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LATIN AMERICAN
GROWTH FUND
PROSPECTUS
MARCH 31, 1997
TCW/DW Latin American Growth Fund (the "Fund") is an open-end, non-diversified
management investment company, whose investment objective is long-term capital
appreciation. The Fund seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing
primarily in equity securities of Latin American issuers. The Fund may invest up
to 35% of its total assets in high risk debt securities which are unrated or
rated below investment grade. Investments in Latin America involve certain
special risk factors and therefore may not be suitable for all investors.
Shares of the Fund are continuously offered at net asset value without the
imposition of a sales charge. However, repurchases and/or redemptions are
subject in most cases to a contingent deferred sales charge, scaled down from 5%
to 1% of the amount redeemed, if made within six years of purchase, which charge
will be paid to the Fund's Distributor, Dean Witter Distributors Inc. See
"Repurchases and Redemptions--Contingent Deferred Sales Charge." In addition,
the Fund pays the Distributor a Rule 12b-1 distribution fee pursuant to a Plan
of Distribution at the annual rate of 1% of the lesser of the (i) average daily
aggregate net sales or (ii) average daily net assets of the Fund. See "Purchase
of Fund Shares--Plan of Distribution."
This Prospectus sets forth concisely the information you should know before
investing in the Fund. It should be read and retained for future reference.
Additional information about the Fund is contained in the Statement of
Additional Information, dated March 31, 1997, which has been filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, and which is available at no charge upon
request of the Fund at the address or telephone numbers listed on this page. The
Statement of Additional Information is incorporated herein by reference.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Prospectus Summary 2
Summary of Fund Expenses 4
Financial Highlights 5
The Fund and its Management 5
Investment Objective and Policies 6
Risk Considerations 8
Investment Restrictions 12
Purchase of Fund Shares 13
Shareholder Services 14
Repurchases and Redemptions 16
Dividends, Distributions and Taxes 18
Performance Information 18
Additional Information 19
SHARES OF THE FUND ARE NOT DEPOSITS OR OBLIGATIONS OF, OR GUARANTEED OR ENDORSED
BY, ANY BANK, AND THE SHARES ARE NOT FEDERALLY INSURED BY THE FEDERAL DEPOSIT
INSURANCE CORPORATION, THE FEDERAL RESERVE BOARD, OR ANY OTHER AGENCY.
TCW/DW LATIN AMERICAN
GROWTH FUND
Two World Trade Center
New York, New York 10048
(212) 392-2550 or
(800) 526-3143
Dean Witter Distributors Inc.
Distributor
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.
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PROSPECTUS SUMMARY
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THE The Fund is organized as a trust, commonly known as a Massachusetts business trust,
FUND and is an open- end, non-diversified management investment company investing primarily
in equity securities of Latin American issuers.
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SHARES Shares of beneficial interest with $0.01 par value (see page 19). The Fund may in the
OFFERED future suspend the offering of its shares from time to time as may be consistent with
prudent portfolio management.
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OFFERING At net asset value without sales charge (see page 13). Shares redeemed within six
PRICE years of purchase are subject to a contingent deferred sales charge under most
circumstances (see page 16).
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MINIMUM The minimum initial investment is $1,000 ($100 if the account is opened through
PURCHASE EasyInvest-SM-) and the minimum subsequent investment is $100 (see page 13).
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INVESTMENT The investment objective of the Fund is long-term capital appreciation.
OBJECTIVE
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MANAGER Dean Witter Services Company Inc. (the "Manager"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Dean
Witter InterCapital Inc. ("InterCapital"), is the Fund's Manager. The Manager also
serves as Manager to thirteen other TCW/DW Funds. The Manager and InterCapital serve
in various investment management, advisory, management and administrative capacities
to a total of 102 investment companies and other portfolios with assets of
approximately $93 billion at February 28, 1997.
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ADVISER TCW Funds Management, Inc. (the "Adviser") is the Fund's investment adviser. In
addition to the Fund, the Adviser serves as investment adviser to thirteen other
TCW/DW Funds. As of February 28, 1997, the Adviser and its affiliates had over $50
billion under management or committed to management in various fiduciary or advisory
capacities, primarily from institutional investors.
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MANAGEMENT The Manager receives a monthly fee at the annual rate of 0.75% of daily net assets,
AND ADVISORY scaled down to 0.72% on assets over $500 million. The Adviser receives a monthly fee
FEES at an annual rate of 0.50% of daily net assets, scaled down to 0.048% on assets over
$500 million (see page 5).
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DIVIDENDS Income dividends and capital gains, if any, will be distributed no less than annually.
Dividends and capital gains distributions are automatically reinvested in additional
shares at net asset value unless the shareholder elects to receive cash (see page 18).
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DISTRIBUTOR Dean Witter Distributors Inc. (the "Distributor") is the distributor of the Fund's
shares. The Distributor receives from the Fund a distribution fee accrued daily and
payable monthly at the rate of 1% per annum of the lesser of (i) the Fund's average
daily aggregate net sales or (ii) the Fund's average daily net assets. This fee
compensates the Distributor for the services provided in distributing shares of the
Fund and for sales-related expenses. The Distributor also receives the proceeds of any
contingent deferred sales charges (see pages 13 and 16).
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REDEMPTION-- Shares are redeemable by the shareholder at net asset value. An account may be
CONTINGENT redeemed involuntarily if the total value of the account is less than $100 or, if the
DEFERRED account was opened through EasyInvest, if after twelve months the shareholder has
SALES CHARGE invested less than $1,000 in the account. Although no commission or sales load is
imposed upon the purchase of shares, a contingent deferred sales charge (scaled down
from 5% to 1%) is imposed on any redemption of shares if after such redemption the
aggregate current value of an account with the Fund falls below the aggregate amount
of the investor's purchase payments made during the six years preceding the
redemption. However, there is no charge imposed on redemption of shares purchased
through reinvestment of dividends or distributions (see page 16).
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RISK The net asset value of the Fund's shares will fluctuate with changes in the market
CONSIDERATIONS value of the Fund's portfolio securities. It should be recognized that the foreign
securities and markets in which the Fund invests pose different and greater risks than
those customarily associated with domestic securities and their markets, including (i)
the risks generally associated with international investments, such as fluctuations in
foreign currency exchange rates, (ii) the risks of investing in countries with
smaller, less developed capital markets, such as limited liquidity, price volatility,
custodial settlement issues and restrictions on foreign investment, and (iii) the
risks associated with Latin American economies, including high levels of inflation,
large amounts of debt and political and social uncertainties, such as the risk of
expropriation, nationalization or confiscation of the Fund's assets or the imposition
of restrictions on foreign investment or the repatriation of capital invested. In
addition, Latin American securities markets are subject to non-uniform corporate
disclosure standards and governmental regulation which may lead to less publicly
available and less reliable information concerning Latin American issuers than is
generally the case for U.S. issuers (see page 8). The Fund may invest in securities
issued by foreign investment companies, which may result in additional costs to the
Fund. The Fund is a non-diversified investment company and, as such, is not subject to
the diversification requirements of the Investment Company Act of 1940. As a result, a
relatively high percentage of the Fund's assets may be invested in a limited number of
issuers. However, the Fund intends to continue to qualify as a regulated investment
company under the federal income tax laws and, as such, is subject to the
diversification requirements of the Internal Revenue Code (see page 11). The Fund may
invest in lower rated or unrated sovereign debt of Latin American countries or debt
securities of Latin American issuers, which involves a high degree of risk (see page
8). The Fund also may engage in options and futures transactions and may purchase
securities on a when-issued, delayed delivery or "when, as and if issued" basis, which
may involve certain additional risks (see pages 11-12).
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THE ABOVE IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY THE DETAILED INFORMATION APPEARING
ELSEWHERE
IN THIS PROSPECTUS AND IN THE STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
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SUMMARY OF FUND EXPENSES
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The following table illustrates all expenses and fees that a shareholder of the
Fund will incur. The expenses and fees set forth in the table are for the fiscal
year ended January 31, 1997.
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SHAREHOLDER TRANSACTION EXPENSES
Maximum Sales Charge Imposed on Purchases......... None
Maximum Sales Charge Imposed on Reinvested
Dividends........................................ None
Deferred Sales Charge
(as a percentage of the lesser of original
purchase price or redemption proceeds)........... 5.0%
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A contingent deferred sales charge is imposed at the following declining rates:
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YEAR SINCE PURCHASE PAYMENT MADE PERCENTAGE
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First............................................. 5.0%
Second............................................ 4.0%
Third............................................. 3.0%
Fourth............................................ 2.0%
Fifth............................................. 2.0%
Sixth............................................. 1.0%
Seventh and thereafter............................ None
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Redemption Fees................................... None
Exchange Fee...................................... None
ANNUAL FUND OPERATING EXPENSES (AS A PERCENTAGE OF
AVERAGE NET ASSETS)
Management and Advisory Fees...................... 1.25%
12b-1 Fees*....................................... 1.00%
Other Expenses.................................... 0.53%
Total Fund Operating Expenses..................... 2.78%
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* A portion of the 12b-1 fee equal to 0.25% of the Fund's average daily net
assets is characterized as a service fee within the meaning of National
Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. ("NASD") guidelines (see "Purchase
of Fund Shares").
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EXAMPLE 1 YEAR 3 YEARS 5 YEARS YEARS
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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:......................................... $78 $116 $167 $311
You would pay the following expenses on the same
investment, assuming no redemption.............. $28 $ 86 $147 $311
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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," "Plan of Distribution" and "Repurchases and
Redemptions" in this Prospectus.
Long-term shareholders of the Fund may pay more in sales charges and
distribution fees than the economic equivalent of the maximum front-end sales
charges permitted by the NASD.
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FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
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The following ratios and per share data for a share of beneficial interest
outstanding throughout each period have been audited by Price Waterhouse LLP,
independent accountants. The financial highlights should be read in conjunction
with the financial statements, notes thereto, and the unqualified report of
independent accountants which are contained in the Statement of Additional
Information. Further information about the performance of the Fund is contained
in the Fund's Annual Report to Shareholders, which may be obtained without
charge upon request to the Fund.
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FOR THE PERIOD
DECEMBER 30, 1992*
FOR THE YEAR ENDED JANUARY 31, THROUGH
1997 1996 1995 1994 JANUARY 31, 1993
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PER SHARE OPERATING PERFORMANCE:
Net asset value, beginning of period....... $ 9.48 $ 9.35 $ 16.05 $ 9.56 $ 10.00
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Net investment loss...................... (0.04) (0.06) (0.17) (0.04) (0.01)
Net realized and unrealized gain
(loss).................................. 2.03 0.19 (6.21) 6.68 (0.43)
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Total from investment operations........... 1.99 0.13 (6.38) 6.64 (0.44)
Less distributions from net realized
gain...................................... -- -- (0.32) (0.15) --
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Net asset value, end of period............. $11.47 $9.48 $9.35 $16.05 $9.56
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TOTAL INVESTMENT RETURN+..................... 20.99% 1.39% (40.12)% 69.49% (4.30)%(1)
RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET ASSETS:
Expenses................................... 2.78% 2.98% 2.87% 2.89% 3.08%(2)
Net investment loss........................ (0.29)% (0.61)% (1.46)% (0.90)% (1.08)%(2)
SUPPLEMENTAL DATA:
Net assets, end of period, in thousands.... $ 270,843 $ 261,066 $ 294,774 $ 325,956 $ 69,611
Portfolio turnover rate.................... 29% 64% 145% 111% 1%(1)
Average commission rate paid............... $ 0.0002 -- -- -- --
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* COMMENCEMENT OF OPERATIONS.
+ DOES NOT REFLECT THE DEDUCTION OF SALES CHARGE. CALCULATED BASED ON THE NET
ASSET VALUE AS OF LAST BUSINESS DAY OF THE PERIOD.
(1) NOT ANNUALIZED.
(2) ANNUALIZED.
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THE FUND AND ITS MANAGEMENT
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TCW/DW Latin American Growth Fund (the "Fund") is an open-end, non-diversified
management investment company. The Fund is a trust of the type commonly known as
a "Massachusetts business trust" and was organized under the laws of
Massachusetts on February 25, 1992.
Dean Witter Services Company Inc. (the "Manager"), whose address is Two
World Trade Center, New York, New York 10048, is the Fund's Manager. The Manager
is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Dean Witter InterCapital Inc. ("InterCapital").
InterCapital 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.
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 Manager acts as manager to thirteen other TCW/ DW Funds. The Manager and
InterCapital serve in various investment management, advisory, management and
administrative capacities to a total of 102 investment companies, thirty of
which are listed on the New York Stock Exchange, with combined assets of
approximately $89.8 billion as of February 28, 1997. InterCapital also manages
and advises portfolios of pension plans, other institutions and individuals
which aggregated approximately $3.2 billion at such date.
The Fund has retained the Manager to manage its business affairs, supervise
its overall day-to-day operations (other than providing investment advice) and
provide all administrative services.
TCW Funds Management, Inc. (the "Adviser"), whose address is 865 South
Figueroa Street, Suite 1800, Los Angeles, California 90017, is the Fund's
investment adviser. The
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Adviser was organized in 1987 as a wholly-owned subsidiary of The TCW Group,
Inc. ("TCW"), whose subsidiaries, including Trust Company of the West and TCW
Asset Management Company, provide a variety of trust, investment management and
investment advisory services. Robert A. Day, who is Chairman of the Board of
Directors of TCW, may be deemed to be a control person of the Adviser by virtue
of the aggregate ownership by Mr. Day and his family of more than 25% of the
outstanding voting stock of TCW. The Adviser serves as investment adviser to
thirteen other TCW/DW Funds in addition to the Fund. As of February 28, 1997,
the Adviser and its affiliated companies had over $50 billion under management
or committed to management, primarily from institutional investors.
The Fund has retained the Adviser to invest the Fund's assets.
The Fund's Trustees review the various services provided by the Manager and
the Adviser to ensure that the Fund's general investment policies and programs
are being properly carried out and that administrative services are being
provided to the Fund in a satisfactory manner.
As full compensation for the services and facilities furnished to the Fund
and for expenses of the Fund assumed by the Manager, the Fund pays the Manager
monthly compensation calculated daily by applying the annual rate of 0.75% to
the Fund's net assets up to $500 million, scaled down to 0.72% on assets over
$500 million. As compensation for its investment advisory services, the Fund
pays the Adviser monthly compensation calculated daily by applying an annual
rate of 0.50% to the Fund's net assets up to $500 million, scaled down to 0.48%
on assets over $500 million. For the fiscal year ended January 31, 1997, the
Fund accrued total compensation to the Manager and the Adviser amounting to
0.75% and 0.50%, respectively, of the Fund's average daily net assets. During
that period, the Fund's expenses amounted to 2.78% of the Fund's average daily
net assets.
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE AND POLICIES
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The investment objective of the Fund is long-term capital appreciation. This
objective is fundamental and may not be changed without shareholder approval.
There is no assurance that the objective will be achieved.
The Fund seeks to achieve its objective by investing under normal
circumstances at least 65% of its total assets in equity securities of Latin
American issuers (as described below). Securities will be selected on the basis
of their potential for capital appreciation based on an evaluation of their
prospects for earnings growth; current dividend income will not be a factor. The
Fund may also invest up to 35% of its total assets under normal circumstances in
Latin American convertible securities, Latin American debt securities (as
described below) of governmental and corporate issuers, denominated in U.S.
dollars or in local currencies, including debt obligations issued or guaranteed
by Latin American governmental entities.
In its investment strategy, the Adviser primarily adopts a top-down
approach, beginning with an evaluation of the country in which the proposed
investment is to be made, including relevant external developments and their
implications. Following the country level of review, investments in specific
securities will be made after completion of a fundamental analysis of
securities, industries and companies by the Adviser, including consideration of
liquidity, market capitalization, a company's existing and expected future
financial position, relative competitive position in the domestic and export
markets, technology, recent developments and profitability, together with
overall growth prospects. Other considerations include management expertise,
government regulation and costs of labor and raw materials.
For purposes of this Prospectus, equity securities of Latin American issuers
are defined as follows: (a) equity securities of companies organized in a
country in Latin America or for which the principal trading market (the exchange
or over-the-counter market in which the largest portion of the shares of the
company's securities is traded) is located in Latin America, (b) equity
securities of companies that derive at least 50% of their revenues from either
goods produced or services performed in Latin America or sales made in Latin
America, and (c) equity securities in the form of depositary shares listed on
securities exchanges or traded in other regulated markets in the United States.
In addition, the Fund may invest up to 35% of its total assets in debt
securities of Latin American issuers, which consist of: (a) debt securities of
companies organized in a country in Latin America or for which the principal
trading market is located in Latin America, (b) debt securities issued or
guaranteed by the government of a country in Latin America, its agencies or
instrumentalities, or the central bank of such country ("Sovereign Debt"), (c)
debt securities denominated in a Latin American currency issued by companies to
finance operations in Latin America and (d) debt securities of companies that
derive at least 50% of their revenues from either goods produced or services
performed in Latin America or sales made in Latin America. The Fund may consider
investment companies to be located in the country or countries in which they
primarily make their portfolio investments.
The Fund defines Latin America to consist of the following countries:
Argentina, the Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia,
Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, French Guinea, Guatemala,
Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, the Netherlands Antilles, Nicaragua,
Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay and Venezuela.
The Fund's assets will be allocated among the countries in Latin America in
accordance with the Adviser's judgment
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as to where the best investment opportunities exist. Currently, except when the
Fund has adopted a defensive position, it will invest its assets among at least
three Latin American countries at all times.
The Fund intends its portfolio of Latin American securities to consist
primarily of equity securities. Latin American equity securities in which the
Fund invests consist predominantly of common stock and preferred stock of
established companies listed on a recognized securities exchange or traded in
other regulated markets, although the Fund may also invest to a limited extent
in convertible securities, warrants and stock rights. For a discussion of the
risks of such securities, see "Risk Considerations" below.
The Fund may invest in securities of Latin American issuers in the form of
American Depository Receipts ("ADRs") or other similar securities, such as
American Depository Shares and Global Depository Shares, convertible into
securities of foreign issuers. These securities may not necessarily be
denominated in the same currency as the securities into which they may be
converted. ADRs are receipts typically issued by a United States bank or trust
company evidencing ownership of the underlying securities. Generally, ADRs, in
registered form, are designed for use in United States securities markets. As a
result of the absence of established securities markets and publicly-owned
corporations in certain Latin American countries, as well as restrictions on
direct investment by foreign entities, the Fund may be able to invest in such
countries solely or primarily through ADRs or similar securities and government
approved investment vehicles. For example, due to Chile's current investment
restrictions (in most cases capital invested directly in Chile cannot be
repatriated for at least one year), the Fund's investments in Chile primarily
will be through investment in ADRs and established Chilean investment companies
not subject to repatriation restrictions.
The governments of some Latin American countries, to varying degrees, have
been engaged in programs of selling part or all of their stakes in
government-owned or government-controlled enterprises ("privatizations"). The
Adviser believes that privatizations may offer investors opportunities for
significant capital appreciation and invests assets of the Fund in
privatizations in appropriate circumstances. In certain Latin American
countries, the ability of foreign persons, such as the Fund, to participate in
privatizations may be limited by local law, or the terms on which the Fund may
be permitted to participate may be less advantageous than those for local
investors. There can be no assurance that privatization programs will continue
or be successful.
INVESTMENTS IN DEBT AND CONVERTIBLE SECURITIES. As stated above, the Fund
may invest up to 35% of its total assets in Latin American convertible
securities and debt securities of governmental and corporate issuers,
denominated in U.S. dollars or local currencies. The Fund may seek capital
appreciation through investment in debt securities, such as may occur through
favorable changes in relative foreign exchange rates, in relative interest rate
levels or in creditworthiness of issuers. The Fund may also invest in debt
securities on a limited basis in order to participate in debt-to-equity
conversion programs sponsored by certain Latin American countries, or in order
to participate in corporate reorganizations. Latin American debt securities that
the Fund may acquire include bonds, notes and debentures of any maturity of
Latin American governments, obligations of such governments' agencies,
instrumentalities and central banks and of banks and other companies of Latin
American countries, determined by the Adviser to be suitable investments for the
Fund. In addition to the specific risks regarding Latin American securities and
lower rated debt securities described below, in general the value of debt
securities tends to increase during periods of declining interest rates and
decrease during periods of rising interest rates.
A convertible security is a bond, debenture, note, preferred stock or other
security that may be converted into or exchanged for a prescribed amount of
common stock of the same or a different issuer within a particular period of
time at a specified price or formula. Convertible securities rank senior to
common stocks in a corporation's capital structure and, therefore, entail less
risk than the corporation's common stock. The value of a convertible security is
a function of its "investment value" (its value as if it did not have a
conversion privilege), and its "conversion value" (the security's worth if it
were to be exchanged for the underlying security, at market value, pursuant to
its conversion privilege).
There is no limitation other than the overall 35% limitation described above
on the percentage of the Fund's total assets which may be invested in
convertible securities and debt securities below investment grade. Most debt
securities in which the Fund invests are not rated; when rated, such ratings
will generally be below investment grade. Securities below investment grade are
the equivalent of high yield, high risk bonds, commonly known as "junk bonds."
Investment grade is generally considered to be debt securities rated BBB or
higher by Standard & Poor's Corporation ("S&P") or Baa or higher by Moody's
Investors Service, Inc. ("Moody's"). However, the Fund will not invest in debt
securities that are in default in payment of principal or interest. A
description of fixed-income securities ratings is contained in the Appendix to
the Statement of Additional Information. For a discussion of the risks of
convertible and lower rated debt securities, see "Risk Considerations" below.
Certain Latin American countries are among the largest debtors to commercial
banks and foreign governments. Trading in Sovereign Debt involves a high degree
of risk, since the governmental entity that controls the repayment of Sovereign
Debt may not be willing or able to repay the principal and/or interest of such
debt obligations when it becomes due, due to factors such as debt service
burden, political constraints, cash flow situation and other national economic
factors. As a result, Latin American governments may default on their Sovereign
Debt, which may require holders of such Sovereign Debt to participate in debt
rescheduling or
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tional lending to defaulting governments. There is no bankruptcy proceeding by
which defaulted Sovereign Debt may be collected in whole or in part.
The Fund may invest in a particular type of Latin American debt security
known as "Brady Bonds", which were issued under the "Brady Plan" in exchange for
loans and cash in connection with restructurings in various Latin American
external debt markets in 1990. Brady Bonds are issued in various currencies,
primarily the U.S. dollar, and are actively traded in the over-the-counter
secondary market for Latin American debt. In the case of U.S. dollar denominated
collateralized Brady Bonds, the bonds are collateralized in full as to principal
by U.S. Treasury zero coupon bonds of the same maturity. In addition, at least
one year of rolling interest payments are collateralized by cash or other
investments.
The Adviser attempts to minimize the speculative risks associated with
investments in lower rated securities through credit analysis, and by carefully
monitoring current trends in interest rates, political developments and other
factors. Nonetheless, investors should carefully review the investment objective
and policies of the Fund and consider their ability to assume the investment
risks involved before making an investment.
INVESTMENT IN OTHER INVESTMENT VEHICLES. Under the Investment Company Act
of 1940, as amended (the "Investment Company Act"), the Fund generally may
invest up to 10% of its total assets in the aggregate in shares of other
investment companies and up to 5% of its total assets in any one investment
company, as long as that investment does not represent more than 3% of the
voting stock of the acquired investment company at the time such shares are
purchased. As stated above, investment in other investment companies or vehicles
may be the sole or most practical means by which the Fund can participate in
certain Latin American securities markets. Such investment may involve the
payment of substantial premiums above the value of such issuers' portfolio
securities, and is subject to the limitations described above and market
availability. There can be no assurance that vehicles or funds for investing in
certain Latin American countries will be available for investment. In addition,
special tax considerations may apply. The Fund does not intend to invest in such
vehicles or funds unless, in the judgment of the Adviser, the potential benefits
of such investment justify the payment of any applicable premium or sales
charge. As a shareholder in an investment company, the Fund would bear its
ratable share of that investment company's expenses, including its advisory and
administration fees. At the same time the Fund would continue to pay its own
management and advisory fees and other expenses, as a result of which the Fund
and its shareholders in effect will be absorbing duplicate levels of advisory
fees with respect to investments in such other investment companies.
RISK CONSIDERATIONS
The net asset value of the Fund's shares will fluctuate with changes in the
market value of the Fund's securities. The market value of the Fund's portfolio
securities will increase or decrease due to a variety of economic, market and
political factors which cannot be predicted.
FOREIGN SECURITIES. Investors should carefully consider the risks of
investing in securities of foreign issuers and securities denominated in
non-U.S. currencies. Fluctuations in the relative rates of exchange between the
currencies of different nations will affect the value of the Fund's investments.
Changes in foreign currency exchange rates relative to the U.S. dollar will
affect the U.S. dollar value of the Fund's assets denominated in that currency
and thereby impact upon the Fund's total return on such assets. See the
Statement of Additional Information for a discussion of additional risk factors.
Foreign currency exchange rates are determined by forces of supply and
demand on the foreign exchange markets. These forces are themselves affected by
the international balance of payments and other economic and financial
conditions, government intervention, speculation and other factors. Moreover,
foreign currency exchange rates may be affected by the regulatory control of the
exchanges on which the currencies trade.
In addition, many of the currencies of Latin American countries have
experienced steady devaluations relative to the U.S. dollar, and major
devaluations have historically occurred in certain countries. Any devaluations
in the currencies in which the Fund's portfolio securities are denominated may
have a detrimental impact on the Fund.
Some Latin American countries also may have managed currencies which are not
free floating against the U.S. dollar. In addition, there is a risk that certain
Latin American countries may restrict the free conversion of their currencies
into other currencies. Further, certain Latin American currencies may not be
internationally traded.
Investments in foreign securities will also occasion risks relating to
political and economic developments abroad, including the possibility of
expropriations or confiscatory taxation, limitations on the use or transfer of
Fund assets and any effects of foreign social, economic or political
instability. Political and economic developments in Latin America may have
profound effects upon the value of the Fund's portfolio. In the event of
expropriation, nationalization or other complication, the Fund could lose its
entire investment in any one country. In addition, individual Latin American
countries may place restrictions on the ability of foreign entities such as the
Fund to invest in particular segments of the local economies.
Latin American companies are not subject to the regulatory requirements of
U.S. companies and, as such, there may be less publicly available information
about such companies. Moreover, Latin American companies are not subject to
uniform accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards and requirements
comparable to those applicable to U.S. companies. Also, certain Latin American
countries may
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impose unusually high withholding taxes on dividends payable to the Fund,
thereby effectively reducing the Fund's investment income.
The securities markets of Latin American countries are substantially
smaller, less developed, less liquid and more volatile than the major securities
markets in the United States. The limited size of many Latin American securities
markets and limited trading volume in issuers compared to volume of trading in
U.S. securities could cause prices to be erratic for reasons apart from factors
that affect the quality of the securities. For example, limited market size may
cause prices to be unduly influenced by traders who control large positions.
Adverse publicity and investors' perceptions, whether or not based on
fundamental analysis, may decrease the value and liquidity of portfolio
securities, especially in these markets.
In addition, Latin American exchanges and broker-dealers are generally
subject to less government and exchange scrutiny and regulation than their
American counterparts. Brokerage commissions, dealer concessions, custodial
expenses and other transaction costs may be higher in foreign markets than in
the U.S. Thus, the Fund's operating expenses are expected to be higher than
those of investment companies investing primarily in domestic or other more
established market regions. Also, differences in clearance and settlement
procedures on foreign markets may occasion delays in settlements of Fund trades
effected in such markets. Inability to dispose of portfolio securities due to
settlement delays could result in losses to the Fund due to subsequent declines
in value of such securities and the inability of the Fund to make intended
security purchases due to settlement problems could result in a failure of the
Fund to make potentially advantageous investments. In addition, certain adverse
tax consequences of the Fund's investments in passive foreign investment
companies are discussed below under "Dividends, Distributions and Taxes."
Certain Latin American countries are among the largest debtors to commercial
banks and foreign governments. At times certain Latin American countries have
declared moratoria on the payment of principal and/or interest on external debt.
Most Latin American countries have experienced substantial, and in some
periods extremely high, rates of inflation for many years. Inflation and rapid
fluctuations in inflation rates have had and may continue to have very negative
effects on the economies and securities markets of certain Latin American
countries.
The Fund may not invest more than 15% of its net assets in illiquid
securities. The Fund will treat any Latin American securities that are subject
to restrictions on repatriation for more than seven days, as well as any
securities issued in connection with Latin American debt conversion programs
that are restricted as to remittance of invested capital or profits, as illiquid
securities for purposes of this limitation. The Fund will also treat repurchase
agreements with maturities in excess of seven days as being illiquid for this
purpose.
DEBT SECURITIES. Because of the special nature of the Fund's permitted
investments in lower rated convertible and debt securities, the Adviser must
take account of certain special considerations in assessing the risks associated
with such investments. The prices of lower rated securities have been found to
be less sensitive to changes in prevailing interest rates than higher rated
investments, but are likely to be more sensitive to adverse economic changes or
individual corporate developments. During an economic downturn or substantial
period of rising interest rates, highly leveraged issuers may experience
financial stress which would adversely affect their ability to service their
principal and interest payment obligations, to meet their projected business
goals or to obtain additional financing. If the issuer of a fixed-income
security owned by the Fund defaults, the Fund may incur additional expenses to
seek recovery. In addition, periods of economic uncertainty and change can be
expected to result in an increased volatility of market prices of lower rated
securities and a corresponding volatility in the net asset value of a share of
the Fund.
The risks of other investment techniques which may be utilized by the Fund
are described under "Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts," "Options and
Futures Transactions" and "Other Investment Policies" below.
FORWARD FOREIGN CURRENCY EXCHANGE CONTRACTS
To hedge against adverse price movements in the securities held in its portfolio
and the currencies in which they are denominated (as well as in the securities
it might wish to purchase and their denominated currencies) the Fund may engage
in transactions in forward foreign currency contracts.
A forward foreign currency exchange contract ("forward contract") involves
an obligation to purchase or sell a currency at a future date, which may be any
fixed number of days from the date of the contract agreed upon by the parties,
at a price set at the time of the contract. The Fund may enter into forward
contracts as a hedge against fluctuations in future foreign exchange rates.
Currently, only a limited market, if any, exists for hedging transactions
relating to currencies in most Latin American markets or to securities of
issuers domiciled or principally engaged in business in Latin American markets.
This may limit the Fund's ability to effectively hedge its investments in Latin
American markets. Hedging against a decline in the value of a currency does not
eliminate fluctuations in the prices of portfolio securities or prevent losses
if the prices of such securities decline. Such transactions also limit the
opportunity for gain if the value of the hedged currencies should rise. In
addition, it may not be possible for the Fund to hedge against a devaluation
that is so generally anticipated that the Fund is not able to contract to sell
the currency at a price above the devaluation level it anticipates.
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If the Fund enters into forward contract transactions and the currency in
which the Fund's portfolio securities (or anticipated portfolio securities) are
denominated rises in value with respect to the currency which is being purchased
(or sold), then the Fund will have realized fewer gains than had the Fund not
entered into the forward contracts. Moreover, the precise matching of the
forward contract amounts and the value of the securities involved will not
generally be possible, since the future value of such securities in foreign
currencies will change as a consequence of market movements in the value of
those securities between the date the forward contract is entered into and the
date it matures. The Fund is not required to enter into such transactions with
regard to its foreign currency-denominated securities and will not do so unless
deemed appropriate by the Adviser.
OPTIONS AND FUTURES TRANSACTIONS
The Fund may purchase and sell (write) call and put options on portfolio
securities which are denominated in either U.S. dollars or Latin American
currencies and on the U.S. dollar and foreign currencies, which are or may in
the future be listed on several U.S. and foreign securities exchanges or are
written in over-the-counter transactions ("OTC options"). OTC options are
purchased from or sold (written) to dealers or financial institutions which have
entered into direct agreements with the Fund.
The Fund is permitted to write covered call options on portfolio securities
and the U.S. dollar and Latin American currencies, without limit, in order to
hedge against the decline in the value of a security or currency in which such
security is denominated and to close out long call option positions. The Fund
may write covered put options, under which the Fund incurs an obligation to buy
the security (or currency) underlying the option from the purchaser of the put
at the option's exercise price at any time during the option period, at the
purchaser's election. The aggregate value of the obligation underlying the puts
determined as of the date the options are sold will not exceed 50% of the Fund's
net assets.
The Fund may purchase listed and OTC call and put options in amounts
equalling up to 5% of its total assets. The Fund may purchase call options to
close out a covered call position or to protect against an increase in the price
of a security it anticipates purchasing or, in the case of call options on a
foreign currency, to hedge against an adverse exchange rate change of the
currency in which the security it anticipates purchasing is denominated
vis-a-vis the currency in which the exercise price is denominated. The Fund may
purchase put options on securities which it holds in its portfolio only to
protect itself against a decline in the value of the security. The Fund may also
purchase put options to close out written put positions in a manner similar to
call option closing purchase transactions. There are no other limits on the
Fund's ability to purchase call and put options.
The Fund may purchase and sell futures contracts that are currently traded,
or may in the future be traded, on U.S. and foreign commodity exchanges on
underlying portfolio securities, on any of the Latin American currencies
("currency" futures), on U.S. and Latin American fixed-income securities
("interest rate" futures) and on such indexes of U.S. or Latin American equity
or fixed-income securities as may exist or come into being ("index" futures).
The Fund may purchase or sell interest rate futures contracts for the purpose of
hedging some or all of the value of its portfolio securities (or anticipated
portfolio securities) against changes in prevailing interest rates. The Fund may
purchase or sell index futures contracts for the purpose of hedging some or all
of its portfolio (or anticipated portfolio) securities against changes in their
prices (or the currency in which they are denominated.) As stated above,
currently only a limited market exists for options and futures transactions
relating to Latin America currencies or issuers. As a futures contract
purchaser, the Fund incurs an obligation to take delivery of a specified amount
of the obligation underlying the contract at a specified time in the future for
a specified price. As a seller of a futures contract, the Fund incurs an
obligation to deliver the specified amount of the underlying obligation at a
specified time in return for an agreed upon price.
The Fund also may purchase and write call and put options on futures
contracts which are traded on an exchange and enter into closing transactions
with respect to such options to terminate an existing position.
New futures contracts, options and other financial products and various
combinations thereof continue to be developed. The Fund may invest in any such
futures, options or products as may be developed, to the extent consistent with
its investment objective and applicable regulatory requirements.
RISKS OF OPTIONS AND FUTURES TRANSACTIONS. The Fund may close out its
position as writer of an option, or as a buyer or seller of a futures contract,
only if a liquid secondary market exists for options or futures contracts of
that series. There is no assurance that such a market will exist, particularly
in the case of OTC options, as such options may generally only be closed out by
entering into a closing purchase transaction with the purchasing dealer. Also,
exchanges may limit the amount by which the price of many futures contracts may
move on any day. If the price moves equal to the daily limit on successive days,
then it may prove impossible to liquidate a futures position until the daily
limit moves have ceased.
While the futures contracts and options transactions to be engaged in by the
Fund for the purpose of hedging the Fund's portfolio securities are not
speculative in nature, there are risks inherent in the use of such instruments.
One such risk is that the Adviser could be incorrect in its expectations as to
the direction or extent of various interest rate or price movements or the time
span within which the movements take place. For example, if the Fund sold
futures contracts for the sale of securities in anticipation of an increase in
interest rates, and then interest rates went down instead, causing bond prices
to rise, the Fund would lose money on the sale. Another risk which will arise in
employing futures contracts
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to protect against the price volatility of portfolio securities is that the
prices of securities, currencies and indexes subject to futures contracts (and
thereby the futures contract prices) may correlate imperfectly with the behavior
of the U.S. dollar cash prices of the Fund's portfolio securities and their
denominated currencies. See the Statement of Additional Information for a
further discussion of risks.
OTHER INVESTMENT POLICIES
While the Fund will invest primarily in equity securities of Latin American
issuers, under ordinary circumstances it may invest up to 35% of its total
assets in (i) debt securities of Latin American issuers, as described above, and
(ii) U.S. money market instruments, which are short-term (maturities of up to
thirteen months) fixed-income securities issued by private and governmental
institutions. Money market instruments in which the Fund may invest are
securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government or its agencies (Treasury
bills, notes and bonds); obligations of banks subject to regulation by the U.S.
Government and having total assets of $1 billion or more; Eurodollar
certificates of deposit; obligations of savings banks and savings and loan
associations having total assets of $1 billion or more; fully insured
certificates of deposit; and commercial paper rated within the two highest
grades by Moody's or S&P or, if not rated, issued by a company having an
outstanding debt issue rated AAA by S&P or Aaa by Moody's.
There may be periods during which, in the opinion of the Adviser, market
conditions warrant reduction of some or all of the Fund's securities holdings.
During such periods, the Fund may adopt a temporary "defensive" posture in which
greater than 35% of its total assets is invested in money market instruments or
cash.
The Fund is classified as a non-diversified investment company under the
Investment Company Act, and as such is not limited by the Investment Company 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 so as to
qualify as a "regulated investment company" under Subchapter M of the Internal
Revenue Code. See "Dividends, Distributions 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 may be more susceptible to any single economic, political
or regulatory occurrence than the portfolio securities of a diversified
investment company. The limitations described in this paragraph are not
fundamental policies and may be revised to the extent applicable Federal income
tax requirements are revised.
REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS. The Fund may enter into repurchase agreements, which
may be viewed as a type of secured lending by the Fund, and which typically
involve the acquisition by the Fund of debt securities from a selling financial
institution such as a bank, savings and loan association or broker-dealer. The
agreement provides that the Fund will sell back to the institution, and that the
institution will repurchase, the underlying security at a specified price and at
a fixed time in the future, usually not more than seven days from the date of
purchase. While repurchase agreements involve certain risks not associated with
direct investments in debt securities, including the risks of default or
bankruptcy of the selling financial institution, the Fund follows procedures
designed to minimize those risks. These procedures include effecting repurchase
transactions only with large, well-capitalized and well-established financial
institutions and maintaining adequate collateralization.
WHEN-ISSUED AND DELAYED DELIVERY SECURITIES AND FORWARD COMMITMENTS. From
time to time, in the ordinary course of business, the Fund may purchase
securities on a when-issued or delayed delivery basis or may purchase or sell
securities on a forward commitment basis. When such transactions are negotiated,
the price is fixed at the time of the commitment, but delivery and payment can
take place a month or more after the date of the commitment. There is no overall
limit on the percentage of the Fund's assets which may be committed to the
purchase of securities on a when-issued, delayed delivery or forward commitment
basis. An increase in the percentage of the Fund's assets committed to the
purchase of securities on a when-issued, delayed delivery or forward commitment
basis may increase the volatility of the Fund's net asset value.
WHEN, AS AND IF ISSUED SECURITIES. The Fund may purchase securities on a
"when, as and if issued" basis under which the issuance of the security depends
upon the occurrence of a subsequent event, such as approval of a merger,
corporate reorganization, leveraged buyout or debt restructuring. If the
anticipated event does not occur and the securities are not issued, the Fund
will have lost an investment opportunity. There is no overall limit on the
percentage of the Fund's assets which may be committed to the purchase of
securities on a "when, as and if issued" basis. An increase in the percentage of
the Fund's assets committed to the purchase of securities on a "when, as and if
issued" basis may increase the volatility of its net asset value.
ZERO COUPON SECURITIES. A portion of the fixed-income securities purchased
by the Fund may be zero coupon securities. Such securities are purchased at a
discount from their face amount, giving the purchaser the right to receive their
full value at maturity. The interest earned on such securities is, implicitly,
automatically compounded and paid out at maturity. While such compounding at a
constant rate eliminates the risk of receiving lower yields upon reinvestment of
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interest if prevailing interest rates decline, the owner of a zero coupon
security will be unable to participate in higher yields upon reinvestment of
interest received on interest-paying securities if prevailing interest rates
rise.
A zero coupon security pays no interest to its holder during its life.
Therefore, to the extent the Fund invests in zero coupon securities, it will not
receive current cash available for distribution to shareholders. In addition,
zero coupon securities are subject to substantially greater price fluctuations
during periods of changing prevailing interest rates than are comparable
securities which pay interest on a current basis. Current federal tax law
requires that a holder (such as the Fund) of a zero coupon security accrue a
portion of the discount at which the security was purchased as income each year
even though the Fund receives no interest payments in cash on the security
during the year.
PRIVATE PLACEMENTS. The Fund may invest up to 5% of its total assets in
securities which are subject to restrictions on resale because they have not
been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities
Act"), or which are otherwise not readily marketable. (Securities eligible for
resale pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act, and determined to be
liquid pursuant to the procedures discussed in the following paragraph, are not
subject to the foregoing restriction.) These securities are generally referred
to as private placements or restricted securities. Limitations on the resale of
such securities may have an adverse effect on their marketability, and may
prevent the Fund from disposing of them promptly at reasonable prices. The Fund
may have to bear the expense of registering such securities for resale and the
risk of substantial delays in effecting such registration.
Rule 144A under the Securities Act permits the Fund to sell restricted
securities to qualified institutional buyers without limitation. The Adviser,
pursuant to procedures adopted by the Trustees of the Fund, will make a
determination as to the liquidity of each restricted security purchased by the
Fund. If a restricted security is determined to be "liquid," such security will
not be included within the category "illiquid securities," which under current
policy may not exceed 15% of the Fund's net assets. However, investing in Rule
144A Securities could have the effect of increasing the level of Fund
illiquidity to the extent the Fund, at a particular point in time, may be unable
to find qualified institutional buyers interested in purchasing such securities.
PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT
The Fund's portfolio is actively managed by its Adviser with a view to achieving
the Fund's investment objective. Michael P. Reilly, Managing Director of the
Adviser, is the primary portfolio manager of the Fund. Mr. Reilly has been a
primary portfolio manager of the Fund since December, 1994, and has been a
portfolio manager with affiliates of TCW since June, 1992, prior to which he was
Vice President of Security Pacific Bank.
In determining which securities to purchase for the Fund or hold in the
Fund's portfolio, the Adviser will rely on information from various sources,
including research, analysis and appraisals of brokers and dealers, including
Dean Witter Reynolds Inc. ("DWR"), a broker-dealer affiliate of the Manager, and
others regarding economic developments and interest rate trends, and the
Adviser's own analysis of factors it deems relevant.
Orders for transactions in portfolio securities and commodities are placed
for the Fund with a number of brokers and dealers, including DWR. The Fund may
incur brokerage commissions on transactions conducted through DWR. Under normal
circumstances it is not anticipated that the portfolio trading will result in
the Fund's portfolio turnover rate exceeding 150% in any one year. The Fund will
incur brokerage costs commensurate with its portfolio turnover rate and thus a
higher level (over 100%) of portfolio transactions will increase the Fund's
overall brokerage expenses. See "Dividends, Distributions and Taxes" for a
discussion of the tax implications of the Fund's trading policy.
Except as specifically noted, all investment policies and practices
discussed above are not fundamental policies of the Fund and, as such, may be
changed without shareholder approval.
INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The investment restrictions listed below are among the restrictions which have
been adopted by the Fund as fundamental policies. Under the Investment Company
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 Investment
Company Act. For purposes of the following limitations: (i) all percentage
limitations apply immediately after a purchase or initial investment, and (ii)
any subsequent change in any applicable percentage resulting from market
fluctuations or other changes in total or net assets does not require
elimination of any security from the portfolio.
The Fund may not:
1. Invest 25% or more of the value of its total assets in securities of
issuers in any one industry. This restriction does not apply to obligations
issued or guaranteed by the United States Government, its agencies or
instrumentalities.
2. Invest more than 5% of the value of its total assets in securities
of issuers having a record, together with predecessors, of less than three
years of continuous operation. This restriction does not apply to
obligations
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issued or guaranteed by the United States Government, its agencies or
instrumentalities.
In addition, as a non-fundamental policy, the Fund may not, as to 75% of its
total assets, purchase more than 10% of the voting securities of any issuer.
PURCHASE OF FUND SHARES
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Fund offers its shares for sale to the public on a continuous basis. Shares
of the Fund are distributed by Dean Witter Distributors Inc. (the
"Distributor"), an affiliate of the Manager, pursuant to a Distribution
Agreement between the Fund and the Distributor and offered by DWR and other
dealers (which may include TCW Brokerage Services, an affiliate of the Adviser)
which have entered into selected dealer agreements with the Distributor
("Selected Broker-Dealers"). The principal executive office of the Distributor
is located at Two World Trade Center, New York, New York 10048.
The minimum initial purchase is $1,000 and subsequent purchases of $100 or
more may be made by sending a check, payable to TCW/DW Latin American Growth
Fund, directly to Dean Witter Trust Company (the "Transfer Agent") at P.O. Box
1040, Jersey City, NJ 07303, by contacting an account executive of DWR or other
Selected Broker-Dealer. The minimum initial purchase, in the case of investments
through EasyInvest, an automatic purchase plan (see "Shareholder Services"), is
$100, provided that the schedule of automatic investments will result in
investments totalling at least $1,000 within the first twelve months. In the
case of investments pursuant to Systematic Payroll Deduction Plans (including
Individual Retirement Plans), the Fund, in its discretion, may accept
investments without regard to any minimum amounts which would otherwise be
required if the Fund has reason to believe that additional investments will
increase the investment in all accounts under such Plans to at least $1,000.
Certificates for shares purchased will not be issued unless a request is made by
the shareholder in writing to the Transfer Agent.
Shares of the Fund are sold through the Distributor on a normal three
business day settlement basis; that is, payment is due on the third business day
(settlement date) after the order is placed with the Distributor. Since DWR and
other Selected Broker-Dealers forward investors' funds on settlement date, they
will benefit from the temporary use of the funds if payment is made prior
thereto. As noted above, orders placed directly with the Transfer Agent must be
accompanied by payment. Investors will be entitled to receive income dividends
and capital gains distributions if their order is received by the close of
business on the day prior to the record date for such dividends and
distributions.
The offering price will be the net asset value per share next determined
following receipt of an order (see "Determination of Net Asset Value"). While no
sales charge is imposed at the time shares are purchased, a contingent deferred
sales charge may be imposed at the time of redemption (see "Repurchases and
Redemptions"). Sales personnel of a Selected Broker-Dealer are compensated for
selling shares of the Fund at the time of their sale by the Distributor or any
of its affiliates and/or the Selected Broker-Dealer. In addition, some sales
personnel of the Selected Broker-Dealer will receive various types of non-cash
compensation as special sales incentives, including trips, educational and/or
business seminars and merchandise. The Fund and the Distributor reserve the
right to reject any purchase orders.
The Fund in the future may suspend the offering of its shares from time to
time as may be consistent with prudent portfolio management. Automatic
reinvestment of dividends and distributions will not be affected by any
suspension by the Fund of offering its shares.
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
The Fund has adopted a Plan of Distribution pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the
Investment Company Act (the "Plan"), under which the Fund pays the Distributor a
fee, which is accrued daily and payable monthly, at an annual rate of 1% of the
lesser of: (a) the average daily aggregate gross sales of the Fund's shares
since the inception of the Fund (not including reinvestments of dividends or
capital gains distributions), less the average daily aggregate net asset value
of the Fund's shares redeemed since the Fund's inception upon which a contingent
deferred sales charge has been imposed or waived; or (b) the Fund's average
daily net assets. This fee is treated by the Fund as an expense in the year it
is accrued. A portion of the fee payable pursuant to the Plan, equal to 0.25% of
the Fund's average daily net assets, is characterized as a service fee within
the meaning of NASD guidelines. The service fee is a payment made for personal
service and/or the maintenance of shareholder accounts.
Amounts paid under the Plan are paid to the Distributor to compensate it for
the services provided and the expenses borne by the Distributor and others in
the distribution of the Fund's shares, including the payment of commissions for
sales of the Fund's shares and incentive compensation to and expenses of DWR
account executives and others who engage in or support distribution of shares or
who service shareholder accounts, including overhead and telephone expenses;
printing and distribution of prospectuses and reports used in connection with
the offering of the Fund's shares to other than current shareholders; and
preparation, printing and distribution of sales literature and advertising
materials. In addition, the Distributor may utilize fees paid pursuant to the
Plan to compensate DWR and other Selected Broker-Dealers for their opportunity
costs in advancing such amounts, which compensation would be in the form of a
carrying charge on any unreimbursed distribution expenses.
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For the fiscal year ended January 31, 1997, the Fund accrued payments under
the Plan amounting to $2,573,703, which amount is equal to 1.00% of the Fund's
average daily net assets for the fiscal year. The payments accrued under the
Plan were calculated pursuant to clause (b) of the compensation formula under
the Plan.
At any given time, the expenses in distributing shares of the Fund may be in
excess of the total of (i) the payments made by the Fund pursuant to the Plan,
and (ii) the proceeds of contingent deferred sales charges paid by investors
upon the redemption of shares (see "Repurchases and Redemptions--Contingent
Deferred Sales Charge"). For example, if $1 million in expenses in distributing
shares of the Fund had been incurred and $750,000 had been received as described
in (i) and (ii) above, the excess expense would amount to $250,000. The
Distributor has advised the Fund that the excess distribution expenses
(including the carrying charge described above) totalled $20,103,415 at January
31, 1997, which was equal to 7.42% of the Fund's net assets on such date.
Because there is no requirement under the Plan that the Distributor be
reimbursed for all distribution expenses or any requirement that the Plan be
continued from year to year, such excess amount, if any, does not constitute a
liability of the Fund. Although there is no legal obligation for the Fund to pay
expenses incurred in excess of payments made to the Distributor under the Plan
and the proceeds of contingent deferred sales charges paid by investors upon
redemption of shares, if for any reason the Plan is terminated, the Trustees
will consider at the time the manner in which to treat such expenses. Any
cumulative expenses incurred, but not yet recovered through distribution fees or
contingent deferred sales charges, may or may not be recovered through future
distribution fees or contingent deferred sales charges.
DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE
The net asset value per share of the Fund is determined once daily at 4:00 p.m.,
New York time (or, on days when the New York Stock Exchange closes prior to 4:00
p.m., at such earlier time), on each day that the New York Stock Exchange is
open by taking the value of all assets of the Fund, subtracting all its
liabilities, dividing by the number of shares outstanding and adjusting to the
nearest cent. The net asset value per share will not be determined on Good
Friday and on such other federal and non-federal holidays as are observed by the
New York Stock Exchange.
In the calculation of the Fund's net asset value: (1) an equity portfolio
security listed or traded on the New York or American Stock Exchange or other
domestic or foreign stock exchange is valued at its latest sale price on that
exchange prior to the time when assets are valued; if there were no sales that
day, the security, is valued at the latest bid price (in cases where a security
is traded on more than one exchange, the security is valued on the exchange
designated as the primary market pursuant to procedures adopted by the
Trustees); and (2) all other portfolio securities for which over-the-counter
market quotations are readily available are valued at the latest available bid
price prior to the time of valuation. When market quotations are not readily
available, including circumstances under which it is determined by the Adviser
that sale or bid prices are not reflective of a security's market value,
portfolio securities are valued at their fair value as determined in good faith
under procedures established by and under the general supervision of the Fund's
Trustees. For valuation purposes, quotations of foreign portfolio securities,
other assets and liabilities and forward contracts stated in foreign currency
are translated into U.S. dollar equivalents at the prevailing market rates prior
to the close of the New York Stock Exchange. Dividends receivable are accrued as
of the ex-dividend date or as of the time that the relevant ex-dividend date and
amounts become known.
Short-term debt securities with remaining maturities of 60 days or less at
the time of purchase are valued at amortized cost, unless the Trustees determine
such does not reflect the securities' market value, in which case these
securities will be valued at their fair value as determined by the Trustees.
Certain of the Fund's portfolio securities may be valued by an outside
pricing service approved by the Fund's Trustees. The pricing service may utilize
a matrix system incorporating security quality, maturity and coupon as the
evaluation model parameters, and/or research and evaluations by its staff,
including review of broker-dealer market price quotations, in determining what
it believes is the fair valuation of the portfolio securities valued by such
pricing service.
SHAREHOLDER SERVICES
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AUTOMATIC INVESTMENT OF DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS. All income dividends
and capital gains distributions are automatically paid in full and fractional
shares of the Fund (or, if specified by the shareholder, any other TCW/DW Fund),
unless the shareholder requests that they be paid in cash. Shares so acquired
are not subject to the imposition of a contingent deferred sales charge upon
their redemption (see "Repurchases and Redemptions").
INVESTMENT OF DIVIDENDS OR DISTRIBUTIONS RECEIVED IN CASH. Any shareholder
who receives a cash payment representing a dividend or capital gains
distribution may invest such dividend or distribution at the net asset value per
share next determined after receipt by the Transfer Agent, by returning the
check or the proceeds to the Transfer Agent within 30 days after the payment
date. Shares so acquired are not subject to the imposition of a contingent
deferred sales charge
14
<PAGE>
upon their redemption (see "Repurchases and Redemptions").
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. EasyInvest is available during any period when the Fund is offering
its shares (see "Purchase of Fund Shares" and "Repurchases and Redemptions--
Involuntary Redemption").
SYSTEMATIC WITHDRAWAL PLAN. A systematic withdrawal plan (the "Withdrawal
Plan") is available for shareholders who own or purchase shares of the Fund
having a minimum value of $10,000 based upon the then current net asset value.
The Withdrawal Plan provides for monthly or quarterly (March, June, September
and December) checks in any dollar amount, not less than $25, or in any whole
percentage of the account balance, on an annualized basis. Any applicable
contingent deferred sales charge will be imposed on shares redeemed under the
Withdrawal Plan (See "Repurchases and Redemptions--Contingent Deferred Sales
Charge"). Therefore, any shareholder participating in the Withdrawal Plan will
have sufficient shares redeemed from his or her account so that the proceeds
(net of any applicable contingent deferred sales charge) to the shareholder will
be the designated monthly or quarterly amount.
Shareholders should contact their DWR or other Selected Broker-Dealer
account executive or the Transfer Agent for information about any of the above
services.
TAX SHELTERED RETIREMENT PLANS. Retirement plans are available for use by
corporations, the self-employed, Individual Retirement Accounts and Custodial
Accounts under Section 403(b)(7) of the Internal Revenue Code. Adoption of such
plans should be on advice of legal counsel or tax adviser.
For further information regarding plan administration, custodial fees and
other details, investors should contact their account executive or the Transfer
Agent.
EXCHANGE PRIVILEGE
The Fund makes available to its shareholders an "Exchange Privilege" allowing
the exchange of shares of the Fund for shares of any other TCW/DW Fund sold with
a contingent deferred sales charge ("CDSC Funds"), for shares of TCW/ DW North
American Government Income Trust, TCW/DW Income and Growth Fund, TCW/DW Balanced
Fund and for shares of five money market funds for which InterCapital serves as
investment manager: Dean Witter Liquid Asset Fund Inc., 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 New York Municipal
Money Market Trust (the foregoing eight non-CDSC funds are hereinafter
collectively referred to as the "Exchange Funds"). Exchanges may be made after
the shares of the Fund acquired by purchase (not by exchange or dividend
reinvestment) have been held for thirty days. There is no waiting period for
exchanges of shares acquired by exchange or dividend reinvestment.
Shareholders utilizing the Fund's Exchange Privilege may subsequently
re-exchange such shares back to the Fund during any period when the Fund is
offering its shares. However, no exchange privilege is available between the
Fund and any other fund managed by the Manager or InterCapital, other than other
TCW/DW Funds and the five money market funds listed above.
An exchange to another CDSC Fund or 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. When exchanging into a money
market fund from the Fund or any other CDSC Fund, shares of the Fund are
redeemed out of the Fund at their next calculated net asset value and the
proceeds of the redemption are used to purchase shares of the money market fund
at their net asset value determined the following business day. Subsequent
exchanges between any of the money market funds and any TCW/DW Fund can be
effected on the same basis. No contingent deferred sales charge ("CDSC") is
imposed at the time of any exchange, although any applicable CDSC will be
imposed upon ultimate redemption. During the period of time the shareholder
remains in the Exchange Fund (calculated from the last day of the month in which
the Exchange Fund shares were acquired), the holding period (for the purpose of
determining the rate of the CDSC) is frozen. If those shares are subsequently
reexchanged for shares of a CDSC Fund, the holding period previously frozen when
the first exchange was made resumes on the last day of the month in which shares
of a CDSC Fund are reacquired. Thus, the CDSC is based upon the time (calculated
as described above) the shareholder was invested in a CDSC Fund (see
"Repurchases and Redemptions--Contingent Deferred Sales Charge"). However, in
the case of shares exchanged into an Exchange Fund, 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 which are attributable to those shares. (Exchange Fund 12b-1 distribution
fees are described in the prospectuses of those funds.)
Purchases and exchanges should be made for investment purposes only. A
pattern of frequent exchanges may be deemed by the Manager to be abusive and
contrary to the best interests of the Fund's other shareholders and, at the
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, each of the other TCW/DW
Funds and each of the money market funds may in their discretion limit or
otherwise restrict the number of times this Exchange
Priv-
15
<PAGE>
ilege may be exercised by any investor. Any such restriction will be made by the
Fund on a prospective basis only, upon notice to the shareholder not later than
ten days following such shareholder's most recent exchange. Also, the Exchange
Privilege may be terminated or revised at any time by the Fund and/or any of
such TCW/DW Funds or money market funds for which shares of the Fund have been
exchanged, upon such notice as may be required by applicable regulatory
agencies. Shareholders maintaining margin accounts with DWR or another Selected
Broker-Dealer are referred to their account executive regarding restrictions on
exchange of shares of the Fund pledged in the margin account.
The current prospectus for each fund describes its investment objective(s)
and policies, and shareholders should obtain a copy and examine it carefully
before investing. Exchanges are subject to the minimum investment requirement
and any other conditions imposed by each fund. An exchange will be treated for
federal income tax purposes the same as a repurchase or redemption of shares, on
which the shareholder may realize a capital gain or loss. However, the ability
to deduct capital losses on an exchange may be limited in situations where there
is an exchange of shares within ninety days after the shares are purchased. The
Exchange Privilege is only available in states where an exchange may legally be
made.
If DWR or another Selected Broker-Dealer is the current dealer of record and
its account numbers are part of the account information, shareholders may
initiate an exchange of shares of the Fund for shares of any of the funds for
which the Exchange Privilege is available 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 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. The 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 will also
be recorded. If such procedures are not employed, the Fund may be liable for any
losses due to unauthorized or fraudulent transactions.
Telephone exchange instructions will be accepted if received by the Transfer
Agent between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., New York time, on any day the New York
Stock Exchange is open. Any shareholder wishing to make an exchange who has
previously filed an Exchange Privilege Authorization Form and who is unable to
reach the Fund by telephone should contact his or her DWR or other Selected
Broker-Dealer account executive, if appropriate, or make a written exchange
request. Shareholders are advised that during periods of drastic economic or
market changes, it is possible that the telephone exchange procedures may be
difficult to implement, although this has not been the case in the past with
other funds managed by the Manager.
Shareholders should contact their DWR or other Selected Broker-Dealer
account executive or the Transfer Agent for further information about the
Exchange Privilege.
REPURCHASES AND REDEMPTIONS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
REPURCHASE. DWR and other Selected Broker-Dealers are authorized to
repurchase shares represented by a share certificate which is delivered to any
of their offices. Shares held in a shareholder's account without a share
certificate may also be repurchased by DWR and other Selected Broker-Dealers
upon the telephonic or telegraphic request of the shareholder. The repurchase
price is the net asset value next computed (see "Purchase of Fund Shares") after
such repurchase order is received by DWR or other Selected Broker-Dealer,
reduced by any applicable CDSC (see below).
The CDSC, if any, will be the only fee imposed by the Fund, the Distributor,
DWR or other Selected Broker-Dealer. The offers by DWR and other Selected
Broker-Dealers to repurchase shares may be suspended without notice by them at
any time. In that event, shareholders may redeem their shares through the Fund's
Transfer Agent as set forth below under "Redemption."
REDEMPTION. Shares of the Fund can be redeemed for cash at any time at the
net asset value per share next determined; however, such redemption proceeds
will be reduced by the amount of any applicable contingent deferred sales charge
(see below). If shares are held in a shareholder's account without a share
certificate, a written request for redemption to the Fund's Transfer Agent at
P.O. Box 983, Jersey City, NJ 07303 is required. If certificates are held by the
shareholder, the shares may be redeemed by surrendering the certificates with a
written request for redemption along with any additional documentation required
by the Transfer Agent.
CONTINGENT DEFERRED SALES CHARGE. Shares of the Fund which are held for six
years or more after purchase (calculated from the last day of the month in which
the shares were purchased) will not be subject to any charge upon redemption.
Shares redeemed sooner than six years after purchase may, however, be subject to
a charge upon redemption. This
16
<PAGE>
charge is called a "contingent deferred sales charge" ("CDSC"), which will be a
percentage of the dollar amount of shares redeemed and will be assessed on an
amount equal to the lesser of the current market value or the cost of the shares
being redeemed. The size of this percentage will depend upon how long the shares
have been held, as set forth in the table below:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
CONTINGENT DEFERRED
YEAR SINCE SALES CHARGE
PURCHASE AS A PERCENTAGE OF
PAYMENT MADE AMOUNT REDEEMED
- -------------------------------------- ---------------------
<S> <C>
First................................. 5.0%
Second................................ 4.0%
Third................................. 3.0%
Fourth................................ 2.0%
Fifth................................. 2.0%
Sixth................................. 1.0%
Seventh and thereafter................ None
</TABLE>
A CDSC will not be imposed on: (i) any amount which represents an increase
in value of shares purchased within the six years preceding the redemption; (ii)
the current net asset value of shares purchased more than six years prior to the
redemption; and (iii) the current net asset value of shares purchased through
reinvestment of dividends or distributions. Moreover, in determining whether a
CDSC is applicable it will be assumed that amounts described in (i), (ii) and
(iii) above (in that order) are redeemed first.
In addition, the CDSC, if otherwise applicable, will be waived in the case
of:
(1) redemptions of shares held at the time a shareholder dies or becomes
disabled, only if the shares are: (a) registered either in the name of an
individual shareholder (not a trust), or in the names of such shareholder and
his or her spouse as joint tenants with right of survivorship; or (b) held in a
qualified corporate or self-employed retirement plan, Individual Retirement
Account ("IRA") or Custodial Account under Section 403(b)(7) of the Internal
Revenue Code ("403(b) Custodial Account"), provided in either case that the
redemption is requested within one year of the death or initial determination of
disability;
(2) redemptions in connection with the following retirement plan
distributions: (a) lump-sum or other distributions from a qualified corporate
or self-employed retirement plan following retirement (or, in the case of a "key
employee" of a "top heavy" plan, following attainment of age 59 1/2); (b)
distributions from an IRA or 403(b) Custodial Account following attainment of
age 59 1/2; or (c) a tax-free return of an excess contribution to an IRA; and
(3) all redemptions of shares held for the benefit of a participant in a
corporate or self-employed retirement plan qualified under Section 401(k) of the
Internal Revenue Code which offers investment companies managed by the Manager
or its parent, Dean Witter InterCapital Inc., as self-directed investment
alternatives and for which Dean Witter Trust Company or Dean Witter Trust FSB,
each of which is an affiliate of the Manager, serves as Trustee or the 401(k)
Support Services Group of DWR serves as recordkeeper ("Eligible 401(k) Plan"),
provided that either: (a) the plan continues to be an Eligible 401(k) Plan
after the redemption; or (b) the redemption is in connection with the complete
termination of the plan involving the distribution of all plan assets to
participants.
With reference to (1) above, for the purpose of determining disability, the
Distributor utilizes the definition of disability contained in Section 72(m)(7)
of the Internal Revenue Code, which relates to the inability to engage in
gainful employment. With reference to (2) above, the term "distribution" does
not encompass a direct transfer of IRA, 403(b) Custodial Account or retirement
plan assets to a successor custodian or trustee. All waivers will be granted
only following receipt by the Distributor of confirmation of the shareholder's
entitlement.
PAYMENT FOR SHARES REDEEMED OR REPURCHASED. Payment for shares presented
for repurchase or redemption will be made by check within seven days after
receipt by the Transfer Agent of the certificate and/or written request in good
order. Such payment may be postponed or the right of redemption suspended under
unusual circumstances. If the shares to be redeemed have recently been purchased
by check, payment of the redemption proceeds may be delayed for the minimum time
needed to verify that the check used for investment has been honored (not more
than fifteen days from the time of receipt of the check by the Transfer Agent).
Shareholders maintaining margin accounts with DWR or another Selected
Broker-Dealer are referred to their account executive regarding restrictions on
redemption of shares of the Fund pledged in the margin account.
REINSTATEMENT PRIVILEGE. A shareholder who has had his or her shares
repurchased or redeemed and has not previously exercised this reinstatement
privilege may, within thirty days after the date of the repurchase or
redemption, reinstate any portion or all of the proceeds of such repurchase or
redemption in shares of the Fund at net asset value next determined after a
reinstatement request, together with the proceeds, is received by the Transfer
Agent and receive a pro-rata credit for any CDSC paid in connection with such
repurchase or redemption.
INVOLUNTARY REDEMPTION. The Fund reserves the right, on sixty days' notice,
to redeem, at their net asset value, the shares of any shareholder (other than
shares held in an Individual Retirement Account or Custodial Account under
Section 403(b)(7) of the Internal Revenue Code) whose shares due to redemptions
by the shareholder have a value of less than $100 or such lesser amount as may
be fixed by the Trustees or, in the case of an account opened through
EasyInvest, if after twelve months the shareholder has invested less than $1,000
in the account. However, before the Fund redeems such shares and sends the
proceeds to the shareholder, it will notify the shareholder that the value of
the shares is less than the applicable amount and allow the shareholder 60 days
to make an additional investment in an amount which will increase the value of
the account to at least the applicable amount before the redemption is
processed. No CDSC will be imposed on any involuntary redemption.
17
<PAGE>
DIVIDENDS, DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS. The Fund intends to pay dividends and to
distribute substantially all of the Fund's net investment income and net
short-term and long-term capital gains, if any, at least once each year. The
Fund may, however, determine either to distribute or to retain all or part of
any net long-term capital gains in any year for reinvestment.
The Fund may, at times, make payments from sources other than income or net
capital gains. Payments from such sources would, in effect, represent a return
of a portion of each shareholder's investment. All, or a portion, of such
payments would not be taxable to shareholders, and would reduce the
shareholder's cost basis in his or her shares.
All dividends and any capital gains distributions will be paid in additional
Fund shares and automatically credited to the shareholder's account without
issuance of a share certificate unless the shareholder requests in writing that
all dividends and/or distributions be paid in cash. (See "Shareholder
Services--Automatic Investment of Dividends and Distributions.")
TAXES. Because the Fund intends to distribute all of its net investment
income and capital gains to shareholders and otherwise continue to qualify as a
regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code, it
is not expected that the Fund will be required to pay any federal income tax.
Shareholders who are required to pay taxes on their income will normally have to
pay federal income taxes, and any state income taxes, on the dividends and
distributions they receive from the Fund. Such dividends and distributions, to
the extent that they are derived from net investment income or short-term
capital gains, are taxable to the shareholder as ordinary income regardless of
whether the shareholder receives such payments in additional shares or in cash.
Any dividends declared in the last quarter of any calendar year which are paid
in the following year prior to February 1 will be deemed received by the
shareholder in the prior year. Dividend payments will generally not be eligible
for the federal dividends received deduction.
Distributions of net long-term capital gains, if any, are taxable to
shareholders as long-term capital gains regardless of how long a shareholder has
held the Fund's shares and regardless of whether the distribution is received in
additional shares or in cash. Capital gains distributions are not eligible for
the dividends received deduction.
Any dividend or capital gains distribution received by a shareholder from
any investment company will have the effect of reducing the net asset value of
the shareholder's stock in that company by the exact amount of the dividend or
capital gains distribution. Furthermore, capital gains distributions and
dividends are subject to federal income taxes. If the net asset value of the
shares should be reduced below a shareholder's cost as a result of the payment
of dividends or the distribution of realized net long-term capital gains, such
payment or distribution would be in part a return of the shareholder's
investment to the extent of such reduction below the shareholder's cost, but
nonetheless would be fully taxable at either ordinary or capital gain rates.
Therefore, an investor should consider the tax implications of purchasing Fund
shares immediately prior to a dividend or distribution record date.
The Fund may purchase the securities of certain foreign investment funds or
trusts called passive foreign investment companies. Capital gains on the sale of
such holdings will be deemed to be ordinary income regardless of how long the
Fund holds its investment. In addition, the Fund may be subject to income tax
and an interest charge on certain dividends and capital gains earned from these
investments, regardless of whether such income and gains were distributed to
shareholders.
After the end of the calendar year, shareholders will be sent full
information on their dividends and capital gains distributions for tax purposes.
To avoid being subject to a 31% federal backup withholding tax on taxable
dividends, capital gains distributions and the proceeds of redemptions and
repurchases, shareholders' taxpayer identification numbers must be furnished and
certified as to their accuracy.
Dividends, interest and capital gains received by the Fund may give rise to
withholding and other taxes imposed by foreign countries. If it qualifies for
and has made the appropriate election with the Internal Revenue Service, the
Fund will report annually to its shareholders the amount per share of such
taxes, to enable shareholders to claim United States foreign tax credits or
deductions with respect to such taxes. In the absence of such an election, the
Fund would deduct foreign tax in computing the amount of its distributable
income.
The foregoing discussion relates solely to the federal income tax
consequences of an investment in the Fund. Distributions may also be subject to
state and local taxes; therefore, each shareholder is advised to consult his or
her own tax adviser.
Shareholders should consult their tax advisers as to the applicability of
the foregoing to their current situation.
PERFORMANCE INFORMATION
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From time to time the Fund may quote its "total return" in advertisements and
sales literature. The total return of the Fund is based on historical earnings
and is not intended to indicate future performance. The "average annual total
return" of the Fund refers to a figure reflecting the average annualized
percentage increase (or decrease) in the value of
18
<PAGE>
an initial investment in the Fund of $1,000 over one year, as well as over the
life of the Fund. Average annual total return reflects all income earned by the
Fund, any appreciation or depreciation of the Fund's assets, all expenses
incurred by the Fund and all sales charges which would be incurred by redeeming
shareholders, for the stated periods. It also assumes reinvestment of all
dividends and distributions paid by the Fund.
In addition to the foregoing, the Fund may advertise its total return over
different periods of time by means of aggregate, average, and year-by-year or
other types of total return figures. Such calculations may or may not reflect
the deduction of the contingent deferred sales charge which, if reflected, would
reduce the performance quoted. The Fund may also advertise the growth of
hypothetical investments of $10,000, $50,000 and $100,000 in shares of the Fund.
The Fund from time to time may also advertise its performance relative to
certain performance rankings and indexes compiled by independent organizations
(such as mutual fund performance rankings of Lipper Analytical Services, Inc.).
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
VOTING RIGHTS. All shares of beneficial interest of the Fund are of $0.01
par value and are equal as to earnings, assets and voting privileges.
The Fund is not required to hold Annual Meetings of Shareholders and in
ordinary circumstances the Fund does not intend to hold such meetings. The
Trustees may call Special Meetings of Shareholders for action by shareholder
vote as may be required by the Investment Company 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 Fund
obligations include such disclaimer, and provides for indemnification and
reimbursement of expenses out of the Fund's property for any shareholder held
personally liable for the obligations of the Fund. Thus, the risk of a
shareholder incurring financial loss on account of shareholder liability is
limited to circumstances in which the Fund itself would be unable to meet its
obligations. Given the above limitations on shareholder personal liability, and
the nature of the Fund's assets and operations, the possibility of the Fund
being unable to meet its obligations is remote and thus, in the opinion of
Massachusetts counsel to the Fund, the risk to Fund shareholders of personal
liability is remote.
CODE OF ETHICS. The Adviser is subject to a Code of Ethics with respect to
investment transactions in which the Adviser's officers, directors and certain
other persons have a beneficial interest to avoid any actual or potential
conflict or abuse of their fiduciary position. The Code of Ethics, as it
pertains to the TCW/DW Funds, contains several restrictions and procedures
designed to eliminate conflicts of interest including: (a) pre-clearance of
personal investment transactions to ensure that personal transactions by
employees are not being conducted at the same time as the Adviser's clients; (b)
quarterly reporting of personal securities transactions; (c) a prohibition
against personally acquiring securities in an initial public offering, entering
into uncovered short sales and writing uncovered options; (d) a seven day
"black-out period" prior or subsequent to a TCW/DW Fund transaction during which
portfolio managers are prohibited from making certain transactions in securities
which are being purchased or sold by a TCW/DW Fund; (e) a prohibition, with
respect to certain investment personnel, from profiting in the purchase and
sale, or sale and purchase, of the same (or equivalent) securities within 60
calendar days; and (f) a prohibition against acquiring any security which is
subject to firm wide or, if applicable, a department restriction of the Adviser.
The Code of Ethics provides that exemptive relief may be given from certain of
its requirements, upon application. The Adviser's Code of Ethics complies with
regulatory requirements and, insofar as it relates to persons associated with
registered investment companies, the 1994 Report of the Advisory Group on
Personal Investing of the Investment Company Institute.
SHAREHOLDER INQUIRIES. All inquiries regarding the Fund should be directed
to the Fund at the telephone number or address set forth on the front cover of
this Prospectus.
19
<PAGE>
TCW/DW LATIN AMERICAN GROWTH FUND
TWO WORLD TRADE CENTER
NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10048
TRUSTEES
John C. Argue
Richard M. DeMartini
Charles A. Fiumefreddo
John R. Haire
Dr. Manuel H. Johnson
Thomas E. Larkin, Jr.
Michael E. Nugent
John L. Schroeder
Marc I. Stern
OFFICERS
Charles A. Fiumefreddo
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Thomas E. Larkin, Jr.
President
Barry Fink
Vice President, Secretary and
General Counsel
Michael P. Reilly
Vice President
Thomas F. Caloia
Treasurer
CUSTODIAN
The Chase Manhattan Bank
One Chase Plaza
New York, New York 10005
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
MANAGER
Dean Witter Services Company Inc.
ADVISER
TCW Funds Management, Inc.
