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PROSPECTUS
FEBRUARY 24, 1997
Dean Witter New York Municipal Money Market Trust (the "Fund") is
a no-load, open-end, non-diversified management investment company whose
investment objective is to provide as high a level of daily income exempt from
federal and New York income tax as is consistent with stability of principal and
liquidity. The Fund has a Rule 12b-1 Plan of Distribution (see below). The Fund
seeks to achieve its objective by investing primarily in high quality New York
tax-exempt securities with short-term maturities, including Municipal Bonds,
Municipal Notes and Municipal Commercial Paper. (See "Investment Objective and
Policies.") The Fund may invest a significant percentage of its assets in the
securities of a single issuer and therefore an investment in the Fund may be
riskier than an investment in other types of money funds.
AN INVESTMENT IN THE FUND IS NEITHER INSURED NOR GUARANTEED BY
THE U.S. GOVERNMENT. THERE IS NO ASSURANCE THAT THE FUND WILL BE ABLE TO
MAINTAIN A STABLE NET ASSET VALUE OF $1.00 PER SHARE.
In accordance with a Plan of Distribution with Dean Witter
Distributors Inc. pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company Act of
1940, the Fund is authorized to reimburse specific expenses incurred in
promoting the distribution of the Fund's shares. Reimbursement may in no event
exceed an amount equal to payments at the annual rate of 0.15 of 1% of the
average daily net assets of the Fund.
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 February 24, 1997, which has been filed with
the Securities and Exchange Commission, and which is available at no charge upon
request of the Fund at its address or at one of its telephone numbers listed on
this page. The Statement of Additional Information is incorporated herein by
reference.
Dean Witter
New York Municipal Money Market Trust
Two World Trade Center
New York, New York 10048
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Prospectus Summary/2
Summary of Fund Expenses/3
Financial Highlights/4
The Fund and its Management/4
Investment Objective and Policies/5
Special Considerations Relating to New York
Tax-Exempt Securities/9
Investment Restrictions/10
Purchase of Fund Shares/10
Shareholder Services/12
Redemption and Repurchase of Fund Shares/15
Dividends, Distributions and Taxes/17
Additional Information/19
Financial Statements--December 31, 1996/21
Report of Independent Accountants/29
For information about the Fund, including information on opening an account,
registration of shares, and other information relating to a specific account,
call:
- 800-869-NEWS (toll-free) or
- 212-392-2550
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<S> <C>
Minimum initial investment ............. $5,000
Minimum additional investment........... $ 100
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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, 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 Distributors Inc.
Distributor
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PROSPECTUS SUMMARY
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<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 investing principally in short-term securities which are exempt
from federal and New York income tax.
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Shares Offered Shares of beneficial interest with $0.01 par value. (see p. 19).
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Purchase of Shares Investments may be made:
- By wire
- By mail
- Through Dean Witter Reynolds Inc. account executives or other Selected Broker-Dealers
Purchases are at net asset value, without a sales charge. Minimum initial investment: $5,000. Subsequent
investments: $100 or more (by wire or by mail); $1,000 or more (through account executives) or $100 to $5,000
(by EasyInvest-SM-). Orders for purchase of shares are effective on day of receipt of payment in Federal funds
if payment is received by the Fund's transfer agent before 12:00 noon New York time (see p. 10).
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Investment To provide as high a level of daily income exempt from federal and New York income tax as is consistent with
Objective stability of principal and liquidity (see p. 5).
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Investment A portfolio of New York tax-exempt fixed-income securities with short-term maturities (see p. 5).
Policy
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Investment Dean Witter InterCapital Inc. ("InterCapital"), the Investment Manager of the Fund and its wholly-owned
Manager subsidiary, Dean Witter Services Company Inc., serve in various investment management, advisory, management and
administrative capacities to 101 investment companies and other portfolios with assets of approximately $92.5
billion at January 31, 1997 (see page 4). The monthly fee is at an annual rate of 1/2 of
1% of average daily net assets, scaled down on assets over $500 million (see p. 4-5).
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Distributor and Dean Witter Distributors Inc. (the "Distributor") is the Fund's Distributor. The Fund is authorized to reimburse
Plan of specific expenses incurred in promoting the distribution of the Fund's shares pursuant to a Plan of Distribution
Distribution pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940. Reimbursement may in no event exceed an amount
equal to payments at the annual rate of 0.15 of 1% of average daily net assets of the Fund (see p. 10-12).
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Management The monthly fee is at an annual rate of 1/2 of 1% of average daily net assets, scaled down on assets over $500
Fee million (see p. 5).
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Dividends Declared and automatically reinvested daily in additional shares; cash payments of dividends available
monthly (see p. 17).
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Reports Individual periodic account statements; annual and semi-annual Fund financial statements.
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Redemption of Shares are redeemable by the shareholder at net asset value without any charge (see p. 15):
Shares - By check
- By telephone or wire instructions, with proceeds wired or mailed to a predesignated bank account
- By mail
- Via an automatic redemption procedure (see p. 17)
A shareholder's account is subject to possible involuntary redemption if its value falls below $1,000 (see p.
17).
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Risks The Fund invests principally in short-term fixed income securities issued or guaranteed by the State of New York
and its local governments which are subject to minimal risk of loss of income and principal. However, the
investor is directed to the discussions concerning "variable rate obligations" and "when-issued and delayed
delivery securities" on page 8 of the Prospectus and on page 14 of the Statement of Additional Information and
the discussions concerning "repurchase agreements" and "puts" on pages 14-16 of the Statement of Additional
Information, concerning any risks associated with such portfolio securities and management techniques. Since the
Fund concentrates its investments in New York tax-exempt securities, the Fund is affected by any political,
economic or regulatory developments affecting the ability of New York issuers to pay interest or repay principal
(see pages 19-24 of the Statement of Additional Information).
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THE ABOVE IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY THE DETAILED INFORMATION APPEARING
ELSEWHERE IN THE PROSPECTUS AND IN 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. Expenses and fees set forth in the table are for the year
ended December 31, 1996.
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<CAPTION>
SHAREHOLDER TRANSACTION EXPENSES
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<S> <C>
Maximum Sales Charge Imposed on Purchases.............................................. None
Maximum Sales Charge Imposed on Reinvested Dividends................................... None
Deferred Sales Charge.................................................................. None
Redemption Fees........................................................................ None
Exchange Fee........................................................................... None
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ANNUAL FUND OPERATING EXPENSES (AS A PERCENTAGE OF AVERAGE NET ASSETS)
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Management Fees....................................................................... 0.50%
12b-1 Fee*............................................................................ 0.09%
Other Expenses........................................................................ 0.36%
Total Fund Operating Expenses......................................................... 0.95%
<FN>
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* THE 12B-1 FEE IS CHARACTERIZED AS A SERVICE FEE WITHIN THE MEANING OF NATIONAL
ASSOCIATION OF SECURITIES DEALERS, INC., ("NASD") GUIDELINES (SEE "PURCHASE OF
FUND SHARES").
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<CAPTION>
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............................................................... $ 10 $ 30 $ 53 $ 117
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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" and "Purchase of Fund Shares--Plan of
Distribution" in this Prospectus.
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 the
independent accountants which are contained in this Prospectus commencing on
page 21.
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<CAPTION>
FOR THE PERIOD
FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, MARCH 20, 1990*
------------------------------------------------------- THROUGH
1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 DECEMBER 31, 1990
------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- -----------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
PER SHARE OPERATING
PERFORMANCE:
Net asset value,
beginning of period.... $ 1.00 $ 1.00 $ 1.00 $ 1.00 $ 1.00 $ 1.00 $ 1.00
------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- -----------------
Net investment income.... 0.025 0.028 0.018 0.014 0.019 0.035 0.045
Less dividends from net
investment income...... (0.025) (0.028) (0.018) (0.014) (0.019) (0.035) (0.045)
------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- -----------------
Net asset value, end of
period................. $ 1.00 $ 1.00 $ 1.00 $ 1.00 $ 1.00 $ 1.00 $ 1.00
------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- -----------------
------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- -----------------
TOTAL INVESTMENT
RETURN+................ 2.53% 2.84% 1.78% 1.36% 1.86% 3.57% 4.69%(1)
RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA:
Net assets, end of
period, in thousands... $40,758 $39,108 $39,629 $41,112 $45,126 $66,196 $101,294
Ratios to average net
assets:
Expenses............... 0.95 (4) 1.01%(4) 1.03% 1.03% 0.97% 0.87% 0.12%(2)(3)
Net investment
income................ 2.48% 2.79% 1.75% 1.34% 1.86% 3.53% 5.66%(2)(3)
<FN>
- ------------------------------
* COMMENCEMENT OF OPERATIONS.
+ 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 EXPENSES THAT WERE ASSUMED OR WAIVED BY THE
INVESTMENT MANAGER, THE ABOVE ANNUALIZED EXPENSE AND NET INVESTMENT INCOME
RATIOS WOULD HAVE BEEN 0.80% AND 4.98%, RESPECTIVELY.
(4) THE ABOVE RATIOS DO NOT REFLECT THE EFFECT OF THE EXPENSE OFFSETS OF
0.01%.
</TABLE>
SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
THE FUND AND ITS MANAGEMENT
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Dean Witter New York Municipal Money Market Trust (the "Fund") is an
open-end, non-diversified management investment company. The Fund was organized
as a trust of the type commonly known as a "Massachusetts business trust" on
December 28, 1989. Prior to February 19, 1993, the Fund's name was Dean
Witter/Sears New York Municipal Money Market Trust.
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 a total of 101 investment companies, thirty of
which are listed on the New York Stock Exchange, with combined total assets
including this Fund of approximately $89.3 billion as of January 31, 1997. The
Investment Manager also manages portfolios of pension plans, other institutions
and individuals
4
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which aggregated approximately $3.2 billion at such date.
On February 5, 1997, DWDC and Morgan Stanley Group Inc. announced that they
had entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger, with the combined company to
be named Morgan Stanley, Dean Witter, Discover & Co. The business of Morgan
Stanley Group Inc. and its affiliated companies is providing a wide range of
financial services for sovereign governments, corporations, institutions and
individuals throughout the world. DWDC is the direct parent of InterCapital and
Dean Witter Distributors Inc., the Fund's distributor. It is currently
anticipated that the transaction will close in mid-1997. Thereafter,
InterCapital and Dean Witter Distributors Inc. will be direct subsidiaries of
Morgan Stanley, Dean Witter, Discover & Co.
The Fund has retained the Investment Manager to provide administrative
services, manage its business affairs and manage the investment of the Fund's
assets, including the placing of orders for the purchase and sale of portfolio
securities. InterCapital has retained Dean Witter Services Company Inc. to
perform the aforementioned administrative services for the Fund. The Fund's
Board of Trustees reviews 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 expenses of the Fund assumed by the Investment Manager, the Fund pays the
Investment Manager monthly compensation calculated daily at an annual rate of
0.50% of the daily net assets of the Fund up to $500 million, scaled down at
various asset levels to 0.25% on assets over $3 billion. For the fiscal year
ended December 31, 1996, the Fund accrued total compensation to the Investment
Manager amounting to 0.50% of the Fund's average daily net assets and the Fund's
total expenses amounted to 0.95% of the Fund's average daily net assets.
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE AND POLICIES
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The investment objective of the Fund is to provide as high a level of daily
income exempt from federal and New York income tax as is consistent with
stability of principal and liquidity. It is a fundamental policy of the Fund
that at least 80% of its total assets will be invested in tax-exempt Municipal
Obligations and at least 65% of the Fund's total assets will be invested in New
York Municipal Obligations. The interest on New York Municipal Obligations is
exempt from Federal, New York State and New York City income taxes. Municipal
Obligations other than New York Municipal Obligations are exempt from Federal
tax but not from New York State and New York City taxes. However, certain
Municipal Obligations in which the Fund may invest without limit may subject
certain investors to the alternative minimum tax and, therefore, a substantial
portion of the income produced by the Fund may be taxable for such investors
under the alternative minimum tax. The Fund, therefore, may not ordinarily be a
suitable investment for investors who are subject to the alternative minimum
tax. The suitability of the Fund for these investors will depend upon a
comparison of the after-tax yield likely to be provided from the Fund to
comparable tax-exempt investments not subject to such tax and also to comparable
fully taxable investments in light of each such investor's tax position (see
"Dividends, Distributions and Taxes"). This policy and the Fund's investment
objective may not be changed without a vote of a majority of the Fund's
outstanding voting securities, as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940,
as amended (the "Act"). There is no assurance that the objective will be
achieved.
5
<PAGE>
The Fund seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing in high
quality tax-exempt securities with short-term maturities (remaining maturities
of thirteen months or less) as follows. Such securities will include (i) New
York Municipal Bonds, New York Municipal Notes and New York Municipal Commercial
Paper, which are rated at the time of purchase in one of the two highest rating
categories for debt obligations by at least two nationally recognized
statistical rating organizations ("NRSROS"), primarily Moody's Investors
Service, Inc. ("Moody's") or Standard and Poor's Corporation ("S&P"), or one
NRSRO if the obligation is rated by only one NRSRO. Unrated obligations may be
purchased if they are determined to be of comparable quality by the Fund's
Trustees.
Up to 35% of the Fund's total assets may be invested in securities exempt
from federal income tax but not from New York State and New York City income
taxes ("non-New York tax-exempt securities") and up to 20% of the Fund's total
assets may be invested in taxable securities. In addition, the Fund may
temporarily invest more than 20% of its total assets in taxable securities and
more than 35% of its total assets in non-New York tax-exempt securities to
maintain a "defensive" posture when, in the opinion of the Investment Manager,
prevailing market or financial conditions so warrant. The types of taxable
securities in which the Fund may temporarily invest are limited to the following
short-term fixed-income securities (maturing in one year or less from the time
of purchase); (i) obligations of the United States Government or its agencies,
instrumentalities or authorities; (ii) commercial paper rated P-1 by Moody's or
A-1 by S&P; (iii) certificates of deposit of domestic banks with assets of $1
billion or more; and (iv) repurchase agreements with respect to any of the
foregoing portfolio securities.
Municipal Bonds and Municipal Notes are debt obligations of a state, its
cities, municipalities and municipal agencies which generally have maturities,
at the time of their issuance, of either one year or more (Bonds) or from six
months to three years (Notes). Municipal Commercial Paper refers to short-term
obligations of municipalities which may be issued at a discount and are
sometimes referred to as Short-Term Discount Notes. Any Municipal Bond or
Municipal Note which depends directly or indirectly on the credit of the Federal
Government, its agencies or instrumentalities shall be considered to have a
Moody's rating of Aaa or S&P rating of AAA. An obligation shall be considered a
New York Municipal Bond, New York Municipal Note or New York Municipal
Commercial Paper only if, in the opinion of bond counsel, the interest payable
therefrom is exempt from both federal income tax and New York personal income
tax.
The foregoing percentage and rating limitations apply at the time of
acquisition of a security based on the last previous determination of the Fund's
net asset value. Any subsequent change in any rating by a rating service or
change in percentages resulting from market fluctuations or other changes in
total assets will not require elimination of any security from the Fund's
portfolio. However, in accordance with procedures adopted by the Fund's Trustees
pursuant to federal securities regulations governing money market funds, if the
Investment Manager becomes aware that a portfolio security has received a new
rating from an NRSRO that is below the second highest rating, then, unless the
security is disposed of within five days, the Investment Manager will perform a
creditworthiness analysis of any such downgraded securities, which will be
reported to the Trustees who will, in turn, determine whether the securities
continue to present minimal credit risks to the Fund.
The ratings assigned by NRSROs represent their opinions as to the quality of
the securities which they undertake to rate (see the Appendix to the Statement
of Additional Information). It should be emphasized, however, that the ratings
are general and not absolute standards of quality.
6
<PAGE>
The two principal classifications of Municipal Bonds, Notes and Commercial
Paper are "general obligation" and "revenue" bonds, notes or commercial paper.
General obligation bonds, notes or commercial paper are secured by the issuer's
pledge of its faith, credit and taxing power for the payment of principal and
interest. Issuers of general obligation bonds, notes or commercial paper include
a state, its counties, cities, towns and other governmental units. Revenue
bonds, notes or commercial paper are payable from the revenues derived from a
particular facility or class of facilities or, in some cases, from specific
revenue sources. Revenue bonds, notes or commercial paper are issued for a wide
variety of purposes, including the financing of electric, gas, water and sewer
systems and other public utilities; industrial development and pollution control
facilities; single and multifamily housing units; public buildings and
facilities; air and marine ports; transportation facilities such as toll roads,
bridges and tunnels; and health and educational facilities such as hospitals and
dormitories. They rely primarily on user fees to pay debt service, although the
principal revenue source is often supplemented by additional security features
which are intended to enhance the creditworthiness of the issuer's obligations.
In some cases, particularly revenue bonds issued to finance housing and public
buildings, a direct or implied "moral obligation" of a governmental unit may be
pledged to the payment of debt service. In other cases, a special tax or other
charge may augment user fees.
Included within the revenue bonds category are participations in lease
obligations or installment purchase contracts (hereinafter collectively called
"lease obligations") of municipalities. State and local governments issue lease
obligations to acquire equipment and facilities.
Lease obligations may have risks not normally associated with general
obligation or other revenue bonds. Leases and installment purchase or
conditional sale contracts (which may provide for title to the leased asset to
pass eventually to the issuer) have developed as a means for governmental
issuers to acquire property and equipment without the necessity of complying
with the constitutional and statutory requirements generally applicable for the
issuance of debt. Certain lease obligations contain "non-appropriation" clauses
that provide that the governmental issuer has no obligation to make future
payments under the lease or contract unless money is appropriated for such
purpose by the appropriate legislative body on an annual or other periodic
basis. Consequently, continued lease payments on those lease obligations
containing "non-appropriation" clauses are dependent on future legislative
actions. If such legislative actions do not occur, the holders of the lease
obligation may experience difficulty in exercising their rights, including
disposition of the property.
Certain lease obligations have not yet developed the depth of marketability
associated with more conventional municipal obligations, and, as a result,
certain of such lease obligations may be considered illiquid securities. To
determine whether or not the Fund will consider such securities to be illiquid
(the Fund may not invest more than ten percent of its net assets in illiquid
securities), the Trustees of the Fund have established guidelines to be utilized
by the Fund in determining the liquidity of a lease obligation. The factors to
be considered in making the determination include: (1) the frequency of trades
and quoted prices for the obligation; (2) the number of dealers willing to
purchase or sell the security and the number of other potential purchasers; (3)
the willingness of dealers to undertake to make a market in the security; and
(4) the nature of the marketplace trades, including the time needed to dispose
of the security, the method of soliciting offers, and the mechanics of the
transfer.
The Fund is classified as a non-diversified investment company under the Act
and as such is not limited by the Act in the proportion of its assets that it
may invest in the obligations of a single issuer. However, the Fund intends to
conduct its operations
7
<PAGE>
so as to qualify as a "regulated investment company" under Subchapter M of the
Internal Revenue Code (the "Code"). See "Dividends, Distribution and Taxes." In
order to qualify, among other requirements, the Fund will limit its investments
so that at the close of each quarter of the taxable year, (i) not more than 25%
of the market value of the Fund's total assets will be invested in the
securities of a single issuer, and (ii) with respect to 50% of the market value
of its total assets not more than 5% will be invested in the securities of a
single issuer and the Fund will not own more than 10% of the outstanding voting
securities of a single issuer. To the extent that a relatively high percentage
of the Fund's assets may be invested in the obligations of a limited number of
issuers, the Fund's portfolio securities will be more susceptible to any single
economic, political or regulatory occurrence than the portfolio securities of a
diversified investment company. Additionally, the Fund's yield will fluctuate to
a greater extent than that of a diversified investment company as a result of
changes in the financial condition or in the market's assessment of the various
issuers. The limitations described in this paragraph are not fundamental
policies and may be revised to the extent applicable Federal income tax
requirements are revised.
The Fund may invest more than 25% of its total assets in industrial
development and pollution control bonds (two kinds of tax-exempt Municipal
Bonds) whether or not the users of facilities financed by such bonds are in the
same industry. In cases where such users are in the same industry, there may be
additional risk to the Fund in the event of an economic downturn in such
industry, which may result generally in a lowered need for such facilities and a
lowered ability of such users to pay for the use of such facilities.
The high quality, short-term fixed-income securities in which the Fund
principally invests are guaranteed by state and local governments and are
subject to minimal risk of loss of income and principal.
PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT
Although the Fund will generally acquire securities for investment with the
intent of holding them to maturity and will not seek profits through short-term
trading, the Fund may dispose of any security prior to its maturity to meet
redemption requests. Securities may also be sold when the Fund's Investment
Manager believes such disposition to be advisable on the basis of a revised
evaluation of the issuer or based upon relevant market considerations. There may
be occasions when, as a result of maturities of portfolio securities or sale of
Fund shares, or in order to meet anticipated redemption requests, the Fund may
hold cash which is not earning income.
The Fund anticipates that the average weighted maturity of the portfolio
will be 90 days or less. The relatively short-term nature of the Fund's
portfolio is expected to result in a lower yield than portfolios comprised of
longer-term tax-exempt securities.
VARIABLE RATE AND FLOATING RATE OBLIGATIONS. The interest rates payable on
certain Municipal Bonds and Municipal Notes are not fixed and may fluctuate
based upon changes in market rates. Municipal obligations of this type are
called "variable rate" or "floating rate" obligations. The interest rate payable
on a variable rate obligation is adjusted either at predesignated periodic
intervals or whenever there is a change in the market rate of interest on which
the interest rate payable is based.
WHEN-ISSUED AND DELAYED DELIVERY SECURITIES. The Fund may purchase
tax-exempt 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 transaction.
These securities are subject to market fluctuation and no interest accrues to
the purchaser prior to settlement. At the time the Fund makes the commitment to
purchase such securities, it will record the transaction and thereafter reflect
the value, each day, of such securities in determining its net asset value.
BROKERAGE ALLOCATION. Brokerage commissions are not normally charged on
purchases and
8
<PAGE>
sales of short-term municipal obligations, but such transactions may involve
transaction costs in the form of spreads between bid and asked prices. Pursuant
to an order of the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Fund may effect
principal transactions in certain money market instruments with Dean Witter
Reynolds Inc. ("DWR"), a broker-dealer affiliate of InterCapital. In addition,
the Fund may incur brokerage commissions on transactions conducted through DWR.
SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS RELATING TO NEW YORK TAX-EXEMPT SECURITIES
Since the Fund concentrates its investments in New York tax-exempt
securities, the Fund is affected by any political, economic or regulatory
developments affecting the ability of New York tax-exempt issuers to pay
interest or repay principal. Investors should be aware that certain issuers of
New York tax-exempt securities have experienced serious financial difficulties
in recent years. A reoccurrence of these difficulties may impair the ability of
certain New York issuers to maintain debt service on their obligations.
The fiscal stability of New York State (the "State") is related to the
fiscal stability of the State's municipalities, its Agencies and Authorities
(which generally finance, construct and operate revenue-producing public benefit
facilities). This is due in part to the fact that Agencies, Authorities and
local governments in financial trouble often seek State financial assistance.
The experience has been that if New York City (the "City") or any of the
Agencies or Authorities suffers serious financial difficulty, both the ability
of the State, the City, the State's political subdivisions, the Agencies and the
Authorities to obtain financing in the public credit markets and the market
price of outstanding New York tax-exempt securities are adversely affected.
Over the long term, the State and City face potential economic problems. The
City accounts for a large portion of the State's population and personal income,
and the City's financial health affects the State in numerous ways. The City
continues to require significant financial assistance from the State. The City
depends on State aid both to enable the City to balance its budget and to meet
its cash requirements. The State could also be affected by the ability of the
City to market its securities successfully in the public credit markets.
The economic and financial condition of the State also may be affected by
various financial, social, economic and political factors. Such factors can be
very complex, may vary from fiscal year to fiscal year and are frequently the
result of actions taken not only by the State and its agencies and
instrumentalities, but also by entities, such as the Federal government, that
are not under the control of the State.
On January 13, 1992, Standard & Poor's reduced its ratings on the State's
general obligation bonds from A to A- and, in addition, reduced its ratings on
the State's moral obligation, lease purchase, guaranteed and contractual
obligation debt. Standard & Poor's also continued its negative rating outlook
assessment on State general obligation debt. On April 26, 1993, Standard &
Poor's revised the rating outlook assessment to stable. On February 14, 1994,
Standard & Poor's raised its rating outlook to positive and, on August 5, 1996,
confirmed its A- rating. On January 6, 1992, Moody's reduced its ratings on
outstanding limited-liability State lease purchase and contractual obligations
from A to Baa1. On July 26, 1996, Moody's reconfirmed its A rating on the
State's general obligation long-term indebtedness.
For a more detailed discussion of New York economic factors, see the
Statement of Additional Information.
The summary information furnished above and in the Statement of Additional
Information is based on official statements prepared by the State of New York
and the City of New York and their authorities in connection with their
borrowings and contains such information as the Fund deems relevant in
considering an investment in the Fund. It does not purport to be a complete
description of the considerations contained therein.
9
<PAGE>
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 restrictions: (a) an "issuer" of a security is
the entity whose assets and revenues are committed to the payment of interest
and principal on that particular security, provided that the guarantee of a
security will be considered a separate security and provided further that a
guarantee of a security shall not be deemed to be a security issued by the
guarantor if the value of all securities issued or guaranteed by the guarantor
and owned by the Fund does not exceed 10% of the value of the total assets of
the Fund; (b) a "taxable security" is any security the interest on which is
subject to federal income tax; and (c) all percentage limitations apply
immediately after a purchase or initial investment, and any subsequent change in
any applicable percentage resulting from market fluctuations or other changes in
total assets does not require elimination of any security from the portfolio.
The Fund may not:
1. Make loans of money or securities, except: (a) by the purchase of debt
obligations in which the Fund may invest consistent with its investment
objective and policies; and (b) by investment in repurchase agreements.
2. Invest 25% or more of the value of its total assets in taxable securities
of issuers in any one industry (industrial development and pollution control
bonds are grouped into industries based upon the business in which the issuers
of such obligations are engaged). This restriction does not apply to obligations
issued or guaranteed by the United States Government, its agencies or
instrumentalities or to Municipal Obligations, including those issued by the
State of New York or its political subdivisions, or to domestic bank
obligations.
PURCHASE OF FUND SHARES
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Fund offers its own shares for sale to the public on a continuous basis,
without a sales charge. 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 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
offering price of the shares will be at their net asset value next determined
(see "Determination of Net Asset Value" below) after receipt of a purchase order
and acceptance by Dean Witter Trust Company (the "Transfer Agent") in proper
form and accompanied by payment in Federal Funds (i.e., monies of member banks
within the Federal Reserve System held on deposit at a Federal Reserve Bank)
available to the Fund for investment. Shares commence earning income on the day
following the date of purchase. Share certificates will not be issued unless
requested in writing by the shareholder.
To initiate purchase by mail or wire, a completed Investment Application
(contained in the Prospectus) must be sent directly to Dean Witter Trust
Company, at P.O. Box 1040, Jersey City, N.J. 07303. Checks should be made
payable to the Dean Witter New York Municipal Money Market Trust and sent to
Dean Witter Trust Company at the above address. Purchases by wire must be
preceded by a call to the Transfer Agent advising it of the purchase (see
Investment Application or the front cover of this Prospectus for the telephone
number) and must be wired to The Bank of New York, for credit to the Account of
Dean Witter Trust Company, Harborside
10
<PAGE>
Financial Center, Plaza Two, Jersey City, New Jersey, Account No. 8900188413.
Wire purchase instructions must include the name of the Fund and the
shareholder's account number. Purchases made by check are normally effective
within two business days for checks drawn on Federal Reserve System member
banks, and longer for most other checks. Wire purchases received by the Transfer
Agent prior to 12 noon New York time are normally effective that day, and wire
purchases received after 12 noon New York time are normally effective the next
business day. Initial investments must be at least $5,000, although the Fund, at
its discretion, may accept initial investments of smaller amounts, not less than
$1,000. Subsequent investments must be $100 or more and may be made through the
Transfer Agent. The Fund will waive the minimum initial investment for the
automatic reinvestment of distributions from certain unit investment trusts. The
Fund and the Distributor reserve the right to reject any purchase order.
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.
Orders for the purchase of Fund shares placed by customers through DWR or
other Selected Broker-Dealers with payment in clearing house funds will be
transmitted to the Fund with payment in Federal Funds on the business day
following the day the order is placed by the customer with DWR or another
Selected Broker-Dealer. Investors desiring same day effectiveness should wire
Federal Funds directly to the Transfer Agent. An order procedure pursuant to
which customers can, upon request; (a) have the proceeds from the sale of listed
securities invested in shares of the Fund on the day following the day the
customer receives such proceeds in his or her DWR or other Selected
Broker-Dealer brokerage account; and (b) pay for the purchase of certain listed
securities by automatic liquidation of Fund shares owned by the customer. In
addition, there is an automatic purchase procedure whereby consenting DWR or
another Selected Broker-Dealer customers who are shareholders of the Fund will
have free cash credit balances in their DWR or another Selected Broker-Dealer
brokerage accounts as of the close of business (4:00 P.M., New York time) on the
last business day of each week (where such balances do not exceed $5,000)
automatically invested in shares of the Fund the next following business day.
Investors with free cash credit balances (i.e., immediately available funds) in
brokerage accounts at DWR or other Selected Broker-Dealers will not have any of
such funds invested in the Fund until the business day after the customer places
an order with DWR or other Selected Broker-Dealers to purchase shares of the
Fund and will not receive the daily dividend which would have been received had
such funds been invested in the Fund on the day the order was placed with DWR or
other Selected Broker-Dealers. Accordingly, DWR or other Selected Broker-Dealers
may have the use of such free credit balances during such period.
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
The Fund has entered into a Plan of Distribution with the Distributor,
pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Act, whereby the expenses of certain activities
in connection with the distribution of the Fund's shares are reimbursed. The
principal activities and services which may be provided by the Distributor, DWR,
its affiliates or any other Selected Broker-Dealers under the Plan include: (1)
compensation to, and expenses of, DWR's and other Selected Broker-Dealers'
account executives and other employees, including overhead and telephone
expenses; (2) sales incentives and bonuses to sales representatives and to
marketing personnel in connection with promoting sales of the Fund's shares; (3)
expenses incurred in connection with promoting sales of the Fund's shares; (4)
preparing and distributing sales literature; and (5) providing advertising and
promotional activities, including direct mail solicitation and television,
radio, newspaper,
maga-
11
<PAGE>
zine and other media advertisements. Reimbursements for these services will be
made in monthly payments by the Fund which will in no event exceed an amount
equal to a payment at the annual rate of 0.15 of 1% of the Fund's average daily
net assets. For the fiscal year ended December 31, 1996, the fee accrued was
equal to payment at an annual rate of 0.09% of the Fund's average daily net
assets. Expenses incurred pursuant to the Plan in any fiscal year will not be
reimbursed by the Fund through payments accrued in any subsequent fiscal year.
DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE
The net asset value per share of the Fund is determined as of 4:00 p.m. New
York time on each day that the New York Stock Exchange is open (or, on days when
the New York Stock Exchange closes prior to 4:00 p.m., at such earlier time) by
taking the value of all assets of the Fund, subtracting its liabilities and
dividing by the number of shares outstanding. The net asset value per share will
not be determined on Good Friday and on such other federal and non-federal
holidays as are observed by the New York Stock Exchange.
The Fund utilizes the amortized cost method in valuing its portfolio
securities, which method involves valuing a security at its cost adjusted by a
constant amortization to maturity of any discount or premium, regardless of the
impact of fluctuating interest rates on the market value of the instrument. The
purpose of this method of calculation is to facilitate the maintenance of a
constant net asset value per share of $1.00. However, there can be no assurance
that the $1.00 net asset value will be maintained.
SHAREHOLDER SERVICES
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SYSTEMATIC WITHDRAWAL PLAN. A systematic withdrawal plan is available for
shareholders who own or purchase shares of the Fund having a minimum value of at
least $5,000. The plan provides for monthly or quarterly (March, June,
September, December) checks in any dollar amount not less than $25, or in any
whole percentage of the account balance, on an annualized basis. 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 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 days after the date of redemption. A
shareholder wishing to make this election should do so on the Investment
Application. The withdrawal plan may be terminated at any time by the Fund.
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.
TARGETED DIVIDENDS. In states where it is legally permissible, shareholders
may elect to have all shares of the Fund earned as a result of dividends paid in
any given month redeemed as of the end of the month and invested in shares of
any other designated open-end investment company for which InterCapital serves
as investment manager (collectively, with the Fund, the "Dean Witter Funds"),
other than Dean Witter New York Municipal Money Market Trust, at the net asset
value per share of the selected Dean Witter Fund determined as of the last
business day of the month, without the imposition of any applicable front-end
sales charge or without the imposition of any applicable contingent deferred
sales charge upon ultimate redemption. All such shares invested will begin to
earn dividends, if any, in the selected Dean Witter Fund on the first business
day of the succeeding month.
12
<PAGE>
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.
EXCHANGE PRIVILEGE. An "Exchange Privilege," that is, the privilege of
exchanging shares of certain Dean Witter Funds for shares of the Fund, exists
whereby shares of various Dean Witter Funds which are open-end investment
companies sold with either a front-end (at time of purchase) sales charge ("FESC
funds") or a contingent deferred (at time of redemption) sales charge ("CDSC
funds") may be exchanged for shares of the Fund, Dean Witter U.S. Government
Money Market Trust, Dean Witter Tax-Free Daily Income Trust, Dean Witter
California Tax-Free Daily Income Trust and Dean Witter Liquid Asset Fund Inc.
(which five funds are hereinafter called "money market funds"), and for shares
of Dean Witter Short-Term U.S. Treasury Trust, Dean Witter Limited Term
Municipal Trust, Dean Witter Short-Term Bond Fund, Dean Witter Balanced Income
Fund, Dean Witter Balanced Growth Fund and Dean Witter Intermediate Term U.S.
Treasury Trust (the foregoing eleven non-FESC or CDSC funds are hereinafter
collectively referred to in this section as the "Exchange Funds"). When
exchanging into a money market fund from an FESC fund or a CDSC fund, shares of
the FESC fund or the CDSC fund are redeemed at their next calculated net asset
value and exchanged for shares of the money market fund at their net asset value
determined the following business day. An exchange from an FESC fund or a CDSC
fund to an 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. Subsequently, shares of these Exchange Funds received in an
exchange for shares of an FESC fund (regardless of the type of fund originally
purchased) may be redeemed and exchanged for shares of the Exchange Funds, FESC
funds or CDSC funds (however, shares of CDSC funds, including shares acquired in
exchange for (i) shares of FESC funds or (ii) shares of the Exchange Funds which
were acquired in exchange for shares of FESC funds, may not be exchanged for
shares of FESC funds). Additionally, shares of the money market funds received
in an exchange for shares of a CDSC fund (regardless of the type of fund
originally purchased) may be redeemed and exchanged for shares of the Exchange
Funds or CDSC funds. Ultimately, any applicable contingent deferred sales charge
("CDSC") will have to be paid upon redemption of shares originally purchased
from a CDSC fund. (If shares of the Exchange Funds received in exchange for
shares originally purchased from a CDSC fund are exchanged for shares of another
CDSC fund having a different CDSC schedule than that of the CDSC fund from which
the Exchange Funds were acquired, the shares will be subject to the higher CDSC
schedule.) During the period of time the shares originally purchased from a CDSC
fund remain 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. 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 (see "Purchase of Fund
Shares -- Plan of Distribution" in the respective Exchange Funds Prospectuses
for a description of Exchange Fund distribution fees). Exchanges involving FESC
funds or CDSC funds may be made after the shares of the FESC fund or CDSC fund
acquired by purchase (not by exchange
13
<PAGE>
or dividend reinvestment) have been held for thirty days. There is no waiting
period for exchanges of shares acquired by exchange or dividend reinvestment.
Exchange Privilege accounts may also be maintained for shareholders of the
money market funds who acquired their shares in exchange for shares of various
TCW/DW Funds, a group of funds distributed by the Distributor for which TCW
Funds Management, Inc. serves as Adviser, under the terms and conditions
described in the Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information of each
TCW/DW Fund.
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.
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
(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 the Exchange Funds, TCW/DW North
American Government Income Trust, TCW/DW Income and Growth Fund and TCW/DW
Balanced Fund pursuant to the Exchange Privilege, and provided further that the
Exchange Privilege may be terminated or materially revised without notice under
certain unusual circumstances described in the Statement of Additional
Information. Shareholders maintaining margin accounts with DWR or other Selected
Broker-Dealers 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 one and read it carefully before
investing. Exchanges are subject to the minimum investment requirement and any
other conditions imposed by each fund. In the case of any shareholder holding a
share certificate or certificates, no exchanges may be made until all applicable
share certificates have been received by the Transfer Agent and deposited in the
shareholder's account. An exchange will be treated for federal income tax
purposes the same as a repurchase or redemption of shares on which the
shareholder has realized 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 above Dean
Witter Funds pursuant to this Exchange Privilege by contacting their DWR or
other Selected Broker-Dealer account executive (no Exchange Privilege
Authorization Form is required). Other shareholders (and those shareholders who
are clients of DWR or another Selected Broker-Dealer but who wish to make
exchanges directly by writing or telephoning the Transfer Agent) must complete
and forward to the Transfer
14
<PAGE>
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 of 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.
REDEMPTION AND REPURCHASE OF FUND SHARES
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A shareholder may withdraw all or any of his or her investments at any time,
without penalty or charge, by redeeming shares through the Transfer Agent at the
net asset value per share next determined (see "Purchase of Fund Shares --
Determination of Net Asset Value") after the receipt of a redemption request
meeting the applicable requirements as follows (all of which are subject to the
General Redemption Requirements set forth below):
1. BY CHECK
The Transfer Agent will supply blank checks to any shareholder who has
requested them on an Investment Application. The shareholder may make checks
payable to the order of anyone in any amount not less than $500 (checks written
in amounts under $500 will not be honored by the Transfer Agent). Shareholders
must sign checks exactly as their shares are registered. If the account is a
joint account, the check may contain one signature unless the joint owners have
specified on an Investment Application that all owners are required to sign
checks. Only shareholders having accounts in which no share certificates have
been issued will be permitted to redeem shares by check.
Shares will be redeemed at their net asset value next determined (see
"Purchase of Fund Shares -- Determination of Net Asset Value") after receipt by
the Transfer Agent of a check which does not exceed the value of the account.
Payment of the proceeds of a check will normally be made on the next business
day after receipt by the Transfer Agent of the check in proper form. Shares
purchased by check (including a certified or bank cashier's check) are not
normally available to cover redemption checks until fifteen days after receipt
of the check used for investment by the Transfer Agent. The Transfer Agent will
not honor a check in an amount exceeding the value of the account at the time
the check is presented for payment.
2. BY TELEPHONE OR WIRE INSTRUCTIONS WITH PAYMENT TO PREDESIGNATED BANK ACCOUNT
A shareholder may redeem shares by telephoning or sending wire instructions
to the Transfer Agent. Payment will be made by the Transfer Agent to the
shareholder's bank account at any
15
<PAGE>
commercial bank designated by the shareholder in an Investment Application, by
wire if the amount is $1,000 or more and the shareholder so requests, and
otherwise by mail. Normally, the Transfer Agent will transmit payment the next
business day following receipt of a request for redemption in proper form. Only
shareholders having accounts in which no share certificates have been issued
will be permitted to redeem shares by telephone or wire instructions.
DWR and other participating Selected Broker-Dealers have informed the
Distributor and the Fund that, on behalf of and as agent for their customers who
are shareholders of the Fund, they will transmit to the Fund requests for
redemption of shares owned by their customers. In such cases, the Transfer Agent
will wire proceeds of redemptions to DWR's or another Selected Broker-Dealer's
bank account for credit to the shareholders' accounts the following business
day. DWR and other participating Selected Broker-Dealers have also informed the
Distributor and the Fund that they do not charge for this service.
Redemption instructions must include the shareholder's name and account
number and be wired or called to the Transfer Agent:
-- 800-869-NEWS (Toll-Free)
-- Telex No. 125076
3. BY MAIL
A shareholder may redeem shares by sending a letter to Dean Witter Trust
Company, P.O. Box 983, Jersey City, NJ 07303, requesting redemption and
surrendering share certificates if any have been issued.
Redemption proceeds will be mailed to the shareholder at his or her
registered address or mailed or wired to his or her predesignated bank account,
as he or she may request. Proceeds of redemption may also be sent to some other
person, as requested by the shareholder.
GENERAL REDEMPTION REQUIREMENTS
Written requests for redemption must be signed by the registered
shareholder[s]. If the proceeds are to be paid to anyone other than the
registered shareholder[s] or sent to any address other than the shareholder's
registered address or predesignated bank account, signatures 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 an eligible guarantor), except in the case of redemption by
check. Additional documentation may be required where shares are held by a
corporation, partnership, trustee or executor. With regard to shares of the Fund
acquired pursuant to the Exchange Privilege, any applicable contingent deferred
sales charge will be imposed upon the redemption of such shares (see "Purchase
of Fund Shares--Exchange Privilege").
If shares to be redeemed are represented by a share certificate, the request
for redemption must be accompanied by the share certificate and a share
assignment form signed by the registered shareholder[s] exactly as the account
is registered. Shareholders are advised, for their own protection, to send the
share certificate and assignment form in separate envelopes (if they are being
mailed and not hand delivered) to the Transfer Agent. Signatures must be
guaranteed by an eligible guarantor acceptable to the Transfer Agent (see
above). Additional documentation may be required where shares are held by a
corporation, partnership, trustee or executor.
All requests for redemption, all share certificates and all share
assignments should be sent to Dean Witter Trust Company, P.O. Box 983, Jersey
City, NJ 07303.
Generally, the Fund will attempt to make payment for all redemptions and
repurchases within one business day, but in no event later than seven days after
receipt of such redemption request in proper form. However, if the shares being
redeemed or repurchased were purchased by check
(includ-
16
<PAGE>
ing a certified or bank cashier's check), payment 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). In addition, the Fund may postpone redemptions or repurchases at certain
times when normal trading is not taking place on the New York Stock Exchange.
The Fund reserves the right, on 60 days' notice, to redeem at their net
asset value the shares of any shareholder (other than shares held in an
Individual Retirement Account or custodial account under Section 403(b)(7) of
the Internal Revenue Code) whose shares due to redemptions by the shareholder
have a value of less than $1,000, or such lesser amount as may be fixed by the
Board of Trust
ees.
AUTOMATIC REDEMPTION PROCEDURE
The Distributor has instituted an automatic redemption procedure which it
may utilize to satisfy amounts due it by a shareholder maintaining a brokerage
account with DWR or another Selected Broker-Dealer, as a result of purchases of
securities or other transactions in the shareholder's brokerage account. Under
this procedure, if the shareholder elects to participate by so notifying DWR or
another Selected Broker-Dealer, the shareholder's DWR or other Selected
Broker-Dealer brokerage account will be scanned each business day prior to the
close of business (4:00 P.M., New York time). After application of any cash
balances in the account, a sufficient number of Fund shares may be redeemed at
the close of business to satisfy any amounts for which the shareholder is
obligated to make payment to DWR or other Selected Broker-Dealer. Redemptions
will be effected on the business day preceding the date the shareholder is
obligated to make such payment, and DWR or other Selected Broker-Dealer will
receive the redemption proceeds on the day following the redemption date.
Shareholders will receive all dividends declared and reinvested through the date
of redemption.
DIVIDENDS, DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS. The Fund declares dividends, payable on each
day the New York Stock Exchange is open for business, of all of its daily net
investment income to shareholders of record as of the close of business the
preceding business day. Dividends from net short-term capital gains, if any,
will be paid periodically. The amount of dividend may fluctuate from day to day
and may be omitted on some days if net realized losses on portfolio securities
exceed the Fund's net investment income. Dividends are declared and
automatically reinvested daily in additional full and fractional shares of the
Fund (rounded to the last 1/100 of a share) at the net asset value per share at
the close of business on that day. Any dividends declared in the last quarter of
any calendar year which are paid in the following calendar year prior to
February 1 will be deemed received by the shareholder in the prior year.
Shareholders may instruct the Transfer Agent (in writing) to have their
dividends paid out monthly in cash. For such shareholders, the shares reinvested
and credited to their account during the month will be redeemed as of the close
of business on the monthly payment date (which will be no later than the last
business day of the month) and the proceeds will be paid to them by check.
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.
Share certificates for dividends or distributions will not be issued unless
a shareholder requests in writing that a certificate be issued for a specific
number of shares.
TAXES. Because the Fund intends to distribute substantially all of its net
investment income and net
17
<PAGE>
capital gains, if any, to shareholders, and intends to otherwise comply with all
the provisions of Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended
(the "Code"), to qualify as a regulated investment company, it is not expected
that the Fund will be required to pay any federal income tax.
The Fund intends to qualify to pay "exempt-interest dividends" to its
shareholders by maintaining, as of the close of each quarter of its taxable
year, at least 50% of the value of its total assets in tax-exempt securities. If
the Fund satisfies such requirement, dividends from net investment income to
shareholders, whether taken in cash or reinvested in additional Fund shares,
will be excludable from gross income for federal income tax purposes to the
extent net interest income is represented by interest on tax-exempt securities.
Exempt-interest dividends are included, however, in determining what portion, if
any, of a person's Social Security benefits are subject to federal income tax.
The Code subjects interest received on certain otherwise tax-exempt
securities to an alternative minimum tax. This alternative minimum tax applies
to interest received on "private activity bonds" (in general, bonds that benefit
non-government entities) issued after August 7, 1986 which, although tax-exempt,
are used for purposes other than those generally performed by governmental units
(e.g., bonds used for commercial or housing purposes). Income received on such
bonds is classified as a "tax preference item" under the alternative minimum
tax, for both individual and corporate investors. The Fund may invest without
limit in such "private activity bonds," with the result that a substantial
portion of the exempt-interest dividends paid by the Fund may be an item of tax
preference to shareholders subject to the alternative minimum tax. In addition,
certain corporations which are subject to the alternative minimum tax may have
to include a portion of exempt-interest dividends in calculating their
alternative minimum taxable income in situations where the adjusted current
earnings of the corporation exceeds its alternative minimum taxable income.
After the end of its calendar year, the shareholders will be sent a
statement indicating the percentage of the dividend distributions for such
taxable year which constitutes exempt-interest dividends and the percentage, if
any, that is taxable, and the percentage, if any, of the exempt-interest
dividends which constitutes an item of tax preference. (Unlike federal law, no
portion of the exempt-interest dividends will constitute an item of tax
preference for New York personal income tax purposes.) This percentage should be
applied uniformly to any distributions made during the taxable year to determine
the proportion of dividends that is tax-exempt. The percentage may differ from
the percentage of tax-exempt dividend distributions for any particular month.
To the extent that dividends are derived from interest on New York
tax-exempt securities, such dividends will also be exempt from New York State
and New York City personal income taxes. Shareholders will normally be subject
to federal and New York State and New York City personal income tax on dividends
paid from interest income derived from taxable securities and on distributions
of net capital gains. For federal and New York State or New York City income tax
purposes, distributions of net long-term capital gains, if any, are taxable to
shareholders as long-term capital gains, regardless of how long the shareholder
has held the Fund shares and regardless of whether the distribution is received
in additional shares or in cash. To avoid being subject to a 31% backup
withholding tax on taxable dividends and capital gains distributions and the
proceeds of redemptions and repurchases, shareholders' taxpayer identification
numbers must be furnished and certified as to accuracy.
Interest on indebtedness incurred by shareholders or related parties to
purchase or carry shares of an investment company paying exempt-interest
dividends, such as the Fund, will not be deductible by the investor for federal
or New York State or New York City personal income tax purposes.
18
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
5 5 0 --
for office use only
[logo]
</TABLE>
[REMOVE APPLICATION CAREFULLY]
APPLICATION
DEAN WITTER NEW YORK MUNICIPAL MONEY MARKET TRUST
Send to: Dean Witter Trust Company (the "Transfer Agent"), P.O. Box 1040,
Jersey City, NJ 07303
INSTRUCTIONS For assistance in completing this application, telephone Dean
Witter Trust Company at (800) 869-NEWS (Toll-Free).
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C>
TO REGISTER
SHARES
(please print) 1.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
First Name Last Name
- -As joint
tenants,
use line 1 & 2 2.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
First Name Last Name
(Joint tenants with rights of survivorship unless otherwise specified)
---------------------------------------
Social Security Number
- -As custodian
for a minor,
use lines 1 & 3 3.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Minor's Name
---------------------------------------
Minor's Social Security Number
Under the ___________________________ Uniform Gifts to Minors Act
State of Residence of Minor
- -In the name of a
corporation, 4.
trust, ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
partnership
or other Name of Corporation, Trust (including trustee name(s)) or Other Organization
institutional
investors,
use
line 4 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------
Tax Identification Number
If Trust, Date of Trust Instrument: _____________________________
ADDRESS ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
City State Zip Code
TO PURCHASE
SHARES:
Minimum Initial / / CHECK (enclosed) $________________ (Make Payable to Dean Witter New York Municipal Money Market Trust)
Investment:
$5,000 / / WIRE* On_______________ MF* _________________________________
(Date) (Control number, this transaction)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Name of Bank Branch
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Address
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Telephone Number
* For an initial investment made by wiring funds, obtain a control number by calling: (800) 869-NEWS (Toll
Free) or (201) 413-7067.
Your bank should wire to:
Bank of New York for credit to account of Dean Witter Trust Company
Account Number: 8900188413
Re: Dean Witter New York Municipal Money Market Trust
Account Of: _____________________________________________
(Investor's Account as Registered at the Transfer Agent)
Control or Account Number:______________________________________
(Assigned by Telephone)
OPTIONAL SERVICES
NOTE: If you are a current shareholder of Dean Witter New York Municipal Market Trust, please
indicate your fund account number here.
[5] [5] [0] -
------------------------------
DIVIDENDS All dividends will be reinvested daily in additional shares, unless the following option is selected:
/ / Pay income dividends by check at the end of each month.
WRITE YOUR OWN / / Send an initial supply of checks.
CHECK FOR JOINT ACCOUNTS:
/ / Check this box if all owners are required to sign checks.
SYSTEMATIC / / Systematic Withdrawal Plan ($25 minimum) Percentage of balance (annualized basis)
WITHDRAWAL $_____________ / / Monthly or / / Quarterly __________% / / Monthly or / / Quarterly
PLAN / / 10th or / / 25th of Month/Quarter / / 10th or / / 25th of Month/Quarter
Minimum / / Pay shareholder(s) at address of record.
Account Value: / / Pay to the following: (If this payment option is selected a signature guarantee is required)
$5,000
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Name
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Address
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
City State Zip Code
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C>
PAYMENT TO / / Dean Witter Trust Company is hereby authorized to honor telephonic or other
PREDESIGNATED instructions, without signature guarantee, from any person for the redemption of any
BANK ACCOUNT or all shares of Dean Witter New York Municipal Money Market Trust held in my (our)
account provided that proceeds are transmitted only to the following bank account.
(Absent its own negligence, neither Dean Witter New York Municipal Money Market Trust
nor Dean Witter Trust Company (the "Transfer Agent") shall be liable for any
redemption caused by unauthorized instruction(s)):
Bank Account must be in
same name as shares are
registered -------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------
NAME & BANK ACCOUNT NUMBER BANK'S ROUTING TRASMIT CODE
(ASK YOUR BANK)
Minimum Amount:
$1,000 ---------------------------------------------------------------
NAME OF BANK
---------------------------------------------------------------
ADDRESS OF BANK
( )
---------------------------------------------------------------
TELEPHONE NUMBER OF BANK
SIGNATURE AUTHORIZATION
FOR ALL ACCOUNTS NOTE: RETAIN A COPY OF THIS DOCUMENT FOR YOUR RECORDS. ANY MODIFICATION OF THE INFORMATION
BELOW WILL REQUIRE AN AMENDMENT TO THIS FORM. THIS DOCUMENT IS IN FULL FORCE AND EFFECT
UNTIL ANOTHER DULY EXECUTED FORM IS RECEIVED BY THE TRANSFER AGENT.
The "Transfer Agent" is hereby authorized to act as agent for the registered owner of
shares of Dean Witter New York Municipal Money Market Trust (the "Fund") in effecting
redemptions of shares and is authorized to recognize the signature(s) below in payment of
funds resulting from such redemptions on behalf of the registered owners of such shares.
The Transfer Agent shall be liable only for its own negligence and not for default or
negligence of its correspondents, or for losses in transit. The Fund shall not be liable
for any default or negligence of the Transfer Agent.
I (we) certify to my (our) legal capacity, or the capacity of the investor named above, to
invest in and redeem shares of, and I (we) acknowledge receipt of a current prospectus of,
Dean Witter New York Municipal Money Market Trust and (we) further certify my (our)
authority to sign and act for and on behalf of the investor.
Under penalties of perjury, I certify (1) that the number shown on this form is my correct
taxpayer identification number and (2) that I am not subject to backup withholding either
because I have not been notified that I am subject to backup withholding as a result of a
failure to report all interest or dividends, or the Internal Revenue Service has notified
me that I am no longer subject to backup withholding. (Note: You must cross out item (2)
above if you have been notified by IRS that you are currently subject to backup
withholding because of underreporting interest or dividends on your tax return.)
For Individual, Joint and Custodial Accounts for Minors, Check Applicable Box:
/ / I am a United States Citizen. / / I am not a United States Citizen.
SIGNATURE(S) (IF JOINT TENANTS, ALL MUST SIGN)
Name(s) must be
signed exactly the
same as shown on
lines 1 to 4 on the
reverse side of this
application
SIGNATURE MUST BE KEPT WITHIN ABOVE AREA SIGNATURE MUST BE KEPT WITHIN ABOVE AREA
SIGNATURE MUST BE KEPT WITHIN ABOVE AREA SIGNATURE MUST BE KEPT WITHIN ABOVE AREA
SIGNED THIS ___________________ DAY OF ____________________, 19__.
FOR CORPORATIONS, TRUSTS, PARTNERSHIPS AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS
The following named persons are currently officers/trustees/general partners/other authorized
signatories of the Registered Owner, and any __* of them ("Authorized Person(s)") is/are currently
authorized under the applicable governing document to act with full power to sell, assign or
transfer securities of the the Fund for the Registered Owner and to execute and deliver any
instrument necessary to effectuate the authority hereby conferred:
NAME/TITLE SIGNATURE
In addition,
complete
Section A or B
below.
SIGNATURE MUST BE KEPT WITHIN ABOVE AREA SIGNATURE MUST BE KEPT WITHIN ABOVE AREA
SIGNATURE MUST BE KEPT WITHIN ABOVE AREA SIGNATURE MUST BE KEPT WITHIN ABOVE AREA
SIGNATURE MUST BE KEPT WITHIN ABOVE AREA SIGNATURE MUST BE KEPT WITHIN ABOVE AREA
SIGNED THIS ___________________ DAY OF ____________________, 19__.
The Transfer Agent may, without inquiry, act only upon the instruction of ANY PERSON(S) purporting
to be (an) Authorized Person(s) as named in the Certification Form last received by the Transfer
Agent. The Transfer Agent and the Fund shall not be liable for any claims, expenses (including legal
fees) or losses resulting from the Transfer Agent having acted upon any instruction reasonably
believed genuine.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*INSERT A NUMBER. UNLESS OTHERWISE INDICATED, THE TRANSFER AGENT MAY HONOR INSTRUCTIONS OF ANY ONE
OF THE PERSONS NAMED ABOVE.
SECTION (A) NOTE: EITHER A SIGNATURE GUARANTEE OR CORPORATE SEAL IS REQUIRED.
CORPORATIONS AND
INCORPORATED
ASSOCIATIONS ONLY. I, ______________________, Secretary of the Registered Owner, do hereby certify that at a meeting
on _____________________ at which a quorum was present throughout, the Board of Directors of the
corporation/the officers of the association duly adopted a resolution, which is in full force and
SIGN ABOVE AND COM- effect and in accordance with the Registered Owner's charter and by-laws, which resolution did
PLETE THIS the following: (1) empowered the above-named Authorized Person(s) to effect securities
SECTION transactions for the Registered Owner on the terms described above; (2) authorized the Secretary
to certify, from time to time, the names and titles of the officers of the Registered Owner and
to notify the Transfer Agent when changes in office occur; and (3) authorized the Secretary to
certify that such a resolution has been duly adopted and will remain in full force and effect
until the Transfer Agent receives a duly execute amendment to the Certification Form.
SIGNATURE
GUARANTEE** Witness my hand on behalf of the corporation/association this__________ day of ___________ , 19__.
(or Corporate Seal)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Secretary**
The undersigned officer (other than the Secretary) hereby certifies that the foregoing instrument
has been signed by the Secretary of the corporation/association.
SIGNATURE
GUARANTEE**
(or Corporate Seal)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Certifying Officer of the Corporation or Incorporated Association**
SECTION (B) ALL NOTE: A SIGNATURE GUARANTEE IS REQUIRED.
OTHER
INSTITUTIONAL
INVESTORS ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Certifying
SIGNATURE Trustee(s)/General Partner(s)/Other(s)**
GUARANTEE**
SIGN ABOVE AND COM- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PLETE THIS SECTION Certifying
Trustee(s)/General Partner(s)/Other(s)**
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
**SIGNATURE(S) MUST BE GUARANTEED BY AN ELIBIGLE GUARANTOR
DEALER Above signature(s) guaranteed. Prospectus has been delivered by undersigned to above-named applicant(s).
(if any)
Completion by
dealer only
------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------
Firm Name Office Number-Account Number at Dealer-A/E Number
------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------
Address Account Executive's Last Name
------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------
City, State, Zip Code Branch Office
- -Registered Trademark- 1997 Dean Witter Distributors Inc.
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
The foregoing relates to federal income taxation and to New York State and
New York City personal income taxation as in effect as of the date of this
Prospectus.
Shareholders should consult their tax advisers as to the applicability of
the above to their own tax situation.
CURRENT AND EFFECTIVE YIELD
From time to time the Fund advertises its "yield" and "effective yield."
Both yield figures are based on historical earnings and are not intended to
indicate future performance. The "yield" of the Fund refers to the income
generated by an investment in the Fund over a given seven-day period (which
period will be stated in the advertisement). This income is then "annualized."
That is, the amount of income generated by the investment during that seven-day
period is assumed to be generated each seven-day period within a 365-day period
and is shown as a percentage of the investment. The "effective yield" for a
seven-day period is calculated similarly, but, when annualized, the income
earned by an investment in the Fund is assumed to be reinvested each week within
a 365-day period. The "effective yield" will be slightly higher than the "yield"
because of the compounding effect of this assumed reinvestment. The Fund may
also quote tax-equivalent yield which is calculated by determining the pre-tax
yield which, after being taxed at a stated rate, would be equivalent to the
yield determined as described above. The Fund may also advertise the growth of
hypothetical investments of $10,000, $50,000 and $100,000 in shares of the Fund.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
VOTING RIGHTS. All shares of beneficial interest of the Fund are of $0.01
par value and are equal as to earnings, assets and voting privileges.
The Fund is not required to hold Annual Meetings of Shareholders and in
ordinary circumstances the Fund does not intend to hold such meetings. The
Trustees may call Special Meetings of Shareholders for action by shareholder
vote as may be required by the Act or the Declaration of Trust. Under certain
circumstances, the Trustees may be removed by action of the Trustees or by the
Shareholders.
Under Massachusetts law, shareholders of a business trust may, under certain
circumstances, be held personally liable as partners for obligations of the
Fund. However, the Declaration of Trust contains an express disclaimer of
shareholder liability for acts or obligations of the Fund, requires that notice
of such disclaimer be given in each instrument entered into or executed by the
Fund and provides for indemnification and reimbursement of expenses out of the
Fund's property for any shareholder held personally liable for the obligations
of the Fund. Thus, the risk of a shareholder incurring financial loss on account
of shareholder liability is limited to circumstances in which the Fund itself
would be unable to meet its obligations. Given the above limitations on
shareholder personal liability and the nature of the Fund's assets and
operations, the possibility of the Fund being unable to meet its obligations is
remote and, in the opinion of Massachusetts counsel to the Fund, the risk to
Fund shareholders of personal liability is remote.
CODE OF ETHICS. Directors, officers and employees of InterCapital, Dean
Witter Services Company Inc. and the Distributor are subject to a strict Code of
Ethics adopted by those companies. The Code of Ethics is intended to ensure that
the interests of shareholders and other clients are placed ahead of any personal
interest, that no undue personal benefit is obtained from a person's employment
activities and that actual and potential conflicts of interest are avoided. To
achieve these goals and comply with regulatory requirements, the Code of Ethics
requires, among other things, that personal securities transactions by employees
of the companies be
19
<PAGE>
subject to an advance clearance process to monitor that no Dean Witter Fund is
engaged at the same time in a purchase or sale of the same security. The Code of
Ethics bans the purchase of securities in an initial public offering and
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 or the Transfer Agent at one of the telephone numbers or at the
address, as are set forth on the front cover of this Prospectus.
20
<PAGE>
DEAN WITTER NEW YORK MUNICIPAL MONEY MARKET TRUST
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
DECEMBER 31, 1996
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
ASSETS:
Investments in securities, at value (amortized cost
$40,813,296).............................................. $40,813,296
Cash........................................................ 30,444
Interest receivable......................................... 215,468
Prepaid expenses............................................ 9,175
-----------
TOTAL ASSETS........................................... 41,068,383
-----------
LIABILITIES:
Payable for:
Shares of beneficial interest repurchased............... 206,090
Investment management fee............................... 18,354
Plan of distribution fee................................ 3,671
Accrued expenses............................................ 82,022
-----------
TOTAL LIABILITIES...................................... 310,137
-----------
NET ASSETS:
Paid-in-capital............................................. 40,758,640
Accumulated undistributed net investment income............. 27
Accumulated net realized loss............................... (421)
-----------
NET ASSETS............................................. $40,758,246
-----------
-----------
NET ASSET VALUE PER SHARE,
40,758,640 SHARES OUTSTANDING (UNLIMITED SHARES AUTHORIZED
OF $.01 PAR VALUE)........................................
$1.00
-----------
-----------
</TABLE>
SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
21
<PAGE>
DEAN WITTER NEW YORK MUNICIPAL MONEY MARKET TRUST
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, CONTINUED
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
NET INVESTMENT INCOME:
INTEREST INCOME............................................. $1,452,610
----------
EXPENSES
Investment management fee................................... 212,463
Transfer agent fees and expenses............................ 44,442
Professional fees........................................... 44,188
Shareholder reports and notices............................. 40,952
Plan of distribution fee.................................... 38,852
Trustees' fees and expenses................................. 13,132
Custodian fees.............................................. 5,830
Registration fees........................................... 5,075
----------
TOTAL EXPENSES......................................... 404,934
LESS: EXPENSE OFFSET................................... (4,490)
----------
NET EXPENSES........................................... 400,444
----------
NET INVESTMENT INCOME AND NET INCREASE...................... $1,052,166
----------
----------
</TABLE>
SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
22
<PAGE>
DEAN WITTER NEW YORK MUNICIPAL MONEY MARKET TRUST
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, CONTINUED
STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
FOR THE YEAR FOR THE YEAR
ENDED ENDED
DECEMBER 31, 1996 DECEMBER 31, 1995
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
INCREASE (DECREASE) IN NET ASSETS:
OPERATIONS:
Net investment income and net increase...................... $ 1,052,166 $ 1,220,084
Dividends from net investment income........................ (1,052,173) (1,220,068)
Net increase (decrease) from transactions in shares of
beneficial interest....................................... 1,650,231 (520,873)
----------------- -----------------
NET INCREASE (DECREASE)................................ 1,650,224 (520,857)
NET ASSETS:
Beginning of period......................................... 39,108,022 39,628,879
----------------- -----------------
END OF PERIOD
(INCLUDING UNDISTRIBUTED NET INVESTMENT INCOME OF $27
AND $34, RESPECTIVELY).................................. $40,758,246 $39,108,022
----------------- -----------------
----------------- -----------------
</TABLE>
SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
23
<PAGE>
DEAN WITTER NEW YORK MUNICIPAL MONEY MARKET TRUST
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS DECEMBER 31, 1996
1. ORGANIZATION AND ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Dean Witter New York Municipal Money Market Trust (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's investment
objective is to provide a high level of daily income which is exempt from
federal and New York income tax, consistent with stability of principal and
liquidity. The Fund was organized as a Massachusetts business trust on December
28, 1989 and commenced operations on March 20, 1990.
The preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted
accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that
affect the reported amounts and disclosures. Actual results could differ from
those estimates.
The following is a summary of significant accounting policies:
A. VALUATION OF INVESTMENTS -- Portfolio securities are valued at amortized
cost, which approximates market value.
B. ACCOUNTING FOR INVESTMENTS -- Security transactions are accounted for on the
trade date (date the order to buy or sell is executed). Realized gains and
losses on security transactions are determined on the identified cost method.
The Fund amortizes premiums and accretes discounts over the life of the
respective securities. Interest income is accrued daily.
C. FEDERAL INCOME TAX STATUS -- It is the Fund's policy to comply with the
requirements of the Internal Revenue Code applicable to regulated investment
companies and to distribute all of its taxable and nontaxable income to its
shareholders. Accordingly, no federal income tax provision is required.
D. DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS -- The Fund records dividends and
distributions to shareholders as of the close of each business day.
2. INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT
Pursuant to an Investment Management Agreement with the Dean Witter InterCapital
Inc. (the "Investment Manager"), the Fund pays the Investment Manager a
management fee, accrued daily and payable monthly, by applying the following
annual rates to the net assets of the Fund determined as of the close of each
business day: 0.50% to the portion of daily net assets not exceeding $500
million; 0.425% to the portion of daily net assets exceeding $500 million but
not exceeding $750 million; 0.375% to the portion of daily net assets exceeding
$750 million but not exceeding $1 billion;
24
<PAGE>
DEAN WITTER NEW YORK MUNICIPAL MONEY MARKET TRUST
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS DECEMBER 31, 1996, CONTINUED
0.35% to the portion of daily net assets exceeding $1 billion but not exceeding
$1.5 billion; 0.325% to the portion of daily net assets exceeding $1.5 billion
but not exceeding $2 billion; 0.30% to the portion of daily net assets exceeding
$2 billion but not exceeding $2.5 billion; 0.275% to the portion of daily net
assets exceeding $2.5 billion but not exceeding $3 billion; and 0.25% to the
portion of daily net assets exceeding $3 billion.
Under the terms of the Agreement, in addition to managing the Fund's
investments, the Investment Manager maintains certain of the Fund's books and
records and furnishes, at its own expense, office space, facilities, equipment,
clerical, bookkeeping and certain legal services and pays the salaries of all
personnel, including officers of the Fund who are employees of the Investment
Manager. The Investment Manager also bears the cost of telephone services, heat,
light, power and other utilities provided to the Fund.
3. PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
Dean Witter Distributors Inc. (the "Distributor"), an affiliate of the
Investment Manager, is the distributor of the Fund's shares and, in accordance
with a Plan of Distribution (the "Plan") pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Act,
finances certain expenses in connection therewith.
Under the Plan, the Distributor bears the expense of all promotional and
distribution related activities on behalf of the Fund, except for expenses that
the Trustees determine to reimburse, as described below. The following
activities and services may be provided by the Distributor and other
broker-dealers under the Plan: (1) compensation to, and expenses of, the
Distributor and other broker-dealers; (2) sales incentives and bonuses to sales
representatives and to marketing personnel in connection with promoting sales of
the Fund's shares; (3) expenses incurred in connection with promoting sales of
the Fund's shares; (4) preparing and distributing sales literature; and (5)
providing advertising and promotional activities, including direct mail
solicitation and television, radio, newspaper, magazine and other media
advertisements.
The Fund is authorized to reimburse the Distributor for specific expenses the
Distributor incurs or plans to incur in promoting the distribution of the Fund's
shares. The amount of each monthly reimbursement payment may in no event exceed
an amount equal to a payment at the annual rate of 0.15% of the Fund's average
daily net assets during the month. Expenses incurred by the Distributor pursuant
to the Plan in any fiscal year will not be reimbursed by the Fund through
payments accrued in any subsequent fiscal year. For the year ended December 31,
1996, the distribution fee was accrued at the annual rate of 0.09%.
25
<PAGE>
DEAN WITTER NEW YORK MUNICIPAL MONEY MARKET TRUST
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS DECEMBER 31, 1996, CONTINUED
4. SECURITY TRANSACTIONS AND TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES
The cost of purchases and proceeds from sales/maturities of portfolio securities
for the year ended December 31, 1996 aggregated $99,829,670 and $98,130,000,
respectively.
Dean Witter Trust Company, an affiliate of the Investment Manager and
Distributor, is the Fund's transfer agent. At December 31, 1996, the Fund had
transfer agent fees and expenses payable of approximately $4,800.
The Fund has an unfunded noncontributory defined benefit pension plan covering
all independent Trustees of the Fund who will have served as independent
Trustees for at least five years at the time of retirement. Benefits under this
plan are based on years of service and compensation during the last five years
of service. Aggregate pension costs for the year ended December 31, 1996
included in Trustees' fees and expenses in the Statement of Operations amounted
to $926. At December 31, 1996, the Fund had an accrued pension liability of
$46,027 which is included in accrued expenses in the Statement of Assets and
Liabilities.
5. SHARES OF BENEFICIAL INTEREST
Transactions in shares of beneficial interest, at $1.00 per share, were as
follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
FOR THE YEAR FOR THE YEAR
ENDED ENDED
DECEMBER 31, DECEMBER 31,
1996 1995
-------------- --------------
<S> <C> <C>
Shares sold....................................... 94,893,021 107,855,356
Shares issued in reinvestment of dividends........ 1,052,173 1,220,068
-------------- --------------
95,945,194 109,075,424
Shares repurchased................................ (94,294,963) (109,596,297)
-------------- --------------
Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding..... 1,650,231 (520,873)
-------------- --------------
-------------- --------------
</TABLE>
6. SELECTED PER SHARE DATA AND RATIOS
See the "Financial Highlights" table on page 4 of this Prospectus.
26
<PAGE>
DEAN WITTER NEW YORK MUNICIPAL MONEY MARKET TRUST
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS DECEMBER 31, 1996
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PRINCIPAL
AMOUNT IN COUPON DEMAND
THOUSANDS RATE+ DATE* VALUE
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<C> <S> <C> <C> <C>
NEW YORK TAX-EXEMPT SHORT-TERM VARIABLE RATE MUNICIPAL OBLIGATIONS (65.0%)
$ 900 Babylon, Ser 1994 B (AMBAC)................................. 3.90 % 01/08/97 $ 900,000
1,000 New York City Cultural Resources Trust, Solomon R.
Guggenheim Foundation Ser 1990 B.......................... 4.80 01/02/97 1,000,000
1,000 New York City Housing Development Corporation, Multi-family
1994 Ser A................................................ 4.15 01/08/97 1,000,000
New York City Industrial Development Agency,
650 Composite Offering I (AMT).................................. 4.10 01/08/97 650,000
900 Composite Offering XXV 1990 Ser E (AMT)..................... 4.10 01/08/97 900,000
1,600 Brooklyn Navy Yard Cogen Ser 1995 A (AMT)................... 4.15 01/08/97 1,600,000
900 The Berkeley Carroll School Ser 1993........................ 4.15 01/08/97 900,000
1,000 The Calhoun School Inc Ser 1990............................. 3.90 01/08/97 1,000,000
950 The Columbia Grammar & Preparatory School Ser 1994.......... 4.15 01/08/97 950,000
1,900 New York Local Government Assistance Corporation, Ser 1994
B......................................................... 4.00 01/08/97 1,900,000
New York State Dormitory Authority,
2,000 Metropolitan Museum of Art Ser A............................ 4.00 01/08/97 2,000,000
1,400 Oxford University Press Inc Ser 1993........................ 5.45 01/02/97 1,400,000
New York State Energy Research & Development Authority,
1,900 Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corp Ser 1987 A (AMT)......... 3.90 01/08/97 1,900,000
1,000 Long Island Lighting Co Ser 1985 B.......................... 3.25 03/01/97 1,000,000
1,000 Long Island Lighting Co Ser 1993 (AMT)...................... 4.00 01/08/97 1,000,000
1,000 Rochester Gas & Electric Corp Ser 1985...................... 3.60 11/15/97 1,000,000
1,000 New York State Housing Finance Agency, East 84th Street Ser
A......................................................... 4.15 01/08/97 1,000,000
700 New York State Medical Care Facilities Finance Agency, The
Children's Hospital of Buffalo 1991 Ser A................. 4.20 01/08/97 700,000
1,600 Port Authority of New York & New Jersey, Ser 5.............. 4.85 01/02/97 1,600,000
1,000 St Lawrence County Industrial Development Agency, Reynolds
Metals Co Ser 1995 (AMT).................................. 4.00 01/08/97 1,000,000
1,100 Syracuse Industrial Development Agency, Syracuse University
Eggers Hall Ser 1993...................................... 4.80 01/02/97 1,100,000
2,000 Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority, Ser 1994 (FGIC)..... 4.00 01/08/97 2,000,000
-----------
TOTAL NEW YORK TAX-EXEMPT SHORT-TERM VARIABLE RATE MUNICIPAL OBLIGATIONS
(AMORTIZED COST $26,500,000).................................................... 26,500,000
-----------
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
YIELD TO
MATURITY
COUPON MATURITY ON DATE OF
RATE DATE PURCHASE
------ -------- ----------
<C> <S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
NEW YORK TAX-EXEMPT COMMERCIAL PAPER (22.8%)
1,000 Municipal Assistance Corporation for the City of New York,
Ser F..................................................... 3.50% 02/19/97 3.50% 1,000,000
1,000 New York City, Fiscal 1996 Ser J Subser J-2................. 3.10 03/19/97 3.10 1,000,000
1,200 New York City Municipal Water Finance Authority, Ser One.... 3.55 03/06/97 3.55 1,200,000
1,300 New York State, Ser R BANs.................................. 3.35 02/24/97 3.35 1,300,000
1,000 New York State Dormitory Authority, Sloan-Kettering Cancer
Center Ser 1989 C......................................... 3.55 02/14/97 3.55 1,000,000
</TABLE>
SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
27
<PAGE>
DEAN WITTER NEW YORK MUNICIPAL MONEY MARKET TRUST
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS DECEMBER 31, 1996, CONTINUED
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
YIELD TO
PRINCIPAL MATURITY
AMOUNT IN COUPON MATURITY ON DATE OF
THOUSANDS RATE DATE PURCHASE VALUE
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<C> <S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
$1,100 New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation, General
Electric Co Ser 1987 A.................................... 3.50% 02/25/97 3.50% $ 1,100,000
1,000 Niagara County Industrial Development Authority, American
Ref-Fuel Co Ser 1994 B (AMT).............................. 3.70 02/05/97 3.70 1,000,000
Puerto Rico Government Development Bank,
900 Ser 1996.................................................. 3.45 02/10/97 3.45 900,000
800 Ser 1996.................................................. 3.55 02/06/97 3.55 800,000
-----------
TOTAL NEW YORK TAX-EXEMPT COMMERCIAL PAPER
(AMORTIZED COST $9,300,000)................................................................ 9,300,000
-----------
NEW YORK TAX-EXEMPT SHORT-TERM MUNICIPAL NOTES (12.3%)
1,000 Half Hollow Hills Central School District, 1996-1997 TANs,
dtd 07/11/96.............................................. 4.25 06/27/97 3.85 1,001,866
1,000 Monroe County, Ser 1996 BANs, dtd 06/07/96.................. 4.50 06/06/97 3.65 1,003,501
1,000 Smithtown Central School District, 1996-97 TANs, dtd
07/02/96.................................................. 4.25 06/26/97 3.90 1,001,623
1,000 Three Village Central School District, 1996-97 TANs, dtd
07/11/96.................................................. 4.50 06/30/97 3.85 1,003,086
1,000 Puerto Rico, Ser 1997 A TRANs, dtd 12/17/96................. 4.00 07/30/97 3.43 1,003,220
-----------
TOTAL NEW YORK TAX-EXEMPT SHORT-TERM MUNICIPAL NOTES
(AMORTIZED COST $5,013,296)................................................................ 5,013,296
-----------
TOTAL INVESTMENTS
(AMORTIZED COST $40,813,296) (A)............................ 100.1% 40,813,296
LIABILITIES IN EXCESS OF CASH AND OTHER ASSETS.............. (0.1) (55,050)
------ -----------
NET ASSETS.................................................. 100.0% $40,758,246
------ -----------
------ -----------
<FN>
- ---------------------
AMT Alternative Minimum Tax.
BANs Bond Anticipation Notes.
TANs Tax Anticipation Notes.
TRANs Tax Revenue Anticipation Notes.
+ Rate shown is the rate in effect at December 31, 1996.
* Date on which the principal amount can be recovered through demand.
(a) Cost is the same for federal income tax purposes.
BOND INSURANCE:
AMBAC AMBAC Indemnity Corporation.
FGIC Financial Guaranty Insurance Company.
</TABLE>
SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
28
<PAGE>
DEAN WITTER NEW YORK MUNICIPAL MONEY MARKET TRUST
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
TO THE SHAREHOLDERS AND TRUSTEES
OF DEAN WITTER NEW YORK MUNICIPAL MONEY MARKET TRUST
In our opinion, the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including
the portfolio of investments, and the related statements of operations and of
changes in net assets and the financial highlights (appearing in the "Financial
Highlights" table on page 4 of this Prospectus) present fairly, in all material
respects, the financial position of Dean Witter New York Municipal Money Market
Trust (the "Fund") at December 31, 1996, 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 six years in the
period then ended and for the period March 20, 1990 (commencement of operations)
through December 31, 1990, 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 at December 31, 1996 by correspondence with the
custodian, provide a reasonable basis for the opinion expressed above.
PRICE WATERHOUSE LLP
1177 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS
NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10036
FEBRUARY 6, 1997
1996 FEDERAL TAX NOTICE (UNAUDITED)
During the year ended December 31, 1996, the Fund paid to the
shareholders $0.025 per share from net investment income. All of
the Fund's dividends from net investment income were exempt
interest dividends, excludable from gross income for Federal
income tax purposes.
29
<PAGE>
(This page has been left blank intentionally.)
<PAGE>
(This page has been left blank intentionally.)
<PAGE>
THE DEAN WITTER FAMILY OF FUNDS
MONEY MARKET FUNDS Dean Witter Global Short-Term Income
Dean Witter Liquid Asset Fund Inc. Fund Inc.
Dean Witter Tax-Free Daily Income Trust Dean Witter Multi-State Municipal
Dean Witter New York Municipal Money Series Trust
Market Trust Dean Witter Premier Income Trust
Dean Witter California Tax-Free Daily Dean Witter Short-Term U.S. Treasury
Income Trust Trust
Dean Witter U.S. Government Money Dean Witter Diversified Income Trust
Market Trust Dean Witter Limited Term Municipal
EQUITY FUNDS Trust
Dean Witter American Value Fund Dean Witter Short-Term Bond Fund
Dean Witter Natural Resource Dean Witter National Municipal Trust
Development Securities Inc. Dean Witter High Income Securities
Dean Witter Dividend Growth Securities Dean Witter Balanced Income Fund
Inc. Dean Witter Hawaii Municipal Trust
Dean Witter Developing Growth Dean Witter Intermediate Term U.S.
Securities Trust Treasury Trust
Dean Witter World Wide Investment Trust DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES
Dean Witter Value-Added Market Series Liquid Asset Series
Dean Witter Utilities Fund U.S. Government Money Market Series
Dean Witter Capital Growth Securities U.S. Government Securities Series
Dean Witter European Growth Fund Inc. Intermediate Income Securities Series
Dean Witter Precious Metals and American Value Series
Minerals Trust Capital Growth Series
Dean Witter Pacific Growth Fund Inc. Dividend Growth Series
Dean Witter Health Sciences Trust Strategist Series
Dean Witter Global Dividend Growth Utilities Series
Securities Value-Added Market Series
Dean Witter Global Utilities Fund Global Equity Series
Dean Witter International SmallCap Fund ASSET ALLOCATION FUNDS
Dean Witter Mid-Cap Growth Fund Dean Witter Strategist Fund
Dean Witter Balanced Growth Fund Dean Witter Global Asset Allocation
Dean Witter Capital Appreciation Fund Fund
Dean Witter Information Fund ACTIVE ASSETS ACCOUNT PROGRAM
Dean Witter Income Builder Fund Active Assets Money Trust
Dean Witter Japan Fund Active Assets Tax-Free Trust
Dean Witter Special Value Fund Active Assets California Tax-Free Trust
Dean Witter Financial Services Trust Active Assets Government Securities
FIXED-INCOME FUNDS Trust
Dean Witter High Yield Securities Inc.
Dean Witter Tax-Exempt Securities Trust
Dean Witter Federal Securities Trust
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 World Wide Income Trust
Dean Witter Intermediate Income
Securities
<PAGE>
Dean Witter New York
Municipal Money Market Trust
Dean Witter
Two World Trade Center
New York, New York 10048
TRUSTEES New York
Michael Bozic Municipal
Charles A. Fiumefreddo Money Market
Edwin J. Garn Trust
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
Barry Fink
Vice President, Secretary and
General Counsel
Katherine H. Stromberg
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.
PROSPECTUS -- FEBRUARY 24, 1997
<PAGE>
STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION
DEAN WITTER
FEBRUARY 24, 1997
NEW YORK MUNICIPAL
MONEY MARKET TRUST
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dean Witter New York Municipal Money Market Trust (the "Fund") is an
open-end, non-diversified management investment company whose investment
objective is to provide as high a level of daily income exempt from federal and
New York income tax as is consistent with stability of principal and liquidity.
The Fund seeks to achieve its objective by investing primarily in high quality
tax-exempt securities with short-term maturities, including Municipal Bonds,
Municipal Notes and Municipal Commercial Paper. (See "Investment Practices and
Policies".)
The Fund is authorized to reimburse specific expenses incurred in promoting
the distribution of the Fund's shares pursuant to a Plan of Distribution
pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940. Reimbursement
may in no event exceed an amount equal to payments at the annual rate of 0.15%
of the average daily net assets of the Fund.
A Prospectus for the Fund, dated February 24, 1997, which provides the basic
information you should know before investing in the Fund, may be obtained
without charge by request of the Fund at its address or at the telephone numbers
listed below. This Statement of Additional Information 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 New York Municipal Money Market Trust
Two World Trade Center
New York, New York 10048
(800) 869-NEWS (toll-free) or
(212) 392-2550
<PAGE>
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
The Fund and its Management................................................. 3
Trustees and Officers....................................................... 6
Investment Practices and Policies........................................... 12
Investment Restrictions..................................................... 16
Portfolio Transactions and Brokerage........................................ 18
Purchase of Fund Shares..................................................... 24
How Net Asset Value Is Determined........................................... 31
Redemption of Fund Shares................................................... 33
Dividends, Distributions and Taxes.......................................... 34
Description of Shares....................................................... 37
Custodian and Transfer Agent................................................ 37
Independent Accountants..................................................... 38
Reports to Shareholders..................................................... 38
Legal Counsel............................................................... 38
Experts..................................................................... 38
Registration Statement...................................................... 38
Financial Statements........................................................ 38
Appendix.................................................................... 39
</TABLE>
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
December 28, 1989. On February 19, 1993, the Fund's name was changed to its
current name Dean Witter New York Money Market Trust. The Trust was formerly
known as Dean Witter/Sears New York Municipal Money Market Trust.
As of December 31, 1996, no shareholder was known to own beneficially or of
record as much as 5% of the outstanding shares of the Fund. The percentage of
ownership of shares of the Fund changes from time to time depending on purchases
and redemptions by shareholders and the total number of shares outstanding.
THE INVESTMENT MANAGER
Dean Witter InterCapital Inc. ("InterCapital" or the "Investment Manager"),
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. ("DWDC"), 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 is
conducted by or under the direction of officers of the Fund and of the
Investment Manager, subject to review of investments by the Fund's Board of
Trustees. Information as to these Trustees and officers is contained under the
caption "Trustees and Officers."
The Investment Manager is also the investment manager or investment adviser
of the following investment companies: Dean Witter Liquid Asset Fund Inc.,
InterCapital Income Securities Inc., Dean Witter High Yield Securities Inc.,
Dean Witter Tax-Free Daily Income Trust, Dean Witter Developing Growth
Securities Trust, Dean Witter Tax-Exempt Securities Trust, Dean Witter Natural
Resource Development Securities Inc., Dean Witter Dividend Growth Securities
Inc., Dean Witter American Value Fund, Dean Witter U.S. Government Money Market
Trust, Dean Witter 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 California Tax-Free Daily
Income Trust, Dean Witter Value-Added Market Series, High Income Advantage
Trust, High Income Advantage Trust II, High Income Advantage Trust III, Dean
Witter Government Income Trust, InterCapital Insured Municipal Bond Trust,
InterCapital Quality Municipal Investment Trust, InterCapital Insured Municipal
Trust, InterCapital Quality Municipal Income Trust, InterCapital Insured
Municipal Income Trust, InterCapital California Insured Municipal Income Trust,
Dean Witter Utilities Fund, Dean Witter Strategist Fund, Dean Witter
Intermediate Income Securities, Dean Witter World Wide Income Trust, Dean Witter
Capital Growth Securities, Dean Witter European Growth Fund Inc., Dean Witter
Precious Metals and Minerals Trust, Dean Witter Pacific Growth Fund Inc., 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 Health
Sciences Trust, Dean Witter Retirement Series, InterCapital Quality Municipal
Securities, InterCapital California Quality Municipal Securities, InterCapital
New York Quality Municipal Securities, Dean Witter Global Dividend Growth
Securities, Dean Witter Limited Term Municipal Trust, Dean Witter Short-Term
Bond Fund, InterCapital Insured Municipal Securities, InterCapital Insured
California Municipal Securities, 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, Dean Witter Select
Dimensions Investment Series, Dean Witter Global Asset Allocation Fund, Dean
Witter Balanced Growth Fund, Dean Witter Balanced Income Fund, Dean Witter
Hawaii Municipal Trust, Dean
3
<PAGE>
Witter Capital Appreciation Fund, Dean Witter Information Fund, Dean Witter
Intermediate Term U.S. Treasury Trust, Dean Witter Japan Fund, Dean Witter
Income Builder Fund, Dean Witter Special Value Fund, Dean Witter Financial
Services Trust, Active Assets Money Trust, Active Assets Tax-Free Trust, Active
Assets California Tax-Free Trust and Active Assets Government Securities Trust.
The Investment Manager also serves as administrator to Municipal Income Trust,
Municipal Income Trust II, Municipal Income Trust III, Municipal Income
Opportunities Trust, Municipal Income Opportunities Trust II, Municipal Income
Opportunities Trust III, Municipal Premium Income Trust and Prime Income Trust.
The foregoing investment companies, together with the Fund, are collectively
referred to as the Dean Witter Funds. In addition, Dean Witter Services Company,
Inc. ("DWSC"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of InterCapital, serves as manager for
the following 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 Total Return Trust, TCW/DW
Mid-Cap Equity Trust, TCW/DW Global Telecom Trust, TCW/DW Strategic Income
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.
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, bookkeeping and certain legal services as the Fund may
reasonably require in the conduct of its business, including the preparation of
prospectuses, statements of additional information, proxy statements and reports
required to be filed with federal and state securities commissions (except
insofar 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 and the cost of printing (in excess of
costs borne by the Fund) and distributing prospectuses and supplements thereto
of the Fund used for sales purposes.
Effective December 31, 1993, pursuant to a Services Agreement between
InterCapital and DWSC, DWSC began to provide the administrative services to the
Fund which were previously performed directly by InterCapital. On April 17,
1995, DWSC was reorganized in the State of Delaware, necessitating the entry
into a new Services Agreement by InterCapital and DWSC on that date. The
foregoing internal reorganizations did not result in any change in the nature or
scope of the administrative services being provided to the Fund or any of the
fees being paid by the Fund for the overall services being performed under the
terms of the existing Management Agreement.
Expenses not expressly assumed by the Investment Manager under the Agreement
or by the Distributor of the Fund's shares, Dean Witter Distributors Inc.
("Distributors" or the "Distributor"), (see "Purchase of Fund Shares") will be
paid by the Fund. The expenses borne by the Fund include, but are not limited
to: the distribution fee under the Plan pursuant to Rule 12b-1 (See "Purchase of
Fund Shares"); 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
4
<PAGE>
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; 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 net assets of the Fund, determined as of the close
of business on every business day: 0.50% of the portion of the daily net assets
not exceeding $500 million; 0.425% of the portion of the daily net assets
exceeding $500 million but not exceeding $750 million; 0.375% of the portion of
the daily net assets exceeding $750 million but not exceeding $1 billion; 0.35%
of the portion of the daily net assets exceeding $1 billion but not exceeding
$1.5 billion; 0.325% of the portion of the daily net assets exceeding $1.5
billion but not exceeding $2 billion; 0.30% of the portion of the daily net
assets exceeding $2 billion but not exceeding $2.5 billion; 0.275% of the
portion of the daily net assets exceeding $2.5 billion but not exceeding $3
billion; and 0.25% of the portion of the daily net assets exceeding $3 billion.
For the fiscal years ended December 31, 1994, December 31, 1995 and December 31,
1996, the Fund accrued to the Investment Manager total compensation of $216,727,
$218,571 and $212,463, respectively.
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 Trustees on October 22, 1992,
and by the shareholders of the Fund at a Special 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 February
15, 1990, by DWR as the then sole shareholder on February 16, 1990 and by the
Shareholders at a Special Meeting of Shareholders held on June 20, 1991.
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 Board of 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 will remain 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 Board of 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 as "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 its meeting held on April 17, 1996, the Fund's Board of Trustees,
including all of the Independent Trustees, approved the most recent continuation
of the Agreement until April 30, 1997.
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 investment management contract between InterCapital and the Fund
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 83 Dean Witter Funds and the 14 TCW/DW Funds are
shown below.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NAME, AGE, POSITION WITH FUND AND ADDRESS PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION DURING LAST FIVE YEARS
- ------------------------------------------------------ ----------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C>
Michael Bozic (56) Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Levitz Furniture
Trustee Corporation (since November, 1995); Director or Trustee of
c/o Levitz Furniture Corporation the Dean Witter Funds; formerly President and Chief
6111 Broken Sound Parkway, N.W. Executive Officer of Hills Department Stores (May,
Boca Raton, Florida 1991-July, 1995); formerly variously Chairman, Chief
Executive Officer, President and Chief Operating Officer
(1987-1991) of the Sears Merchandise Group of Sears,
Roebuck and Co.; Director of Eaglemark Financial Services,
Inc., the United Negro College Fund and Weirton Steel Cor-
poration.
Charles A. Fiumefreddo* (63) Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and Director of
Chairman of the Board, InterCapital, Distributors and DWSC; Executive Vice
President, Chief Executive Officer President and Director of DWR; Chairman of the Board,
and Trustee Director or Trustee, President and Chief Executive Officer
Two World Trade Center of the Dean Witter Funds; Chairman, Chief Executive
New York, New York Officer and Trustee of the TCW/DW Funds; Chairman and
Director of Dean Witter Trust Company; Director and/or
officer of various DWDC subsidiaries; formerly Executive
Vice President and Director of DWDC (until February,
1993).
Edwin J. Garn (64) Director or Trustee of the Dean Witter Funds; formerly
Trustee United States Senator (R-Utah) (1974-1992) and Chairman,
c/o Huntsman Chemical Corporation Senate Banking Committee (1980-1986); formerly Mayor of
500 Huntswan Way Salt Lake City, Utah (1971-1974); formerly Astronaut,
Salt Lake City, Utah Space Shuttle Discovery (April 12-19, 1985); Vice
Chairman, Huntsman Chemical Corporation (since January,
1993); Director of Franklin Quest (time management sys-
tems) and John Alden Financial Corp.; Member of the board
of various civic and charitable organizations.
</TABLE>
6
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NAME, AGE, POSITION WITH FUND AND ADDRESS PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION DURING LAST FIVE YEARS
- ------------------------------------------------------ ----------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C>
John R. Haire (72) Chairman of the Audit Committee and Chairman of the
Trustee Committee of the Independent Directors or Trustees and
Two World Trade Center Director or Trustee of the Dean Witter Funds; Chairman of
New York, New York the Audit Committee and Chairman of the Committee of the
Independent Trustees and Trustee of the TCW/DW Funds;
formerly President, Council for Aid to Education
(1978-1989) and Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of
Anchor Corporation, an Investment Adviser (1964-1978);
Director of Washington National Corporation (insurance).
Dr. Manuel H. Johnson (48) Senior Partner, Johnson Smick International, Inc., a
Trustee consulting firm; Koch Professor of International Eco-
c/o Johnson Smick International, Inc. nomics and Director of the Center for Global Market
1133 Connecticut Avenue, N.W. Studies at George Mason University; Director of Trustee of
Washington, DC the Dean Witter Funds; Trustee of the TCW/DW Funds;
Director of NASDAQ (since June, 1995); Co-Chairman and a
founder of the Group of Seven Council (G7C), an
international economic commission; Director of Greenwich
Capital Markets, Inc. (broker-dealer); formerly Vice
Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve
System (1986-1990) and Assistant Secretary of the U.S.
Treasury (1982-1986).
Michael E. Nugent (60) General Partner, Triumph Capital, L.P., a private
Trustee investment partnership; Director or Trustee of the Dean
c/o Triumph Capital, L.P. Witter Funds; Trustee of the TCW/DW Funds; formerly Vice
237 Park Avenue President, Bankers Trust Company and BT Capital
New York, New York Corporation (1984-1988); Director of various business
organizations.
Philip J. Purcell* (53) Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive
Trustee Officer of DWDC, DWR and Novus Credit Services Inc.;
Two World Trade Center Director of InterCapital, DWSC and Distributors; Director
New York, New York or Trustee of the Dean Witter Funds; Director and/or
officer of various DWDC subsidiaries.
John L. Schroeder (66) Retired; Director or Trustee of the Dean Witter Funds;
Trustee Trustee of the TCW/DW Funds; Director of Citizens
c/o Gordon Altman Butowsky Weitzen Utilities Company; formerly Executive Vice President and
Shalov & Wein Chief Investment Officer of the Home Insurance Company
Counsel to the Independent Trustees (August, 1991-September, 1995); formerly Chairman and
114 West 47th Street Chief Investment Officer of Axe-Houghton Management and
New York, New York the Axe-Houghton Funds (1983-1991).
</TABLE>
7
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NAME, AGE, POSITION WITH FUND AND ADDRESS PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION DURING LAST FIVE YEARS
- ------------------------------------------------------ ----------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C>
Barry Fink (42) First Vice President (since June, 1993) and Secretary and
Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel (since February, 1997) of InterCapital and
General Counsel DWSC; First Vice President, Assistant Secretary and
Two World Trade Center Assistant General Counsel of Distributors (since February,
New York, New York 1997); Assistant Secretary of DWR (since August, 1996);
Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel of the Dean
Witter Funds and the TCW/DW Funds (since February, 1997);
previously Vice President, Assistant Secretary and
Assistant General Counsel of InterCapital and DWSC and
Assistant Secretary of the Dean Witter Funds and the
TCW/DW Funds.
Katherine H. Stromberg (48) Vice President of InterCapital; Vice President of various
Vice President Dean Witter Funds.
Two World Trade Center
New York, New York
Thomas F. Caloia (50) First Vice President and Assistant Treasurer of Inter-
Treasurer Capital and DWSC; Treasurer of the Dean Witter Funds and
Two World Trade Center the TCW/DW Funds.
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, Joseph J. McAlinden, Executive Vice President and Chief
Investment Officer of InterCapital and Director of DWTC, Robert S. Giambrone,
Senior Vice President of InterCapital, DWSC, Distributor and DTWC and Director
of DWTC, Peter M. Avelar, Jonathan R. Page and James F. Willison, Senior Vice
Presidents of InterCapital, and Joseph R. Arcieri and Gerard J. Lian, Vice
Presidents of InterCapital, are Vice Presidents of the Fund. In addition,
Marilyn K. Cranney, First Vice President and Assistant General Counsel of
InterCapital and DWSC, and Lou Anne D. McInnis and Ruth Rossi, Vice Presidents
and Assistant General Counsels of InterCapital and DWSC, and Frank Bruttomesso
and Carsten Otto, Staff Attorneys with InterCapital, are Assistant Secretaries
of the Fund.
THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES, THE INDEPENDENT TRUSTEES, AND THE COMMITTEES
The Board of Trustees consists of eight (8) trustees. These same individuals
also serve as directors or trustees for all of the Dean Witter Funds, and are
referred to in this section as Trustees. As of the date of this Statement of
Additional Information, there are a total of 83 Dean Witter Funds, comprised of
126 portfolios. As of January 31, 1997, the Dean Witter Funds had total net
assets of approximately $83.6 billion and more than five million shareholders.
Six Trustees (75% of the total number) have no affiliation or business
connection with InterCapital or any of its affiliated persons and do not own any
stock or other securities issued by InterCapital's parent company, DWDC. These
are the "disinterested" or "independent" Trustees. The other two Trustees (the
"management Trustees") are affiliated with InterCapital. Four of the six
independent Trustees are also Independent Trustees of the TCW/DW Funds.
Law and regulation establish both general guidelines and specific duties for
the Independent Trustees. The Dean Witter Funds seek as Independent Trustees
individuals of distinction and experience in business and finance, government
service or academia; these are people whose advice and counsel are in demand by
others and for whom there is often competition. To accept a position on the
Funds'
8
<PAGE>
Boards, such individuals may reject other attractive assignments because the
Funds make substantial demands on their time. Indeed, by serving on the Funds'
Boards, certain Trustees who would otherwise be qualified and in demand to serve
on bank boards would be prohibited by law from doing so.
All of the Independent Trustees serve as members of the Audit Committee and
the Committee of the Independent Trustees. Three of them also serve as members
of the Derivatives Committee. During the calendar year ended December 31, 1996,
the three Committees held a combined total of sixteen meetings. The Committees
hold some meetings at InterCapital's offices and some outside InterCapital.
Management Trustees or officers do not attend these meetings unless they are
invited for purposes of furnishing information or making a report.
The Committee of the Independent Trustees is charged with recommending to
the full Board approval of management, advisory and administration contracts,
Rule 12b-1 plans and distribution and underwriting agreements; continually
reviewing Fund performance; checking on the pricing of portfolio securities,
brokerage commissions, transfer agent costs and performance, and trading among
Funds in the same complex; and approving fidelity bond and related insurance
coverage and allocations, as well as other matters that arise from time to time.
The Independent Trustees are required to select and nominate individuals to fill
any Independent Trustee vacancy on the Board of any Fund that has a Rule 12b-1
plan of distribution. Most of the Dean Witter Funds have such a plan.
The Audit Committee is charged with recommending to the full Board the
engagement or discharge of the Fund's independent accountants; directing
investigations into matters within the scope of the independent accountants'
duties, including the power to retain outside specialists; reviewing with the
independent accountants the audit plan and results of the auditing engagement;
approving professional services provided by the independent accountants and
other accounting firms prior to the performance of such services; reviewing the
independence of the independent accountants; considering the range of audit and
non-audit fees; reviewing the adequacy of the Fund's system of internal
controls; and preparing and submitting Committee meeting minutes to the full
Board.
Finally, the Board of each Fund has formed a Derivatives Committee to
establish parameters for and oversee the activities of the Fund with respect to
derivative investments, if any, made by the Fund.
DUTIES OF CHAIRMAN OF COMMITTEE OF THE INDEPENDENT TRUSTEES AND AUDIT COMMITTEE
The Chairman of the Committee of the Independent Trustees and the Audit
Committee maintains an office at the Funds' headquarters in New York. He is
responsible for keeping abreast of regulatory and industry developments and the
Funds' operations and management. He screens and/or prepares written materials
and identifies critical issues for the Independent Trustees to consider,
develops agendas for Committee meetings, determines the type and amount of
information that the Committees will need to form a judgment on various issues,
and arranges to have that information furnished to Committee members. He also
arranges for the services of independent experts and consults with them in
advance of meetings to help refine reports and to focus on critical issues.
Members of the Committees believe that the person who serves as Chairman of both
Committees and guides their efforts is pivotal to the effective functioning of
the Committees.
The Chairman of the Committees also maintains continuous contact with the
Funds' management, with independent counsel to the Independent Trustees and with
the Funds' independent auditors. He arranges for a series of special meetings
involving the annual review of investment advisory, management and other
operating contracts of the Funds and, on behalf of the Committees, conducts
negotiations with the Investment Manager and other service providers. In effect,
the Chairman of the Committees serves as a combination of chief executive and
support staff of the Independent Trustees.
The Chairman of the Committee of the Independent Trustees and the Audit
Committee is not employed by any other organization and devotes his time
primarily to the services he performs as Committee Chairman and Independent
Trustee of the Dean Witter Funds and as an Independent Trustee
9
<PAGE>
and, since July 1, 1996, as Chairman of the Committee of the Independent
Trustees and the Audit Committee of the TCW/DW Funds. The current Committee
Chairman has had more than 35 years experience as a senior executive in the
investment company industry.
ADVANTAGES OF HAVING SAME INDIVIDUALS AS INDEPENDENT TRUSTEES FOR ALL DEAN
WITTER FUNDS
The Independent Trustees and the Funds' management believe that having the
same Independent Trustees for each of the Dean Witter Funds avoids the
duplication of effort that would arise from having different groups of
individuals serving as Independent Trustees for each of the Funds or even of
sub-groups of Funds. They believe that having the same individuals serve as
Independent Trustees of all the Funds tends to increase their knowledge and
expertise regarding matters which affect the Fund complex generally and enhances
their ability to negotiate on behalf of each Fund with the Fund's service
providers. This arrangement also precludes the possibility of separate groups of
Independent Trustees arriving at conflicting decisions regarding operations and
management of the Funds and avoids the cost and confusion that would likely
ensue. Finally, having the same Independent Trustees serve on all Fund Boards
enhances the ability of each Fund to obtain, at modest cost to each separate
Fund, the services of Independent Trustees, and a Chairman of their Committees,
of the caliber, experience and business acumen of the individuals who serve as
Independent Trustees of the Dean Witter Funds.
COMPENSATION OF INDEPENDENT TRUSTEES
The Fund pays each Independent Trustee an annual fee of $1,000 plus a per
meeting fee of $50 for meetings of the Board of Trustees or committees of the
Board of Trustees attended by the Trustee (the Fund pays the Chairman of the
Audit Committee an annual fee of $750 and pays the Chairman of the Committee of
the Independent Trustees an additional annual fee of $1,200). The Fund also
reimburses such Trustees for travel and other out-of-pocket expenses incurred by
them in connection with attending such meetings. Trustees and officers of the
Fund who are or have been employed by the Investment Manager or an affiliated
company receive no compensation or expense reimbursement from the Fund.
The following table illustrates the compensation paid to the Fund's
Independent Trustees by the Fund for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1996.
FUND COMPENSATION
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
AGGREGATE
COMPENSATION
NAME OF INDEPENDENT TRUSTEE FROM THE FUND
- -------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------
<S> <C>
Michael Bozic................................................. $1,800
Edwin J. Garn................................................. 1,800
John R. Haire................................................. 3,900
Dr. Manuel H. Johnson......................................... 1,750
Michael E. Nugent............................................. 1,800
John L. Schroeder............................................. 1,750
</TABLE>
The following table illustrates the compensation paid to the Fund's
Independent Trustees for the calendar year ended December 31, 1996 for services
to the 82 Dean Witter Funds and, in the case of Messrs. Haire, Johnson, Nugent
and Schroeder, the 14 TCW/DW Funds that were in operation at December 31, 1996.
With respect to Messrs. Haire, Johnson, Nugent and Schroeder, the TCW/DW Funds
are included solely because of a limited exchange privilege between those Funds
and five Dean Witter Money Market Funds.
10
<PAGE>
CASH COMPENSATION FROM DEAN WITTER FUNDS AND TCW/DW FUNDS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
FOR SERVICE AS FOR SERVICE
CHAIRMAN OF AS TOTAL CASH
COMMITTEES OF CHAIRMAN OF COMPENSATION
FOR SERVICE INDEPENDENT COMMITTEES OF FOR SERVICES
AS DIRECTOR OR DIRECTORS/ INDEPENDENT TO
TRUSTEE AND FOR SERVICE AS TRUSTEES AND TRUSTEES AND 82 DEAN
COMMITTEE MEMBER TRUSTEE AND AUDIT AUDIT WITTER
OF 82 DEAN COMMITTEE MEMBER COMMITTEES OF COMMITTEES OF FUNDS AND
NAME OF WITTER OF 14 TCW/DW 82 DEAN WITTER 14 TCW/DW 14 TCW/DW
INDEPENDENT TRUSTEE FUNDS FUNDS FUNDS FUNDS FUNDS
- --------------------------- ---------------- ---------------- -------------- ------------- -------------
Michael Bozic.............. $138,850 -- -- -- $138,850
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Edwin J. Garn.............. 140,900 -- -- -- 140,900
John R. Haire.............. 106,400 $64,283 $195,450 $ 12,187 378,320
Dr. Manuel H. Johnson...... 137,100 66,483 -- -- 203,583
Michael E. Nugent.......... 138,850 64,283 -- -- 203,133
John L. Schroeder.......... 137,150 69,083 -- -- 206,233
</TABLE>
As of the date of this Statement of Additional Information, 57 of the Dean
Witter Funds, including the Fund, have adopted a retirement program under which
an Independent Trustee who retires after serving for at least five years (or
such lesser period as may be determined by the Board) as an Independent Director
or Trustee of any Dean Witter Fund that has adopted the retirement program (each
such Fund referred to as an "Adopting Fund" and each such Trustee referred to as
an "Eligible Trustee") is entitled to retirement payments upon reaching the
eligible retirement age (normally, after attaining age 72). Annual payments are
based upon length of service. Currently, upon retirement, each Eligible Trustee
is entitled to receive from the Adopting Fund, commencing as of his or her
retirement date and continuing for the remainder of his or her life, an annual
retirement benefit (the "Regular Benefit") equal to 25.0% of his or her Eligible
Compensation plus 0.4166666% of such Eligible Compensation for each full month
of service as an Independent Director or Trustee of any Adopting Fund in excess
of five years up to a maximum of 50.0% after ten years of service. The foregoing
percentages may be changed by the Board.(1) "Eligible Compensation" is one-fifth
of the total compensation earned by such Eligible Trustee for service to the
Adopting Fund in the five year period prior to the date of the Eligible
Trustee's retirement. Benefits under the retirement program are not secured or
funded by the Adopting Funds.
The following table illustrates the retirement benefits accrued to the
Fund's Independent Trustees by the Fund for the fiscal year ended December 31,
1996 and by the 57 Dean Witter Funds (including the Fund) for the year ended
December 31, 1996, and the estimated retirement benefits for the Fund's
Independent Trustees, to commence upon their retirement, from the Fund as of
December 31, 1996 and from the 57 Dean Witter Funds as of December 31, 1996.
11
<PAGE>
RETIREMENT BENEFITS FROM THE FUND AND ALL DEAN WITTER FUNDS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
RETIREMENT BENEFITS
FOR ALL ADOPTING FUNDS ESTIMATED ANNUAL
-------------------------------------- ACCRUED AS EXPENSES BENEFITS
ESTIMATED UPON RETIREMENT(2)
CREDITED YEARS ESTIMATED -------------------- ----------------------
OF SERVICE AT PERCENTAGE OF BY ALL FROM FROM ALL
RETIREMENT ELIGIBLE BY THE ADOPTING THE ADOPTING
NAME OF INDEPENDENT TRUSTEE (MAXIMUM 10) COMPENSATION FUND FUNDS FUND FUNDS
- ------------------------------------ ------------------- ----------------- --------- --------- --------- -----------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Michael Bozic....................... 10 50.0% $ 338 $ 20,147 $ 850 $ 51,325
Edwin J. Garn....................... 10 50.0 473 27,772 850 51,325
John R. Haire....................... 10 50.0 (365 (3) 46,952 2,296 129,550
Dr. Manuel H. Johnson............... 10 50.0 202 10,926 850 51,325
Michael E. Nugent................... 10 50.0 338 19,217 850 51,325
John L. Schroeder................... 8 41.7 645 38,700 708 42,771
</TABLE>
- ------------------------
(1) An Eligible Trustee may elect alternate payments of his or her retirement
benefits based upon the combined life expectancy of such Eligible Trustee
and his or her spouse on the date of such Eligible Trustee's retirement. The
amount estimated to be payable under this method, through the remainder of
the later of the lives of such Eligible Trustee and spouse, will be the
actuarial equivalent of the Regular Benefit. In addition, the Eligible
Trustee may elect that the surviving spouse's periodic payment of benefits
will be equal to either 50% or 100% of the previous periodic amount, an
election that, respectively, increases or decreases the previous periodic
amount so that the resulting payments will be the actuarial equivalent of
the Regular Benefit.
(2) Based on current levels of compensation. Amount of annual benefits also
varies depending on the Trustee's elections described in Footnote (1) above.
(3) This number reflects the effect of the extension of Mr. Haire's term as
Trustee until June 1, 1998.
As of the date of this Statement of Additional Information, the aggregate
number of shares of beneficial interest of the Fund owned by the Fund's officers
and Trustees as a group was less than 1 percent of the Fund's shares of
beneficial interest outstanding.
INVESTMENT PRACTICES AND POLICIES
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PORTFOLIO SECURITIES
TAXABLE SECURITIES. As discussed in the Prospectus, the Fund may invest up
to 20% of its total assets in taxable money market instruments and repurchase
agreements. Investments in taxable money market instruments would generally be
made under any one of the following circumstances: (a) pending investment
proceeds of sale of Fund shares or of portfolio securities; (b) pending
settlement of purchases of portfolio securities; and (c) to maintain liquidity
for the purpose of meeting anticipated redemptions. Only those non-New York
tax-exempt securities which satisfy the standards established for New York
tax-exempt securities may be purchased by the Fund. The types of taxable money
market instruments in which the Fund may invest are limited to the following
short-term fixed-income securities (maturing in one year or less from the time
of purchase): (i) obligations of the United States Government, its agencies,
instrumentalities or authorities; (ii) commercial paper rated P-1 by Moody's
Investors Services, Inc. ("Moody's") or A-1 by Standard & Poor's Corporation
("S&P"); (iii) certificates of deposit of domestic banks with assets of $1
billion or more; and (iv) repurchase agreements with respect to portfolio
securities. In addition, the Fund may temporarily invest more than 20% of its
total assets in taxable money market instruments to maintain a "defensive"
posture when, in the opinion of the Investment Manager, it is advisable to do so
because of market conditions.
TAX-EXEMPT SECURITIES. As discussed in the Prospectus, at least 80% of the
Fund's total assets will be invested in Municipal Obligations and at least 65%
of the Fund's total assets will be invested in New York Municipal Obligations
(New York Municipal Bonds, New York Municipal Notes and New York Municipal
Commercial Paper). Such New York Municipal Obligations are exempt from federal,
New York State and New York City income tax except to those investors who are
subject to the alternative minimum tax. Up to 35% of the Trust's total assets
may be invested in Municipal Obligations other than New York Municipal
Obligations. Such Municipal Obligations are exempt from federal income tax (but
not New York State and New York City income taxes) except to those investors who
are subject to the alternative
12
<PAGE>
minimum tax. The Trust may temporarily invest more than 35% of its total assets
in non-New York Municipal Obligations in order to maintain a defensive posture
when, in the opinion of the Investment Manager, prevailing market or financial
conditions so warrant. In regard to the Moody's and S&P ratings discussed in the
Prospectus, it should be noted that the ratings represent the organizations'
opinions as to the quality of the securities which they undertake to rate and
the ratings are general and not absolute standards of quality. For a description
of Municipal Bond, Municipal Note and Municipal Commercial Paper ratings by
Moody's and S&P, see the Appendix to this Statement of Additional Information.
The percentage and rating limitations discussed above and in the Prospectus
apply at the time of acquisition of a security based upon the last previous
determination of the Fund's net asset value; any subsequent change in any
ratings by a rating service or change in percentages resulting from market
fluctuations or other changes in total assets will not require elimination of
any security from the Fund's portfolio.
The payment of principal and interest by issuers of certain Municipal
Obligations purchased by the Fund may be guaranteed by letters of credit or
other credit facilities offered by banks or other financial institutions. Such
guarantees will be considered in determining whether a Municipal Obligation
meets the Fund's investment quality requirements. In addition, some issues may
contain provisions which permit the Fund to demand from the issuer repayment of
principal at some specified period(s) prior to maturity.
MUNICIPAL BONDS. Municipal Bonds, as referred to in the Prospectus, are
debt obligations of a state, its cities, municipalities and municipal agencies
(all of which are generally referred to as "municipalities") which generally
have a maturity at the time of issue of one year or more, and the interest from
which is, in the opinion of bond counsel, exempt from federal income tax. In
addition to these requirements, the interest from New York Municipal Bonds must
be, in the opinion of bond counsel, exempt from New York personal income tax.
They are issued to raise funds for various public purposes, such as construction
of a wide range of public facilities, to refund outstanding obligations and to
obtain funds for general operating expenses or to loan to other public
institutions and facilities. In addition, certain types of industrial
development bonds and pollution control bonds are issued by or on behalf of
public authorities to provide funding for various privately operated facilities.
MUNICIPAL NOTES. Municipal Notes are short-term obligations of
municipalities, generally with a maturity at the time of issuance ranging from
six months to three years, the interest from which is, in the opinion of bond
counsel, exempt from federal income tax. In addition to those requirements, the
interest from New York Municipal Notes must be, in the opinion of bond counsel,
exempt from New York personal income tax. The principal types of Municipal Notes
include tax anticipation notes, bond anticipation notes, revenue anticipation
notes and project notes, although there are other types of Municipal Notes in
which the Fund may invest. Notes sold in anticipation of collection of taxes, a
bond sale or receipt of other revenues are usually general obligations of the
issuing municipality or agency. Project Notes are issued by local agencies and
are guaranteed by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Such notes are secured by the full faith and credit of the United States
Government.
MUNICIPAL COMMERCIAL PAPER. Municipal Commercial Paper refers to short-term
obligations of municipalities the interest from which is, in the opinion of bond
counsel, exempt from federal income tax. In addition to those requirements, the
interest from New York Commercial Paper must be, in the opinion of bond counsel,
exempt from New York personal income tax. It may be issued at a discount and is
sometimes referred to as Short-Term Discount Notes. Municipal Commercial Paper
is likely to be used to meet seasonal working capital needs of a municipality or
interim construction financing and general revenues of the municipality or
refinanced with long-term debt. In most cases Municipal Commercial Paper is
backed by letters of credit, lending agreements, note repurchase agreements or
other credit facility agreements offered by banks or other institutions.
The two principal classifications of Municipal Bonds, Notes and Commercial
Paper are "general obligation" and "revenue" bonds, notes or commercial paper.
General obligation bonds, notes or commercial paper are secured by the issuer's
pledge of its faith, credit and taxing power for the payment
13
<PAGE>
of principal and interest. Issuers of general obligation bonds, notes or
commercial paper include a state, its counties, cities, towns and other
governmental units. Revenue bonds, notes or commercial paper are payable from
the revenues derived from a particular facility or class of facilities or, in
some cases, from specific revenue sources. Revenue bonds, notes or commercial
paper are issued for a wide variety of purposes, including the financing of
electric, gas, water and sewer systems and other public utilities; industrial
development and pollution control facilities; single and multi-family housing
units; public buildings and facilities; air and marine ports; transportation
facilities such as toll roads, bridges and tunnels; and health and educational
facilities such as hospitals and dormitories. They rely primarily on user fees
to pay debt service, although the principal revenue source is often supplemented
by additional security features which are intended to enhance the
creditworthiness of the issuer's obligations. In some cases, particularly with
respect to revenue bonds issued to finance housing and public buildings, a
direct or implied "moral obligation" of a governmental unit may be pledged to
the payment of debt service. In other cases, a special tax or other charge may
augment user fees.
Issuers of these obligations are subject to the provisions of bankruptcy,
insolvency and other laws affecting the rights and remedies of creditors, such
as the Federal Bankruptcy Act, and laws, if any, which may be enacted by
Congress or any state extending the time for payment of principal or interest,
or both, or imposing other constraints upon enforcement of such obligations or
upon municipalities to levy taxes. There is also the possibility that as a
result of litigation or other conditions the power or ability of any one or more
issuers to pay, when due, principal of and interest on its, or their, Municipal
Bonds, Municipal Notes and Municipal Commercial Paper may be materially
affected.
PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT
VARIABLE RATE AND FLOATING RATE OBLIGATIONS. As stated in the Prospectus,
the Fund may invest in Municipal Bonds and Municipal Notes ("Municipal
Obligations") of the type called variable rate and floating rate obligations.
The interest rate payable on a variable rate obligation is adjusted either at
predesignated periodic intervals and, on a floating rate obligation, whenever
there is a change in the market rate of interest on which the interest rate
payable is based. Other features may include the right whereby the Fund may
demand prepayment of the principal amount of the obligation prior to its stated
maturity (a "demand feature") and the right of the issuer to prepay the
principal amount prior to maturity. The principal benefit of a variable rate
obligation is that the interest rate adjustment minimizes changes in the market
value of the obligation. As a result, the purchase of variable rate and floating
rate obligations should enhance the ability of the Fund to maintain a stable net
asset value per share (see "How Net Asset Value is Determined") and to sell
obligations prior to maturity at a price that is approximately the full
principal amount of the obligations. The principal benefit to the Fund of
purchasing obligations with a demand feature is that liquidity, and the ability
of the Fund to obtain repayment of the full principal amount of an obligation
prior to maturity, is enhanced. The payment of principal and interest by issuers
of certain obligations purchased by the Fund may be guaranteed by letters of
credit or other credit facilities offered by banks or other financial
institutions. Such guarantees will be considered in determining whether an
obligation meets the Fund's investment quality requirements.
WHEN-ISSUED AND DELAYED DELIVERY SECURITIES. As stated in the Prospectus,
the Fund may purchase tax-exempt securities on a when-issued or delayed delivery
basis. When such transactions are negotiated, the price is fixed at the time of
commitment, but delivery and payment can take place a month or more after the
date of the commitment. While the Fund will only purchase securities on a when-
issued or delayed delivery basis with the intention of acquiring the securities,
the Fund may sell the securities before the settlement date, if it is deemed
advisable. The securities so purchased or sold are subject to market fluctuation
and no interest accrues to the purchaser during this period. At the time the
Fund makes the commitment to purchase a Municipal Obligation on a when-issued or
delayed delivery basis, it will record the transaction and thereafter reflect
the value, each day, of the Municipal Obligation in determining its net asset
value. The Fund will also establish a segregated account with its custodian bank
in which it will maintain liquid assets such as cash, U.S. government securities
or other appropriate liquid portfolio securities equal in value to commitments
for such when-issued or delayed delivery securities. The Fund does not believe
that its net asset value or income will be adversely affected by its
14
<PAGE>
purchase of Municipal Obligations on a when-issued or delayed delivery basis.
During the fiscal year ended December 31, 1996, the Fund's investments in
when-issued and delayed delivery securities did not exceed 5% of its net assets.
REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS. When cash may be available for only a few days, it
may be invested by the Fund in repurchase agreements until such time as it may
otherwise be invested or used for payments of obligations of the Fund. These
agreements, which may be viewed as a type of secured lending by the Fund,
typically involve the acquisition by the Fund of debt securities from a selling
financial institution such as a bank, savings and loan association or
broker-dealer. The agreement provides that the Fund will sell back to the
institution, and that the institution will repurchase, the underlying security
("collateral"), which is held by the Fund's Custodian, at a specified price and
at a fixed time in the future, which is usually not more than seven days from
the date of purchase. The Fund will accrue interest from the institution until
the time when the repurchase is to occur. Although 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. These procedures include effecting repurchase transactions only with
large, well capitalized and well established financial institutions, whose
financial condition will be continually monitored. In addition, the value of the
collateral underlying the repurchase agreement will always be at least equal to
the resale price, which consists of the purchase price paid to the seller of the
securities plus the accrued resale premium which is defined as the amount
specified in the repurchase agreement or the daily amortization of the
difference between the purchase price and the resale price specified in the
repurchase agreement. Such collateral will consist entirely of securities that
are direct obligations of, or that are fully guaranteed as to principal and
interest by, the United States or any agency thereof, and/or certificates of
deposit, bankers' acceptances which are eligible for acceptance by a Federal
Reserve Bank, and, if the seller is a bank, mortgage related securities (as such
term is defined in section 3(a)(41) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934)
that, at the time the repurchase agreement is entered into, are rated in the
highest rating category by the Requisite NRSROs. Additionally, the collateral
must qualify the repurchase agreement for preferential treatment under the
Federal Deposit Insurance Act or the Federal Bankruptcy Code. In the event of a
default or bankruptcy by a selling financial institution, the Fund will seek to
liquidate such collateral. However, the exercise of the Fund's right to
liquidate such collateral could involve certain costs or delays and, to the
extent that proceeds from any sale upon a default of the obligation to
repurchase were less than the repurchase price, the Fund could suffer a loss. It
is the current policy of the Fund not to invest in repurchase agreements that do
not mature within seven days if any such investment, together with any other
illiquid asset held by the Fund, amount to more than 10% of its total assets.
The Fund's investments in repurchase agreements may, at times, be substantial
when, in the view of the Investment Manager, liquidity or other considerations
warrant. During the fiscal year ended December 31, 1996, the Fund did not enter
into any repurchase agreements.
PUT OPTIONS. The Fund may purchase securities together with the right to
resell them to the seller at an agreed upon price or yield within a specified
period prior to the maturity date of such securities. Such a right to resell is
commonly known as a "put," and the aggregate price which the Fund pays for
securities with puts may be higher than the price which otherwise would be paid
for the securities. Consistent with the Fund's investment objectives and subject
to the supervision of the Board of Trustees, the primary purpose of this
practice is to permit the Fund to be fully invested in securities, the interest
on which is exempt from Federal and New York personal income tax, while
preserving the necessary flexibility and liquidity to purchase securities on a
when-issued basis, to meet unusually large redemptions and to purchase at a
later date securities other than those subject to the put. The Fund's policy is,
generally, to exercise the puts on their expiration date, when the exercise
price is higher than the current market price for the related securities. Puts
may be exercised prior to the expiration date in order to fund obligations to
purchase other securities or to meet redemption requests. These obligations may
arise during periods in which proceeds from sales of Fund shares and from recent
sales of portfolio securities
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are insufficient to meet such obligations or when the funds available are
otherwise allocated for investment. In addition, puts may be exercised prior to
their expiration date in the event the Investment Manager revises its evaluation
of the creditworthiness of the issuer of the underlying security. In determining
whether to exercise puts prior to their expiration date and in selecting which
puts to exercise in such circumstances, the Investment Manager considers, among
other things, the amount of cash available to the Fund, the expiration dates of
the available puts, any future commitments for securities purchases, the yield,
quality and maturity dates of the underlying securities, alternative investment
opportunities and the desirability of retaining the underlying securities in the
Fund's portfolio.
The Fund values securities which are subject to puts at their amortized cost
and values the put, apart from the security, at zero. Thus, the cost of the put
will be carried on the Fund's books as an unrealized loss from the date of
acquisition and will be reflected in realized gain or loss when the put is
exercised or expires. Since the value of the put is dependent on the ability of
the put writer to meet its obligation to repurchase, the Fund's policy is to
enter into put transactions only with municipal securities dealers who are
approved by the Fund's Board of Trustees. Each dealer will be approved on its
own merits and it is the Fund's general policy to enter into put transactions
only with those dealers which are determined to present minimal credit risks. In
connection with such determination, the Board of Trustees will review, among
other things, the ratings, if available, of equity and debt securities of such
municipal securities dealers, their reputations in the municipal securities
markets, the net worth of such dealers and their efficiency in consummating
transactions. Bank dealers normally will be members of the Federal Reserve
System, and other dealers will be members of the National Association of
Securities Dealers, Inc. or members of a national securities exchange. The Board
has directed the Investment Manager not to enter into put transactions with, and
to exercise outstanding puts of, any municipal securities dealer which, in the
judgment of the Investment Manager, ceases at any time to present a minimal
credit risk. In the event that a dealer should default on its obligation to
repurchase an underlying security, the Fund is unable to predict whether all or
any portion of any loss sustained could be subsequently recovered from such
dealer. The Fund may not invest more than 10% of its total assets in puts at any
given time. During the fiscal year ended December 31, 1996, the Fund did not
purchase any put options.
It is the position of the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission
that certain provisions of the Act may be deemed to prohibit the Fund from
purchasing puts from broker-dealers without an exemptive order. Until such an
order is obtained, the Fund will purchase puts only from commercial banks. There
is no assurance that such an order, if applied for, will be obtained. The
duration of puts, which will not exceed 60 days, will not be a factor in
determining the weighted average maturity of the Fund's portfolio securities.
In Revenue Ruling 82-144, the Internal Revenue Service stated that, under
certain circumstances, a purchaser of tax-exempt obligations which are subject
to puts will be considered the owner of the obligations for Federal income tax
purposes. In connection therewith, the Fund has received an opinion of counsel
to the effect that interest on Municipal Obligations subject to puts will be
tax-exempt to the Fund.
INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS
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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 the holders of a
majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund, as defined in the
Act. Such a majority is defined in the Act as the lesser of (a) 67% or more of
the shares present at a Meeting of Shareholders of the Fund, if the holders of
more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Fund are present or represented
by proxy at the meeting, or (b) more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the
Fund. For purposes of the following restrictions and those recited in the
Prospectus: (a) an "issuer" of a security is the entity whose assets and
revenues are committed to the payment of interest and principal on that
particular security, provided
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that the guarantee of a security will be considered a separate security and
provided further that a guarantee of a security shall not be deemed a security
issued by the guarantor if the value of all securities guaranteed by the
guarantor and owned by the Fund does not exceed 10% of the value of the total
assets of the Fund; (b) a "taxable security" is any security the interest on
which is subject to federal income tax; and (c) all percentage limitations apply
immediately after a purchase or initial investment, and any subsequent change in
any applicable percentage resulting from market fluctuations or other changes in
total or net assets does not require elimination of any security from the
portfolio.
The term "bank obligations" as referred to in Investment Restriction 3 in
the Prospectus refers to short-term 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.
The Fund may not:
1. Invest in common stock.
2. Invest in securities of any issuer if, to the knowledge of the Fund,
any officer or trustee of the Fund or any officer or director of the
Investment Manager owns more than 1/2 of 1% of the outstanding securities of
such issuer, and such officers, trustees and directors who own more than 1/2
of 1% own in the aggregate more than 5% of the outstanding securities of
such issuer.
3. Purchase or sell real estate or interests therein, although it may
purchase securities secured by real estate or interests therein.
4. Purchase or sell commodities or commodity futures contracts.
5. Purchase oil, gas or other mineral leases, rights or royalty
contracts, or exploration or development programs.
6. Write, purchase or sell puts, calls, or combinations thereof, except
that it may acquire rights to resell Municipal Obligations at an agreed upon
price and at or within an agreed upon time.
7. Purchase securities of other investment companies, except in
connection with a merger, consolidation, reorganization or acquisition of
assets.
8. Borrow money, except that the Fund may borrow from a bank for
temporary or emergency purposes in amounts not exceeding 5% (taken at the
lower of cost or current value) of the value of its total assets (not
including the amount borrowed).
9. Pledge its assets or assign or otherwise encumber them except to
secure borrowings effected within the limitations set forth in restriction
(8). To meet the requirements of regulations in certain states, the Fund, as
a matter of operating policy but not as a fundamental policy, will limit any
pledge of its assets to 10% of its net assets so long as shares of the Fund
are being sold in those states.
10. 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: (a)
purchasing any securities on a when-issued or delayed delivery basis; or (b)
borrowing money in accordance with restrictions described above.
11. Make short sales of securities.
12. Purchase securities on margin, except for such short-term loans as
are necessary for the clearance of purchases of portfolio securities.
13. Engage in the underwriting of securities, except insofar as the Fund
may be deemed an underwriter under the Securities Act of 1933 in disposing
of a portfolio security.
14. Invest for the purpose of exercising control or management of any
other issuer.
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PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS AND BROKERAGE
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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. The Fund expects that the primary
market for the securities in which it intends to invest will generally be the
over-the-counter market. Securities are generally traded in the over-the-counter
market on a "net" basis with dealers acting as principal for their own accounts
without a stated commission, although the price of the security usually includes
a profit to the dealer. The Fund also expects that securities will be purchased
at times in underwritten offerings where the price includes a fixed amount of
compensation, generally referred to as the underwriter's concession or discount.
On occasion the Fund may also purchase certain money market instruments directly
from an issuer, in which case no commissions or discounts are paid. During the
fiscal years ended December 31, 1994, December 31, 1995 and December 31, 1996,
the Fund paid no such brokerage commissions or concessions.
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, various
factors are considered, including the respective investment objectives, the
relative size of portfolio holdings of the same or comparable securities, the
availability of cash for investment, the size of investment commitments
generally held and the opinions of the persons responsible for managing the
portfolios of the Fund and other client accounts. In the case of certain initial
and secondary public offerings, the Investment Manager may utilize a pro-rata
allocation process based on the size of the Dean Witter Funds involved and the
number of shares available from the public offering.
The policy of the Fund, regarding purchases and sales of securities for its
portfolio, is that primary consideration be given to obtaining the most
favorable prices and efficient execution of transactions. In seeking to
implement the Fund's policies, the Investment Manager effects transactions with
those brokers and dealers who the Investment Manager believes provide the most
favorable prices and are capable of providing efficient executions. If the
Investment Manager believes such price 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.
The information and services received by the Investment Manager from brokers
and dealers may be of benefit to the Investment Manager in the management of
accounts of some of its other clients and may not in all cases benefit the Fund
directly. While the receipt of such information and services is useful in
varying degrees and would generally reduce the amount of research or services
otherwise performed by the Investment Manager and thereby reduce its expenses,
it is of indeterminable value and the Fund does not reduce the management fee it
pays to the Investment Manager by any amount that may be attributable to the
value of such services.
Pursuant to an order of the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Fund may
effect principal transactions in certain money market instruments with DWR. The
Fund will limit its transactions with DWR to U.S. Government and Government
Agency Securities, Bank Money Instruments (i.e. Certificates of Deposit and
Bankers' Acceptances) and Commercial Paper (not including Tax-Exempt Municipal
Paper). Such transactions will be effected with DWR only when the price
available from DWR is better than that available from other dealers. During the
fiscal years ended December 31, 1994, 1995 and 1996, the Fund did not effect any
principal transactions with DWR.
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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 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 no more than the remuneration
which would be expected to be received by an unaffiliated broker in a
commensurate arm's-length transaction. Furthermore, the Trustees of the Fund,
including a majority of the Trustees who are not "interested" Trustees (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 December
31, 1994, 1995, and 1996, the Fund paid no brokerage commissions to DWR.
Subject to the principle of obtaining best price and execution, the
Investment Manager may consider a broker-dealer's sales of shares of the Fund as
a factor in selecting from among those broker-dealers qualified to provide
comparable prices and execution on the Fund's portfolio transactions. The Fund
does not, however, require a broker-dealer to sell shares of the Fund in order
for it to be considered to execute portfolio transactions, and will not enter
into any arrangement whereby a specific amount or percentage of the Fund's
transactions will be directed to a broker which sells shares of the Fund to
customers. The Board of Trustees reviews, periodically, the allocation of
brokerage orders to monitor the operation of these policies.
Portfolio turnover rate is defined as the lesser of the value of the
securities purchased or securities sold, excluding all securities whose
maturities at time of acquisition were one year or less, divided by the average
monthly value of such securities owned during the year. Because the Fund's
portfolio consists of municipal obligations maturing within one year, the Fund
is unable to calculate its turnover rate as so defined. However, because of the
short-term nature of the Fund's portfolio securities, it is anticipated that the
number of purchases and sales of maturities of such securities will be
substantial. Brokerage commissions are not normally charged on purchases and
sales of short-term municipal obligations, but such transactions may involve
transaction costs in the form of spreads between bid and asked prices.
SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS RELATING TO NEW YORK TAX-EXEMPT SECURITIES
During the mid-1970's, New York State (the "State"), some of its agencies,
instrumentalities and public benefit corporations (the "Authorities"), and
certain of its municipalities faced serious financial difficulties. To address
many of these financial problems, the State developed various programs, many of
which were successful in ameliorating the financial crisis. Any further
financial problems experienced by these Authorities or municipalities could have
a direct adverse effect on the New York Municipal Obligations in which the Fund
invests.
NEW YORK CITY
GENERAL. The national economic downturn which began in July 1990 adversely
affected the local economy, which had been declining since late 1989. As a
result, New York City (the "City") experienced job losses in 1990 and 1991 and
real Gross City Product (GCP) fell in those two years. For the 1992 fiscal year,
the City closed a projected budget gap of $3.3 billion in order to achieve a
balanced budget as required by the laws of the State. Beginning in 1992, the
improvement in the national economy helped stabilize conditions in the City.
Employment losses moderated toward year-end and real GCP increased, boosted by
strong wage gains. After noticeable improvements in the City's economy during
calendar year 1994, economic growth slowed in 1995, and the City's current
four-year financial plan assumes that moderate economic growth will continue
through the year 2000.
For each of the 1981 through 1996 fiscal years, the City achieved balanced
operating results as reported in accordance with then applicable generally
accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"). The City was required to close
substantial budget gaps in recent years in order to maintain balanced operating
results.
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1997-2000 NEW YORK CITY FINANCIAL PLAN. The Mayor is responsible for
preparing the City's four-year financial plan (the "1997-2000 Financial Plan",
the "Financial Plan" or "City Plan"). On November 14, 1996, the City submitted
to the Control Board the Financial Plan for the 1997-2000 fiscal years, which is
a modification to a financial plan submitted to the Control Board on June 21,
1996 (the "June Financial Plan") and which relates to the City, the Board of
Education ("BOE") and the City University of New York.
The June Financial Plan set forth proposed actions to close a previously
projected gap of approximately $2.6 billion for the 1996 fiscal year, including
(i) agency actions totaling $1.2 billion; (ii) a revised tax reduction program
which would increase projected tax revenues by $369 million due to the four year
extension of the 12.5% personal income tax surcharge and other actions; (iii)
savings resulting from cost containment in entitlement programs to reduce City
expenditures and additional proposed State aid of $74 million; (iv) the assumed
receipt of revenues relating to rent payments for the City's airports, which are
currently the subject of a dispute with the Port Authority of New York and New
Jersey (the "Port Authority"); (v) the sale of the City's television station for
$207 million; and (iv) pension cost savings totaling $134 million resulting from
a proposed increase in the earnings assumption for pension assets from 8.5% to
8.75%.
The 1997-2000 Financial Plan published on November 14, 1996 reflects actual
receipts and expenditures and changes in forecast revenues and expenditures
since the June Financial Plan. The 1997-2000 Financial Plan projects revenues
and expenditures for 1997 fiscal year balanced in accordance with GAAP, and
projects gaps of $1.2 billion, $2.1 billion and $3.0 billion for the 1998, 1999
and 2000 fiscal years, respectively. Changes since the June Financial Plan
include: (i) an increase in projected tax revenues of $450 million, $120
million, $50 million and $45 million in fiscal years 1997 through 2000,
respectively; (ii) a delay in the assumed receipt of $304 million relating to
projected rent payments for the City airports from the 1997 fiscal year to the
1998 and 1999 fiscal years, and a $34 million reduction in assumed State and
Federal aid for the 1997 fiscal year; (iii) an approximate $200 million increase
in projected overtime and other expenditures in each of the fiscal years 1997
through 2000; (iv) a $70 million increase in expenditures for BOE in the 1997
fiscal year for school text books; (v) a reduction in projected pension costs of
$34 million, $50 million, $49 million and $47 million in fiscal years 1997
through 2000, respectively; and (vi) additional agency actions totaling $179
million, $386 million, $473 million and $589 million in fiscal years 1997
through 2000, respectively, including personnel reductions through attrition and
early retirement.
The City depends on the State for State aid both to enable the City to
balance its budget and to meet its cash requirements. There can be no assurance
that there will not be reductions in State aid to the City from amounts
currently projected or that the State budgets in future fiscal years will be
adopted by the April 1 statutory deadline and that such reductions or delays
will not have adverse effects on the City's cash flow or expenditures.
The City's projections set forth in the City Plan are based on various
assumptions and contingencies which are uncertain and which may not materialize.
Changes in major assumptions could significantly affect the City's ability to
balance its budget as required by State law and to meet its annual cash flow and
financing requirements. Such assumptions and contingencies include: the
condition of the regional and local economies, the impact on real estate tax
revenues of the real estate market, wage increases for City employees consistent
with those assumed in the Financial Plan, employment growth, the ability to
implement proposed reductions in City personnel and other cost reduction
initiatives, which may require in certain cases the cooperation of the City's
municipal unions, the ability of the New York City Health and Hospitals
Corporations and BOE to take actions to offset reduced revenues, the ability to
complete revenue generating transactions, provision of State and Federal aid and
mandate relief and the impact on City revenues of proposals for Federal and
State welfare reform and any future legislation affecting Medicare or other
entitlement.
Implementation of the City Plan is also dependent upon the City's ability to
market its securities successfully in the public credit markets. The City's
financing program for fiscal years 1997 through 2000
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contemplates the issuance of $7.7 billion of general obligation bonds and $4.5
billion of bonds to be issued by the proposed New York City Infrastructure
Finance Authority ("IFA") primarily to reconstruct and rehabilitate the City's
infrastructure and physical assets and to make other capital investments. The
creation of the IFA is subject to the enactment of State legislation. In
addition, the City issues revenue and tax anticipation notes to finance its
seasonal working capital requirements. The success of projected public sales of
City bonds and notes and IFA Bonds will be subject to prevailing market
conditions, and no assurance can be given that such sales will be completed. If
the City were unable to sell its general obligation bonds and notes or bonds of
the proposed IFA, it would be prevented from meeting its planned operating and
capital expenditures.
The City Comptroller and other agencies and public officials have issued
reports and made public statements which, among other things, state that
projected revenues may be less and future expenditures may be greater than
forecast in the City Plan. It is reasonable to expect that such reports and
statements will continue to be issued and engender public comment.
RATINGS.
Moody's has rated the City's general obligation bonds Baa1. Standard &
Poor's has rated the bonds BBB+. Fitch has rated the bonds A-. On February 28,
1996, Fitch placed the City's general obligation bonds on FitchAlert with
negative implications. On November 5, 1996, Fitch removed the City's general
obligation bonds from FitchAlert, although Fitch stated that the outlook remains
negative. These ratings do not reflect any bond insurance relating to any
portion of the bonds. The city expects that ratings on the Financial Guaranty
Insured Bonds and the AMBAC Insured Bonds will be received prior to January 7,
1997. The ratings on the Financial Guaranty Insured Bonds and the AMBAC Insured
Bonds will be based on the insurance polices to be issued by Financial Guaranty
and AMBAC Indemnity, respectively. Bonds insured to maturity by Financial
Guaranty are rated "AAA" by Standard & Poor's, "Aaa" by Moody's and "AAA" by
Fitch. Bonds insured to maturity by AMBAC Indemnity are rated "AAA" by Standard
& Poor's, "Aaa" by Moody's and "AAA" by Fitch. Such ratings reflect only the
views of Moody's, Standard & Poor's and Fitch, from which an explanation of the
significance of such ratings may be obtained. There is no assurance that such
ratings will continue for any given period of time or that they will not be
revised downward or withdrawn entirely. Any such downward revision or withdrawal
could have an adverse effect on the market prices of the bonds.
OUTSTANDING INDEBTEDNESS. As of September 30, 1996, the City and the
Municipal Assistance Corporation for the City of New York had, respectively,
$25.099 billion and $3.889 billion of outstanding net long-term debt.
LITIGATION. The City is a defendant in lawsuits pertaining to material
matters, including claims asserted which are incidental to performing routine
governmental and other functions. This litigation includes, but is not limited
to, actions commenced and claims asserted against the City arising out of
alleged torts, alleged breaches of contracts, alleged violations of law and
condemnation proceedings. As of June 30, 1996 and 1995, claims in excess of $380
billion and $311 billion, respectively, were outstanding against the City for
which the City estimates its potential future liability to be $2.8 billion and
$2.5 billion, respectively.
NEW YORK STATE
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS. The national economy has resumed a more robust rate of
growth after a "soft landing" in 1995, with over 11 million jobs added
nationally since early 1992. The State economy has continued to expand, but
growth remains somewhat slower than in the nation. Although the State has added
approximately 240,000 jobs since late 1992, employment growth in the State has
been hindered during recent years by significant cutbacks in the computer and
instrument manufacturing, utility, defense and banking industries. Government
downsizing has also moderated these job gains.
The 1996-97 New York State Financial Plan (the "State Plan" or "July
Financial Plan") is based on the State's economy showing modest expansion during
the first half of 1996, but that some slowdown is projected during the second
half of the year. Although industries that export goods and services are
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expected to continue to do well, growth is expected to be slowed by government
cutbacks at all levels and by tight fiscal constraints on health and social
services. On an average annual basis, employment growth in the State is expected
to be up slightly from the 1995 rate. Personal income is expected to record
moderate gains in 1996. Bonus payments in the securities industry are expected
to increase further from last year's record level.
The State Plan is based upon forecasts of national and State economic
activity developed through both internal analysis and review of State and
national economic forecasts prepared by commercial forecasting services and
other public and private forecasters. Economic forecasts have frequently failed
to predict accurately the timing and magnitude of changes in the national and
the State economies. Many uncertainties exist in forecasts of both the national
and State economies, including consumer attitudes toward spending, the extent of
corporate and governmental restructuring, federal fiscal and monetary policies,
the level of interest rates, and the condition of the world economy, which could
have an adverse effect on the State. There can be no assurance that the State
economy will not experience results in the current fiscal year that are worse
than predicted, with corresponding material and adverse effects on the State's
projections of receipts and disbursements.
THE 1996-97 FISCAL YEAR. The State's General Fund (the major operating fund
of the State) was projected in the State Plan to be balanced on a cash basis for
the 1996-97 fiscal year. The State Plan projected General Fund receipts and
transfers from other funds at $33.17 billion, an increase of $365 million from
the prior fiscal year, and disbursements and transfers to other funds at $33.12
billion, an increase of $444 million from the total disbursed in the prior
fiscal year.
The State issued its first quarterly update to the State Plan (the "Mid-Year
Update") on October 25, 1996. The Mid-Year Update projects a continued balanced
1996-97 State Financial Plan, with a reserve for contingencies in the General
Fund of $300 million. This reserve will be utilized to help offset a variety of
potential risks and other unexpected contingencies that the State may face
during the balance of the 1996-97 fiscal year. The Mid-Year Update reflects
revisions made to estimates of both receipts and disbursements based on: (1)
updated economic forecasts for both the nation and the State, (2) an analysis of
actual receipts and disbursements through the first six months of the fiscal
year and (3) an assessment of changing State program requirements.
More specifically, based on the revised economic outlook and actual receipts
for the first six months of 1996-97, projected General Fund receipts for the
1996-97 State fiscal year have increased by $420 million. Most of this projected
increase is in the yield of the personal income tax ($241 million), with
additional increases now expected in business taxes ($124 million) and other tax
receipts ($49 million). Projected collections from user taxes and fees have been
revised downward slightly ($5 million). Revisions were also made to both
miscellaneous receipts and in transfers from other funds (an $11 million
combined projected increase).
Disbursements through the first six months of the fiscal year were $415
million less than projected, primarily because of delays in processing payments
following delayed enactment of the State budget. As a result, no savings are
included in the Mid-Year Update from this slower-than-expected spending.
Projections of 1996-97 General Fund disbursements are increased by $120 million,
since increased General Fund disbursements for education are required to replace
a projected decrease in lottery receipts.
Revisions to all governmental funds receipts and disbursements estimates
primarily reflect changes to the General Fund and transfers between fund types.
The projected closing fund balance for all governmental funds is $623 million,
unchanged from the projection in the State Plan. The annual increase in spending
for all governmental funds remains approximately 4 percent, the same as
projected in the State Plan.
Uncertainties with regard to the economy, as well as the outcome of certain
litigation now pending against the State, could produce adverse effects on the
projections of receipts and disbursements in the Mid-Year Update. For example,
changes to current levels of interest rates or deteriorating world
eco-
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nomic conditions could have an adverse effect on the State economy and produce
results in the current fiscal year that are worse than predicted. Similarly, an
adverse judgment in legal proceedings against the State could exceed amounts
reserved in the 1996-97 Financial Plan for payment of such judgments and produce
additional unbudgeted costs to the State.
NEW YORK LOCAL GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE CORPORATION. In 1990, as part of a
state fiscal reform program, legislation was enacted creating the New York Loan
Government Assistance Corporation ("LGAC"), a public benefit corporation
empowered to issue long-term obligations to fund certain payments to local
governments traditionally funded through the State's annual seasonal borrowing.
The legislation empowered LGAC to issue bonds and notes in an amount not in
excess of $4.7 billion (exclusive of certain refunding bonds) plus certain other
amounts. Over a period of years, the issuance of those long-term obligations,
which will be amortized over no more than 30 years, is expected to result in
eliminating the need for continuing short-term seasonal borrowing for those
purposes. The legislation also imposed a cap on the annual seasonal borrowing of
the State at $4.7 billion, less net proceeds of bonds issued by LGAC, except in
cases where the Governor and the legislative leaders have certified both the
need for additional borrowing and provided a schedule for reducing it to the
cap. If borrowing above the cap is thus permitted in any fiscal year, it is
required by law to be reduced to the cap by the fourth fiscal year after the
limit was first exceeded.
As of June 30, 1995, LGAC has issued bonds and notes to provide net proceeds
of $4.7 billion completing the program. The impact of this borrowing, together
with the availability of certain cash reserves is that, for the first time in
nearly 35 years, the State Plan includes no short-term seasonal borrowing.
COMPOSITION OF STATE GOVERNMENTAL FUNDS GROUP. Substantially all State
non-pension financial operations are accounted for in the State's governmental
funds group. Governmental funds include: (i) the General Fund, which receives
all income not required by law to be deposited in another fund; (ii) Special
Revenue Funds, which receive the preponderance of moneys received by the State
from the Federal government and other income the use of which is legally
restricted to certain purposes; (iii) Capital Projects Funds, used to finance
the acquisition, construction and rehabilitation of major capital facilities by
the State and to aid in certain of such projects conducted by local governments
or public authorities; and (iv) Debt Service Funds, which are used for the
accumulation of moneys for the payment of principal of and interest on long-term
debt and to meet lease-purchase and other contractual-obligation commitments.
AUTHORITIES. The fiscal stability of the State is related to the fiscal
stability of its public authorities (i.e. public benefit corporations, created
pursuant to State law, other than local authorities), which generally have
responsibility for financing, constructing and operating revenue-producing
public benefit facilities. The State's public authorities (the "Authorities")
are not subject to the constitutional restrictions on the incurrence of debt
which apply to the State itself, and may issue bonds and notes within the
amounts of, and as otherwise restricted by, their legislative authorization. As
of September 30, 1995, there were 17 Authorities that had outstanding debt of
$100 million or more and the aggregate outstanding debt, including refunding
bonds, of these 17 Authorities was $73.45 billion.
Authorities are generally supported by revenues generated by the projects
financed or operated, such as fares, user fees on bridges or tunnels, highway
tolls and rentals for dormitory rooms and housing units and charges for
occupancy at medical care facilities. In addition, State legislation authorizes
several financing techniques for Authorities. Also, there are statutory
arrangements providing for State local assistance payments otherwise payable to
localities to be made under certain circumstances to Authorities. Although the
State has no obligation to provide additional assistance to localities whose
local assistance payments have been paid to Authorities under these
arrangements, if local assistance payments are diverted the affected localities
could seek additional State assistance. Some Authorities also receive moneys
from State appropriations to pay for the operating costs of certain of their
programs.
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RATINGS. On January 13, 1992, Standard & Poor's reduced its ratings on the
State's general obligation bonds from A to A- and, in addition, reduced its
ratings on the State's moral obligation, lease purchase, guaranteed and
contractual obligation debt. Standard & Poor's also continued its negative
rating outlook assessment on State general obligation debt. On April 26, 1993,
Standard & Poor's revised the rating outlook assessment to stable. On February
14, 1994, Standard & Poor's raised is outlook to positive and, on August 5,
1996, confirmed its A- rating. On January 6, 1992, Moody's Investors Service
reduced its ratings on outstanding limited-liability State lease purchase and
contractual obligations from A to Baa1. On July 26, 1996, Moody's Investors
Service reconfirmed its A rating on the State's general obligation long-term
indebtedness. Ratings reflect only the respective views of such organizations,
and an explanation of the significance of such ratings must be obtained from the
rating agency furnishing the same. There is no assurance that a particular
rating will continue for any given period of time or that any such rating will
not be revised downward or withdrawn entirely if, in the judgment of the agency
originally establishing the rating, circumstances so warrant. A downward
revision or withdrawal of such ratings, or either of them, may have an effect on
the market price of the State Municipal Securities in which the New York Fund
invests.
GENERAL OBLIGATION DEBT. As of March 31, 1996, the State had outstanding
approximately $5.05 billion in general obligation bonds, including $294 million
in bond anticipation notes outstanding. Principal and interest due on general
obligation bonds and interest due on bond anticipation notes were $735 million
for the 1995-96 fiscal years, and are estimated to be $719 million for the
State's 1996-97 fiscal year.
LITIGATION. The State is a defendant in numerous legal proceedings
pertaining to matters incidental to the performance of routine governmental
operations. Such litigation includes, but is not limited to, claims asserted
against the State arising from alleged torts, alleged breaches of contracts,
condemnation proceedings and other alleged violations of State and Federal laws.
These proceedings could affect adversely the financial condition of the State in
the 1996-1997 Fiscal Year or thereafter.
The State believes that the 1996-1997 State Financial Plan includes
sufficient reserves for the payment of judgments that may be required during the
1996-1997 fiscal year. There can be no assurance, however, that an adverse
decision in any of these proceedings would not exceed the amount of the
1996-1997 Financial Plan reserves for the payment of judgments and, therefore,
could affect the ability of the State to maintain a balanced 1996-1997 State
Financial Plan. In its audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended
March 31, 1996, the State reported its estimated liability for awarded and
unanticipated unfavorable judgments at $474 million.
In addition, the State is party to other claims and litigation which its
counsel has advised are not probable of adverse court decisions. Although the
amounts of potential losses, if any, are not presently determinable, it is the
State's opinion that its ultimate liability in these cases is not expected to
have a material adverse effect on the State's financial position in the
1996-1997 fiscal year or thereafter.
OTHER LOCALITIES. Certain localities in addition to the City could have
financial problems leading to requests for additional State assistance during
the State's 1996-97 fiscal year and thereafter. The potential impact on the
State of such actions by localities is not included in the projections of the
State receipts and disbursements in the State's 1995-96 fiscal year.
For example, fiscal difficulties experienced by the City of Yonkers
("Yonkers") resulted in the creation of the Financial Control Board for the City
of Yonkers (the "Yonkers Board") by the State in 1984. The Yonkers Board is
charged with oversight of the fiscal affairs of Yonkers. Future actions taken by
the Governor or the State Legislature to assist Yonkers could result in
increased state expenditures for extraordinary local assistance.
PURCHASE OF FUND SHARES
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As discussed in the Prospectus, the Fund offers its shares for sale to the
public on a continuous basis, without a sales charge. Pursuant to a Distribution
Agreement between the Fund and Dean Witter
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Distributors Inc. (the "Distributor"), an affiliate of the Investment Manager
and a wholly-owned subsidiary of DWDC, shares of the Fund are distributed by the
Distributor and through certain selected broker-dealers who have entered into
agreements with the Distributor ("Selected Broker-Dealer") at an offering price
equal to the net asset value per share next determined following receipt of an
effective purchase order (accompanied by Federal Funds). Dealers in the
securities markets in which the Fund will invest usually require immediate
payment in federal funds. Since the payment by a Fund shareholder for his or her
other shares cannot be invested until it is converted into and available to the
Fund in federal funds, the Fund requires such payments to be so available before
a share purchase order can be considered effective. All checks submitted for
payment are accepted subject to collection at full face value in United States
funds and must be drawn in United States dollars on a United States bank.
The Board of Trustees of the Fund, including a majority of the Trustees who
are not and were not at the time of their vote "Interested persons" (as defined
in the Act) of either party to the Distribution Agreement (the "Independent
Trustees"), approved, at its 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 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 will remain in effect from year to year thereafter if approved by the Board.
At their meeting held on April 17, 1996, the Trustees, including all of the
Independent Trustees, approved the most recent continuation of the Distribution
Agreement until April 30, 1997.
SHAREHOLDER INVESTMENT ACCOUNT
Upon the purchase of shares of the Fund, a Shareholder Investment Account is
opened for the investor on the books of the Fund, maintained by the Fund's
Transfer Agent, 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 directly through the Transfer Agent, the shareholder will be mailed a
written confirmation of such transaction.
DIRECT INVESTMENTS THROUGH TRANSFER AGENT. A shareholder may make
additional investments in Fund shares at any time through the Shareholder
Investment Account by sending a check payable to Dean Witter New York Municipal
Money Market Trust in any amount, not less than $100, directly to the Transfer
Agent. The shares so purchased will be credited to the Shareholder Investment
Account.
ACCOUNT STATEMENTS. All purchases of Fund shares will be credited to the
shareholder in a Shareholder Investment Account maintained for the shareholder
by the Transfer Agent in full and fractional shares of the Fund (rounded to the
nearest 1/100 of a share with the exception of purchases made through
reinvestment of dividends, which are rounded to the last 1/100 of a share). A
statement of the account will be mailed to the shareholder after each purchase
or redemption transaction effected through the Transfer Agent. A quarterly
statement of the account is sent to all shareholders. Share certificates will
not be issued unless requested in writing by the shareholder. No certificates
will be issued for fractional shares or to shareholders who have elected the
checking account or predesignated bank account methods of withdrawing cash from
their accounts.
The Fund reserves the right to reject any order for the purchase of its
shares. In addition, the offering of Fund shares may be suspended at any time
and resumed at any time thereafter.
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EXCHANGE PRIVILEGE
As discussed in the Prospectus under the caption "Exchange Privilege," an
Exchange Privilege exists whereby investors who have purchased shares of any of
the Dean Witter Funds sold with either a front-end sales charge ("FESC funds")
or a contingent deferred sales charge ("CDSC funds") will be permitted, after
the shares of the Fund acquired by purchase (not by exchange or dividend
reinvestment) have been held for thirty days, to redeem all or part of their
shares in that Fund, have the proceeds invested in shares of the Fund, Dean
Witter Liquid Asset Fund Inc., Dean Witter Tax-Free Daily Income Trust, Dean
Witter California Tax-Free Daily Income Trust, or Dean Witter U.S. Government
Money Market Trust (which five funds are called "money market funds") or Dean
Witter Short-Term U.S. Treasury Trust, Dean Witter Limited Term Municipal Trust,
Dean Witter Short-Term Bond Fund, Dean Witter Balanced Income Fund, Dean Witter
Balanced Growth Fund or Dean Witter Intermediate Term U.S. Treasury Trust (these
eleven funds, including the Fund, are collectively referred to herein as the
"Exchange Funds"). There is no waiting period for shares acquired by exchange or
dividend reinvestment. Subsequently, shares of the Exchange Funds received in an
exchange for shares of an FESC fund (regardless of the type of fund originally
purchased) may be redeemed and exchanged for shares of the Exchange Funds, FESC
funds or CDSC funds (however, shares of CDSC funds, including shares acquired in
exchange for (i) shares of FESC funds or (ii) shares of the Exchange Funds which
were acquired in exchange for shares of FESC funds, may not be exchanged for
shares of FESC funds). Additionally, shares of the Exchange Funds received in an
exchange for shares of a CDSC fund (regardless of the type of fund originally
purchased) may be redeemed and exchanged for shares of the Exchange Funds or
CDSC funds. Ultimately, any applicable contingent deferred sales charge will
have to be paid upon redemption of shares originally purchased from a CDSC 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.
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.)
When shares of any CDSC fund are exchanged for shares of the Fund or any
other Exchange Fund, the exchange is executed at no charge to the shareholder,
without the imposition of the contingent deferred sales charge ("CDSC") at the
time of the exchange. During the period of time the shareholder remains in the
Exchange Funds (calculated from the last day of the month in which the Exchange
Fund shares were reacquired), the holding period or "year since purchase payment
made" is frozen. When shares are redeemed out of the Exchange Funds, 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 of a CDSC
fund exchanged into an Exchange Fund on or after April 23, 1990, upon 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. Shareholders acquiring shares of an Exchange Fund pursuant to this
exchange privilege may exchange those shares back into a CDSC fund from the
Exchange Funds, 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. Shares of a CDSC fund acquired in exchange for shares of an FESC fund (or
in exchange for shares of other Dean Witter Funds for which shares of an FESC
fund have been exchanged) are not subject to any CDSC upon their redemption.
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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 FESC funds, or for
shares of other Dean Witter Funds for which shares of FESC funds have been
exchanged (all such shares called "Free Shares"), will be exchanged first.
Shares of Dean Witter American Value Fund acquired prior to April 30, 1984,
shares of Dean Witter Dividend Growth Securities Inc. and Dean Witter Natural
Resource Development Securities Inc. acquired prior to July 2, 1984, and shares
of Dean Witter Strategist Fund acquired prior to November 8, 1989, 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 exchange procedures described in the CDSC fund 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.
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 DWR 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, Distributor or any Selected Broker-Dealer.
Exchange Privilege accounts may also be maintained for shareholders of the
money market funds who acquired their shares in exchange for shares of various
TCW/DW Funds, a group of funds distributed by the Distributor for which TCW
Funds Management, Inc. serves as Adviser, under the terms and conditions
described in the Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information of each
TCW/DW Fund.
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 the shares of any
other fund and the general administration of the Exchange Privilege. No
commission or discounts will be paid to DWR or any Selected Broker-Dealer for
any transactions pursuant to this Exchange Privilege.
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. An exchange will be treated
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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.
Shares of the Fund acquired pursuant to the Exchange Privilege will be held
by the Fund's transfer agent in an Exchange Privilege Account distinct from any
account of the same shareholder who may have acquired shares of the Fund
directly. A shareholder of the Fund will not be permitted to make additional
investments in such Exchange Privilege Account, except through the exchange of
additional shares of the fund in which the shareholder had initially invested,
and the proceeds of any shares redeemed from such Account may not thereafter be
placed back into that Account. If such a shareholder desires to make any
additional investments in the Fund, a separate account will be maintained for
receipt of such investments. The Fund will have additional costs for account
maintenance if a shareholder has more than one account with the Fund.
The Fund also maintains Exchange Privilege Accounts for shareholders who
acquired their shares of the Fund pursuant to exchange privileges offered by
other investment companies with which the Investment Manager is not affiliated.
The Fund also expects to make available such exchange privilege accounts to
other investment companies that may hereafter be managed by the Investment
Manager.
Exchanges are subject to the minimum investment requirement and any other
conditions imposed by each fund. 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 purchases as low as $5,000) and $5,000 for the Fund,
Dean Witter Liquid Asset Fund Inc., Dean Witter Tax-Free Daily Income 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 $5,000 for Dean Witter Special Value Fund. 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 money market 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 any of the Dean Witter Funds, 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, TCW/DW North American Government Income Trust, TCW/DW
Balanced Fund and TCW/DW Income and Growth Fund, pursuant to the Exchange
Privilege, and provided further that the Exchange Privilege may be terminated or
materially revised 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.
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. 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
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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. For further
information regarding the Exchange Privilege, shareholders should contact DWR or
other selected broker-dealer account executive or the Transfer Agent.
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
In accordance with a Plan of Distribution pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the
Act between the Fund and Dean Witter Distributors Inc. (the "Distributor"), the
Distributor provides certain services in connection with the promotion of sales
of Fund shares (the "Plan" refers to the Plan and Agreement of Distribution
prior to the reorganization and to the Plan of Distribution after the
reorganization). The Plan was approved by the Board of Trustees on February 15,
1990 and by DWR as the Fund's then sole shareholder on February 16, 1990,
whereupon the Plan went into effect. The vote of the Trustees, which was cast in
person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such Plan, included a
majority of the Trustees who are not and were not at the time of their voting
interested persons of the Fund and who have and had at the time of their votes
no direct or indirect financial interest in the operation of the Plan (the
"Independent Trustees"). The Shareholders of the Fund subsequently approved the
Plan at a Special Meeting of Shareholders held on June 20, 1991.
The Plan provides that the Distributor bears the expense of all promotional
and distribution related activities on behalf of the Fund, except for expenses
that the Trustees determine to reimburse, as described below. The following
activities and services may be provided by the Distributor under the Plan: (1)
compensation to and expenses of DWR's and other Selected Broker-Dealers' account
executives and other employees, including overhead and telephone expenses; (2)
sales incentives and bonuses to sales representatives and to marketing personnel
in connection with promoting sales of the Fund's shares; (3) expenses incurred
in connection with promoting sales of the Fund's shares; (4) preparing and
distributing sales literature; and (5) providing advertising and promotional
activities, including direct mail solicitation and television, radio, newspaper,
magazine and other media advertisements.
DWR account executives are paid an annual residual commission, currently a
gross residual of up to 0.10% of the current value of the respective accounts
for which they are the account executives of record. The "gross residual" is a
charge which reflects residual commissions paid by DWR to its account executives
and DWR's expenses associated with the servicing of shareholder's accounts,
including the expenses of operating DWR's branch offices in connection with the
servicing of shareholder's accounts, which expenses include lease costs, the
salaries and employee benefits of operations and sales support personnel,
utility costs, communications costs and the costs of stationery and supplies and
other expenses relating to branch office serving of shareholder accounts.
The Fund is authorized to reimburse specific expenses incurred or to be
incurred in promoting the distribution of the Fund's shares. Reimbursement is
made through monthly payments in amounts determined in advance of each calendar
quarter by the Trustees, including a majority of the Independent Trustees. The
amount of each monthly payment may in no event exceed an amount equal to a
payment at the annual rate of 0.15 of 1% of the Fund's average daily net assets
during the month. No interest or other financing charges will be incurred for
which reimbursement payments under the Plan will be made. In addition, no
interest charges, if any, incurred on any distribution expense incurred by the
Distributor or other selected dealers pursuant to the Plan, will be reimbursable
under the Plan. In making quarterly determinations of the amounts that may be
expended by the Fund, the Investment Manager provides and the Trustees review a
quarterly budget of projected incremental distribution expenses to be incurred
on behalf of the Fund, together with a report explaining the purposes and
anticipated benefits of incurring such expenses. The Trustees determine which
particular expenses, and the portions thereof, that may be borne by the Fund,
and in making such a determination shall consider the scope of the Distributor's
commitment to promoting the distribution of the Fund's shares. The Fund
reimbursed $38,852 to the Distributor pursuant to the Plan which amounted to
0.09 of 1% of the Fund's average daily net assets for the year ended December
31, 1996. Based upon the total amounts spent by the Distributor during the
period, it is estimated that the amount paid by the Fund to the Distributor for
distribution was
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spent in approximately the following ways: (i) advertising--$-0-; (ii) printing
and mailing prospectuses to other than current shareholders--$-0-; (iii)
compensation to underwriters--$-0-; (iv) compensation to dealers--$-0-; (v)
compensation to sales personnel--$-0-; and (vi) other, which accrued for
expenses relating to compensation of sales personnel and other miscellaneous
expenses--$38,852. No payments under the Plan were made for overhead, interest,
carrying or other financing charges.
Under the Plan, the Distributor uses its best efforts in rendering services
to the Fund, but in the absence of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross
negligence or reckless disregard of its obligations, the Distributor is not
liable to the Fund or any of its shareholders for any error of judgment or
mistake of law or for any act or omission or for any losses sustained by the
Fund or its shareholders.
Continuance of the Plan until April 30, 1997 was approved by the Trustees,
including a majority of the Independent 12b-1 Trustees, at their meeting held on
April 17, 1996. In making their determination to continue the Plan until April
30, 1997, the Board of Trustees, including all of the Independent Trustees,
arrived at the conclusion that the Plan the Directors were provided at the April
17, 1996 meeting had benefitted the Fund. This conclusion was based upon the
Investment Manager's belief that the expenditures made pursuant to the Plan had
tended to arrest the decline of Fund assets by meeting the competitive efforts
of other, similar financial products, and had encouraged the account executives
employed by DWR and other Selected Broker-Dealers to increase their efforts in
selling shares of the Fund. The Board of Trustees, including the Independent
Trustees, also concluded that, in their judgment, there is a reasonable
likelihood that the Plan will continue to benefit the Fund and its shareholders.
An amendment to increase materially the maximum amount authorized to be spent
under the Plan must be approved by the shareholders of the Fund, and all
material amendments to the Plan must 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 the holders of a majority of the Independent Trustees or by
a vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund (as
defined in the Act) on not more than 30 days' written notice to any other party
to the Plan. So long as the Plan is in effect, the selection or nomination of
the Independent Trustees is committed to the discretion of the Independent
Trustees.
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 by the Fund or 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 the Investment Manager 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.
Under the Plan, the Distributor provides the Fund, for review by the
Trustees, and the Trustees review, promptly after the end of each calendar
quarter, a written report regarding the incremental distribution expenses
incurred on behalf of the Fund during such calendar quarter, which report
includes (1) an itemization of the types of expenses and the purposes therefore;
(2) the amounts of such expenses; and (3) a description of the benefits derived
by the Fund. In the Trustees' quarterly review of the Plan they consider its
continued appropriateness and the level of compensation provided therein.
No interested person of the Fund nor any 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 and Agreement except to the
extent that the Distributor, DWR, DWSC or the Investment Manager or certain of
its employees may be deemed to have such an interest as a result of benefits
derived from the successful operation of the Plan or as a result of receiving a
portion of the amounts expended thereunder by the Fund.
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HOW NET ASSET VALUE IS DETERMINED
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As discussed in the Prospectus, the net asset value of the Fund is
determined as of the close of trading on each day that the New York Stock
Exchange is open. 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.
The Fund utilizes the amortized cost method in valuing its portfolio
securities for purposes of determining the net asset value of shares of the
Fund. The Fund utilizes the amortized cost method in valuing its portfolio
securities even though the portfolio securities may increase or decrease in
market value, generally, in connection with changes in interest rates. The
amortized cost method of valuation involves valuing a security at its cost
adjusted by a constant amortization to maturity of any discount or premium,
regardless of the impact of fluctuating interest rates on the market value of
the instrument. While this method provides certainty in valuation, it may result
in periods during which value, as determined by amortized cost, is higher or
lower than the price the Fund would receive if it sold the instrument. During
such periods, the yield to investors in the Fund may differ somewhat from that
obtained in a similar company which uses mark to market values for all its
portfolio securities. For example, if the use of amortized cost resulted in a
lower (higher) aggregate portfolio value on a particular day, a prospective
investor in the Fund would be able to obtain a somewhat higher (lower) yield
than would result from investment in such a similar company and existing
investors would receive less (more) investment income. The purpose of this
method of calculation is to facilitate the maintenance of a constant net asset
value per share of $1.00.
The Fund's use of the amortized cost method to value its portfolio
securities and the maintenance of the per share net asset value of $1.00 is
permitted pursuant to Rule 2a-7 of the Act (the "Rule"), and is conditioned on
its compliance with various conditions contained in the Rule including: (a) the
Trust's Trustees are obligated, as a particular responsibility within the
overall duty of care owed to the Trust's shareholders, to establish procedures
reasonably designed, taking into account current market conditions and the
Fund's investment objective to stabilize the net asset value per share as
computed for the purpose of distribution and redemption at $1.00 per share; (b)
(i) the procedures include calculation, at such intervals as are reasonable in
light of current market conditions, of the deviation, if any between net asset
value per share using amortized cost to value portfolio securities and net asset
value per share based upon available market quotations with respect to such
portfolio securities (for the purpose of determining market value, securities as
to which the Trust has a "put" will be valued at the higher of market value or
exercise price); (ii) periodic review by the Trustees of the amount of deviation
as well as methods used to calculate it, and (iii) maintenance of written
records of the procedures, the Trustees considerations made pursuant to them and
any actions taken upon such consideration; the Trustees will consider what steps
should be taken, if any, in the event of a difference of more than 1/2 of 1%
between the two methods of valuation; and (c) the Trustees should take such
action as they deem appropriate to eliminate or reduce, to the extent reasonably
practicable, material dilution or other unfair results to investors or existing
shareholders. Such action may include: selling portfolio instruments prior to
maturity to realize capital gains or losses or to shorten the average portfolio
maturity of the Trust; withholding dividends; utilizing a net asset value per
share as determined by using available market quotations or reducing the number
of its outstanding shares. Any reduction of outstanding shares will be effected
by having each shareholder proportionately contribute to the Trust's capital a
number of shares which represent the difference between the amortized cost
valuation and market valuation of the portfolio. Each shareholder will be deemed
to have agreed to such contribution by his or her investment in the Trust.
The Rule further requires that the Fund limit its investments to U.S.
dollar-denominated instruments which the Board of Trustees determines present
minimal credit risks and which are Eligible Securities (as defined below). The
Rule also requires the Fund to maintain a dollar weighted average portfolio
maturity (not more than 90 days) appropriate to its objective of maintaining a
stable net asset value of $1.00 per share and precludes the purchase of any
instrument with a remaining maturity of more than thirteen
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months. Should the disposition of a portfolio security result in a dollar
weighted average portfolio maturity of more than 90 days, the Fund would be
required to invest its available cash in such a manner as to reduce such
maturity to 90 days or less as soon as is reasonably practicable.
At the time the Fund makes the commitment to purchase a Municipal Obligation
on a when-issued or delayed delivery basis, it will record the transaction and
thereafter reflect the value, each day, of the Municipal Obligation in
determining its net asset value. Repurchase agreements are valued at the face
value of the repurchase agreement plus any accrued interest thereon to date.
Generally, for purposes of the procedures adopted under the Rule, the
maturity of a portfolio instrument is deemed to be the period remaining
(calculated from the trade date or such other date on which the Trust's interest
in the instrument is subject to market action) until the date noted on the face
of the instrument as the date on which the principal amount must be paid, or in
the case of an instrument called for redemption, the date on which the
redemption payment must be made.
A variable rate obligation that is subject to a demand feature is deemed to
have a maturity equal to the longer of the period remaining until the next
readjustment of the interest rate or the period remaining until the principal
amount can be recovered through demand. A floating rate instrument that is
subject to a demand feature is deemed to have a maturity equal to the period
remaining until the principal amount can be recovered through demand.
An Eligible Security generally is defined in the Rule to mean (i)A security
with a remaining maturity of 397 calendar days or less that has received a
short-term rating (or that has been issued by an issuer) that has received a
short-term rating with respect to a class of debt obligations, or any debt
obligation within that class, that is comparable in priority and security with
the security) by the Requisite NRSROs in one of the two highest short-term
rating categories (within which there may be sub-categories or gradations
indicating relative standing); or (ii) A security: (A) That at the time of
issuance had a remaining maturity of more than 397 calendar days but that has a
remaining maturity of 397 calendar days or less; and (B) Whose issuer has
received from the Requisite NRSROs a rating with respect to a class of debt
obligations (or any debt obligation within that class) that is now comparable in
priority and security with the security, in one of the two highest short-term
rating categories (within which there may be sub-categories or gradations
indicating relative standing); or (iii) An unrated Security that is of
comparable quality to a security meeting the requirements of (i) or (ii) above,
as determined by the money market fund's board of directors.
As permitted by the Rule, the Board has delegated to the Trust's Investment
Manager, subject to the Board's oversight pursuant to guidelines and procedures
adopted by the Board, the authority to determine which securities present
minimal credit risks and which unrated securities are comparable in quality to
rated securities.
The Rule further requires that the Fund limit its investments to U.S.
dollar-denominated instruments which the Trustees determine present minimal
credit risks and which are Eligible Securities. The Rule also requires the Fund
to maintain a dollar-weighted average portfolio maturity (not more than 90 days)
appropriate to its objective of maintaining a stable net asset value of $1.00
per share and precludes the purchase of any instrument with a remaining maturity
of more than 397 days. Should the disposition of a portfolio security result in
a dollar-weighted average portfolio maturity of more than 90 days, the Fund will
invest its available cash in such a manner as to reduce such maturity to 90 days
or less as soon as is reasonably practicable.
If the Board determines that it is no longer in the best interests of the
Trust and its shareholders to maintain a stable price of $1.00 per share or if
the Board believes that maintaining such price no longer reflects a market-based
net asset value per share, the Board has the right to change from an amortized
cost basis of valuation to valuation based on market quotations. The Trust will
notify shareholders of any such changes.
The Fund will manage its portfolio in an effort to maintain a constant $1.00
per share price, but it cannot assure that the value of its shares will never
deviate from this price. Since dividends from net
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investment income are declared and reinvested on a daily basis, the net asset
value per share, under ordinary circumstances, is likely to remain constant.
Realized and unrealized gains and losses will not be distributed on a daily
basis but will be reflected in the Fund's net asset value. The amounts of such
gains and losses will be considered by the Board of Trustees in determining the
action to be taken to maintain the Fund's $1.00 per share net asset value. Such
action may include distribution at any time of part or all of the then
accumulated undistributed net realized capital gains, or reduction or
elimination of daily dividends by an amount equal to part or all of the then
accumulated net realized capital losses. However, if realized losses should
exceed the sum of net investment income plus realized gains on any day, the net
asset value per share on that day might decline below $1.00 per share. In such
circumstances, the Fund may reduce or eliminate the payment of daily dividends
for a period of time in an effort to restore the Fund's $1.00 per share net
asset value. A decline in prices of securities could result in significant
unrealized depreciation on a mark-to-market basis. Under these circumstances the
Fund may reduce or eliminate the payment of dividends and utilize a net asset
value per share as determined by using available market quotations or reduce the
number of its shares outstanding.
REDEMPTION OF FUND SHARES
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As discussed in the Prospectus, shares of the Fund may be redeemed or
repurchased at net asset value at any time. When a redemption is made by check
and a check is presented to the Transfer Agent for payment, the Transfer Agent
will redeem a sufficient number of full and fractional shares in the
shareholder's account to cover the amount of the check. This enables the
shareholder to continue earning daily income dividends until the check has
cleared.
A check drawn by a shareholder against his or her account in the Fund
constitutes a request for redemption of a number of shares sufficient to provide
proceeds equal to the amount of the check. Payment of the proceeds of a check
will normally be made on the next business day after receipt by the Transfer
Agent of the check in proper form. Subject to the foregoing, if a check is
presented for payment to the Transfer Agent by a shareholder or payee in person,
the Transfer Agent will make payment by means of a check drawn on the Fund's
account or, in the case of a shareholder payee, to the shareholder's
predesignated bank account, but will not make payment in cash.
The Fund reserves the right to suspend redemptions or repurchases or
postpone the date of payment (1) for any periods during which the New York Stock
Exchange is closed (other than for customary weekend and holiday closings), (2)
when trading on that Exchange is restricted or an emergency exists, as
determined by the Securities and Exchange Commission, so that disposal of the
Fund's investments or determination of the Fund's net asset value is not
reasonably practicable, or (3) for such other periods as the Commission by order
may permit for the protection of the Fund's investors.
As discussed in the Prospectus, due to the relatively high cost of handling
small investments, the Fund reserves the right to redeem, at net asset value,
the shares of any shareholder (other than shares held in an Individual
Retirement Account or custodial account under Section 403(b)(7) of the Internal
Revenue Code) whose shares due to redemptions by the shareholders have a value
of less than $1,000 or such lesser amounts as may be fixed by the Board of
Trustees. However, before the Fund redeems such shares and sends the proceeds to
the shareholder, it will notify the shareholder that the value of his or her
shares is less than $1,000 and allow him or her 60 days to make an additional
investment in an amount which will increase the value of his or her account to
$1,000 or more before the redemption is processed.
SYSTEMATIC WITHDRAWAL PLAN. As discussed in the Prospectus, a systematic
withdrawal plan is available for shareholders who own or purchase shares of the
Fund having a minimum value of $5,000, which provides for monthly or quarterly
checks in any dollar amount not less than $25 or in any whole percentage of the
account balance on an annualized basis. 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
33
<PAGE>
at their net asset value determined, at the shareholder's option, on the tenth
or twenty-fifth day (or next business day) of the relevant month or quarter and
normally a check for the proceeds will be mailed by the Transfer Agent within
five days after the date of redemption. The withdrawal plan may be terminated at
any time by the Fund.
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. 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 "Redemption of Fund Shares" in the Prospectus) at any time. If
the number of shares redeemed is greater than the number of shares paid as
dividends, such redemptions may, of course, eventually result in liquidation of
all the shares in the account. The automatic cash withdrawal method of
redemption is not available for shares held in an Exchange Privilege Account.
DIVIDENDS, DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES
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As discussed in the Prospectus, the Fund intends to declare dividends on
each day the New York Stock Exchange is open for business and distribute all of
its daily net investment income to shareholders of record as of the close of
business the preceding business day.
In computing net investment income, the Fund will amortize any premiums and
original issue discounts on securities owned, if applicable. Capital gains or
losses realized upon sale or maturity of such securities will be based on their
amortized cost.
The Fund has qualified and intends to remain qualified as a regulated
investment company under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended (the "Code"). If so qualified, the Fund will not be subject to federal
income tax on its net investment income and capital gains, if any, realized
during any fiscal year in which it distributes such income and capital gains to
its shareholders.
As discussed in the Prospectus, the Fund intends to qualify to pay
"exempt-interest dividends" to its shareholders by maintaining, as of the close
of each quarter of its taxable year, at least 50% of the value of its total
assets in tax-exempt securities. An exempt-interest dividend is that part of a
dividend distribution made by the Fund which consists of interest received by
the Fund on tax-exempt securities upon which the shareholder incurs no federal
income taxes. Exempt-interest dividends are included, however, in determining
what portion, if any, of a person's Social Security benefits are subject to
federal income tax.
The Trustees may revise the dividend policy, or postpone the payment of
dividends, if the Fund should have or anticipate any large unexpected expense,
loss or fluctuation in net assets which, in the opinion of the Trustees, might
have a significant adverse effect on shareholders. On occasion, in order to
maintain a constant $1.00 per share net asset value, the Trustees may direct
that the number of outstanding shares be reduced in each shareholder's account.
Such reduction may result in taxable income, if any, to a shareholder in excess
of the net increase (i.e., dividends, less such reductions), if any, in the
shareholder's account for a period. Furthermore, such reduction may be realized
as a capital loss when the shares are liquidated.
A number of provisions included in the Code by the Tax Reform Act of 1986
may affect the federal income tax liability of the Fund's shareholders, by
reducing the individual and corporate income tax rates and expanding the
alternative minimum tax provisions. In general, lower rates of taxation could
make tax-exempt bonds less attractive to investors and could decrease the value
of the tax-exempt securities
34
<PAGE>
held by the Fund and the net asset value of the Fund's shares. Furthermore, some
of the changes may reduce the extent to which issuers may issue tax-exempt
bonds. The Code now subjects interest received on certain otherwise tax-exempt
securities to alternative minimum tax. This alternative minimum tax would apply
to interest received on "private activity bonds" (in general, bonds that benefit
non-governmental entities) issued after August 7, 1986 which, although
tax-exempt, are used for purposes other than those generally performed by
governmental units (E.G., bonds used for commercial or housing purposes). Income
received on such bonds is classified as a "tax preference item," under the
alternative minimum tax, for both individual and corporate investors. A
substantial portion of the Fund's investments may be in such "private activity
bonds," with the result that a substantial portion of the exempt-interest
dividends paid by the Fund may be an item of tax preference to shareholders
subject to the alternative minimum tax. The Fund will report to shareholders the
portion of its dividends declared during the year which are a tax preference
item for alternative minimum tax purposes, as well as the overall percentage of
dividend distributions which constitutes exempt-interest dividends. Individual
taxpayers are generally subject to the alternative minimum tax if their "regular
tax" liability is less than 24% of their "alternative minimum taxable income"
reduced by an exemption amount ranging from $0 to $40,000 depending upon the
taxpayer's income and filing status. Alternative minimum taxable income is
generally equal to taxable income with certain adjustments and increased by
certain "tax preference items" which may include a portion of the Fund's
dividends as described above. In addition, the Code further provides that
corporations are subject to an alternative minimum tax based, in part, on 75% of
any excess of "adjusted current earnings" over taxable income as adjusted for
other tax preferences. Because an exempt-interest dividend paid by the Fund will
be included in computing adjusted current earnings, a corporate shareholder may
therefore be required to pay an increased alternative minimum tax as the result
of receiving exempt-interest dividends paid by the Fund.
The Code provides that every person required to file a tax return must
include on such return the amount of exempt-interest dividends received from the
Fund during the taxable year.
The I Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986 (the "I Act") imposes a
deductible tax on a corporation's alternative minimum taxable income (computed
without regard to the alternative tax net operating loss deduction) at a rate of
$12 per $10,000 (0.12%) of alternative minimum taxable income in excess of
$2,000,000. The tax will be imposed for taxable years beginning after December
31, 1986 and before January 1, 1996. The tax will be imposed even if the
corporation is not required to pay an alternative minimum tax because the
corporation's regular income tax liability exceeds its minimum tax liability.
Exempt-interest dividends paid by the Fund that create alternative minimum tax
preferences for corporate shareholders under the Code (as described above) may
be subject to the tax.
Within 60 days after the end of its fiscal year, the Fund will mail to
shareholders a statement indicating the percentage of the dividend distributions
for such fiscal year which constitutes exempt-interest dividends and the
percentage, if any, that is taxable, and to what extent the taxable portion is
short-term capital gains or ordinary income. This percentage should be applied
uniformly to all monthly distributions made during the fiscal year to determine
what proportion of the dividends paid is tax-exempt. The percentage may differ
from the percentage of tax-exempt dividend distributions for any particular
month.
Shareholders will be subject to federal income tax on dividends paid from
interest income derived from taxable securities and on distributions of net
short-term capital gains. Such interest and realized net short-term capital
gains dividends and distributions are taxable to the shareholder as ordinary
dividend income regardless of whether the shareholder receives such
distributions in additional shares or in cash. Distributions of long-term
capital gains, if any, are taxable as long-term capital gains, regardless of how
long the shareholder has held the Fund shares and regardless of whether the
distribution is received in additional shares or cash. Since the Fund's income
is expected to be derived entirely from interest rather than dividends, it is
anticipated that none of such dividend distributions will be eligible for the
federal dividends received deduction available to corporations.
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Any loss on the sale or exchange of shares of the Fund which are held for 6
months or less is disallowed to the extent of the amount of any exempt-interest
dividend paid with respect to such shares. Treasury Regulations may provide for
a reduction in such required holding periods.
The Code requires each regulated investment company to pay a nondeductible
4% excise tax to the extent the company does not distribute, during each
calendar year, 98% of its ordinary income, determined on a calendar year basis,
and 98% of its capital gains, determined in general on an October 31 year end,
plus certain undistributed amounts from previous years. The required
distributions, however, are based only on the taxable income of a regulated
investment company. The excise tax, therefore, will generally not apply to the
tax-exempt income of a regulated investment company such as the Trust that pays
exempt-interest dividends. The Fund anticipates that it will make sufficient
timely distributions to avoid imposition of the excise tax.
Interest on indebtedness incurred or continued by a shareholder to purchase
or carry shares of the Fund is not deductible. Furthermore, entities or persons
who are "substantial users" (or related persons) of facilities financed by
industrial development bonds should consult their tax advisers before purchasing
shares of the Fund. "Substantial user" is defined generally by Income Tax
Regulation 1.103-11(b) as including a "non-exempt person" who regularly uses in
trade or business a part of a facility financed from the proceeds of industrial
development bonds.
From time to time, proposals have been introduced before Congress for the
purpose of restricting or eliminating the federal income tax exemption for
interest on municipal securities. Similar proposals may be introduced in the
future. If such a proposal were enacted, the availability of municipal
securities for investment by the Fund could be affected. In that event, the Fund
would re-evaluate its investment objective and policies.
To the extent that dividends are derived from interest on New York
tax-exempt securities, such dividends will also be exempt from New York State
and City personal income taxes. Interest on indebtedness incurred or continued
to purchase or carry shares of an investment company paying exempt-interest
dividends, such as the Fund, may not be deductible by the investor for State or
City personal income tax purposes.
The foregoing relates to federal income taxation and to New York State and
City personal income taxation as in effect as of the date of the Prospectus.
Distributions from investment income and capital gains, including
exempt-interest dividends, may be subject to New York franchise taxes if
received by a corporation doing business in New York, to state taxes in states
other than New York and to local taxes.
Shareholders are urged to consult their attorneys or tax advisers regarding
specific questions as to federal, state or local taxes.
INFORMATION ON COMPUTATION OF YIELD
The Fund's current yield for the seven days ending December 31, 1996, was
2.92%. The effective annual yield on December 31, 1996, was 2.96% assuming daily
compounding.
The Fund's annualized current yield, as may be quoted from time to time in
advertisements and other communications to shareholders and potential investors,
is computed by determining, for a stated seven-day period, the net change,
exclusive of capital changes and including the value of additional shares
purchased with dividends and any dividends declared therefrom (which reflect
deductions of all expenses of the Fund such as management fees), in the value of
a hypothetical pre-existing account having a balance of one share at the
beginning of the period, and dividing the difference by the value of the account
at the beginning of the base period to obtain the base period return, and then
multiplying the base period return by (365/7).
The Fund's annualized effective yield, as may be quoted from time to time in
advertisements and other communications to shareholders and potential investors,
is computed by determining (for the same stated seven-day period as for the
current yield), the net change, exclusive of capital changes and including the
value of additional shares purchased with dividends and any dividends declared
therefrom
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<PAGE>
(which reflect deductions of all expenses of the Fund such as management fees),
in the value of a hypothetical pre-existing account having a balance of one
share at the beginning of the period, and dividing the difference by the value
of the account at the beginning of the base period to obtain the base period
return, and then compounding the base period return by adding 1, raising the sum
to a power equal to 365 divided by 7, and subtracting 1 from the result.
The yields quoted in any advertisement or other communication should not be
considered a representation of the yields of the Fund in the future since the
yield is not fixed. Actual yields will depend not only on the type, quality and
maturities of the investments held by the Fund and changes in interest rates on
such investments, but also on changes in the Fund's expenses during the period.
Yield information may be useful in reviewing the performance of the Fund and
for providing a basis for comparison with other investment alternatives.
However, unlike bank deposits or other investments which typically pay a fixed
yield for a stated period of time, the Fund's yield fluctuates.
Based upon a combined Federal and New York personal income tax bracket of
44.70%, the Fund's tax-equivalent yield for the seven days ending December 31,
1996, was 5.28%.
Tax-equivalent yield is computed by dividing that portion of the current
yield (calculated as described above) which is tax-exempt by 1 minus a stated
tax rate and adding the quotient to that portion, if any, of the yield of the
Fund that is not tax-exempt. The Fund may also advertise the growth of
hypothetical investments of $10,000, $50,000 and $100,000 in shares of the Fund
by adding the sum of all distributions on 10,000, 50,000 or 100,000 shares of
the Fund since inception to $10,000, $50,000 and $100,000, as the case may be.
Investments of $10,000, $50,000 and $100,000 in the Fund at inception would have
grown to $12,013, $60,065 and $120,130, respectively, at December 31, 1996.
DESCRIPTION OF SHARES
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The shareholders of the Fund are entitled to a full vote for each full share
of beneficial interest held. The Fund is authorized to issue an unlimited number
of shares of beneficial interest. 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,
most recently at a Special Meeting of Shareholders held on January 12, 1993.
Messrs. Bozic, Purcell and Schroeder were elected by the other Trustees of the
Fund on April 8, 1994. The Trust shall be of unlimited duration subject to the
provisions in the Declaration of Trust concerning termination by action of the
shareholders or the Trustees.
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 own bad faith,
willful misfeasance, gross negligence, or reckless disregard of his 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.
CUSTODIAN AND TRANSFER AGENT
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The Bank of New York, 90 Washington Street, New York, New York, 10286 is the
Custodian of the Fund's assets. Any of the Fund's cash balances 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 Dean Witter Distributors Inc., the Fund's
Distributor. As Transfer Agent and Dividend
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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 prospectuses 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 from the Fund.
INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
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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.
REPORTS TO SHAREHOLDERS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Fund will send to shareholders, at least semi-annually, reports showing
the Fund's portfolio and other information. An annual report containing
financial statements audited by independent accountants will be sent to
shareholders each year.
The Fund's fiscal year ends on December 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
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Barry Fink, Esq., who is an officer and the General Counsel of the
Investment Manager, is an officer and the General Counsel of the Fund.
EXPERTS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The financial statements of the Fund included in the Prospectus and
incorporated by reference in the Statement of Additional Information 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
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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.
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The audited financial statements of the Fund for the year ended December 31,
1996, and the report of the independent accountants thereon, are set forth in
the Fund's Prospectus, and are incorporated herein by reference.
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APPENDIX
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RATINGS OF INVESTMENTS
MOODY'S INVESTORS SERVICE INC. ("MOODY'S")
MUNICIPAL 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 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.
Ba Bonds which are rated Ba are judged to have speculative elements; their
future cannot be considered as well assured. Often the protection of
interest and principal payments may be very moderate, and therefore not
well safeguarded during both good and bad times in the future. Uncertainty
of position characterizes bonds in this class.
B Bonds which are rated B generally lack characteristics of the desirable
investment. Assurance of interest and principal payments or of maintenance
of other terms of the contract over any long period of time may be small.
Caa Bonds which are rated Caa are of poor standing. Such issues may be in
default or there may be present elements of danger with respect to
principal or interest.
Ca Bonds which are rated Ca present obligations which are speculative in a
high degree. Such issues are often in default or have other marked
shortcomings.
C Bonds which are rated C are the lowest rated class of bonds, and issues so
rated can be regarded as having extremely poor prospects of ever attaining
any real investment standing.
CONDITIONAL RATING: Bonds for which the security depends upon the
completion of some act or the fulfillment of some condition are rated
conditionally. These bonds secured by (a) earnings of projects under
construction, (b) earnings of projects unseasoned in operation experience, (c)
rentals which begin when facilities are completed or (d) payments to which some
other limiting condition attaches. Parenthetical rating denotes probable credit
stature upon completion of construction or elimination of basis of condition.
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RATING REFINEMENTS: Moody's may apply numerical modifiers, 1, 2, and 3 in
each generic rating classification from Aa through B in its 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.
MUNICIPAL NOTE RATINGS
Moody's ratings for state and municipal note and other short-term loans are
designated Moody's Investment Grade (MIG). MIG 1 denotes best quality and means
there is present strong protection from established cash flows, superior
liquidity support or demonstrated broad-based access to the market for
refinancing. MIG 2 denotes high quality and means that margins of protection are
ample although not as large as in MIG 1. MIG 3 denotes favorable quality and
means that all security elements are accounted for but that the undeniable
strength of the previous grades, MIG 1 and MIG 2, is lacking. MIG 4 denotes
adequate quality and means that the protection commonly regarded as required of
an investment security is present and that while the notes are not distinctly or
predominantly speculative, there is specific risk.
VARIABLE RATE DEMAND OBLIGATIONS
A short-term rating, in addition to the Bond or MIG ratings, designated VMIG
may also be assigned to an issue having a demand feature. The assignment of the
VMIG symbol reflects such characteristics as payment upon periodic demand rather
than fixed maturity dates and payment relying on external liquidity. The VMIG
rating criteria are identical to the MIG Criteria discussed above.
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. These ratings apply to Municipal Commercial Paper as well as
taxable Commercial Paper. Moody's employs the following three designations, all
judged to be investment grade, to indicate the relative repayment capacity of
rated issuers: Prime-1, Prime-2, Prime-3.
Issuers rated Prime-1 have a superior capacity for repayment of short-term
promissory obligations. Issuers rated Prime-2 have a strong capacity for
repayment of short-term promissory obligations; and Issuers rated Prime-3 have
an acceptable capacity for repayment of short-term promissory obligations.
Issuers rated Not Prime do not fall within any of the Prime rating categories.
STANDARD & POOR'S CORPORATION ("STANDARD & POOR'S")
MUNICIPAL BOND RATINGS
A Standard & Poor's municipal 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 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.
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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.
BB Debt rated "BB" has less near-term vulnerability to default than other
speculative grade debt. However, it faces major ongoing uncertainties or
exposure to adverse business, financial or economic conditions which would
lead to inadequate capacity or willingness to pay interest and repay
principal.
B Debt rated "B" has a greater vulnerability to default but presently has
the capacity to meet interest payments and principal repayments. Adverse
business, financial or economic conditions would likely impair capacity or
willingness to pay interest and repay principal.
CCC Debt rated "CCC" has a current identifiable vulnerability to default, and
is dependent upon favorable business, financial and economic conditions to
meet timely payments of interest and repayments of principal. In the event
of adverse business, financial or economic conditions, it is not likely to
have the capacity to pay interest and repay principal.
CC The rating "CC" is typically applied to debt subordinated to senior debt
which is assigned an actual or implied "CCC" rating.
C The rating "C" is typically applied to debt subordinated to senior debt
which is assigned an actual or implied "CCC-" debt rating.
CI The rating "CI" is reserved for income bonds on which no interest is being
paid.
NR Indicates that no rating has been requested, that there is insufficient
information on which to base a rating or that Standard & Poor's does not
rate a particular type of obligation as a matter of policy.
Bonds rated "BB", "B", "CCC", "CC" and "C" are regarded as having
predominantly speculative characteristics with respect to capacity to pay
interest and repay principal. "BB" indicates the least degree of
speculation and "C" the highest degree of speculation. While such debt
will likely have some quality and protective characteristics, these are
outweighed by large uncertainties or major risk exposures to adverse
conditions.
PLUS (+) OR MINUS (-): The ratings from "AA" to "CCC" may be modified by
the addition of a plus or minus sign to show relative standing with the
major ratings categories.
The foregoing ratings are sometimes followed by a "p" which indicates that
the rating is provisional. A provisional rating assumes the successful
completion of the project being financed by the bonds being rated and
indicates that payment of debt service requirements is largely or entirely
dependent upon the successful and timely completion of the project. This
rating, however, while addressing credit quality subsequent to completion
of the project, makes no comment on the likelihood or risk of default upon
failure of such completion.
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MUNICIPAL NOTE RATINGS
Commencing on July 27, 1984, Standard & Poor's instituted a new rating
category with respect to certain municipal note issues with a maturity of less
than three years. The new note ratings denote the following:
SP-1 denotes a very strong or strong capacity to pay principal and interest.
Issues determined to possess overwhelming safety characteristics are given
a plus (+) designation (SP-1+).
SP-2 denotes a satisfactory capacity to pay principal and interest.
SP-3 denotes a speculative capacity to pay principal and interest.
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.
Ratings are applicable to both taxable and tax-exempt commercial paper. The
categories are as follows:
Issuers 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.
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