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DEAN WITTER
INTERMEDIATE INCOME SECURITIES
PROSPECTUS--OCTOBER 25, 1996
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DEAN WITTER INTERMEDIATE INCOME SECURITIES (THE "FUND") IS AN OPEN-END,
DIVERSIFIED MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANY, WHOSE INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE IS HIGH
CURRENT INCOME CONSISTENT WITH SAFETY OF PRINCIPAL. THE FUND SEEKS TO ACHIEVE
ITS INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE BY INVESTING PRIMARILY IN INTERMEDIATE TERM, INVESTMENT
GRADE FIXED-INCOME SECURITIES. 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 cases to a contingent
deferred sales charge, scaled down from 5% to 1% of the amount redeemed, if made
within six years of purchase, which charge will be paid to the Fund's
Distributor, Dean Witter Distributors Inc. See "Redemptions and
Repurchases--Contingent Deferred Sales Charge." In addition, the Fund pays the
Distributor a distribution fee pursuant to a Plan of Distribution at the annual
rate of 0.85% of the lesser of the (i) average daily aggregate net sales or (ii)
average daily net assets of the Fund. See "Purchase of Fund Shares--Plan of
Distribution."
This Prospectus sets forth concisely the information you should know before
investing in the Fund. It should be read and retained for future reference.
Additional information about the Fund is contained in the Statement of
Additional Information, dated October 25, 1996, which has been filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, and which is available at no charge upon
request of the Fund at the address or telephone numbers listed on this page. The
Statement of Additional Information is incorporated herein by reference.
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<CAPTION>
TABLE OF CONTENTS
<S> <C>
Prospectus Summary................................ 2
Summary of Fund Expenses.......................... 3
Financial Highlights.............................. 4
The Fund and its Management....................... 5
Investment Objective and Policies................. 5
Risk Considerations............................... 8
Investment Restrictions........................... 8
Purchase of Fund Shares........................... 8
Shareholder Services.............................. 10
Redemptions and Repurchases....................... 12
Dividends, Distributions and Taxes................ 13
Performance Information........................... 14
Additional Information............................ 14
</TABLE>
SHARES OF THE FUND ARE NOT DEPOSITS OR OBLIGATIONS OF, OR GUARANTEED OR ENDORSED
BY, ANY BANK, AND THE SHARES ARE NOT FEDERALLY INSURED BY THE FEDERAL DEPOSIT
INSURANCE CORPORATION, THE FEDERAL RESERVE BOARD, OR ANY OTHER AGENCY.
DEAN WITTER
INTERMEDIATE INCOME SECURITIES
TWO WORLD TRADE CENTER
NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10048
(212) 392-2550 or (800) 869-NEWS (toll-free)
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THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION NOR HAS THE SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE
ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A
CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
DEAN WITTER DISTRIBUTORS INC. DISTRIBUTOR
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PROSPECTUS SUMMARY
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<TABLE>
<S> <C>
THE FUND The Fund is organized as a Trust, commonly known as a Massachusetts business trust, and
is an open-end, diversified management investment company. The Fund invests primarily in
intermediate term, investment grade fixed-income securities.
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SHARES OFFERED Shares of beneficial interest with $0.01 par value (see page 14).
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OFFERING PRICE At net asset value (see page 8). Shares redeemed within six years of purchase are
subject to a contingent deferred sales charge under most circumstances (see page 12).
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MINIMUM The minimum initial investment is $1,000 ($100 if the account is opened through
PURCHASE EasyInvest-SM-) and the minimum subsequent investment is $100 (see page 8).
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INVESTMENT The investment objective of the Fund is high current income consistent with safety of
OBJECTIVE principal.
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INVESTMENT Dean Witter InterCapital Inc. ("InterCapital"), the Investment Manager of the Fund, and
MANAGER its wholly-owned subsidiary, Dean Witter Services Company Inc., serve in various
investment management, advisory, management and administrative capacities to 100
investment companies and other portfolios with assets of approximately $86.5 billion at
September 30, 1996 (see page 5).
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MANAGEMENT The Investment Manager receives a monthly fee at the annual rate of 0.60% of daily net
FEE assets, scaled down on assets over $500 million (see page 5).
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DIVIDENDS Dividends are declared daily, and either paid monthly in additional shares of the Fund
or, at the shareholder's option, paid monthly in cash.
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DISTRIBUTOR Dean Witter Distributors Inc. (the "Distributor") receives from the Fund a distribution
AND fee accrued daily and paid monthly at the rate of 0.85% per annum of the lesser of (i)
DISTRIBUTION the Fund's average daily aggregate net sales or (ii) the Fund's average daily net
FEE assets. The fee compensates the Distributor for services provided in distributing shares
of the Fund and for sales-related expenses. The Distributor also receives the proceeds
of any contingent deferred sales charges (see page 9).
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REDEMPTION-- Redeemable at net asset value, involuntarily redeemed if the total value of the account
CONTINGENT is less than $100 or, if the account was opened through EasyInvest-SM-, if after twelve
DEFERRED SALES months the shareholder has invested less than $1,000 in the account. Although no
CHARGE commission or sales charge is imposed upon the purchase of shares, a contingent deferred
sales charge (scaled down from 5% to 1%) is imposed on any redemption of shares if,
after such redemption, the aggregate current value of an account with the Fund is less
than the aggregate amount of the investor's purchase payments made during the six years
preceding the redemption. However, there is no charge imposed on redemption of shares
purchased through reinvestment of dividends or distributions (see page 12).
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RISK The net asset value of the Fund's shares will fluctuate with changes in the market value
CONSIDERATIONS of its portfolio securities. Interest rate fluctuations will affect the Fund's net asset
value but not the income received by the Fund from its portfolio securities. The Fund
may engage in various investment strategies including reverse repurchase agreements,
when-issued and delayed delivery securities and forward commitments and when, as and if
issued securities. The risks associated with these investments are included in their
description (pages 5-7) and in the "Risk Considerations" section (page 8).
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</TABLE>
THE ABOVE IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY THE DETAILED INFORMATION APPEARING
ELSEWHERE IN THIS PROSPECTUS
AND THE STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
2
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SUMMARY OF FUND EXPENSES
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The following table illustrates all expenses and fees that a shareholder of the
Fund will incur. The expenses and fees set forth in the table are for the fiscal
year ended August 31, 1996.
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<CAPTION>
SHAREHOLDER TRANSACTION EXPENSES
<S> <C>
Maximum Sales Charge Imposed on Purchases........................................................ None
Maximum Sales Charge Imposed on Reinvested Dividends............................................. None
Deferred Sales Charge
(as a percentage of the lesser of original purchase price or redemption proceeds)............... 5.0%
</TABLE>
A contingent deferred sales charge is imposed at the following declining rates:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
YEAR SINCE PURCHASE PAYMENT MADE PERCENTAGE
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<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................................................................................. 0.60%
12b-1 Fees*..................................................................................... 0.85%
Other Expenses.................................................................................. 0.17%
Total Fund Operating Expenses................................................................... 1.62%
</TABLE>
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* A portion of the 12b-1 fee equal to 0.20% of the Fund's average daily net
assets is characterized as a service fee within the meaning of the National
Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. ("NASD") guidelines (see "Purchase of
Fund Shares").
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EXAMPLE 1 YEAR 3 YEARS 5 YEARS 10 YEARS
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<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
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FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
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The following ratios and per share data for a share of beneficial interest
outstanding throughout each period 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
MAY 3,
1989*
FOR THE YEAR ENDED AUGUST 31 THROUGH
--------------------------------------------------------------------------- AUGUST
1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 31, 1989
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
PER SHARE OPERATING PERFORMANCE:
Net asset value, beginning of
period............................ $ 9.69 $ 9.51 $ 10.26 $ 10.05 $ 9.59 $ 9.42 $ 9.98 $ 10.00
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
Net investment income............ 0.55 0.59 0.58 0.62 0.70 0.79 0.86 0.28
Net realized and unrealized gain
(loss).......................... (0.30) 0.19 (0.73) 0.20 0.46 0.17 (0.55) (0.02)
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
Total from investment
operations...................... 0.25 0.78 (0.15) 0.82 1.16 0.96 0.31 0.26
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
Less dividends and distributions
from:
Net investment income.......... (0.55) (0.59) (0.56) (0.61) (0.70) (0.79) (0.86) (0.28)
Net realized gain.............. -0- (0.01) (0.04) -0- -0- -0- (0.01) -0-
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
Total dividends and
distributions................... (0.55) (0.60) (0.60) (0.61) (0.70) (0.79) (0.87) (0.28)
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
Net asset value, end of period... $ 9.39 $ 9.69 $ 9.51 $ 10.26 $ 10.05 $ 9.59 $ 9.42 $ 9.98
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
TOTAL INVESTMENT RETURN+........... 2.58% 8.56% (1.50)% 8.43% 12.58% 10.78% 3.22% 2.57%(1)
RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET ASSETS:
Expenses......................... 1.62% 1.63% 1.63% 1.62% 1.69% 1.69% 1.75% 1.42%(2)(3)
Net investment income............ 5.69% 6.23% 5.80% 6.12% 7.11% 8.49% 8.78% 8.18%(2)(3)
SUPPLEMENTAL DATA:
Net assets, end of period, in
thousands....................... $208,911 $232,752 $245,750 $254,431 $187,285 $115,204 $114,086 $69,946
Portfolio turnover rate.......... 115% 114% 122% 132% 93% 150% 135% 30%(1)
</TABLE>
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* COMMENCEMENT OF OPERATIONS.
+ DOES NOT REFLECT THE DEDUCTION OF SALES CHARGE. CALCULATED BASED ON THE NET
ASSET VALUE AS OF THE LAST BUSINESS DAY OF THE PERIOD.
(1) NOT ANNUALIZED.
(2) ANNUALIZED.
(3) IF THE FUND HAD BORNE ALL THE EXPENSES THAT WERE ASSUMED OR WAIVED BY THE
INVESTMENT MANAGER, THE ABOVE EXPENSE AND NET INVESTMENT INCOME RATIOS WOULD
HAVE BEEN 2.15% AND 7.44%, RESPECTIVELY.
4
<PAGE>
THE FUND AND ITS MANAGEMENT
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Dean Witter Intermediate Income Securities (the "Fund") is an open-end,
diversified management investment company. The Fund is a trust of the type
commonly known as a "Massachusetts business trust" and was organized under the
laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts on September 1, 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 100 investment companies, thirty of which are
listed on the New York Stock Exchange, with combined assets of approximately
$83.6 billion at September 30, 1996. The Investment Manager also manages
portfolios of pension plans, other institutions and individuals which aggregated
approximately $2.9 billion at such date.
The Fund has retained the Investment Manager to provide administrative
services, manage its business affairs and manage the investment of the Fund's
assets, including the placing of orders for the purchase and sale of portfolio
securities. InterCapital has retained Dean Witter Services Company Inc. to
provide the aforementioned administrative services to the Fund. The Fund's
Trustees review the various services provided by or under the direction of the
Investment Manager to ensure that the Fund's general investment policies and
programs are being properly carried out and that administrative services are
being provided to the Fund in a satisfactory manner.
As full compensation for the services and facilities furnished to the Fund
and for expenses of the Fund assumed by the Investment Manager, the Fund pays
the Investment Manager monthly compensation calculated daily by applying the
annual rate of 0.60% to the Fund's daily net assets up to $500 million, scaled
down at various levels to 0.30% on assets over $1 billion. For the fiscal year
ended August 31, 1996, the Fund accrued total compensation to the Investment
Manager amounting to 0.60% 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
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The investment objective of the Fund is high current income consistent with
safety of principal. This investment objective is a fundamental policy and may
not be changed without approval of the Fund's shareholders. The Fund seeks to
achieve its objective by investing at least 65% of its total assets in
intermediate term, investment grade fixed-income securities. The Fund will
maintain an average weighted maturity of approximately seven years or less and
may not invest in securities with remaining maturities greater than twelve
years. Under normal conditions, the Fund's average weighted maturity will not be
less than three years. (Under the current interpretation by the staff of the
Securities and Exchange Commission, an intermediate bond fund must have an
average weighted maturity between three and ten years.)
Under normal circumstances, the Fund will invest primarily in corporate debt
securities and preferred stock of investment grade, which consists of securities
which are rated at the time of purchase Baa or better by Moody's Investors
Service, Inc. ("Moody's") or BBB or better by Standard & Poor's Corporation
("Standard & Poor's"), or which, if unrated, are deemed to be of comparable
quality by the Fund's Trustees. Fixed-income securities rated Baa by Moody's
have speculative characteristics. (A more detailed description of bond ratings
is contained in the Appendix to the Statement of Additional Information.) The
Fund may also purchase U.S. Government securities (securities guaranteed as to
principal and interest by the United States or its agencies or
instrumentalities) and investment grade securities, denominated in U.S. Dollars,
issued by foreign governments or issuers. U.S. Government securities in which
the Fund may invest include zero coupon securities and mortgage-backed
securities, such as securities issued by the Government National Mortgage
Association, the Federal National Mortgage Association and the Federal Home Loan
Mortgage Corporation. There can be no assurance that the investment objective of
the Fund will be achieved.
The Investment Manager believes that the Fund's policies of purchasing
intermediate term securities will reduce the volatility of the Fund's net asset
value over the long term. Although the values of fixed-income securities
generally increase during periods of declining interest rates and decrease
during periods of increasing interest rates, the extent of these fluctuations
has historically generally been smaller for intermediate term securities than
for securities with longer maturities. Conversely, the yield available on
intermediate term securities has also historically been lower than those
available from long term securities.
Investment by the Fund in U.S. Dollar denominated fixed-income securities
issued by foreign governments and
5
<PAGE>
other foreign issuers may involve certain risks not associated with U.S. issued
securities. Those risks include the political or economic instability of the
issuer or of the country of issue, the difficulty of predicting international
trade patterns and the possibility of imposition of exchange controls. In
addition, there may be less publicly available information about a foreign
company than about a domestic company. A more detailed description of the
general risks of foreign issuers is contained in the Statement of Additional
Information. The Fund believes that those risks are substantially lessened
because the foreign securities in which the Fund may invest are investment
grade.
While the Fund will invest primarily in investment grade fixed-income
securities, under ordinary circumstances it also may invest up to 35% of its
total assets in money market instruments, repurchase agreements, as discussed
below, and up to 5% of the Fund's net assets may be invested in lower rated
fixed-income securities.
Lower rated fixed-income securities, which are those rated from Ba to C or
BB to C by Moody's or Standard & Poor's, respectively, are considered to be
speculative investments. Such lower rated securities, while producing higher
yield than investment grade securities, are subject to credit risk to a greater
extent than investment grade securities. The Fund does not have any minimum
quality rating standard with respect to the portion (up to 5%) of its net assets
which may be invested in lower rated securities. See the Statement of Additional
Information for a description of the special risks and characteristics of lower
rated fixed-income securities.
There may be periods during which, in the opinion of the Investment Manager,
market conditions warrant reduction of some or all of the Fund's securities
holdings. During such periods, the Fund may adopt a temporary "defensive"
posture in which greater than 35% of its total assets are invested in cash or
money market instruments. Money market instruments in which the Fund may invest
are securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government (Treasury bills,
notes and bonds, including zero coupon securities); bank obligations; Eurodollar
certificates of deposit; obligations of savings institutions; fully insured
certificates of deposit; and commercial paper rated within the two highest
grades by Moody's or Standard & Poor's or, if not rated, are issued by a company
having an outstanding debt issue rated at least AA by Standard & Poor's or Aa by
Moody's.
ZERO COUPON SECURITIES. A portion of the fixed-income securities purchased by
the Fund may be zero coupon securities. Such securities are purchased at a
discount from their face amount, giving the purchaser the right to receive their
full value at maturity. The interest earned on such securities is, implicitly,
automatically compounded and paid out at maturity. While such compounding at a
constant rate eliminates the risk of receiving lower yields upon reinvestment of
interest if prevailing interest rates decline, the owner of a zero coupon
security will be unable to participate in higher yields upon reinvestment of
interest received on interest-paying securities if prevailing interest rates
rise.
A zero coupon security pays no interest to its holder during its life.
Therefore, to the extent the Fund invests in zero coupon securities, it will not
receive current cash available for distribution to shareholders. In addition,
zero coupon securities are subject to substantially greater price fluctuations
during periods of changing prevailing interest rates than are comparable
securities which pay interest on a current basis. Current federal tax law
requires that a holder (such as the Fund) of a zero coupon security accrue a
portion of the discount at which the security was purchased as income each year
even though the Fund receives no interest payments in cash on the security
during the year.
REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS. The Fund may enter into repurchase agreements, which may
be viewed as a type of secured lending by the Fund, and which typically involve
the acquisition by the Fund of debt securities from a selling financial
institution such as a bank, savings and loan association or broker-dealer. The
agreement provides that the Fund will sell back to the institution, and that the
institution will repurchase, the underlying security at a specified price and at
a fixed time in the future, usually not more than seven days from the date of
purchase. While repurchase agreements involve certain risks not associated with
direct investments in debt securities, including the risks of default or
bankruptcy of the selling financial institution, the Fund follows procedures
designed to minimize those risks. These procedures include effecting repurchase
transactions only with large, well-capitalized and well established financial
institutions and maintaining adequate collateralization.
REVERSE REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS. The Fund may also use reverse repurchase
agreements for purposes of meeting redemptions or 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 obtaining
the cash otherwise. Opportunities to achieve this advantage may not always be
available, and the Fund intends to use the reverse repurchase technique only
when it will be to its advantage to do so. The Fund will establish a segregated
account with its custodian bank in which it will maintain cash, U.S. Government
securities or other liquid portfolio securities equal in value to its
obligations in respect of reverse repurchase agreements. Reverse repurchase
agreements are considered borrowings by the Fund. The use of borrowed funds for
other than
6
<PAGE>
emergency purposes constitutes leveraging, which is a speculative technique.
Reverse repurchase agreements may not exceed 10% of the Fund's total assets.
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 its net asset value.
PRIVATE PLACEMENTS. The Fund may invest up to 5% of its total assets in
securities which are subject to restrictions on resale because they have not
been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities
Act"), or which are otherwise not readily marketable. (Securities eligible for
resale pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act, and determined to be
liquid pursuant to the procedures discussed in the following paragraph, are not
subject to the foregoing restriction.) These securities are generally referred
to as private placements or restricted securities. Limitations on the resale of
such securities may have an adverse effect on their marketability, and may
prevent the 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.
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 Fund's total assets. Investing
in Rule 144A securities could have the effect of increasing the level of Fund
illiquidity to the extent the Fund, at a particular point in time, may be unable
to find qualified institutional buyers interested in purchasing such securities.
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 cash
equivalents, which are maintained in a segregated account pursuant to applicable
regulations and that are at least equal to the market value, determined daily,
of the loaned securities.
PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT
The Fund's portfolio is actively managed by its Investment Manager with a view
to achieving the Fund's investment objective. In determining which securities to
purchase for the Fund or hold in the Fund's portfolio, the Investment Manager
will rely on information from various sources, including research, analysis and
appraisals of brokers and dealers; 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 Taxable Group, which manages twenty-five funds and
fund portfolios, with approximately $12.9 billion in assets as of September 30,
1996. Rochelle G. Siegel, Senior Vice President of InterCapital and a member of
InterCapital's Taxable Group, has been the primary portfolio manager since the
Fund's inception and has been a portfolio manager at InterCapital since July,
1985.
Orders for transactions in portfolio securities are placed for the Fund with
a number of brokers and dealers, including Dean Witter Reynolds Inc. ("DWR").
Pursuant to an order of the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Fund may
effect principal transactions in certain money market instruments with DWR, a
broker-dealer affiliate of InterCapital. In addition, the Fund may incur
brokerage commissions on transactions conducted through DWR. It is not
anticipated that the portfolio trading will result in the Fund's portfolio
turnover rate exceeding 200%. 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.
7
<PAGE>
RISK CONSIDERATIONS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
An increase in prevailing levels of interest rates will generally reduce the
value of securities in the Fund's portfolio, while a decline in rates will
generally increase the value of these securities. As a result, the fluctuations
or changes in interest rates will cause the Fund's net asset value to rise and
fall, in an inverse relationship; however, the income received by the Fund from
its portfolio securities will not be affected. Because yields on debt securities
available for purchase by a Fund vary over time, no specific yield on shares of
the Fund can be assured. In addition, if the bonds in the Fund's portfolio
contain call, prepayment or redemption provisions, during a period of declining
interest rates, these securities are likely to be redeemed, and the Fund will
probably be unable to replace them with securities having an equal yield.
For additional risk disclosure, please refer to the "Investment Objective
and Policies" section of the Prospectus and to the "Investment Practices and
Policies" section in the Statement of Additional Information.
INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The investment restrictions listed below are among the restrictions which have
been adopted by the Fund as fundamental policies. Under the Investment Company
Act of 1940, as amended (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 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 more than 5% of the value of its total assets in the
securities of any one issuer (other than obligations issued or guaranteed by
the United States Government, its agencies or instrumentalities).
2. Purchase more than 10% of all outstanding voting securities or any
class of securities of any one issuer.
3. Invest 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. Borrow money, except that the Fund may borrow from banks for
temporary or emergency purposes in an amount up to 5% (taken at the lower of
cost or current value) of its total assets (not including the amount
borrowed), and may enter into reverse repurchase agreements in an amount not
exceeding 10% of the Fund's total assets.
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. Minimum subsequent purchases of $100
or more may be made by sending a check, payable to Dean Witter Intermediate
Income Securities, 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 another Selected Broker-Dealer. The minimum initial purchase in the case
of investments through EasyInvest-SM-, an automatic purchase plan (see
"Shareholder Services") , is $100, provided that the schedule of automatic
investments will result in investments totalling at least $1,000 within the
first twelve months. In the case of investments pursuant to Systematic Payroll
Deduction Plans (including Individual Retirement Plans), the Fund, in its
discretion, may accept investments without regard to any minimum amounts which
would otherwise be required if the Fund has reason to believe that additional
investments will increase the investment in all accounts under such Plans to at
least
8
<PAGE>
$1,000. Certificates for shares purchased will not be issued unless a request is
made by the shareholder in writing to the Transfer Agent. The offering price
will be the net asset value per share next determined following receipt of an
order (see "Determination of Net Asset Value").
Shares of the Fund are sold through the Distributor on a normal three
business day settlement basis; that is, payment is due on the third business day
(settlement date) after the order is placed with the Distributor. Shares of the
Fund purchased through the Distributor are entitled to dividends beginning on
the next business day following settlement date. Since DWR and other Selected
Broker-Dealers forward investors' funds on settlement date, they will benefit
from the temporary use of the funds where payment is made prior thereto. Shares
purchased through the Transfer Agent are entitled to dividends beginning on the
next business day following receipt of an order. As noted above, orders placed
directly with the Transfer Agent must be accompanied by payment. Investors will
be entitled to receive capital gains distributions if their order is received by
the close of business on the day prior to the record date for such
distributions. While no sales charge is imposed at the time shares are
purchased, a contingent deferred sales charge may be imposed at the time of
redemption (see "Redemptions and Repurchases"). Sales personnel are compensated
for selling shares of the Fund at the time of their sale by the Distributor
and/or Selected Broker-Dealer. In addition, some sales personnel of the Selected
Broker-Dealer will receive various types of non-cash compensation as special
sales incentives, including trips, educational and/ or business seminars and
merchandise. The Fund and the Distributor reserve the right to reject any
purchase orders.
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
The Fund has adopted a Plan of Distribution pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Act
(the "Plan"), under which the Fund pays the Distributor a fee, which is accrued
daily and payable monthly, at an annual rate of 0.85% of the lesser of: (a) the
average daily aggregate gross sales of the Fund's shares since the inception of
the Fund (not including reinvestments of dividends or capital gains
distributions), less the average daily aggregate net asset value of the Fund's
shares redeemed since the Fund's inception upon which a contingent deferred
sales charge has been imposed or waived; or (b) the Fund's average daily net
assets. This fee is treated by the Fund as an expense in the year it is accrued.
Amounts paid under the Plan are paid to the Distributor for 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's 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 expenses incurred by the Distributor.
For the fiscal year ended August 31, 1996, the Fund accrued payments under
the Plan amounting to $1,894,592, which amount is equal to 0.85% of the Fund's
average daily net assets for the fiscal year. These payments accrued under the
Plan were calculated pursuant to clause (b) of the compensation formula under
the Plan. Of the amount accrued under the Plan, 0.20% of the Fund's average
daily net assets is characterized as a service fee within the meaning of NASD
guidelines. The service fee is a payment made for personal service and/or the
maintenance of shareholder accounts.
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 the Distributor incurred $1 million in
expenses in distributing shares of the Fund and $750,000 had been received by
the Distributor 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 $6,167,490 at
August 31, 1996, which was equal to 2.95% 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, such excess amount does not constitute a liability of the Fund.
Although there is no legal obligation for the Fund to pay expenses incurred in
excess of payments made to the Distributor under the Plan, and the proceeds of
contingent deferred sales charges paid by investors upon redemption of shares,
if for any reason the Plan is terminated, the Trustees will consider at that
time the manner in which to treat such expenses. Any cumulative expenses
incurred, but not yet recovered through distribution fees or contingent deferred
sales charges, may or may not be recovered through future distribution fees or
contingent deferred sales charges.
DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE
The net asset value per share of the Fund is determined once daily at 4:00 p.m.,
New York time (or, on days when the New York Stock Exchange closes prior to 4:00
p.m., at such earlier time), on each day that the New York Stock Exchange is
open by taking the value of all assets of the
9
<PAGE>
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 or other
domestic or foreign exchange or quoted by NASDAQ is valued at its latest sale
price on that exchange or quotation service prior to the time assets are valued;
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 pursuant to procedures
adopted by the Trustees); and (2) all 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
and 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 Board of
Trustees.
Certain of the Fund's portfolio securities may be valued by an outside
pricing service approved by the Fund's Trustees. The pricing service may utilize
a matrix system incorporating security quality, maturity and coupon as the
evaluation model parameters, and/or research evaluations by its staff, including
review of broker-dealer market price quotations, in determining what it believes
is the fair valuation of the portfolio securities valued by such pricing
service. (See "Determination of Net Asset Value" in the Statement of Additional
Information.)
SHAREHOLDER SERVICES
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AUTOMATIC INVESTMENT OF DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS. All income dividends and
capital gains distributions are automatically paid in full and fractional shares
of the Fund, (or, if specified by the shareholder, any other open-end investment
company for which InterCapital serves as investment manager ([collectively, with
the Fund, the "Dean Witter Funds"]), unless the shareholder requests that they
be paid in cash. Shares so acquired are not subject to the imposition of a
contingent deferred sales charge upon their redemption (see "Redemptions and
Repurchases"). Such dividends and distributions will be paid, at the net asset
value per share, in shares of the Fund (or in cash if the shareholder so
requests) on the monthly payment date, which will be no later than the last
business day of the month for which the dividend or distribution is payable.
Processing of dividend checks begins immediately following the monthly payment
date. Shareholders who have requested to receive dividends in cash will normally
receive their monthly dividend check during the first ten days of the following
month.
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 Fund's Transfer Agent for investment in shares of the
Fund (see "Purchases of Fund Shares" and "Redemptions and
Repurchases--Involuntary Redemption").
INVESTMENT OF DIVIDENDS OR 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").
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.
10
<PAGE>
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"), for shares of Dean
Witter Short-Term U.S. Treasury Trust, Dean Witter Limited Term Municipal Trust,
Dean Witter Short-Term Bond Fund, Dean Witter Balanced Growth Fund, Dean Witter
Balanced Income Fund and Dean Witter Intermediate Term U.S. Treasury Trust and
for shares of five Dean Witter Funds which are money market funds (the foregoing
eleven non-CDSC funds are hereinafter collectively referred to in this section
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 to any Exchange Fund that is not a money
market fund is on the basis of the next calculated net asset value per share of
each fund after the exchange order is received. When exchanging into a money
market fund from the Fund, shares of the Fund are redeemed out of the Fund at
their next calculated net asset value and the proceeds of the redemption are
used to purchase shares of the money market fund at their net asset value
determined the following business day. Subsequent exchanges between any of the
money market funds and any of the CDSC funds can be effected on the same basis.
No contingent deferred sales charge ("CDSC") is imposed at the time of any
exchange, although any applicable CDSC will be imposed upon ultimate redemption.
Shares of the Fund acquired in exchange for shares of another CDSC fund having a
different CDSC schedule than that of this Fund will be subject to the CDSC
schedule of this Fund, even if such shares are subsequently re-exchanged for
shares of the CDSC fund originally purchased. During the period of time the
shareholder remains in the Exchange Fund (calculated from the last day of the
month in which the Exchange Fund shares were acquired), the holding period (for
the purpose of determining the rate of the CDSC) is frozen. If those shares are
subsequently reexchanged for shares of a CDSC fund, the holding period
previously frozen when the first exchange was made resumes on the last day of
the month in which shares of a CDSC fund are reacquired. Thus, the CDSC is based
upon the time (calculated as described above) the shareholder was invested in a
CDSC fund (see "Redemptions and Repurchases--Contingent Deferred Sales Charge").
However, in the case of shares exchanged into an Exchange Fund on or after April
23, 1990, upon a redemption of shares which results in a CDSC being imposed, a
credit (not to exceed the amount of the CDSC) will be given in an amount equal
to the Exchange Fund 12b-1 distribution fees incurred on or after that date
which are attributable to those shares. (Exchange Fund 12b-1 distribution fees
are described in the prospectuses for those funds.)
In addition, shares of the Fund may be acquired in exchange for shares of
Dean Witter Funds sold with a front-end sales charge ("front-end sales charge
funds"), but shares of the Fund, however acquired, may not be exchanged for
shares of front-end sales charge funds. Shares of a CDSC fund acquired in
exchange for shares of a front-end sales charge fund (or in exchange for shares
of other Dean Witter Funds for which shares of a front-end sales charge fund
have been exchanged) are not subject to any CDSC upon their redemption.
Purchases and exchanges should be made for investment purposes only. A
pattern of frequent exchanges may be deemed by the Investment Manager to be
abusive and contrary to the best interests of the Fund's other shareholders and,
at the Investment Manager's discretion, may be limited by the Fund's refusal to
accept additional purchases and/or exchanges from the investor. Although the
Fund does not have any specific definition of what constitutes a pattern of
frequent exchanges, and will consider all relevant factors in determining
whether a particular situation is abusive and contrary to the best interests of
the Fund and its other shareholders, investors should be aware that the Fund and
each of the other Dean Witter Funds may in their discretion limit or otherwise
restrict the number of times this Exchange Privilege may be exercised by any
investor. Any such restriction will be made by the Fund on a prospective basis
only, upon notice of 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
11
<PAGE>
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 Form, copies of which may be obtained from the Transfer Agent, to
initiate an exchange. If the Authorization Form is used, exchanges may be made
in writing or by contacting the Transfer Agent at (800) 869-NEWS (toll-free).
The Fund will employ reasonable procedures to confirm that exchange instructions
communicated over the telephone are genuine. Such procedures may include
requiring various forms of personal identification such as name, mailing
address, 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 experience with the Dean
Witter Funds in the past.
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. 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 along with any additional documentation required
by the Transfer Agent.
CONTINGENT DEFERRED SALES CHARGE. Shares of the Fund which are held for six
years or more after purchase (calculated from the last day of the month in which
the shares were purchased) will not be subject to any charge upon redemption.
Shares redeemed sooner than six years after purchase will, 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 purchased more than six years prior to the
redemption; and (iii) the current net asset value of shares purchased through
reinvestment of dividends or distributions and/or shares acquired in exchange
for shares of Dean Witter Funds sold with a front-end sales charge or of other
Dean Witter Funds acquired in exchange for such shares. Moreover, in determining
whether a CDSC is applicable it will be assumed that amounts described in (i),
(ii) and (iii) above (in that order) are redeemed first. In addition, 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. The Distributor has informed the Fund that the total
amount of CDSC paid to it for the fiscal year ended August 31, 1996 was
$364,492.
In addition, the CDSC, if otherwise applicable, will be waived in the case
of:
(1) redemptions of shares held at the time a shareholder dies or becomes
disabled, only if the shares are: (A) registered either in the name of an
individual shareholder (not a trust), or in the names of such shareholder and
his or her spouse as joint tenants with right of survivorship; or (B) held in
a qualified corporate or self-employed retirement plan, Individual Retirement
Account ("IRA") or Custodial Account under Section 403(b)(7) of the Internal
Revenue Code ("403(b) Custodial Account"), provided in either case that the
redemption is requested within one year of the death or initial determination of
disability;
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<PAGE>
(2) redemptions in connection with the following retirement plan
distributions: (A) lump-sum or other distributions from a qualified corporate
or self-employed retirement plan following retirement (or, in the case of a "key
employee" of a "top heavy" plan, following attainment of age
59 1/2); (B) distributions from an IRA or 403(b) Custodial Account following
attainment of age 59 1/2; or (C) a tax-free return of an excess contribution
to an IRA; and
(3) all redemptions of shares held for the benefit of a participant in a
corporate or self-employed retirement plan qualified under Section 401(k) of the
Internal Revenue Code which offers investment companies managed by the
Investment Manager or its subsidiary, Dean Witter Services Company Inc., as
self-directed investment alternatives and for which Dean Witter Trust Company,
an affiliate of the Investment Manager, serves as recordkeeper or Trustee
("Eligible 401(k) Plan"), provided that either: (A) the plan continues to be an
Eligible 401(k) Plan after the redemption; or (B) the redemption is in
connection with the complete termination of the plan involving the distribution
of all plan assets to participants.
With reference to (1) above, for the purpose of determining disability, the
Distributor utilizes the definition of disability contained in Section 72(m)(7)
of the Internal Revenue Code, which relates to the inability to engage in
gainful employment. With reference to (2) above, the term "distribution" does
not encompass a direct transfer of IRA, 403(b) Custodial Account or retirement
plan assets to a successor custodian or trustee. All waivers will be granted
only following receipt by the Distributor of confirmation of the shareholder's
entitlement.
REPURCHASE. DWR and other Selected Broker-Dealers are authorized to repurchase
shares represented by a share certificate which is delivered to any of their
offices. Shares held in a shareholder's account without a share certificate may
also be repurchased by DWR and other Selected Broker-Dealers upon the telephonic
or telegraphic 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 and other Selected Broker-Dealers, reduced by any applicable
CDSC.
The CDSC, if any, will be the only fee imposed by either 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, e.g., when normal trading is not taking place on the New York
Stock Exchange. If the shares to be redeemed have recently been purchased by
check, payment of the redemption proceeds may be delayed for the minimum time
needed to verify that the check used for investment has been honored (not more
than fifteen days from the time of receipt of the check by the Transfer Agent).
Shareholders maintaining margin accounts with DWR or another Selected
Broker-Dealer are referred to their account executive regarding restrictions on
redemption of shares of the Fund pledged in the margin account.
REINSTATEMENT PRIVILEGE. A shareholder who has had his or her shares redeemed
or repurchased and has not previously exercised this reinstatement privilege
may, within thirty days after the date of the redemption or repurchase,
reinstate any portion or all of the proceeds of such redemption or repurchase in
shares of the Fund at 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 to redeem, on sixty days'
notice and at net asset value, the shares (other than shares held in an
Individual Retirement Account or Custodial Account under Section 403(b)(7) of
the Internal Revenue Code) of any shareholder whose shares, due to redemptions
by the shareholder, have a value of less than $100 or such lesser amount as may
be fixed by the Trustees or, in the case of an account opened through
EasyInvest-SM-, if after twelve months the shareholder has invested less than
$1,000 in the account. However, before the Fund redeems such shares and sends
the proceeds to the shareholder it will notify the shareholder that the value of
the shares is less than the applicable amount and allow the shareholder sixty
days to make an additional investment in an amount which will increase the value
of the account to at least the applicable amount before the redemption is
processed. No CDSC will be imposed on any involuntary redemption.
DIVIDENDS, DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS. The Fund intends to declare dividends from net
investment income on each day the New York Stock Exchange is open for business
(see "Purchase of Fund Shares"). The amount of the dividend declared may
fluctuate from day to day. Dividends are declared daily and paid monthly in
additional shares of the Fund. The Fund intends to distribute dividends from net
short-term and long-term capital gains, if any, at least once each year. The
Fund
13
<PAGE>
may, however, elect to retain all or a portion of any net long-term capital
gains in any year. 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 or all dividends and 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 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 dividend income
regardless of whether the shareholder receives such payments in additional
shares or in cash. Any dividends declared in the last quarter of any calendar
year which are paid to shareholders of record in such period in the following
year prior to February 1 will be deemed received by the shareholder in the prior
calendar year.
Long-term and short-term capital gains may be generated by the sale of
portfolio securities by the Fund. 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. After the end of the
calendar year, shareholders will receive full information on their dividends and
capital gains distributions for tax purposes, including information as to the
portion taxable as ordinary income and the portion taxable as long-term capital
gains.
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 accuracy. The foregoing discussion relates solely to the federal
income tax consequences of an investment in the Fund. Distributions may also be
subject to state and local taxes; therefore, each shareholder is advised to
consult his or her own tax adviser.
PERFORMANCE INFORMATION
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From time to time the Fund may quote its "yield" and/or its "total return" in
advertisements and sales literature. Both the yield and the total return of the
Fund are based on historical earnings and are not intended to indicate future
performance. The yield of the Fund is computed by dividing the Fund's net
investment income over a 30-day period by an average value (using the average
number of shares entitled to receive dividends and the net asset value per share
at the end of the period), all in accordance with applicable regulatory
requirements. Such amount is compounded for six months and then annualized for a
twelve-month period to derive the Fund's yield.
The "average annual total return" of the Fund refers to a figure reflecting
the average annualized percentage increase (or decrease) in the value of an
initial investment in the Fund of $1,000 over periods of one, five and ten
years, or over the life of the Fund, if less than any of the foregoing. Average
annual total return reflects all income earned by the Fund, any appreciation or
depreciation of the Fund's assets, all expenses incurred by the Fund and all
sales charges incurred by shareholders, for the stated periods. It also assumes
reinvestment of all dividends and distributions paid by the Fund.
In addition to the foregoing, the Fund may advertise its total return over
different periods of time by means of aggregate, average, year-by-year or other
types of total return figures. The Fund may also advertise the growth of
hypothetical investments of $10,000, $50,000 and $100,000 in shares of the Fund.
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 from time to time may also advertise its performance relative to
certain performance rankings and indexes compiled by independent organizations,
such as mutual fund performance rankings of Lipper Analytical Services, Inc.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
VOTING RIGHTS. All shares of beneficial interest of the Fund are of $0.01 par
value and are equal as to earnings, assets and voting privileges.
The Fund is not required to hold Annual Meetings of Shareholders and, in
ordinary circumstances, the Fund does not intend to hold such meetings. The
Trustees may call Special Meetings of Shareholders for action by shareholder
vote as may be required by the Act or the Declaration of Trust.
Under Massachusetts law, shareholders of a business trust may, under certain
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,
14
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requires that Fund obligations include such disclaimer, and provides for
indemnification out of the Fund's property for any shareholder held personally
liable for the obligations of the Fund. Thus, the risk of a shareholder
incurring financial loss on account of shareholder liability is limited to
circumstances in which the Fund itself would be unable to meet its obligations.
Given the above limitations on shareholder personal liability and the nature of
the Fund's assets and operations, the possibility of the Fund being unable to
meet its obligations is remote and, in the opinion of Massachusetts counsel to
the Fund, the risk to Fund shareholders of personal liability is remote.
CODE OF ETHICS. Directors, officers and employees of InterCapital, Dean Witter
Services Company Inc. and the Distributor are subject to a strict Code of Ethics
adopted by those companies. The Code of Ethics is intended to ensure that the
interests of shareholders and other clients are placed ahead of any personal
interest, that no undue personal benefit is obtained from a person's employment
activities and that actual and potential conflicts of interest are avoided. To
achieve these goals and comply with regulatory requirements, the Code of Ethics
requires, among other things, that personal securities transactions by employees
of the companies be subject to an advance clearance process to monitor that no
investment company managed or advised by InterCapital ("Dean Witter Fund") is
engaged at the same time in a purchase or sale of the same security. The Code of
Ethics bans the purchase of securities in an initial public offering, and also
prohibits engaging in futures and options transactions and profiting on
short-term trading (that is, a purchase within sixty days of a sale or a sale
within sixty days of a purchase) of a security. In addition, investment
personnel may not purchase or sell a security for their personal account within
thirty days before or after any transaction in any Dean Witter Fund managed by
them. Any violations of the Code of Ethics are subject to sanctions, including
reprimand, demotion or suspension or termination of employment. The Code of
Ethics comports with regulatory requirements and the recommendations in the 1994
report by the Investment Company Institute Advisory Group on Personal Investing.
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.
15
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DEAN WITTER
INTERMEDIATE INCOME SECURITIES
TWO WORLD TRADE CENTER
NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10048
TRUSTEES
Michael Bozic
Charles A. Fiumefreddo
Edwin J. Garn
John R. Haire
Dr. Manuel H. Johnson
Michael E. Nugent
Philip J. Purcell
John L. Schroeder
OFFICERS
Charles A. Fiumefreddo
Chairman and Chief Executive
Officer
Sheldon Curtis
Vice President, Secretary and
General Counsel
Rochelle G. Siegel
Vice President
Thomas F. Caloia
Treasurer
CUSTODIAN
The Bank of New York
90 Washington Street
New York, New York 10286
TRANSFER AGENT AND
DIVIDEND DISBURSING AGENT
Dean Witter Trust Company
Harborside Financial Center
Plaza Two
Jersey City, New Jersey 07311
INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
Price Waterhouse LLP
1177 Avenue of the Americas
New York, New York 10036
INVESTMENT MANAGER
Dean Witter InterCapital Inc.
