as long-term capital gains regardless of how long a shareholder has
20
<PAGE>
held the Fund's shares and regardless of whether the distribution is received in
additional shares or in cash. Capital gains distributions are not eligible for
the corporate dividends received deduction.
After the end of the calendar year, shareholders will be sent full
information on their dividends and capital gains distributions for tax purposes.
To avoid being subject to a 31% federal backup withholding tax on taxable
dividends, capital gains distributions and the proceeds of redemptions and
repurchases, shareholders' taxpayer identification numbers must be furnished and
certified as to their accuracy.
Shareholders should consult their tax advisers as to the applicability of
the foregoing to their current situation.
PERFORMANCE INFORMATION
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From time to time the Fund may quote its "total return" in advertisements
and sales literature. The total return of the Fund is based on historical
earnings and is not intended to indicate future performance. The "average annual
total return" of the Fund refers to a figure reflecting the average annualized
percentage increase (or decrease) in the value of an initial investment in the
Fund of $1,000 over periods of one and five years, as well as over the life of
the Fund. Average annual total return reflects all income earned by the Fund,
any appreciation or depreciation of the Fund's assets, all expenses incurred by
the Fund and all sales charges which would be incurred by redeeming
shareholders, for the stated periods. It also assumes reinvestment of all
dividends and distributions paid by the Fund.
In addition to the foregoing, the Fund may advertise its total return over
different periods of time by means of aggregate, average, year-by-year or other
types of total return figures. Such calculations may or may not reflect the
deduction of the contingent deferred sales charge which, if reflected, would
reduce the performance quoted. The Fund may also advertise the growth of
hypothetical investments of $10,000, $50,000 and $100,000 in shares of the Fund.
The Fund from time to time may also advertise its performance relative to
certain performance rankings and indexes compiled by independent organizations
(e.g., mutual fund performance rankings of Lipper Analytical Services, Inc.; S&P
500 stock index; Dow Jones and Company, Inc. Industrial Average).
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
VOTING RIGHTS. All shares of beneficial interest of the Fund are of $0.01
par value and are equal as to earnings, assets and voting privileges.
The Fund is not required to hold Annual Meetings of Shareholders and in
ordinary circumstances the Fund does not intend to hold such meetings.
Under Massachusetts law, shareholders of a business trust may, under certain
limited circumstances, be held personally liable as partners for obligations of
the Fund. However, the Declaration of Trust contains an express disclaimer of
shareholder liability for acts or obligations of the Fund, requires that Fund
obligations include such disclaimer, and provides for indemnification and
reimbursement of expenses out of the Fund's property for any shareholder held
personally liable for the obligations of the Fund. Thus, the risk of a
shareholder incurring financial loss on account of shareholder liability is
limited to circumstances in which the Fund itself would be unable to meet its
obligations. Given the above limitations on shareholder personal liability, and
the nature of the Fund's assets and operations, in the opinion of Massachusetts
counsel to the Fund, the risk to shareholders of personal liability is remote.
SHAREHOLDER INQUIRIES. All inquiries regarding the Fund should be directed
to the Fund at the telephone numbers or address set forth on the front cover of
this Prospectus.
21
<PAGE>
THE DEAN WITTER FAMILY OF FUNDS
MONEY MARKET FUNDS DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES
Dean Witter Liquid Asset Fund Inc. Liquid Asset Series
Dean Witter U.S. Government Money U.S. Government Money Market Series
Market Trust U.S. Government Securities Series
Dean Witter Tax-Free Daily Income Trust Intermediate Income Securities Series
Dean Witter California Tax-Free Daily American Value Series
Income Trust Capital Growth Series
Dean Witter New York Municipal Money Dividend Growth Series
Market Trust Strategist Series
EQUITY FUNDS Utilities Series
Dean Witter American Value Fund Value-Added Market Series
Dean Witter Natural Resource Global Equity Series
Development Securities Inc. ASSET ALLOCATION FUNDS
Dean Witter Dividend Growth Securities Dean Witter Managed Assets Trust
Inc. Dean Witter Strategist Fund
Dean Witter Developing Growth ACTIVE ASSETS ACCOUNT PROGRAM
Securities Trust Active Assets Money Trust
Dean Witter World Wide Investment Trust Active Assets Tax-Free Trust
Dean Witter Value-Added Market Series Active Assets California Tax-Free Trust
Dean Witter Utilities Fund Active Assets Government Securities
Dean Witter Capital Growth Securities Trust
Dean Witter European Growth Fund Inc.
Dean Witter Precious Metals and
Minerals Trust
Dean Witter Pacific Growth Fund Inc.
Dean Witter Health Sciences Trust
Dean Witter Global Dividend Growth
Securities
Dean Witter Global Utilities Fund
Dean Witter International SmallCap Fund
Dean Witter Mid-Cap Growth Fund
FIXED INCOME FUNDS
Dean Witter High Yield Securities Inc.
Dean Witter Tax-Exempt Securities Trust
Dean Witter U.S. Government Securities
Trust
Dean Witter Federal Securities Trust
Dean Witter Convertible Securities
Trust
Dean Witter California Tax-Free Income
Fund
Dean Witter New York Tax-Free Income
Fund
Dean Witter World Wide Income Trust
Dean Witter Intermediate Income
Securities
Dean Witter Global Short-Term Income
Fund Inc.
Dean Witter Multi-State Municipal
Series Trust
Dean Witter Premier Income Trust
Dean Witter Short-Term U.S. Treasury
Trust
Dean Witter Diversified Income Trust
Dean Witter Limited Term Municipal
Trust
Dean Witter Short-Term Bond Fund
Dean Witter National Municipal Trust
Dean Witter High Income Securities
<PAGE>
Dean Witter
Strategist Fund
Dean Witter
Two World Trade Center
New York, New York 10048
TRUSTEES Strategist
Jack F. Bennett Fund
Michael Bozic
Charles A. Fiumefreddo
Edwin J. Garn
John R. Haire
Dr. John E. Jeuck
Dr. Manuel H. Johnson
Paul Kolton
Michael E. Nugent
Philip J. Purcell
John L. Schroeder
Edward R. Telling
OFFICERS
Charles A. Fiumefreddo
Chairman and Chief Executive
Officer
Sheldon Curtis
Vice President, Secretary and
General Counsel
Mark Bavoso
Vice President
Thomas F. Caloia
Treasurer
CUSTODIAN
The Bank of New York
110 Washington Street
New York, New York 10286
TRANSFER AGENT AND DIVIDEND
DISBURSING AGENT
Dean Witter Trust Company
Harborside Financial Center
Plaza Two
Jersey City, New Jersey 07311
INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
Price Waterhouse LLP
1177 Avenue of the Americas
New York, New York 10036
INVESTMENT MANAGER
Dean Witter InterCapital Inc.
PROSPECTUS -- SEPTEMBER 26, 1994
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Dean Witter
September 26, 1994 Strategist Fund
</TABLE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dean Witter Strategist Fund (the "Fund") is an open-end, non-diversified
management investment company, the investment objective of which is to maximize
the total return on its investments. The Fund seeks to achieve its objective by
actively allocating its assets among the major asset categories of equity
securities, fixed-income securities and money market instruments. See
"Investment Practices and Policies."
A Prospectus for the Fund dated September 26, 1994, which provides the basic
information you should know before investing in the Fund, may be obtained
without charge from the Fund at the address or telephone number listed below or
from the Fund's Distributor, Dean Witter Distributors Inc., or from Dean Witter
Reynolds Inc. at any of its branch offices. This Statement of Additional
Information is not a Prospectus. It contains information in addition to and more
detailed than that set forth in the Prospectus. It is intended to provide
additional information regarding the activities and operations of the Fund, and
should be read in conjunction with the Prospectus.
Dean Witter
Strategist Fund
Two World Trade Center
New York, New York 10048
(212) 392-2550
<PAGE>
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Fund and its Management ............................................... 3
Trustees and Officers ..................................................... 6
Investment Practices and Policies ......................................... 9
Investment Restrictions ................................................... 22
Portfolio Transactions and Brokerage ...................................... 23
The Distributor ........................................................... 25
Shareholder Services ...................................................... 29
Redemptions and Repurchases ............................................... 33
Dividends, Distributions and Taxes ........................................ 36
Performance Information ................................................... 37
Description of Shares ..................................................... 38
Custodian and Transfer Agent .............................................. 39
Independent Accountants ................................................... 39
Reports to Shareholders ................................................... 40
Legal Counsel ............................................................. 40
Experts ................................................................... 40
Registration Statement .................................................... 40
Financial Statements - July 31, 1994 ...................................... 41
Report of Independent Accountants ......................................... 50
Appendix .................................................................. 51
2
<PAGE>
THE FUND AND ITS MANAGEMENT
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Fund
The Fund is a trust of the type commonly known as a "Massachusetts business
trust" and was organized under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts on
August 5, 1988.
The Investment Manager
Dean Witter InterCapital Inc. (the "Investment Manager" or "InterCapital"),
a Delaware corporation, whose address is Two World Trade Center, New York, New
York 10048, is the Fund's Investment Manager. InterCapital is a wholly-owned
subsidiary of Dean Witter, Discover & Co., a Delaware corporation. In an
internal reorganization which took place in January, 1993, InterCapital assumed
the investment advisory, administrative and management activities previously
performed by the InterCapital Division of Dean Witter Reynolds Inc. ("DWR"), a
broker-dealer affiliate of InterCapital. (As hereinafter used in this Statement
of Additional Information, the terms "InterCapital" and "Investment Manager"
refer to DWR's InterCapital Division prior to the internal reorganization and to
Dean Witter InterCapital Inc. thereafter.) The daily management of the Fund and
research relating to the Fund's portfolio are conducted by or under the
direction of officers of the Fund and of the Investment Manager, subject to
review by the Fund's Board of Trustees. In addition, Trustees of the Fund
provide guidance on economic factors and interest rate trends. Information as to
these Trustees and officers is contained under the caption "Trustees and
Officers".
InterCapital is also the investment manager or investment adviser of the
following management investment companies: Active Assets Money Trust, Active
Assets Tax-Free Trust, Active Assets California Tax-Free Trust, Active Assets
Government Securities Trust, Dean Witter Liquid Asset Fund Inc., InterCapital
Income Securities Inc., InterCapital Insured Municipal Bond Trust, InterCapital
Insured Municipal Trust, InterCapital Insured Municipal Income Trust,
InterCapital California Insured Municipal Income Trust, InterCapital Insured
Municipal Securities, InterCapital Insured California Municipal Securities,
InterCapital Quality Municipal Investment Trust, InterCapital Quality Municipal
Income Trust, InterCapital Quality Municipal Securities, InterCapital California
Quality Municipal Securities, InterCapital New York Quality Municipal
Securities, High Income Advantage Trust, High Income Advantage Trust II, High
Income Advantage Trust III, Dean Witter Government Income Trust, Dean Witter
High Yield Securities Inc., Dean Witter Tax-Free Daily Income Trust, Dean Witter
Developing Growth Securities Trust, Dean Witter Tax-Exempt Securities Trust,
Dean Witter Natural Resource Development Securities Inc., Dean Witter Dividend
Growth Securities Inc., Dean Witter American Value Fund, Dean Witter U.S.
Government Money Market Trust, Dean Witter Variable Investment Series, Dean
Witter World Wide Investment Trust, Dean Witter Select Municipal Reinvestment
Fund, Dean Witter U.S. Government Securities Trust, Dean Witter California
Tax-Free Income Fund, Dean Witter New York Tax-Free Income Fund, Dean Witter
Convertible Securities Trust, Dean Witter Federal Securities Trust, Dean Witter
Value-Added Market Series, Dean Witter Utilities Fund, Dean Witter Managed
Assets Trust, Dean Witter California Tax-Free Daily Income Trust, Dean Witter
World Wide Income Trust, Dean Witter Intermediate Income Securities, Dean Witter
Capital Growth Securities, Dean Witter European Growth Fund Inc., Dean Witter
Precious Metals and Minerals Trust, Dean Witter New York Municipal Money Market
Trust, Dean Witter Global Short-Term Income Fund, Inc., Dean Witter Pacific
Growth Fund Inc., Dean Witter Multi-State Municipal Series Trust, Dean Witter
Premier Income Trust, Dean Witter Short-Term U.S. Treasury Trust, Dean Witter
Diversified Income Trust, Dean Witter Health Sciences Trust, Dean Witter
Retirement Series, Dean Witter Global Dividend Growth Securities, Dean Witter
Limited Term Municipal Trust, Dean Witter Short-Term Bond Fund, Dean Witter
Global Utilities Fund, Dean Witter National Municipal Trust, Dean Witter High
Income Securities, Dean Witter International SmallCap Fund, Dean Witter Mid-Cap
Growth Fund, Municipal Income Trust, Municipal Income Trust II, Municipal Income
Trust III, Municipal Income Opportunities Trust, Municipal Income Opportunities
Trust II, Municipal Income Opportunities Trust III, Prime Income Trust and
Municipal Premium Income Trust. The foregoing investment companies, together
with the Fund, are collectively referred to as the Dean Witter Funds.
3
<PAGE>
In addition, Dean Witter Services Company Inc. ("DWSC"), a wholly-owned
subsidiary of InterCapital, serves as manager for the following investment
companies for which TCW Funds Management, Inc. is the investment adviser: TCW/DW
Core Equity Trust, TCW/DW North American Government Income Trust, TCW/DW Latin
American Growth Fund, TCW/DW Income and Growth Fund, TCW/DW Small Cap Growth
Fund, TCW/DW Balanced Fund, TCW/DW North American Intermediate Income Trust,
TCW/DW Global Convertible Trust, TCW/DW Emerging Markets Opportunities Trust,
TCW/DW Term Trust 2000, TCW/DW Term Trust 2002 and TCW/DW Term Trust 2003 (the
"TCW/DW Funds"). InterCapital also serves as: (i) sub-adviser to Templeton
Global Opportunities Trust, an open-end investment company; (ii) administrator
of The BlackRock Strategic Term Trust Inc., a closed-end investment company; and
(iii) sub-administrator of MassMutual Participation Investors and Templeton
Global Governments Income Trust, closed-end investment companies.
The Investment Manager also serves as an investment adviser for Dean Witter
World Wide Investment Fund, an investment company organized under the laws of
Luxembourg, shares of which companies may not be offered in the United States or
purchased by American citizens outside of the United States.
Pursuant to an Investment Management Agreement (the "Agreement") with the
Investment Manager, the Fund has retained the Investment Manager to manage 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 such information and advice relating to the economy, securities
markets, and specific securities as it considers necessary or useful to
continuously manage the assets of the Fund in a manner consistent with its
investment objective. 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, such office space,
facilities, equipment, clerical help and bookkeeping and legal services as the
Fund may reasonably require in the conduct of its business, including the
preparation of prospectuses, statements of additional information, proxy
statements and reports required to be filed with federal and state securities
commissions (except insofar as the participation or assistance of independent
accountants and attorneys is, in the opinion of the Investment Manager,
necessary or desirable). In addition, the Investment Manager pays the salaries
of all personnel, including officers of the Fund, who are employees of the
Investment Manager. The Investment Manager also bears the cost of telephone
service, heat, light, power and other utilities provided to the Fund.
Effective December 31, 1993, pursuant to a Services Agreement between
InterCapital and DWSC, DWSC began to provide the administrative services to the
Fund which were previously performed directly by InterCapital. The foregoing
internal reorganization did not result in any change in the nature or scope of
the administrative services being provided to the Fund or any of the fees being
paid by the Fund for the overall services being performed under the terms of the
existing Agreement.
Expenses not expressly assumed by the Investment Manager under the Agreement
or by the Distributor of the Fund's shares, Dean Witter Distributors Inc.
("Distributors" or the "Distributor") (see "The Distributor"), will be paid by
the Fund. The expenses borne by the Fund include, but are not limited to:
expenses of the Plan of Distribution pursuant to Rule 12b-1 (see "The
Distributor"); charges and expenses of any registrar; custodian, stock transfer
and dividend disbursing agent; brokerage commissions; taxes; engraving and
printing of 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 and Statements of
Additional Information of the Fund and supplements thereto to the Fund's
shareholders; all expenses of shareholders' and Trustees' meetings and of
preparing, printing and mailing 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) and independent accountants;
4
<PAGE>
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.
As full compensation for the services and facilities furnished to the Fund
and expenses of the Fund assumed by the Investment Manager, the Fund pays the
Investment Manager monthly compensation calculated daily by applying the
following annual rates to the Fund's daily net assets: 0.60% of the portion of
the daily net assets not exceeding $500 million; 0.55% of the next $500 million;
and 0.50% of the portion of the daily net assets exceeding $1 billion. For the
fiscal years ended July 31, 1992, 1993 and 1994, the Fund accrued to the
Investment Manager total compensation of $1,944,459, $3,541,615 and $4,711,608,
respectively.
Pursuant to the Agreement, total operating expenses of the Fund are subject
to applicable limitations under rules and regulations of states where the Fund
is authorized to sell its shares. Therefore, operating expenses are effectively
subject to the most restrictive of such limitations as the same may be amended
from time to time. Presently, the most restrictive limitation is as follows. If,
in any fiscal year, the Fund's total operating expenses, exclusive of taxes,
interest, brokerage fees, distribution fees and extraordinary expenses (to the
extent permitted by applicable state securities laws and regulations), exceed
2 1/2% of the first $30,000,000 of average daily net assets, 2% of the next
$70,000,000 and 1 1/2% of any excess over $100,000,000, the Investment Manager
will reimburse the Fund for the amount of such excess. Such amount, if any, will
be calculated daily and credited on a monthly basis. The Fund did not exceed
such limitation during the fiscal years ended July 31, 1992, 1993 and 1994.
The 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 Agreement in no way restricts the Investment Manager from
acting as investment manager or adviser to others.
The Agreement was initially approved by the Board of Trustees on October 30,
1992, and by the shareholders of the Fund at a Meeting of Shareholders held on
January 12, 1993. The Agreement is substantially identical to a prior investment
management agreement which was initially approved by the Trustees on August 23,
1988, by DWR as the then sole shareholder on August 26, 1988 and by the Fund's
shareholders at a Meeting of Shareholders held on November 8, 1989, as such
prior agreement had been amended by the Trustees, including all of the
Independent Trustees, at their meeting held on July 27, 1989 to lower the
management fees charged on the Fund's daily net assets in excess of $500 million
and at their meeting held on April 28, 1993 to lower the management fees charged
on the Fund's daily net assets in excess of $1 billion. At the April 28, 1993
meeting, the Trustees, including all of the Independent Trustees, also approved
an amendment to the Agreement to lower the management fees charged on the Fund's
daily net assets in excess of $1 billion. The Agreement took effect on June 30,
1993 upon the spin-off by Sears, Roebuck and Co. of its remaining shares of
DWDC. The Agreement may be terminated at any time, without penalty, on thirty
days' notice by the Trustees of the Fund, by the holders of a majority, as
defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "Act"), of the
outstanding shares of the Fund, or by the Investment Manager. The Agreement will
automatically terminate in the event of its assignment (as defined in the Act).
Under its terms, the Agreement had an initial term ending April 30, 1994,
and provides that it will continue in effect from year to year thereafter,
provided continuance of the Agreement is approved at least annually by the vote
of the holders of a majority, as defined in the Act, of the outstanding shares
of the Fund, or by the Trustees of the Fund; provided that in either event such
continuance is approved annually by the vote of a majority of the Trustees of
the Fund who are not parties to the Agreement or "interested persons" (as
defined in the Act) of any such party (the "Independent Trustees"), which vote
must be cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such
approval. At their meeting held on April 8, 1994, the Fund's Board of Trustees,
including all of the Independent Trustees, approved continuation of the
Agreement until April 30, 1995.
5
<PAGE>
The Fund has acknowledged that the name "Dean Witter" is a property right of
DWR. The Fund has agreed that DWR or its parent company may use, or at any time
permit others to use, the name "Dean Witter". The Fund has also agreed that in
the event the Agreement is terminated, or if the affiliation between
InterCapital and its parent company is terminated, the Fund will eliminate the
name "Dean Witter" from its name if DWR or its parent company shall so request.
TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Trustees and Executive Officers of the Fund, their principal business
occupations during the last five years and their affiliations, if any, with
InterCapital and with the Dean Witter Funds and the TCW/DW Funds are shown
below.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Name, Position with Fund
and Address Principal Occupations During Last Five Years
- ----------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C>
Jack F. Bennett Retired; Director or Trustee of the Dean Witter Funds; formerly Senior
Trustee Vice President and Director of Exxon Corporation (1975-January, 1989)
141 Taconic Road and Under Secretary of the U.S. Treasury for Monetary Affairs
Greenwich, Connecticut (1974-1975); Director of Philips Electronics N.V., Tandem Computers
Inc. and Massachusetts Mutual Insurance Co.; director or trustee of
various other not-for-profit and business organizations.
Michael Bozic President and Chief Executive Officer of Hills Department Stores (since
Trustee May, 1991); formerly Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (January,
c/o Hills Stores Inc. 1987-August, 1990) and President and Chief Operating Officer (August,
15 Dan Road 1990-February, 1991) of the Sears Merchandise Group of Sears, Roebuck
Canton, Massachusetts and Co.; Director or Trustee of the Dean Witter Funds; Director of
Harley Davidson Credit Inc., the United Negro College Fund and Domain
Inc. (home decor retailer).
Charles A. Fiumefreddo* Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and Director of InterCapital, DWSC
Chairman of the Board, and Distributors; Executive Vice President and Director of DWR;
President and Chief Executive Chairman, Director or Trustee, President and Chief Executive Officer of
Officer and Trustee the Dean Witter Funds; Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and Trustee of
Two World Trade Center the TCW/DW Funds; formerly Executive Vice President and Director of
New York, New York DWDC (until February, 1993); Chairman and Director of Dean Witter Trust
Company ("DWTC"); Director and/or officer of various DWDC subsidiaries.
Edwin J. Garn Director or Trustee of the Dean Witter Funds; formerly United States
Trustee Senator (R-Utah) (1974-1992) and Chairman, Senate Banking Committee
2000 Eagle Gate Tower (1980-1986); formerly Mayor of Salt Lake City, Utah (1972-1974);
Salt Lake City, Utah formerly Astronaut, Space Shuttle Discovery (April 12-19, 1985); Vice
Chairman, Huntsman Chemical Corporation (since January, 1993); Member
of the board of various civic and charitable organizations.
</TABLE>
6
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Name, Position with Fund
and Address Principal Occupations During Last Five Years
- ----------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
John R. Haire Chairman of the Audit Committee and Chairman of the Committee of the
Trustee Independent Directors or Trustees and Director or Trustee of the Dean
439 East 51st Street Witter Funds; Trustee of the TCW/DW Funds; formerly President, Council
New York, New York for Aid to Education (1978-October, 1989) and Chairman and Chief
Executive Officer of Anchor Corporation, an Investment Adviser
(1964-1978); Director of Washington National Corporation (insurance)
and Bowne & Co., Inc. (printing).
<S> <C>
Dr. John E. Jeuck Retired; Director or Trustee of the Dean Witter Funds; formerly Robert
Trustee Law professor of Business Administration, Graduate School of Business,
70 East Cedar Street University of Chicago (until July, 1989); Business consultant.
Chicago, Illinois
Dr. Manuel H. Johnson Senior Partner, Johnson Smick International, Inc., a consulting firm
Trustee (since June, 1985); Koch Professor of International Economics and
7521 Old Dominion Drive Director of the Center for Global Market Studies at George Mason
Maclean, Virginia University (since September, 1990); Co-Chairman and a founder of the
Group of Seven Council (G7C), an international economic commission
(since September, 1990); Director or Trustee of the Dean Witter Funds;
Trustee of the TCW/ DW Funds; Director of Greenwich Capital Markets,
Inc. (broker-dealer); formerly Vice Chairman of the Board of Governors
of the Federal Reserve System (February, 1986-August, 1990) and
Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Treasury (1982-1986).
Paul Kolton Director or Trustee of the Dean Witter Funds; Chairman of the Audit
Trustee Committee and Chairman of the Committee of the Independent Trustees and
9 Hunting Ridge Road Trustee of the TCW/DW Funds; formerly Chairman of the Financial
Stamford, Connecticut Accounting Standards Advisory Council and Chairman and Chief Executive
Officer of the American Stock Exchange; Director of UCC Investors
Holding Inc. (Uniroyal Chemical Company Inc.); director or trustee of
various not-for-profit organizations.
Michael E. Nugent General Partner, Triumph Capital, L.P., a private investment
Trustee partnership (since 1988); Director or Trustee of the Dean Witter Funds;
237 Park Avenue Trustee of the TCW/DW Funds; formerly Vice President, Bankers Trust
New York, New York Company and BT Capital Corporation; Director of various business
organizations.
Philip J. Purcell* Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer of DWDC,
Trustee DWR and Novus Credit Services Inc.; Director of InterCapital, DWSC and
Two World Trade Center Distributors; Director or Trustee of the Dean Witter Funds; Director
New York, New York and/or officer of various DWDC subsidiaries.
John L. Schroeder Executive Vice President and Chief Investment Officer of the Home
Trustee Insurance Company (since August, 1991); Director or Trustee of the Dean
Northgate 3A Witter Funds; Director of Citizens Utilities Company; formerly Chairman
Alger Court and Chief Investment Officer of Axe-Houghton Management and the
Bronxville, New York Axe-Houghton Funds (April, 1983-June, 1991) and President of USF&G
Financial Services, Inc. (June, 1990-June, 1991).
</TABLE>
7
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Name, Position with Fund
and Address Principal Occupations During Last Five Years
- ----------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
Edward R. Telling* Retired; Director or Trustee of the Dean Witter Funds; formerly
Trustee Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer
Sears Tower (1978-1985) and President (from January, 1981-March, 1982 and February,
Chicago, Illinois 1984-August, 1984) of Sears, Roebuck and Co.; formerly Director of
Sears, Roebuck and Co.
<S> <C>
Sheldon Curtis Senior Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel of InterCapital
Vice President, Secretary and DWSC; Senior Vice President, Assistant Secretary and Assistant
and General Counsel General Counsel of Distributors; Senior Vice President and Secretary of
Two World Trade Center DWTC; Assistant Secretary of DWDC and DWR and Vice President, Secretary
New York, New York and General Counsel of the Dean Witter Funds and the TCW/DW Funds.
Mark Bavoso Senior Vice President of InterCapital (since June, 1993); formerly Vice
Vice President President of InterCapital.
Two World Trade Center
New York, New York
Thomas F. Caloia First Vice President and Assistant Treasurer of InterCapital and DWSC
Treasurer and Treasurer of the Dean Witter Funds and the TCW/DW Funds.
Two World Trade Center
New York, New York
<FN>
- ------------------------
* Denotes Trustees who are "interested persons" of the Fund, as defined in the
Act.
</TABLE>
In addition, Robert M. Scanlan, President and Chief Operating Officer of
InterCapital and DWSC, Executive Vice President of Distributors and DWTC and
Director of DWTC, David A. Hughey, Executive Vice President and Chief
Administrative Officer of InterCapital, DWSC, Distributors and DWTC and Director
of DWTC, and Edmund C. Puckhaber, Executive Vice President of InterCapital, are
Vice Presidents of the Fund, and Marilyn K. Cranney and Barry Fink, First Vice
Presidents and Assistant General Counsels of InterCapital and DWSC, and Lawrence
S. Lafer, Lou Anne McInnis and Ruth Rossi, Vice Presidents and Assistant General
Counsels of InterCapital and DWSC, are Assistant Secretaries of the Fund.
The Fund pays each Trustee who is not an employee or retired employee of the
Investment Manager or an affiliated company an annual fee of $1,200 ($1,600
prior to December 31, 1993) plus $50 for each meeting of the Board of Trustees
or any committee of the Board of Trustees attended by the Trustee in person (the
Fund pays the Chairman of the Audit Committee an additional annual fee of $1,000
($1,200 prior to December 31, 1993) and pays the Chairman of the Committee of
the Independent Trustees an additional annual fee of $2,400, in each case
inclusive of the Committee meeting fees). The Fund also reimburses such Trustees
for travel and other out-of-pocket expenses incurred by them in connection with
attending such meetings. Trustees and officers of the Fund who are or have been
employed by the Investment Manager or an affiliated company receive no
compensation or expense reimbursement from the Fund. The Fund has adopted a
retirement program under which an Independent Trustee who retires after a
minimum required period of service would be entitled to retirement payments upon
reaching the eligible retirement age (normally, after attaining age 72) based
upon length of service and computed as a percentage of one-fifth of the total
compensation earned by such Trustee for service to the Fund in the five-year
period prior to the date of the Trustee's retirement. For the fiscal year ended
July 31, 1994, the Fund accrued a total of $27,361 for Trustees' fees and
expenses and benefits under the retirement program. As of the date of this
Statement of Additional Information, the aggregate shares of beneficial interest
of the Fund owned by the Fund's officers and trustees as a group was less than 1
percent of the Fund's shares outstanding.
8
<PAGE>
INVESTMENT PRACTICES AND POLICIES
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
U.S. GOVERNMENT SECURITIES. As stated in the Prospectus, the Fund may
invest in short-term to intermediate (one to five year maturities) and
intermediate to long term (greater than five year maturities) fixed-income
securities which are issued or guaranteed, as to principal and interest, by the
United States or its agencies and instrumentalities.
Such U.S. Government securities include:
(1) U.S. Treasury bills (maturities of one year or less), U.S. Treasury
notes (maturities of one to ten years) and U.S. Treasury bonds (generally
maturities of greater than ten years), all of which are direct obligations
of the U.S. Government and, as such, are backed by the "full faith and
credit" of the United States.
(2) Securities issued by agencies and instrumentalities of the U.S.
Government which are backed by the full faith and credit of the United
States. Among the agencies and instrumentalities issuing such obligations
are the Federal Housing Administration, the Government National Mortgage
Association ("GNMA"), the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the
Export-Import Bank, the Farmers Home Administration, the General Services
Administration, the Maritime Administration and the Small Business
Administration. The maturities of such obligations range from three months
to thirty years.
(3) Securities issued by agencies and instrumentalities which are not
backed by the full faith and credit of the United States, but whose issuing
agency or instrumentality has the right to borrow, to meet its obligations,
from an existing line of credit with the U.S. Treasury. Among the agencies
and instrumentalities issuing such obligations are the Tennessee Valley
Authority, the Federal National Mortgage Association ("FNMA"), the Federal
Home Loan Mortgage Corporation ("FHLMC") and the U.S. Postal Service.
(4) Securities issued by agencies and instrumentalities which are not
backed by the full faith and credit of the United States, but which are
backed by the credit of the issuing agency or instrumentality. Among the
agencies and instrumentalities issuing such obligations are the Federal Farm
Credit System and the Federal Home Loan Banks.
ZERO COUPON SECURITIES. A portion of the U.S. Government securities
purchased by the Fund may be zero coupon securities. Such securities are
purchased at a discount from their face amount, giving the purchaser the right
to receive their full value at maturity. The interest earned on such securities
is, implicitly, automatically compounded and paid out at maturity. While such
compounding at a constant rate eliminates the risk of receiving lower yields
upon reinvestment of interest if prevailing interest rates decline, the owner of
a zero coupon security will be unable to participate in higher yields upon
reinvestment of interest received if prevailing interest rates rise. For this
reason, zero coupon securities are subject to substantially greater price
fluctuations during periods of changing prevailing interest rates than are
comparable securities which pay interest currently.
MONEY MARKET INSTRUMENTS. As stated in the Prospectus, the money market
instruments which the Fund may purchase include U.S. Government securities, bank
obligations, Eurodollar certificates of deposit, obligations of savings
institutions, fully insured certificates of deposit and commercial paper. Such
securities are limited to:
U.S. GOVERNMENT SECURITIES. Obligations issued or guaranteed as to
principal and interest by the United States or its agencies (such as the
Export-Import Bank of the United States, Federal Housing Administration and
Government National Mortgage Association) or its instrumentalities (such as
the Federal Home Loan Bank), including Treasury bills, notes and bonds;
9
<PAGE>
BANK OBLIGATIONS. Obligations (including certificates of deposit and
bankers' acceptances) of banks subject to regulation by the U.S. Government
and having total assets of $1 billion or more, and instruments secured by
such obligations, not including obligations of foreign branches of domestic
banks except to the extent below;
EURODOLLAR CERTIFICATES OF DEPOSIT. Eurodollar certificates of deposit
issued by foreign branches of domestic banks having total assets of $1
billion or more;
OBLIGATIONS OF SAVINGS INSTITUTIONS. Certificates of deposit of savings
banks and savings and loan associations, having total assets of $1 billion
or more;
FULLY INSURED CERTIFICATES OF DEPOSIT. Certificates of deposit of banks
and savings institutions, having total assets of less than $1 billion, if
the principal amount of the obligation is insured by the Federal Deposit
Insurance Corporation, limited to $100,000 principal amount per certificate
and to 10% or less of the Fund's total assets in all such obligations and in
all illiquid assets, in the aggregate;
COMMERCIAL PAPER. Commercial paper rated within the two highest grades
by Standard & Poor's Corporation ("S&P") or the highest grade by Moody's
Investors Service, Inc. ("Moody's") or, if not rated, issued by a company
having an outstanding debt issue rated at least AA by S&P or Aa by Moody's.
LENDING OF PORTFOLIO SECURITIES. Consistent with applicable regulatory
requirements, the Fund may lend its portfolio securities to brokers, dealers and
other financial institutions, provided that such loans are callable at any time
by the Fund (subject to notice provisions described below), and are at all times
secured by cash or cash equivalents, which are maintained in a segregated
account pursuant to applicable regulations and that are equal to at least the
market value, determined daily, of the loaned securities. The advantage of such
loans is that the Fund continues to receive the income on the loaned securities
while at the same time earning interest on the cash amounts deposited as
collateral, which will be invested in short-term obligations. The Fund will not
lend its portfolio securities if such loans are not permitted by the laws or
regulations of any state in which its shares are qualified for sale and will not
lend more than 25% of the value of its total assets. A loan may be terminated by
the borrower on one business days' notice, or by the Fund on two business days'
notice. If the borrower fails to deliver the loaned securities within two days
after receipt of notice, the Fund could use the collateral to replace the
securities while holding the borrower liable for any excess of replacement cost
over collateral. As with any extensions of credit, there are risks of delay in
recovery and in some cases even loss of rights in the collateral should the
borrower of the securities fail financially. However, these loans of portfolio
securities will only be made to firms deemed by the Fund's management to be
creditworthy and when the income which can be earned from such loans justifies
the attendant risks. Upon termination of the loan, the borrower is required to
return the securities to the Fund. Any gain or loss in the market price during
the loan period would inure to the Fund. The creditworthiness of firms to which
the Fund lends its portfolio securities will be monitored on an ongoing basis by
the Investment Manager pursuant to procedures adopted and reviewed, on an
ongoing basis, by the Board of Trustees of the Fund.
When voting or consent rights which accompany loaned securities pass to the
borrower, the Fund will follow the policy of calling the loaned securities, to
be delivered within one day after notice, to permit the exercise of such rights
if the matters involved would have a material effect on the Fund's investment in
such loaned securities. The Fund will pay reasonable finder's, administrative
and custodial fees in connection with a loan of its securities. The Fund did not
lend any of its portfolio securities during the fiscal year ended July 31, 1994.
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. A
repurchase agreement may be viewed as a type of secured lending by the Fund
which typically involves the acquisition by the Fund of government securities
from a selling financial institution such as a bank, savings and loan
association or broker-dealer. The agreement
10
<PAGE>
provides that the Fund will sell back to the institution, and that the
institution will repurchase. the underlying security ("collateral") at a
specified price and at a fixed time in the future, usually not more than seven
days from the date of purchase. The collateral will be maintained in a
segregated account and will be marked to market daily to determine that the full
value of the collateral, as specified in the agreement, does not decrease below
the repurchase price plus accrued interest. If such decrease occurs, additional
collateral will be added to the account to maintain full collateralization. The
Fund will accrue interest from the institution until the time when the
repurchase is to occur. Although such 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 and may exceed one year.
While repurchase agreements involve certain risks not associated with direct
investments in debt securities, the Fund follows procedures designed to minimize
such risks. Repurchase agreements will be transacted only with large,
well-capitalized and well-established financial institutions whose financial
condition will be continuously monitored by the Investment Manager subject to
procedures established by the Trustees. In addition, as described above, the
value of the collateral underlying the repurchase agreement will be at least
equal to the repurchase price, including any accrued interest earned on the
repurchase agreement. In the event of a default or bankruptcy by a selling
financial institution, the Fund will seek to liquidate such collateral. However,
the exercising of the Fund's right to liquidate such collateral could involve
certain costs or delays and, to the extent that proceeds from the sale upon a
default of the obligation to repurchase were less than the repurchase price, the
Fund could suffer a loss. The Fund has not to date and does not presently intend
to enter into repurchase agreements so that more than 5% of the Fund's net
assets are subject to such agreements.
REVERSE REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS. The Fund may also use reverse repurchase
agreements as part of its investment strategy. Reverse repurchase agreements
involve sales by the Fund of portfolio assets concurrently with an agreement by
the Fund to repurchase the same assets at a later date at a fixed price.
Generally, the effect of such a transaction is that the Fund can recover all or
most of the cash invested in the portfolio securities involved during the term
of the reverse repurchase agreement, while it will be able to keep the interest
income associated with those portfolio securities. Such transactions are only
advantageous if the interest cost to the Fund of the reverse repurchase
transaction is less than the cost of otherwise obtaining the cash. Opportunities
to achieve this advantage may not always be available. The Fund will establish a
segregated account with its custodian bank in which it will maintain cash, U.S.
Government securities or other high grade debt securities equal in value to its
obligations in respect of reverse repurchase agreements. Reverse repurchase
agreements are considered borrowings by the Fund and for purposes other than
meeting redemptions may not exceed 5% of the Fund's total assets.
WARRANTS. The Fund may acquire warrants attached to other securities and,
in addition may invest up to 5% of the value of its total assets in warrants,
including up to 2% of such assets in warrants not listed on either the New York
or American Stock Exchange. Warrants are, in effect, an option to purchase
equity securities at a specific price, generally valid for a specific period of
time, and have no voting rights, pay no dividends and have no rights with
respect to the corporation issuing them.
WHEN-ISSUED AND DELAYED DELIVERY SECURITIES. As discussed in the
Prospectus, from time to time, in the ordinary course of business, the Fund may
purchase securities on a when-issued or delayed delivery basis, i.e., delivery
and payment can take place a month or more after the date of the transactions.
The securities so purchased are subject to market fluctuation and no interest
accrues to the purchaser during this period. While the Fund will only purchase
securities on a when-issued, delayed delivery or forward commitment basis with
the intention of acquiring the securities, the Fund may sell the securities
before the settlement date, if it is deemed advisable. At the time the Fund
makes the commitment to purchase securities on a when-issued or delayed delivery
basis, the Fund will record the transaction and thereafter reflect the value,
each day, of such security in determining the net asset value of the Fund. At
the time of delivery of the securities, the value may be more or less than the
purchase price. The Fund will also establish a segregated account with the
Fund's custodian bank in which it will continuously maintain cash or U.S.
Government Securities or other high grade debt portfolio securities
11
<PAGE>
equal in value to commitments for such when-issued or delayed delivery
securities; subject to this requirement, the Fund may purchase securities on
such basis without limit. An increase in the percentage of the Fund's assets
committed to the purchase of securities on a when-issued or delayed delivery
basis may increase the volatility of the Fund's net asset value. The Investment
Manager and the Board of Trustees do not believe that the Fund's net asset value
or income will be adversely affected by its purchase of securities on such
basis.
WHEN, AS AND IF ISSUED SECURITIES. As discussed in the Prospectus, the Fund
may purchase securities on a "when, as and if issued" basis under which the
issuance of the security depends upon the occurrence of a subsequent event, such
as approval of a merger, corporate reorganization, leveraged buyout or debt
restructuring. The commitment for the purchase of any such security will not be
recognized in the portfolio of the Fund until the Investment Manager determines
that issuance of the security is probable. At such time, the Fund will record
the transaction and, in determining its net asset value, will reflect the value
of the security daily. At such time, the Fund will also establish a segregated
account with its custodian bank in which it will continuously maintain cash or
U.S. Government securities or other high grade debt portfolio securities equal
in value to recognized commitments for such securities. Settlement of the trade
will occur within five business days of the occurrence of the subsequent event.
The value of the Fund's commitments to purchase the securities of any one
issuer, together with the value of all securities of such issuer owned by the
Fund, may not exceed 5% of the value of the Fund's total assets at the time the
initial commitment to purchase such securities is made (see "Investment
Restrictions"). Subject to the foregoing restrictions, the Fund may purchase
securities on such basis without limit. An increase in the percentage of the
Fund's assets committed to the purchase of securities on a "when, as and if
issued" basis may increase the volatility of its net asset value. The Investment
Manager and the Trustees do not believe that the net asset value of the Fund
will be adversely affected by its purchase of securities on such basis.
Options and Futures Transactions
The Fund may write covered call options against securities held in its
portfolio and covered put options on eligible portfolio securities and stock
indexes and purchase options of the same series to effect closing transactions,
and may hedge against potential changes in the market value of investments (or
anticipated investments) and facilitate the reallocation of the Fund's assets
into and out of equities and fixed-income securities by purchasing put and call
options on portfolio (or eligible portfolio) securities and engaging in
transactions involving futures contracts and options on such contracts.
Call and put options on U.S. Treasury notes, bonds and bills and equity
securities are listed on Exchanges (currently the Chicago Board Options
Exchange, American Stock Exchange, New York Stock Exchange, Pacific Stock
Exchange and Philadelphia Stock Exchange) and are written in over-the-counter
transactions ("OTC Options"). Listed options are issued by the Options Clearing
Corporation ("OCC"). Ownership of a listed call option gives the Fund the right
to buy from the OCC the underlying security covered by the option at the stated
exercise price (the price per unit of the underlying security) by filing an
exercise notice prior to the expiration date of the option. The writer (seller)
of the option would then have the obligation to sell to the OCC the underlying
security at that exercise price prior to the expiration date of the option,
regardless of its then current market price. Ownership of a listed put option
would give the Fund the right to sell the underlying security to the OCC at the
stated exercise price. Upon notice of exercise of the put option, the writer of
the put would have the obligation to purchase the underlying security from the
OCC at the exercise price.
OPTIONS ON TREASURY BONDS AND NOTES. Because trading interest in options
written on Treasury bonds and notes tends to center on the most recently
auctioned issues, the exchanges on which such securities trade will not continue
indefinitely to introduce options with new expirations to replace expiring
options on particular issues. Instead, the expirations introduced at the
commencement of options trading on a particular issue will be allowed to run
their course, with the possible addition of a limited
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number of new expirations as the original ones expire. Options trading on each
issue of bonds or notes will thus be phased out as new options are listed on
more recent issues, and options representing a full range of expirations will
not ordinarily be available for every issue on which options are traded.
OPTIONS ON TREASURY BILLS. Because a deliverable Treasury bill changes from
week to week, writers of Treasury bill calls cannot provide in advance for their
potential exercise settlement obligations by acquiring and holding the
underlying security. However, if the Fund holds a long position in Treasury
bills with a principal amount of the securities deliverable upon exercise of the
option, the position may be hedged from a risk standpoint by the writing of a
call option. For so long as the call option is outstanding, the Fund will hold
the Treasury bills in a segregated account with its Custodian, so that they will
be treated as being covered.
OPTIONS ON GNMA CERTIFICATES. Currently, options on GNMA Certificates are
only traded over-the-counter. Since the remaining principal balance of GNMA
Certificates declines each month as a result of mortgage payments, the Fund, as
a writer of a GNMA call holding GNMA Certificates as "cover" to satisfy its
delivery obligation in the event of exercise, may find that the GNMA
Certificates it holds no longer have a sufficient remaining principal balance
for this purpose. Should this occur, the Fund will purchase additional GNMA
Certificates from the same pool (if obtainable) or replacement GNMA Certificates
in the cash market in order to maintain its cover. A GNMA Certificate held by
the Fund to cover an option position in any but the nearest expiration month may
cease to represent cover for the option in the event of a decline in the GNMA
coupon rate at which new pools are originated under the FHA/VA loan ceiling in
effect at any given time, as such decline may increase the prepayments made on
other mortgage pools. If this should occur, the Fund will no longer be covered,
and the Fund will either enter into a closing purchase transaction or replace
such Certificate with a Certificate which represents cover. When the Fund closes
out its position or replaces such Certificate, it may realize a loss and incur
transaction costs.
OTC OPTIONS. Exchange-listed options are issued by the OCC which assures
that all transactions in such options are properly executed. OTC options are
purchased from or sold (written) to dealers or financial institutions which have
entered into direct agreements with the Fund. With OTC options, such variables
as expiration date, exercise price and premium will be agreed upon between the
Fund and the transacting dealer, without the intermediation of a third party
such as the OCC. If the transacting dealer fails to make or take delivery of the
securities underlying an option it has written, in accordance with the terms of
that option, the Fund would lose the premium paid for the option as well as any
anticipated benefit of the transaction. The Fund will engage in OTC option
transactions only with primary U.S. Government securities dealers recognized by
the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.
COVERED CALL WRITING. The Fund is permitted to write covered call options
on portfolio securities, without limit, in order to aid in achieving its
investment objective. Generally, a call option is "covered" if the Fund owns, or
has the right to acquire, without additional cash consideration (or for
additional cash consideration held for the Fund by its Custodian in a segregated
account) the underlying security subject to the option except that in the case
of call options on U.S. Treasury Bills, the Fund might own U.S. Treasury Bills
of a different series from those underlying the call option, but with a
principal amount and value corresponding to the exercise price and a maturity
date no later than that of the securities deliverable under the call option. A
call option is also covered if the Fund holds a call on the same security as the
underlying security of the written option, where the exercise price of the call
used for coverage is equal to or less than the exercise price of the call
written or greater than the exercise price of the call written if the
mark-to-market difference is maintained by the Fund in cash, U.S. Government
securities or other high grade debt obligations which the Fund holds in a
segregated account maintained with its Custodian.
The Fund will receive from the purchaser, in return for a call it has
written, a "premium"; i.e., the price of the option. Receipt of these premiums
may better enable the Fund to achieve a greater total return than would be
realized from holding the underlying securities alone. Moreover, the premium
received will offset a portion of the potential loss incurred by the Fund if the
securities underlying the option are
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ultimately sold by the Fund at a loss. The premium received will fluctuate with
varying economic market conditions. If the market value of the portfolio
securities upon which call options have been written increases, the Fund may
receive less total return from the portion of its portfolio upon which calls
have been written than it would have had such calls not been written.
As regards listed options and certain OTC options, during the option period,
the Fund may be required, at any time, to deliver the underlying security
against payment of the exercise price on any calls it has written (exercise of
certain listed and OTC options may be limited to specific expiration dates).
This obligation is terminated upon the expiration of the option period or at
such earlier time when the writer effects a closing purchase transaction. A
closing purchase transaction is accomplished by purchasing an option of the same
series as the option previously written. However, once the Fund has been
assigned an exercise notice, the Fund will be unable to effect a closing
purchase transaction.
Closing purchase transactions are ordinarily effected to realize a profit on
an outstanding call option to prevent an underlying security from being called,
to permit the sale of an underlying security or to enable the Fund to write
another call option on the underlying security with either a different exercise
price or expiration date or both. Also, effecting a closing purchase transaction
will permit the cash or proceeds from the concurrent sale of any securities
subject to the option to be used for other investments by the Fund. The Fund may
realize a net gain or loss from a closing purchase transaction depending upon
whether the amount of the premium received on the call option is more or less
than the cost of effecting the closing purchase transaction. Any loss incurred
in a closing purchase transaction may be wholly or partially offset by
unrealized appreciation in the market value of the underlying security.
Conversely, a gain resulting from a closing purchase transaction could be offset
in whole or in part or exceeded by a decline in the market value of the
underlying security.
If a call option expires unexercised, the Fund realizes a gain in the amount
of the premium on the option less the commission paid. Such a gain, however, may
be offset by depreciation in the market value of the underlying security during
the option period. If a call option is exercised, the Fund realizes a gain or
loss from the sale of the underlying security equal to the difference between
the purchase price of the underlying security and the proceeds of the sale of
the security plus the premium received for on the option less the commission
paid.
Options written by a Fund normally have expiration dates of from up to nine
months (equity securities) to eighteen months (fixed-income securities) from the
date written. The exercise price of a call option may be below, equal to or
above the current market value of the underlying security at the time the option
is written. See "Risks of Options and Futures Transactions," below.
COVERED PUT WRITING. As a writer of a covered put option, the Fund incurs
an obligation to buy the security underlying the option from the purchaser of
the put, at the option's exercise price at any time during the option period, at
the purchaser's election (certain listed and OTC put options written by the Fund
will be exercisable by the purchaser only on a specific date). A put is
"covered" if the Fund maintains, in a segregated account maintained on its
behalf at the Fund's Custodian, cash, U.S. Government securities or other high
grade debt obligations in an amount equal to at least the exercise price of the
option, at all times during the option period. Similarly, a written put position
could be covered by the Fund by its purchase of a put option on the same
security as the underlying security of the written option, where the exercise
price of the purchased option is equal to or more than the exercise price of the
put written or less than the exercise price of the put written if the
mark-to-market difference is maintained by the Fund in cash, U.S. Government
securities or other high grade debt obligations which the Fund holds in a
segregated account maintained at its Custodian. In writing puts, the Fund
assumes the risk of loss should the market value of the underlying security
decline below the exercise price of the option (any loss being decreased by the
receipt of the premium on the option written). In the case of listed options,
during the option period, the Fund may be required, at any time, to make payment
of the exercise price against delivery of the underlying security. The operation
of and limitations on covered put options in other respects are substantially
identical to those of call options.
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The Fund will write put options for two purposes: (1) to receive the income
derived from the premiums paid by purchasers; and (2) when the Investment
Manager wishes to purchase the security underlying the option at a price lower
than its current market price, in which case it will write the covered put at an
exercise price reflecting the lower purchase price sought. The potential gain on
a covered put option is limited to the premium received on the option (less the
commissions paid on the transaction) while the potential loss equals the
difference between the exercise price of the option and the current market price
of the underlying securities when the put is exercised, offset by the premium
received (less the commissions paid on the transaction).
PURCHASING CALL AND PUT OPTIONS. The Fund may purchase listed and OTC call
and put options in amounts equalling up to 5% of its total assets. The Fund may
purchase call options in order to close out a covered call position (see
"Covered Call Writing" above) and, as to 2% of its total assets, purchase call
options on securities it intends to purchase. If, in the latter case, the price
of the security underlying the option fails to rise above the exercise price by
an amount exceeding the price of the option premium, the Fund will sustain a
loss equal to some or all of the premium price. A call purchased to close out a
position is likely to be on the same securities and have the same terms as the
written option. The option would generally be acquired from the dealer or
financial institution which purchased the call written by the Fund.
The Fund may purchase put options on securities which it holds (or has the
right to acquire) in its portfolio only to protect itself against a decline in
the value of the security. If the value of the underlying security were to fall
below the exercise price of the put purchased in an amount greater than the
premium paid for the option, the Fund would incur no additional loss. The Fund
may also purchase put options to close out written put positions in a manner
similar to call options closing purchase transactions. In addition, the Fund may
sell a put option which it has previously purchased prior to the sale of the
securities underlying such option. Such a sale would result in a net gain or
loss depending on whether the amount received on the sale is more or less than
the premium and other transaction costs paid on the put option when it was
purchased. Any such gain or loss could be offset in whole or in part by a change
in the market value of the underlying security. If a put option purchased by the
Fund expired without being sold or exercised, the premium would be lost.
RISKS OF OPTIONS TRANSACTIONS. During the option period, the covered call
writer has, in return for the premium on the option, given up the opportunity
for capital appreciation above the exercise price should the market price of the
underlying security increase, but has retained the risk of loss should the price
of the underlying security decline. The secured put writer also retains the risk
of loss should the market value of the underlying security decline below the
exercise price of the option less the premium received on the sale of the
option. In both cases, the writer has no control over the time when it may be
required to fulfill its obligation as a writer of the option. Once an option
writer has received an exercise notice, it cannot effect a closing purchase
transaction in order to terminate its obligation under the option and must
deliver or receive the underlying securities at the exercise price.
Prior to exercise or expiration, an option position can only be terminated
by entering into a closing purchase or sale transaction. If a covered call
option writer is unable to effect a closing purchase transaction or to purchase
an offsetting over-the-counter option, it cannot sell the underlying security
until the option expires or the option is exercised. Accordingly, a covered call
option writer may not be able to sell an underlying security at a time when it
might otherwise be advantageous to do so. A covered put option writer who is
unable to effect a closing purchase transaction or to purchase an offsetting
over-the-counter option would continue to bear the risk of decline in the market
price of the underlying security until the option expires or is exercised. In
addition, a covered put writer would be unable to utilize the amount held in
cash or U.S. Government or other high grade short-term debt obligations as cover
for the put option for other investment purposes until the exercise or
expiration of the option.
The Fund's ability to close out its position as a writer of an option is
dependent upon the existence of a liquid secondary market on option exchanges.
There is no assurance that such a market will exist, particularly in the case of
OTC options, as such options will generally only be closed out by entering into
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a closing purchase transaction with the purchasing dealer. However, the Fund may
be able to purchase an offsetting option which does not close out its position
as a writer but constitutes an asset of equal value to the obligation under the
option written. If the Fund is not able to either enter into a closing purchase
transaction or purchase an offsetting position, it will be required to maintain
the securities subject to the call, or the collateral underlying the put, even
though it might not be advantageous to do so, until a closing transaction can be
entered into (or the option is exercised or expires).
Among the possible reasons for the absence of a liquid secondary market on
an Exchange are: (i) insufficient trading interest in certain options; (ii)
restrictions on transactions imposed by an Exchange; (iii) trading halts,
suspensions or other restrictions imposed with respect to particular classes or
series of options or underlying securities; (iv) interruption of the normal
operations on an Exchange; (v) inadequacy of the facilities of an Exchange or
the Options Clearing Corporation ("OCC") to handle current trading volume; or
(vi) a decision by one or more Exchanges to discontinue the trading of options
(or a particular class or series of options), in which event the secondary
market on that Exchange (or in that class or series of options) would cease to
exist, although outstanding options on that Exchange that had been issued by the
OCC as a result of trades on that Exchange would generally continue to be
exercisable in accordance with their terms.
In the event of the bankruptcy of a broker through which the Fund engages in
transactions in options, the Fund could experience delays and/or losses in
liquidating open positions purchased or sold through the broker and/or incur a
loss of all or part of its margin deposits with the broker. Similarly, in the
event of the bankruptcy of the writer of an OTC option purchased by the Fund,
the Fund could experience a loss of all or part of the value of the option.
Transactions are entered into by the Fund only with brokers or financial
institutions deemed creditworthy by the Investment Manager.
Each of the Exchanges has established limitations governing the maximum
number of call or put options on the same underlying security or futures
contract (whether or not covered) which may be written by a single investor,
whether acting alone or in concert with others (regardless of whether such
options are written on the same or different Exchanges or are held or written on
one or more accounts or through one or more brokers). An Exchange may order the
liquidation of positions found to be in violation of these limits and it may
impose other sanctions or restrictions. These position limits may restrict the
number of listed options which the Fund may write.
The hours of trading for options may not conform to the hours during which
the underlying securities are traded. To the extent that the option markets
close before the markets for the underlying securities, significant price and
rate movements can take place in the underlying markets that cannot be reflected
in the option markets.
The extent to which the Fund may enter into transactions involving options
may be limited by the Internal Revenue Code's requirements for qualification as
a regulated investment company and the Fund's intention to qualify as such (see
"Dividends, Distributions and Taxes" in the Prospectus).
STOCK INDEX OPTIONS. Options on stock indexes are similar to options on
stock except that, rather than the right to take or make delivery of stock at a
specified price, an option on a stock index gives the holder the right to
receive, upon exercise of the option, an amount of cash if the closing level of
the stock index upon which the option is based is greater than, in the case of a
call, or less than, in the case of a put, the exercise price of the option. This
amount of cash is equal to such difference between the closing price of the
index and the exercise price of the option expressed in dollars times a
specified multiple (the "multiplier"). The multiplier for an index option
performs a function similar to the unit of trading for a stock option. It
determines the total dollar value per contract of each point in the difference
between the exercise price of an option and the current level of the underlying
index. A multiplier of 100 means that a one-point difference will yield $100.
Options on different indexes may have different multipliers. The writer of the
option is obligated, in return for the premium received, to make delivery of
this amount. Unlike stock options, all settlements are in cash and a gain or
loss depends on price movements in the
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stock market generally (or in a particular segment of the market) rather than
the price movements in individual stocks. Currently, options are traded on,
among other indexes, the S&P 100 Index and the S&P 500 Index on the Chicago
Board Options Exchange, the Major Market Index and the Computer Technology
Index, Oil Index and Institutional Index on the American Stock Exchange and the
NYSE Index and NYSE Beta Index on the New York Stock Exchange, The Financial
News Composite Index on the Pacific Stock Exchange and the Value Line Index,
National O-T-C Index and Utilities Index on the Philadelphia Stock Exchange,
each of which and any similar index on which options are traded in the future
which include stocks that are not limited to any particular industry or segment
of the market is referred to as a "broadly based stock market index." The Fund
will invest only in broadly based indexes. Options on broad-based stock indexes
provide the Fund with a means of protecting the Fund against the risk of
market-wide price movements. If the Investment Manager anticipates a market
decline, the Fund could purchase a stock index put option. If the expected
market decline materialized, the resulting decrease in the value of the Fund's
portfolio would be offset to the extent of the increase in the value of the put
option. If the Investment Manager anticipates a market rise, the Fund may
purchase a stock index call option to enable the Fund to participate in such
rise until completion of anticipated common stock purchases by the Fund.
Purchases and sales of stock index options also enable the Investment Manager to
more speedily achieve changes in the Fund's equity positions.
The Fund will write put options on stock indexes only if such positions are
covered by cash, U.S. Government securities or other high grade debt obligations
equal to the aggregate exercise price of the puts, or by a put option on the
same stock index with a strike price no lower than the strike price of the put
option sold by the Fund, which cover is held for the Fund in a segregated
account maintained for it by the Fund's Custodian. All call options on stock
indexes written by the Fund will be covered either by a portfolio of stocks
substantially replicating the movement of the index underlying the call option
or by holding a separate call option on the same stock index with a strike price
no higher than the strike price of the call option sold by the Fund.
RISKS OF OPTIONS ON INDEXES. Because exercises of stock index options are
settled in cash, call writers such as the Fund cannot provide in advance for
their potential settlement obligations by acquiring and holding the underlying
securities. A call writer can offset some of the risk of its writing position by
holding a diversified portfolio of stocks similar to those on which the
underlying index is based. However, most investors cannot, as a practical
matter, acquire and hold a portfolio containing exactly the same stocks as the
underlying index, and, as a result, bear a risk that the value of the securities
held will vary from the value of the index. Even if an index call writer could
assemble a stock portfolio that exactly reproduced the composition of the
underlying index, the writer still would not be fully covered from a risk
standpoint because of the "timing risk" inherent in writing index options. When
an index option is exercised, the amount of cash that the holder is entitled to
receive is determined by the difference between the exercise price and the
closing index level on the date when the option is exercised. As with other
kinds of options, the writer will not learn that it has been assigned until the
next business day, at the earliest. The time lag between exercise and notice of
assignment poses no risk for the writer of a covered call on a specific
underlying security, such as a common stock, because there the writer's
obligation is to deliver the underlying security, not to pay its value as of a
fixed time in the past. So long as the writer already owns the underlying
security, it can satisfy its settlement obligations by simply delivering it, and
the risk that its value may have declined since the exercise date is borne by
the exercising holder. In contrast, even if the writer of an index call holds
stocks that exactly match the composition of the underlying index, it will not
be able to satisfy its assignment obligations by delivering those stocks against
payment of the exercise price. Instead, it will be required to pay cash in an
amount based on the closing index value on the exercise date; and by the time it
learns that it has been assigned, the index may have declined with a
corresponding decrease in the value of its stock portfolio. This "timing risk"
is an inherent limitation on the ability of index call writers to cover their
risk exposure by holding stock positions.
A holder of an index option who exercises it before the closing index value
for that day is available runs the risk that the level of the underlying index
may subsequently change. If such a change causes
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the exercised option to fall out-of-the-money, the exercising holder will be
required to pay the difference between the closing index value and the exercise
price of the option (times the applicable multiplier) to the assigned writer.
If dissemination of the current level of an underlying index is interrupted,
or if trading is interrupted in stocks accounting for a substantial portion of
the value of an index, the trading of options on that index will ordinarily be
halted. If the trading of options on an underlying index is halted, an exchange
may impose restrictions prohibiting the exercise of such options.
FUTURES CONTRACTS. As stated in the Prospectus, the Fund may purchase and
sell interest rate and stock index futures contracts ("futures contracts") that
are traded on U.S. commodity exchanges on such underlying securities as U.S.
Treasury bonds, notes, bills and GNMA Certificates ("interest rate" futures) and
such indexes as the S&P 500 Index, the Moody's Investment-Grade Corporate Bond
Index and the New York Stock Exchange Composite Index ("index" futures).
As a futures contract purchaser, the Fund incurs an obligation to take
delivery of a specified amount of the obligation underlying the contract at a
specified time in the future for a specified price. As a seller of a futures
contract, the Fund incurs an obligation to deliver the specified amount of the
underlying obligation at a specified time in return for an agreed upon price.
The Fund will purchase or sell interest rate futures contracts and bond
index futures contracts for the purpose of hedging its fixed-income portfolio
(or anticipated portfolio) against changes in prevailing interest rates and to
alter the Fund's asset allocation in fixed-income securities. If the Investment
Manager anticipates that interest rates may rise and, concomitantly, the price
of fixed-income securities fall, or wishes to decrease the Fund's asset
allocation in fixed-income securities, the Fund may sell an interest rate
futures contract or a bond index futures contract. If declining interest rates
are anticipated or if the Investment Manager wishes to increase the Fund's asset
allocation of fixed-income securities, the Fund may purchase an interest rate
futures contract to protect against a potential increase in the price of U.S.
Government securities the Fund intends to purchase. Subsequently, appropriate
fixed-income securities may be purchased by the Fund in an orderly fashion; as
securities are purchased, corresponding futures positions would be terminated by
offsetting sales of contracts.
The Fund will purchase or sell stock index futures contracts for the purpose
of hedging its equity portfolio (or anticipated portfolio) against changes in
their prices. If the Investment Manager anticipates that the prices of stock
held by the Fund may fall or wishes to decrease the Fund's asset allocation in
equity securities, the Fund may sell a stock index futures contract. Conversely,
if the Investment Manager wishes to increase the Fund's assets which are
invested in stocks or as a hedge against anticipated price rises in those stocks
which the Fund intends to purchase, the Fund may purchase stock index futures
contracts. This allows the Fund to purchase equities, in accordance with the
Investment Manager's asset allocations, in an orderly and efficacious manner. In
addition, interest rate and stock index futures contracts will be bought or sold
in order to close out a short or long position in a corresponding futures
contract.
Although most interest rate futures contracts call for actual delivery or
acceptance of securities, the contracts usually are closed out before the
settlement date without the making or taking of delivery. Stock index futures
contracts provide for the delivery of an amount of cash equal to a specified
dollar amount times the difference between the stock index value at the open or
close of the last trading day of the contract and the futures contract price. A
futures contract sale is closed out by effecting a futures contract purchase for
the same aggregate amount of the specific type of equity security and the same
delivery date. If the sale price exceeds the offsetting purchase price, the
seller would be paid the difference and would realize a gain. If the offsetting
purchase price exceeds the sale price, the seller would pay the difference and
would realize a loss. Similarly, a futures contract purchase is closed out by
effecting a futures contract sale for the same aggregate amount of the specific
type of equity security and the same delivery date. If the offsetting sale price
exceeds the purchase price, the purchaser would realize a gain, whereas if the
purchase price exceeds the offsetting sale price, the purchaser would realize a
loss. There is no assurance that the Fund will be able to enter into a closing
transaction.
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INTEREST RATE FUTURES CONTRACTS. When the Fund enters into an interest rate
futures contract, it is initially required to deposit with the Fund's Custodian,
in a segregated account in the name of the broker performing the transaction,
"an initial margin" of cash or U.S. Government securities or other high grade
short-term obligations equal to approximately 2% of the contract amount. Initial
margin requirements are established by the Exchanges on which futures contracts
trade and may, from time to time, change. In addition, brokers may establish
margin deposit requirements in excess of those required by the Exchanges.
Initial margin in futures transactions is different from margin in
securities transactions in that initial margin does not involve the borrowing of
funds by a brokers' client but is, rather, a good faith deposit on the futures
contract which will be returned to the Fund upon the proper termination of the
futures contract. The margin deposits made are marked-to-market daily and the
Fund may be required to make subsequent deposits of cash or U.S. Government
securities called "variation margin", with the Fund's futures contract clearing
broker, which are reflective of price fluctuations in the futures contract.
Currently, interest rate futures contracts can be purchased on debt securities
such as U.S. Treasury Bills and Bonds, U.S. Treasury Notes with maturities
between 6 1/2 and 10 years, GNMA Certificates and Bank Certificates of Deposit.
INDEX FUTURES CONTRACTS. As discussed in the Prospectus, the Fund may
invest in index futures contracts. An index futures contract sale creates an
obligation by the Fund, as seller, to deliver cash at a specified future time.
An index futures contract purchase would create an obligation by the Fund, as
purchaser, to take delivery of cash at a specified future time. Futures
contracts on indexes do not require the physical delivery of securities, but
provide for a final cash settlement on the expiration date which reflects
accumulated profits and losses credited or debited to each party's account.
The Fund is required to maintain margin deposits with brokerage firms
through which it effects index futures contracts in a manner similar to that
described above for interest rate futures contracts. Currently, the initial
margin requirements range from 3% to 10% of the contract amount for index
futures. In addition, due to current industry practice, daily variations in
gains and losses on open contracts are required to be reflected in cash in the
form of variation margin payments. The Fund may be required to make additional
margin payments during the term of the contract.
At any time prior to expiration of the futures contract, the Fund may elect
to close the position by taking an opposite position which will operate to
terminate the Fund's position in the futures contract. A final determination of
variation margin is then made, additional cash is required to be paid by or
released to the Fund and the Fund realizes a loss or a gain.
Currently, index futures contracts can be purchased or sold with respect to,
among others, the Standard & Poor's 500 Stock Price Index and the Standard &
Poor's 100 Stock Price Index on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, the New York
Stock Exchange Composite Index on the New York Futures Exchange, the Major
Market Index on the American Stock Exchange, the Value Line Stock Index on the
Kansas City Board of Trade and the Moody's Investment-Grade Corporate Bond Index
on the Chicago Board of Trade.
OPTIONS ON FUTURES CONTRACTS. The Fund may purchase and write call and put
options on futures contracts which are traded on an Exchange and enter into
closing transactions with respect to such options to terminate an existing
position. An option on a futures contract gives the purchaser the right (in
return for the premium paid), to assume a position in a futures contract (a long
position if the option is a call and a short position if the option is a put) at
a specified exercise price at any time during the term of the option. Upon
exercise of the option, the delivery of the futures position by the writer of
the option to the holder of the option is accompanied by delivery of the
accumulated balance in the writer's futures margin account, which represents the
amount by which the market price of the futures contract at the time of exercise
exceeds, in the case of a call, or is less than, in the case of a put, the
exercise price of the option on the futures contract.
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The Fund will purchase and write options on futures contracts for identical
purposes to those set forth above for the purchase of a futures contract
(purchase of a call option or sale of a put option) and the sale of a futures
contract (purchase of a put option or sale of a call option), or to close out a
long or short position in futures contracts. If, for example, the Investment
Manager wished to protect against an increase in interest rates and the
resulting negative impact on the value of a portion of its fixed-income
portfolio, it might write a call option on an interest rate futures contract,
the underlying security of which correlates with the portion of the portfolio
the Investment Manager seeks to hedge. Any premiums received in the writing of
options on futures contracts may, of course, augment the total return of the
Fund and thereby provide a further hedge against losses resulting from price
declines in portions of the Fund's portfolio.
The writer of an option on a futures contract is required to deposit initial
and variation margin pursuant to requirements similar to those applicable to
futures contracts. Premiums received from the writing of an option on a futures
contract are included in initial margin deposits.
LIMITATIONS ON FUTURES CONTRACTS AND OPTIONS ON FUTURES. The Fund may not
enter into futures contracts or purchase related options thereon if, immediately
thereafter, the amount committed to margin plus the amount paid for premiums for
unexpired options on futures contracts exceeds 5% of the value of the Fund's
total assets, after taking into account unrealized gains and unrealized losses
on such contracts it has entered into, provided, however, that in the case of an
option that is in-the-money (the exercise price of the call (put) option is less
(more) than the market price of the underlying security) at the time of
purchase, the in-the-money amount may be excluded in calculating the 5%.
However, there is no overall limitation on the percentage of the Fund's assets
which may be subject to a hedge position. In addition, in accordance with the
regulations of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission ("CFTC") under which the
Fund is exempted from registration as a commodity pool operator, the Fund may
only enter into futures contracts and options on futures contracts transactions
for purposes of hedging a part or all of its portfolio. If the CFTC changes its
regulations so that the Fund would be permitted to write options on futures
contracts for purposes other than hedging the Fund's investments without CFTC
registration, the Fund may engage in such transactions for those purposes.
Except as described above, there are no other limitations on the use of futures
and options thereon by the Fund.
RISKS OF TRANSACTIONS IN FUTURES CONTRACTS AND RELATED OPTIONS. As stated
in the prospectus, the Fund may sell a futures contract to protect against the
decline in the value of securities held by the Fund. However, it is possible
that the futures market may advance and the value of securities held in the
portfolio of the Fund may decline. If this occurred, the Fund would lose money
on the futures contract and also experience a decline in value of its portfolio
securities. However, while this could occur for a very brief period or to a very
small degree, over time the value of a diversified portfolio will tend to move
in the same direction as the futures contracts.
If the Fund purchases a futures contract to hedge against the increase in
value of securities it intends to buy, and the value of such securities
decreases, then the Investment Manager may determine not to invest in the
securities as planned and will realize a loss on the futures contract that is
not offset by a reduction in the price of the securities.
In order to assure that the fund is entering into transactions in futures
contracts for hedging purposes as such is defined by the Commodities Futures
Trading Commission either: 1) a substantial majority (i.e., approximately 75%)
of all anticipatory hedge transactions (transactions in which the Fund does not
own at the time of the transaction, but expects to acquire, the securities
underlying the relevant futures contract) involving the purchase of futures
contracts will be completed by the purchase of securities which are the subject
of the hedge or 2) the underlying value of all long positions in futures
contracts will not exceed the total value of: a) all short-term debt obligations
held by the Fund; b) cash held by the Fund; c) cash proceeds due to the Fund on
investments within thirty days; d) the margin deposited on the contracts; and e)
any unrealized appreciation in the value of the contracts.
If the Fund maintains a short position in a futures contract or has sold a
call option on a futures contract, it will cover this position by holding, in a
segregated account maintained at its Custodian, cash,
20
<PAGE>
U.S. Government securities or other high grade debt obligations equal in value
(when added to any initial or variation margin on deposit) to the market value
of the securities underlying the futures contract or the exercise price of the
option. Such a position may also be covered by owning the securities underlying
the futures contract (in the case of a stock index futures contract a portfolio
of securities substantially replicating the relevant index), or by holding a
call option permitting the Fund to purchase the same contract at a price no
higher than the price at which the short position was established.
In addition, if the Fund holds a long position in a futures contract or has
sold a put option on a futures contract, it will hold cash, U.S. Government
securities or other high grade debt obligations equal to the purchase price of
the contract or the exercise price of the put option (less the amount of initial
or variation margin on deposit) in a segregated account maintained for the Fund
by its Custodian. Alternatively, the Fund could cover its long position by
purchasing a put option on the same futures contract with an exercise price as
high or higher than the price of the contract held by the Fund.
Exchanges limit the amount by which the price of a futures contract may move
on any day. If the price moves equal the daily limit on successive days, then it
may prove impossible to liquidate a futures position until the daily limit moves
have ceased. In the event of adverse price movements, the Fund would continue to
be required to make daily cash payments of variation margin on open futures
positions. In such situations, if the Fund has insufficient cash, it may have to
sell portfolio securities to meet daily variation margin requirements at a time
when it may be disadvantageous to do so. In addition, the Fund may be required
to take or make delivery of the instruments underlying interest rate futures
contracts it holds at a time when it is disadvantageous to do so. The inability
to close out options and futures positions could also have an adverse impact on
the Fund's ability to effectively hedge its portfolio.
In the event of the bankruptcy of a broker through which the Fund engages in
transactions in futures or options thereon, the Fund could experience delays
and/or losses in liquidating open positions purchased or sold through the broker
and/or incur a loss of all or part of its margin deposits with the broker.
Similarly, in the event of the bankruptcy of the writer of an OTC option
purchased by the Fund, the Fund could experience a loss of all or part of the
value of the option. Transactions are entered into by the Fund only with brokers
or financial institutions deemed creditworthy by the Investment Manager.
While the futures contracts and options transactions to be engaged in by the
Fund for the purpose of hedging the Fund's portfolio securities are not
speculative in nature, there are risks inherent in the use of such instruments.
One such risk which may arise in employing futures contracts to protect against
the price volatility of portfolio securities is that the prices of securities
and indexes subject to futures contracts (and thereby the futures contract
prices) may correlate imperfectly with the behavior of the cash prices of the
Fund's portfolio securities. Another such risk is that prices of interest rate
futures contracts may not move in tandem with the changes in prevailing interest
rates against which the Fund seeks a hedge. A correlation may also be distorted
by the fact that the futures market is dominated by short-term traders seeking
to profit from the difference between a contract or security price objective and
their cost of borrowed funds. Such distortions are generally minor and would
diminish as the contract approached maturity.
There may exist an imperfect correlation between the price movements of
futures contracts purchased by the Fund and the movements in the prices of the
securities which are the subject of the hedge. If participants in the futures
market elect to close out their contracts through offsetting transactions rather
than meet margin deposit requirements, distortions in the normal relationship
between the debt securities and futures markets could result. Price distortions
could also result if investors in futures contracts opt to make or take delivery
of underlying securities rather than engage in closing transactions due to the
resultant reduction in the liquidity of the futures market. In addition, due to
the fact that, from the point of view of speculators, the deposit requirements
in the futures markets are less onerous than margin requirements in the cash
market, increased participation by speculators in the futures market could cause
temporary price distortions. Due to the possibility of price distortions in the
futures market
21
<PAGE>
and because of the imperfect correlation between movements in the prices of
securities and movements in the prices of futures contracts, a correct forecast
of interest rate trends by the Investment Manager may still not result in a
successful hedging transaction.
There is no assurance that a liquid secondary market will exist for futures
contracts and related options in which the Fund may invest. In the event a
liquid market does not exist, it may not be possible to close out a futures
position, and in the event of adverse price movements, the Fund would continue
to be required to make daily cash payments of variation margin. In addition,
limitations imposed by an exchange or board of trade on which futures contracts
are traded may compel or prevent the Fund from closing out a contract which may
result in reduced gain or increased loss to the Fund. The absence of a liquid
market in futures contracts might cause the Fund to make or take delivery of the
underlying securities at a time when it may be disadvantageous to do so.
The extent to which the Fund may enter into transactions involving futures
contracts and options thereon may be limited by the Internal Revenue Code's
requirements for qualification as a regulated investment company and the Fund's
intention to qualify as such (see "Dividends, Distributions and Taxes" in the
Prospectus).
Compared to the purchase or sale of futures contracts, the purchase of call
or put options on futures contracts involves less potential risk to the Fund
because the maximum amount at risk is the premium paid for the options (plus
transaction costs). However, there may be circumstances when the purchase of a
call or put option on a futures contract would result in a loss to the Fund
notwithstanding that the purchase or sale of a futures contract would not result
in a loss, as in the instance where there is no movement in the prices of the
futures contract or underlying securities.
The Investment Manager has substantial experience in the use of the
investment techniques described above under the heading "Options and Futures
Transactions," which techniques require skills different from those needed to
select the portfolio securities underlying various options and futures
contracts.
INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In addition to the investment restrictions enumerated in the Prospectus, the
investment restrictions listed below have been adopted by the Fund as
fundamental policies, except as otherwise indicated. Under the Act, a
fundamental policy may not be changed without the vote of a majority of the
outstanding voting securities of the Fund, as defined in the Act. Such a
majority is defined 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.
The Fund may not:
1. Invest in securities of any issuer if, to the knowledge of the
Fund, any officer or trustee/ director of the Fund or of the Investment
Manager owns more than 1/2 of 1% of the outstanding securities of such
issuer, and such officers and trustees/directors who own more than 1/2 of 1%
own in the aggregate more than 5% of the outstanding securities of such
issuers.
2. Purchase or sell real estate or interests therein, although the
Fund may purchase securities of issuers which engage in real estate
operations and securities secured by real estate or interests therein.
3. Invest more than 10% of its total assets in "illiquid securities"
(securities for which market quotations are not readily available) and
repurchase agreements which have a maturity of longer than seven days. The
staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") has taken the
position that purchased OTC options and the assets used as "cover" for
written OTC options are illiquid securities and the Fund will treat these
assets as such.
22
<PAGE>
4. Purchase oil, gas or other mineral leases, rights or royalty
contracts or exploration or development programs, except that the Fund may
invest in the securities of companies which operate, invest in, or sponsor
such programs.
5. Purchase securities of other investment companies, except in
connection with a merger, consolidation, reorganization or acquisition of
assets.
6. Borrow money (except insofar as to the Fund may be deemed to have
borrowed by entrance into a reverse repurchase agreement), except that the
Fund may, but not to leverage the Fund's assets, borrow from a bank for
temporary or emergency purposes in amounts not exceeding 5% (taken at the
lower of cost or current value) of its total assets (not including the
amount borrowed).
7. Pledge its assets or assign or otherwise encumber them except to
secure borrowings effected within the limitations set forth in restriction
(6). For the purpose of this restriction, collateral arrangements with
respect to the writing of options and collateral arrangements with respect
to initial or variation margin for futures are not deemed to be pledges of
assets.
8. Issue senior securities as defined in the Act except insofar as
the Fund may be deemed to have issued a senior security by reason of
borrowing money in accordance with restrictions described above.
9. Make loans of money or securities, except: (a) by the purchase of
publicly distributed debt obligations in which the Fund may invest
consistent with its investment objective and policies; (b) by investment in
repurchase agreements; or (c) by lending its portfolio securities.
10. Make short sales of securities.
11. Purchase securities on margin, except for such short-term loans as
are necessary for the clearance of portfolio securities. The deposit or
payment by the Fund of initial or variation margin in connection with
futures contracts or related options thereon is not considered the purchase
of a security on margin.
12. Engage in the underwriting of securities, except insofar as the
Fund may be deemed an underwriter under the Securities Act of 1933 in
disposing of a portfolio security.
13. Invest for the purpose of exercising control or management of any
other issuer.
If a percentage restriction is adhered to at the time of investment, a later
increase or decrease in percentage resulting from a change in values of
portfolio securities or amount of total or net assets will not be considered a
violation of any of the foregoing restrictions.
PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS AND BROKERAGE
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subject to the general supervision of the Board of 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. Purchases and sales of securities
on a stock exchange are effected through brokers who charge a commission for
their services. In the over-the-counter market, securities are generally traded
on a "net" basis with dealers acting as principal for their own accounts without
a stated commission, although the price of the security usually includes a
profit to the dealer. The Fund 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.
Options and futures transactions will usually be effected through a broker and a
commission will be charged. 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 July 31, 1992, 1993 and
1994, the Fund paid a total of $534,026, $957,175 and $627,783, respectively, in
brokerage commissions.
23
<PAGE>
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 adviser 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, the main
factors considered are 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.
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. Consistent with this
policy, when securities transactions are effected on a stock exchange, the
Fund's policy is to pay commissions which are considered fair and reasonable
without necessarily determining that the lowest possible commissions are paid in
all circumstances. The Fund believes that a requirement always to seek the
lowest possible commission cost could impede effective portfolio management and
preclude the Fund and the Investment Manager from obtaining a high quality of
brokerage and research services. In seeking to determine the reasonableness of
brokerage commissions paid in any transaction, the Investment Manager relies
upon its experience and knowledge regarding commissions generally charged by
various brokers and on its judgment in evaluating the brokerage and research
services received from the broker effecting the transaction. Such determinations
are necessarily subjective and imprecise, as in most cases an exact dollar value
for those services is not ascertainable.
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 such 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. Such services
may include, but are not limited to, any one or more of the following:
information as to the availability of securities for purchase or sale;
statistical or factual information or opinions pertaining to investment; wire
services; and appraisals or evaluations of portfolio securities. During the
fiscal year ended July 31, 1994, the Fund directed the payment of $506,433 in
brokerage commissions in connection with transactions in the aggregate amount of
$311,966,790 to brokers because of research services provided.
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 management fee paid to the Investment
Manager is not reduced by any amount that may be attributable to the value of
such services.
Pursuant to an order of the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Fund may
effect principal transactions in certain money market instruments with DWR. The
Fund will limit such transactions with DWR to U.S. Government and Government
Agency Securities, Bank Money Instruments (i.e., Certificates of Deposit and
Bankers' Acceptances) and Commercial Paper. Such transactions will be effected
with DWR only when the price available from DWR is better than that available
from other dealers.
Consistent with the policy described above, brokerage transactions in
securities listed on exchanges or admitted to unlisted trading privileges may be
effected through DWR. In order for DWR to effect any portfolio transactions for
the Fund, the commissions, fees or other remuneration received by DWR 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 DWR to receive
24
<PAGE>
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
Board of Trustees of the Fund, including a majority of the Trustees who are not
"interested" persons of the Fund, as defined in the Act, have adopted procedures
which are reasonably designed to provide that any commissions, fees or other
remuneration paid to DWR are consistent with the foregoing standard. During the
fiscal years ended July 31, 1992, 1993 and 1994, the Fund paid a total of
$132,675, $194,939 and $22,810, respectively, in brokerage commissions to DWR.
The brokerage commissions paid to DWR represented approximately 3.63% of the
total brokerage commissions paid by the Fund for the fiscal year ended July 31,
1994 and were paid on account of transactions having an aggregate dollar value
equal to approximately 5.47% of the aggregate dollar value of all portfolio
transactions of the Fund during the period for which commissions were paid.
During the fiscal year ended July 31, 1994, the Fund purchased bonds issued
by Morgan Stanley Group Inc., Lehman Brothers Inc. and PaineWebber Group Inc.,
which issuers 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 July 31, 1994, the Fund held bonds issued by Morgan Stanley Group Inc.,
Lehman Brothers Inc. and PaineWebber Group Inc. with market values of
$4,440,000, $5,491,650 and $4,506,450, respectively.
THE DISTRIBUTOR
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
As discussed in the Prospectus, shares of the Fund are distributed by Dean
Witter Distributors Inc. (the "Distributor"). The Distributor has entered into a
selected dealer agreement with DWR, which through its own sales organization
sells shares of the Fund. In addition, the Distributor may enter into selected
dealer agreements with other selected broker-dealers. The Distributor, a
Delaware corporation, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of DWDC. The Trustees of the
Fund, including a majority of the Trustees who are not, and were not at the time
they voted, interested persons of the Fund, as defined in the Act (the
"Independent Trustees"), approved, at their meeting held on October 30, 1992,
the current Distribution Agreement appointing the Distributor exclusive
distributor of the Fund's shares and providing for the Distributor to bear
distribution expenses not borne by the Fund. The present Distribution Agreement
is substantively identical to the Fund's previous distribution agreements. The
Distribution Agreement took effect on June 30, 1993 upon the spin-off by Sears,
Roebuck and Co. of its remaining shares of DWDC. By its terms, the Distribution
Agreement had an initial term ending April 30, 1994, and provides that it will
remain in effect from year to year thereafter if approved by the Trustees. At
their meeting held on April 8, 1994, the Trustees, including all of the
Independent Trustees, approved the continuation of the Agreement until April 30,
1995.
The Distributor bears all expenses it may incur in providing services under
the Distribution Agreement. Such expenses include the payment of commissions for
sales of the Fund's shares and incentive compensation to account executives. 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. The Fund and the Distributor
have agreed to indemnify each other against certain liabilities, including
liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. Under the Distribution
Agreement, the Distributor uses its best efforts in rendering services to the
Fund, but in the absence of willful misfeasance, bad faith, 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 judgement or mistake of law or for
any act or omission or for any losses sustained by the Fund or its shareholders.
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<PAGE>
Plan of Distribution
To compensate the Distributor for the services it provides and for the
expenses it bears under the Distribution Agreement, the Fund has adopted a Plan
of Distribution pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Act (the "Plan"), pursuant to
which the Fund pays the Distributor compensation accrued daily and payable
monthly at the annual rate of (i) 1.0% of the lesser of: (a) the average daily
aggregate gross sales of the Fund's shares since the implementation of the Plan
on November 8, 1989 (not including reinvestments of dividends or capital gains
distributions), less the average daily aggregate net asset value of the Fund's
shares redeemed since the Plan's implementation upon which a contingent deferred
sales charge has been imposed or upon which such charge has been waived, or (b)
the average daily net assets of the Fund attributable to shares issued, net of
related shares redeemed, since the implementation of the Plan; plus (ii) 0.25%
of the Fund's average daily net assets attributable to shares issued, net of
related shares redeemed, prior to implementation of the Plan. The Distributor
also receives the proceeds of contingent deferred sales charges imposed on
certain redemptions of shares, which are separate and apart from payments made
pursuant to the Plan (see "Redemptions and Repurchases--Contingent Deferred
Sales Charge" in the Prospectus). The Distributor has informed the Fund that it
and/or DWR received approximately $464,000, $836,000, and $1,294,000 in
contingent deferred sales charges for the fiscal years ended July 30, 1992, 1993
and 1994, respectively, none of which was retained by the Distributor.
The Distributor has informed the Fund that a portion of the fees payable by
the Fund each year pursuant to the Plan equal to 0.25% of the Fund's average
daily net assets is characterized as a "service fee" under the Rules of Fair
Practice of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (of which the
Distributor is a member). Such portion of the fee is a payment made for personal
service and/or the maintenance of shareholder accounts. The remaining portion of
the Plan fees payable by the Fund is characterized as an "asset-based sales
charge" as such is defined by the aforementioned Rules of Fair Practice.
The Plan was adopted by a majority vote of the Trustees, including all of
the Trustees who are not "interested persons" of the Fund (as defined in the
Act) and who had or have no direct or indirect financial interest in the
operation of the Plan (the "Independent 12b-1 Trustees"), cast in person at a
meeting called for the purpose of voting on the Plan, on July 27, 1989, and by
the shareholders holding a majority, as defined in the Act, of the outstanding
shares of the Fund, at the Fund's Special Meeting of Shareholders held on
November 8, 1989. The Plan amended and restated the Fund's initial Plan of
Distribution which had been in effect from August 26, 1988 through November 7,
1989.
At their meeting held on October 30, 1992, the Trustees of the Fund,
including all of the Independent 12b-1 Trustees, approved certain amendments to
the Plan which took effect in January, 1993 and were designed to reflect the
fact that upon the reorganization described above the share distribution
activities theretofore performed for the Fund by DWR were assumed by the
Distributor and DWR's sales activities are now being performed pursuant to the
terms of a selected dealer agreement between the Distributor and DWR. The
amendments provide that payments under the Plan will be made to the Distributor
rather than to DWR as before the amendment, and that the Distributor in turn is
authorized to make payments to DWR, its affiliates or other selected
broker-dealers (or direct that the Fund pay such entities directly). The
Distributor is also authorized to retain part of such fee as compensation for
its own distribution-related expenses. At their meeting held on April 28, 1993,
the Trustees, including a majority of the Independent 12b-1 Trustees, also
approved certain technical amendments to the Plan in connection with amendments
adopted by the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. to its Rules of
Fair Practice.
Under the Plan and as required by Rule 12b-1, the Trustees receive and
review promptly after the end of each fiscal quarter a written report provided
by the Distributor of the amounts expended by the Distributor under the Plan and
the purpose for which such expenditures were made. The Fund accrued amounts
payable to DWR and the Distributor under the Plan, during the fiscal year ended
July 31, 1994,
26
<PAGE>
of $7,177,296. This amount is equal to 0.88% of the Fund's average daily net
assets for the fiscal year and was calculated pursuant to clauses (i)(a) and
(ii) of the compensation formula under the Plan. This amount is treated by the
Fund as an expense in the year it is accrued.
The Plan was adopted in order to permit the implementation of the Fund's
method of distribution. Under this distribution method, shares of the Fund are
sold without a sales load being deducted at the time of purchase, so that the
full amount of an investor's purchase payment will be invested in shares without
any deduction for sales charges. Shares of the Fund may be subject to a
contingent deferred sales charge, payable to the Distributor, if redeemed during
the six years after their purchase. DWR compensates its account executives by
paying them, from its own funds, commissions for the sale of the Fund's shares,
currently a gross sales credit of up to 5% of the amount sold and an annual
residual commission of up to 0.25 of 1% of the current value (not including
reinvested dividends or distributions) of the amount sold. The gross sales
credit is a charge which reflects commissions paid by DWR to its account
executives and DWR's Fund associated distribution-related expenses, including
sales compensation, and overhead and other branch office distribution-related
expenses including: (a) the expenses of operating DWR's branch offices in
connection with the sale of Fund shares, including lease costs, the salaries and
employee benefits of operations and sales support personnel, utility costs,
communications costs and the costs of stationery and supplies, (b) the costs of
client sales seminars, (c) travel expenses of mutual fund sales coordinators to
promote the sale of Fund shares and (d) other expenses relating to branch
promotion of Fund share sales. The distribution fee that the Distributor
receives from the Fund under the Plan, in effect, offsets distribution expenses
incurred on behalf of the Fund and opportunity costs, such as the gross sales
credit and an assumed interest charge thereon ("carrying charge"). In the
Distributor's reporting of the distribution expenses to the Fund, such assumed
interest (computed at the "broker's call rate") has been calculated on the gross
sales credit as it is reduced by amounts received by the Distributor under the
Plan and any contingent deferred sales charges received by the Distributor upon
redemption of shares of the Fund. No other interest charge is included as a
distribution expense in the Distributor's calculation of distribution costs for
this purpose. The broker's call rate is the interest rate charged to securities
brokers on loans secured by exchange-listed securities.
The Fund paid 100% of the $7,177,296 accrued under the Plan for the fiscal
year ended July 31, 1994 to the Distributor. The Distributor and DWR estimate
that they have spent, pursuant to the Plan, $45,800,589 on behalf of the Fund
since the inception of the Fund. It is estimated that this amount was spent in
approximately the following ways: (i) 3.29% ($1,508,632)--advertising and
promotional expenses; (ii) 0.40% ($185,268) printing of prospectuses for
distribution to other than current shareholders; and (iii) 96.31%
($44,106,689)--other expenses, including the gross sales credit and the carrying
charge, of which 4.82% ($2,126,535) represents carrying charges, 37.94%
($16,733,289) represents commission credits to DWR branch offices for payments
of commissions to account executives and 57.24% ($25,246,865) represents
overhead and other branch office distribution-related expenses.
At any given time, the expenses in distributing shares of the Fund may be
more or less than the total of (i) the payments made by the Fund pursuant to the
Plan and (ii) the proceeds of contingent deferred sales charges paid by
investors upon redemption of shares. The Distributor has advised the Fund that
such excess amount, including the carrying charge designed to approximate the
opportunity costs incurred by DWR which arise from it having advanced monies
without having received the amount of any sales charges imposed at the time of
sale of the Fund's shares, totalled $25,663,533 as of July 31, 1994. Because
there is no requirement under the Plan that the Distributor be reimbursed for
all expenses or any requirement that the Plan be continued from year to year,
this excess amount does not constitute a liability of the Fund. Although there
is no legal obligation for the Fund to pay distribution expenses in excess of
payments made to the Distributor under the Plan and the proceeds of contingent
deferred sales charges paid by investors upon redemption of shares, if for any
reason the Plan is terminated, the Trustees will consider at that time the
manner in which to treat such expenses. Any cumulative expenses incurred, but
not yet recovered through distribution fees or contingent deferred sales
charges, may or may not be recovered through future distribution fees or
contingent deferred sales charges.
27
<PAGE>
No interested person of the Fund or any Trustee of the Fund who is not an
interested person of the Fund, as defined in the Act, had any direct or indirect
financial interest in the operation of the Plan except to the extent that the
Distributor, InterCapital, DWR or certain of their employees may be deemed to
have such 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.
Under its terms, the Plan remained in effect until April 30, 1990, and will
continue from year to year thereafter, provided such continuance is approved
annually by a vote of the Trustees in the manner described above. Most recent
continuance of the Plan for one year, until April 30, 1995, was approved by the
Trustees of the Fund, including a majority of the Independent 12b-1 Trustees, at
a meeting of the Trustees held on April 8, 1994. Prior to approving the
continuation of the Plan, the Trustees requested and received from the
Distributor and reviewed all 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; 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 of the Fund, including each of the Independent 12b-1
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 of the shareholders of the
Fund, and all material amendments of 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 Trustees who are
not interested persons of the Fund and who have no direct or indirect financial
interest in the operation of the Plan, or by a vote of a majority of the
outstanding voting securities of the Fund (as defined in the Act) on not more
than thirty days' written notice to any other party to the Plan. The Plan will
automatically terminate in the event of its assignment (as defined in the Act).
So long as the Plan is in effect, the election and nomination of Independent
12b-1 Trustees shall be committed to the discretion of the Independent 12b-1
Trustees.
Determination of Net Asset Value
As stated in the Prospectus, short-term securities with remaining maturities
of sixty days or less at the time of purchase are valued at amortized cost,
unless the Trustees determine such does not reflect the securities' market
value, in which case these securities will be valued at their fair value as
determined by the Trustees. Other short-term debt securities will be valued on a
mark-to-market basis until such time as they reach a remaining maturity of sixty
days, whereupon they will be valued at amortized cost using their value on the
61st day unless the Trustees determine such does not reflect the securities'
market value, in which case these securities will be valued at their fair value
as determined by the Trustees. Listed options on debt securities are valued at
the latest sale price on the exchange on which they are listed unless no sales
of such options have taken place that day, in which case they will be valued at
the mean between their latest bid and asked prices. Unlisted options on debt
securities and all options on equity securities are valued at the mean between
their latest bid and asked prices. Futures are valued at the latest sale price
on the commodities exchange on which they trade unless the Trustees determine
such price does not reflect their market value, in which case they will be
valued at their fair value as determined by the Trustees. All other securities
and other assets are valued at their fair value as determined in good faith
under procedures established by and under the supervision of the Trustees.
The net asset value per share of the Fund is determined once daily at 4:00
p.m. New York time on each day that the New York Stock Exchange is open by
taking the value of all assets of the Fund,
28
<PAGE>
subtracting its liabilities, dividing by the number of shares outstanding and
adjusting to the nearest cent. The New York Stock Exchange currently observes
the following holidays: New Year's Day, Presidents' Day, Good Friday, Memorial
Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day.
SHAREHOLDER SERVICES
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Upon the purchase of shares of the Fund, a Shareholder Investment Account is
opened for the investor on the books of the Fund and maintained by Dean Witter
Trust Company (the "Transfer Agent"). This is an open account in which shares
owned by the investor are credited by the Transfer Agent in lieu of issuance of
a share certificate. If a share certificate is desired, it must be requested in
writing for each transaction. Certificates are issued only for full shares and
may be redeposited in the account at any time. There is no charge to the
investor for issuance of a certificate. Whenever a shareholder-instituted
transaction takes place in the Shareholder Investment Account, the shareholder
will be mailed a confirmation of the transaction from the Fund or from DWR or
other selected broker-dealer.
AUTOMATIC INVESTMENT OF DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS. As stated in the
Prospectus, all income dividends and capital gains distributions are
automatically paid in full and fractional shares of the Fund, unless the
shareholder requests that they be paid in cash. Each purchase of shares of the
Fund is made upon the condition that the Transfer Agent is thereby automatically
appointed as agent of the investor to receive all dividends and capital gains
distributions on shares owned by the investor. Such dividends and distributions
will be paid, at the net asset value per share, in shares of the Fund (or in
cash if the shareholder so requests) as of the close of business on the record
date. At any time an investor may request the Transfer Agent, in writing, to
have subsequent dividends and/or capital gains distributions paid to him or her
in cash rather than shares. To assure sufficient time to process the change,
such request should be received by the Transfer Agent at least five business
days prior to the record date of the dividend or distribution. In the case of
recently purchased shares for which registration instructions have not been
received on the record date, cash payments will be made to DWR or the other
selected broker-dealer, and will be forwarded to the shareholder, upon the
receipt of proper instructions.
TARGETED DIVIDENDS.-SM- In states where it is legally permissible,
shareholders may also have all income dividends and capital gains distributions
automatically invested in shares of a Dean Witter Fund other than Dean Witter
Strategist Fund. Such investment will be made as described above for automatic
investment in shares of the Fund, at the net asset value per share of the
selected Dean Witter Fund as of the close of business on the payment date of the
dividend or distribution and will begin to earn dividends, if any, in the
selected Dean Witter Fund the next business day. To participate in the Targeted
Dividends program, shareholders should contact their DWR or other selected
broker-dealer account executive or the Transfer Agent. Shareholders of the Fund
must be shareholders of the Dean Witter Fund targeted to receive investments
from dividends at the time they enter the Targeted Dividends program. Investors
should review the prospectus of the targeted Dean Witter Fund before entering
the program.
EASYINVEST.-SM- Shareholders may subscribe to EasyInvest, an automatic
purchase plan which provides for any amount from $100 to $5,000 to be
transferred automatically from a checking or savings account, on a semi-monthly,
monthly or quarterly basis, to the Transfer Agent for investment in shares of
the Fund. Shares purchased through EasyInvest will be added to the shareholder's
existing account at the net asset value calculated the same business day the
transfer of funds is effected. For further information or to subscribe to
EasyInvest, shareholders should contact their DWR or other selected
broker-dealer account executive or the Transfer Agent.
INVESTMENT OF DIVIDENDS OR DISTRIBUTIONS RECEIVED IN CASH. As discussed in
the Prospectus, any shareholder who receives a cash payment representing a
dividend or capital gains distribution may invest such dividend or distribution
at net asset value, without the imposition of a contingent deferred sales charge
upon redemption, by returning the check or the proceeds to the Transfer Agent
within thirty days after the payment date. If the shareholder returns the
proceeds of a dividend or distribution, such
29
<PAGE>
funds must be accompanied by a signed statement indicating that the proceeds
constitute a dividend or distribution to be invested. Such investment will be
made at the net asset value per share next determined after receipt of the check
or the proceeds by the Transfer Agent.
SYSTEMATIC WITHDRAWAL PLAN. As discussed in the Prospectus, a systematic
withdrawal plan (the "Withdrawal Plan") is available for shareholders who own or
purchase shares of the Fund having a minimum value of $10,000 based upon the
then current net asset value. The Withdrawal Plan provides for monthly or
quarterly (March, June, September and December) checks in any dollar amount, not
less than $25, or in any whole percentage of the account balance, on an
annualized basis. Any applicable contingent deferred sales charge will be
imposed on shares redeemed under the Withdrawal Plan (see "Redemptions and
Repurchases--Contingent Deferred Sales Charge" in the Prospectus). Therefore,
any shareholder participating in the Withdrawal Plan will have sufficient shares
redeemed from his or her account so that the proceeds (net of any applicable
contingent deferred sales charge) to the shareholder will be the designated
monthly or quarterly amount.
The Transfer Agent acts as agent for the shareholder in tendering to the
Fund for redemption sufficient full and fractional shares to provide the amount
of the periodic withdrawal payment designated in the application. The shares
will be redeemed at their net asset value determined, at the shareholder's
option, on the tenth or twenty-fifth day (or next following business day) of the
relevant month or quarter and normally a check for the proceeds will be mailed
by the Transfer Agent, or amounts credited to a shareholder's DWR or other
selected broker-dealer brokerage account, within five business days after the
date of redemption. The Withdrawal Plan may be terminated at any time by the
Fund.
Withdrawal Plan payments should not be considered as dividends, yields or
income. If periodic withdrawal plan payments continuously exceed net investment
income and net capital gains, the shareholder's original investment will be
correspondingly reduced and ultimately exhausted.
Each withdrawal constitutes a redemption of shares and any gain or loss
realized must be recognized for federal income tax purposes. Although the
shareholder may make additional investments of $2,500 or more under the
Withdrawal Plan, withdrawals made concurrently with purchases of additional
shares may be inadvisable because of the contingent deferred sales charge
applicable to the redemption of shares purchased during the preceding six years
(see "Redemptions and Repurchases-- Contingent Deferred Sales Charge").
Any shareholder who wishes to have payments under the Withdrawal Plan made
to a third party or sent to an address other than the one listed on the account
must send complete written instructions to the Transfer Agent to enroll in the
Withdrawal Plan. The shareholder's signature on such instructions must be
guaranteed by an eligible guarantor acceptable to the Transfer Agent
(shareholders should contact the Transfer Agent for a determination as to
whether a particular institution is such an eligible guarantor). A shareholder
may, at any time, change the amount and interval of withdrawal payments through
his or her account executive or by written notification to the Transfer Agent.
In addition, the party and/or the address to which checks are mailed may be
changed by written notification to the Transfer Agent, with signature guarantees
required in the manner described above. The shareholder may also terminate the
Withdrawal Plan at any time by written notice to the Transfer Agent. In the
event of such termination, the account will be continued as a regular
shareholder investment account. The shareholder may also redeem all or part of
the shares held in the Withdrawal Plan account (see "Redemptions and
Repurchases" in the Prospectus) at any time. Shareholders wishing to enroll in
the Withdrawal Plan should contact their account executive or the Transfer
Agent.
DIRECT INVESTMENT THROUGH TRANSFER AGENT. As discussed in the Prospectus, a
shareholder may make additional investments in Fund shares at any time by
sending a check in any amount, not less than $100, payable to Dean Witter
Strategist Fund, directly to the Fund's Transfer Agent. Such amounts will be
applied to the purchase of Fund shares at the net asset value per share next
computed after receipt of the check or purchase payment by the Transfer Agent.
The shares so purchased will be credited to the investor's account.
30
<PAGE>
TAX-SHELTERED RETIREMENT PLANS. Retirement plans are available for use by
corporations, the self-employed, Individual Retirement Accounts and Custodial
Accounts under Section 403(b)(7) of the Internal Revenue Code. Adoption of such
plans should be on advice of legal counsel or tax adviser.
For further information regrading plan administration, custodial fees and
other details, investors should contact their DWR or other selected
broker-dealer account executive or the Transfer Agent.
Exchange Privilege
As discussed in the Prospectus, the Fund makes available to its shareholders
an Exchange Privilege whereby shareholders of the Fund may exchange their shares
for shares of other Dean Witter Funds sold with a contingent deferred sales
charge ("CDSC funds"), and for shares of Dean Witter Short-Term U.S. Treasury
Trust, Dean Witter Limited Term Municipal Trust, Dean Witter Short-Term Bond
Fund and five Dean Witter Funds which are money market funds (the foregoing
eight non-CDSC funds are hereinafter referred to as the "Exchange Funds").
Exchanges may be made after the shares of the Fund acquired by purchase (not by
exchange or dividend reinvestment) have been held for thirty days. There is no
waiting period for exchanges of shares acquired by exchange or dividend
reinvestment. An exchange will be treated for federal income tax purposes the
same as a repurchase or redemption of shares, on which the shareholder may
realize a capital gain or loss.
Any new account established through the Exchange Privilege will have the
same registration and cash dividend or dividend reinvestment plan as the present
account, unless the Transfer Agent receives written notification to the
contrary. For telephone exchanges, the exact registration of the existing
account and the account number must be provided.
Any shares held in certificate form cannot be exchanged but must be
forwarded to the Transfer Agent and deposited into the shareholder's account
before being eligible for exchange. (Certificates mailed in for deposit should
not be endorsed.)
As described below, and in the Prospectus under the captions "Exchange
Privilege" and "Contingent Deferred Sales Charge", a contingent deferred sales
charge ("CDSC") may be imposed upon a redemption, depending on a number of
factors, including the number of years from the time of purchase until the time
of redemption or exchange ("holding period"). When shares of the Fund or any
other CDSC fund are exchanged for shares of an Exchange Fund, the exchange is
executed at no charge to the shareholder, without the imposition of the CDSC at
the time of the exchange. During the period of time the shareholder remains in
the Exchange Fund (calculated from the last day of the month in which the
Exchange Fund shares were acquired), the holding period or "year since purchase
payment made" is frozen. When shares are redeemed out of the Exchange Fund, they
will be subject to a CDSC which would be based upon the period of time the
shareholder held shares in a CDSC fund. However, in the case of shares exchanged
into an Exchange Fund on or after April 23, 1990, upon a redemption of shares
which results in a CDSC being imposed, a credit (not to exceed the amount of the
CDSC) will be given in an amount equal to the Exchange Fund 12b-1 distribution
fees, if any, incurred on or after that date which are attributable to those
shares. Shareholders acquiring shares of an Exchange Fund pursuant to this
exchange privilege may exchange those shares back into a CDSC fund from the
Exchange Fund, with no CDSC being imposed on such exchange. The holding period
previously frozen when shares were first exchanged for shares of the Exchange
Fund resumes on the last day of the month in which shares of a CDSC fund are
reacquired. A CDSC is imposed only upon an ultimate redemption, based upon the
time (calculated as described above) the shareholder was invested in a CDSC
fund.
In addition, shares of the Fund may be acquired in exchange for shares of
Dean Witter Funds sold with a front-end sales charge ("front-end sales charge
funds"), but shares of the Fund, however acquired, may not be exchanged for
shares of front-end sales charge funds. Shares of a CDSC fund acquired in
exchange for shares of a front-end sales charge fund (or in exchange for shares
of other Dean Witter Funds for which shares of a front-end sales charge fund
have been exchanged) are not subject to any CDSC upon their redemption.
31
<PAGE>
When shares initially purchased in a CDSC fund are exchanged for shares of
another CDSC fund, or for shares of an Exchange Fund, the date of purchase of
the shares of the fund exchanged into, for purposes of the CDSC upon redemption,
will be the last day of the month in which the shares being exchanged were
originally purchased. In allocating the purchase payments between funds for
purposes of the CDSC, the amount which represents the current net asset value of
shares at the time of the exchange which were (i) purchased more than three or
six years (depending on the CDSC schedule applicable to the shares) prior to the
exchange, (ii) originally acquired through reinvestment of dividends or
distributions and (iii) acquired in exchange for shares of front-end sales
charge funds, or for shares of other Dean Witter Funds for which shares of
front-end sales charge funds have been exchanged (all such shares called "Free
Shares"), will be exchanged first. Shares of the Fund acquired prior to November
8, 1989, shares of Dean Witter American Value Fund acquired prior to April 30,
1984, and shares of Dean Witter Dividend Growth Securities Inc. and Dean Witter
Natural Resource Development Securities Inc. acquired prior to July 2, 1984, are
also considered Free Shares and will be the first Free Shares to be exchanged.
After an exchange, all dividends earned on shares in an Exchange Fund will be
considered Free Shares. If the exchanged amount exceeds the value of such Free
Shares, an exchange is made, on a block-by-block basis, of non-Free Shares held
for the longest period of time (except that if shares held for identical periods
of time but subject to different CDSC schedules are held in the same Exchange
Privilege account, the shares of that block that are subject to a lower CDSC
rate will be exchanged prior to the shares of that block that are subject to a
higher CDSC rate). Shares equal to any appreciation in the value of non-Free
Shares exchanged will be treated as Free Shares, and the amount of the purchase
payments for the non-Free Shares of the fund exchanged into will be equal to the
lesser of (a) the purchase payments for, or (b) the current net asset value of,
the exchanged non-Free Shares. If an exchange between funds would result in
exchange of only part of a particular block of non-Free Shares, then shares
equal to any appreciation in the value of the block (up to the amount of the
exchange) will be treated as Free Shares and exchanged first, and the purchase
payment for that block will be allocated on a pro rata basis between the
non-Free Shares of that block to be retained and the non-Free Shares to be
exchanged. The prorated amount of such purchase payment attributable to the
retained non-Free Shares will remain as the purchase payment for such shares,
and the amount of purchase payment for the exchanged non-Free Shares will be
equal to the lesser of (a) the prorated amount of the purchase payment for, or
(b) the current net asset value of, those exchanged non-Free Shares. Based upon
the procedures described in the Prospectus under the caption "Contingent
Deferred Sales Charge", any applicable CDSC will be imposed upon the ultimate
redemption of shares of any fund, regardless of the number of exchanges since
those shares were originally purchased.
The Transfer Agent acts as agent for shareholders of the Fund in effecting
redemptions of Fund shares and in applying the proceeds to the purchase of other
fund shares. In the absence of negligence on its part, neither the Transfer
Agent nor the Fund shall be liable for any redemption of Fund shares caused by
unauthorized telephone instructions. Accordingly, in such an event the investor
shall bear the risk of loss. The staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission
is currently considering the propriety of such a policy.
With respect to the redemption or repurchase of shares of the Fund, the
application of proceeds to the purchase of new shares in the Fund or any other
of the funds and the general administration of the Exchange Privilege, the
Transfer Agent acts as agent for the Distributor and for the shareholder's
selected 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 selected
broker-dealer.
The Distributor and any selected broker-dealer have authorized and 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
fund and the general administration of the Exchange Privilege. No commission or
discounts will be paid to the Distributor or any selected broker-dealer for any
transactions pursuant to this Exchange Privilege.
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<PAGE>
Exchanges are subject to the minimum investment requirement and any other
conditions imposed by each fund. (The minimum initial investment is $5,000 for
Dean Witter Liquid Asset Fund Inc., Dean Witter Tax-Free Daily Income Trust,
Dean Witter New York Municipal Money Market Trust and Dean Witter California
Tax-Free Daily Income Trust, although those funds may, at their discretion,
accept initial investments of as low as $1,000. The minimum initial investment
is $10,000 for Dean Witter Short-Term U.S. Treasury Trust although that fund
may, in its discretion, accept initial investments as low as $5,000. The minimum
initial investment for all other Dean Witter Funds for which the Exchange
Privilege is available is $1,000.) Upon exchange into an Exchange Fund, the
shares of that fund will be held in a special Exchange Privilege Account
separately from accounts of those shareholders who have acquired their shares
directly from that fund. As a result, certain services normally available to
shareholders of those funds, including the check writing feature, will not be
available for funds held in that account.
The Fund and each of the other Dean Witter Funds may limit the number of
times this Exchange Privilege may be exercised by any investor within a
specified period of time. Also, the Exchange Privilege may be terminated or
revised at any time by the Fund and/or any of the Dean Witter Funds for which
shares of the Fund have been exchanged, upon such notice as may be required by
applicable regulatory agencies (presently sixty days' prior written notice for
termination or material revision), provided that six months' prior written
notice of termination will be given to the shareholders who hold shares of
Exchange Funds pursuant to the Exchange Privilege, and provided further that the
Exchange Privilege may be terminated or materially revised without notice at
times (a) when the New York Stock Exchange is closed for other than customary
weekends and holidays, (b) when trading on that Exchange is restricted, (c) when
an emergency exists as a result of which disposal by the Fund of securities
owned by it is not reasonably practicable or it is not reasonably practicable
for the Fund fairly to determine the value of its net assets, (d) during any
other period when the Securities and Exchange Commission by order so permits
(provided that applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange
Commission shall govern as to whether the conditions prescribed in (b) or (c)
exist) or (e) if the Fund would be unable to invest amounts effectively in
accordance with its investment objective(s), policies and restrictions.
For further information regarding the Exchange Privilege, shareholders
should contact their DWR or other selected broker-dealer account executive or
the Transfer Agent.
REDEMPTIONS AND REPURCHASES
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
REDEMPTION. As stated in the Prospectus, shares of the Fund can be redeemed
for cash at any time at the net asset value per share next determined; however,
such redemption proceeds may be reduced by the amount of any applicable
contingent deferred sales charges (see below). If shares are held in a
shareholder's account without a share certificate, a written request for
redemption to the Fund's Transfer Agent at P.O. Box 983, Jersey City, NJ 07303
is required. If certificates are held by the shareholder, the shares may be
redeemed by surrendering the certificates with a written request for redemption.
The share certificate, or an accompanying stock power, and the request for
redemption, must be signed by the shareholder or shareholders exactly as the
shares are registered. Each request for redemption, whether or not accompanied
by a share certificate, must be sent to the Fund's Transfer Agent, which will
redeem the shares at their net asset value next computed (see "Purchase of Fund
Shares") after it receives the request, and certificate, if any, in good order.
Any redemption request received after such computation will be redeemed at the
next determined net asset value. The term "good order" means that the share
certificate, if any, and request for redemption are properly signed, accompanied
by any documentation required by the Transfer Agent, and bear signature
guarantees when required by the Fund or the Transfer Agent. If redemption is
requested by a corporation, partnership, trust or fiduciary, the Transfer Agent
may require that written evidence of authority acceptable to the Transfer Agent
be submitted before such request is accepted.
Whether certificates are held by the shareholder or shares are held in a
shareholder's account, if the proceeds are to be paid to any person other than
the record owner, or if the proceeds are to be paid to a corporation (other than
the Distributor or a selected broker-dealer for the account of the shareholder),
33
<PAGE>
partnership, trust or fiduciary, or sent to the shareholder at an address other
than the registered address, signatures must be guaranteed by an eligible
guarantor. A stock power may be obtained from any dealer or commercial bank. The
Fund may change the signature guarantee requirements from time to time upon
notice to shareholders, which may be by means of a new prospectus.
CONTINGENT DEFERRED SALES CHARGE. As stated in the Prospectus, a contingent
deferred sales charge ("CDSC") will be imposed on any redemption by an investor
if after such redemption the current value of the investor's shares of the Fund
is less than the dollar amount of all payments by the shareholder for the
purchase of Fund shares during the preceding six years, but after the
implementation of the Plan on November 8, 1989 (see "The Distributor--Plan of
Distribution"). However, no CDSC will be imposed to the extent that the net
asset value of the shares redeemed does not exceed: (a) the current net asset
value of shares purchased more than six years prior to the redemption or prior
to the implementation of the Plan, plus (b) the current net asset value of
shares purchased through reinvestment of dividends or distributions of the Fund
or another Dean Witter Fund (see "Shareholder Services--Targeted Dividends"),
plus (c) the current net asset value of shares acquired in exchange for (i)
shares of Dean Witter front-end sales charge funds, or (ii) shares of other Dean
Witter Funds for which shares of front-end sales charge funds have been
exchanged (see "Shareholder Services--Exchange Privilege"), plus (d) increases
in the net asset value of the investor's shares above the total amount of
payments for the purchase of Fund shares made during the preceding six year. The
CDSC will be paid to the Distributor. In addition, no CDSC will be imposed on
redemptions of shares which were purchased by the employee benefit plans
established by DWR and SPS Transaction Services, Inc. (an affiliate of DWR) for
their employees as qualified under Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code.
In determining the applicability of CDSC to each redemption, the amount
which represent an increase in the net asset value of the investor's shares
above the amount of the total payments for the purchase of shares within the
last six years after the implementation of the Plan will be redeemed first. In
the event the redemption amount exceeds such increase in value, the next portion
of the amount redeemed will be the amount which represents the net asset value
of the investor's shares purchased more than six years prior to the redemption
or before the implementation of the Plan and/or shares purchased through
reinvestment of dividends or distributions and/or shares acquired in exchange
for shares of Dean Witter front-end sales charge funds, or for shares of other
Dean Witter funds for which shares of front-end sales charge funds have been
exchanged. A portion of the amount redeemed which exceeds an amount which
represents both such increase in value and the value of shares purchased more
than six years prior to the redemption or at any time before the implementation
of the Plan and/or shares purchased through reinvestment of dividends or
distributions and/or shares acquired in the above-described exchanges will be
subject to a CDSC.
The amount of the CDSC, if any, will vary depending on the number of years
from the time of payment for the purchase of Fund shares until the time of
redemption of such shares. For purposes of determining the number of years from
the time of any payment for the purchase of shares, all payments made during a
month will be aggregated and deemed to have been made on the last day of the
month. The following table sets forth the rates of the CDSC:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Contingent Deferred
Year Since Sales Charge
Purchase as a Percentage of
Payment Made Amount Redeemed
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C>
First............................................. 5.0%
Second............................................ 4.0%
Third............................................. 3.0%
Fourth............................................ 2.0%
Fifth............................................. 2.0%
Sixth............................................. 1.0%
Seventh and thereafter............................ None
</TABLE>
34
<PAGE>
In determining the rate of the CDSC, it will be assumed that a redemption is
made of shares held by the investor for the longest period of time after the
implementation of the Plan, within the applicable six-year period. This will
result in any such CDSC being imposed at the lowest possible rate. Accordingly,
shareholders may redeem, without incurring any CDSC, amounts equal to any net
increase in the value of their shares above the amount of their purchase
payments made within the past six years after the implementation of the Plan,
and amounts equal to the current value of shares purchased more than six years
prior to the redemption and shares purchased through reinvestment of dividends
or distributions or acquired in exchange for shares of Dean Witter front-end
sales charge funds, or for shares of other Dean Witter Funds for which shares of
front-end sales charge funds have been exchanged. The CDSC will be imposed, in
accordance with the table shown above, on any redemptions within six years of
purchase after the implementation of the Plan which are in excess of these
amounts and which redemptions are not (a) requested within one year of death or
initial determination of disability of a shareholder, or (b) made pursuant to
certain taxable distributions from retirement plans or retirement accounts, as
described above.
PAYMENT FOR SHARES REDEEMED OR REPURCHASED. As discussed in the Prospectus,
payment for shares presented for repurchase or redemption will be made by check
within seven days after receipt by the Transfer Agent of the certificate and/or
written request in good order. The term good order means that the share
certificate, if any, and request for redemption are properly signed, accompanied
by any documentation required by the Transfer Agent, and bear signature
guarantees when required by the Fund or the Transfer Agent. Such payment may be
postponed or the right of redemption suspended at times (a) when the New York
Stock Exchange is closed for other than customary weekends and holidays, (b)
when trading on that Exchange is restricted, (c) when an emergency exists as a
result of which disposal by the Fund of securities owned by it is not reasonably
practicable or it is not reasonably practicable for the Fund fairly to determine
the value of its net assets, or (d) during any other period when the Securities
and Exchange Commission by order so permits; provided that applicable rules and
regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission shall govern as to whether
the conditions prescribed in (b) or (c) exist. If the shares to be redeemed have
recently been purchased by check, payment of the redemption proceeds may be
delayed for the minimum time needed to verify that the check used for investment
has been honored (not more than fifteen days from the time of receipt of the
check by the Transfer Agent). Shareholders maintaining margin accounts with DWR
or another selected broker-dealer are referred to their account executive
regarding restrictions on redemption of shares of the Fund pledged in the margin
account.
TRANSFERS OF SHARES. In the event a shareholder requests a transfer of any
shares to a new registration, such shares will be transferred without sales
charge at the time of transfer. With regard to the status of shares which are
either subject to the contingent deferred sales charge or free of such charge
(and with regard to the length of time shares subject to the charge have been
held), any transfer involving less than all the shares in an account will be
made on a pro-rata basis (that is, by transferring shares in the same proportion
that the transferred shares bear to the total shares in the account immediately
prior to the transfer). The transferred shares will continue to be subject to
any applicable contingent deferred sales charge as if they had not been so
transferred.
REINSTATEMENT PRIVILEGE. As discussed in the Prospectus, a shareholder who
has had his or her shares redeemed or repurchased and has not previously
exercised this reinstatement privilege may, within thirty days after the date of
the redemption or repurchase, reinstate any portion or all of the proceeds of
such redemption or repurchase in shares of the Fund at the net asset value next
determined after a reinstatement request, together with the proceeds, is
received by the Transfer Agent.
Exercise of the reinstatement privilege will not affect the federal income
tax treatment of any gain or loss realized upon the redemption or repurchase,
except that if the redemption or repurchase resulted in a loss and reinstatement
is made in shares of the Fund, some or all of the loss, depending on the amount
reinstated, will not be allowed as a deduction for federal income tax purposes
but will be applied to adjust the cost basis of the shares acquired upon
reinstatement.
35
<PAGE>
DIVIDENDS, DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
As discussed in the Prospectus, the Fund will determine either to distribute
or to retain all or part of any net long-term capital gains in any year for
reinvestment. If any such gains are retained, the Fund will pay federal income
tax thereon, and will notify shareholders that, following an election by the
Fund, the shareholders will be required to include such undistributed gains in
determining their taxable income and may claim their share of the tax paid by
the Fund as a credit against their individual federal income tax.
Because the Fund intends to distribute all of its net investment income and
capital gains to shareholders and otherwise continue to qualify as a regulated
investment company under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code, it is not
expected that the Fund will be required to pay any federal income tax.
Shareholders will normally have to pay federal income taxes, and any state
income taxes, on the dividends and distributions they receive from the Fund.
Such dividends and distributions, to the extent that they are derived from net
investment income or short-term capital gains, are taxable to the shareholder as
ordinary income regardless of whether the shareholder receives such payments in
additional shares or in cash. Any dividends declared in the last quarter of any
year which are paid in the following year prior to February 1 will be deemed
received by the shareholder in the prior year.
Gains or losses on sales of securities by the Fund will be long-term capital
gains or losses if the securities have been held by the Fund for more than
twelve months. Gains or losses on the sale of securities held for twelve months
or less will be short-term gains or losses.
Gains or losses on the Fund's transactions, if any, in futures generally are
treated as 60% long-term and 40% short-term. When the Fund engages in futures
transactions, various tax regulations applicable to the Fund may have the effect
of causing the Fund to recognize a gain or loss for tax purposes before that
gain or loss is realized, or to defer recognition of a realized loss for tax
purposes. Recognition, for tax purposes, of an unrealized loss may result in a
lesser amount of the Fund's realized net gains being available for distribution.
One of the requirements for the Fund to remain qualified as a regulated
investment company is that less than 30% of its gross income be derived from
gains from the sale or other disposition of securities held for less than three
months. Accordingly, the Fund may be restricted in the writing of options on
securities held for less than three months, in the writing of options which
expire in less than three months, and in effecting closing transactions with
respect to call or put options which have been written or purchased less than
three months prior to such transactions. The Fund may also be restricted in its
ability to engage in transactions involving futures contracts.
Distributions of net long-term capital gains, if any, are taxable to
shareholders as long-term capital gains regardless of how long a shareholder has
held the Fund's shares and regardless of whether the distribution is received in
additional shares or in cash. Capital gains distributions are not eligible for
the dividends received deduction.
Under current federal law, the Fund will receive net investment income in
the form of interest by virtue of holding Treasury bills, notes and bonds, and
will recognize income attributable to it from holding zero coupon Treasury
securities. Current federal tax law requires that a holder (such as the Fund) of
a zero coupon security accrue a portion of the discount at which the security
was purchased as income each year even though the Fund receives no interest
payment in cash on the security during the year. As an investment company, the
Fund must pay out substantially all of its net investment income each year.
Accordingly, the Fund, to the extent it invests in zero coupon Treasury
securities, may be required to pay out as an income distribution each year an
amount which is greater than the total amount of cash receipts of interest the
Fund actually received. Such distributions will be made from the available cash
of the Fund or by liquidation of portfolio securities if necessary. If a
distribution or cash necessitates the liquidation of portfolio securities, the
Investment Manager will select which securities to sell. The Fund
36
<PAGE>
may realize a gain or loss from such sales. In the event the Fund realizes net
capital gains from such transactions, its shareholders may receive a larger
capital gain distribution, if any, than they would in the absence of such
transactions.
In computing net investment income, the Fund will not amortize premiums or
accrue discounts on fixed-income securities in the portfolio, except those
original issue discounts for which amortization is required for federal income
tax purposes. Additionally, with respect to market discounts on bonds, a portion
of any capital gain realized upon disposition may be characterized as taxable
ordinary income in accordance with the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code.
Realized gains and losses on security transactions are determined on the
identified cost method.
Any dividend or capital gains distribution received by a shareholder from
any investment company will have the effect of reducing the net asset value of
the shareholder's stock in that company by the exact amount of the dividend or
capital gains distribution. Furthermore, capital gains distributions and
dividends are 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 net long-term capital gains, such
payment or distribution would be in part a return of the shareholder's
investment to the extent of such reduction below the shareholder's cost, but
nonetheless would be fully taxable. Therefore, an investor should consider the
tax implications of purchasing Fund shares immediately prior to a distribution
record date.
Dividend payments will be eligible for the federal dividends received
deduction available to the Fund's corporate shareholders only to the extent the
aggregate dividends received by the Fund would be eligible for the deduction if
the Fund were the shareholder claiming the dividends received deduction. The
amount of dividends paid by the Fund which may qualify for the dividends
received deduction is limited to the aggregate amount of qualifying dividends
which the Fund derives from its portfolio investments which the Fund has held
for a minimum period, usually 46 days. Any distributions made by the Fund will
not be eligible for the dividends received deduction with respect to shares
which are held by the shareholder for 45 days or less. Any long-term capital
gain distributions will also not be eligible for the dividends received
deduction. The ability to take the dividends received deduction will also be
limited in the case of a Fund shareholder which incurs or continues indebtedness
which is directly attributable to its investment in the Fund.
After the end of the year, shareholders will be sent full information on
their dividends and capital gains distributions for tax purposes, including
information as to the portion taxable as ordinary income, the portion taxable as
long-term capital gains and the portion eligible for the dividends received
deduction. To avoid being subject to a 31% federal backup withholding tax on
taxable dividends, capital gains distributions and the proceeds of redemptions
and repurchases, shareholders' taxpayer identification numbers must be furnished
and certified as to their accuracy.
Shareholders are urged to consult their attorneys or tax advisers regarding
specific questions as to federal, state or local taxes.
PERFORMANCE INFORMATION
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
As discussed in the Prospectus, from time to time the Fund may quote its
"total return" in advertisements and sales literature.
The Fund's "average annual total return" represents an annualization of the
Fund's total return over a particular period and is computed by finding the
annual percentage rate which will result in the ending redeemable value of a
hypothetical $1,000 investment made at the beginning of a one, five or ten year
period, or for the period from the date of commencement of the Fund's
operations, if shorter than any of the foregoing. The ending redeemable value is
reduced by any contingent deferred sales charge at the end of the one, five or
ten year or other period. For the purpose of this calculation, it is assumed
that all dividends and distributions are reinvested. The formula for computing
the average annual total return involves a percentage obtained by dividing the
ending redeemable value by the amount of the initial
37
<PAGE>
investment, taking a root of the quotient (where the root is equivalent to the
number of years in the period) and subtracting 1 from the result. The average
annual total returns of the Fund for the fiscal year ended July 31, 1994, for
the five years ended July 31, 1994 and for the period from October 31, 1988
(commencement of operations) through July 31, 1994 were -1.41%, 8.81% and
11.84%, respectively. Until March 15, 1989, the Investment Manager assumed
certain expenses of the Fund and waived its management fee. Had the Fund borne
these expenses and paid the management fee prior to that date, the average
annual total return for the period from October 31, 1988 through July 31, 1994
would have been 11.77%.
In addition to the foregoing, the Fund may advertise its total return over
different periods of time by means of aggregate, average, year-by-year or other
types of total return figures. Such calculations may or may not reflect the
deduction of the contingent deferred sales charge which, if reflected, would
reduce the performance quoted. For example, the average annual total return of
the Fund may be calculated in the manner described above, but without deduction
for any applicable contingent deferred sales charge. Based on this calculation,
the average annual total returns of the Fund for the fiscal year ended July 31,
1994, for the five years ended July 31, 1994 and for the period October 31, 1988
through July 31, 1994 were 3.53%, 9.10% and 11.94%, respectively.
In addition, the Fund may compute its aggregate total return for specified
periods by determining the aggregate percentage rate which will result in the
ending value of a hypothetical $1,000 investment made at the beginning of the
period. For the purpose of this calculation, it is assumed that all dividends
and distributions are reinvested. The formula for computing aggregate total
return involves a percentage obtained by dividing the ending value (without the
reduction for any contingent deferred sales charge) by the initial $1,000
investment and subtracting 1 from the result. Based on the foregoing
calculation, the Fund's total returns for the fiscal year ending July 31, 1994,
for the five years ended July 31, 1994 and for the period October 31, 1988
through July 31, 1994 were 3.53%, 54.54% and 91.25%, respectively.
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 1 to the Fund's
aggregate total return to date (expressed as a decimal and without taking into
account the effect of any applicable contingent deferred sales charge) and
multiplying by $10,000, $50,000 or $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
$19,125, $95,625 and $191,250, respectively, at July 31, 1994.
The Fund from time to time may also advertise its performance relative to
certain performance rankings and indexes compiled by independent organizations.
DESCRIPTION OF SHARES
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The shareholders of the Fund are entitled to a full vote for each full share
held. All of the Trustees, except for Messrs. Bozic, Purcell and Schroeder, have
been elected by the shareholders of the Fund at Special Meetings of Shareholders
held on November 8, 1989 and January 12, 1993. Messrs. Bozic, Purcell and
Schroeder were elected by the other Trustees of the Fund. The Trustees
themselves have the power to alter the number and the terms of office of the
Trustees, and they may at any time lengthen their own terms or make their terms
of unlimited duration and appoint their own successors, provided that always at
least a majority of the Trustees has been elected by the shareholders of the
Fund. Under certain circumstances the Trustees may be removed by action of the
Trustees. The shareholders also have the right under certain circumstances to
remove the Trustees. The voting rights of shareholders are not cumulative, so
that holders of more than 50 percent of the shares voting can, if they choose,
elect all Trustees being selected, while the holders of the remaining shares
would be unable to elect any Trustees.
The Fund is not required to hold Annual Meetings of Shareholders and in
ordinary circumstances the Fund does not intend to hold such meetings. The
Trustees may call Special Meetings of Shareholders for action by shareholder
vote as may be required by the Act or the Declaration of Trust.
38
<PAGE>
The 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 (which would be used to distinguish among the rights of
different categories of shareholders, as might be required by future regulations
or other unforeseen circumstances). However, the Trustees have not authorized
any such additional series or classes of shares.
Under Massachusetts law, shareholders of a business trust may, under certain
limited circumstances, be held personally liable as partners for obligations of
the Fund. However, the Declaration of Trust contains an express disclaimer of
shareholder liability for acts or obligations of the Fund, requires that Fund
obligations include such disclaimer, and provides for indemnification and
reimbursement of expenses out of the Fund's property for any shareholder held
personally liable for the obligations of the Fund. Thus, the risk of a
shareholder incurring financial loss on account of shareholder liability is
limited to circumstances in which the Fund itself would be unable to meet its
obligations. Given the above limitations on shareholder personal liability, and
the nature of the Fund's assets and operations, in the opinion of Massachusetts
counsel to the Fund, the risk to shareholders of personal liability is remote.
The 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
his/her or its duties. It also provides that all third persons shall look solely
to the Fund's property for satisfaction of claims arising in connection with the
affairs of the Fund. With the exceptions stated, the Declaration of Trust
provides that a Trustee, officer, employee or agent is entitled to be
indemnified against all liabilities in connection with the affairs of the Fund.
The Fund is authorized to issue an unlimited number of shares of beneficial
interest. The Fund shall be of unlimited duration subject to the provisions in
the Declaration of Trust concerning termination by action of the shareholders.
CUSTODIAN AND TRANSFER AGENT
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Bank of New York, 110 Washington Street, New York, New York, 10286 is
the Custodian of 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.
Such balances may, at times, be substantial.
Dean Witter Trust Company, Harborside Financial Center, Plaza Two, Jersey
City, New Jersey 07311 is the Transfer Agent of the Fund's shares and Dividend
Disbursing Agent for payment of dividends and distributions on Fund shares and
Agent for shareholders under various investment plans described herein. Dean
Witter Trust Company is an affiliate of Dean Witter InterCapital Inc., the
Fund's Investment Manager, and of Dean Witter Distributors Inc., the Fund's
Distributor. As Transfer Agent and Dividend Disbursing Agent, Dean Witter Trust
Company's responsibilities include maintaining shareholder accounts; disbursing
cash dividends and reinvesting dividends; processing account registration
changes; handling purchase and redemption transactions; mailing propectuses and
reports; mailing and tabulating proxies; processing share certificate
transactions; and maintaining shareholder records and lists. For these services
Dean Witter Trust Company receives a per shareholder account fee.
INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Price Waterhouse LLP serves as the independent accountants of the Fund. The
independent accountants are responsible for auditing the annual financial
statements of the Fund.
39
<PAGE>
REPORTS TO SHAREHOLDERS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Fund will send to shareholders, at least semi-annually, a report showing
the Fund's portfolio and other information. An annual report containing
financial statements audited by the independent accountants will be sent to
shareholders each year.
The Fund's fiscal year ends on July 31. The financial statements of the Fund
must be audited at least once a year by independent accountants whose selection
is made annually by the Fund's Board of Trustees.
LEGAL COUNSEL
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sheldon Curtis, Esq., who is an officer and the General Counsel of the
Investment Manager, is an officer and the General Counsel of the Fund.
EXPERTS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The annual financial statements of the Fund for the year ended July 31, 1994
included in this Statement of Additional Information and incorporated by
reference in the Prospectus have been so included and incorporated in reliance
on the report of Price Waterhouse LLP, independent accountants, given on the
authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This Statement of Additional Information and the Prospectus do not contain
all of the information set forth in the Registration Statement the Fund has
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The complete Registration
Statement may be obtained from the Securities and Exchange Commission upon
payment of the fee prescribed by the rules and regulations of the Commission.
40
<PAGE>
DEAN WITTER STRATEGIST FUND
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS JULY 31, 1994
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NUMBER OF
SHARES VALUE
- ----------- ---------------
<C> <S> <C>
COMMON STOCKS (60.9%)
AEROSPACE (0.9%)
180,000 Allied-Signal, Inc.............................................................. $ 6,885,000
---------------
ALUMINUM (1.0%)
160,000 Reynolds Metals Co.............................................................. 8,060,000
---------------
AUTOMOBILES (1.9%)
50,600 Daimler Benz Aktiengesellschaft (ADR)........................................... 2,580,600
260,000 Ford Motor Company.............................................................. 8,255,000
80,000 General Motors Corp............................................................. 4,110,000
---------------
14,945,600
---------------
BANKS - MONEY CENTER (1.9%)
200,000 Chemical Banking Corp........................................................... 7,675,000
180,000 Citicorp........................................................................ 7,425,000
---------------
15,100,000
---------------
BANKS - REGIONAL (3.1%)
200,000 Bank of Boston Corporation...................................................... 5,275,000
100,000 First Interstate Bancorp........................................................ 7,512,500
140,000 Norwest Corp.................................................................... 3,657,500
55,000 Wells Fargo & Co................................................................ 8,545,625
---------------
24,990,625
---------------
BEVERAGES - SOFT DRINKS (0.9%)
230,000 PepsiCo, Inc.................................................................... 7,015,000
---------------
CHEMICALS (2.5%)
100,000 Dow Chemical Co. (The).......................................................... 6,912,500
135,000 duPont (E.I.) deNemours & Co.................................................... 8,015,625
70,000 Monsanto Co..................................................................... 5,381,250
---------------
20,309,375
---------------
CHEMICALS - SPECIALTY (1.8%)
250,000 Georgia Gulf Corp.*............................................................. 8,968,750
250,000 Praxair, Inc.................................................................... 5,625,000
---------------
14,593,750
---------------
COMPUTER SOFTWARE (1.6%)
120,000 Microsoft Corp.*................................................................ 6,180,000
170,000 Oracle Systems Corp.*........................................................... 6,481,250
---------------
12,661,250
---------------
COMPUTER SOFTWARE SERVICES (1.0%)
230,000 General Motors Corp. (Class E).................................................. 8,107,500
---------------
COMPUTERS - SYSTEMS (0.5%)
180,000 Sun Microsystems, Inc.*......................................................... 4,005,000
---------------
DRUGS (1.1%)
300,000 Merck & Co., Inc................................................................ 8,887,500
---------------
ELECTRIC EQUIPMENT (3.1%)
136,000 Emerson Electric Co............................................................. 8,262,000
170,000 General Electric Corp........................................................... 8,563,750
250,000 Honeywell, Inc.................................................................. 7,875,000
---------------
24,700,750
---------------
ELECTRONICS - DEFENSE (1.1%)
246,000 Loral Corp...................................................................... 9,163,500
---------------
ELECTRONICS - SEMICONDUCTORS (1.4%)
80,000 Intel Corp...................................................................... 4,720,000
130,000 Motorola, Inc................................................................... 6,890,000
---------------
11,610,000
---------------
FINANCE (1.2%)
112,000 Federal National Mortgage Association........................................... 9,716,000
---------------
FINANCIAL SERVICES (1.4%)
99,500 Sunamerica, Inc................................................................. 4,514,813
203,733 Travelers, Inc.................................................................. 6,748,656
---------------
11,263,469
---------------
FOODS (1.5%)
168,000 Campbell Soup Co................................................................ 6,216,000
75,000 Quaker Oats Co. (The)........................................................... 5,662,500
---------------
11,878,500
---------------
</TABLE>
41
<PAGE>
DEAN WITTER STRATEGIST FUND
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS JULY 31, 1994 (CONTINUED)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NUMBER OF
SHARES VALUE
- ----------- ---------------
<C> <S> <C>
HEALTH CARE DIVERSIFIED (2.2%)
300,000 Abbott Laboratories............................................................. $ 8,437,500
200,000 Johnson & Johnson............................................................... 9,400,000
---------------
17,837,500
---------------
HEALTH CARE MISCELLANEOUS (2.2%)
100,000 Coventry Corp.*................................................................. 3,350,000
200,000 Diagnostek, Inc.*............................................................... 4,525,000
200,000 Humana, Inc.*................................................................... 3,750,000
65,000 Mid Atlantic Medical Services, Inc.*............................................ 2,689,375
136,000 Wellpoint Health Co.*........................................................... 3,519,000
---------------
17,833,375
---------------
HOSPITAL MANAGEMENT (1.0%)
200,000 Columbia HCA Healthcare Corp.................................................... 8,100,000
---------------
HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCES (0.8%)
128,000 Whirlpool Corp.................................................................. 6,512,000
---------------
HOUSEHOLD PRODUCTS (0.7%)
110,000 Colgate-Palmolive Co............................................................ 5,871,250
---------------
LIFE INSURANCE (1.0%)
250,000 Providian Corp.................................................................. 7,718,750
---------------
MACHINERY - CONSTRUCTION & MATERIALS (0.9%)
205,000 Ingersoll Rand Co............................................................... 7,456,875
---------------
METALS (1.1%)
142,000 Phelps Dodge Corp............................................................... 8,768,500
---------------
MULTI-LINE INSURANCE (0.9%)
80,000 American International Group, Inc............................................... 7,540,000
---------------
NATURAL GAS - DISTRIBUTION (1.1%)
270,000 Williams Cos., Inc.............................................................. 8,808,750
---------------
OIL DRILLING & SERVICES (1.7%)
300,000 Dresser Industries, Inc......................................................... 6,337,500
130,000 Schlumberger, Ltd. (ADR)........................................................ 7,670,000
---------------
14,007,500
---------------
OIL INTEGRATED - DOMESTIC (0.9%)
370,100 Occidental Petroleum Corp....................................................... 7,355,737
---------------
OIL INTEGRATED - INTERNATIONAL (4.3%)
186,000 Chevron Corp.................................................................... 8,253,750
125,000 Exxon Corp...................................................................... 7,437,500
95,000 Mobil Corp...................................................................... 7,968,125
170,000 Texaco, Inc..................................................................... 10,795,000
---------------
34,454,375
---------------
RAILROAD EQUIPMENT (0.5%)
116,500 Trinity Industries, Inc......................................................... 3,713,437
---------------
RAILROADS (1.8%)
150,000 Conrail, Inc.................................................................... 8,062,500
88,000 CSX Corp........................................................................ 6,831,000
---------------
14,893,500
---------------
RESTAURANTS (0.7%)
220,000 McDonald's Corp................................................................. 5,967,500
---------------
RETAIL (1.5%)
140,000 Penney (J.C.) Co., Inc.......................................................... 6,930,000
225,200 Wal-Mart Stores, Inc............................................................ 5,630,000
---------------
12,560,000
---------------
RETAIL - SPECIALTY (2.6%)
128,000 Gap, Inc........................................................................ 4,928,000
150,000 Home Depot, Inc................................................................. 6,150,000
540,000 Pier 1 Imports, Inc............................................................. 3,982,500
400,000 Price/Costco, Inc.*............................................................. 6,000,000
---------------
21,060,500
---------------
SHOES (2.1%)
70,000 Fila Holdings SPA (ADR)......................................................... 1,102,500
130,000 Nike, Inc. Class B.............................................................. 7,995,000
210,000 Reebok International, Ltd....................................................... 7,455,000
---------------
16,552,500
---------------
</TABLE>
42
<PAGE>
DEAN WITTER STRATEGIST FUND
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS JULY 31, 1994 (CONTINUED)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NUMBER OF
SHARES VALUE
- ----------- ---------------
<C> <S> <C>
STEEL & IRON (0.6%)
220,000 Bethlehem Steel Corp.*.......................................................... $ 4,895,000
---------------
TELECOMMUNICATIONS (4.4%)
310,000 Airtouch Communications*........................................................ 8,060,000
120,000 AT&T Corp....................................................................... 6,555,000
120,000 Bell Atlantic Corp.............................................................. 6,795,000
315,000 MCI Communications Corp......................................................... 7,126,875
110,000 Pacific Telesis Group........................................................... 3,602,500
50,000 Telefonos de Mexico, S.A. (Series L) (ADR)...................................... 3,037,500
---------------
35,176,875
---------------
TOTAL COMMON STOCKS (IDENTIFIED COST $445,207,570).............................. 490,976,743
---------------
<CAPTION>
PRINCIPAL
AMOUNT (IN COUPON
THOUSANDS) RATE
- ----------- ---------------
MATURITY
DATE
--
<C> <S> <C> <C> <C>
CORPORATE BONDS (19.6%)
AUTOMOTIVE FINANCE (0.6%)
$ 5,000 Ford Capital BV................................................................. 9.375 % 5/15/01 5,477,850
---------------
BANKING (2.2%)
2,000 Amsouth Bancorporation.......................................................... 7.75 5/15/04 1,988,720
10,000 Bank of Boston Corporation...................................................... 6.625 2/ 1/04 9,177,500
6,000 Midlantic Corp.................................................................. 9.25 9/ 1/99 6,402,180
---------------
17,568,400
---------------
BANKS - INTERNATIONAL (4.8%)
5,000 Banca Commercial Italiana....................................................... 8.25 7/15/07 4,966,950
10,000 Bank of China................................................................... 8.25 3/15/14 9,226,700
5,000 Kansallis-Osake-Pankki.......................................................... 10.00 5/ 1/02 5,543,250
5,000 Royal Bank of Scotland Capital Corp............................................. 10.125 3/ 1/04 5,742,650
10,000 Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken................................................... 6.875 2/15/09 8,854,900
5,000 Toronto-Dominion Bank-N.Y....................................................... 6.15 10/15/08 4,250,050
---------------
38,584,500
---------------
BROADCAST MEDIA (1.7%)
10,000 News American Holdings, Inc..................................................... 8.25 8/10/18 9,125,400
5,000 Time Warner Entertainment Co.................................................... 8.375 7/15/33 4,462,550
---------------
13,587,950
---------------
BROKERAGE (1.8%)
5,000 Lehman Brothers Holdings, Inc................................................... 9.875 10/15/00 5,491,650
5,000 Morgan Stanley Group, Inc....................................................... 7.50 2/ 1/24 4,440,000
5,000 Paine Webber Group, Inc......................................................... 6.68 2/10/04 4,506,450
---------------
14,438,100
---------------
CANADIAN GOVERNMENT & AGENCIES (1.9%)
6,000 New Brunswick Province.......................................................... 7.625 6/29/04 5,974,320
5,000 Quebec Province................................................................. 7.50 7/15/02 4,909,350
5,000 Quebec Province................................................................. 7.50 7/15/23 4,447,250
---------------
15,330,920
---------------
CONSUMER PRODUCTS (2.4%)
10,000 Phillip Morris Cos., Inc........................................................ 7.25 % 1/15/03 $ 9,636,100
5,000 RJR Nabisco, Inc................................................................ 8.75 4/15/04 4,493,950
5,000 Seagram, Joseph E. & Sons, Inc.................................................. 9.00 8/15/21 5,243,250
---------------
19,373,300
---------------
OIL & GAS PRODUCTS (0.6%)
5,000 Lasmo (USA), Inc................................................................ 8.375 6/ 1/23 4,686,150
---------------
PAPER & FOREST PRODUCTS (2.6%)
10,000 Boise Cascade Corp.............................................................. 9.85 6/15/02 10,603,300
10,000 Georgia-Pacific Corp............................................................ 9.125 7/ 1/22 10,121,200
---------------
20,724,500
---------------
UTILITIES - ELECTRIC (1.0%)
10,000 Long Island Lighting Co......................................................... 6.25 7/15/01 8,331,800
---------------
TOTAL CORPORATE BONDS (IDENTIFIED COST $164,778,098)................................................... 158,103,470
---------------
</TABLE>
43
<PAGE>
DEAN WITTER STRATEGIST FUND
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS JULY 31, 1994 (CONTINUED)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<TABLE>
<C> <S> <C> <C> <C>
U.S. GOVERNMENT AGENCIES & OBLIGATIONS (10.6%)
$ 852 Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp................................................. 8.50 % 7/ 1/02 $ 868,065
353 Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp................................................. 9.00 8/ 1/02 362,789
3,000 Federal National Mortgage Association........................................... 6.40 1/13/04 2,756,430
10,000 Private Export Funding Corp..................................................... 6.86 4/30/04 9,887,500
17,650 Resolution Funding Corp......................................................... 0.00 1/15/18 2,924,810
1,500 U.S. Treasury Bond.............................................................. 10.75 8/15/05 1,899,375
6,500 U.S. Treasury Bond.............................................................. 8.125 8/15/19 6,965,155
13,500 U.S. Treasury Bond.............................................................. 7.125 2/15/23 13,031,719
1,000 U.S. Treasury Note.............................................................. 7.25 11/15/96 1,023,594
6,500 U.S. Treasury Note.............................................................. 7.875 11/15/99 6,820,938
4,100 U.S. Treasury Note.............................................................. 8.50 11/15/00 4,438,890
12,000 U.S. Treasury Note.............................................................. 7.50 11/15/01 12,367,500
15,020 U.S. Treasury Note.............................................................. 7.50 5/15/02 15,325,094
1,500 U.S. Treasury Note.............................................................. 6.25 2/15/03 1,421,016
5,000 U.S. Treasury Note.............................................................. 7.25 5/15/04 5,050,000
---------------
TOTAL U.S. GOVERNMENT AGENCIES & OBLIGATIONS (IDENTIFIED COST $86,368,505)............................. 85,142,875
---------------
SHORT - TERM INVESTMENTS (7.9%)
COMMERCIAL PAPER(A) (3.8%)
AUTOMOTIVE FINANCE (2.8%)
23,000 Ford Motor Credit Company 4.259% due 8/8/94..................................... 22,980,994
----------
FINANCE - DIVERSIFIED (1.0%)
8,000 General Electric Capital Corp. 4.310% due 8/2/94................................ 7,999,044
----------
TOTAL COMMERCIAL PAPER (AMORTIZED COST $30,980,038)............................. 30,980,038
----------
U.S. GOVERNMENT AGENCIES (A) (3.9%)
8,450 Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp. 4.051% due 8/1/94.............................. 8,450,000
23,000 Federal National Mortgage Association 4.287% due 8/29/94........................ 22,923,614
----------
TOTAL U.S. GOVERNMENT AGENCIES (AMORTIZED COST $31,373,614)..................... 31,373,614
----------
REPURCHASE AGREEMENT (0.2%)
1,484 The Bank of New York 4.125% due 8/1/94 (dated 7/29/94; proceeds $1,484,126;
collateralized by $1,528,878 FNMA Medium Term Note 5.85% due 2/2/98 valued at
$1,513,809) (Identified Cost $1,484,126)...................................... 1,484,126
----------
TOTAL SHORT - TERM INVESTMENTS (IDENTIFIED COST $63,837,778).................... 63,837,778
-------------
TOTAL INVESTMENTS (IDENTIFIED COST $760,191,951) (B)................................ 99.0% 798,060,866
OTHER ASSETS IN EXCESS OF LIABILITIES............................................... 1.0 8,188,549
---------- -------------
NET ASSETS.......................................................................... 100.0 % $ 806,249,415
---------- -------------
---------- -------------
<FN>
- ------------------
ADR - AMERICAN DEPOSITORY RECEIPT.
* NON-INCOME PRODUCING SECURITY.
(A) SECURITIES WERE PURCHASED ON A DISCOUNT BASIS. THE INTEREST RATES SHOWN
HAVE BEEN ADJUSTED TO REFLECT A BOND EQUIVALENT YIELD.
(B) THE AGGREGATE COST FOR FEDERAL INCOME TAX PURPOSES IS $760,549,291; THE
AGGREGATE GROSS UNREALIZED APPRECIATION IS $61,424,233 AND THE AGGREGATE
GROSS UNREALIZED DEPRECIATION IS $23,912,658, RESULTING IN NET UNREALIZED
APPRECIATION OF $37,511,575.
</TABLE>
SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
44
<PAGE>
DEAN WITTER STRATEGIST FUND
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
JULY 31, 1994
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
ASSETS:
Investments in securities, at value
(identified cost $760,191,951) (Note
1)...................................... $ 798,060,866
Receivable for:
Investments sold........................ 7,428,776
Interest................................ 5,132,812
Shares of beneficial interest sold...... 1,472,009
Dividends............................... 698,690
Principal paydowns...................... 23,977
Foreign withholding taxes reclaimed..... 5,650
Prepaid expenses.......................... 6,325
-------------
TOTAL ASSETS...................... 812,829,105
-------------
LIABILITIES:
Payable for:
Investments purchased................... 4,668,465
Shares of beneficial interest
repurchased........................... 676,898
Plan of distribution fee (Note 3)....... 630,574
Investment management fee (Note 2)...... 393,037
Accrued expenses and other payables (Note
4)...................................... 210,716
-------------
TOTAL LIABILITIES................. 6,579,690
-------------
NET ASSETS:
Paid-in-capital........................... 745,415,391
Accumulated undistributed net investment
income.................................. 1,003,673
Accumulated undistributed net realized
gains................................... 21,961,436
Net unrealized appreciation............... 37,868,915
-------------
NET ASSETS........................ $ 806,249,415
-------------
-------------
NET ASSET VALUE PER SHARE, 55,866,185
shares outstanding (unlimited shares
authorized of $.01 par value)...........
$14.43
-------------
-------------
</TABLE>
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED JULY 31, 1994
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
INVESTMENT INCOME:
INCOME
Interest.............................. $ 17,652,987
Dividends (net of $4,221 foreign
withholding tax).................... 12,009,613
-------------
TOTAL INCOME...................... 29,662,600
-------------
EXPENSES
Plan of distribution fee (Note 3)..... 7,177,296
Investment management fee (Note 2).... 4,711,608
Transfer agent fees and expenses (Note
4).................................. 918,920
Shareholder reports and notices....... 102,976
Custodian fees........................ 81,346
Registration fees..................... 78,164
Professional fees..................... 43,419
Trustees' fees and expenses (Note
4).................................. 27,361
Organizational expenses (Note 1)...... 5,436
Other................................. 14,308
-------------
TOTAL EXPENSES.................... 13,160,834
-------------
NET INVESTMENT INCOME........... 16,501,766
-------------
NET REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAIN (LOSS) ON
INVESTMENTS (Note 1):
Net realized gain..................... 26,073,475
Net change in unrealized
appreciation........................ (15,330,968)
-------------
NET GAIN ON INVESTMENTS........... 10,742,507
-------------
NET INCREASE IN NET ASSETS
RESULTING FROM OPERATIONS..... $ 27,244,273
-------------
-------------
</TABLE>
STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
FOR THE YEAR ENDED FOR THE YEAR ENDED
JULY 31, 1994 JULY 31, 1993
------------------ ------------------
<S> <C> <C>
INCREASE (DECREASE) IN NET ASSETS:
Operations:
Net investment income................................................. $ 16,501,766 $ 11,410,889
Net realized gain..................................................... 26,073,475 25,392,991
Net change in unrealized appreciation................................. (15,330,968) 2,422,221
------------------ ------------------
Net increase in net assets resulting from operations.............. 27,244,273 39,226,101
------------------ ------------------
Dividends and distributions to shareholders from:
Net investment income................................................. (14,241,827) (12,576,422)
Net realized gain..................................................... (22,860,148) (20,203,899)
------------------ ------------------
Total dividends and distributions................................. (37,101,975) (32,780,321)
------------------ ------------------
Net increase from transactions in shares of beneficial interest (Note
5)..................................................................... 33,273,643 335,585,995
------------------ ------------------
Total increase.................................................... 23,415,941 342,031,775
NET ASSETS:
Beginning of period..................................................... 782,833,474 440,801,699
------------------ ------------------
END OF PERIOD (including undistributed net investment income of
$1,003,673 and $743,729, respectively)................................. $ 806,249,415 $ 782,833,474
------------------ ------------------
------------------ ------------------
</TABLE>
SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
45
<PAGE>
DEAN WITTER STRATEGIST FUND
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Organization and Accounting Policies--Dean Witter Strategist Fund (the
"Fund") is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the
"Act"), as a non-diversified, open-end management investment company. The Fund
was organized as a Massachusetts business trust on August 5, 1988 and commenced
operations on October 31, 1988.
The following is a summary of significant accounting policies:
A. VALUATION OF INVESTMENTS--(1) an equity security listed or traded on the
New York or American Stock Exchange is valued at its latest sale price on
that exchange prior to the time when assets are valued (if there were no
sales that day, the security is valued at the latest bid price); (2) all
other portfolio securities for which over-the-counter market quotations are
readily available are valued at the latest available bid price prior to the
time of valuation; (3) when market quotations are not readily available,
portfolio securities are valued at their fair value as determined in good
faith under procedures established by and under the general supervision of
the Trustees; (4) certain of the Fund's portfolio securities may be valued
by an outside pricing service approved by the Trustees. The pricing service
utilizes a matrix system incorporating security quality, maturity and coupon
as the evaluation model parameters, and/or research and evaluations by its
staff, including review of broker-dealer market price quotations, in
determining what it believes is the fair valuation of the portfolio
securities value by such pricing service; and (5) short-term debt securities
having a maturity date of more than sixty days are valued on a mark-
to-market basis, that is, at prices based on market quotations for
securities of a similar type, yield, quality and maturity, until sixty days
prior to maturity and thereafter at amortized cost. Short-term debt
securities having a maturity date of sixty days or less at the time of
purchase are valued at amortized cost.
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 on the identified cost
method. In computing net investment income, the Fund does not amortize
premiums or accrue discounts on fixed income securities except those
original issue discounts for which amortization is required for federal
income tax purposes. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date.
Interest income is accrued daily except where collection is not expected.
C. REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS--The Fund's custodian takes possession on behalf of
the Fund of the collateral pledged for investments in repurchase agreements.
It is the policy of the Fund to value the underlying collateral daily on a
mark-to-market basis to determine that the value, including accrued
interest, is at least equal to the repurchase price plus accrued interest.
In the event of default of the obligation to repurchase, the Fund has the
right to liquidate the collateral and apply the proceeds in satisfaction of
the obligation.
D. 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 income to its shareholders.
Accordingly, no federal income tax provision is required.
E. DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS--The Fund records dividends
and distributions to its shareholders on the record date. The amount of
dividends and distributions from net investment income and net realized
capital gains are determined in accordance with federal income tax
regulations which may differ from generally accepted accounting principles.
These "book/tax" differences are either considered temporary or permanent in
nature. To the extent these differences are permanent in nature, such
amounts are reclassified within the capital accounts based on their federal
tax-basis treatment; temporary differences do not require reclassification.
Dividends and distributions which exceed net investment income and net
realized capital gains for financial reporting purposes but not for tax
purposes are reported as dividends in excess of net investment income or
distributions in excess of net realized capital gains. To the extent they
exceed net investment income and net realized capital gains for tax
purposes, they are reported as distributions of paid-in-capital.
F. ORGANIZATIONAL EXPENSES--The Fund's Investment Manager paid the
organizational expenses of the Fund in the amount of approximately $110,000.
The Fund had reimbursed the Investment Manager for these expenses which were
deferred and amortized by the Fund on the straight-line method over a period
not to exceed five years from the commencement of operations. As of
January 31, 1994, these expenses were fully amortized.
46
<PAGE>
DEAN WITTER STRATEGIST FUND
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2. Investment Management Agreement--Pursuant to an Investment Management
Agreement with Dean Witter InterCapital Inc. (the "Investment Manager"), the
Fund pays its Investment Manager a monthly management fee, calculated and
accrued daily, by applying the following annual rates to the net assets of the
Fund, determined at the close of each business day: 0.60% to the portion of
daily net assets not exceeding $500 million; 0.55% to the portion of daily net
assets exceeding $500 million but not exceeding $1 billion; and 0.50% to the
portion of daily net assets exceeding $1 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--Shares of the Fund are distributed by Dean Witter
Distributors Inc. (the "Distributor"), an affiliate of the Investment Manager.
The Fund has adopted a Plan of Distribution (the "Plan"), pursuant to Rule 12b-1
under the Act pursuant to which the Fund pays the Distributor compensation
accrued daily and payable monthly at an annual rate of (i) 1.0% of the lesser
of: (a) the average daily aggregate gross sales of the Fund's shares since the
implementation of the Plan on November 8, 1989 (not including reinvestment of
dividend or capital gain distributions), less the average daily aggregate net
asset value of the Fund's shares redeemed since the Fund's implementation of the
Plan upon which a contingent deferred sales charge has been imposed or upon
which such charge has been waived; or (b) the Fund's average daily net assets
attributable to shares issued, net of related shares redeemed, since
implementation of the Plan; plus (ii) 0.25% of the Fund's average daily net
assets attributable to shares issued, net of related shares redeemed, prior to
implementation of the Plan. Amounts paid under the Plan are paid to the
Distributor to compensate it for the services provided and the expenses borne by
it and others in the distribution of the Fund's shares, including the payment of
commissions for sales of the Fund's shares and incentive compensation to and
expenses of Dean Witter Reynolds Inc. ("DWR"), an affiliate of the Investment
Manager, and other employees or selected dealers who engage in or support
distribution of the Fund's shares or who service shareholder accounts, including
overhead and telephone expenses; printing and distribution of prospectuses and
reports used in connection with the offering of the Fund's shares to other than
current shareholders and preparation, printing and distribution of sales
literature and advertising materials. In addition, the Distributor may be
compensated under the Plan for its opportunity costs in advancing such amounts,
which compensation would be in the form of a carrying charge on any unreimbursed
expenses incurred by the Distributor.
Provided that the Plan continues in effect, any cumulative expenses incurred
but not yet recovered, may be recovered through future distribution fees from
the Fund and contingent deferred sales charges from the Fund's shareholders.
The Distributor has informed the Fund that for the year ended July 31, 1994,
it received approximately $1,294,000 in contingent deferred sales charges from
certain redemptions of the Fund's shares. The Fund's shareholders pay such
charges which are not an expense of the Fund.
4. Security Transactions and Transactions with Affiliates--The cost of
purchases and proceeds from sales of portfolio securities, excluding short-term
investments, for the year ended July 31, 1994, aggregated $700,892,452 and
$747,724,215, respectively. For the same period, the Fund paid brokerage
commissions of approximately $23,000 to Dean Witter Reynolds Inc. for
transactions executed on behalf of the Fund.
Dean Witter Trust Company, an affiliate of the Investment Manager and
Distributor, is the Fund's transfer agent. At July 31, 1994, the Fund had
transfer agent fees and expenses payable of approximately $100,000.
On April 1, 1991, the Fund established an unfunded noncontributory defined
benefit pension plan covering all independent Trustees of the Fund who will have
served as an independent Trustee 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 July 31, 1994, included in Trustees' fees and expenses in the
Statement of Operations, amounted to $9,858. At July 31, 1994, the Fund had an
accrued pension liability of $43,781 which is included in accrued expenses in
the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.
47
<PAGE>
DEAN WITTER STRATEGIST FUND
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5. Shares of Beneficial Interest--Transactions in shares of beneficial interest
were as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
FOR THE YEAR ENDED FOR THE YEAR ENDED
JULY 31, 1994 JULY 31, 1993
---------------------------- ---------------------------
SHARES AMOUNT SHARES AMOUNT
------------ -------------- ----------- --------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Sold........................................ 12,833,544 $ 190,736,225 26,799,488 $ 391,170,413
Reinvestment of dividends and
distributions.............................. 2,333,508 34,489,407 2,097,936 30,207,970
------------ -------------- ----------- --------------
15,167,052 225,225,632 28,897,424 421,378,383
Repurchased................................. (12,951,477) (191,951,989) (5,884,829) (85,792,388)
------------ -------------- ----------- --------------
Net increase................................ 2,215,575 $ 33,273,643 23,012,595 $ 335,585,995
------------ -------------- ----------- --------------
------------ -------------- ----------- --------------
</TABLE>
6. Federal Income Tax Status--At July 31, 1994, the Fund had temporary book/tax
differences which were primarily attributable to capital loss deferrals on wash
sales and permanent book/tax differences attributable to dividend
redesignations. To reflect cumulative reclassifications arising from permanent
book/tax differences as of July 31, 1993, accumulated undistributed net
investment income was charged and accumulated undistributed net realized gains
was credited $177,013. To reflect reclassifications arising from permanent
book/tax differences for the year ended July 31, 1994, accumulated undistributed
net investment income was charged and accumulated undistributed net realized
gains was credited $1,999,995.
1994 FEDERAL INCOME TAX NOTICE (UNAUDITED)
For the year ended July 31, 1994, the Fund paid to shareholders $0.424697 per
share from long-term capital gains. For such period, 71.71% of the income
dividend qualified for the dividends received deduction available to
corporations.
48
<PAGE>
DEAN WITTER STRATEGIST FUND
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Selected ratios and per share data for a share of beneficial interest
outstanding throughout each period:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
FOR THE
PERIOD
OCTOBER 31,
1988*
FOR THE YEAR ENDED JULY 31, THROUGH
------------------------------------------------------------------------ JULY 31,
1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989
---------------- ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
PER SHARE OPERATING PERFORMANCE:
Net asset value, beginning of
period........................... $14.59 $14.39 $13.09 $11.65 $11.37 $9.45
-------- ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
Net investment income.............. 0.30 0.26 0.27 0.27 0.23 0.38
Net realized and unrealized gain on
investments...................... 0.22 0.81 1.27 1.50 0.55 1.84
-------- ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
Total from investment operations... 0.52 1.07 1.54 1.77 0.78 2.22
-------- ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
Less dividends and distributions
from:
Net investment income............ (0.26) (0.31) (0.24) (0.26) (0.29) (0.30)
Net realized gains on
investments..................... (0.42) (0.56) 0.00 (0.07) (0.21) 0.00
-------- ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
Total dividends and
distributions.................... (0.68) (0.87) (0.24) (0.33) (0.50) (0.30)
-------- ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
Net asset value, end of period..... $14.43 $14.59 $14.39 $13.09 $11.65 $11.37
-------- ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
-------- ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
TOTAL INVESTMENT RETURN+........... 3.53% 7.59% 11.88% 15.67% 7.21% 23.76%(1)
RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA:
Net assets, end of period (in
thousands)....................... $806,249 $782,833 $440,802 $238,432 $195,687 $47,921
Ratio of expenses to average net
assets........................... 1.62% 1.62% 1.63% 1.59% 1.53% 0.97%(2)(3)
Ratio of net investment income to
average net assets............... 2.03% 1.90% 2.19% 2.37% 2.39% 6.00%(2)(3)
Portfolio turnover rate............ 90 % 98 % 79 % 140 % 101 % 70 %
</TABLE>
- -------------
* DATE OF COMMENCEMENT OF OPERATIONS.
+ DOES NOT REFLECT THE DEDUCTION OF SALES LOAD.
(1) NOT ANNUALIZED.
(2) ANNUALIZED.
(3) IF THE FUND HAD BORNE ALL ITS EXPENSES THAT WERE ASSUMED OR WAIVED BY THE
INVESTMENT MANAGER, THE ABOVE EXPENSE RATIO WOULD HAVE BEEN 1.48% AND THE
ABOVE NET INVESTMENT INCOME RATIO WOULD HAVE BEEN 5.48%.
SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
49
<PAGE>
DEAN WITTER STRATEGIST FUND
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
To the Shareholders and Trustees of Dean Witter Strategist Fund
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 Dean Witter Strategist Fund (the
"Fund") at July 31, 1994, 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
and for the period October 31, 1988 (commencement of operations) through July
31, 1989, in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles. 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 generally accepted auditing standards 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 owned at
July 31, 1994 by correspondence with the custodian and brokers, provide a
reasonable basis for the opinion expressed above.
PRICE WATERHOUSE LLP
New York, New York
September 16, 1994
50
<PAGE>
APPENDIX
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ratings
Moody's Investors Service Inc. ("Moody's")
Bond Ratings
Aaa Bonds which are rated Aaa are judged to be of the best quality. They
carry the smallest degree of investment risk and are generally referred
to as "gilt edge." Interest payments are protected by a large or by an
exceptionally stable margin and principal is secure. While the various
protective elements are likely to change, such changes as can be
visualized are most unlikely to impair the fundamentally strong position
of such issues.
Aa Bonds which are rated Aa are judged to be of high quality by all
standards. Together with the Aaa group they comprise what are generally
known as high grade bonds. They are rated lower than the best bonds
because margins of protection may not be as large as in Aaa securities or
fluctuation of protective elements may be of greater amplitude or there
may be other elements present which make the long-term risks appear
somewhat larger than in Aaa securities.
A Bonds which are rated A possess many favorable investment attributes and
are to be considered as upper medium grade obligations. Factors giving
security to principal and interest are considered adequate, but elements
may be present which suggest a susceptibility to impairment sometime in
the future.
Baa Bonds which are rated Baa are considered as medium grade obligations;
i.e., they are neither highly protected nor poorly secured. Interest
payments and principal security appear adequate for the present but
certain protective elements may be lacking or may be characteristically
unreliable over any great length of time. Such bonds lack outstanding
investment characteristics and in fact have speculative characteristics
as well.
Bonds rated Aaa, Aa, A and Baa are considered investment grade bonds.
RATING REFINEMENTS: Moody's may apply numerical modifiers, 1, 2, and 3 in
each generic rating classification from Aa through B in its corporate and
municipal bond rating system. The modifier 1 indicates that the security ranks
in the higher end of its generic rating category; the modifier 2 indicates a
mid-range ranking; and a modifier 3 indicates that the issue ranks in the lower
end of its generic rating category.
Commercial Paper Ratings
Moody's Commercial Paper ratings are opinions of the ability to repay
punctually promissory obligations not having an original maturity in excess of
nine months. Moody's employs the following three designations, all judged to be
investment grade, to indicate the relative repayment capacity of rated issuers:
Prime-1, Prime-2, Prime-3.
Issuers rated Prime-1 have a superior capacity for repayment of short-term
promissory obligations. Issuers rated Prime-2 have a strong capacity for
repayment of short-term promissory obligations; and Issuers rated Prime-3 have
an acceptable capacity for repayment of short-term promissory obligations.
Issuers rated Not Prime do not fall within any of the Prime rating categories.
Standard & Poor's Corporation ("Standard & Poor's")
Bond Ratings
A Standard & Poor's bond rating is a current assessment of the
creditworthiness of an obligor with respect to a specific obligation. This
assessment may take into consideration obligors such as guarantors, insurers, or
lessees.
The ratings are based on current information furnished by the issuer or
obtained by Standard & Poor's from other sources it considers reliable. The
ratings are based, in varying degrees, on the
51
<PAGE>
following considerations: (1) likelihood of default-capacity and willingness of
the obligor as to the timely payment of interest and repayment of principal in
accordance with the terms of the obligation; (2) nature of and provisions of the
obligation; and (3) protection afforded by, and relative position of, the
obligation in the event of bankruptcy, reorganization or other arrangement under
the laws of bankruptcy and other laws affecting creditors' rights.
Standard & Poor's does not perform an audit in connection with any rating
and may, on occasion, rely on unaudited financial information. The ratings may
be changed, suspended or withdrawn as a result of changes in, or unavailability
of, such information, or for other reasons.
AAA Debt rated AAA has the highest rating assigned by Standard & Poor's.
Capacity to pay interest and repay principal is extremely strong.
AA Debt rated AA has a very strong capacity to pay interest and repay
principal and differs from the highest-rated issues only in small degree.
A Debt rated A has a strong capacity to pay interest and repay principal
although they are somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of
changes in circumstances and economic conditions than debt in
higher-rated categories.
BBB Debt rated BBB is regarded as having an adequate capacity to pay interest
and repay principal. Whereas it normally exhibits adequate protection
parameters, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are
more likely to lead to a weakened capacity to pay interest and repay
principal for debt in this category than for debt in higher-rated
categories.
Bonds rated AAA, AA, A and BBB are considered investment grade bonds.
NR Indicates that no rating has been requested, that there is insufficient
information on which to base a rating or that Standard & Poor's does not
rate a particular type of obligation as a matter of policy.
Commercial Paper Ratings
Standard and Poor's commercial paper rating is a current assessment of the
likelihood of timely payment of debt having an original maturity of no more than
365 days. The commercial paper rating is not a recommendation to purchase or
sell a security. The ratings are based upon current information furnished by the
issuer or obtained by S&P from other sources it considers reliable. The ratings
may be changed, suspended, or withdrawn as a result of changes in or
unavailability of such information. Ratings are graded into group categories,
ranging from "A" for the highest quality obligations to "D" for the lowest. The
categories are as follows:
Issues assigned A ratings are regarded as having the greatest capacity for
timely payment. Issues in this category are further refined with the designation
1, 2 and 3 to indicate the relative degree of safety.
A-1 indicates that the degree of safety regarding timely payment is very strong.
A-2 indicates capacity for timely payment on issues with this designation is
strong. However, the relative degree of safety is not as overwhelming as for
issues designated "A-1".
A-3 indicates a satisfactory capacity for timely payment. Obligations carrying
this designation are, however, somewhat more vulnerable to the adverse effects
of changes in circumstances than obligations carrying the higher designations.
52
<PAGE>
DEAN WITTER STRATEGIST FUND
PART C OTHER INFORMATION
Item 24. Financial Statements and Exhibits
(a) FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(1) Financial statements and schedules, included
in Prospectus (Part A): PAGE IN
PROSPECTUS
Financial highlights for the period October 31,
1988 through July 31, 1989 and for the fiscal
years ended July 31, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993
and 1994.......................................... 4
(2) Financial statements included in the Statement of
Additional Information (Part B): PAGE IN
SAI
Portfolio of Investments at July 31, 1994......... 41
Statement of assets and liabilities at
July 31, 1994 .................................... 45
Statement of operations for the year ended July
31, 1994 ........................................ 45
Statement of changes in net assets for the
years ended July 31, 1993 and July 31, 1994....... 45
Notes to Financial Statements .................... 46
Financial highlights for the period October 31,
1988 through July 31, 1989 and for the fiscal
years ended July 31, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993
and 1994.......................................... 49
(3) Financial statements included in Part C:
None
(b) EXHIBITS:
8. - Form of Amended and Restated Transfer Agency and
Services Agreement between Registrant and Dean Witter
Trust Company
9. - Form of Services Agreement between Dean Witter InterCapital
Inc. and Dean Witter Services Company Inc.
1
<PAGE>
11. - Consent of Independent Accountants
16. - Schedules for Computation of Performance
Quotations
27. - Financial Data Schedule
Other - Powers of Attorney
________________________________
All other exhibits previously filed and incorporated
by reference.
Item 25. PERSONS CONTROLLED BY OR UNDER COMMON CONTROL WITH REGISTRANT.
None
Item 26. NUMBER OF HOLDERS OF SECURITIES.
(1) (2)
Number of Record Holders
Title of Class at September 6, 1994
-------------- ---------------------------
Shares of Beneficial Interest 76,912
Item 27. INDEMNIFICATION
Pursuant to Section 5.3 of the Registrant's Declaration of Trust and under
Section 4.8 of the Registrant's By-Laws, the indemnification of the Registrant's
trustees, officers, employees and agents is permitted if it is determined that
they acted under the belief that their actions were in or not opposed to the
best interest of the Registrant, and, with respect to any criminal proceeding,
they had reasonable cause to believe their conduct was not unlawful. In
addition, indemnification is permitted only if it is determined that the actions
in question did not render them liable by reason of willful misfeasance, bad
faith or gross negligence in the performance of their duties or by reason of
reckless disregard of their obligations and duties to the Registrant. Trustees,
officers, employees and agents will be indemnified for the expense of litigation
if it is determined that they are entitled to indemnification against any
liability established in such litigation. The Registrant may also advance money
for these expenses provided that they give their undertakings to repay the
Registrant unless their conduct is later determined to permit indemnification.
Pursuant to Section 5.2 of the Registrant's Declaration of Trust and
paragraph 8 of the Registrant's Investment Management Agreement, neither the
Investment Manager nor any trustee, officer, employee or agent of the Registrant
shall be liable for any action or failure to act, except in the case of bad
faith, willful misfeasance, gross negligence or reckless disregard of duties to
the Registrant.
2
<PAGE>
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 28. BUSINESS AND OTHER CONNECTIONS OF INVESTMENT ADVISER.
See "The Fund and Its Management" in the Prospectus regarding the business
of the investment adviser. The following information is given regarding
officers of Dean Witter InterCapital Inc. The term "Dean Witter Funds" used
below refers to the following Funds: (1) InterCapital Income Securities Inc.,
(2) High Income Advantage Trust, (3) High Income Advantage Trust II, (4) High
Income Advantage Trust III, (5) Municipal Income Trust, (6) Municipal Income
Trust II, (7) Municipal Income Trust III, (8) Dean Witter Government Income
Trust, (9) Municipal Premium Income Trust, (10) Municipal Income Opportunities
Trust, (11) Municipal Income Opportunities Trust II, (12) Municipal
3
<PAGE>
Income Opportunities Trust III, (13) Prime Income Trust, (14) InterCapital
Insured Municipal Bond Trust, (15) InterCapital Quality Municipal Income Trust,
(16) InterCapital Quality Municipal Investment Trust, (17) InterCapital Insured
Municipal Income Trust, (18) InterCapital California Insured Municipal Income
Trust, (19) InterCapital Insured Municipal Trust, (20) InterCapital Quality
Municipal Securities, (21) InterCapital New York Quality Municipal Securities,
(22) InterCapital California Quality Municipal Securities, (23) InterCapital
Insured California Municipal Securities and (24) InterCapital Insured Municipal
Securities, registered closed-end investment companies, and (1) Dean Witter
Short-Term Bond Fund, (2) Dean Witter Tax-Exempt Securities Trust, (3) Dean
Witter Tax-Free Daily Income Trust, (4) Dean Witter Dividend Growth Securities
Inc., (5) Dean Witter Convertible Securities Trust, (6) Dean Witter Liquid Asset
Fund Inc., (7) Dean Witter Developing Growth Securities Trust, (8) Dean Witter
Retirement Series, (9) Dean Witter Federal Securities Trust, (10) Dean Witter
World Wide Investment Trust, (11) Dean Witter U.S. Government Securities Trust,
(12) Dean Witter Select Municipal Reinvestment Fund, (13) Dean Witter High Yield
Securities Inc., (14) Dean Witter Intermediate Income Securities, (15) Dean
Witter New York Tax-Free Income Fund, (16) Dean Witter California Tax-Free
Income Fund, (17) Dean Witter Health Sciences Trust, (18) Dean Witter California
Tax-Free Daily Income Trust, (19) Dean Witter Managed Assets Trust, (20) Dean
Witter American Value Fund, (21) Dean Witter Strategist Fund, (22) Dean Witter
Utilities Fund, (23) Dean Witter World Wide Income Trust, (24) Dean Witter New
York Municipal Money Market Trust, (25) Dean Witter Capital Growth Securities,
(26) Dean Witter Precious Metals and Minerals Trust, (27) Dean Witter European
Growth Fund Inc., (28) Dean Witter Global Short-Term Income Fund Inc., (29) Dean
Witter Pacific Growth Fund Inc., (30) Dean Witter Multi-State Municipal Series
Trust, (31) Dean Witter Premier Income Trust, (32) Dean Witter Short-Term U.S.
Treasury Trust, (33) Dean Witter Diversified Income Trust, (34) Dean Witter U.S.
Government Money Market Trust, (35) Dean Witter Global Dividend Growth
Securities, (36) Active Assets California Tax-Free Trust, (37) Dean Witter
Natural Resource Development Securities Inc., (38) Active Assets Government
Securities Trust, (39) Active Assets Money Trust, (40) Active Assets Tax-Free
Trust, (41) Dean Witter Limited Term Municipal Trust, (42) Dean Witter Variable
Investment Series, (43) Dean Witter Value-Added Market Series, (44) Dean Witter
Global Utilities Fund, (45) Dean Witter High Income Securities, (46) Dean Witter
National Municipal Trust, (47) Dean Witter International SmallCap Fund and (48)
Dean Witter Mid-Cap Growth Fund, registered open-end investment companies.
InterCapital is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Dean Witter, Discover & Co. The
principal address of the Dean Witter Funds is Two World Trade Center, New York,
New York 10048. The term "TCW/DW Funds" refers to the following Funds: (1)
TCW/DW Core Equity Trust, (2) TCW/DW North American Government Income Trust, (3)
TCW/DW Latin American Growth Fund, (4) TCW/DW Income and Growth Fund, (5) TCW/DW
Small Cap Growth Fund, (6) TCW/DW Balanced Fund, (7) TCW/DW North American
Intermediate Income
4
<PAGE>
Trust, (8) TCW/DW Global Convertible Trust,registered open-end investment
companies and (9) TCW/DW Term Trust 2002, (10) TCW/DW Term Trust 2003 (11)
TCW/DW Term Trust 2000, and (12) TCW/DW Emerging Markets Opportunities Trust,
registered closed-end investment companies.
Other Substantial
Business, Profession,
Position with Vocation or Employment,
Dean Witter including Name, Prin-
InterCapital cipal Address and
Name Inc. Nature of Connection
---- ---------------- ---------------------
Charles A. Chairman, Chief Executive Vice
Fiumefreddo Executive Officer President and Director
and Director of Dean Witter Reynolds Inc.
("DWR"); Chairman, Director or
Trustee, President and Chief
Executive Officer of the
Dean Witter Funds;
Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and
Trustee of the TCW/DW Funds; Chairman
and Director of Dean Witter Trust
Company ("DWTC"); Chairman, Chief
Executive Officer and Director of
Dean Witter Distributors Inc.
("Distributors") and Dean Witter
Services Company Inc. ("DWSC");
Formerly Executive Vice President and
Director of Dean Witter, Discover &
Co.("DWDC"); Director and/or officer
of various DWDC subsidiaries.
5
<PAGE>
Other Substantial
Business, Profession,
Position with Vocation or Employment,
Dean Witter including Name, Prin-
InterCapital cipal Address and
Name Inc. Nature of Connection
---- ---------------- ---------------------
Philip J. Director Chairman, Chief Executive
Purcell Officer and Director of DWDC
and DWR; Director of DWSC
and Distributors;
Director or Trustee
of the Dean Witter
Funds; Director and/
or officer of various
DWDC subsidiaries.
Richard M. Director President and Chief
DeMartini Operating Officer of
Dean Witter Capital
and Director of DWR,
DWSC and Distibutors;
Trustee of the TCW/DW
Funds.
James F. Director President and Chief
Higgins Operating Officer of
Dean Witter Financial;
Director of DWR, DWSC
and Distributors.
Thomas C. Executive Vice Executive Vice
Schneider President, Chief President, Chief
Financial Officer Financial Officer
and Director and Director of
DWSC, DWR and
Distributors.
Christine A. Director Executive Vice
Edwards President, Secretary,
General Counsel and
Director of DWR,
DWSC and Distributors.
Robert M. Scanlan President and Vice President of
Chief Operating the Dean Witter Funds
Officer and the TCW/DW Funds;
President and Chief
Operating Officer
of DWSC; Executive
Vice President of
Distributors;
Executive Vice
President and
Director of DWTC.
6
<PAGE>
Other Substantial
Business, Profession,
Position with Vocation or Employment,
Dean Witter including Name, Prin-
InterCapital cipal Address and
Name Inc. Nature of Connection
---- ---------------- ---------------------
David A. Hughey Executive Vice Vice President of the
President and Dean Witter Funds and
Chief Administrative the TCW/DW Funds;
Officer Executive Vice
President, Chief
Administrative Officer
and Director of DWTC;
Executive Vice
President and Chief
Administrative Officer
of DWSC and
Distributors.
Edmund C. Executive Vice Vice President of the
Puckhaber President Dean Witter Funds.
John Van Heuvelen Executive Vice President and Chief
President Operating Officer of
DWTC.
Sheldon Curtis Senior Vice Vice President,
President, Secretary and
General Counsel General Counsel of the
and Secretary Dean Witter Funds and
the TCW/DW Funds; Senior Vice
President and Secretary of
DWTC; Assistant Secretary
of DWR and DWDC;
Senior Vice
President, General
Counsel and Secretary
of DWSC; Senior Vice President,
Assistant
General Counsel and
Assistant Secretary
of Distributors.
Peter M. Avelar Senior Vice Vice President of
President various Dean Witter
Funds.
Mark Bavoso Senior Vice Vice President of
President various Dean Witter
Funds.
7
<PAGE>
Other Substantial
Business, Profession,
Position with Vocation or Employment,
Dean Witter including Name, Prin-
InterCapital cipal Address and
Name Inc. Nature of Connection
---- ---------------- ---------------------
Thomas H. Connelly Senior Vice Vice President of
President various Dean Witter
Funds.
Edward F. Gaylor Senior Vice Vice President of
President various Dean Witter Funds.
Rajesh K. Gupta Senior Vice Vice President of
President various Dean Witter
Funds.
Kenton J. Senior Vice Vice President of
Hinchliffe President various Dean Witter
Funds.
John B. Kemp, III Senior Vice Director of the
President Provident Savings
Bank, Jersey City,
New Jersey.
Anita H. Kolleeny Senior Vice Vice President of
President various Dean Witter
Funds.
Jonathan R. Page Senior Vice Vice President of
President various Dean Witter
Funds.
Ira Ross Senior Vice Vice President of
President various Dean Witter
Funds.
Rochelle G. Siegel Senior Vice Vice President of
President various Dean Witter
Funds.
Paul D. Vance Senior Vice Vice President of
President various Dean Witter
Funds.
Elizabeth A. Senior Vice
Vetell President
James F. Willison Senior Vice Vice President of
President various Dean Witter
Funds.
Ronald J. Worobel Senior Vice Vice President of
President various Dean Witter
Funds.
8
<PAGE>
Other Substantial
Business, Profession,
Position with Vocation or Employment,
Dean Witter including Name, Prin-
InterCapital cipal Address and
Name Inc. Nature of Connection
---- ---------------- ---------------------
Thomas F. Caloia First Vice Treasurer of the
President and Dean Witter Funds
Assistant Treasurer and the TCW/DW Funds;
First Vice President
and Assistant
Treasurer of DWSC;
Assistant Treasurer
of Distributors.
Marilyn K. Cranney First Vice Assistant Secretary
President and of the Dean Witter
Assistant Funds and the TCW/DW
Secretary Funds; First Vice
President and
Assistant Secretary
of DWSC; Assistant
Secretary of DWR
and DWDC.
Barry Fink First Vice Assistant Secretary
President of the Dean Witter
and Assistant Funds and the TCW/DW
Secretary Funds; First Vice
President and
Assistant Secretary
of DWSC.
Michael First Vice First Vice President
Interrante President and and Controller of
Controller DWSC; Assistant
Treasurer of
Distributors.
Robert Zimmerman First Vice
President
Joan G. Allman Vice President
Joseph Arcieri Vice President
Stephen Brophy Vice President
Terence P.
Brennan,II Vice President
Douglas Brown Vice President
Thomas Chronert Vice President
Rosalie Clough Vice President
B. Catherine Vice President
Connelly
9
<PAGE>
Other Substantial
Business, Profession,
Position with Vocation or Employment,
Dean Witter including Name, Prin-
InterCapital cipal Address and
Name Inc. Nature of Connection
---- ---------------- ---------------------
Salvatore DeSteno Vice President Vice President of
DWSC.
Frank J. DeVito Vice President Vice President of
DWSC.
Dwight Doolan Vice President
Bruce Dunn Vice President
Jeffrey D. Geffen Vice President
Deborah Genovese Vice President
Peter W. Gurman Vice President
Shant Harootunian Vice President
Russell Harper Vice President
John Hechtlinger Vice President
David T. Hoffman Vice President
David Johnson Vice President
Christopher Jones Vice President
Stanley Kapica Vice President
Konrad J. Krill Vice President
Paula LaCosta Vice President Vice President of
various Dean Witter
Funds.
Lawrence S. Lafer Vice President Assistant Secretary
and Assistant of the Dean Witter
Secretary Funds and the TCW/DW
Funds; Vice President
and Assistant Secretary of DWSC.
Thomas Lawlor Vice President
Lou Anne D.
McInnis Vice President Assistant Secretary
and Assistant of the Dean Witter
Secretary Funds and the TCW/DW
Funds; Vice President
and Assistant
Secretary of DWSC.
10
<PAGE>
Other Substantial
Business, Profession,
Position with Vocation or Employment,
Dean Witter including Name, Prin-
InterCapital cipal Address and
Name Inc. Nature of Connection
---- ---------------- ---------------------
Sharon K. Milligan Vice President
James Mulcahy Vice President
James Nash Vice President
Richard Norris Vice President
Hugh Rose Vice President
Ruth Rossi Vice President Assistant Secretary
and Assistant of the Dean Witter
Secretary Funds and the TCW/DW
Funds; Vice President and Assistant
Secretary of DWSC.
Carl F. Sadler Vice President
Rafael Scolari Vice President
Diane Lisa Sobin Vice President Vice President of
various Dean Witter
Funds.
Kathleen Stromberg Vice President Vice President of
various Dean Witter
Funds.
Vinh Q. Tran Vice President Vice President of
various Dean Witter
Funds.
Alice Weiss Vice President Vice President
of various Dean
Witter Funds.
Jayne M. Wolff Vice President
Marianne Zalys Vice President
Item 29. PRINCIPAL UNDERWRITERS
(a) Dean Witter Distributors Inc. ("Distributors"), a Delaware corporation,
is the principal underwriter of the Registrant. Distributors is also the
principal underwriter of the following investment companies:
(1) Dean Witter Liquid Asset Fund Inc.
(2) Dean Witter Tax-Free Daily Income Trust
(3) Dean Witter California Tax-Free Daily Income Trust
(4) Dean Witter Retirement Series
11
<PAGE>
(5) Dean Witter Dividend Growth Securities Inc.
(6) Dean Witter Natural Resource Development Securities Inc.
(7) Dean Witter World Wide Investment Trust
(8) Dean Witter Capital Growth Securities
(9) Dean Witter Convertible Securities Trust
(10) Active Assets Tax-Free Trust
(11) Active Assets Money Trust
(12) Active Assets California Tax-Free Trust
(13) Active Assets Government Securities Trust
(14) Dean Witter Short-Term Bond Fund
(15) Dean Witter Federal Securities Trust
(16) Dean Witter U.S. Government Securities Trust
(17) Dean Witter High Yield Securities Inc.
(18) Dean Witter New York Tax-Free Income Fund
(19) Dean Witter Tax-Exempt Securities Trust
(20) Dean Witter California Tax-Free Income Fund
(21) Dean Witter Managed Assets Trust
(22) Dean Witter Limited Term Municipal Trust
(23) Dean Witter World Wide Income Trust
(24) Dean Witter Utilities Fund
(25) Dean Witter Strategist Fund
(26) Dean Witter New York Municipal Money Market Trust
(27) Dean Witter Intermediate Income Securities
(28) Prime Income Trust
(29) Dean Witter European Growth Fund Inc.
(30) Dean Witter Developing Growth Securities Trust
(31) Dean Witter Precious Metals and Minerals Trust
(32) Dean Witter Pacific Growth Fund Inc.
(33) Dean Witter Multi-State Municipal Series Trust
(34) Dean Witter Premier Income Trust
(35) Dean Witter Short-Term U.S. Treasury Trust
(36) Dean Witter Diversified Income Trust
(37) Dean Witter Health Sciences Trust
(38) Dean Witter Global Dividend Growth Securities
(39) Dean Witter American Value Fund
(40) Dean Witter U.S. Government Money Market Trust
(41) Dean Witter Global Short-Term Income Fund Inc.
(42) Dean Witter Variable Investment Series
(43) Dean Witter Value-Added Market Series
(44) Dean Witter Global Utilities Fund
(45) Dean Witter High Income Securities
(46) Dean Witter National Municipal Trust
(47) Dean Witter International SmallCap Fund
(48) Dean Witter Mid-Cap Growth Fund
(1) TCW/DW Core Equity Trust
(2) TCW/DW North American Government Income Trust
(3) TCW/DW Latin American Growth Fund
(4) TCW/DW Income and Growth Fund
(5) TCW/DW Small Cap Growth Fund
(6) TCW/DW Balanced Fund
(7) TCW/DW North American Intermediate Income Trust
(8) TCW/DW Global Convertible Trust
(b) The following information is given regarding directors and officers of
Distributors not listed in Item 28 above. The principal address of
Distributors is Two World Trade Center, New York, New York 10048. None of the
following persons has any position or office with the Registrant.
12
<PAGE>
Positions and
Office with
Name Distributors
- ---- -------------
Fredrick K. Kubler Senior Vice President, Assistant
Secretary and Chief Compliance
Officer.
Michael T. Gregg Vice President and Assistant
Secretary.
Item 30. LOCATION OF ACCOUNTS AND RECORDS
All accounts, books and other documents required to be maintained by
Section 31(a) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 and the Rules thereunder are
maintained by the Investment Manager at its offices, except records relating to
holders of shares issued by the Registrant, which are maintained by the
Registrant's Transfer Agent, at its place of business as shown in the
prospectus.
Item 31. MANAGEMENT SERVICES
Registrant is not a party to any such management-related service
contract.
Item 32. UNDERTAKINGS
Registrant hereby undertakes to furnish each person to whom a prospectus
is delivered with a copy of the Registrant's latest annual report to
shareholders, upon request and without charge.
<PAGE>
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 19th day of September, 1994.
DEAN WITTER STRATEGIST FUND
By /s/ Sheldon Curtis
----------------------------------
Sheldon Curtis
Vice President and Secretary
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Post-
Effective Amendment No. 7 has been signed below by the following persons in the
capacities and on the dates indicated.
Signatures Title Date
---------- ----- ----
(1) Principal Executive Officer President, Chief
Executive Officer,
Trustee and Chairman
By /s/ Charles A. Fiumefreddo 09/19/94
----------------------------
Charles A. Fiumefreddo
(2) Principal Financial Officer Treasurer and Principal
Accounting Officer
By /s/ Thomas F. Caloia 09/19/94
----------------------------
Thomas F. Caloia
(3) Majority of the Trustees
Charles A. Fiumefreddo (Chairman)
Edward R. Telling
Philip J. Purcell
By /s/ Sheldon Curtis 09/19/94
----------------------------
Sheldon Curtis
Attorney-in-Fact
Jack F. Bennett Manuel H. Johnson
Michael Bozic Paul Kolton
Edwin J. Garn Michael E. Nugent
John R. Haire John L. Schroeder
John E. Jeuck
By /s/ David M. Butowsky 09/19/94
----------------------------
David M. Butowsky
Attorney-in-Fact
<PAGE>
DEAN WITTER STRATEGIST FUND
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit No. Description
----------- -----------
8. - Form of Amended and Restated Transfer Agency
and Services Agreement between Registrant and
Dean Witter Trust Company
9. - Form of Services Agreement between Dean Witter
InterCapital Inc. and Dean Witter Services
Company Inc.
11. - Consent of Independent Accountants
16. - Schedules for Computation of Performance
Quotations
27. - Financial Data Schedule
Other - Powers of Attorney
<PAGE>
AMENDED AND RESTATED
TRANSFER AGENCY AND SERVICE AGREEMENT
with
DEAN WITTER TRUST COMPANY
DWR
[open-end]
<PAGE>
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE
Article 1 Terms of Appointment; Duties of DWTC............... 2
Article 2 Fees and Expenses.................................. 6
Article 3 Representations and Warranties of DWTC............. 7
Article 4 Representations and Warranties of the
Fund............................................... 8
Article 5 Duty of Care and Indemnification.................... 9
Article 6 Documents and Covenants of the Fund and
DWTC............................................... 12
Article 7 Duration and Termination of Agreement.............. 16
Article 8 Assignment......................................... 16
Article 9 Affiliations....................................... 17
Article 10 Amendment.......................................... 18
Article 11 Applicable Law..................................... 18
Article 12 Miscellaneous...................................... 18
Article 13 Merger of Agreement................................ 20
Article 14 Personal Liability................................. 21
-i-
<PAGE>
AMENDED AND RESTATED TRANSFER AGENCY AND SERVICE AGREEMENT
AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT made as of the 1st day of August, 1993
by and between each of the Dean Witter Funds listed on the signature pages
hereof, each of such Funds acting severally on its own behalf and not jointly
with any of such other Funds (each such Fund hereinafter referred to as the
"Fund"), each such Fund having its principal office and place of business at Two
World Trade Center, New York, New York, 10048, and DEAN WITTER TRUST COMPANY, a
trust company organized under the laws of New Jersey, having its principal
office and place of business at Harborside Financial Center, Plaza Two, Jersey
City, New Jersey 07311 ("DWTC").
WHEREAS, the Fund desires to appoint DWTC as its transfer agent,
dividend disbursing agent and shareholder servicing agent and DWTC desires to
accept such appointment;
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants herein
contained, the parties hereto agree as follows:
-1-
<PAGE>
Article 1 TERMS OF APPOINTMENT; DUTIES OF DWTC
1.1 Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this
Agreement, the Fund hereby employs and appoints DWTC to act as, and DWTC agrees
to act as, the transfer agent for each series and class of shares of the Fund,
whether now or hereafter authorized or issued ("Shares"), dividend disbursing
agent and shareholder servicing agent in connection with any accumulation,
open-account or similar plans provided to the holders of such Shares
("Shareholders") and set out in the currently effective prospectus and statement
of additional information ("prospectus") of the Fund, including without
limitation any periodic investment plan or periodic withdrawal program.
1.2 DWTC agrees that it will perform the following services:
(a) In accordance with procedures established from time to time
by agreement between the Fund and DWTC, DWTC shall:
(i) Receive for acceptance, orders for the purchase of Shares,
and promptly deliver payment and appropriate documentation therefor to the
custodian of the assets of the Fund (the "Custodian");
-2-
<PAGE>
(ii) Pursuant to purchase orders, issue the appropriate number
of Shares and issue certificates therefor or hold such Shares in book form in
the appropriate Shareholder account;
(iii) Receive for acceptance redemption requests and redemption
directions and deliver the appropriate documentation therefor to the Custodian;
(iv) At the appropriate time as and when it receives monies paid
to it by the Custodian with respect to any redemption, pay over or cause to be
paid over in the appropriate manner such monies as instructed by the redeeming
Shareholders;
(v) Effect transfers of Shares by the registered owners thereof
upon receipt of appropriate instructions;
(vi) Prepare and transmit payments for dividends and
distributions declared by the Fund;
(vii) Calculate any sales charges payable by a Shareholder on
purchases and/or redemptions of Shares of the Fund as such charges may be
reflected in the prospectus;
(viii) Maintain records of account for and advise the Fund and
its Shareholders as to the foregoing; and
-3-
<PAGE>
(ix) Record the issuance of Shares of the Fund and maintain
pursuant to Rule 17Ad-10(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 ("1934
Act") a record of the total number of Shares of the Fund which are authorized,
based upon data provided to it by the Fund, and issued and outstanding. DWTC
shall also provide to the Fund on a regular basis the total number of Shares
which are authorized, issued and outstanding and shall notify the Fund in case
any proposed issue of Shares by the Fund would result in an overissue. In case
any issue of Shares would result in an overissue, DWTC shall refuse to issue
such Shares and shall not countersign and issue any certificates requested for
such Shares. When recording the issuance of Shares, DWTC shall have no
obligation to take cognizance of any Blue Sky laws relating to the issue of sale
of such Shares, which functions shall be the sole responsibility of the Fund.
(b) In addition to and not in lieu of the services set forth in
the above paragraph (a), DWTC shall: (i) perform all of the customary services
of a transfer agent, dividend disbursing agent and, as relevant, shareholder
servicing agent in connection with dividend reinvestment, accumulation,
open-account or similar plans (including without limitation any periodic
investment plan or periodic withdrawal program), including but not limited to,
maintaining all Shareholder accounts, preparing Shareholder meeting lists,
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mailing proxies, receiving and tabulating proxies, mailing shareholder reports
and prospectuses to current Shareholders, withholding taxes on U.S. resident and
non-resident alien accounts, preparing and filing appropriate forms required
with respect to dividends and distributions by federal tax authorities for all
Shareholders, preparing and mailing confirmation forms and statements of account
to Shareholders for all purchases and redemptions of Shares and other
confirmable transactions in Shareholder accounts, preparing and mailing activity
statements for Shareholders and providing Shareholder account information; (ii)
open any and all bank accounts which may be necessary or appropriate in order to
provide the foregoing services; and (iii) provide a system which will enable the
Fund to monitor the total number of Shares sold in each State or other
jurisdiction.
(c) In addition, the Fund shall (i) identify to DWTC in writing
those transactions and assets to be treated as exempt from Blue Sky reporting
for each State and (ii) verify the establishment of transactions for each State
on the system prior to activation and thereafter monitor the daily activity for
each State. The responsibility of DWTC for the Fund's registration status under
the Blue Sky or securities laws of any State or other jurisdiction is solely
limited to the initial establishment of transactions subject to Blue Sky
compliance by the Fund and the reporting of such transactions
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<PAGE>
to the Fund as provided above and as agreed from time to time by the Fund and
DWTC.
(d) DWTC shall provide such additional services and functions
not specifically described herein as may be mutually agreed between DWTC and the
Fund. Procedures applicable to such services may be established from time to
time by agreement between the Fund and DWTC.
Article 2 FEES AND EXPENSES
2.1 For performance by DWTC pursuant to this Agreement, each
Fund agrees to pay DWTC an annual maintenance fee for each Shareholder account
and certain transactional fees, if applicable, as set out in the respective fee
schedule attached hereto as Schedule A. Such fees and out-of-pocket expenses and
advances identified under Section 2.2 below may be changed from time to time
subject to mutual written agreement between the Fund and DWTC.
2.2 In addition to the fees paid under Section 2.1 above, the
Fund agrees to reimburse DWTC in connection with the services rendered by DWTC
hereunder. In addition, any other expenses incurred by DWTC at the request or
with the consent of the Fund will be reimbursed by the Fund.
2.3 The Fund agrees to pay all fees and reimbursable expenses
within a reasonable period of time
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following the mailing of the respective billing notice. Postage for mailing of
dividends, proxies, Fund reports and other mailings to all Shareholder accounts
shall be advanced to DWTC by the Fund upon request prior to the mailing date of
such materials.
Article 3 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF DWTC
DWTC represents and warrants to the Fund that:
3.1 It is a trust company duly organized and existing and in
good standing under the laws of New Jersey and it is duly qualified to carry on
its business in New Jersey.
3.2 It is and will remain registered with the U.S. Securities
and Exchange Commission ("SEC") as a Transfer Agent pursuant to the requirements
of Section 17A of the 1934 Act.
3.3 It is empowered under applicable laws and by its charter and
By-Laws to enter into and perform this Agreement.
3.4 All requisite corporate proceedings have been taken to
authorize it to enter into and perform this Agreement.
3.5 It has and will continue to have access to the necessary
facilities, equipment and personnel to perform its duties and obligations under
this Agreement.
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<PAGE>
Article 4 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE FUND
The Fund represents and warrants to DWTC that:
4.1 It is a corporation duly organized and existing and in good
standing under the laws of Delaware or Maryland or a trust duly organized and
existing and in good standing under the laws of Massachusetts, as the case may
be.
4.2 It is empowered under applicable laws and by its Articles of
Incorporation or Declaration of Trust, as the case may be, and under its By-Laws
to enter into and perform this Agreement.
4.3 All corporate proceedings necessary to authorize it to
enter into and perform this Agreement have been taken.
4.4 It is an investment company registered with the SEC under
the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act").
4.5 A registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933
(the "1933 Act") is currently effective and will remain effective, and
appropriate state securities law filings have been made and will continue to be
made, with respect to all Shares of the Fund being offered for sale.
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<PAGE>
Article 5 DUTY OF CARE AND INDEMNIFICATION
5.1 DWTC shall not be responsible for, and the Fund shall
indemnify and hold DWTC harmless from and against, any and all losses, damages,
costs, charges, counsel fees, payments, expenses and liability arising out of or
attributable to:
(a) All actions of DWTC or its agents or subcontractors required
to be taken pursuant to this Agreement, provided that such actions are taken in
good faith and without negligence or willful misconduct.
(b) The Fund's refusal or failure to comply with the terms of
this Agreement, or which arise out of the Fund's lack of good faith, negligence
or willful misconduct or which arise out of breach of any representation or
warranty of the Fund hereunder.
(c) The reliance on or use by DWTC or its agents or
subcontractors of information, records and documents which (i) are received by
DWTC or its agents or subcontractors and furnished to it by or on behalf of the
Fund, and (ii) have been prepared and/or maintained by the Fund or any other
person or firm on behalf of the Fund.
(d) The reliance on, or the carrying out by DWTC or its agents
or subcontractors of, any instructions or requests
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<PAGE>
of the Fund.
(e) The offer or sale of Shares in violation of any requirement
under the federal securities laws or regulations or the securities or Blue Sky
laws of any State or other jurisdiction that such Shares be registered in such
State or other jurisdiction or in violation of any stop order or other
determination or ruling by any federal agency or any State or other jurisdiction
with respect to the offer or sale of such Shares in such State or other
jurisdiction.
5.2 DWTC shall indemnify and hold the Fund harmless from or
against any and all losses, damages, costs, charges, counsel fees, payments,
expenses and liability arising out of or attributable to any action or failure
or omission to act by DWTC as a result of the lack of good faith, negligence or
willful misconduct of DWTC, its officers, employees or agents.
5.3 At any time, DWTC may apply to any officer of the Fund for
instructions, and may consult with legal counsel to the Fund, with respect to
any matter arising in connection with the services to be performed by DWTC under
this Agreement, and DWTC and its agents or subcontractors shall not be liable
and shall be indemnified by the Fund for any action taken or omitted by it in
reliance upon such instructions or upon the opinion of such counsel. DWTC, its
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<PAGE>
agents and subcontractors shall be protected and indemnified in acting upon any
paper or document furnished by or on behalf of the Fund, reasonably believed to
be genuine and to have been signed by the proper person or persons, or upon any
instruction, information, data, records or documents provided to DWTC or its
agents or subcontractors by machine readable input, telex, CRT data entry or
other similar means authorized by the Fund, and shall not be held to have notice
of any change of authority of any person, until receipt of written notice
thereof from the Fund. DWTC, its agents and subcontractors shall also be
protected and indemnified in recognizing stock certificates which are reasonably
believed to bear the proper manual or facsimile signature of the officers of the
Fund, and the proper countersignature of any former transfer agent or registrar,
or of a co-transfer agent or co-registrar.
5.4 In the event either party is unable to perform its
obligations under the terms of this Agreement because of acts of God, strikes,
equipment or transmission failure or damage reasonably beyond its control, or
other causes reasonably beyond its control, such party shall not be liable for
damages to the other for any damages resulting from such failure to perform or
otherwise from such causes.
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<PAGE>
5.5 Neither party to this Agreement shall be liable to the
other party for consequential damages under any provision of this Agreement or
for any act or failure to act hereunder.
5.6 In order that the indemnification provisions contained in
this Article 5 shall apply, upon the assertion of a claim for which either party
may be required to indemnify the other, the party seeking indemnification shall
promptly notify the other party of such assertion, and shall keep the other
party advised with respect to all developments concerning such claim. The party
who may be required to indemnify shall have the option to participate with the
party seeking indemnification in the defense of such claim. The party seeking
indemnification shall in no case confess any claim or make any compromise in any
case in which the other party may be required to indemnify it except with the
other party's prior written consent.
Article 6 DOCUMENTS AND COVENANTS OF THE FUND AND DWTC
6.1 The Fund shall promptly furnish to DWTC the following:
(a) If a corporation:
(i) A certified copy of the resolution of the Board of
Directors of the Fund authorizing the appointment of DWTC and the execution and
delivery of this Agreement;
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<PAGE>
(ii) A certified copy of the Articles of Incorporation and
By-Laws of the Fund and all amendments thereto;
(iii) Certified copies of each vote of the Board of Directors
designating persons authorized to give instructions on behalf of the Fund and
signature cards bearing the signature of any officer of the Fund or any other
person authorized to sign written instructions on behalf of the Fund;
(iv) A specimen of the certificate for Shares of the Fund in the
form approved by the Board of Directors, with a certificate of the Secretary of
the Fund as to such approval;
(b) If a business trust:
(i) A certified copy of the resolution of the Board of Trustees
of the Fund authorizing the appointment of DWTC and the execution and delivery
of this Agreement;
(ii) A certified copy of the Declaration of Trust and By-laws of
the Fund and all amendments thereto;
(iii) Certified copies of each vote of the Board of Trustees
designating persons authorized to give instructions on behalf of the Fund and
signature cards bearing the signature of any officer of the Fund or any other
person authorized to sign written instructions on behalf of the Fund;
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<PAGE>
(iv) A specimen of the certificate for Shares of the Fund in the
form approved by the Board of Trustees, with a certificate of the Secretary of
the Fund as to such approval;
(c) The current registration statements and any amendments and
supplements thereto filed with the SEC pursuant to the requirements of the 1933
Act or the 1940 Act;
(d) All account application forms or other documents relating
to Shareholder accounts and/or relating to any plan, program or service offered
or to be offered by the Fund; and
(e) Such other certificates, documents or opinions as DWTC
deems to be appropriate or necessary for the proper performance of its duties.
6.2 DWTC hereby agrees to establish and maintain facilities and
procedures reasonably acceptable to the Fund for safekeeping of Share
certificates, check forms and facsimile signature imprinting devices, if any;
and for the preparation or use, and for keeping account of, such certificates,
forms and devices.
6.3 DWTC shall prepare and keep records relating to the
services to be performed hereunder, in the form and manner as it may deem
advisable and as required by applicable laws and regulations. To the extent
required by
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<PAGE>
Section 31 of the 1940 Act, and the rules and regulations thereunder, DWTC
agrees that all such records prepared or maintained by DWTC relating to the
services performed by DWTC hereunder are the property of the Fund and will be
preserved, maintained and made available in accordance with such Section 31 of
the 1940 Act, and the rules and regulations thereunder, and will be surrendered
promptly to the Fund on and in accordance with its request.
6.4 DWTC and the Fund agree that all books, records,
information and data pertaining to the business of the other party which are
exchanged or received pursuant to the negotiation or the carrying out of this
Agreement shall remain confidential and shall not be voluntarily disclosed to
any other person except as may be required by law or with the prior consent of
DWTC and the Fund.
6.5 In case of any request or demands for the inspection of the
Shareholder records of the Fund, DWTC will endeavor to notify the Fund and to
secure instructions from an authorized officer of the Fund as to such
inspection. DWTC reserves the right, however, to exhibit the Shareholder
records to any person whenever it is advised by its counsel that it may be held
liable for the failure to exhibit the Shareholder records to such person.
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<PAGE>
Article 7 DURATION AND TERMINATION OF AGREEMENT
7.1 This Agreement shall remain in full force and effect until
July 31, 1996 and from year-to-year thereafter unless terminated by either party
as provided in Section 7.2 hereof.
7.2 This Agreement may be terminated by the Fund on 60 days
written notice, and by DWTC on 90 days written notice, to the other party
without payment of any penalty.
7.3 Should the Fund exercise its right to terminate, all
out-of-pocket expenses associated with the movement of records and other
materials will be borne by the Fund. Additionally, DWTC reserves the right to
charge for any other reasonable fees and expenses associated with such
termination.
Article 8 ASSIGNMENT
8.1 Except as provided in Section 8.3 below, neither this
Agreement nor any rights or obligations hereunder may be assigned by either
party without the written consent of the other party.
8.2 This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding
upon the parties and their respective permitted successors and assigns.
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<PAGE>
8.3 DWTC may, in its sole discretion and without further
consent by the Fund, subcontract, in whole or in part, for the performance of
its obligations and duties hereunder with any person or entity including but not
limited to companies which are affiliated with DWTC; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that
such person or entity has and maintains the qualifications, if any, required to
perform such obligations and duties, and that DWTC shall be as fully responsible
to the Fund for the acts and omissions of any agent or subcontractor as it is
for its own acts or omissions under this Agreement.
Article 9 AFFILIATIONS
9.1 DWTC may now or hereafter, without the consent of or notice
to the Fund, function as transfer agent and/or shareholder servicing agent for
any other investment company registered with the SEC under the 1940 Act and for
any other issuer, including without limitation any investment company whose
adviser, administrator, sponsor or principal underwriter is or may become
affiliated with Dean Witter, Discover & Co. or any of its direct or indirect
subsidiaries or affiliates.
9.2 It is understood and agreed that the Directors or Trustees
(as the case may be), officers, employees, agents and shareholders of the Fund,
and the directors, officers, employees, agents and shareholders of the
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Fund's investment adviser and/or distributor, are or may be interested in DWTC
as directors, officers, employees, agents and shareholders or otherwise, and
that the directors, officers, employees, agents and shareholders of DWTC may be
interested in the Fund as Directors or Trustees (as the case may be), officers,
employees, agents and shareholders or otherwise, or in the investment adviser
and/or distributor as directors, officers, employees, agents, shareholders or
otherwise.
Article 10 AMENDMENT
10.1 This Agreement may be amended or modified by a written
agreement executed by both parties and authorized or approved by a resolution of
the Board of Directors or the Board of Trustees (as the case may be) of the
Fund.
Article 11 APPLICABLE LAW
11.1 This Agreement shall be construed and the provisions
thereof interpreted under and in accordance with the laws of the State of New
York.
Article 12 MISCELLANEOUS
12.1 In the event that one or more additional investment
companies managed or administered by Dean Witter InterCapital Inc. or any of its
affiliates ("Additional Funds") desires to retain DWTC to act as transfer
agent, dividend disbursing agent and/or shareholder servicing agent,
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<PAGE>
and DWTC desires to render such services, such services shall be provided
pursuant to a letter agreement, substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto,
between DWTC and each Additional Fund.
12.2 In the event of an alleged loss or destruction of any Share
certificate, no new certificate shall be issued in lieu thereof, unless there
shall first be furnished to DWTC an affidavit of loss or non-receipt by the
holder of Shares with respect to which a certificate has been lost or destroyed,
supported by an appropriate bond satisfactory to DWTC and the Fund issued by a
surety company satisfactory to DWTC, except that DWTC may accept an affidavit of
loss and indemnity agreement executed by the registered holder (or legal
representative) without surety in such form as DWTC deems appropriate
indemnifying DWTC and the Fund for the issuance of a replacement certificate, in
cases where the alleged loss is in the amount of $1000 or less.
12.3 In the event that any check or other order for payment of
money on the account of any Shareholder or new investor is returned unpaid for
any reason, DWTC will (a) give prompt notification to the Fund's distributor
("Distributor") (or to the Fund if the Fund acts as its own distributor) of such
non-payment; and (b) take such other action, including imposition of a
reasonable processing or handling fee, as DWTC
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may, in its sole discretion, deem appropriate or as the Fund and, if applicable,
the Distributor may instruct DWTC.
12.4 Any notice or other instrument authorized or required by
this Agreement to be given in writing to the Fund or to DWTC shall be
sufficiently given if addressed to that party and received by it at its office
set forth below or at such other place as it may from time to time designate in
writing.
To the Fund:
[Name of Fund]
Two World Trade Center
New York, New York 10048
Attention: General Counsel
To DWTC:
Dean Witter Trust Company
Harborside Financial Center
Plaza Two
Jersey City, New Jersey 07311
Attention: President
Article 13 MERGER OF AGREEMENT
13.1 This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the
parties hereto and supersedes any prior agreement with respect to the subject
matter hereof whether oral or written.
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Article 14 PERSONAL LIABILITY
14.1 In the case of a Fund organized as a Massachusetts business
trust, a copy of the Declaration of Trust of the Fund is on file with the
Secretary of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and notice is hereby given that
this instrument is executed on behalf of the Board of Trustees of the Fund as
Trustees and not individually and that the obligations of this instrument are
not binding upon any of the Trustees or shareholders individually but are
binding only upon the assets and property of the Fund; provided, however, that
the Declaration of Trust of the Fund provides that the assets of a particular
Series of the Fund shall under no circumstances be charged with liabilities
attributable to any other Series of the Fund and that all persons extending
credit to, or contracting with or having any claim against, a particular Series
of the Fund shall look only to the assets of that particular Series for payment
of such credit, contract or claim.
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<PAGE>
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Amended and
Restated Agreement to be executed in their names and on their behalf by and
through their duly authorized officers, as of the day and year first above
written.
(1) Dean Witter Liquid Asset Fund Inc.
(2) Dean Witter Tax-Free Daily Income Trust
(3) Dean Witter California Tax-Free Daily Income Trust
(4) Dean Witter Retirement Series
(5) Dean Witter Dividend Growth Securities Inc.
(6) Dean Witter Natural Resource Development Securities Inc.
(7) Dean Witter World Wide Investment Trust
(8) Dean Witter Capital Growth Securities
(9) Dean Witter Convertible Securities Trust
(10) Active Assets Tax-Free Trust
(11) Active Assets Money Trust
(12) Active Assets California Tax-Free Trust
(13) Active Assets Government Securities Trust
(14) Dean Witter Equity Income Trust
(15) Dean Witter Federal Securities Trust
(16) Dean Witter U.S. Government Securities Trust
(17) Dean Witter High Yield Securities Inc.
(18) Dean Witter New York Tax-Free Income Fund
(19) Dean Witter Tax-Exempt Securities Trust
(20) Dean Witter California Tax-Free Income Fund
(21) Dean Witter Managed Assets Trust
(22) Dean Witter Limited Term Municipal Trust
(23) Dean Witter World Wide Income Trust
(24) Dean Witter Utilities Fund
(25) Dean Witter Strategist Fund
(26) Dean Witter New York Municipal Money Market Trust
(27) Dean Witter Intermediate Income Securities
(28) Prime Income Trust
(29) Dean Witter European Growth Fund Inc.
(30) Dean Witter Developing Growth Securities Trust
(31) Dean Witter Precious Metals and Minerals Trust
(32) Dean Witter Pacific Growth Fund Inc.
(33) Dean Witter Multi-State Municipal Series Trust
(34) Dean Witter Premier Income Trust
(35) Dean Witter Short-Term U.S. Treasury Trust
(36) Dean Witter Diversified Income Trust
(37) Dean Witter Health Sciences Trust
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(38) Dean Witter Global Dividend Growth Securities
(39) Dean Witter American Value Fund
(40) Dean Witter U.S. Government Money Market Trust
(41) Dean Witter Global Short-Term Income Fund Inc.
(42) Dean Witter Value-Added Market Series
(43) Dean Witter Select Municipal Reinvestment Fund
(44) Dean Witter Variable Investment Series
BY:/s/ Sheldon Curtis
----------------------------------
Sheldon Curtis
Vice President and General Counsel
ATTEST:
/s/ Barry Fink
- ------------------------
Barry Fink
Assistant Secretary
DEAN WITTER TRUST COMPANY
BY:/s/ Charles A. Fiumefreddo
-------------------------------
Charles A. Fiumefreddo
Chairman
ATTEST:
/s/ David A. Hughey
- --------------------------
David A. Hughey
Executive Vice President
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EXHIBIT A
Dean Witter Trust Company
Harborside Financial Center
Plaza Two
Jersey City, NJ 07311
Gentlemen:
The undersigned,( Name of Fund ) a (Massachusetts
business trust/Maryland Corporation) (the "Fund"), desires to employ and appoint
Dean Witter Trust Company ("DWTC") to act as transfer agent for each series and
class of shares of the Fund, whether now or hereafter authorized or issued
("Shares"), dividend disbursing agent and shareholder servicing agent, registrar
and agent in connection with any accumulation, open-account or similar plan
provided to the holders of Shares, including without limitation any periodic
investment plan or periodic withdrawal plan.
The Fund hereby agrees that, in consideration for the payment by the
Fund to DWTC of fees as set out in the fee schedule attached hereto as Schedule
A, DWTC shall provide such services to the Fund pursuant to the terms and
conditions set forth in the Transfer Agency and Service Agreement annexed
hereto, as if the Fund was a signatory thereto.
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<PAGE>
Please indicate DWTC's acceptance of employment and appointment by the
Fund in the capacities set forth above by so indicating in the space provided
below.
Very truly yours,
[ Fund Name ]
By:__________________________________
Sheldon Curtis
Vice President and General Counsel
ACCEPTED AND AGREED TO:
DEAN WITTER TRUST COMPANY
By:_______________________
Its:______________________
Date:_____________________
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SCHEDULE A
Fund: Dean Witter Strategist Fund
Fees: (1) Annual maintenance fee of $11.00 per shareholder account,
payable monthly.
(2) A fee equal to 1/12 of the fee set forth in (1) above, for
providing Forms 1099 for accounts closed during the year, payable
following the end of the calendar year.
(3) Out-of-pocket expenses in accordance with Section 2.2 of the
Agreement.
(4) Fees for additional services not set forth in this Agreement
shall be as negotiated between the parties.
<PAGE>
SERVICES AGREEMENT
AGREEMENT made as of the 31st day of December, 1993 by and between Dean
Witter InterCapital Inc., a Delaware corporation (herein referred to as
"InterCapital"), and Dean Witter Services Company Inc., a New Jersey corporation
(herein referred to as "DWS").
WHEREAS, InterCapital has entered into separate agreements (each such
agreement being herein referred to as an "Investment Management Agreement") with
certain investment companies as set forth on Schedule A (each such investment
company being herein referred to as a "Fund" and, collectively, as the "Funds")
pursuant to which InterCapital is to perform, or supervise the performance of,
among other services, administrative services for the Funds (and, in the case of
Funds with multiple portfolios, the Series or Portfolios of the Funds (such
Series and Portfolio being herein individually referred to as "a Series" and,
collectively, as "the Series"));
WHEREAS, InterCapital desires to retain DWS to perform the administrative
services as described below; and
WHEREAS, DWS desires to be retained by InterCapital to perform such
administrative services:
Now, therefore, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements of
the parties hereto as herein set forth, the parties covenant and agree as
follows:
1. DWS agrees to provide administrative services to each Fund as
hereinafter set forth. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, DWS
shall (i) administer the Fund's business affairs and supervise the overall
day-to-day operations of the Fund (other than rendering investment advice); (ii)
provide the Fund with full administrative services, including the maintenance of
certain books and records, such as journals, ledger accounts and other records
required under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the"Act"), the
notification to the Fund and InterCapital of available funds for investment, the
reconciliation of account information and balances among the Fund's custodian,
transfer agent and dividend disbursing agent and InterCapital, and the
calculation of the net asset value of the Fund's shares; (iii) provide the Fund
with the services of persons competent to perform such supervisory,
administrative and clerical functions as are necessary to provide effective
operation of the Fund; (iv) oversee the performance of administrative and
professional services rendered to the Fund by others, including its custodian,
transfer agent and dividend disbursing agent, as well as accounting, auditing
and other services; (v) provide the Fund with adequate general office space and
facilities; (vi) assist in the preparation and the printing of the periodic
updating of the Fund's registration statement and prospectus (and, in the case
of an open-end Fund, the statement of additional information), tax returns,
proxy statements, and reports to its shareholders and the Securities and
Exchange Commission; and (vii) monitor the compliance of the Fund's investment
policies and restrictions.
In the event that InterCapital enters into an Investment Management
Agreement with another investment company, and wishes to retain DWS to perform
administrative services hereunder, it shall notify DWS in writing. If DWS is
willing to render such services, it shall notify InterCapital in writing,
whereupon such other Fund shall become a Fund as defined herein.
2. DWS shall, at its own expense, maintain such staff and employ or retain
such personnel and consult with such other persons as it shall from time to time
determine to be necessary or useful to the performance of its obligations under
this Agreement. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the staff and
personnel of DWS shall be deemed to include officers of DWS and persons employed
or otherwise retained by DWS (including officers and employees of InterCapital,
with the consent of InterCapital) to furnish services, statistical and other
factual data, information with respect to technical and scientific developments,
and such other information, advice and assistance as DWS may desire. DWS shall
maintain each Fund's records and books of account (other than those maintained
by the Fund's transfer agent, registrar, custodian and other agencies). All such
books and records so maintained shall be the property of the Fund and, upon
request therefor, DWS shall surrender to InterCapital or to the Fund such of the
books and records so requested.
3. InterCapital will, from time to time, furnish or otherwise make
available to DWS such financial reports, proxy statements and other information
relating to the business and affairs of the Fund as DWS may
1
<PAGE>
reasonably require in order to discharge its duties and obligations to the Fund
under this Agreement or to comply with any applicable law and regulation or
request of the Board of Directors/Trustees of the Fund.
4. For the services to be rendered, the facilities furnished, and the
expenses assumed by DWS, InterCapital shall pay to DWS monthly compensation
calculated daily (in the case of an open-end Fund) or weekly (in the case of
a closed-end Fund) by applying the annual rate or rates set forth on Schedule B
to the net assets of each Fund. Except as hereinafter set forth, (i) in the
case of an open-end Fund, compensation under this Agreement shall be calculated
by applying 1/365th of the annual rate or rates to the Fund's or the Series'
daily net assets determined as of the close of business on that day or the last
previous business day and (ii) in the case of a closed-end Fund, compensation
under this Agreement shall be calculated by applying the annual rate or rates
to the Fund's average weekly net assets determined as of the close of the last
business day of each week. If this Agreement becomes effective subsequent to
the first day of a month or shall terminate before the last day of a month,
compensation for that part of the month this Agreement is in effect shall be
prorated in a manner consistent with the calculation of the fees as set forth
on Schedule B. Subject to the provisions of paragraph 5 hereof, payment of DWS'
compensation for the preceding month shall be made as promptly as possible
after completion of the computations contemplated by paragraph 5 hereof.
5. In the event the operating expenses of any open-end Fund and/or any
Series thereof, or of InterCapital Income Securities Inc., including amounts
payable to InterCapital pursuant to the Investment Management Agreement, for any
fiscal year ending on a date on which this Agreement is in effect, exceed the
expense limitations applicable to the Fund and/or any Series thereof imposed by
state securities laws or regulations thereunder, as such limitations may be
raised or lowered from time to time, or, in the case of InterCapital Income
Securities Inc. or Dean Witter Variable Investment Series or any Series thereof,
the expense limitation specified in the Fund's Investment Management Agreement,
the fee payable hereunder shall be reduced on a pro rata basis in the same
proportion as the fee payable by the Fund under the Investment Management
Agreement is reduced.
6. DWS shall bear the cost of rendering the administrative services to be
performed by it under this Agreement, and shall, at its own expense, pay the
compensation of the officers and employees, if any, of the Fund employed by DWS,
and such clerical help and bookkeeping services as DWS shall reasonably require
in performing its duties hereunder.
7. DWS will use its best efforts in the performance of administrative
activitives on behalf of each Fund, but in the absence of willful misfeasance,
bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of its obligations hereunder,
DWS shall not be liable to the Fund or any of its investors for any error of
judgment or mistake of law or for any act or omission by DWS or for any losses
sustained by the Fund or its investors. It is understood that, subject to the
terms and conditions of the Investment Management Agreement between each Fund
and InterCapital, InterCapital shall retain ultimate responsibility for all
services to be performed hereunder by DWS. DWS shall indemnify InterCapital and
hold it harmless from any liability that InterCapital may incur arising out of
any act or failure to act by DWS in carrying out its responsibilities hereunder.
8. It is understood that any of the shareholders, Directors/Trustees,
officers and employees of the Fund may be a shareholder, director, officer or
employee of, or be otherwise interested in, DWS, and in any person controlling,
controlled by or under common control with DWS, and that DWS and any person
controlling, controlled by or under common control with DWS may have an interest
in the Fund. It is also understood that DWS and any affiliated persons thereof
or any persons controlling, controlled by or under common control with DWS have
and may have advisory, management, administration service or other contracts
with other organizations and persons, and may have other interests and
businesses, and further may purchase, sell or trade any securities or
commodities for their own accounts or for the account of others for whom they
may be acting.
9. This Agreement shall continue until April 30, 1994, and thereafter shall
continue automatically for successive periods of one year unless terminated by
either party by written notice delivered to the other party within 30 days of
the expiration of the then-existing period. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this
Agreement may be terminated at any time, by either party on 30 days' written
notice delivered to the other party. In the
2
<PAGE>
event that the Investment Management Agreement between any Fund and InterCapital
is terminated, this Agreement will automatically terminate with respect to such
Fund.
10. This Agreement may be amended or modified by the parties in any manner
by mutual written agreement executed by each of the parties hereto.
11. This Agreement shall be construed and interpreted in accordance with
the laws of the State of New York.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed and delivered this
Agreement as of the day and year first above written in New York, New York.
DEAN WITTER INTERCAPITAL INC.
By: /s/
-----------------------------
Attest:
/s/
- --------------------------
DEAN WITTER SERVICES COMPANY INC.
By: /s/
-----------------------------
Attest:
/s/
- --------------------------
3
<PAGE>
SCHEDULE A
DEAN WITTER FUNDS
AT DECEMBER 31, 1993
OPEN-END FUNDS
1. Active Assets California Tax-Free Trust
2. Active Assets Government Securities Trust
3. Active Assets Money Trust
4. Active Assets Tax-Free Trust
5. Dean Witter American Value Fund
6. Dean Witter California Tax-Free Daily Income Trust
7. Dean Witter California Tax-Free Income Fund
8. Dean Witter Capital Growth Securities
9. Dean Witter Convertible Securities Trust
10. Dean Witter Developing Growth Securities Trust
11. Dean Witter Diversified Income Trust
12. Dean Witter Dividend Growth Securities Inc.
13. Dean Witter Equity Income Trust
14. Dean Witter European Growth Fund Inc.
15. Dean Witter Federal Securities Trust
16. Dean Witter Global Dividend Growth Securities
17. Dean Witter Global Short-Term Income Fund Inc.
18. Dean Witter Health Sciences Trust
19. Dean Witter High Yield Securities Inc.
20. Dean Witter Intermediate Income Securities
21. Dean Witter Limited Term Municipal Trust
22. Dean Witter Liquid Asset Fund Inc.
23. Dean Witter Managed Assets Trust
24. Dean Witter Multi-State Municipal Series Trust
25. Dean Witter Natural Resource Development Securities Inc.
26. Dean Witter New York Municipal Money Market Trust
27. Dean Witter New York Tax-Free Income Fund
28. Dean Witter Pacific Growth Fund Inc.
29. Dean Witter Precious Metals and Minerals Trust
30. Dean Witter Premier Income Trust
31. Dean Witter Retirement Series
32. Dean Witter Select Municipal Reinvestment Fund
33. Dean Witter Short-Term U.S. Treasury Trust
34. Dean Witter Strategist Fund
35. Dean Witter Tax-Exempt Securities Trust
36. Dean Witter Tax-Free Daily Income Trust
37. Dean Witter U.S. Government Money Market Trust
38. Dean Witter U.S. Government Securities Trust
39. Dean Witter Utilities Fund
40. Dean Witter Value-Added Market Series
41. Dean Witter Variable Investment Series
42. Dean Witter World Wide Income Trust
43. Dean Witter World Wide Investment Trust
CLOSED-END FUNDS
44. High Income Advantage Trust
45. High Income Advantage Trust II
46. High Income Advantage Trust III
47. InterCapital Income Securities Inc.
48. Dean Witter Government Income Trust
49. InterCapital Insured Municipal Bond Trust
50. InterCapital Insured Municipal Trust
51. InterCapital Insured Municipal Income Trust
52. InterCapital California Insured Municipal Income Trust
53. InterCapital Quality Municipal Investment Trust
54. InterCapital Quality Municipal Income Trust
55. InterCapital Quality Municipal Securities
56. InterCapital California Quality Municipal Securities
57. InterCapital New York Quality Municipal Securities
4
<PAGE>
DEAN WITTER SERVICES COMPANY
SCHEDULE OF ADMINISTRATIVE FEES - JANUARY 1, 1994
MONTHLY COMPENSATION CALCULATED DAILY BY APPLYING THE FOLLOWING ANNUAL RATES TO
THE FUND'S NET ASSETS.
Dean Witter Strategist Fund 0.060% of the portion of daily net assets
not exceeding $500 million; 0.055% of the
portion of the daily net assets exceeding
$500 million but not exceeding $1 billion;
and 0.050% of the portion of the daily net
assets exceeding $1 billion.
<PAGE>
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
We hereby consent to the use in the Statement of Additional Information
constituting part of this Post-Effective Amendment No. 7 to the registration
statement on Form N-1A (the "Registration Statement") of our report dated
September 16, 1994 relating to the financial statements and financial highlights
of Dean Witter Strategist Fund, which appears in such Statement of Additional
Information, and to the incorporation by reference of such report into the
Prospectus which constitutes part of this Registration Statement. We also
consent to the reference to us under the heading "Financial Highlights" in such
Prospectus and to the references to us under the headings "Independent
Accountants" and "Experts" in such Statement of Additional Information.
PRICE WATERHOUSE LLP
1177 Avenue of the Americas
New York, New York
September 19, 1994
<PAGE>
SCHEDULE FOR COMPUTATIONS OF PERFORMANCE QUOTATIONS
THE STRATEGIST FUND
(A) AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS (I.E. STANDARDIZED COMPUTATIONS)
_ _
| ______________________ |
FORMULA: | | |
| /\ n | ERV |
T = | \ | ---------------------- | - 1
| \ | P |
| \| |
|_ _|
T = AVERAGE ANNUAL COMPOUND RETURN
n = NUMBER OF YEARS
ERV = ENDING REDEEMABLE VALUE
P = INITIAL INVESTMENT
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
(A)
$1,000 ERV AS OF NUMBER OF AVERAGE ANNUAL
INVESTED - P 31-Jul-94 YEARS - n TOTAL RETURN - T
- ----------------- ------------- ----------- ----------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
31-Jul-93 $985.90 1.00 -1.41%
31-Jul-89 $1,525.40 5.00 8.81%
31-Oct-88 $1,902.50 5.75 11.84%
</TABLE>
(B) AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS (STANDARIZED COMPUTATIONS) WITHOUT WAIVER OF
FEES AND ASSUMPTION OF EXPENSES.
_ _
| ______________________ |
FORMULA: | | |
| /\ n | EVb |
tb = | \ | ---------------------- | - 1
| \ | P |
| \| |
|_ _|
tb = AVERAGE ANNUAL COMPOUND RETURN
(DEDUCTION FOR EXPENSES ASSUMED BY FUND MANAGER)
n = NUMBER OF YEARS
EVb = ENDING VALUE (DEDUCTION FOR EXPENSES
ASSUMED BY FUND MANAGER)
P = INITIAL INVESTMENT
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
(B)
$1,000 EVb AS OF NUMBER OF AVERAGE ANNUAL
INVESTED - P 31-Jul-94 YEARS - n COMPOUND RETURN - tb
- ----------------- ------------ ---------- ----------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
31-Oct-88 $1,895.20 5.75 11.77%
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
THE STRATEGIST FUND
(C) AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS WITHOUT DEDUCTION FOR APPLICABLE SALES CHARGE
(NON STANDARD COMPUTATIONS)
(D) TOTAL RETURN WITHOUT DEDUCTION FOR APPLICABLE SALES CHARGE (NON STANDARD
COMPUTATIONS)
_ _
| ______________________ |
FORMULA: | | |
| /\ n | EV |
t = | \ | ---------------------- | - 1
| \ | P |
| \| |
|_ _|
EV
TR = ---------- - 1
P
t = AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURN
(NO DEDUCTION FOR APPLICABLE SALES CHARGE)
n = NUMBER OF YEARS
EV = ENDING VALUE (NO DEDUCTION FOR APPLICABLE SALES CHARGE)
P = INITIAL INVESTMENT
TR = TOTAL RETURN (NO DEDUCTION FOR APPLICABLE SALES CHARGE)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
(D) (C)
$1,000 EV AS OF TOTAL NUMBER OF AVERAGE ANNUAL
INVESTED - P 31-Jul-94 RETURN - TR YEARS - n TOTAL RETURN - t
- ----------------- -------------- ----------- ----------------- ------ ------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
31-Jul-93 $1,035.30 3.53% 1.00 3.53%
31-Jul-89 $1,545.40 54.54% 5.00 9.10%
31-Oct-88 $1,912.50 91.25% 5.75 11.94%
</TABLE>
(E) GROWTH OF $10,000
(F) GROWTH OF $50,000
(G) GROWTH OF $100,000
FORMULA: G= (TR+1)*P
G= GROWTH OF INITIAL INVESTMENT
P= INITIAL INVESTMENT
TR= TOTAL RETURN
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
$10,000 TOTAL GROWTH OF (E) GROWTH OF (F) GROWTH OF (G)
INVESTED - P RETURN - TR $10,000 INVESTMENT-G $50,000 INVESTMENT - G $100,000 INVESTMENT - G
- ------------ ----------- ------------------------- ------------------------- -----------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
31-Oct-88 91.25 $19,125 $95,625 $191,250
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
[ARTICLE] 6
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
[PERIOD-TYPE] 12-MOS
[FISCAL-YEAR-END] JUL-31-1994
[PERIOD-END] JUL-31-1994
[INVESTMENTS-AT-COST] 760,191,951
[INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE] 798,060,866
[RECEIVABLES] 14,761,914
[ASSETS-OTHER] 6,325
[OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS] 0
[TOTAL-ASSETS] 812,829,105
[PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES] 4,668,465
[SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT] 0
[OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES] 1,911,225
[TOTAL-LIABILITIES] 6,579,690
[SENIOR-EQUITY] 0
[PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON] 745,415,391
[SHARES-COMMON-STOCK] 55,866,185
[SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR] 53,650,610
[ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT] 0
[OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII] 0
[ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS] 21,961,436
[OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS] 0
[ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC] 37,868,915
[NET-ASSETS] 806,249,415
[DIVIDEND-INCOME] 12,009,613
[INTEREST-INCOME] 17,652,987
[OTHER-INCOME] 0
[EXPENSES-NET] 13,160,834
[NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME] 16,501,766
[REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT] 26,073,475
[APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT] (15,330,968)
[NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS] 27,244,273
[EQUALIZATION] 0
[DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME] (14,241,827)
[DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS] (22,860,148)
[DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER] 0
[NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD] 12,833,544
[NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED] (12,951,477)
[SHARES-REINVESTED] 2,333,508
[NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS] 23,415,941
[ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR] 743,729
[ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR] 16,571,101
[OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR] 0
[OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR] 0
[GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES] 4,711,608
[INTEREST-EXPENSE] 0
[GROSS-EXPENSE] 13,160,834
[AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS] 811,227,220
[PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN] 14.59
[PER-SHARE-NII] 0.30
[PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC] 0.22
[PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND] (0.26)
[PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS] (0.42)
[RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL] 0
[PER-SHARE-NAV-END] 14.43
[EXPENSE-RATIO] 1.62
[AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING] 0
[AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE] 0
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each of CHARLES A. FIUMEFREDDO and
EDWARD R. TELLING, whose signatures appear below, constitutes and appoints
Sheldon Curtis, Marilyn K. Cranney and Barry Fink, or any of them, his true and
lawful attorneys-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution among
himself and each of the persons appointed herein, for him and in his name, place
and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any amendments to any registration
statement of ANY OF THE DEAN WITTER FUNDS SET FORTH ON SCHEDULE A ATTACHED
HERETO, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in
connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, as fully to
all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and
confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them, may
lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Dated: May 10, 1994
/S/Charles A. Fiumefreddo /S/Edward R. Telling
- --------------------------- --------------------
Charles A. Fiumefreddo Edward R. Telling
<PAGE>
DEAN WITTER FUNDS
MONEY MARKET
1. Dean Witter Liquid Asset Fund Inc.
2. Active Assets Money Trust
3. Active Assets Tax-Free Trust
4. Active Assets California Tax-Free Trust
5. Active Assets Government Securities Trust
6. Dean Witter Tax-Free Daily Income Trust
7. Dean Witter U.S. Government Money Market Trust
8. Dean Witter California Tax-Free Daily Income Trust
9. Dean Witter New York Municipal Money Market Trust
EQUITY FUNDS
10. Dean Witter American Value Fund
11. Dean Witter Dividend Growth Securities Inc.
12. Dean Witter Capital Growth Securities
13. Dean Witter Natural Resource Development Securities Inc.
14. Dean Witter Precious Metals & Minerals Trust
15. Dean Witter Developing Growth Securities Trust
16. Dean Witter World Wide Investment Trust
17. Dean Witter Value-Added Market Series
18. Dean Witter European Growth Fund Inc.
19. Dean Witter Pacific Growth Fund Inc.
20. Dean Witter Equity Income Trust
21. Dean Witter Utilities Fund
22. Dean Witter Health Sciences Trust
23. Dean Witter Global Dividend Growth Securities
ASSET ALLOCATION FUNDS
24. Dean Witter Managed Assets Trust
25. Dean Witter Strategist Fund
FIXED-INCOME FUNDS
26. Dean Witter High Yield Securities Inc.
27. Dean Witter Convertible Securities Trust
28. Dean Witter Intermediate Income Securities
29. Dean Witter World Wide Income Trust
30. Dean Witter Global Short-Term Income Fund Inc.
31. Dean Witter Diversified Income Trust
32. Dean Witter Premier Income Trust
33. Dean Witter U.S. Government Securities Trust
<PAGE>
34. Dean Witter Federal Securities Trust
35. Dean Witter Short-Term U.S. Treasury Trust
36. Dean Witter Tax-Exempt Securities Trust
37. Dean Witter California Tax-Free Income Fund
38. Dean Witter New York Tax-Free Income Fund
39. Dean Witter Multi-State Municipal Series Trust
Arizona Series
California Series
Florida Series
Massachusetts Series
Michigan Series
Minnesota Series
New Jersey Series
New York Series
Ohio Series
Pennsylvania Series
40. Dean Witter Select Municipal Reinvestment Fund
41. Dean Witter Limited Term Municipal Trust
SPECIAL PURPOSE FUNDS
42. Dean Witter Variable Investment Series
Money Market Portfolio
Quality Income Plus Portfolio
High Yield Portfolio
Utilities Portfolio
Dividend Growth Portfolio
Capital Growth Portfolio
European Growth Portfolio
Equity Portfolio
Managed Assets Portfolio
43. Dean Witter Retirement Series
Liquid Asset Series
U.S. Government Money Market Series
U.S. Government Securities Series
Intermediate Income Securities Series
American Value Series
Capital Growth Series
Dividend Growth Series
Strategist Series
Utilities Series
Value-Added Market Series
Global Equity Series
<PAGE>
CLOSED-END FUNDS
44. High Income Advantage Trust
45. High Income Advantage Trust II
46. High Income Advantage Trust III
47. InterCapital Income Securities Inc.
48. Dean Witter Government Income Trust
49. InterCapital Insured Municipal Bond Trust
50. InterCapital Insured Municipal Trust
51. InterCapital Quality Municipal Investment Trust
52. InterCapital Quality Municipal Income Trust
53. Municipal Income Trust
54. Municipal Income Trust II
55. Municipal Income Trust III
56. Municipal Income Opportunities Trust
57. Municipal Income Opportunities Trust II
58. Municipal Income Opportunities Trust III
59. Municipal Premium Income Trust
60. Prime Income Trust
61. InterCapital Insured Municipal Income Trust
62. InterCapital California Insured Municipal Income Trust
63. InterCapital Quality Municipal Securities
64. InterCapital California Quality Municipal Securities
65. InterCapital New York Quality Municipal Securities
<PAGE>
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each of JACK F. BENNETT, EDWIN J.
GARN, JOHN R. HAIRE, JOHN E. JEUCK, MANUEL H. JOHNSON, PAUL KOLTON and MICHAEL
E. NUGENT, whose signatures appear below, constitutes and appoints David M.
Butowsky, Ronald Feiman and Stuart Strauss, or any of them, his true and lawful
attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution among himself and
each of the persons appointed herein, for him and in his name, place and stead,
in any and all capacities, to sign any amendments to any registration statement
of ANY OF THE DEAN WITTER FUNDS SET FORTH ON SCHEDULE A ATTACHED HERETO, and to
file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection
therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, as fully to all intents
and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming
all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them, may lawfully do or
cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Dated: May 10, 1994
/s/Jack F. Bennett /s/Manuel H. Johnson
- -------------------- ----------------------
Jack F. Bennett Manuel H. Johnson
/s/Edwin J. Garn /s/Paul Kolton
- -------------------- -----------------------
Edwin J. Garn Paul Kolton
/s/John R. Haire /s/Michael E. Nugent
- -------------------- ------------------------
John R. Haire Michael E. Nugent
/s/John E. Jeuck
- --------------------
John E. Jeuck
<PAGE>
DEAN WITTER FUNDS
MONEY MARKET
1. Dean Witter Liquid Asset Fund Inc.
2. Active Assets Money Trust
3. Active Assets Tax-Free Trust
4. Active Assets California Tax-Free Trust
5. Active Assets Government Securities Trust
6. Dean Witter Tax-Free Daily Income Trust
7. Dean Witter U.S. Government Money Market Trust
8. Dean Witter California Tax-Free Daily Income Trust
9. Dean Witter New York Municipal Money Market Trust
EQUITY FUNDS
10. Dean Witter American Value Fund
11. Dean Witter Dividend Growth Securities Inc.
12. Dean Witter Capital Growth Securities
13. Dean Witter Natural Resource Development Securities Inc.
14. Dean Witter Precious Metals & Minerals Trust
15. Dean Witter Developing Growth Securities Trust
16. Dean Witter World Wide Investment Trust
17. Dean Witter Value-Added Market Series
18. Dean Witter European Growth Fund Inc.
19. Dean Witter Pacific Growth Fund Inc.
20. Dean Witter Equity Income Trust
21. Dean Witter Utilities Fund
22. Dean Witter Health Sciences Trust
23. Dean Witter Global Dividend Growth Securities
ASSET ALLOCATION FUNDS
24. Dean Witter Managed Assets Trust
25. Dean Witter Strategist Fund
FIXED-INCOME FUNDS
26. Dean Witter High Yield Securities Inc.
27. Dean Witter Convertible Securities Trust
28. Dean Witter Intermediate Income Securities
29. Dean Witter World Wide Income Trust
30. Dean Witter Global Short-Term Income Fund Inc.
31. Dean Witter Diversified Income Trust
32. Dean Witter Premier Income Trust
33. Dean Witter U.S. Government Securities Trust
<PAGE>
34. Dean Witter Federal Securities Trust
35. Dean Witter Short-Term U.S. Treasury Trust
36. Dean Witter Tax-Exempt Securities Trust
37. Dean Witter California Tax-Free Income Fund
38. Dean Witter New York Tax-Free Income Fund
39. Dean Witter Multi-State Municipal Series Trust
Arizona Series
California Series
Florida Series
Massachusetts Series
Michigan Series
Minnesota Series
New Jersey Series
New York Series
Ohio Series
Pennsylvania Series
40. Dean Witter Select Municipal Reinvestment Fund
41. Dean Witter Limited Term Municipal Trust
SPECIAL PURPOSE FUNDS
42. Dean Witter Variable Investment Series
Money Market Portfolio
Quality Income Plus Portfolio
High Yield Portfolio
Utilities Portfolio
Dividend Growth Portfolio
Capital Growth Portfolio
European Growth Portfolio
Equity Portfolio
Managed Assets Portfolio
43. Dean Witter Retirement Series
Liquid Asset Series
U.S. Government Money Market Series
U.S. Government Securities Series
Intermediate Income Securities Series
American Value Series
Capital Growth Series
Dividend Growth Series
Strategist Series
Utilities Series
Value-Added Market Series
Global Equity Series
<PAGE>
CLOSED-END FUNDS
44. High Income Advantage Trust
45. High Income Advantage Trust II
46. High Income Advantage Trust III
47. InterCapital Income Securities Inc.
48. Dean Witter Government Income Trust
49. InterCapital Insured Municipal Bond Trust
50. InterCapital Insured Municipal Trust
51. InterCapital Quality Municipal Investment Trust
52. InterCapital Quality Municipal Income Trust
53. Municipal Income Trust
54. Municipal Income Trust II
55. Municipal Income Trust III
56. Municipal Income Opportunities Trust
57. Municipal Income Opportunities Trust II
58. Municipal Income Opportunities Trust III
59. Municipal Premium Income Trust
60. Prime Income Trust
61. InterCapital Insured Municipal Income Trust
62. InterCapital California Insured Municipal Income Trust
63. InterCapital Quality Municipal Securities
64. InterCapital California Quality Municipal Securities
65. InterCapital New York Quality Municipal Securities
<PAGE>
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that PHILIP J. PURCELL, whose signature
appears below, constitutes and appoints Sheldon Curtis, Marilyn K. Cranney and
Barry Fink, or any of them, his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents,
with full power of substitution among himself and each of the persons appointed
herein, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to
sign any amendments to any registration statement of ANY OF THE DEAN WITTER
FUNDS SET FORTH ON SCHEDULE A ATTACHED HERETO, and to file the same, with all
exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, as fully to all intents and purposes as he
might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said
attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them, may lawfully do or cause to be
done by virtue hereof.
Dated: April 8, 1994
/s/ Philip J. Purcell
- -----------------------
Philip J. Purcell
<PAGE>
DEAN WITTER FUNDS
MONEY MARKET
1. Dean Witter Liquid Asset Fund Inc.
2. Active Assets Money Trust
3. Active Assets Tax-Free Trust
4. Active Assets California Tax-Free Trust
5. Active Assets Government Securities Trust
6. Dean Witter Tax-Free Daily Income Trust
7. Dean Witter U.S. Government Money Market Trust
8. Dean Witter California Tax-Free Daily Income Trust
9. Dean Witter New York Municipal Money Market Trust
EQUITY FUNDS
10. Dean Witter American Value Fund
11. Dean Witter Dividend Growth Securities Inc.
12. Dean Witter Capital Growth Securities
13. Dean Witter Natural Resource Development Securities Inc.
14. Dean Witter Precious Metals & Minerals Trust
15. Dean Witter Developing Growth Securities Trust
16. Dean Witter World Wide Investment Trust
17. Dean Witter Value-Added Market Series
18. Dean Witter European Growth Fund Inc.
19. Dean Witter Pacific Growth Fund Inc.
20. Dean Witter Equity Income Trust
21. Dean Witter Utilities Fund
22. Dean Witter Health Sciences Trust
23. Dean Witter Global Dividend Growth Securities
24. Dean Witter Global Utilities Fund
ASSET ALLOCATION FUNDS
25. Dean Witter Managed Assets Trust
26. Dean Witter Strategist Fund
FIXED-INCOME FUNDS
27. Dean Witter High Yield Securities Inc.
28. Dean Witter Convertible Securities Trust
29. Dean Witter Intermediate Income Securities
30. Dean Witter World Wide Income Trust
31. Dean Witter Global Short-Term Income Fund Inc.
32. Dean Witter Diversified Income Trust
33. Dean Witter Premier Income Trust
34. Dean Witter U.S. Government Securities Trust
35. Dean Witter Federal Securities Trust
<PAGE>
36. Dean Witter Short-Term U.S. Treasury Trust
37. Dean Witter Tax-Exempt Securities Trust
38. Dean Witter California Tax-Free Income Fund
39. Dean Witter New York Tax-Free Income Fund
40. Dean Witter Multi-State Municipal Series Trust
Arizona Series
California Series
Florida Series
Massachusetts Series
Michigan Series
Minnesota Series
New Jersey Series
New York Series
Ohio Series
Pennsylvania Series
41. Dean Witter Select Municipal Reinvestment Fund
42. Dean Witter Limited Term Municipal Trust
43. Dean Witter Short-Term Bond Fund
SPECIAL PURPOSE FUNDS
44. Dean Witter Variable Investment Series
Money Market Portfolio
Quality Income Plus Portfolio
High Yield Portfolio
Utilities Portfolio
Dividend Growth Portfolio
Capital Growth Portfolio
European Growth Portfolio
Equity Portfolio
Managed Assets Portfolio
45. Dean Witter Retirement Series
Liquid Asset Series
U.S. Government Money Market Series
U.S. Government Securities Series
Intermediate Income Securities Series
American Value Series
Capital Growth Series
Dividend Growth Series
Strategist Series
Utilities Series
Value-Added Market Series
Global Equity Series
<PAGE>
CLOSED-END FUNDS
46. High Income Advantage Trust
47. High Income Advantage Trust II
48. High Income Advantage Trust III
49. InterCapital Income Securities Inc.
50. Dean Witter Government Income Trust
51. InterCapital Insured Municipal Bond Trust
52. InterCapital Insured Municipal Trust
53. InterCapital Quality Municipal Investment Trust
54. InterCapital Quality Municipal Income Trust
55. Municipal Income Trust
56. Municipal Income Trust II
57. Municipal Income Trust III
58. Municipal Income Opportunities Trust
59. Municipal Income Opportunities Trust II
60. Municipal Income Opportunities Trust III
61. Municipal Premium Income Trust
62. Prime Income Trust
63. InterCapital Insured Municipal Income Trust
64. InterCapital California Insured Municipal Income Trust
65. InterCapital Quality Municipal Securities
66. InterCapital California Quality Municipal Securities
67. InterCapital New York Quality Municipal Securities
68. InterCapital California Insured Municipal Securities
69. InterCapital Insured Municipal Securities
<PAGE>
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that MICHAEL BOZIC, whose signature appears
below, constitutes and appoints David M. Butowsky, Ronald Feiman and Stuart
Strauss, or any of them, his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with
full power of substitution among himself and each of the persons appointed
herein, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to
sign any amendments to any registration statement of ANY OF THE DEAN WITTER
FUNDS SET FORTH ON SCHEDULE A ATTACHED HERETO, and to file the same, with all
exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, as fully to all intents and purposes as he
might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said
attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them, may lawfully do or cause to be
done by virtue hereof.
Dated: April 15, 1994
/s/ Michael Bozic
- ------------------
Michael Bozic
<PAGE>
DEAN WITTER FUNDS
MONEY MARKET
1. Dean Witter Liquid Asset Fund Inc.
2. Active Assets Money Trust
3. Active Assets Tax-Free Trust
4. Active Assets California Tax-Free Trust
5. Active Assets Government Securities Trust
6. Dean Witter Tax-Free Daily Income Trust
7. Dean Witter U.S. Government Money Market Trust
8. Dean Witter California Tax-Free Daily Income Trust
9. Dean Witter New York Municipal Money Market Trust
EQUITY FUNDS
10. Dean Witter American Value Fund
11. Dean Witter Dividend Growth Securities Inc.
12. Dean Witter Capital Growth Securities
13. Dean Witter Natural Resource Development Securities Inc.
14. Dean Witter Precious Metals & Minerals Trust
15. Dean Witter Developing Growth Securities Trust
16. Dean Witter World Wide Investment Trust
17. Dean Witter Value-Added Market Series
18. Dean Witter European Growth Fund Inc.
19. Dean Witter Pacific Growth Fund Inc.
20. Dean Witter Equity Income Trust
21. Dean Witter Utilities Fund
22. Dean Witter Health Sciences Trust
23. Dean Witter Global Dividend Growth Securities
24. Dean Witter Global Utilities Fund
ASSET ALLOCATION FUNDS
25. Dean Witter Managed Assets Trust
26. Dean Witter Strategist Fund
FIXED-INCOME FUNDS
27. Dean Witter High Yield Securities Inc.
28. Dean Witter Convertible Securities Trust
29. Dean Witter Intermediate Income Securities
30. Dean Witter World Wide Income Trust
31. Dean Witter Global Short-Term Income Fund Inc.
32. Dean Witter Diversified Income Trust
33. Dean Witter Premier Income Trust
34. Dean Witter U.S. Government Securities Trust
35. Dean Witter Federal Securities Trust
<PAGE>
36. Dean Witter Short-Term U.S. Treasury Trust
37. Dean Witter Tax-Exempt Securities Trust
38. Dean Witter California Tax-Free Income Fund
39. Dean Witter New York Tax-Free Income Fund
40. Dean Witter Multi-State Municipal Series Trust
Arizona Series
California Series
Florida Series
Massachusetts Series
Michigan Series
Minnesota Series
New Jersey Series
New York Series
Ohio Series
Pennsylvania Series
41. Dean Witter Select Municipal Reinvestment Fund
42. Dean Witter Limited Term Municipal Trust
43. Dean Witter Short-Term Bond Fund
SPECIAL PURPOSE FUNDS
44. Dean Witter Variable Investment Series
Money Market Portfolio
Quality Income Plus Portfolio
High Yield Portfolio
Utilities Portfolio
Dividend Growth Portfolio
Capital Growth Portfolio
European Growth Portfolio
Equity Portfolio
Managed Assets Portfolio
45. Dean Witter Retirement Series
Liquid Asset Series
U.S. Government Money Market Series
U.S. Government Securities Series
Intermediate Income Securities Series
American Value Series
Capital Growth Series
Dividend Growth Series
Strategist Series
Utilities Series
Value-Added Market Series
Global Equity Series
<PAGE>
CLOSED-END FUNDS
46. High Income Advantage Trust
47. High Income Advantage Trust II
48. High Income Advantage Trust III
49. InterCapital Income Securities Inc.
50. Dean Witter Government Income Trust
51. InterCapital Insured Municipal Bond Trust
52. InterCapital Insured Municipal Trust
53. InterCapital Quality Municipal Investment Trust
54. InterCapital Quality Municipal Income Trust
55. Municipal Income Trust
56. Municipal Income Trust II
57. Municipal Income Trust III
58. Municipal Income Opportunities Trust
59. Municipal Income Opportunities Trust II
60. Municipal Income Opportunities Trust III
61. Municipal Premium Income Trust
62. Prime Income Trust
63. InterCapital Insured Municipal Income Trust
64. InterCapital California Insured Municipal Income Trust
65. InterCapital Quality Municipal Securities
66. InterCapital California Quality Municipal Securities
67. InterCapital New York Quality Municipal Securities
68. InterCapital California Insured Municipal Securities
69. InterCapital Insured Municipal Securities
<PAGE>
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that JOHN L. SCHROEDER, whose signature
appears below, constitutes and appoints David M. Butowsky, Ronald Feiman and
Stuart Strauss, or any of them, his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and
agents, with full power of substitution among himself and each of the persons
appointed herein, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all
capacities, to sign any amendments to any registration statement of ANY OF THE
DEAN WITTER FUNDS SET FORTH ON SCHEDULE A ATTACHED HERETO, and to file the same,
with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, as fully to all intents and purposes as he
might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said
attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them, may lawfully do or cause to be
done by virtue hereof.
Dated: April 13, 1994
/s/ John L. Schroeder
- ----------------------
John L. Schroeder
<PAGE>
DEAN WITTER FUNDS
MONEY MARKET
1. Dean Witter Liquid Asset Fund Inc.
2. Active Assets Money Trust
3. Active Assets Tax-Free Trust
4. Active Assets California Tax-Free Trust
5. Active Assets Government Securities Trust
6. Dean Witter Tax-Free Daily Income Trust
7. Dean Witter U.S. Government Money Market Trust
8. Dean Witter California Tax-Free Daily Income Trust
9. Dean Witter New York Municipal Money Market Trust
EQUITY FUNDS
10. Dean Witter American Value Fund
11. Dean Witter Dividend Growth Securities Inc.
12. Dean Witter Capital Growth Securities
13. Dean Witter Natural Resource Development Securities Inc.
14. Dean Witter Precious Metals & Minerals Trust
15. Dean Witter Developing Growth Securities Trust
16. Dean Witter World Wide Investment Trust
17. Dean Witter Value-Added Market Series
18. Dean Witter European Growth Fund Inc.
19. Dean Witter Pacific Growth Fund Inc.
20. Dean Witter Equity Income Trust
21. Dean Witter Utilities Fund
22. Dean Witter Health Sciences Trust
23. Dean Witter Global Dividend Growth Securities
24. Dean Witter Global Utilities Fund
ASSET ALLOCATION FUNDS
25. Dean Witter Managed Assets Trust
26. Dean Witter Strategist Fund
FIXED-INCOME FUNDS
27. Dean Witter High Yield Securities Inc.
28. Dean Witter Convertible Securities Trust
29. Dean Witter Intermediate Income Securities
30. Dean Witter World Wide Income Trust
31. Dean Witter Global Short-Term Income Fund Inc.
32. Dean Witter Diversified Income Trust
33. Dean Witter Premier Income Trust
34. Dean Witter U.S. Government Securities Trust
35. Dean Witter Federal Securities Trust
<PAGE>
36. Dean Witter Short-Term U.S. Treasury Trust
37. Dean Witter Tax-Exempt Securities Trust
38. Dean Witter California Tax-Free Income Fund
39. Dean Witter New York Tax-Free Income Fund
40. Dean Witter Multi-State Municipal Series Trust
Arizona Series
California Series
Florida Series
Massachusetts Series
Michigan Series
Minnesota Series
New Jersey Series
New York Series
Ohio Series
Pennsylvania Series
41. Dean Witter Select Municipal Reinvestment Fund
42. Dean Witter Limited Term Municipal Trust
43. Dean Witter Short-Term Bond Fund
SPECIAL PURPOSE FUNDS
44. Dean Witter Variable Investment Series
Money Market Portfolio
Quality Income Plus Portfolio
High Yield Portfolio
Utilities Portfolio
Dividend Growth Portfolio
Capital Growth Portfolio
European Growth Portfolio
Equity Portfolio
Managed Assets Portfolio
45. Dean Witter Retirement Series
Liquid Asset Series
U.S. Government Money Market Series
U.S. Government Securities Series
Intermediate Income Securities Series
American Value Series
Capital Growth Series
Dividend Growth Series
Strategist Series
Utilities Series
Value-Added Market Series
Global Equity Series
<PAGE>
CLOSED-END FUNDS
46. High Income Advantage Trust
47. High Income Advantage Trust II
48. High Income Advantage Trust III
49. InterCapital Income Securities Inc.
50. Dean Witter Government Income Trust
51. InterCapital Insured Municipal Bond Trust
52. InterCapital Insured Municipal Trust
53. InterCapital Quality Municipal Investment Trust
54. InterCapital Quality Municipal Income Trust
55. Municipal Income Trust
56. Municipal Income Trust II
57. Municipal Income Trust III
58. Municipal Income Opportunities Trust
59. Municipal Income Opportunities Trust II
60. Municipal Income Opportunities Trust III
61. Municipal Premium Income Trust
62. Prime Income Trust
63. InterCapital Insured Municipal Income Trust
64. InterCapital California Insured Municipal Income Trust
65. InterCapital Quality Municipal Securities
66. InterCapital California Quality Municipal Securities
67. InterCapital New York Quality Municipal Securities
68. InterCapital California Insured Municipal Securities
69. InterCapital Insured Municipal Securities