<PAGE>
AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON MAY 24, 1996
REGISTRATION NOS.: 33-59004
811-7458
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- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
----------------
FORM N-1A
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 /X/
PRE-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. / /
POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. 4 /X/
AND/OR
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY
ACT OF 1940
AMENDMENT NO. 6 /X/
-------------------
DEAN WITTER GLOBAL DIVIDEND GROWTH SECURITIES
(A MASSACHUSETTS BUSINESS TRUST)
(EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN CHARTER)
TWO WORLD TRADE CENTER
NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10048
(ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICE)
REGISTRANT'S TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING AREA CODE: (212) 392-1600
SHELDON CURTIS, ESQ.
TWO WORLD TRADE CENTER
NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10048
(NAME AND ADDRESS OF AGENT FOR SERVICE)
COPY TO:
DAVID M. BUTOWSKY, ESQ.
GORDON ALTMAN BUTOWSKY WEITZEN SHALOV & WEIN
114 WEST 47TH STREET
NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10036
-------------------
APPROXIMATE DATE OF PROPOSED PUBLIC OFFERING: As soon as practicable after
the effective date of the registration statement
-------------------
IT IS PROPOSED THAT THIS FILING WILL BECOME EFFECTIVE (CHECK APPROPRIATE BOX)
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
--- immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b)
X
--- on May 28, 1996 pursuant to paragraph (b)
--- 60 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)
--- on (date) pursuant to paragraph (a) of rule 485
</TABLE>
THE REGISTRANT HAS REGISTERED AN INDEFINITE NUMBER OF ITS SHARES UNDER THE
SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 PURSUANT TO SECTION (A)(1) OF RULE 24F-2 UNDER THE
INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940. THE REGISTRANT FILED A RULE 24F-2 NOTICE FOR ITS
FISCAL PERIOD ENDING MARCH 31, 1996 WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
ON APRIL 30, 1996.
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-------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
DEAN WITTER GLOBAL DIVIDEND GROWTH SECURITIES
CROSS REFERENCE SHEET
FORM N-1A
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
ITEM CAPTION
- -------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------
<C> <S> <C>
PART A PROSPECTUS
1. ............................................. Cover Page
2. ............................................. Prospectus Summary; Summary of Fund Expenses
3. ............................................. Financial Highlights; Performance Information
4. ............................................. Prospectus Summary; Investment Objective and Policies; The Fund
and Its Management; Cover Page; Investment Restrictions
5. ............................................. The Fund and Its Management; Back Cover; Investment Objective and
Policies
6. ............................................. Dividends, Distributions and Taxes; Additional Information
7. ............................................. Purchase of Fund Shares; Shareholder Services
8. ............................................. Redemptions and Repurchases; Shareholder Services
9. ............................................. Not Applicable
PART B STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
10. ............................................. Cover Page
11. ............................................. Table of Contents
12. ............................................. The Fund and Its Management
13. ............................................. Investment Practices and Policies; Investment Restrictions;
Portfolio Transactions and Brokerage
14. ............................................. Trustees and Officers
15. ............................................. The Fund and Its Management; Trustees and Officers
16. ............................................. The Fund and Its Management; The Distributor; Custodian and
Transfer Agent; Independent Accountants; Shareholder Services
17. ............................................. Portfolio Transactions and Brokerage
18. ............................................. Description of Shares
19. ............................................. The Distributor; Redemptions and Repurchases; Financial
Statements; Shareholder Services
20. ............................................. Dividends, Distributions and Taxes
21. ............................................. Not applicable
22. ............................................. Performance Information
23. ............................................. Financial Statements
</TABLE>
PART C
INFORMATION REQUIRED TO BE INCLUDED IN PART C IS SET FORTH UNDER THE APPROPRIATE
ITEM, SO NUMBERED, IN PART C OF THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT.
<PAGE>
PROSPECTUS
MAY 28, 1996
Dean Witter Global Dividend Growth Securities (the "Fund") is an
open-end, diversified management investment company whose investment objective
is to provide reasonable current income and long-term growth of income and
capital. The Fund invests primarily in common stock of issuers worldwide, with a
record of paying dividends and the potential for increasing dividends. (See
"Investment Objective and Policies.")
Shares of the Fund are continuously offered at net asset value.
However, redemptions and/or repurchases are subject in most cases to a
contingent deferred sales charge, scaled down from 5% to 1% of the amount
redeemed, if made within six years of purchase, which charge will be paid to the
Fund's Distributor, Dean Witter Distributors Inc. See "Redemptions and
Repurchases--Contingent Deferred Sales Charge." In addition, the Fund pays the
Distributor a distribution fee pursuant to a Plan of Distribution at the annual
rate of 1.0% 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 May 28, 1996, which has been filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, and which is available at no charge upon
request of the Fund at the address or telephone number listed below. The
Statement of Additional Information is incorporated herein by reference.
DEAN WITTER DISTRIBUTORS INC.
DISTRIBUTOR
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Prospectus Summary/2
Summary of Fund Expenses/3
Financial Highlights/4
The Fund and its Management/4
Investment Objective and Policies/5
Risk Considerations and Investment Practices/6
Investment Restrictions/12
Purchase of Fund Shares/13
Shareholder Services/16
Redemptions and Repurchases/18
Dividends, Distributions and Taxes/21
Performance Information/21
Additional Information/22
SHARES OF THE FUND ARE NOT DEPOSITS OR OBLIGATIONS OF, OR GUARANTEED OR ENDORSED
BY, ANY BANK, AND THE SHARES ARE NOT FEDERALLY INSURED BY THE FEDERAL DEPOSIT
INSURANCE CORPORATION, THE FEDERAL RESERVE BOARD, OR ANY OTHER AGENCY.
THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION NOR HAS THE SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE
ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A
CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
Dean Witter Global Dividend
Growth Securities
Two World Trade Center
New York, New York 10048
(212) 392-2550 or
(800) 869-NEWS (toll-free)
<PAGE>
PROSPECTUS SUMMARY
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<TABLE>
<S> <C>
The The Fund is organized as a Trust, commonly known as a Massachusetts business trust, and is an
Fund open-end, diversified management investment company. The Fund invests primarily in common stock of
issuers worldwide, with a record of paying dividends and the potential for increasing dividends.
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Shares Offered Shares of beneficial interest with $0.01 par value (see page 21).
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Offering At net asset value (see page 13). Shares redeemed within six years of purchase are subject to a
Price contingent deferred sales charge under most circumstances (see page 18).
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Minimum Minimum initial investment, $1,000 ($100 if the account is opened through EasyInvest-SM-); minimum
Purchase subsequent investment, $100 (see page 13).
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Investment The investment objective of the Fund is to provide reasonable current income and long-term growth of
Objective income and capital.
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Investment Dean Witter InterCapital Inc. ("InterCapital"), the Investment Manager of the Fund, and its wholly-
Manager owned subsidiary, Dean Witter Services Company Inc., serve in various investment management,
advisory, management and administrative capacities to ninety-seven investment companies and other
portfolios with assets of approximately $83.9 billion at April 30, 1996 (see page 4).
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Management The Investment Manager receives a monthly fee at the annual rate of 0.75% of daily net assets,
Fee scaled down on assets over $1 billion. This fee is higher than that paid by most other investment
companies (see page 4).
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dividends and Dividends from net investment income are paid quarterly. Capital gains, if any, are distributed at
Distributions least annually or retained for reinvestment by the Fund. Dividends and capital gains distributions
are automatically reinvested in additional shares at net asset value unless the shareholder elects
to receive cash (see page 21).
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Distributor Dean Witter Distributors Inc. (the "Distributor") receives from the Fund a distribution fee accrued
and daily and paid monthly at the rate of 1% per annum of the lesser of (i) the Fund's average daily
Distribution aggregate net sales or (ii) the Fund's average daily net assets. The fee compensates the Distributor
Fee for services provided in distributing shares of the Fund and for sales-related expenses. The
Distributor also receives the proceeds of any contingent deferred sales charges (see page 13).
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Redemption-- Shares are redeemable by the shareholder at net asset value. An account may be involuntarily
Contingent redeemed if the total value of the account is less than $100 or, if the account was opened through
Deferred Sales EasyInvest-SM-, if after twelve months the shareholder has invested less than $1,000 in the account.
Charge Although no commission or sales charge is imposed upon the purchase of shares, a contingent deferred
sales charge (scaled down from 5% to 1%) is imposed on any redemption of shares if after such
redemption the aggregate current value of an account with the Fund 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 18).
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Risks The net asset value of the Fund's shares will fluctuate with changes in market value of 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. The Fund may invest a portion of its assets in lower rated or unrated convertible
securities. Dividends payable by the Fund will vary in relation to the amounts of dividends and
interest earned on portfolio securities (see page 6).
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</TABLE>
THE ABOVE IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY THE DETAILED INFORMATION APPEARING
ELSEWHERE
IN THIS PROSPECTUS AND THE STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
2
<PAGE>
SUMMARY OF FUND EXPENSES
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The following table illustrates all expenses and fees that a shareholder of
the Fund will incur. The expenses and fees set forth in the table are for the
fiscal year ended March 31, 1996.
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
SHAREHOLDER TRANSACTION EXPENSES
- ---------------------------------------------
Maximum Sales Charge Imposed on Purchases.... None
Maximum Sales Charge Imposed on Reinvested
Dividends................................... None
Contingent Deferred Sales Charge
(as a percentage of the lesser of original
purchase price or redemption proceeds).... 5.0%
A contingent deferred sales charge is
imposed at the following declining
rates:
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
YEAR SINCE PURCHASE
PAYMENT MADE PERCENTAGE
- --------------------------------------------- -------------
<S> <C>
First........................................ 5.0%
Second....................................... 4.0%
Third........................................ 3.0%
Fourth....................................... 2.0%
Fifth........................................ 2.0%
Sixth........................................ 1.0%
Seventh and thereafter....................... None
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
Redemption Fees.............................. None
Exchange Fee................................. None
ANNUAL FUND OPERATING EXPENSES (AS A
PERCENTAGE OF AVERAGE NET ASSETS)
- ---------------------------------------------
Management Fees.............................. 0.73%
12b-1 Fees*.................................. 0.89%
Other Expenses............................... 0.23%
Total Fund Operating Expenses................ 1.85%
<FN>
- ------------
* A PORTION OF THE 12B-1 FEE EQUAL TO 0.25% OF THE FUND'S AVERAGE DAILY NET
ASSETS IS CHARACTERIZED AS A SERVICE FEE WITHIN THE MEANING OF NATIONAL
ASSOCIATION OF SECURITIES DEALERS, INC. ("NASD") GUIDELINES (SEE "PURCHASE OF
FUND SHARES").
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
EXAMPLE 1 year 3 years 5 years 10 years
- --------------------------------------------- ------- -------- -------- --------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
You would pay the following expenses on a
$1,000 investment, assuming (1) 5% annual
return and (2) redemption at the end of each
time period:................................ $69 $88 $120 $217
You would pay the following expenses on the
same investment, assuming no redemption:.... $19 $58 $100 $217
</TABLE>
THE ABOVE EXAMPLE SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED A REPRESENTATION OF PAST OR
FUTURE EXPENSES OR PERFORMANCE. ACTUAL EXPENSES OF THE FUND MAY BE GREATER OR
LESS THAN THOSE SHOWN.
The purpose of this table is to assist the investor in understanding the
various costs and expenses that an investor in the Fund will bear directly or
indirectly. For a more complete description of these costs and expenses, see
"The Fund and its Management," "Plan of Distribution" and "Redemption and
Repurchases."
Long-term shareholders of the Fund may pay more in sales charges and
distribution fees than the economic equivalent of the maximum front-end sales
charges permitted by the NASD.
3
<PAGE>
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The following ratios and per share data for a share of beneficial interest
outstanding throughout each period have been audited by Price Waterhouse LLP,
independent accountants. The financial highlights should be read in conjunction
with the financial statements and notes thereto and the report of independent
accountants which are contained in the Statement of Additional Information.
Further information about the performance of the Fund is contained in the Fund's
Annual Report to Shareholders, which may be obtained without charge upon request
to the Fund.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
FOR THE
PERIOD
ENDED
JUNE 30,
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 1993*
MARCH 31, THROUGH
----------------------- MARCH 31,
1996 1995 1994
---------- ---------- ----------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
PER SHARE OPERATING
PERFORMANCE:
Net asset value,
beginning of period.... $ 11.41 $ 10.81 $ 10.00
---------- ---------- ----------
Net investment income... 0.13 0.14 0.05
Net realized and
unrealized gain........ 1.96 0.88 0.84
---------- ---------- ----------
Total from investment
operations............. 2.09 1.02 0.89
---------- ---------- ----------
Less dividends and
distributions from:
Net investment
income............... (0.15) (0.14) (0.05)
Net realized gain..... (0.49) (0.28) (0.03)
---------- ---------- ----------
Total dividends and
distributions.......... (0.64) (0.42) (0.08)
---------- ---------- ----------
Net asset value, end of
period................. $ 12.86 $ 11.41 $ 10.81
---------- ---------- ----------
---------- ---------- ----------
TOTAL INVESTMENT
RETURN+.................. 18.77% 9.60% 8.89%(1)
RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET
ASSETS:
Expenses................ 1.85% 1.97% 2.03%(2)
Net investment income... 1.05% 1.22% 0.66%(2)
SUPPLEMENTAL DATA:
Net assets, end of
period, in millions.... $ 2,434 $ 1,854 $ 1,121
Portfolio turnover
rate................... 40% 32% 21%(1)
Average commission rate
paid................... $0.0311 -- --
<FN>
- ---------------
* COMMENCEMENT OF OPERATIONS.
+ DOES NOT REFLECT THE DEDUCTION OF SALES CHARGE. CALCULATED AS OF THE LAST
BUSINESS DAY OF THE PERIOD.
(1) NOT ANNUALIZED.
(2) ANNUALIZED.
</TABLE>
THE FUND AND ITS MANAGEMENT
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dean Witter Global Dividend Growth Securities (the "Fund") is an open-end,
diversified management investment company. The Fund is a trust of the type
commonly known as a "Massachusetts business trust" and was organized under the
laws of Massachusetts on January 12, 1993.
Dean Witter InterCapital, Inc. ("InterCapital" or the "Investment Manager"),
whose address is Two World Trade Center, New York, New York 10048, is the Fund's
Investment Manager. The Investment Manager, which was incorporated in July,
1992, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Dean Witter, Discover &
4
<PAGE>
Co. ("DWDC"), a balanced financial services organization providing a broad range
of nationally marketed credit and investment products.
InterCapital and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Dean Witter Services Company
Inc., serve in various investment management, advisory, management and
administrative capacities to ninety-seven investment companies, thirty of which
are listed on the New York Stock Exchange, with combined total assets of
approximately $81.2 billion as of April 30, 1996. The Investment Manager also
manages portfolios of pension plans, other institutions and individuals which
aggregated approximately $2.7 billion at such date.
The Fund has retained the Investment Manager to provide administrative
services, manage its business affairs and manage the investment of the Fund's
assets, including the placing of orders for the purchase and sale of portfolio
securities. InterCapital has retained Dean Witter Services Company Inc. to
perform the aforementioned administrative services to the Fund.
The Fund's Trustees review the various services provided by the Investment
Manager to ensure that the Fund's general investment policies and programs are
being properly carried out and that administrative services are being provided
to the Fund in a satisfactory manner.
As full compensation for the services and facilities furnished to the Fund
and for expenses of the Fund assumed by the Investment Manager, the Fund pays
the Investment Manager monthly compensation calculated daily by applying the
annual rate of 0.75% to the Fund's net assets, scaled down at various asset
levels to 0.675% on assets over $2.5 billion. This fee is higher than that paid
by most other investment companies.
For the fiscal year ended March 31, 1996, the Fund accrued total
compensation to the Investment Manager amounting to 0.73% of the Fund's average
daily net assets and the Fund's total expenses amounted to 1.85% of the Fund's
average daily net assets.
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE AND POLICIES
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The investment objective of the Fund is to provide reasonable current income
and long-term growth of income and capital. 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 investment objective
primarily through investments in common stock of issuers worldwide, with a
record of paying dividends and the potential for increasing dividends.
The Fund will invest at least 65% of its total assets in dividend-paying
equity securities issued by issuers located in various countries around the
world. The Fund's investment portfolio will also be invested in at least three
separate countries.
The Fund will maintain a flexible investment policy and, based on a
worldwide investment strategy, will invest in a diversified portfolio of
securities of companies located throughout the world. The Investment Manager
will seek those companies which have, in its opinion, a strong record of
earnings. The percentage of the Fund's assets invested in particular geographic
sectors will shift from time to time in accordance with the judgement of the
Investment Manager.
Up to 35% of the value of the Fund's total assets may be invested in: (a)
convertible debt securities, convertible preferred securities, U.S. Government
securities (securities issued or guaranteed as to principal and interest by the
United States or its agencies and instrumentalities), fixed-income securities
issued by foreign governments and international organizations, investment grade
corporate debt securities and/or money market instruments when, in the opinion
of the Investment Manager, the projected total return on such securities is
equal to
5
<PAGE>
or greater than the expected total return on equity securities or when such
holdings might be expected to reduce the volatility of the portfolio (for
purposes of this provision, the term "total return" means the difference between
the cost of a security and the aggregate of its market value and dividends
received); or (b) in money market instruments under any one or more of the
following circumstances: (i) pending investment of proceeds of sale of the
Fund's shares or of portfolio securities; (ii) pending settlement of purchases
of portfolio securities; or (iii) to maintain liquidity for the purpose of
meeting anticipated redemptions. There are no minimum rating or quality
requirements with respect to convertible securities in which the Fund may invest
and, thus, all or some of such securities may be below investment grade.
The term investment grade consists of debt instruments rated Baa or higher
by Moody's Investors Service, Inc. ("Moody's") or BBB or higher by Standard &
Poor's Corporation ("S&P") or, if not rated, determined to be of comparable
quality by the Investment Manager. Investments in securities rated either Baa by
Moody's or BBB by S&P have speculative characteristics and, therefore, changes
in economic conditions or other circumstances are more likely to weaken their
capacity to make principal and interest payments than would be the case with
investments in securities with higher credit ratings. If a debt instrument held
by the Fund is subsequently downgraded below investment grade by a rating
agency, the Fund will retain such security in its portfolio until the Investment
Manager determines that it is practicable to sell the security without undue
market or tax consequences to the Fund. In the event that such downgraded
securities constitute 5% or more of the Fund's net assets, the Investment
Manager will sell immediately sufficient securities to reduce the total to below
5%.
Notwithstanding the Fund's investment objective of seeking reasonable
current income and long-term growth of income and capital, the Fund may, for
defensive purposes, without limitation, invest in: obligations of the United
States Government, its agencies or instrumentalities; cash and cash equivalents
in major currencies; repurchase agreements; zero coupon securities; money market
instruments; and commercial paper.
The Fund may also invest in securities of foreign issuers in the form of
American Depository Receipts ("ADRs"), European Depository Receipts ("EDRs") or
other similar securities 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. EDRs are European receipts evidencing a similar arrangement.
Generally, ADRs, in registered form, are designed for use in the United States
securities markets and EDRs, in bearer form, are designed for use in European
securities markets.
RISK CONSIDERATIONS AND INVESTMENT PRACTICES
FOREIGN SECURITIES. Foreign securities investments may be affected by
changes in currency rates or exchange control regulations, changes in
governmental administration or economic or monetary policy (in the United States
and abroad) or changed circumstances in dealings between nations. Fluctuations
in the relative rates of exchange between the currencies of different nations
will affect the value of the Fund's investments denominated in foreign currency.
Changes in foreign currency exchange rates relative to the U.S. dollar will
affect the U.S. dollar value of the Fund's assets denominated in that currency
and thereby impact upon the Fund's total return on such assets.
Foreign currency exchange rates are determined by forces of supply and
demand on the foreign exchange markets. These forces are themselves affected by
the international balance of payments and other economic and financial
conditions, government intervention, speculation and other factors. Moreover,
foreign currency exchange rates may be affected by the regulatory control of the
6
<PAGE>
exchanges on which the currencies trade. The foreign currency transactions of
the Fund will be conducted on a spot basis or through forward contracts
(described below). The Fund will incur certain costs in connection with these
currency transactions.
Investments in foreign securities will also occasion risks relating to
political and economic developments abroad, including the possibility of
expropriations or confiscatory taxation, limitations on the use or transfer of
Fund assets and any effects of foreign social, economic or political
instability. Foreign companies are not subject to the regulatory requirements of
U.S. companies and, as such, there may be less publicly available information
about such companies. Moreover, foreign companies are not subject to uniform
accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards and requirements
comparable to those applicable to U.S. companies.
Securities of foreign issuers may be less liquid than comparable securities
of U.S. issuers and, as such, their price changes may be more volatile.
Furthermore, foreign exchanges and broker-dealers are generally subject to less
government and exchange scrutiny and regulation than their American
counterparts. Brokerage commissions, dealer concessions and other transaction
costs may be higher on foreign markets than in the U.S. In addition, differences
in clearance and settlement procedures on foreign markets may occasion delays in
settlements of the Fund's trades effected in such markets. As such, the
inability to dispose of portfolio securities due to settlement delays could
result in losses to the Fund due to subsequent declines in value of such
securities and the inability of the Fund to make intended security purchases due
to settlement problems could result in a failure of the Fund to make potentially
advantageous investments. To the extent the Fund purchases Eurodollar
certificates of deposit issued by foreign branches of domestic United States
banks, consideration will be given to their domestic marketability, the lower
reserve requirements normally mandated for overseas banking operations, the
possible impact of interruptions in the flow of international currency
transactions and future international political and economic developments which
might adversely affect the payment of principal or interest.
Certain of the foreign markets in which the Fund may invest will be emerging
markets. These new and incompletely formed markets will have increased risk
levels above those occasioned by investing in foreign markets generally. The
types of these risks are set forth above. The Fund's management will take
cognizance of these risks in allocating any of the Fund's investments in either
fixed-income or equity securities issued by issuers in emerging market
countries.
LOWER RATED CONVERTIBLE SECURITIES. A portion of the convertible securities
in which the Fund may invest 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").
Convertible securities rated Baa by Moody's or BBB by Standard & Poor's have
speculative characteristics greater than those of more highly rated convertible
securities, while convertible securities rated Ba or BB or lower by Moody's and
Standard & Poor's, respectively, are considered to be speculative investments.
The Fund will not invest in convertible securities that are rated lower than B
by S&P or Moody's or, if not rated, determined to be of comparable quality by
the Investment Manager. The Fund will not invest in convertible securities that
are in default in payment of principal or interest. The ratings of convertible
securities by Moody's and Standard & Poor's are a generally accepted barometer
of credit risk. However, as the creditworthiness of issuers of lower-rated
securities is more problematical than that of issuers of higher-rated
securities, the achievement of the Fund's investment objective will be more
dependent upon the Investment Manager's own credit analysis than would be the
case with a mutual fund investing primarily in higher quality securities. The
Investment Manager will utilize a
7
<PAGE>
security's credit rating as simply one indication of an issuer's
creditworthiness and will principally rely upon its own analysis of any security
currently held by the Fund or potentially purchasable by the Fund for its
portfolio.
Because of the special nature of the Fund's permitted investments in lower
rated convertible securities, the Investment Manager must take account of
certain special considerations in assessing the risks associated with such
investments. Historically, 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 convertible 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.
FORWARD FOREIGN CURRENCY EXCHANGE CONTRACTS. The Fund may enter into forward
foreign currency exchange contracts ("forward contracts") in connection with its
foreign securities investments.
A 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.
The Fund will enter into forward contracts under various circumstances. When
the Fund enters into a contract for the purchase or sale of a security
denominated in a foreign currency, it may, for example, desire to "lock in" the
price of the security in U.S. dollars or some other foreign currency which the
Fund is temporarily holding in its portfolio. By entering into a forward
contract for the purchase or sale, for a fixed amount of dollars or other
currency, of the amount of foreign currency involved in the underlying security
transactions, the Fund will be able to protect itself against a possible loss
resulting from an adverse change in the relationship between the U.S. dollar or
other currency which is being used for the security purchase (by the Fund or the
counterparty) and the foreign currency in which the security is denominated
during the period between the date on which the security is purchased or sold
and the date on which payment is made or received.
At other times, when, for example, the Fund's Investment Manager believes
that the currency of a particular foreign country may suffer a substantial
decline against the U.S. dollar or some other foreign currency, the Fund may
enter into a forward contract to sell, for a fixed amount of dollars or other
currency, the amount of foreign currency approximating the value of some or all
of the Fund's securities holdings (or securities which the Fund has purchased
for its portfolio) denominated in such foreign currency. Under identical
circumstances, the Fund may enter into a forward contract to sell, for a fixed
amount of U.S. dollars or other currency, an amount of foreign currency other
than the currency in which the securities to be hedged are denominated
approximating the value of some or all of the portfolio securities to be hedged.
This method of hedging, called "cross-hedging," will be selected by the
Investment Manager when it is determined that the foreign currency in which the
portfolio securities are denominated has insufficient liquidity or is trading at
a discount as compared with some other foreign currency with which it tends to
move in tandem.
In addition, when the Fund's Investment Manager anticipates purchasing
securities at some time in the future, and wishes to lock in the current
exchange rate of the currency in which those securi-
8
<PAGE>
ties are denominated against the U.S. dollar or some other foreign currency, the
Fund may enter into a forward contract to purchase an amount of currency equal
to some or all of the value of the anticipated purchase, for a fixed amount of
U.S. dollars or other currency. The Fund may, however, close out the forward
contract without purchasing the security which was the subject of the
"anticipatory" hedge.
In all of the above circumstances, if the currency in which the Fund
securities holdings (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 Investment Manager. The Fund generally will not enter into a forward
contract with a term of greater than one year, although it may enter into
forward contracts for periods of up to five years. The Fund may be limited in
its ability to enter into hedging transactions involving forward contracts by
the Internal Revenue Code (the "Code") requirements relating to qualifications
as a regulated investment company (see "Dividends, Distributions and Taxes").
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 government securities or other 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 to minimize such 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 or delayed delivery 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
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<PAGE>
securities on a "when, as and if issued" basis may increase the volatility of
its net asset value.
PRIVATE PLACEMENTS. The Fund may invest up to 5% of its total assets in
securities which are subject to restrictions on resale because they have not
been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities
Act"), or which are otherwise not readily marketable. (Securities eligible for
resale pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act, and determined to be
liquid pursuant to the procedures discussed in the following paragraph, are not
subject to the foregoing restriction.) These securities are generally referred
to as private placements or restricted securities. Limitations on the resale of
such securities may have an adverse effect on their marketability, and may
prevent the Fund from disposing of them promptly at reasonable prices. The Fund
may have to bear the expense of registering such securities for resale and the
risk of substantial delays in effecting such registration.
The Securities and Exchange Commission has adopted Rule 144A under the
Securities Act, which permits the Fund to sell restricted securities to
qualified institutional buyers without limitation. The Investment Manager,
pursuant to procedures adopted by the Trustees of the Fund, will make a
determination as to the liquidity of each restricted security purchased by the
Fund. If a restricted security is determined to be "liquid," such security will
not be included within the category "illiquid securities," which under current
policy may not exceed 15% of the Fund's net assets. Investing in Rule 144A
securities could have the effect of increasing the level of Fund illiquidity to
the extent the Fund, at a particular point in time, may be unable to find
qualified institutional buyers interested in purchasing such securities.
INVESTMENT IN OTHER INVESTMENT VEHICLES. Under the Investment Company Act of
1940, as amended (the "1940 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 3% of its total assets in any one investment company, as long as such shares
do not represent more than 5% of the voting stock of the acquired investment
company at the time such shares are purchased. In addition, the Fund may invest
in real estate investment trusts, which pool investors' funds for investments
primarily in commercial real estate properties. Investment in other investment
companies may be the sole or most practical means by which the Fund may
participate in certain securities markets, and investment in real estate
investment trusts may be the most practical available means for the Fund to
invest in the real estate industry (the Fund is prohibited from investing in
real estate directly). As a shareholder in an investment company or real estate
investment trust, the Fund would bear its ratable share of that entity's
expenses, including its advisory and administration fees. At the same time the
Fund would continue to pay its own investment management fees and other
expenses, as a result of which the Fund and its shareholders in effect will be
absorbing duplicate levels of fees with respect to investments in other
investment companies and in real estate investment trusts.
ZERO COUPON SECURITIES. A portion of the fixed-income securities purchased
by the Fund may be zero coupon securities. Such securities are purchased at a
discount from their face amount, giving the purchaser the right to receive their
full value at maturity. The interest earned on such securities is, implicitly,
automatically compounded and paid out at maturity. While such compounding at a
constant rate eliminates the risk of receiving lower yields upon reinvestment of
interest if prevailing interest rates decline, the owner of a zero coupon
security will be unable to participate in higher yields upon reinvestment of
interest received on interest-paying securities if prevailing interest rates
rise.
A zero coupon security pays no interest to its holder during its life.
Therefore, to the extent the Fund invests in zero coupon securities, it will not
receive current cash available for distribution to shareholders. In addition,
zero coupon securities are subject to substantially greater price
fluctua-
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<PAGE>
tions 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.
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 foreign 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 foreign currencies, without limit, in order to hedge
against the decline in the value of a security or currency in which such
security is denominated (although such hedge is limited to the value of the
premium received), to close out long call option positions and to generate
income. 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 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 currency ("currency" futures), on U.S.
and foreign fixed-income securities ("interest rate" futures) and on such
indexes of U.S. or foreign 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 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.
11
<PAGE>
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 the daily limit on successive days,
then it may prove impossible to liquidate a futures position until the daily
limit moves have ceased.
Futures contracts and options transactions may be considered speculative in
nature and may involve greater risks than those customarily assumed by other
investment companies which do not invest in such instruments. One such risk is
that the Investment Manager could be incorrect in its expectations as to the
direction or extent of various interest rate or price movements or the time span
within which the movements take place. For example, if the Fund sold futures
contracts for the sale of securities in anticipation of an increase in interest
rates, and then interest rates went down instead, causing bond prices to rise,
the Fund would lose money on the sale. Another risk which will arise in
employing futures contracts 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.
PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT
The Fund's portfolio is actively managed by its Investment Manager with a
view to achieving the Fund's investment objective. In determining which
securities to purchase for the Fund or hold in the Fund's portfolio, the
Investment Manager will rely on information from various sources, including
research, analysis and appraisals of brokers and dealers, including Dean Witter
Reynolds Inc. ("DWR"), a broker-dealer affiliate of the Investment Manager, the
views of Trustees of the Fund and others regarding economic developments and
interest rate trends, and the Investment Manager's own analysis of factors it
deems relevant.
The Fund is managed within InterCapital's Growth and Income Group, which
manages equity funds and fund portfolios, with approximately $20 billion in
assets at April 30, 1996. Paul D. Vance, Senior Vice President of InterCapital
and a member of InterCapital's Growth and Income Group, has been the primary
portfolio manager of the Fund since its inception. Mr. Vance has been managing
portfolios comprised of equity securities at InterCapital for over five years.
Although the Fund does not engage in substantial short-term trading as a
means of achieving its investment objective, it may sell portfolio securities
without regard to the length of time they have been held, in accordance with the
investment policies described earlier. Pursuant to an order of the Securities
and Exchange Commission, the Fund may effect principal transactions in certain
money market instruments with DWR. In addition, the Fund may incur brokerage
commissions on transactions conducted through DWR.
INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The investment restrictions listed below are among the restrictions which
have been adopted by the Fund as fundamental policies. Under the 1940 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 1940 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
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<PAGE>
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. As to 75% of its total assets, invest more than 5% of the value of its
total assets in the securities of any one issuer (other than obligations issued
or guaranteed by the United States Government, its agencies or
instrumentalities).
2. Invest 25% or more of the value of its total assets in securities of
issuers in any one industry. This restriction does not apply to obligations
issued or guaranteed by the United States Government or its agencies or
instrumentalities.
3. Invest more than 5% of the value of its total assets in securities of
issuers having a record, together with predecessors, of less than three years of
continuous operation. This restriction shall not apply to any obligation issued
or guaranteed by the United States Government, its agencies or
instrumentalities.
4. As to 75% of its total assets, purchase more than 10% of the voting
securities, or more than 10% of any class of securities, of any issuer.
PURCHASE OF FUND SHARES
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Fund offers its shares for sale to the public on a continuous basis.
Pursuant to a Distribution Agreement between the Fund and Dean Witter
Distributors Inc. (the "Distributor"), an affiliate of the Investment Manager,
shares of the Fund are distri-
buted by the Distributor and offered by DWR and other dealers which have entered
into agreements with the Distributor ("Selected Broker-Dealers"). The principal
executive office of the Distributor is located at Two World Trade Center, New
York, New York 10048.
The minimum initial purchase is $1,000. Minimum subsequent purchases of $100
or more may be made by sending a check, payable to Dean Witter Global Dividend
Growth Securities, directly to Dean Witter Trust Company (the "Transfer Agent")
at P.O. Box 1040, Jersey City, NJ 07303 or by contacting an account executive of
DWR or of another Selected Broker-Dealer. The minimum initial purchase, in the
case of investments through EasyInvest-SM-, an automatic purchase plan (see
"Shareholder Services"), is $100, provided that the schedule of automatic
investments will result in investments totalling at least $1,000 within the
first twelve months. In the case of investments pursuant to Systematic Payroll
Deduction Plans (including Individual Retirement Plans), the Fund, in its
discretion, may accept investments without regard to any minimum amounts which
would otherwise be required if the Fund has reason to believe that additional
investments will increase the investment in all accounts under such Plans to at
least $1,000. Certificates for shares purchased will not be issued unless a
request is made by the shareholder in writing to the Transfer Agent. The
offering price will be the net asset value per share next determined following
receipt of an order (see "Determination of Net Asset Value").
Shares of the Fund are sold through the Distributor on a normal three
business day settlement basis; that is, payment is due on the third business day
(settlement date) after the order is placed with the Distributor. Shares of the
Fund purchased through the Distributor are entitled to any dividends declared
beginning on the next business day following settlement date. Since DWR and
other Selected Broker-Dealers forward investors' funds on settlement date, they
will benefit from the temporary use of the funds 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. While no sales charge is imposed at the time shares
13
<PAGE>
are purchased, a contingent deferred sales charge may be imposed at the time of
redemption (see "Redemptions and Repurchases"). Sales personnel are compensated
for selling shares of the Fund at the time of their sale by the Distributor
and/or Selected Broker-Dealer. In addition, some sales personnel of the Selected
Broker-Dealer will receive non-cash compensation in the form of trips to
educational and/or business seminars and merchandise as special sales
incentives. The Fund and the Distributor reserve the right to reject any
purchase orders.
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
The Fund has adopted a Plan of Distribution pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the
Act (the "Plan"), under which the Fund pays the Distributor a fee, which is
accrued daily and payable monthly, at an annual rate of 1.0% of the lesser of:
(a) the average daily aggregate gross sales of the Fund's shares since the
inception of the Fund (not including reinvestments of dividends or capital gains
distributions), less the average daily aggregate net asset value of the Fund's
shares redeemed since the Fund's inception upon which a contingent deferred
sales charge has been imposed or waived; or (b) the Fund's average daily net
assets. This fee is treated by the Fund as an expense in the year it is accrued.
Amounts paid under the Plan are paid to the Distributor for services
provided and the expenses borne by the Distributor and others in the
distribution of the Fund's shares, including the payment of commissions for
sales of the Fund's shares and incentive compensation to and expenses of DWR's
account executives and others who engage in or support distribution of shares or
who service shareholder accounts, including overhead and telephone expenses;
printing and distribution of prospectuses and reports used in connection with
the offering of the Fund's shares to other than current shareholders; and
preparation, printing and distribution of sales literature and advertising
materials. In addition, the Distributor may utilize fees paid pursuant to the
Plan to compensate DWR and other Selected Broker-Dealers for their opportunity
costs in advancing such amounts, which compensation would be in the form of a
carrying charge on any unreimbursed expenses incurred by the Distributor.
For the fiscal year ended March 31, 1996, the Fund accrued payments under
the Plan amounting to $18,919,175, which amount is equal to 0.89% of the Fund's
average daily net assets for the fiscal year. These payments accrued under the
Plan were calculated pursuant to clause (a) of the compensation formula under
the Plan. Of the amount accrued under the Plan, 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.
At any given time, the expenses in distributing shares of the Fund may be in
excess of the total of (i) the payments made by the Fund pursuant to the Plan,
and (ii) the proceeds of contingent deferred sales charges paid by investors
upon the redemption of shares (see "Redemptions and Repurchases--Contingent
Deferred Sales Charge"). For example, if the Distributor incurred $1 million in
expenses in distributing shares of the Fund and $750,000 had been received by
the Distributor as described in (i) and (ii) above, the excess expense would
amount to $250,000. The Distributor has advised the Fund that such excess
amounts, including the carrying charge described above, totalled $62,099,978 at
March 31, 1996, which was equal to 2.55% of the Fund's net assets on such date.
Because there is no requirement under the Plan that the Distributor be
reimbursed for all expenses or any requirement that the Plan be continued from
year to year, such excess amount does not constitute a liability of the Fund.
Although there is no legal obligation for the Fund to pay expenses incurred in
excess of payments made to the Distributor under the Plan, and the proceeds of
contingent deferred sales charges paid by investors upon
14
<PAGE>
redemption of shares, if for any reason the Plan is terminated, the Trustees
will consider at that time the manner in which to treat such expenses. Any
cumulative expenses incurred, but not yet recovered through distribution fees or
contingent deferred sales charges, may or may not be recovered through future
distribution fees or contingent deferred sales charges.
DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE
The net asset value per share of the Fund is determined once daily at 4:00
p.m., New York time (or, on days when the New York Stock Exchange closes prior
to 4:00 p.m., at such earlier time), on each day that the New York Stock
Exchange is open by taking the value of all assets of the 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 or quoted by NASDAQ is valued at its latest
sale price on that exchange or quotation service; if there were no sales that
day, the security is valued at the latest bid price (in cases where a security
is traded on more than one exchange, the security is valued on the exchange
designated as the primary market pursuant to procedures adopted by the
Trustees); and (2) all portfolio securities for which over-the-counter market
quotations are readily available are valued at the latest bid price. When market
quotations are not readily available, including circumstances under which it is
determined by the Investment Manager that sale and bid prices are not reflective
of a security's market value, portfolio securities are valued at their fair
value as determined in good faith under procedures established by and under the
general supervision of the Board of Trustees.
Certain of the Fund's portfolio securities may be valued by an outside
pricing service approved by the Fund's Trustees. The pricing service may utilize
a matrix system incorporating security quality, maturity and coupon as the
evaluation model parameters, and/or research evaluations by its staff, including
review of broker-dealer market price quotations, in determining what it believes
is the fair valuation of the portfolio securities valued by such pricing
service.
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.
Generally, trading in foreign securities, as well as corporate bonds, United
States government securities and money market instruments, is substantially
completed each day at various times prior to the close of the New York Stock
Exchange. The values of such securities used in computing the net asset value of
the Fund's shares are determined as of such times. Foreign currency exchange
rates are also generally determined prior to the close of the New York Stock
Exchange. Occasionally, events which affect the values of such securities and
such exchange rates may occur between the times at which they are determined and
the close of the New York Stock Exchange and will therefore not be reflected in
the computation of the Fund's net asset value. If events materially affecting
the value of such securities occur during such period, then these securities
will be valued at their fair value as determined in good faith under procedures
established by and under the supervision of the Trustees.
15
<PAGE>
SHAREHOLDER SERVICES
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AUTOMATIC INVESTMENT OF DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS. All income dividends
and capital gains distributions are automatically paid in full and fractional
shares of the Fund (or, if specified by the shareholder, any other open-end
investment company for which InterCapital serves as investment manager
(collectively, with the Fund, the "Dean Witter Funds")), unless the shareholder
requests that they be paid in cash. Shares so acquired are not subject to the
imposition of a contingent deferred sales charge upon their redemption (see
"Redemptions and Repurchases").
EASYINVEST-SM-. Shareholders may subscribe to EasyInvest, an automatic
purchase plan which provides for any amount from $100 to $5,000 to be
transferred automatically from a checking or savings account, on a semi-monthly,
monthly or quarterly basis, to the Fund's Transfer Agent for investment in
shares of the Fund (see "Purchase of Fund Shares" and "Redemptions and
Repurchases-- Involuntary Redemption").
INVESTMENT OF DIVIDENDS OR DISTRIBUTIONS RECEIVED IN CASH. Any shareholder
who receives a cash payment representing a dividend or capital gains
distribution may invest such dividend or distribution at the net asset value per
share next determined after receipt by the Transfer Agent, by returning the
check or the proceeds to the Transfer Agent within 30 days after the payment
date. Shares so acquired are not subject to the imposition of a contingent
deferred sales charge upon their redemption (see "Redemptions and Repurchases").
SYSTEMATIC WITHDRAWAL PLAN. A systematic withdrawal plan (the "Withdrawal
Plan") is available for shareholders who own or purchase shares of the Fund
having a minimum value of $10,000 based upon the then current net asset value.
The Withdrawal Plan provides for monthly or quarterly (March, June, September
and December) checks in any dollar amount, not less than $25 or in any whole
percentage of the account balance, on an annualized basis. Any applicable
contingent deferred sales charge will be imposed on shares redeemed under the
Withdrawal Plan (see "Redemptions and Repurchases--Contingent Deferred Sales
Charge"). Therefore, any shareholder participating in the Withdrawal Plan will
have sufficient shares redeemed from his or her account so that the proceeds
(net of any applicable contingent deferred sales charge) to the shareholder will
be the designated monthly or quarterly amount.
TAX-SHELTERED RETIREMENT PLANS. Retirement plans are available for use by
corporations, the self-employed, eligible Individual Retirement Accounts and
Custodial Accounts under Section 403(b)(7) of the Internal Revenue Code.
Adoption of such plans should be on advice of legal counsel or tax adviser.
Shareholders should contact their DWR or other Selected Broker-Dealer
account executive or the Transfer Agent for further information about any of the
above services.
EXCHANGE PRIVILEGE
The Fund makes available to its shareholders an "Exchange Privilege"
allowing the exchange of shares of the Fund for shares of other Dean Witter
Funds sold with a contingent deferred sales charge ("CDSC funds"), for shares of
Dean Witter Short-Term U.S. Treasury Trust, Dean Witter Intermediate Term U.S.
Treasury Trust, Dean Witter Limited Term Municipal Trust, Dean Witter Short-Term
Bond Fund, Dean Witter Balanced Income Fund, Dean Witter Balanced Growth Fund
and five Dean Witter Funds which are money market funds (the foregoing eleven
non-CDSC funds are hereinafter collectively referred to in this section as the
"Exchange Funds"). Exchanges may be made after the shares of the Fund acquired
by purchase (not by exchange or dividend reinvestment) have been held for thirty
days. There is no waiting period for exchanges of shares acquired by exchange or
dividend reinvestment.
An exchange to another CDSC fund or to any Exchange Fund that is not a money
market fund is
16
<PAGE>
on the basis of the next calculated net asset value per share of each fund after
the exchange order is received. When exchanging into a money market fund from
the Fund, shares of the Fund are redeemed out of the Fund at their next
calculated net asset value and the proceeds of the redemption are used to
purchase shares of the money market fund at their net asset value determined the
following business day. Subsequent exchanges between any of the money market
funds and any of the CDSC funds can be effected on the same basis. No contingent
deferred sales charge ("CDSC") is imposed at the time of any exchange, although
any applicable CDSC will be imposed upon ultimate redemption. Shares of the Fund
acquired in exchange for shares of another CDSC fund having a different CDSC
schedule than that of this Fund will be subject to the CDSC schedule of this
Fund, even if such shares are subsequently re-exchanged for shares of the CDSC
fund originally purchased. During the period of time the shareholder remains in
the Exchange Fund (calculated from the last day of the month in which the
Exchange Fund shares were acquired), the holding period (for the purpose of
determining the rate of the CDSC) is frozen. If those shares are subsequently
re-exchanged for shares of a CDSC fund, the holding period previously frozen
when the first exchange was made resumes on the last day of the month in which
shares of a CDSC fund are reacquired. Thus, the CDSC is based upon the time
(calculated as described above) the shareholder was invested in a CDSC fund (see
"Redemptions and Repurchases--Contingent Deferred Sales Charge"). However, in
the case of shares exchanged into an Exchange Fund, upon a redemption of shares
which results in a CDSC being imposed, a credit (not to exceed the amount of the
CDSC) will be given in an amount equal to the Exchange Fund 12b-1 distribution
fees incurred on or after that date which are attributable to those shares.
(Exchange Fund 12b-1 distribution fees are described in the prospectuses for
those funds.)
In addition, shares of the Fund may be acquired in exchange for shares of
Dean Witter Funds sold with a front-end sales charge ("front-end sales charge
funds"), but shares of the Fund, however acquired, may not be exchanged for
shares of front-end sales charge funds. Shares of a CDSC fund acquired in
exchange for shares of a front-end sales charge fund (or in exchange for shares
of other Dean Witter Funds for which shares of a front-end sales charge fund
have been exchanged) are not subject to any CDSC upon their redemption.
Purchases and exchanges should be made for investment purposes only. A
pattern of frequent exchanges may be deemed by the Investment Manager to be
abusive and contrary to the best interests of the Fund's other shareholders and,
at the Investment Manager's discretion, may be limited by the Fund's refusal to
accept additional purchases and/ or exchanges from the investor. Although the
Fund does not have any specific definition of what constitutes a pattern of
frequent exchanges, and will consider all relevant factors in determining
whether a particular situation is abusive and contrary to the best interests of
the Fund and its other shareholders, investors should be aware that the Fund and
each of the other Dean Witter Funds may in their discretion limit or otherwise
restrict the number of times this Exchange Privilege may be exercised by any
investor. Any such restriction will be made by the Fund on a prospective basis
only, upon notice of the shareholder not later than ten days following such
shareholder's most recent exchange.
The Exchange Privilege may be terminated or revised at any time by the Fund
and/or any of such Dean Witter Funds for which shares of the Fund have been
exchanged, upon such notice as may be required by applicable regulatory
agencies. Shareholders maintaining margin accounts with DWR or another Selected
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 one and examine it carefully
17
<PAGE>
before investing. Exchanges are subject to the minimum investment requirement
and any other conditions imposed by each fund. In the case of any shareholder
holding a share certificate or certificates, no exchanges may be made until the
share certificate(s) have been received by the Transfer Agent and deposited in
the shareholder's account. An exchange will be treated for federal income tax
purposes the same as a repurchase or redemption of shares, on which the
shareholder may realize a capital gain or loss. However, the ability to deduct
capital losses on an exchange may be limited in situations where there is an
exchange of shares within ninety days after the shares are purchased. The
Exchange Privilege is only available in states where an exchange may legally be
made.
If DWR or another Selected Broker-Dealer is the current dealer of record and
its account numbers are part of the account information, shareholders may
initiate an exchange of shares of the Fund for shares of any of the Dean Witter
Funds (for which the Exchange Privilege is available) pursuant to this Exchange
Privilege by contacting their account executive (no Exchange Privilege
Authorization Form is required). Other shareholders (and those shareholders who
are clients of DWR or other Selected Broker-Dealers but who wish to make
exchanges directly by writing or telephoning the Transfer Agent) must complete
and forward to the Transfer Agent an Exchange Privilege Authorization Form,
copies of which may be obtained from the Transfer Agent, to initiate an
exchange. If the Authorization Form is used, exchanges may be made in writing or
by contacting the Transfer Agent at (800) 869-NEWS (toll-free).
The Fund will employ reasonable procedures to confirm that exchange
instructions communicated over the telephone are genuine. Such procedures may
include requiring various forms of personal identification such as name, mailing
address, social security or other tax identification number and DWR or other
Selected Broker-Dealer account number (if any). Telephone instructions may also
be recorded. If such procedures are not employed, the Fund may be liable for any
losses due to unauthorized or fraudulent instructions.
Telephone exchange instructions will be accepted if received by the Transfer
Agent between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. New York time, on any day the New York
Stock Exchange is open. Any shareholder wishing to make an exchange who has
previously filed an Exchange Privilege Authorization Form and who is unable to
reach the Fund by telephone should contact his or her DWR or other Selected
Broker-Dealer account executive, if appropriate, or make a written exchange
request. Shareholders are advised that during periods of drastic economic or
market changes, it is possible that the telephone exchange procedures may be
difficult to implement, although this has not been the experience with the Dean
Witter Funds in the past.
For further information regarding the Exchange Privilege, shareholders
should contact their DWR or other Selected Broker-Dealer account executive or
the Transfer Agent.
REDEMPTIONS AND REPURCHASES
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
REDEMPTION. Shares of the Fund can be redeemed for cash at any time at the
net asset value per share next determined; however, such redemption proceeds may
be reduced by the amount of any applicable contingent deferred sales charges
(see below). If shares are held in a shareholder's account without a share
certificate, a written request for redemption to the Fund's Transfer Agent at
P.O. Box 983, Jersey City, NJ 07303 is required. If certificates are held by the
shareholder, the shares may be redeemed by surrendering the certificates with a
written request for redemption along with any additional documentation required
by the Transfer Agent.
CONTINGENT DEFERRED SALES CHARGE. Shares of the Fund which are held for six
years or more after purchase (calculated from the last day of the month
18
<PAGE>
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 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 and/or shares acquired in exchange
for shares of Dean Witter Funds sold with a front-end sales charge or of other
Dean Witter Funds acquired in exchange for such shares. Moreover, in determining
whether a CDSC is applicable it will be assumed that amounts described in (i),
(ii) and (iii) above (in that order) are redeemed first. In addition, no CDSC
will be imposed on redemptions of shares which were purchased by the employee
benefit plans established by DWR and SPS Transaction Services, Inc. (an
affiliate of DWR) for their employees as qualified under Section 401(k) of the
Internal Revenue Code.
In addition, the CDSC, if otherwise applicable, will be waived in the case
of:
(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
Investment Manager or its subsidiary, Dean Witter Services Company Inc., as
self-directed investment alternatives and for which Dean Witter Trust Company,
an affiliate of the Investment Manager, serves as recordkeeper or Trustee
("Eligible 401(k) Plan"), provided that either: (A) the plan continues to be an
Eligible 401(k) Plan after the redemption; or (B) the redemption is in
connection with the complete termination of the plan involving the distribution
of all plan assets to participants.
With reference to (1) above, for the purpose of determining disability, the
Distributor utilizes the definition of disability contained in Section 72(m)(7)
19
<PAGE>
of the Internal Revenue Code, which relates to the inability to engage in
gainful employment. With reference to (2) above, the term "distribution" does
not encompass a direct transfer of IRA, 403(b) Custodial Account or retirement
plan assets to a successor custodian or trustee. All waivers will be granted
only following receipt by the Distributor of confirmation of the shareholder's
entitlement.
REPURCHASE. DWR and other Selected Broker-Dealers are authorized to
repurchase shares represented by a share certificate which is delivered to any
of their offices. Shares held in a shareholder's account without a share
certificate may also be repurchased by DWR and other Selected Broker-Dealers
upon the telephonic or telegraphic request of the shareholder. The repurchase
price is the net asset value next computed (see "Purchase of Fund Shares") after
such repurchase order is received by DWR and other Selected Broker-Dealers,
reduced by any applicable CDSC.
The CDSC, if any, will be the only fee imposed upon redemption by either the
Fund, the Distributor, DWR or other Selected Broker-Dealer. The offer by DWR and
other Selected Broker-Dealers to repurchase shares may be suspended without
notice by them at any time. In that event, shareholders may redeem their shares
through the Fund's Transfer Agent as set forth above under "Redemption."
PAYMENT FOR SHARES REDEEMED OR REPURCHASED. Payment for shares presented
for repurchase or redemption will be made by check within seven days after
receipt by the Transfer Agent of the certificate and/or written request in good
order. Such payment may be postponed or the right of redemption suspended under
unusual circumstances; e.g., when normal trading is not taking place on the New
York Stock Exchange. If the shares to be redeemed have recently been purchased
by check, payment of the redemption proceeds may be delayed for the minimum time
needed to verify that the check used for investment has been honored (not more
than fifteen days from the time of receipt of the check by the Transfer Agent).
Shareholders maintaining margin accounts with DWR or another Selected
Broker-Dealer are referred to their account executive regarding restrictions on
redemption of shares of the Fund pledged in the margin account.
REINSTATEMENT PRIVILEGE. A shareholder who has had his or her shares
redeemed or repurchased and has not previously exercised this reinstatement
privilege may, within thirty days after the date of the redemption or
repurchase, reinstate any portion or all of the proceeds of such redemption or
repurchase in shares of the Fund at net asset value next determined after a
reinstatement request, together with the proceeds, is received by the Transfer
Agent and receive a pro-rata credit for any CDSC paid in connection with such
redemption or repurchase.
INVOLUNTARY REDEMPTION. The Fund reserves the right to redeem, on sixty
days' notice and at net asset value, the shares (other than shares held in an
Individual Retirement Account or Custodial Account under Section 403(b)(7) of
the Internal Revenue Code) of any shareholder whose shares have a value of less
than $100 as a result of redemptions or repurchases 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 him or her sixty days to
make an additional investment in an amount which will increase the value of his
or her account to at least the applicable amount before the redemption is
processed. No CDSC will be imposed on any involuntary redemption.
20
<PAGE>
DIVIDENDS, DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS. The Fund intends to pay dividends and to
distribute substantially all of its net investment income quarterly. The Fund
intends to distribute capital gains, if any, once each year. The Fund may,
however, determine either to distribute or to retain all or part of any
long-term capital gains in any year for reinvestment.
All dividends and any capital gains distributions will be paid in additional
Fund shares and automatically credited to the shareholder's account without
issuance of a share certificate unless the shareholder requests in writing that
all dividends and/or distributions be paid in cash. (See "Shareholder
Services--Automatic Investment of Dividends and Distributions".)
TAXES. Because the Fund intends to distribute all of its net investment
income and net short-term capital gains to shareholders and otherwise remain
qualified as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Code, it
is not expected that the Fund will be required to pay any Federal income tax on
any such income and capital gains, other than any tax resulting from investing
in passive foreign investment companies, as discussed below. Shareholders will
normally have to pay Federal income taxes, and any state and local income taxes,
on the dividends and distributions they receive from the Fund.
Distributions of net investment income and net short-term capital gains are
taxable to the shareholder as ordinary dividend income regardless of whether the
shareholder receives such distributions 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. Some part of such dividends and distributions may
be eligible for the Federal dividends received deduction available to the Fund's
corporate shareholders.
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.
After the end of the calendar year, shareholders will receive full
information on their dividends and capital gains distributions for tax purposes,
including information as to the portion taxable as ordinary income, the portion
taxable as long-term capital gains, and the amount of dividends eligible for the
Federal dividends received deduction available to corporations. 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 gains received by the Fund may give rise to
withholding and other taxes imposed by foreign countries. If it qualifies for
and makes 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 taxes in computing the amount of its distributable income.
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 the total return of the Fund is based on historical
earnings and is not intended to indicate future per-
21
<PAGE>
formance. The "average annual total return" of the Fund refers to a figure
reflecting the average annualized percentage increase (or decrease) in the value
of an initial investment in the Fund of $1,000 over periods of one 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 incurred by shareholders,
for the stated periods. It also assumes reinvestment of all dividends and
distributions paid by the Fund.
In addition to the foregoing, the Fund may advertise its total return over
different periods of time by means of aggregate, average, year-by-year or other
types of total return figures. The Fund may also advertise the growth of
hypothetical investments of $10,000, $50,000 and $100,000 in shares of the Fund.
Such calculations may or may not reflect the deduction of the contingent
deferred sales charge which, if reflected, would reduce the performance quoted.
The Fund from time to time may also advertise its performance relative to
certain performance rankings and indexes compiled by independent organizations,
such as mutual fund performance rankings of Lipper Analytical Services, Inc.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
VOTING RIGHTS. All shares of beneficial interest of the Fund are of $0.01
par value and are equal as to earnings, assets and voting privileges.
The Fund is not required to hold Annual Meetings of Shareholders and in
ordinary circumstances the Fund does not intend to hold such meetings. The
Trustees may call Special Meetings of Shareholders for action by shareholder
vote as may be required by the Act or the Declaration of Trust.
Under Massachusetts law, shareholders of a business trust may, under certain
circumstances, be held personally liable as partners for obligations of the
Fund. However, the Declaration of Trust contains an express disclaimer of
shareholder liability for acts or obligations of the Fund, requires that Fund
obligations include such disclaimer, and provides for indemnification out of the
Fund's property for any shareholder held personally liable for the obligations
of the Fund. Thus, the risk of a shareholder incurring financial loss on account
of shareholder liability is limited to circumstances in which the Fund itself
would be unable to meet its obligations. Given the above limitations on
shareholder personal liability and the nature of the Fund's assets and
operations, the possibility of the Fund being unable to meet its obligations is
remote and, in the opinion of Massachusetts counsel to the Fund, the risk to
Fund shareholders of personal liability is remote.
CODE OF ETHICS. Directors, officers and employees of InterCapital, Dean
Witter Services Company Inc. and the Distributor are subject to a strict Code of
Ethics adopted by those companies. The Code of Ethics is intended to ensure that
the interests of shareholders and other clients are placed ahead of any personal
interest, that no undue personal benefit is obtained from a person's employment
activities and that actual and potential conflicts of interest are avoided. To
achieve these goals and comply with regulatory requirements, the Code of Ethics
requires, among other things, that personal securities transactions by employees
of the companies be subject to an advance clearance process to monitor that no
Dean Witter Fund is engaged at the same time in a purchase or sale of the same
security. The Code of Ethics bans the purchase of securities in an initial
public offering, and also prohibits engaging in futures and option transactions
and profiting on short-term trading (that is, a purchase within sixty days of a
sale or a sale within sixty days of a purchase) of a security. In addition,
investment personnel may not purchase or sell a security for their personal
account within
22
<PAGE>
thirty days before or after any transaction in any Dean Witter Fund managed by
them. Any violations of the Code of Ethics are subject to sanctions, including
reprimand, demotion or suspension or termination of employment. The Code of
Ethics comports with regulatory requirements and the recommendations in the 1994
report by the Investment
Company Institute Advisory Group on Personal Investing.
SHAREHOLDER INQUIRIES. All inquiries regarding the Fund should be directed
to the Fund at the telephone numbers or address set forth on the front cover of
this Prospectus.
23
<PAGE>
Dean Witter
Global Dividend Growth Securities
Dean Witter
Two World Trade Center
New York, New York 10048
TRUSTEES Global Dividend
Michael Bozic Growth
Charles A. Fiumefreddo Securities
Edwin J. Garn
John R. Haire
Dr. Manuel H. Johnson
Paul Kolton
Michael E. Nugent
Philip J. Purcell
John L. Schroeder
OFFICERS
Charles A. Fiumefreddo
Chairman and Chief Executive
Officer
Sheldon Curtis
Vice President, Secretary and
General Counsel
Paul D. Vance
Vice President
Thomas F. Caloia
Treasurer
CUSTODIAN
The Chase Manhattan Bank
One Chase Plaza
New York, New York 10081
TRANSFER AGENT AND
DIVIDEND DISBURSING AGENT
Dean Witter Trust Company
Harborside Financial Center
Plaza Two
Jersey City, New Jersey 07311
INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
Price Waterhouse LLP
1177 Avenue of the Americas
New York, New York 10036
INVESTMENT MANAGER
Dean Witter InterCapital Inc.
PROSPECTUS -- MAY 28, 1996
<PAGE>
STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
MAY 28, 1996
DEAN WITTER
GLOBAL DIVIDEND
GROWTH SECURITIES
- ------------------------------------------------------------
Dean Witter Global Dividend Growth Securities (the "Fund") is an open-end,
diversified management investment company, whose investment objective is to
provide reasonable current income and long-term growth of income and capital.
The Fund invests primarily in common stock of issuers worldwide, with a record
of paying dividends and the potential for increasing dividends. (See "Investment
Practices and Policies".)
A Prospectus for the Fund dated May 28, 1996, which provides the basic
information you should know before investing in the Fund, may be obtained
without charge from the Fund at the address or telephone numbers listed below,
from the Fund's Distributor, Dean Witter Distributors Inc., or from Dean Witter
Reynolds Inc. at any of its branch offices. This Statement of Additional
Information is not a Prospectus. It contains information in addition to and more
detailed than that set forth in the Prospectus. It is intended to provide
additional information regarding the activities and operations of the Fund, and
should be read in conjunction with the Prospectus.
Dean Witter
Global Dividend Growth Securities
Two World Trade Center
New York, New York 10048
(212) 392-2550 or
(800) 869-NEWS (toll-free)
<PAGE>
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
The Fund and its Management............................................................ 3
Trustees and Officers.................................................................. 6
Investment Practices and Policies...................................................... 12
Investment Restrictions................................................................ 28
Portfolio Transactions and Brokerage................................................... 29
The Distributor........................................................................ 31
Determination of Net Asset Value....................................................... 34
Shareholder Services................................................................... 34
Redemptions and Repurchases............................................................ 39
Dividends, Distributions and Taxes..................................................... 42
Performance Information................................................................ 43
Description of Shares.................................................................. 44
Custodian and Transfer Agent........................................................... 45
Independent Accountants................................................................ 45
Reports to Shareholders................................................................ 45
Legal Counsel.......................................................................... 45
Experts................................................................................ 45
Registration Statement................................................................. 45
Financial Statements--March 31, 1996................................................... 46
Report of Independent Accountants...................................................... 60
</TABLE>
2
<PAGE>
THE FUND AND ITS MANAGEMENT
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
THE FUND
The Fund is a trust of the type commonly known as a "Massachusetts business
trust" and was organized under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts on
January 12, 1988.
THE INVESTMENT MANAGER
Dean Witter InterCapital Inc. (the "Investment Manager" or "InterCapital"),
a Delaware corporation, whose address is Two World Trade Center, New York, New
York 10048, is the Fund's Investment Manager. InterCapital is a wholly-owned
subsidiary of Dean Witter, Discover & Co. ("DWDC"), a Delaware corporation. In
an internal reorganization which took place in January, 1993, InterCapital
assumed the investment advisory, administrative and management activities
previously performed by the InterCapital Division of Dean Witter Reynolds Inc.
("DWR"), a broker-dealer affiliate of InterCapital. (As hereinafter used in this
Statement of Additional Information, the terms "InterCapital" and "Investment
Manager" refer to DWR's InterCapital Division prior to the Internal
reorganization and to Dean Witter InterCapital Inc. thereafter.) The daily
management of the Fund and research relating to the Fund's portfolio are
conducted by or under the direction of officers of the Fund and of the
Investment Manager, subject to review of investments by the Fund's Board of
Trustees. In addition, Trustees of the Fund provide guidance on economic factors
and interest rate trends. Information as to these Trustees and Officers is
contained under the caption "Trustees and Officers."
InterCapital is also the Investment Manager of the following investment
companies: Active Assets Money Trust, Active Assets Tax-Free Trust, Active
Assets California Tax-Free Trust, Active Assets Government Securities Trust,
Dean Witter Liquid Asset Fund Inc., InterCapital Income Securities Inc.,
InterCapital California Insured Municipal Income Trust, InterCapital Insured
Municipal Income Trust, Dean Witter High Yield Securities Inc., Dean Witter
Tax-Free Daily Income Trust, Dean Witter Developing Growth Securities Trust,
Dean Witter Tax-Exempt Securities Trust, Dean Witter Natural Resource
Development Securities Inc., Dean Witter Dividend Growth Securities Inc., Dean
Witter American Value Fund, Dean Witter U.S. Government Money Market Trust, Dean
Witter Variable Investment Series, Dean Witter World Wide Investment Trust, Dean
Witter Select Municipal Reinvestment Fund, Dean Witter U.S. Government
Securities Trust, Dean Witter California Tax-Free Income Fund, Dean Witter New
York Tax-Free Income Fund, Dean Witter Convertible Securities Trust, Dean Witter
Federal Securities Trust, Dean Witter Value-Added Market Series, High Income
Advantage Trust, High Income Advantage Trust II, High Income Advantage Trust
III, Dean Witter Government Income Trust, InterCapital Insured Municipal Bond
Trust, InterCapital Quality Municipal Investment Trust, Dean Witter Utilities
Fund, Dean Witter Strategist Fund, Dean Witter California Tax-Free Daily Income
Trust, Dean Witter World Wide Income Trust, Dean Witter Intermediate Income
Securities, Dean Witter Capital Growth Securities, Dean Witter European Growth
Fund Inc., Dean Witter Precious Metals and Minerals Trust, Dean Witter New York
Municipal Money Market Trust, Dean Witter Global Short-Term Income Fund Inc.,
Dean Witter Pacific Growth Fund Inc., Dean Witter Premier Income Trust, Dean
Witter Short-Term U.S. Treasury Trust, InterCapital Insured Municipal Trust,
InterCapital Quality Municipal Income Trust, Dean Witter Diversified Income
Trust, Dean Witter Health Sciences Trust, Dean Witter Global Dividend Growth
Securities, InterCapital California Quality Municipal Securities, InterCapital
Quality Municipal Securities, InterCapital New York Quality Municipal
Securities, InterCapital Insured Municipal Securities, InterCapital Insured
California Municipal Securities, Dean Witter Limited Term Municipal Trust, Dean
Witter Short-Term Bond Fund, Dean Witter Retirement Series, Dean Witter National
Municipal Trust, Dean Witter High Income Securities, Dean Witter International
SmallCap Fund, Dean Witter Mid-Cap Growth Fund, Dean Witter Select Dimensions
Investment Series, Dean Witter Global Asset Allocation Fund, Dean Witter
Balanced Income Fund, Dean Witter Balanced Growth Fund, Municipal Income Trust,
Municipal Income Trust II, Municipal Income Trust III, Municipal Income
Opportunities Trust, Municipal Income Opportunities Trust II, Municipal Income
Opportunities Trust III, Prime Income Trust, Municipal Premium Income Trust and
Dean Witter Hawaii Municipal Trust, Dean Witter Information Fund, Dean Witter
Intermediate Term U.S. Treasury Trust, Dean Witter Japan Fund and Dean Witter
Income Builder Fund. The foregoing Investment compa-
3
<PAGE>
nies, together with the Fund, are collectively referred to as the Dean Witter
Funds. In addition, Dean Witter Services Company Inc. ("DWSC"), a wholly-owned
subsidiary of Intercapital, serves as manager for the following Investment
companies for which TCW Funds Management, Inc. is the investment adviser: TCW/DW
Core Equity Trust, TCW/DW North American Government Income Trust, TCW/DW Latin
American Growth Fund, TCW/DW Income and Growth Fund, TCW/DW Small Cap Growth
Fund, TCW/DW Balanced Fund, TCW/DW Term Trust 2000, TCW/DW Term Trust 2002,
TCW/DW Term Trust 2003, TCW/DW Emerging Markets Opportunities Trust, TCW/DW
Total Return Trust and TCW/DW Mid-Cap Equity Trust (the "TCW/DW Funds").
InterCapital also serves as: (i) sub-adviser to Templeton Global Opportunities
Trust, an open-end investment company; (ii) administrator of The BlackRock
Strategic Term Trust Inc., a closed-end investment company; and (iii)
sub-administrator of Mass Mutual Participation Investors and Templeton Global
Governments Income Trust, closed-end investment companies.
Pursuant to an Investment Management Agreement (the "Agreement") with the
Investment Manager, the Fund has retained the Investment Manager to manage the
Investment of the Fund's assets, including the placing of orders for the
purchase and sale of portfolio securities. The Investment Manager obtains and
evaluates such information and advice relating to the economy, securities
markets, and specific securities as it considers necessary or useful to
continuously manage the assets of the Fund in a manner consistent with its
investment objective.
Under the terms of the Agreement, in addition to managing the Fund's
investments, the Investment Manager maintains certain of the Fund's books and
records and furnishes, at its own expense, such office space, facilities,
equipment, clerical help and bookkeeping and certain legal services as the Fund
may reasonably require in the conduct of its business, including the preparation
of prospectuses, statements of additional information, proxy statements and
reports required to be filed with federal and state securities commissions
(except insofar as the participation or assistance of independent accountants
and attorneys is, in the opinion of the Investment Manager, necessary or
desirable). In addition, the Investment Manager pays the salaries of all
personnel, including officers of the Fund, who are employees of the Investment
Manager. The Investment Manager also bears the cost of telephone service, heat,
light, power and other utilities provided to the Fund. The Investment Manager
has retained DWSC to perform its administrative services under the Agreement.
Expenses not expressly assumed by the Investment Manager under the Agreement
or by the Distributor of the Fund's shares, Dean Witter Distributors Inc.
("Distributors" or the "Distributor"), will be paid by the Fund. The expenses
borne by the Fund include, but are not limited to: expenses of the Plan of
Distribution pursuant to Rule 12b-1 (see "The Distributor"); charges and
expenses of any registrar, custodian; stock transfer and dividend disbursing
agent; brokerage commissions; taxes; engraving and printing of share
certificates; registration costs of the Fund and its shares under federal and
state securities laws; the cost and expense of printing, including typesetting,
and distributing Prospectuses and Statements of Additional Information of the
Fund and supplements thereto to the Fund's shareholders; all expenses of
shareholders' and trustees' meetings and of preparing, printing and mailing of
proxy statements and reports to shareholders; fees and travel expenses of
trustees or members of any advisory board or committee who are not employees of
the Investment Manager or any corporate affiliate of the Investment Manager; all
expenses incident to any dividend, withdrawal or redemption options; charges and
expenses of any outside service used for pricing of the Fund's shares; fees and
expenses of legal counsel, including counsel to the trustees who are not
interested persons of the Fund or of the Investment Manager (not including
compensation or expenses of attorneys who are employees of the Investment
Manager) and independent accountants; membership dues of industry associations;
interest on Fund borrowings; postage; insurance premiums on property or
personnel (including officers and trustees) of the Fund which inure to its
benefit; extraordinary expenses including, but not limited to, legal claims and
liabilities and litigation costs and any indemnification relating thereto
(depending upon the nature of the legal claim, liability or lawsuit); and all
other costs of the Fund's operation.
Pursuant to the Agreement, total operating expenses of the Fund are subject
to applicable limitations under rules and regulations of states where the Fund
is authorized to sell its shares. Therefore, operating expenses are effectively
subject to the most restrictive of such limitations as the same may be
4
<PAGE>
amended from time to time. Presently, the most restrictive limitation is as
follows. If, in any fiscal year, the Fund's total operating expenses, exclusive
of taxes, interest, brokerage fees, distribution fees and extraordinary expenses
(to the extent permitted by applicable state securities laws and regulations),
exceed 2 1/2% of the first $30,000,000 of average daily net assets, 2% of the
next $70,000,000 and 1 1/2% of any excess over $100,000,000, the Investment
Manager will reimburse the Fund for the amount of such excess. Such amount, if
any, will be calculated daily and credited on a monthly basis. The Fund did not
exceed such limitation or the then existing most restrictive limitation during
the fiscal year ended March 31, 1996.
The Agreement provides that in the absence of willful misfeasance, bad
faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of its obligations thereunder, the
Investment Manager is not liable to the Fund or any of its investors for any act
or omission by the Investment Manager or for any losses sustained by the Fund or
its investors. The Agreement in no way restricts the Investment Manager from
acting as investment manager or adviser to others.
Effective December 31, 1993, pursuant to a Services Agreement between
InterCapital and DWSC, DWSC began to provide the administrative services to the
Fund which were previously performed directly by InterCapital. On April 17,
1995, DWSC was reorganized in the State of Delaware, necessitating the entry
into a new Services Agreement by InterCapital and DWSC on such date. The
foregoing internal reorganization did not result in any change in the nature or
scope of the administrative services being provided to the Fund or any of the
fees being paid by the Fund for the overall services being performed under the
terms of the existing Agreement.
The Investment Manager paid the organizational expenses of the Fund incurred
prior to the offering of the Fund's shares. The Fund has reimbursed the
Investment Manager for approximately $180,000 of such expenses, in accordance
with the terms of the Underwriting Agreement between the Fund and Dean Witter
Distributors Inc. The Fund has deferred and is amortizing the reimbursed
expenses on the straight line method over a period not to exceed five years from
the date of commencement of the Fund's operations.
The Agreement was initially approved by the Trustees on April 28, 1993, and
by the Investment Manager as the then sole shareholder on April 28, 1993. The
Agreement may be terminated at any time, without penalty, on thirty days' notice
by the Trustees of the Fund, by the holders of a majority as defined in the
Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "Act"), of the outstanding
shares of the Fund, or by the Investment Manager. The Agreement will
automatically terminate in the event of its assignment (as defined in the Act).
The Investment Manager (as the then sole shareholder of the Fund) and the
Trustees, including all of the Independent Trustees, also approved a new
investment management agreement between the Fund and InterCapital, which took
effect on June 30, 1993, upon the spin-off by Sears, Roebuck and Co. of its
remaining shares of DWDC (the "Spin-off"). The terms of the New Agreement are
substantially identical in all material respects to those of the initial
Agreement.
Under its terms, the Agreement will continue in effect until April 30, 1995,
and will continue from year to year thereafter, provided continuance of the
Agreement is approved at least annually by the vote of the holders of a
majority, as defined in the Act, of the outstanding shares of the Fund, or by
the Trustees of the Fund; provided that in either event such continuance is
approved annually by the vote of a majority of the Trustees of the Fund who are
not parties to the Agreement or "interested persons" (as defined in the Act) of
any such party (the "Independent Trustees"), which votes must be cast in person
at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval. At a meeting
held on April 20, 1995, the Trustees voted to amend the Agreement to lower the
investment management fee to 0.725% of average daily net assets on assets of the
Fund exceeding $1 billion but less than $1.5 billion and to 0.70% of average
daily net assets on assets exceeding $1.5 billion. The continuation of the
Agreement until April 30, 1997 was approved by the Trustees of the Fund,
including a majority of the Independent Trustees, at their meeting held on April
17, 1996. At that meeting the Trustees also voted to amend the Agreement to
lower the investment management fee to 0.675% of average daily net assets on
assets exceeding $2.5 billion.
5
<PAGE>
As full compensation for the services and facilities furnished to the Fund
and expenses of the Fund assumed by the Investment Manager, the Fund pays the
Investment Manager monthly compensation calculated daily by applying the
following annual rates to the net assets of the Fund determined as of the close
of each business day: 0.75% of the portion of such daily net assets not
exceeding $1 billion; 0.725% of the portion of such daily net assets exceeding
$1 billion, but not exceeding $1.5 billion; and 0.70% of the portion of such
daily net assets exceeding $1.5 billion. The Fund accrued total compensation to
the Investment Manager of $4,443,141, $11,531,133 and $15,506,578 during the
fiscal period June 30, 1993 (commencement of operations) through March 31, 1994
and during the fiscal years ended March 31, 1995 and 1996, respectively.
The Fund has acknowledged that the name "Dean Witter" is a property right of
DWR. The Fund has agreed that DWR or its parent companies may use, or at any
time permit others to use, the name "Dean Witter". The Fund has also agreed that
in the event the investment management contract between the Investment Manager
and the Fund is terminated, or if the affiliation between the Investment Manager
and its parent companies is terminated, the Fund will eliminate the name "Dean
Witter" from its name if DWR or its parent companies shall so request.
TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Trustees and Executive Officers of the Fund, their principal business
occupations during the last five years and their affiliations, if any, with
InterCapital and with the 81 Dean Witter Funds and the 12 TCW/DW Funds are shown
below.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NAME, AGE, POSITION WITH FUND AND ADDRESS PRINCIPAL OCCUPATIONS DURING LAST FIVE YEARS
- ------------------------------------------------------ ----------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C>
Michael Bozic (55) ................................... Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Levitz Furniture
Trustee Corporation (since November 1995); Director or Trustee of
c/o Levitz Furniture Corporation the Dean Witter Funds; formerly, President and Chief
6111 Broken Sound Parkway, N.W. Executive Officer of Hills Department Stores (May,
Boca Raton, Florida 1991-July, 1995); variously Chairman, Chief Executive
Officer, President and Chief Operating Officer (1987-1991)
of the Sears Merchandise Group of Sears, Roebuck and Co.;
Director of Eaglemark Financial Services, Inc., the United
Negro College Fund and Weirton Steel Corporation.
Charles A. Fiumefreddo* (63) ......................... Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and Director of
Chairman of the Board, InterCapital, Distributors and DWSC; Executive Vice
President and Chief Executive President and Director of DWR; Chairman, Director or
Officer and Trustee Trustee, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Dean
Two World Trade Center Witter Funds; Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and
New York, New York Trustee of the TCW/DW Funds; Chairman and Director of Dean
Witter Trust Company ("DWTC"); Director and/or officer of
various DWDC subsidiaries; formerly Executive Vice
President and Director of DWDC (until February, 1993).
</TABLE>
6
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NAME, AGE, POSITION WITH FUND AND ADDRESS PRINCIPAL OCCUPATIONS DURING LAST FIVE YEARS
- ------------------------------------------------------ ----------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C>
Edwin J. Garn (63) ................................... Director or Trustee of the Dean Witter Funds; formerly
Trustee United States Senator (R-Utah) (1974-1992) and Chairman,
c/o Huntsman Chemical Corporation Senate Banking Committee (1980-1986); Mayor of Salt Lake
500 Huntsman Way City, Utah (1972-1974); Astronaut, Space Shuttle Discovery
Salt Lake City, Utah (April 12-19, 1985); Vice Chairman, Huntsman Chemical
Corporation (since January, 1993); Director of Franklin
Quest (time management systems) and John Alden Financial
Corp.; member of the board of various civic and charitable
organizations.
John R. Haire (71) ................................... Chairman of the Audit Committee and Chairman of the
Trustee Committee of the Independent Directors or Trustees and
Two World Trade Center Director or Trustee of the Dean Witter Funds; Trustee of
New York, New York the TCW/DW Funds; formerly President, Council for Aid to
Education (1978-1989) and Chairman and Chief Executive
Officer of Anchor Corporation, an Investment Adviser
(1964-1978); Director of Washington National Corporation
(insurance).
Dr. Manuel H. Johnson (47) ........................... Senior Partner, Johnson Smick International, Inc., a
Trustee consulting firm (since June, 1985); Koch Professor of
c/o Johnson Smick International Economics and Director of the Center for
International, Inc. Global Market Studies at George Mason University;
1133 Connecticut Avenue, N.W. Co-Chairman and a founder of the Group of Seven Council
Washington, D.C. (G7C), an international economic commission (since
September, 1990); Director or Trustee of the Dean Witter
Funds; Trustee of the TCW/DW Funds; Director of NASDAQ
(since June, 1995); Director of Greenwich Capital Markets,
Inc. (broker-dealer); formerly Vice Chairman of the Board
of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (1986-1990) and
Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Treasury (1982-1986).
Paul Kolton (72) ..................................... Director or Trustee of the Dean Witter Funds; Chairman of
Trustee the Audit Committee and Chairman of the Committee of the
c/o Gordon Altman Butowsky Independent Trustees and Trustee of the TCW/DW Funds;
Weitzen Shalov & Wein formerly Chairman of the Financial Accounting Standards
Counsel to the Independent Trustees Advisory Council and Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
114 West 47th Street of the American Stock Exchange; Director of UCC Investors
New York, New York Holding Inc. (Uniroyal Chemical Company Inc.); director or
trustee of various not-for-profit organizations.
Michael E. Nugent (59) ............................... General Partner, Triumph Capital, L.P., a private
Trustee investment partnership (since April, 1988); Director or
c/o Triumph Capital, L.P. Trustee of the Dean Witter Funds; Trustee of the TCW/DW
237 Park Avenue Funds; formerly Vice President, Bankers Trust Company and
New York, New York BT Capital Corporation; Director of various business
organizations.
</TABLE>
7
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NAME, AGE, POSITION WITH FUND AND ADDRESS PRINCIPAL OCCUPATIONS DURING LAST FIVE YEARS
- ------------------------------------------------------ ----------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C>
Philip J. Purcell* (52) .............................. Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive
Trustee Officer of DWDC, DWR and Novus Credit Services Inc.;
Two World Trade Center Director of InterCapital, DWSC and Distributors; Director
New York, New York or Trustee of the Dean Witter Funds; Director and/or
officer of various DWDC subsidiaries.
John L. Schroeder (65) ............................... Retired; Director of Citizens Utilities Company; Director
Trustee or Trustee of the Dean Witter Funds; formerly Executive
c/o Gordon Altman Butowsky Vice President and Chief Investment Officer of the Home
Weitzen Shalov & Wein Insurance Company; Chairman and Chief Investment Officer
Counsel to the Independent Trustees of Axe- Houghton Management and the Axe-Houghton Funds
114 West 47th Street (1983-1991) and President of USF&G Financial Services,
New York, New York Inc. (1990-1991).
Sheldon Curtis (64) .................................. Senior Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel of
Vice President, Secretary InterCapital and DWSC; Senior Vice President, Assistant
and General Counsel Secretary and Assistant General Counsel of Distributors;
Two World Trade Center Senior Vice President and Secretary of DWTC; Assistant
New York, New York Secretary of DWDC and DWR and Vice President, Secretary
and General Counsel of the Dean Witter Funds and the
TCW/DW Funds.
Paul D. Vance (60) ................................... Senior Vice President of InterCapital; Vice President of
Vice President several of the Dean Witter Funds.
Two World Trade Center
New York, New York
Thomas F. Caloia (50) ................................ First Vice President (since May, 1991) and Assistant
Treasurer Treasurer (since January, 1993) of InterCapital; First
Two World Trade Center Vice President and Assistant Treasurer of DWSC and
New York, New York Treasurer of the Dean Witter Funds and the TCW/DW Funds;
previously Vice President of InterCapital.
<FN>
- ------------
* Denotes Trustees who are "interested persons" of the Fund, as defined in
the Act.
</TABLE>
In addition, Robert M. Scanlan, President and Chief Operating Officer of
InterCapital and DWSC, Executive Vice President of Distributors and DWTC and
Director of DWTC, David A. Hughey, Executive Vice President and Chief
Administrative Officer of InterCapital, DWSC, Distributors and DWTC and Director
of DWTC, Robert S. Giambrone, Senior Vice President of InterCapital, DWSC,
Distributors and DWTC and Director of DWTC, Joseph J. McAlinden, Executive Vice
President and Chief Investment Officer of InterCapital, and Kenton J.
Hinchliffe, Thomas H. Connelly and Ira Ross, Senior Vice Presidents of
InterCapital, are Vice Presidents of the Fund, and Marilyn K. Cranney and Barry
Fink, First Vice Presidents and Assistant General Counsels of InterCapital, Lou
Anne D. McInnis and Ruth Rossi, Vice Presidents and Assistant General Counsels
of InterCapital and DWSC, and Carsten Otto, a staff attorney with InterCapital,
are Assistant Secretaries of the Fund.
THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES, THE INDEPENDENT TRUSTEES, AND THE COMMITTEES
The Board of Trustees consists of nine (9) trustees. These same individuals
also serve as directors or trustees for all of the Dean Witter Funds, and are
referred to in this section as Trustees. As of the date of this Statement of
Additional Information, there are a total of 81 Dean Witter Funds, comprised of
121 portfolios. As of April 30, 1996, the Dean Witter Funds had total net assets
of approximately $75.7 billion and more than five million shareholders.
8
<PAGE>
Seven Trustees (77% of the total number) have no affiliation or business
connection with InterCapital or any of its affiliated persons and do not own any
stock or other securities issued by InterCapital's parent company, DWDC. These
are the "disinterested" or "independent" Trustees. The other two Trustees (the
"management Trustees") are affiliated with InterCapital. Five of the seven
independent Trustees are also Independent Trustees of the TCW/DW Funds.
Law and regulation establish both general guidelines and specific duties for
the Independent Trustees. The Dean Witter Funds seek as Independent Trustees
individuals of distinction and experience in business and finance, government
service or academia; these are people whose advice and counsel are in demand by
others and for whom there is often competition. To accept a position on the
Funds' Boards, such individuals may reject other attractive assignments because
the Funds make substantial demands on their time. Indeed, by serving on the
Funds' Boards, certain Trustees who would otherwise be qualified and in demand
to serve on bank boards would be prohibited by law from doing so.
All of the Independent Trustees serve as members of the Audit Committee and
the Committee of the Independent Trustees. Three of them also serve as members
of the Derivatives Committee. During the calendar year ended December 31, 1995,
the three Committees held a combined total of fifteen meetings. The Committees
hold some meetings at InterCapital's offices and some outside InterCapital.
Management Trustees or officers do not attend these meetings unless they are
invited for purposes of furnishing information or making a report.
The Committee of the Independent Trustees is charged with recommending to
the full Board approval of management, advisory and administration contracts,
Rule 12b-1 plans and distribution and underwriting agreements; continually
reviewing Fund performance; checking on the pricing of portfolio securities,
brokerage commissions, transfer agent costs and performance, and trading among
Funds in the same complex; and approving fidelity bond and related insurance
coverage and allocations, as well as other matters that arise from time to time.
The Independent Trustees are required to select and nominate individuals to fill
any Independent Trustee vacancy on the Board of any Fund that has a Rule 12b-1
plan of distribution. Most of the Dean Witter Funds have such a plan.
The Audit Committee is charged with recommending to the full Board the
engagement or discharge of the Fund's independent accountants; directing
investigations into matters within the scope of the independent accountants'
duties, including the power to retain outside specialists; reviewing with the
independent accountants the audit plan and results of the auditing engagement;
approving professional services provided by the independent accountants and
other accounting firms prior to the performance of such services; reviewing the
independence of the independent accountants; considering the range of audit and
non-audit fees; reviewing the adequacy of the Fund's system of internal
controls; and preparing and submitting Committee meeting minutes to the full
Board.
Finally, the Board of each Fund has formed a Derivatives Committee to
establish parameters for and oversee the activities of the Fund with respect to
derivative investments, if any, made by the Fund.
DUTIES OF CHAIRMAN OF COMMITTEES
The Chairman of the Committees maintains an office at the Funds'
headquarters in New York. He is responsible for keeping abreast of regulatory
and industry developments and the Funds' operations and management. He screens
and/or prepares written materials and identifies critical issues for the
Independent Trustees to consider, develops agendas for Committee meetings,
determines the type and amount of information that the Committees will need to
form a judgment on various issues, and arranges to have that information
furnished to Committee members. He also arranges for the services of independent
experts and consults with them in advance of meetings to help refine reports and
to focus on critical issues. Members of the Committees believe that the person
who serves as Chairman of all three Committees and guides their efforts is
pivotal to the effective functioning of the Committees.
The Chairman of the Committees also maintains continuous contact with the
Funds' management, with independent counsel to the Independent Trustees and with
the Funds' independent auditors. He arranges for a series of special meetings
involving the annual review of investment advisory, manage-
9
<PAGE>
ment and other operating contracts of the Funds and, on behalf of the
Committees, conducts negotiations with the Investment Manager and other service
providers. In effect, the Chairman of the Committees serves as a combination of
chief executive and support staff of the Independent Trustees.
The Chairman of the Committees is not employed by any other organization and
devotes his time primarily to the services he performs as Committee Chairman and
Independent Trustee of the Dean Witter Funds and as an Independent Trustee of
the TCW/DW Funds. The current Committee Chairman has had more than 35 years
experience as a senior executive in the investment company industry.
ADVANTAGES OF HAVING SAME INDIVIDUALS AS INDEPENDENT TRUSTEES FOR ALL DEAN
WITTER FUNDS
The Independent Trustees and the Funds' management believe that having the
same Independent Trustees for each of the Dean Witter Funds avoids the
duplication of effort that would arise from having different groups of
individuals serving as Independent Trustees for each of the Funds or even of
sub-groups of Funds. They believe that having the same individuals serve as
Independent Trustees of all the Funds tends to increase their knowledge and
expertise regarding matters which affect the Fund complex generally and enhances
their ability to negotiate on behalf of each Fund with the Fund's service
providers. This arrangement also precludes the possibility of separate groups of
Independent Trustees arriving at conflicting decisions regarding operations and
management of the Funds and avoids the cost and confusion that would likely
ensue. Finally, having the same Independent Trustees serve on all Fund Boards
enhances the ability of each Fund to obtain, at modest cost to each separate
Fund, the services of Independent Trustees, and a Chairman of their Committees,
of the caliber, experience and business acumen of the individuals who serve as
Independent Trustees of the Dean Witter Funds.
COMPENSATION OF INDEPENDENT TRUSTEES
The Fund pays each Independent Trustee an annual fee of $1,000 ($1,200 prior
to September 30, 1995) plus a per meeting fee of $50 for meetings of the Board
of Trustees or committees of the Board of Trustees attended by the Trustee (the
Fund pays the Chairman of the Audit Committee an annual fee of $750 and pays the
Chairman of the Committee of the Independent Trustees an additional annual fee
of $2,400, in each case inclusive of the Committee meeting fees). The Fund also
reimburses such Trustees for travel and other out-of-pocket expenses incurred by
them in connection with attending such meetings. Trustees and officers of the
Fund who are or have been employed by the Investment Manager or an affiliated
company receive no compensation or expense reimbursement from the Fund.
The following table illustrates the compensation paid to the Fund's
Independent Trustees by the Fund for the fiscal year ended March 31, 1996.
FUND COMPENSATION
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
AGGREGATE
COMPENSATION
NAME OF INDEPENDENT TRUSTEE FROM THE FUND
- -------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------
<S> <C>
Michael Bozic................................................. $1,600
Edwin J. Garn................................................. 1,650
John R. Haire................................................. 4,575(1)
Dr. Manuel H. Johnson......................................... 1,650
Paul Kolton................................................... 1,650
Michael E. Nugent............................................. 1,650
John L. Schroeder............................................. 1,650
</TABLE>
- ------------
(1) Of Mr. Haire's compensation from the Fund, $3,150 is paid to him as Chairman
of the Committee of the Independent Trustees ($2,400) and as Chairman of the
Audit Committee ($750).
10
<PAGE>
The following table illustrates the compensation paid to the Fund's
Independent Trustees for the calendar year ended December 31, 1995 for services
to the 79 Dean Witter Funds and, in the case of Messrs. Haire, Johnson, Kolton,
Nugent and Schroeder, the 11 TCW/DW Funds that were in operation at December 31,
1995. With respect to Messrs. Haire, Johnson, Kolton, Nugent and Schroeder, the
TCW/DW Funds are included solely because of a limited exchange privilege between
those Funds and five Dean Witter Money Market Funds. Mr. Schroeder was elected
as a Trustee of the TCW/DW Funds on April 20, 1995.
COMPENSATION FROM DEAN WITTER FUNDS AND TCW/DW FUNDS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
TOTAL
FOR SERVICE AS COMPENSATION
FOR SERVICE CHAIRMAN OF PAID
AS DIRECTOR OR COMMITTEES OF FOR SERVICES
TRUSTEE AND FOR SERVICE AS INDEPENDENT TO
COMMITTEE MEMBER TRUSTEE AND DIRECTORS/ 79 DEAN
OF 79 DEAN COMMITTEE MEMBER TRUSTEES AND WITTER
WITTER OF 11 TCW/DW AUDIT FUNDS AND 11
NAME OF INDEPENDENT TRUSTEE FUNDS FUNDS COMMITTEES TCW/DW FUNDS
- --------------------------- ---------------- ---------------- -------------- -------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Michael Bozic.............. $126,050 -- -- $126,050
Edwin J. Garn.............. 136,450 -- -- 136,450
John R. Haire.............. 98,450 $82,038 $217,350(2) 397,838
Dr. Manuel H. Johnson...... 136,450 82,038 -- 218,488
Paul Kolton................ 136,450 54,788 36,900(3) 228,138
Michael E. Nugent.......... 124,200 75,038 -- 199,238
John L. Schroeder.......... 136,450 46,964 -- 183,414
</TABLE>
- ------------
(2) For the 79 Dean Witter Funds in operation at December 31, 1995.
(3) For the 11 TCW/DW Funds in operation at December 31, 1995.
As of the date of this Statement of Additional Information, 57 of the Dean
Witter Funds, including the Fund, have adopted a retirement program under which
an Independent Trustee who retires after serving for at least five years (or
such lesser period as may be determined by the Board) as an Independent Director
or Trustee of any Dean Witter Fund that has adopted the retirement program (each
such Fund referred to as an "Adopting Fund" and each such Trustee referred to as
an "Eligible Trustee") is entitled to retirement payments upon reaching the
eligible retirement age (normally, after attaining age 72). Annual payments are
based upon length of service. Currently, upon retirement, each Eligible Trustee
is entitled to receive from the Adopting Fund, commencing as of his or her
retirement date and continuing for the remainder of his or her life, an annual
retirement benefit (the "Regular Benefit") equal to 25.0% of his or her Eligible
Compensation plus 0.4166666% of such Eligible Compensation for each full month
of service as an Independent Director or Trustee of any Adopting Fund in excess
of five years up to a maximum of 50.0% after ten years of service. The foregoing
percentages may be changed by the Board.(4) "Eligible Compensation" is one-fifth
of the total compensation earned by such Eligible Trustee for service to the
Adopting Fund in the five year period prior to the date of the Eligible
Trustee's retirement. Benefits under the retirement program are not secured or
funded by the Adopting Funds.
- ------------
(4) An Eligible Trustee may elect alternate payments of his or her retirement
benefits based upon the combined life expectancy of such Eligible Trustee
and his or her spouse on the date of such Eligible Trustee's retirement. The
amount estimated to be payable under this method, through the remainder of
the later of the lives of such Eligible Trustee and spouse, will be the
actuarial equivalent of the Regular Benefit. In addition, the Eligible
Trustee may elect that the surviving spouse's periodic payment of benefits
will be equal to either 50% or 100% of the previous periodic amount, an
election that, respectively, increases or decreases the previous periodic
amount so that the resulting payments will be the actuarial equivalent of
the Regular Benefit.
11
<PAGE>
The following table illustrates the retirement benefits accrued to the
Fund's Independent Trustees by the Fund for the fiscal year ended March 31, 1996
and by the 57 Dean Witter Funds (including the Fund) as of December 31, 1995,
and the estimated annual retirement benefits for the Fund's Independent Trustees
from the Fund as of March 31, 1996 and from the 57 Dean Witter Funds as of
December 31, 1995.
RETIREMENT BENEFITS FROM THE FUND AND ALL DEAN WITTER FUNDS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
FOR ALL ADOPTING FUNDS ESTIMATED ANNUAL
-------------------------------------- RETIREMENT BENEFITS BENEFITS
ESTIMATED ACCRUED AS EXPENSES UPON RETIREMENT(5)
CREDITED YEARS ESTIMATED ---------------------- ----------------------
OF SERVICE AT PERCENTAGE OF BY ALL FROM FROM ALL
RETIREMENT ELIGIBLE BY THE ADOPTING THE ADOPTING
NAME OF INDEPENDENT TRUSTEE (MAXIMUM 10) COMPENSATION FUND FUNDS FUND FUNDS
- --------------------------------- ------------------- ----------------- --------- ----------- --------- -----------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Michael Bozic.................... 10 50.0% $ 436 $ 26,359 $ 1,900 $ 51,550
Edwin J. Garn.................... 10 50.0 746 41,901 1,900 51,550
John R. Haire.................... 10 50.0 4,627 261,763 3,250 130,404
Dr. Manuel H. Johnson............ 10 50.0 294 16,748 1,900 51,550
Paul Kolton...................... 10 49.6 1,470 113,186 990 58,325
Michael E. Nugent................ 10 50.0 558 30,370 1,900 51,550
John L. Schroeder................ 8 41.7 854 51,812 1,900 42,958
</TABLE>
- ------------
(5) Based on current levels of compensation. Amount of annual benefits also
varies depending on the Trustee's elections described in Footnote (4) above.
As of the date of this Statement of Additional Information, the aggregate
number of shares of beneficial interest of the Fund owned by the Fund's officers
and Trustees as a group was less than 1 percent of the Fund's shares of
beneficial interest outstanding.
INVESTMENT PRACTICES AND POLICIES
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FORWARD FOREIGN CURRENCY EXCHANGE CONTRACTS. As discussed in the
Prospectus, the Fund may enter into forward foreign currency exchange contracts
("forward contracts") as a hedge against fluctuations in future foreign exchange
rates. The Fund will conduct its foreign currency exchange transactions either
on a spot (i.e., cash) basis at the spot rate prevailing in the foreign currency
exchange market, or through entering into forward contracts to purchase or sell
foreign currencies. A forward contract involves an obligation to purchase or
sell a specific 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. These contracts are traded in the interbank market
conducted directly between currency traders (usually large, commercial and
investment banks) and their customers. Such forward contracts will only be
entered into with United States banks and their foreign branches or foreign
banks whose assets total $1 billion or more. A forward contract generally has no
deposit requirement, and no commissions are charged at any stage for trades.
When management of the Fund believes that the currency of a particular
foreign country may suffer a substantial movement against the U.S. dollar, it
may enter into a forward contract to purchase or sell, for a fixed amount of
dollars or other currency, the amount of foreign currency approximating the
value of some or all of the Fund's portfolio securities denominated in such
foreign currency. The Fund will not enter into such forward contracts or
maintain a net exposure to such contracts where the consummation of the
contracts would obligate the Fund to deliver an amount of foreign currency in
excess of the value of the Fund's portfolio securities or other assets
denominated in that currency. Under normal circumstances, consideration of the
prospect for currency parities will be incorporated into the longer term
investment decisions made with regard to overall diversification strategies.
However, the management of the Fund believes that it is important to have the
flexibility to enter into such forward contracts when it determines that the
best interests of the Fund will be served. The Fund's custodian bank will place
cash, U.S. Government securities or other appropriate liquid high grade debt
securities in a segregated
12
<PAGE>
account of the Fund in an amount equal to the value of the Fund's total assets
committed to the consummation of forward contracts entered into under the
circumstances set forth above. If the value of the securities placed in the
segregated account declines, additional cash or securities will be placed in the
account on a daily basis so that the value of the account will equal the amount
of the Fund's commitments with respect to such contracts.
Where, for example, the Fund is hedging a portfolio position consisting of
foreign securities denominated in a foreign currency against adverse exchange
rate moves vis-a-vis the U.S. dollar, at the maturity of the forward contract
for delivery by the Fund of a foreign currency, the Fund may either sell the
portfolio security and make delivery of the foreign currency, or it may retain
the security and terminate its contractual obligation to deliver the foreign
currency by purchasing an "offsetting" contract with the same currency trader
obligating it to purchase, on the same maturity date, the same amount of the
foreign currency (however, the ability of the Fund to terminate a contract is
contingent upon the willingness of the currency trader with whom the contract
has been entered into to permit an offsetting transaction). It is impossible to
forecast the market value of portfolio securities at the expiration of the
contract. Accordingly, it may be necessary for the Fund to purchase additional
foreign currency on the spot market (and bear the expense of such purchase) if
the market value of the security is less than the amount of foreign currency the
Fund is obligated to deliver and if a decision is made to sell the security and
make delivery of the foreign currency. Conversely, it may be necessary to sell
on the spot market some of the foreign currency received upon the sale of the
portfolio securities if its market value exceeds the amount of foreign currency
the Fund is obligated to deliver.
If the Fund retains the portfolio securities and engages in an offsetting
transaction, the Fund will incur a gain or loss to the extent that there has
been movement in spot or forward contract prices. If the Fund engages in an
offsetting transaction, it may subsequently enter into a new forward contract to
sell the foreign currency. Should forward prices decline during the period
between the Fund's entering into a forward contract for the sale of a foreign
currency and the date it enters into an offsetting contract for the purchase of
the foreign currency, the Fund will realize a gain to the extent the price of
the currency it has agreed to sell exceeds the price of the currency it has
agreed to purchase. Should forward prices increase, the Fund will suffer a loss
to the extent the price of the currency it has agreed to purchase exceeds the
price of the currency it has agreed to sell.
If the Fund purchases a fixed-income security which is denominated in U.S.
dollars but which will pay out its principal based upon a formula tied to the
exchange rate between the U.S. dollar and a foreign currency, it may hedge
against a decline in the principal value of the security by entering into a
forward contract to sell an amount of the relevant foreign currency equal to
some or all of the principal value of the security.
At times when the Fund has written a call option on a security or the
currency in which it is denominated, it may wish to enter into a forward
contract to purchase or sell the foreign currency in which the security is
denominated. A forward contract would, for example, hedge the risk of the
security on which a call option has been written declining in value to a greater
extent than the value of the premium received for the option. The Fund will
maintain with its Custodian at all times, cash, U.S. Government securities, or
other appropriate high grade debt obligations in a segregated account equal in
value to all forward contract obligations and option contract obligations
entered into in hedge situations such as this.
Although the Fund values its assets daily in terms of U.S. dollars, it does
not intend to convert its holdings of foreign currencies into U.S. dollars on a
daily basis. It will, however, do so from time to time, and investors should be
aware of the costs of currency conversion. Although foreign exchange dealers do
not charge a fee for conversion, they do realize a profit based on the spread
between the prices at which they are buying and selling various currencies. Thus
a dealer may offer to sell a foreign currency to the Fund at one rate, while
offering a lesser rate of exchange should the Fund desire to resell that
currency to the dealer.
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REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS. As discussed in the Prospectus, when cash may be
available for only a few days, it may be invested by the Fund in repurchase
agreements until such time as it may otherwise be invested or used for payments
of obligations of the Fund. These agreements, which may be viewed as a type of
secured lending by the Fund, typically involve the acquisition by the Fund of
debt securities from a selling financial institution such as a bank, savings and
loan association or broker-dealer. The agreement provides that the Fund will
sell back to the institution, and that the institution will repurchase, the
underlying security ("collateral") at a specified price and at a fixed time in
the future, usually not more than seven days from the date of purchase. The
collateral will be maintained in a segregated account and will be marked to
market daily to determine that the value of the collateral, as specified in the
agreement, does not decrease below the purchase price plus accrued interest. If
such decrease occurs, additional collateral will be requested and, when
received, added to the account to maintain full collateralization. The Fund will
accrue interest from the institution until the time when the repurchase is to
occur. Although such date is deemed by the Fund to be the maturity date of a
repurchase agreement, the maturities of securities subject to repurchase
agreements are not subject to any limits.
While repurchase agreements involve certain risks not associated with direct
investments in debt securities, the Fund follows procedures designed to minimize
such risks. These procedures include effecting repurchase transactions only with
large, well-capitalized and well-established financial institutions whose
financial condition will be continually monitored by the Investment Manager
subject to procedures established by the Board of Trustees of the Fund. In
addition, as described above, the value of the collateral underlying the
repurchase agreement will be at least equal to the repurchase price, including
any accrued interest earned on the repurchase agreement. In the event of a
default or bankruptcy by a selling financial institution, the Fund will seek to
liquidate such collateral. However, the exercising of the Fund's right to
liquidate such collateral could involve certain costs or delays and, to the
extent that proceeds from any sale upon a default of the obligation to
repurchase were less than the repurchase price, the Fund could suffer a loss. It
is the current policy of the Fund not to invest in repurchase agreements that do
not mature within seven days if any such investment, together with any other
illiquid assets held by the Fund, amounts to more than 15% of its net assets.
The Fund's investments in repurchase agreements may at times be substantial
when, in the view of the Investment Manager, liquidity, tax or other
considerations warrant.
LENDING OF PORTFOLIO SECURITIES. Consistent with applicable regulatory
requirements, the Fund may lend its portfolio securities to brokers, dealers and
other financial institutions, provided that such loans are callable at any time
by the Fund (subject to notice provisions described below), and are at all times
secured by cash or cash equivalents, which are maintained in a segregated
account pursuant to applicable regulations and that are equal to at least the
market value, determined daily, of the loaned securities. The advantage of such
loans is that the Fund continues to receive the income on the loaned securities
while at the same time earning interest on the cash amounts deposited as
collateral, which will be invested in short-term obligations. The Fund will not
lend its portfolio securities if such loans are not permitted by the laws or
regulations of any state in which its shares are qualified for sale and will not
lend more than 25% of the value of its total assets. A loan may be terminated by
the borrower on one business days' notice, or by the Fund on four business days'
notice. If the borrower fails to deliver the loaned securities within four days
after receipt of notice, the Fund could use the collateral to replace the
securities while holding the borrower liable for any excess of replacement cost
over collateral. As with any extensions of credit, there are risks of delay in
recovery and in some cases even loss of rights in the collateral should the
borrower of the securities fail financially. However, these loans of portfolio
securities will only be made to firms deemed by the Fund's management to be
creditworthy and when the income which can be earned from such loans justifies
the attendant risks. Upon termination of the loan, the borrower is required to
return the securities to the Fund. Any gain or loss in the market price during
the loan period would inure to the Fund. The creditworthiness of firms to which
the Fund lends its portfolio securities will be monitored on an ongoing basis by
the Investment Manager pursuant to procedures adopted and reviewed, on an
ongoing basis, by the Board of Trustees of the Fund.
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When voting or consent rights which accompany loaned securities pass to the
borrower, the Fund will follow the policy of calling the loaned securities, to
be delivered within one day after notice, to permit the exercise of such rights
if the matters involved would have a material effect on the Fund's investment in
such loaned securities. The Fund will pay reasonable finder's, administrative
and custodial fees in connection with a loan of its securities. However, the
Fund has not lent any of its portfolio securities to date and has no intention
of lending any of its portfolio securities during its upcoming fiscal year
ending March 31, 1997.
WHEN-ISSUED AND DELAYED DELIVERY SECURITIES AND FORWARD COMMITMENTS. From
time to time 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 commitment. While the Fund will only purchase securities on a
when-issued, delayed delivery or forward commitment basis with the intention of
acquiring the securities, the Fund may sell the securities before the settlement
date, if it is deemed advisable. The securities so purchased or sold are subject
to market fluctuation and no interest or dividends accrue to the purchaser prior
to the settlement date. At the time the Fund makes the commitment to purchase or
sell securities on a when-issued, delayed delivery or forward commitment basis,
it will record the transaction and thereafter reflect the value, each day, of
such security purchased, or if a sale, the proceeds to be received, in
determining its net asset value. At the time of delivery of the securities, the
value may be more or less than the purchase or sale price. The Fund will also
establish a segregated account with its custodian bank in which it will
continually maintain cash or cash equivalents or other high grade debt portfolio
securities equal in value to commitments to purchase securities on a
when-issued, delayed delivery or forward commitment basis. Subject to the
foregoing restrictions, the Fund may purchase securities on such basis without
limit. The Investment Manager and the Board of Trustees do not believe that the
Fund's net asset value will be adversely affected by the purchase of securities
on such basis.
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. The commitment
for the purchase of any such security will not be recognized in the portfolio of
the Fund until the Investment Manager determines that issuance of the security
is probable. At such time, the Fund will record the transaction and, in
determining its net asset value, will reflect the value of the security daily.
At such time, the Fund will also establish a segregated account with its
custodian bank in which it will maintain cash or cash equivalents or other high
grade debt portfolio securities equal in value to recognized commitments for
such securities. Once a segregated account has been established, if the
anticipated event does not occur and the securities are not issued, the Fund
will have lost an investment opportunity. The value of the Fund's commitments to
purchase the securities of any one issuer, together with the value of all
securities of such issuer owned by the Fund, may not exceed 5% of the value of
the Fund's total assets at the time the initial commitment to purchase such
securities is made (see "Investment Restrictions"). Subject to the foregoing
restrictions, the Fund may purchase securities on such basis without limit. An
increase in the percentage of the Fund's assets committed to the purchase of
securities on a "when, as and if issued" basis may increase the volatility of
its net asset value. The Investment Manager and the Trustees do not believe that
the net asset value of the Fund will be adversely affected by its purchase of
securities on such basis. The Fund may also sell securities on a "when, as and
if issued" basis provided that the issuance of the security will result
automatically from the exchange or conversion of a security owned by the Fund at
the time of the sale.
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 of the Securities Act, and determined to be liquid
pursuant to the procedures discussed in the following paragraph, are not subject
to the foregoing restriction.) Limitations on the resale of such securities may
have an adverse effect on their marketability, and may prevent the Fund
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from disposing of them promptly at reasonable prices. The Fund may have to bear
the expense of registering such securities for resale and the risk of
substantial delays in effecting such registration.
The Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") has adopted Rule 144A under
the Securities Act, which permits the Fund to sell restricted securities to
qualified institutional buyers without limitation. The Investment Manager,
pursuant to procedures adopted by the Trustees of the Fund, will make a
determination as to the liquidity of each restricted security purchased by the
Fund. The procedures require that the following factors be taken into account in
making a liquidity determination: (1) the frequency of trades and price quotes
for the security; (2) the number of dealers and other potential purchasers who
have issued quotes on the security; (3) any dealer undertakings to make a market
in the security; and (4) the nature of the security and the nature of the
marketplace trades (the time needed to dispose of the security, the method of
soliciting offers, and the mechanics of transfer). If a restricted security is
determined to be "liquid", such security will not be included within the
category "illiquid securities", which under the SEC's current policies may not
exceed 15% of the SEC net assets, and will not be subject to the 5% limitation
set out in the preceding paragraph.
The Rule 144A marketplace of sellers and qualified institutional buyers is
new and still developing and may take a period of time to develop into a mature
liquid market. As such, the market for certain private placements purchased
pursuant to Rule 144A may be initially small or may, subsequent to purchase,
become illiquid. Furthermore, the Investment Manager may not posses all the
information concerning an issue of securities that it wishes to purchase in a
private placement to which it would normally have had access, had the
registration statement necessitated by a public offering been filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission.
OPTIONS AND FUTURES TRANSACTIONS
The Fund may write covered call options against securities held in its
portfolio and covered put options on eligible portfolio securities and stock
indexes and purchase options of the same series to effect closing transactions,
and may hedge against potential changes in the market value of investments (or
anticipated investments) and facilitate the reallocation of the Fund's assets
into and out of equities and fixed-income securities by purchasing put and call
options on portfolio (or eligible portfolio) securities and engaging in
transactions involving futures contracts and options on such contracts. The Fund
may also hedge against potential changes in the market value of the currencies
in which its investments (or anticipated investments) are denominated by
purchasing put and call options on currencies and engage in transactions
involving currency futures contracts and options on such contracts.
Call and put options on U.S. Treasury notes, bonds and bills and equity
securities are listed on Exchanges and are written in over-the-counter
transactions ("OTC options"). Listed options are issued by the Options Clearing
Corporation ("OCC") and other clearing entities including foreign exchanges.
Ownership of a listed call option gives the Fund the right to buy from the OCC
the underlying security covered by the option at the stated exercise price (the
price per unit of the underlying security) by filing an exercise notice prior to
the expiration date of the option. The writer (seller) of the option would then
have the obligation to sell to the OCC the underlying security at that exercise
price prior to the expiration date of the option, regardless of its then current
market price. Ownership of a listed put option would give the Fund the right to
sell the underlying security to the OCC at the stated exercise price. Upon
notice of exercise of the put option, the writer of the put would have the
obligation to purchase the underlying security from the OCC at the exercise
price.
OPTIONS ON TREASURY BONDS AND NOTES. Because trading in options written on
Treasury bonds and notes tends to center on the most recently auctioned issues,
the exchanges on which such securities trade will not continue indefinitely to
introduce options with new expirations to replace expiring options on particular
issues. Instead, the expirations introduced at the commencement of options
trading on a particular issue will be allowed to run their course, with the
possible addition of a limited number of new expirations as the original ones
expire. Options trading on each issue of bonds or notes will thus be phased out
as new options are listed on more recent issues, and options representing a full
range of expirations will not ordinarily be available for every issue on which
options are traded.
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OPTIONS ON TREASURY BILLS. Because a deliverable Treasury bill changes from
week to week, writers of Treasury bill calls cannot provide in advance for their
potential exercise settlement obligations by acquiring and holding the
underlying security. However, if the Fund holds a long position in Treasury
bills with a principal amount of the securities deliverable upon exercise of the
option, the position may be hedged from a risk standpoint by the writing of a
call option. For so long as the call option is outstanding, the Fund will hold
the Treasury bills in a segregated account with its Custodian, so that they will
be treated as being covered.
OPTIONS ON FOREIGN CURRENCIES. The Fund may purchase and write options on
foreign currencies for purposes similar to those involved with investing in
forward foreign currency exchange contracts. For example, in order to protect
against declines in the dollar value of portfolio securities which are
denominated in a foreign currency, the Fund may purchase put options on an
amount of such foreign currency equivalent to the current value of the portfolio
securities involved. As a result, the Fund would be enabled to sell the foreign
currency for a fixed amount of U.S. dollars, thereby "locking in" the dollar
value of the portfolio securities (less the amount of the premiums paid for the
options). Conversely, the Fund may purchase call options on foreign currencies
in which securities it anticipates purchasing are denominated to secure a set
U.S. dollar price for such securities and protect against a decline in the value
of the U.S. dollar against such foreign currency. The Fund may also purchase
call and put options to close out written option positions.
The Fund may also write call options on foreign currency to protect against
potential declines in its portfolio securities which are denominated in foreign
currencies. If the U.S. dollar value of the portfolio securities falls as a
result of a decline in the exchange rate between the foreign currency in which a
security is denominated and the U.S. dollar, then a loss to the Fund occasioned
by such value decline would be ameliorated by receipt of the premium on the
option sold. At the same time, however, the Fund gives up the benefit of any
rise in value of the relevant portfolio securities above the exercise price of
the option and, in fact, only receives a benefit from the writing of the option
to the extent that the value of the portfolio securities falls below the price
of the premium received. The Fund may also write options to close out long call
option positions.
The markets in foreign currency options are relatively new and the Fund's
ability to establish and close out positions on such options is subject to the
maintenance of a liquid secondary market. Although the Fund will not purchase or
write such options unless and until, in the opinion of the management of the
Fund, the market for them has developed sufficiently to ensure that the risks in
connection with such options are not greater than the risks in connection with
the underlying currency, there can be no assurance that a liquid secondary
market will exist for a particular option at any specific time. In addition,
options on foreign currencies are affected by all of those factors which
influence foreign exchange rates and investments generally.
The value of a foreign currency option depends upon the value of the
underlying currency relative to the U.S. dollar. As a result, the price of the
option position may vary with changes in the value of either or both currencies
and have no relationship to the investment merits of a foreign security,
including foreign securities held in a "hedged" investment portfolio. Because
foreign currency transactions occurring in the interbank market involve
substantially larger amounts than those that may be involved in the use of
foreign currency options, investors may be disadvantaged by having to deal in an
odd lot market (generally consisting of transactions of less than $1 million)
for the underlying foreign currencies at prices that are less favorable than for
round lots.
There is no systematic reporting of last sale information for foreign
currencies or any regulatory requirement that quotations available through
dealers or other market sources be firm or revised on a timely basis. Quotation
information available is generally representative of very large transactions in
the interbank market and thus may not reflect relatively smaller transactions
(i.e., less than $1 million) where rates may be less favorable. The interbank
market in foreign currencies is a global, around-the-clock market. To the extent
that the U.S. options markets are closed while the markets for the underlying
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currencies remain open, significant price and rate movements may take place in
the underlying markets that are not reflected in the options market.
OTC OPTIONS. Exchange-listed options are issued by the OCC which assures
that all transactions in such options are properly executed. OTC options are
purchased from or sold (written) to dealers or financial institutions which have
entered into direct agreements with the Fund. With OTC options, such variables
as expiration date, exercise price and premium will be agreed upon between the
Fund and the transacting dealer, without the intermediation of a third party
such as the OCC. If the transacting dealer fails to make or take delivery of the
securities underlying an option it has written, in accordance with the terms of
that option, the Fund would lose the premium paid for the option as well as any
anticipated benefit of the transaction. The Fund will engage in OTC option
transactions only with primary U.S. Government securities dealers recognized by
the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.
COVERED CALL WRITING. The Fund is permitted to write covered call options
on portfolio securities and the U.S. dollar and foreign currencies, without
limit, in order to aid in achieving its investment objective. Generally, a call
option is "covered" if the Fund owns, or has the right to acquire, without
additional cash consideration (or for additional cash consideration held for the
Fund by its Custodian in a segregated account) the underlying security
(currency) subject to the option except that in the case of call options on U.S.
Treasury Bills, the Fund might own U.S. Treasury Bills of a different series
from those underlying the call option, but with a principal amount and value
corresponding to the exercise price and a maturity date no later than that of
the securities (currency) deliverable under the call option. A call option is
also covered if the Fund holds a call on the same security (currency) as the
underlying security (currency) of the written option, where the exercise price
of the call used for coverage is equal to or less than the exercise price of the
call written or greater than the exercise price of the call written if the mark
to market difference is maintained by the Fund in cash, U.S. Government
securities or other high grade debt obligations which the Fund holds in a
segregated account maintained with its Custodian.
The Fund will receive from the purchaser, in return for a call it has
written, a "premium"; i.e., the price of the option. Receipt of these premiums
may better enable the Fund to achieve a greater total return than would be
realized from holding the underlying securities (currency) alone. Moreover, the
income received from the premium will offset a portion of the potential loss
incurred by the Fund if the securities (currency) underlying the option are
ultimately sold (exchanged) by the Fund at a loss. The premium received will
fluctuate with varying economic market conditions. If the market value of the
portfolio securities (or the currencies in which they are denominated) upon
which call options have been written increases, the Fund may receive less total
return from the portion of its portfolio upon which calls have been written than
it would have had such calls not been written.
As regards listed options and certain OTC options, during the option period,
the Fund may be required, at any time, to deliver the underlying security
(currency) against payment of the exercise price on any calls it has written
(exercise of certain listed and OTC options may be limited to specific
expiration dates). This obligation is terminated upon the expiration of the
option period or at such earlier time when the writer effects a closing purchase
transaction. A closing purchase transaction is accomplished by purchasing an
option of the same series as the option previously written. However, once the
Fund has been assigned an exercise notice, the Fund will be unable to effect a
closing purchase transaction.
Closing purchase transactions are ordinarily effected to realize a profit on
an outstanding call option to prevent an underlying security (currency) from
being called, to permit the sale of an underlying security (or the exchange of
the underlying currency) or to enable the Fund to write another call option on
the underlying security (currency) with either a different exercise price or
expiration date or both. Also, effecting a closing purchase transaction will
permit the cash or proceeds from the concurrent sale of any securities subject
to the option to be used for other investments by the Fund. The Fund may realize
a net gain or loss from a closing purchase transaction depending upon whether
the amount of the premium received on the call option is more or less than the
cost of effecting the closing purchase transaction. Any loss incurred in a
closing purchase transaction may be wholly or partially offset by unrealized
appreciation in the market value of the underlying security (currency).
Conversely, a gain resulting from a
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closing purchase transaction could be offset in whole or in part or exceeded by
a decline in the market value of the underlying security (currency).
If a call option expires unexercised, the Fund realizes a gain in the amount
of the premium on the option less the commission paid. Such a gain, however, may
be offset by depreciation in the market value of the underlying security
(currency) during the option period. If a call option is exercised, the Fund
realizes a gain or loss from the sale of the underlying security (currency)
equal to the difference between the purchase price of the underlying security
(currency) and the proceeds of the sale of the security (currency) plus the
premium received for on the option less the commission paid.
Options written by a Fund normally have expiration dates of from up to nine
months (equity securities) to eighteen months (fixed-income securities) from the
date written. The exercise price of a call option may be below, equal to or
above the current market value of the underlying security (currency) at the time
the option is written. See "Risks of Options and Futures Transactions," below.
COVERED PUT WRITING. As a writer of a covered put option, the Fund incurs
an obligation to buy the security underlying the option from the purchaser of
the put, at the option's exercise price at any time during the option period, at
the purchaser's election (certain listed and OTC put options written by the Fund
will be exercisable by the purchaser only on a specific date). A put is
"covered" if, at all times, the Fund maintains, in a segregated account
maintained on its behalf at the Fund's Custodian, cash, U.S. Government
securities or other high grade obligations in an amount equal to at least the
exercise price of the option, at all times during the option period. Similarly,
a short put position could be covered by the Fund by its purchase of a put
option on the same security as the underlying security of the written option,
where the exercise price of the purchased option is equal to or more than the
exercise price of the put written or less than the exercise price of the put
written if the mark to market difference is maintained by the Fund in cash, U.S.
Government securities or other high grade debt obligations which the Fund holds
in a segregated account maintained at its Custodian. In writing puts, the Fund
assumes the risk of loss should the market value of the underlying security
decline below the exercise price of the option (any loss being decreased by the
receipt of the premium on the option written). In the case of listed options,
during the option period, the Fund may be required, at any time, to make payment
of the exercise price against delivery of the underlying security. The operation
of and limitations on covered put options in other respects are substantially
identical to those of call options.
The Fund will write put options for two purposes: (1) to receive the income
derived from the premiums paid by purchasers; and (2) when the Investment
Manager wishes to purchase the security underlying the option at a price lower
than its current market price, in which case it will write the covered put at an
exercise price reflecting the lower purchase price sought. The potential gain on
a covered put option is limited to the premium received on the option (less the
commissions paid on the transaction) while the potential loss equals the
difference between the exercise price of the option and the current market price
of the underlying securities when the put is exercised, offset by the premium
received (less the commissions paid on the transaction).
The Fund may also purchase put options to close out written put positions in
a manner similar to call options closing purchase transactions. In addition, the
Fund may sell a put option which it has previously purchased prior to the sale
of the securities (currency) underlying such option. Such a sale would result in
a net gain or loss depending on whether the amount received on the sale is more
or less than the premium and other transaction costs paid on the put option
sold. Any such gain or loss could be offset in whole or in part by a change in
the market value of the underlying security (currency). If a put option
purchased by the Fund expired without being sold or exercised the premium would
be lost.
PURCHASING CALL AND PUT OPTIONS. As stated in the Prospectus, the Fund may
purchase listed and OTC call and put options in amounts equalling up to 5% of
its total assets. The Fund may purchase call options in order to close out a
covered call position (see "Covered Call Writing" above) to protect against an
increase in price of a security it anticipates purchasing or, in the case of a
call option, on foreign currency to hedge against an adverse exchange rate move
of the currency in which the security it anticipates purchasing is denominated
vis-a-vis the currency in which the exercise price is denominated.
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The purchase of the call option to effect a closing transaction on a call
written over-the-counter may be a listed or an OTC option. In either case, the
call purchased is likely to be on the same securities (currencies) and have the
same terms as the written option. If purchased over-the-counter, the option
would generally be acquired from the dealer or financial institution which
purchased the call written by the Fund.
The Fund may purchase put options on securities and currencies (or related
currencies) which it holds (or has the right to acquire) in its portfolio only
to protect itself against a decline in the value of the security (currency). If
the value of the underlying security (currency) were to fall below the exercise
price of the put purchased in an amount greater than the premium paid for the
option, the Fund would incur no additional loss. The Fund may also purchase put
options to close out written put positions in a manner similar to call options
closing purchase transactions. In addition, the Fund may sell a put option which
it has previously purchased prior to the sale of the securities (currencies)
underlying such option. Such a sale would result in a net gain or loss depending
on whether the amount received on the sale is more or less than the premium and
other transaction costs paid on the put option which is sold. Any such gain or
loss could be offset in whole or in part by a change in the market value of the
underlying security (currency). If a put option purchased by the Fund expired
without being sold or exercised, the premium would be lost.
RISKS OF OPTIONS TRANSACTIONS. The successful use of options depends on the
ability of the Investment Manager to forecast correctly interest rates and
market movements. If the market value of the portfolio securities (or the
currencies in which they are denominated) upon which call options have been
written increases, the Fund may receive a lower total return from the portion of
its portfolio upon which calls have been written than it would have had such
calls not been written. During the option period, the covered call writer has,
in return for the premium on the option, given up the opportunity for capital
appreciation above the exercise price should the market price of the underlying
security (or the currency in which it is denominated) increase, but has retained
the risk of loss should the price of the underlying security (currency) decline.
The covered put writer also retains the risk of loss should the market value of
the underlying security (currency) decline below the exercise price of the
option less the premium received on the sale of the option. In both cases, the
writer has no control over the time when it may be required to fulfill its
obligation as a writer of the option. Once an option writer has received an
exercise notice, it cannot effect a closing purchase transaction in order to
terminate its obligation under the option and must deliver or receive the
underlying securities (currency) at the exercise price.
Prior to exercise or expiration, an option position can only be terminated
by entering into a closing purchase or sale transaction. If a covered call
option writer is unable to effect a closing purchase transaction or to purchase
an offsetting over-the-counter option, it cannot sell the underlying security
until the option expires or the option is exercised. Accordingly, a covered call
option writer may not be able to sell (exchange) an underlying security
(currency) at a time when it might otherwise be advantageous to do so. A covered
put option writer who is unable to effect a closing purchase transaction or to
purchase an offsetting over-the-counter option would continue to bear the risk
of decline in the market price of the underlying security (currency) until the
option expires or is exercised. In addition, a covered put writer would be
unable to utilize the amount held in cash or U.S. Government or other high grade
short-term debt obligations as security for the put option for other investment
purposes until the exercise or expiration of the option.
The Fund's ability to close out its position as a writer of an option is
dependent upon the existence of a liquid secondary market on option Exchanges.
There is no assurance that such a market will exist, particularly in the case of
OTC options, as such options will generally only be closed out by entering into
a closing purchase transaction with the purchasing dealer. However, the Fund may
be able to purchase an offsetting option which does not close out its position
as a writer but constitutes an asset of equal value to the obligation under the
option written. If the Fund is not able to either enter into a closing purchase
transaction or purchase an offsetting position, it will be required to maintain
the securities subject to the call, or the collateral underlying the put, even
though it might not be advantageous to do so, until a closing transaction can be
entered into (or the option is exercised or expires).
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Among the possible reasons for the absence of a liquid secondary market on
an Exchange are: (i) insufficient trading interest in certain options; (ii)
restrictions on transactions imposed by an Exchange; (iii) trading halts,
suspensions or other restrictions imposed with respect to particular classes or
series of options or underlying securities; (iv) interruption of the normal
operations on an Exchange; (v) inadequacy of the facilities of an Exchange or
the Options Clearing Corporation ("OCC") to handle current trading volume; or
(vi) a decision by one or more Exchanges to discontinue the trading of options
(or a particular class or series of options), in which event the secondary
market on that Exchange (or in that class or series of options) would cease to
exist, although outstanding options on that Exchange that had been issued by the
OCC as a result of trades on that Exchange would generally continue to be
exercisable in accordance with their terms.
Exchanges limit the amount by which the price of a futures contract may move
on any day. If the price moves equal the daily limit on successive days, then it
may prove impossible to liquidate a futures position until the daily limit moves
have ceased. In the event of adverse price movements, the Fund would continue to
be required to make daily cash payments of variation margin on open futures
positions. In such situations, if the Fund has insufficient cash, it may have to
sell portfolio securities to meet daily variation margin requirements at a time
when it may be disadvantageous to do so. In addition, the Fund may be required
to take or make delivery of the instruments underlying interest rate futures
contracts it holds at a time when it is disadvantageous to do so. The inability
to close out options and futures positions could also have an adverse impact on
the Fund's ability to effectively hedge its portfolio.
In the event of the bankruptcy of a broker through which the Fund engages in
transactions in options, futures or options thereon, the Fund could experience
delays and/or losses in liquidating open positions purchased or sold through the
broker and/or incur a loss of all or part of its margin deposits with the
broker. Similarly, in the event of the bankruptcy of the writer of an OTC option
purchased by the Fund, the Fund could experience a loss of all or part of the
value of the option. Transactions are entered into by the Fund only with brokers
or financial institutions deemed creditworthy by the Investment Manager.
Each of the Exchanges has established limitations governing the maximum
number of call or put options on the same underlying security or futures
contract (whether or not covered) which may be written by a single investor,
whether acting alone or in concert with others (regardless of whether such
options are written on the same or different Exchanges or are held or written on
one or more accounts or through one or more brokers). An Exchange may order the
liquidation of positions found to be in violation of these limits and it may
impose other sanctions or restrictions. These position limits may restrict the
number of listed options which the Fund may write.
While the futures contracts and options transactions to be engaged in by the
Fund for the purpose of hedging the Fund's portfolio securities are not
speculative in nature, there are risks inherent in the use of such instruments.
One such risk which may arise in employing futures contracts to protect against
the price volatility of portfolio securities is that the prices of securities
and indexes subject to futures contracts (and thereby the futures contract
prices) may correlate imperfectly with the behavior of the cash prices of the
Fund's portfolio securities. Another such risk is that prices of interest rate
futures contracts may not move in tandem with the changes in prevailing interest
rates against which the Fund seeks a hedge. A correlation may also be distorted
by the fact that the futures market is dominated by short-term traders seeking
to profit from the difference between a contract or security price objective and
their cost of borrowed funds. Such distortions are generally minor and would
diminish as the contract approached maturity.
The hours of trading for options may not conform to the hours during which
the underlying securities are traded. To the extent that the option markets
close before the markets for the underlying securities, significant price and
rate movements can take place in the underlying markets that cannot be reflected
in the option markets.
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STOCK INDEX OPTIONS. Options on stock indexes are similar to options on
stock except that, rather than the right to take or make delivery of stock at a
specified price, an option on a stock index gives the holder the right to
receive, upon exercise of the option, an amount of cash if the closing level of
the stock index upon which the option is based is greater than, in the case of a
call, or less than, in the case of a put, the exercise price of the option. This
amount of cash is equal to such difference between the closing price of the
index and the exercise price of the option expressed in dollars times a
specified multiple (the "multiplier"). The multiplier for an index option
performs a function similar to the unit of trading for a stock option. It
determines the total dollar value per contract of each point in the difference
between the exercise price of an option and the current level of the underlying
index. A multiplier of 100 means that a one-point difference will yield $100.
Options on different indexes may have different multipliers. The writer of the
option is obligated, in return for the premium received, to make delivery of
this amount. Unlike stock options, all settlements are in cash and a gain or
loss depends on price movements in the stock market generally (or in a
particular segment of the market) rather than the price movements in individual
stocks. Currently, options are traded on the S&P 100 Index and the S&P 500 Index
on the Chicago Board Options Exchange, the Major Market Index and the Computer
Technology Index, Oil Index and Institutional Index on the American Stock
Exchange and the NYSE Index and NYSE Beta Index on the New York Stock Exchange,
The Financial News Composite Index on the Pacific Stock Exchange and the Value
Line Index, National O-T-C Index and Utilities Index on the Philadelphia Stock
Exchange, each of which and any similar index on which options are traded in the
future which include stocks that are not limited to any particular industry or
segment of the market is referred to as a "broadly based stock market index."
Options on stock indexes provide the Fund with a means of protecting the Fund
against the risk of market wide price movements. If the Investment Manager
anticipates a market decline, the Fund could purchase a stock index put option.
If the expected market decline materialized, the resulting decrease in the value
of the Fund's portfolio would be offset to the extent of the increase in the
value of the put option. If the Investment Manager anticipates a market rise,
the Fund may purchase a stock index call option to enable the Fund to
participate in such rise until completion of anticipated common stock purchases
by the Fund. Purchases and sales of stock index options also enable the
Investment Manager to more speedily achieve changes in the Fund's equity
positions.
The Fund will write put options on stock indexes only if such positions are
covered by cash, U.S. Government securities or other high grade debt obligations
equal to the aggregate exercise price of the puts, which cover is held for the
Fund in a segregated account maintained for it by the Fund's Custodian. All call
options on stock indexes written by the Fund will be covered either by a
portfolio of stocks substantially replicating the movement of the index
underlying the call option or by holding a separate call option on the same
stock index with a strike price no higher than the strike price of the call
option sold by the Fund.
RISKS OF OPTIONS ON INDEXES. Because exercises of stock index options are
settled in cash, call writers such as the Fund cannot provide in advance for
their potential settlement obligations by acquiring and holding the underlying
securities. A call writer can offset some of the risk of its writing position by
holding a diversified portfolio of stocks similar to those on which the
underlying index is based. However, most investors cannot, as a practical
matter, acquire and hold a portfolio containing exactly the same stocks as the
underlying index, and, as a result, bear a risk that the value of the securities
held will vary from the value of the index. Even if an index call writer could
assemble a stock portfolio that exactly reproduced the composition of the
underlying index, the writer still would not be fully covered from a risk
standpoint because of the "timing risk" inherent in writing index options. When
an index option is exercised, the amount of cash that the holder is entitled to
receive is determined by the difference between the exercise price and the
closing index level on the date when the option is exercised. As with other
kinds of options, the writer will not learn that it has been assigned until the
next business day, at the earliest. The time lag between exercise and notice of
assignment poses no risk for the writer of a covered call on a specific
underlying security, such as a common stock, because there the writer's
obligation is to deliver the underlying security, not to pay its value as of a
fixed time in the past. So long as the writer already owns the underlying
security, it can satisfy its settlement obligations by simply delivering it, and
the risk that its value may have declined since the exercise date is borne by
the exercising holder. In
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contrast, even if the writer of an index call holds stocks that exactly match
the composition of the underlying index, it will not be able to satisfy its
assignment obligations by delivering those stocks against payment of the
exercise price. Instead, it will be required to pay cash in an amount based on
the closing index value on the exercise date; and by the time it learns that it
has been assigned, the index may have declined, with a corresponding decrease in
the value of its stock portfolio. This "timing risk" is an inherent limitation
on the ability of index call writers to cover their risk exposure by holding
stock positions.
A holder of an index option who exercises it before the closing index value
for that day is available runs the risk that the level of the underlying index
may subsequently change. If such a change causes the exercised option to fall
out-of-the-money, the exercising holder will be required to pay the difference
between the closing index value and the exercise price of the option (times the
applicable multiplier) to the assigned writer.
If dissemination of the current level of an underlying index is interrupted,
or if trading is interrupted in stocks accounting for a substantial portion of
the value of an index, the trading of options on that index will ordinarily be
halted. If the trading of options on an underlying index is halted, an exchange
may impose restrictions prohibiting the exercise of such options.
FUTURES CONTRACTS. The Fund may purchase and sell interest rate and stock
index futures contracts ("futures contracts") that are traded on U.S. and
foreign commodity exchanges on such underlying securities as U.S. Treasury
bonds, notes and bills ("interest rate" futures), on the U.S. dollar and foreign
currencies, and such indexes as the S&P 500 Index, the Moody's Investment-Grade
Corporate Bond Index and the New York Stock Exchange Composite Index ("index"
futures).
As a futures contract purchaser, the Fund incurs an obligation to take
delivery of a specified amount of the obligation underlying the contract at a
specified time in the future for a specified price. As a seller of a futures
contract, the Fund incurs an obligation to deliver the specified amount of the
underlying obligation at a specified time in return for an agreed upon price.
The Fund will purchase or sell interest rate futures contracts and bond
index futures contracts for the purpose of hedging its fixed-income portfolio
(or anticipated portfolio) securities against changes in prevailing interest
rates. If the Investment Manager anticipates that interest rates may rise and,
concomitantly, the price of fixed-income securities fall, the Fund may sell an
interest rate futures contract or a bond index futures contract. If declining
interest rates are anticipated, the Fund may purchase an interest rate futures
contract to protect against a potential increase in the price of U.S. Government
securities the Fund intends to purchase. Subsequently, appropriate fixed-income
securities may be purchased by the Fund in an orderly fashion; as securities are
purchased, corresponding futures positions would be terminated by offsetting
sales of contracts.
The Fund will purchase or sell futures contracts on the U.S. dollar and on
foreign currencies to hedge against an anticipated rise or decline in the value
of the U.S. dollar or foreign currency in which a portfolio security of the Fund
is denominated vis-a-vis another currency.
The Fund will purchase or sell stock index futures contracts for the purpose
of hedging its equity portfolio (or anticipated portfolio) securities against
changes in their prices. If the Investment Manager anticipates that the prices
of stock held by the Fund may fall, the Fund may sell a stock index futures
contract. Conversely, if the Investment Manager wishes to hedge against
anticipated price rises in those stocks which the Fund intends to purchase, the
Fund may purchase stock index futures contracts. In addition, interest rate and
stock index futures contracts will be bought or sold in order to close out a
short or long position in a corresponding futures contract.
Although most interest rate futures contracts call for actual delivery or
acceptance of securities, the contracts usually are closed out before the
settlement date without the making or taking of delivery. Index futures
contracts provide for the delivery of an amount of cash equal to a specified
dollar amount times the difference between the stock index value at the open or
close of the last trading day of the contract and the futures contract price. A
futures contract sale is closed out by effecting a futures
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contract purchase for the same aggregate amount of the specific type of equity
security and the same delivery date. If the sale price exceeds the offsetting
purchase price, the seller would be paid the difference and would realize a
gain. If the offsetting purchase price exceeds the sale price, the seller would
pay the difference and would realize a loss. Similarly, a futures contract
purchase is closed out by effecting a futures contract sale for the same
aggregate amount of the specific type of equity security and the same delivery
date. If the offsetting sale price exceeds the purchase price, the purchaser
would realize a gain, whereas if the purchase price exceeds the offsetting sale
price, the purchaser would realize a loss. There is no assurance that the Fund
will be able to enter into a closing transaction.
INTEREST RATE FUTURES CONTRACTS. When the Fund enters into an interest rate
futures contract, it is initially required to deposit with the Fund's Custodian,
in a segregated account in the name of the broker performing the transaction, an
"initial margin" of cash or U.S. Government securities or other high grade
short-term debt obligations equal to approximately 2% of the contract amount.
Initial margin requirements are established by the Exchanges on which futures
contracts trade and may, from time to time, change. In addition, brokers may
establish margin deposit requirements in excess of those required by the
Exchanges.
Initial margin in futures transactions is different from margin in
securities transactions in that initial margin does not involve the borrowing of
funds by a brokers' client but is, rather, a good faith deposit on the futures
contract which will be returned to the Fund upon the proper termination of the
futures contract. The margin deposits made are marked to market daily and the
Fund may be required to make subsequent deposits called "variation margin", with
the Fund's Custodian, in the account in the name of the broker, which are
reflective of price fluctuations in the futures contract. Currently, interest
rates futures contracts can be purchased on debt securities such as U.S.
Treasury Bills and Bonds, U.S. Treasury Notes with maturities between 6 1/2 and
10 years, GNMA Certificates and Bank Certificates of Deposit.
CURRENCY FUTURES. Generally, foreign currency futures provide for the
delivery of a specified amount of a given currency, on the exercise date, for a
set exercise price denominated in U.S. dollars or other currency. Foreign
currency futures contracts would be entered into for the same reason and under
the same circumstances as forward foreign currency exchange contracts. The
Investment Manager will assess such factors as cost spreads, liquidity and
transaction costs in determining whether to utilize futures contracts or forward
contracts in its foreign currency transactions and hedging strategy. Currently,
currency futures exist for, among other foreign currencies, the Japanese yen,
German mark, Canadian dollar, British pound, Swiss franc and European currency
unit.
Purchasers and sellers of foreign currency futures contracts are subject to
the same risks that apply to the buying and selling of futures generally. In
addition, there are risks associated with foreign currency futures contracts and
their use as a hedging device similar to those associated with options of
foreign currencies described above. Further, settlement of a foreign currency
futures contract must occur within the country issuing the underlying currency.
Thus, the Fund must accept or make delivery of the underlying currency in
accordance with any U.S. or foreign restrictions or regulations regarding the
maintenance of foreign banking arrangements by U.S. residents and may be
required to pay any fees, taxes or charges associated with such delivery which
are assessed in the issuing country.
Options on foreign currency futures contracts may involve certain additional
risks. Trading options on foreign currency futures contracts is relatively new.
The ability to establish and close out positions on such options is subject to
the maintenance of a liquid secondary market. To reduce this risk, the Fund will
not purchase or write options on foreign currency futures contracts unless and
until, in the Investment Manager's opinion, the market for such options has
developed sufficiently that the risks in connection with such options are not
greater than the risks in connection with transactions in the underlying foreign
currency.
INDEX FUTURES CONTRACTS. The Fund may invest in index futures contracts. An
index futures contract sale creates an obligation by the Fund, as seller, to
deliver cash at a specified future time. An index futures contract purchase
would create an obligation by the Fund, as purchaser, to take delivery of cash
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at a specified future time. Futures contracts on indexes do not require the
physical delivery of securities, but provide for a final cash settlement on the
expiration date which reflects accumulated profits and losses credited or
debited to each party's account.
The Fund is required to maintain margin deposits with brokerage firms
through which it effects index futures contracts in a manner similar to that
described above for interest rate futures contracts. Currently, the initial
margin requirement is approximately 5% of the contract amount for index futures.
In addition, due to current industry practice, daily variations in gains and
losses on open contracts are required to be reflected in cash in the form of
variation margin payments. The Fund may be required to make additional margin
payments during the term of the contract.
At any time prior to expiration of the futures contract, the Fund may elect
to close the position by taking an opposite position which will operate to
terminate the Fund's position in the futures contract. A final determination of
variation margin is then made, additional cash is required to be paid by or
released to the Fund and the Fund realizes a loss or a gain.
Currently, index futures contracts can be purchased or sold with respect to,
among others, the Standard & Poor's 500 Stock Price Index and the Standard &
Poor's 100 Stock Price Index on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, the New York
Stock Exchange Composite Index on the New York Futures Exchange, the Major
Market Index on the American Stock Exchange, the Moody's Investment-Grade
Corporate Bond Index on the Chicago Board of Trade and the Value Line Stock
Index on the Kansas City Board of Trade.
OPTIONS ON FUTURES CONTRACTS. The Fund may purchase and write call and put
options on futures contracts and enter into closing transactions with respect to
such options to terminate an existing position. An option on a futures contract
gives the purchaser the right (in return for the premium paid), and the writer
the obligation, to assume a position in a futures contract (a long position if
the option is a call and a short position if the option is a put) at a specified
exercise price at any time during the term of the option. Upon exercise of the
option, the delivery of the futures position by the writer of the option to the
holder of the option is accompanied by delivery of the accumulated balance in
the writer's futures margin account, which represents the amount by which the
market price of the futures contract at the time of exercise exceeds, in the
case of a call, or is less than, in the case of a put, the exercise price of the
option on the futures contract.
The Fund will purchase and write options on futures contracts for identical
purposes to those set forth above for the purchase of a futures contract
(purchase of a call option or sale of a put option) and the sale of a futures
contract (purchase of a put option or sale of a call option), or to close out a
long or short position in futures contracts. If, for example, the Investment
Manager wished to protect against an increase in interest rates and the
resulting negative impact on the value of a portion of its fixed-income
portfolio, it might write a call option on an interest rate futures contract,
the underlying security of which correlates with the portion of the portfolio
the Investment Manager seeks to hedge. Any premiums received in the writing of
options on futures contracts may, of course, augment the total return of the
Fund and thereby provide a further hedge against losses resulting from price
declines in portions of the Fund's portfolio.
The writer of an option on a futures contract is required to deposit initial
and variation margin pursuant to requirements similar to those applicable to
futures contracts. Premiums received from the writing of an option on a futures
contract are included in initial margin deposits.
LIMITATIONS ON FUTURES CONTRACTS AND OPTIONS ON FUTURES. The Fund may not
enter into futures contracts or purchase related options thereon if, immediately
thereafter, the amount committed to margin plus the amount paid for premiums for
unexpired options on futures contracts exceeds 5% of the value of the Fund's
total assets, after taking into account unrealized gains and unrealized losses
on such contracts it has entered into, provided, however, that in the case of an
option that is in-the-money (the exercise price of the call (put) option is less
(more) than the market price of the underlying security) at the time of
purchase, the in-the-money amount may be excluded in calculating the 5%.
However, there is no
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overall limitation on the percentage of the Fund's assets which may be subject
to a hedge position. In addition, in accordance with the regulations of the
Commodity Futures Trading Commission ("CFTC") under which the Fund is exempted
from registration as a commodity pool operator, the Fund may only enter into
futures contracts and options on futures contracts transactions in accordance
with the limitation described above. If the CFTC changes its regulations so that
the Fund would be permitted more latitude to write options on futures contracts
for purposes other than hedging the Fund's investments without CFTC
registration, the Fund may engage in such transactions for those purposes.
Except as described above, there are no other limitations on the use of futures
and options thereon by the Fund.
RISKS OF TRANSACTIONS IN FUTURES CONTRACTS AND RELATED OPTIONS. The
successful use of futures and related options depends on the ability of the
Investment Manager to accurately predict market, interest rate and currency
movements. As stated in the Prospectus, the Fund may sell a futures contract to
protect against the decline in the value of securities or the currency in which
they are denominated held by the Fund. However, it is possible that the futures
market may advance and the value of securities or the currency in which they are
denominated held in the portfolio of the Fund may decline. If this occurred, the
Fund would lose money on the futures contract and also experience a decline in
value of its portfolio securities. However, while this could occur for a very
brief period or to a very small degree, over time the value of a diversified
portfolio will tend to move in the same direction as the futures contracts.
If the Fund purchases a futures contract to hedge against the increase in
value of securities it intends to buy (or the currency in which they are
denominated), and the value of such securities decreases, then the Fund may
determine not to invest in the securities as planned and will realize a loss on
the futures contract that is not offset by a reduction in the price of the
securities.
In addition, if the Fund holds a long position in a futures contract or has
sold a put option on a futures contract, it will hold cash, U.S. Government
securities or other high grade debt obligations equal to the purchase price of
the contract or the exercise price of the put option (less the amount of initial
or variation margin on deposit) in a segregated account maintained for the Fund
by its Custodian. Alternatively, the Fund could cover its long position by
purchasing a put option on the same futures contract with an exercise price as
high or higher than the price of the contract held by the Fund.
If the Fund maintains a short position in a futures contract or has sold a
call option on a futures contract, it will cover this position by holding, in a
segregated account maintained at its Custodian, cash, U.S. Government securities
or other high grade debt obligations equal in value (when added to any initial
or variation margin on deposit) to the market value of the securities underlying
the futures contract or the exercise price of the option. Such a position may
also be covered by owning the securities underlying the futures contract (in the
case of a stock index futures contract a portfolio of securities substantially
replicating the relevant index), or by holding a call option permitting the Fund
to purchase the same contract at a price no higher than the price at which the
short position was established.
Exchanges may limit the amount by which the price of futures contracts may
move on any day. If the price moves equal the daily limit on successive days,
then it may prove impossible to liquidate a futures position until the daily
limit moves have ceased. In the event of adverse price movements, the Fund would
be required to make daily cash payments of variation margin on open futures
positions. In such situations, if the Fund has insufficient cash, it may have to
sell portfolio securities to meet daily variation margin requirements at a time
when it may be disadvantageous to do so. In addition, the Fund may be required
to take delivery of the instruments underlying interest rate futures contracts
it holds at a time when it is disadvantageous to do so. The inability to close
out options and futures positions could also have an adverse impact on the
Fund's ability to effectively hedge its portfolio.
Futures contracts and options thereon which are purchased or sold on foreign
commodities exchanges may have greater price volatility than their U.S.
counterparts. Furthermore, foreign commodities exchanges may be less regulated
and under less governmental scrutiny than U.S. exchanges. Brokerage commissions,
clearing costs and other transaction costs may be higher on foreign exchanges.
Greater margin requirements may limit the Fund's ability to enter into certain
commodity
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transactions on foreign exchanges. Moreover, differences in clearance and
delivery requirements on foreign exchanges may occasion delays in the settlement
of the Fund's transactions effected on foreign exchanges.
The extent to which the Fund may enter into transactions involving options
and futures contracts may be limited by the Internal Revenue Code's requirements
for qualification as a regulated investment company and the Fund's intention to
qualify as such. See "Dividends, Distributions and Taxes" in the Prospectus and
the Statement of Additional Information.
While the futures contracts and options transactions to be engaged in by the
Fund for the purpose of hedging the Fund's portfolio securities are not
speculative in nature, there are risks inherent in the use of such instruments.
One such risk which may arise in employing futures contracts to protect against
the price volatility of portfolio securities (and the currencies in which they
are denominated) is that the prices of securities and indexes subject to futures
contracts (and thereby the futures contract prices) may correlate imperfectly
with the behavior of the cash prices of the Fund's portfolio securities (and the
currencies in which they are denominated). Another such risk is that prices of
interest rate futures contracts may not move in tandem with the changes in
prevailing interest rates against which the Fund seeks a hedge. A correlation
may also be distorted (a) temporarily, by short-term traders seeking to profit
from the difference between a contract or security price objective and their
cost of borrowed funds; (b) by investors in futures contracts electing to close
out their contracts through offsetting transactions rather than meet margin
deposit requirements; (c) by investors in futures contracts opting to make or
take delivery of underlying securities rather than engage in closing
transactions, thereby reducing liquidity of the futures market; and (d)
temporarily, by speculators who view the deposit requirements in the futures
markets as less onerous than margin requirements in the cash market. Due to the
possibility of price distortion in the futures market and because of the
imperfect correlation between movements in the prices of securities and
movements in the prices of futures contracts, a correct forecast of interest
rate trends may still not result in a successful hedging transaction.
There may exist an imperfect correlation between the price movements of
futures contracts purchased by the Fund and the movements in the prices of the
securities which are the subject of the hedge. If participants in the futures
market elect to close out their contracts through offsetting transactions rather
than meet margin deposit requirements, distortions in the normal relationship
between the debt securities and futures markets could result. Price distortions
could also result if investors in futures contracts opt to make or take delivery
of underlying securities rather than engage in closing transactions due to the
resultant reduction in the liquidity of the futures market. In addition, due to
the fact that, from the point of view of speculators, the deposit requirements
in the futures markets are less onerous than margin requirements in the cash
market, increased participation by speculators in the futures market could cause
temporary price distortions. Due to the possibility of price distortions in the
futures market and because of the imperfect correlation between movements in the
prices of securities and movements in the prices of futures contracts, a correct
forecast of interest rate trends by the Investment Manager may still not result
in a successful hedging transaction.
As stated in the Prospectus, there is no assurance that a liquid secondary
market will exist for futures contracts and related options in which the Fund
may invest. In the event a liquid market does not exist, it may not be possible
to close out a futures position, and in the event of adverse price movements,
the Fund would continue to be required to make daily cash payments of variation
margin. In addition, limitations imposed by an exchange or board of trade on
which futures contracts are traded may compel or prevent the Fund from closing
out a contract which may result in reduced gain or increased loss to the Fund.
The absence of a liquid market in futures contracts might cause the Fund to make
or take delivery of the underlying securities at a time when it may be
disadvantageous to do so.
Compared to the purchase or sale of futures contracts, the purchase of call
or put options on futures contracts involves less potential risk to the Fund
because the maximum amount at risk is the premium paid for the options (plus
transaction costs). However, there may be circumstances when the purchase of a
call or put option on a futures contract would result in a loss to the Fund
notwithstanding that the
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purchase or sale of a futures contract would not result in a loss, as in the
instance where there is no movement in the prices of the futures contract or
underlying securities.
The Investment Manager has substantial experience in the use of the
investment techniques described above under the heading "Options and Futures
Transactions," which techniques require skills different from those needed to
select the portfolio securities underlying various options and futures
contracts.
NEW INSTRUMENTS. 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.
PORTFOLIO TURNOVER
It is anticipated that the Fund's portfolio turnover rate will not exceed
40%. A 40% turnover rate would occur, for example, if 40% of the securities held
in the Fund's portfolio (excluding all securities whose maturities at
acquisition were one year or less) were sold and replaced within one year.
INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In addition to the investment restrictions enumerated in the Prospectus, the
investment restrictions listed below have been adopted by the Fund as
fundamental policies, except as otherwise indicated. Under the Act, a
fundamental policy may not be changed without the vote of a majority of the
outstanding voting securities of the Fund, as defined in the Act. Such a
majority is defined as the lesser of (a) 67% or more of the shares present at a
meeting of shareholders, if the holders of 50% of the outstanding shares of the
Fund are present or represented by proxy or (b) more than 50% of the outstanding
shares of the Fund.
The Fund may not:
1. Purchase or sell real estate or interests therein, although the Fund
may purchase securities of issuers which engage in real estate operations
and securities secured by real estate or interests therein.
2. Purchase oil, gas or other mineral leases, rights or royalty
contracts or exploration or development programs, except that the Fund may
invest in the securities of companies which operate, invest in, or sponsor
such programs.
3. Borrow money, except that the Fund may borrow from a bank for
temporary or emergency purposes in amounts not exceeding 5% (taken at the
lower of cost or current value) of its total assets (not including the
amount borrowed).
4. Pledge its assets or assign or otherwise encumber them except to
secure borrowings effected within the limitations set forth in restriction
(3). For the purpose of this restriction, collateral arrangements with
respect to the writing of options and collateral arrangements with respect
to initial or variation margin for futures are not deemed to be pledges of
assets.
5. Issue senior securities as defined in the Act, except insofar as the
Fund may be deemed to have issued a senior security by reason of (a)
entering into any repurchase or reverse repurchase agreement; (b) purchasing
any securities on a when-issued or delayed delivery basis; (c) purchasing or
selling futures contracts, forward foreign exchange contracts or options;
(d) borrowing money in accordance with restrictions described above; or (e)
lending portfolio securities.
6. Make loans of money or securities, except: (a) by the purchase of
publicly distributed debt obligations in which the Fund may invest
consistent with its investment objective and policies; (b) by investment in
repurchase agreements; or (c) by lending its portfolio securities.
28
<PAGE>
7. Make short sales of securities.
8. Purchase securities on margin, except for such short-term loans as
are necessary for the clearance of portfolio securities. The deposit or
payment by the Fund of initial or variation margin in connection with
futures contracts or related options thereon is not considered the purchase
of a security on margin.
9. Engage in the underwriting of securities, except insofar as the Fund
may be deemed an underwriter under the Securities Act of 1933 in disposing
of a portfolio security.
10. Invest for the purpose of exercising control or management of any
other issuer.
11. Purchase securities of other investment companies, except in
connection with a merger, consolidation, reorganization or acquisition of
assets or in accordance with the provisions of Section 12(d) of the Act and
any Rules promulgated thereunder.
12. Purchase or sell commodities or commodities contracts except that
the Fund may purchase or sell futures contracts or options on futures.
In addition, as a nonfundamental policy, the Fund may not invest in
securities of any issuer if, to the knowledge of the Fund, any officer or
trustee of the Fund or any officer or director of the Investment Manager owns
more than 1/2 of 1% of the outstanding securities of such issuer, and such
officers, trustees and directors who own more than 1/2 of 1% own in the
aggregate more than 5% of the outstanding securities of such issuers.
If a percentage restriction is adhered to at the time of investment, a later
increase or decrease in percentage resulting from a change in values of
portfolio securities or amount of total or net assets will not be considered a
violation of any of the foregoing restrictions.
PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS AND BROKERAGE
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Subject to the general supervision of the Trustees, the Investment Manager
is responsible for decisions to buy and sell securities for the Fund, the
selection of brokers and dealers to effect the transactions, and the negotiation
of brokerage commissions, if any. Purchases and sales of securities on a stock
exchange are effected through brokers who charge a commission for their
services. In the over-the-counter market, securities are generally traded on a
"net" basis with dealers acting as principal for their own accounts without a
stated commission, although the price of the security usually includes a profit
to the dealer. The Fund expects that securities will be purchased at times in
underwritten offerings where the price includes a fixed amount of compensation,
generally referred to as the underwriter's concession or discount. Options and
futures transactions will usually be effected through a broker and a commission
will be charged. On occasion, the Fund may also purchase certain money market
instruments directly from an issuer, in which case no commissions or discounts
are paid.
The Investment Manager currently serves as investment manager to a number of
clients, including other investment companies, and may in the future act as
investment manager or adviser to others. It is the practice of the Investment
Manager to cause purchase and sale transactions to be allocated among the Fund
and others whose assets it manages in such manner as it deems equitable. In
making such allocations among the Fund and other client accounts, various
factors may be considered, including the respective investment objectives, the
relative size of portfolio holdings of the same or comparable securities, the
availability of cash for investment, the size of investment commitments
generally held and the opinions of the persons responsible for managing the
portfolios of the Fund and other client accounts. In the case of certain initial
and secondary public offerings, the Investment Manager may utilize a pro-rata
allocation process based on the size of the Dean Witter Funds involved and the
number of shares available from the public offering.
The policy of the Fund regarding purchases and sales of securities for its
portfolio is that primary consideration will be given to obtaining the most
favorable prices and efficient executions of transac-
29
<PAGE>
tions. Consistent with this policy, when securities transactions are effected on
a stock exchange, the Fund's policy is to pay commissions which are considered
fair and reasonable without necessarily determining that the lowest possible
commissions are paid in all circumstances. The Fund believes that a requirement
always to seek the lowest possible commission cost could impede effective
portfolio management and preclude the Fund and the Investment Manager from
obtaining a high quality of brokerage and research services. In seeking to
determine the reasonableness of brokerage commissions paid in any transaction,
the Investment Manager relies upon its experience and knowledge regarding
commissions generally charged by various brokers and on its judgment in
evaluating the brokerage and research services received from the broker
effecting the transaction. Such determinations are necessarily subjective and
imprecise, and in most cases an exact dollar value for those services is not
ascertainable.
The Fund anticipates that certain of its transactions involving foreign
securities will be effected on foreign securities exchanges. Fixed commissions
on such transactions are generally higher than negotiated commissions on
domestic transactions. There is also generally less government supervision and
regulation of foreign securities exchanges and brokers than in the United
States.
In seeking to implement the Fund's policies, the Investment Manager effects
transactions with those brokers and dealers who the Investment Manager believes
provide the most favorable prices and are capable of providing efficient
executions. If the Investment Manager believes such prices and executions are
obtainable from more than one broker or dealer, it may give consideration to
placing portfolio transactions with those brokers and dealers who also furnish
research and other services to the Fund or the Investment Manager. Such services
may include, but are not limited to, any one or more of the following:
information as to the availability of securities for purchase or sale;
statistical or factual information or opinions pertaining to investment; wire
services; and appraisals or evaluations of portfolio securities. During the
period from commencement of the Fund's operations through March 31, 1994 and for
the fiscal years ended March 31, 1995 and 1996, the Fund paid $3,993,110,
$4,359,782 and $4,320,013, respectively, in brokerage commissions.
The information and services received by the Investment Manager from brokers
and dealers may be of benefit to the Investment Manager in the management of
accounts of some of its other clients and may not in all cases benefit the Fund
directly. While the receipt of such information and services is useful in
varying degrees and would generally reduce the amount of research or services
otherwise performed by the Investment Manager and thereby reduce its expenses,
it is of indeterminable value and the management fee paid to the Investment
Manager is not reduced by any amount that may be attributable to the value of
such services. $4,120,531 of the brokerage commissions paid by the Fund during
the fiscal year ended March 31, 1996 were directed to brokers in connection with
research services provided ($1,637,895,118 in transactions).
Pursuant to an order of the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Fund may
effect principal transactions in certain money market instruments with DWR. The
Fund will limit its transactions with DWR to U.S. Government and Government
Agency Securities, Bank Money Instruments (i.e., Certificates of Deposit and
Bankers' Acceptances) and Commercial Paper. Such transactions will be effected
with DWR only when the price available from DWR is better than that available
from other dealers.
Consistent with the policy described above, brokerage transactions in
securities listed on exchanges or admitted to unlisted trading privileges may be
effected through DWR. In order for DWR to effect any portfolio transactions for
the Fund, the commissions, fees or other remuneration received by DWR must be
reasonable and fair compared to the commissions, fees or other remuneration paid
to other brokers in connection with comparable transactions involving similar
securities being purchased or sold on an exchange during a comparable period of
time. This standard would allow DWR to receive no more than the remuneration
which would be expected to be received by an unaffiliated broker in a
commensurate arm's-length transaction. Furthermore, the Board of Trustees of the
Fund, including a majority of the Trustees who are not "interested" persons of
the Fund, as defined in the Act, have adopted procedures which are reasonably
designed to provide that any commissions, fees or other
30
<PAGE>
remuneration paid to DWR are consistent with the foregoing standard. The Fund
does not reduce the management fee it pays to the Investment Manager by any
amount of the brokerage commissions it may pay to DWR. For the period ended
March 31, 1994 and the fiscal years ended March 31, 1995 and 1996, the Fund paid
DWR approximately $109,025, $211,050 and $193,780, respectively, in brokerage
commissions. During the fiscal year ended March 31, 1996, the brokerage
commissions paid to DWR represented approximately 4.49% of the total brokerage
commissions paid by the Fund during the period and were paid on account of
transactions having an aggregate dollar value equal to approximately 11.85% of
the aggregate dollar value of all portfolio transactions of the Fund during the
period for which commissions were paid.
THE DISTRIBUTOR
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As discussed in the Prospectus, shares of the Fund are distributed by Dean
Witter Distributors Inc. (the "Distributor"). The Distributor has entered into a
selected dealer agreement with DWR, which through its own sales organization
sells shares of the Fund. In addition, the Distributor may enter into selected
dealer agreements with other selected broker-dealers. The Distributor, a
Delaware corporation, is an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of DWDC. The
Trustees of the Fund, including a majority of the Trustees who are not, and were
not at the time they voted, interested persons of the Fund, as defined in the
Act (the "Independent Trustees"), approved, at their meeting held on April 28,
1993, a Distribution Agreement (the "Distribution Agreement") appointing the
Distributor exclusive distributor of the Fund's shares and providing for the
Distributor to bear distribution expenses not borne by the Fund. At the same
meeting, the Trustees of the Fund, including all of the Independent Trustees,
approved a new Distribution Agreement between the Fund and the Distributor, to
take effect upon the spin-off. The new Distribution Agreement, which took effect
on June 30, 1993, is substantively identical to the Distribution Agreement in
all material respects, except for the dates of effectiveness. By its terms, the
Distribution Agreement had an initial term ending April 30, 1994, and provides
that it will remain in effect from year to year thereafter if approved by the
Board. At their meeting held on October 26, 1996, the Trustees of the Fund,
including all of the independent 12b-1 Trustees, approved an amendment to the
Plan to permit payments to be made under the Plan with respect to certain
distribution expenses incurred in connection with the distribution of shares,
including personal services to shareholders with respect to holdings of such
shares, of an investment company whose assets are acquired by the Fund in a
tax-free reorganization. At their meeting held on April 17, 1996, the Trustees
of the Fund, including all of the Independent Trustees, approved the
continuation of the Distribution Agreement until April 30, 1997.
The Distributor bears all expenses it may incur in providing services under
the Distribution Agreement. Such expenses include the payment of commissions for
sales of the Fund's shares and incentive compensation to account executives. The
Distributor also pays certain expenses in connection with the distribution of
the Fund's shares, including the costs of preparing, printing and distributing
advertising or promotional materials, and the costs of printing and distributing
prospectuses and supplements thereto used in connection with the offering and
sale of the Fund's shares. The Fund bears the costs of initial typesetting,
printing and distribution of prospectuses and supplements thereto to
shareholders. The Fund also bears the costs of registering the Fund and its
shares under federal and state securities laws. The Fund and the Distributor
have agreed to indemnify each other against certain liabilities, including
liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. Under the Distribution
Agreement, the Distributor uses its best efforts in rendering services to the
Fund, but in the absence of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or
reckless disregard of its obligations, the Distributor is not liable to the Fund
or any of its shareholders for any error of judgment or mistake of law or for
any act or omission or for any losses sustained by the Fund or its shareholders.
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
To compensate the Distributor for the services it or any selected dealer
provides and for the expenses it bears under the Distribution Agreement, the
Fund has adopted a Plan of Distribution pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Act
(the "Plan") pursuant to which the Fund pays the Distributor
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<PAGE>
compensation accrued daily and payable monthly at the 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 upon which such charge has been
waived; or (b) the Fund's average daily net assets. The Distributor receives the
proceeds of contingent deferred sales charges imposed on certain redemptions of
shares, which are separate and apart from payments made pursuant to the Plan.
The Distributor has informed the Fund that it and/or DWR received approximately
$826,000, $3,427,309 and $4,167,097 in contingent deferred sales charges during
the period ended March 31, 1994 and for the fiscal years ended March 31, 1995
and 1996, respectively.
The Distributor has informed the Fund that an amount of the fees payable by
the Fund each year pursuant to the Plan of Distribution equal to 0.25% of the
Fund's average annual net assets is characterized as a "service fee" under the
Rules of Fair Practice of the National Association of Securities Dealers Inc.
(of which the Distributor is a member). Such fee is a payment made for personal
service and/or the maintenance of shareholder accounts. The remaining portion of
the Plan of Distribution fee payments made by the Fund is characterized as an
"asset-based sales charge" as such is defined by the aforementioned Rules of
Fair Practice.
The Plan was adopted by a vote of the Trustees of the Fund on April 28,
1993, at a Meeting of the Trustees called for the purpose of voting on such
Plan. The vote included the vote of a majority of the Trustees of the Fund who
are not "interested persons" of the Fund (as defined in the Act) and who have no
direct or indirect financial interest in the operation of the Plan (the
"Independent 12b-1 Trustees"). In making their decision to adopt the Plan, the
Trustees requested from the Distributor and received such information as they
deemed necessary to make an informed determination as to whether or not adoption
of the Plan was in the best interests of the shareholders of the Fund. After due
consideration of the information received, the Trustees, including the
Independent 12b-1 Trustees, determined that adoption of the Plan would benefit
the shareholders of the Fund. InterCapital, as sole shareholder of the Fund,
approved the Plan on April 28, 1993, whereupon the Plan went into effect.
Under its terms, the Plan continued until April 30, 1994 and provides that
it will remain in effect from year to year thereafter, provided such continuance
is approved annually by a vote of the Trustees in the manner described above.
Under the Plan and as required by Rule 12b-1, the Trustees will receive and
review promptly after the end of each fiscal quarter a written report provided
by the Distributor of the amounts expended by the Distributor under the Plan and
the purpose for which such expenditures were made.
Continuance of the Plan for one year, until April 30, 1996, was approved by
the Trustees of the Fund, including a majority of the Independent 12b-1
Trustees, at their meeting held on April 20, 1995. Prior to approving the
continuation of the Plan, the Trustees requested and received from the
Distributor and reviewed all the information which they deemed necessary to
arrive at an informed determination. In making their determination to continue
the Plan, the Trustees considered: (1) the Fund's experience under the Plan and
whether such experience indicates that the Plan is operating as anticipated; (2)
the benefits the Fund had obtained, was obtaining and would be likely to obtain
under the Plan; and (3) what services had been provided and were continuing to
be provided under the Plan by the Distributor to the Fund and its stockholders.
Based upon their review, the Trustees of the Fund, including each of the
Independent 12b-1 Trustees, determined that continuation of the Plan would be in
the best interest of the Fund and would have a reasonable likelihood of
continuing to benefit the Fund and its shareholders.
Under the Plan and as required by Rule 12b-1, the Trustees will receive and
review promptly after the end of each fiscal quarter a written report provided
by the Distributor of the amounts expended by the Distributor under the Plan and
the purpose for which such expenditures were made. The Fund accrued $18,919,175
payable to the Distributor, pursuant to the Plan, for the fiscal year ended
March 31, 1996. This is an accrual at an annual rate of 0.89% of the average
daily net assets of the Fund. This amount is treated by the Fund as an expense
in the year it is accrued.
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<PAGE>
The Plan was adopted in order to permit the implementation of the Fund's
method of distribution. Under this distribution method shares of the Fund are
sold without a sales load being deducted at the time of purchase, so that the
full amount of an investor's purchase payment will be invested in shares without
any deduction for sales charges. Shares of the Fund may be subject to a
contingent deferred sales charge, payable to the Distributor, if redeemed during
the six years after their purchase. The Distributor compensates account
executives of DWR and other selected broker-dealers by paying them, from its own
funds, commissions for the sale of the Fund's shares, currently a gross sales
credit of up to 5% of the amount sold and an annual residual commission of up to
.25 of 1% of the current value (not including reinvested dividends or
distributions) of the amount sold. The gross sales credit is a charge which
reflects commissions paid to account executives of DWR and other selected
broker-dealers and Fund associated distribution-related expenses, including
sales compensation and overhead. The distribution fee that the Distributor
receives from the Fund under the Plan, in effect, offsets distribution expenses
incurred on behalf of the Fund and its opportunity costs, such as the gross
sales credit and an assumed interest charge thereon ("carrying charge"). In the
Distributor's reporting of its distribution expenses to the Fund, such assumed
interest (computed at the "broker's call rate") has been calculated on the gross
sales credit as it is reduced by amounts received by the Distributor under the
Plan and any contingent deferred sales charges received by the Distributor upon
redemption of shares of the Fund. No other interest charge is included as a
distribution expense in the Distributor's calculation of its distribution costs
for this purpose. The broker's call rate is the interest rate charged to
securities brokers on loans secured by exchange-listed securities.
The Fund paid 100% of the $18,919,175 accrued under the Plan for the period
ended March 31, 1996, to the Distributor and DWR. The Distributor and DWR
estimate that they have spent, pursuant to the Plan, $109,869,645 on behalf of
the Fund since the inception of the Plan. It is estimated that this amount was
spent in approximately the following ways: (i) 2.36% ($2,600,730)--advertising
and promotional expenses; (ii) 0.18% ($193,110)--printing of prospectuses for
distribution to other than current shareholders; and (iii) 97.46%
($107,075,805)--other expenses, including the gross sales credit and the
carrying charge, of which 5.92% ($6,337,433) represents carrying charges, 37.99%
($40,678,155) represents commission credits to DWR branch offices for payments
of commissions to account executives and 56.09% ($60,060,217) represents
overhead and other branch office distribution-related expenses. The term
"overhead and other branch office distribution-related expenses" represents (a)
the expenses of operating DWR's branch offices in connection with the sale of
Fund shares, including lease costs, the salaries and employee benefits of
operations and sales support personnel, utility costs, communications costs and
the costs of stationery and supplies; (b) the costs of client sales seminars;
(d) travel expenses of mutual fund sales coordinators to promote the sale of
Fund shares; and (d) other expenses relating to branch promotion of Fund share
sales.
At any given time, the expenses in distributing shares of the Fund may be
more or less than the total of (i) the payments made by the Fund pursuant to the
Plan and (ii) the proceeds of contingent deferred sales charges paid by
investors upon redemption of shares. The Distributor has advised the Fund that
such excess amount, including the carrying charge designed to approximate the
opportunity costs incurred which arise from it having advanced monies without
having received the amount of any sales charges imposed at the time of sale of
the Fund's shares, totalled $62,099,978 as of March 31, 1996. Because there is
no requirement under the Plan that the Distributor be reimbursed for all
expenses or any requirement that the Plan be continued from year to year, this
excess amount does not constitute a liability of the Fund. Although there is no
legal obligation for the Fund to pay distribution expenses in excess of payments
made under the Plan and the proceeds of contingent deferred sales charges paid
by investors upon redemption of shares, if for any reason the Plan is
terminated, the Trustees will consider at that time the manner in which to treat
such expenses. Any cumulative expenses incurred, but not yet recovered through
distribution fees or contingent deferred sales charges, may or may not be
recovered through future distribution fees or contingent deferred sales charges.
No interested person of the Fund, nor any Trustee of the Fund who is not an
interested person of the Fund, as defined in the Act, has any direct or indirect
financial interest in the operation of the Plan except
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<PAGE>
to the extent that the Distributor, InterCapital, DWR or certain of their
employees may be deemed to have such an interest as a result of benefits derived
from the successful operation of the Plan or as a result of receiving a portion
of the amounts expended thereunder by the Fund.
The Plan may not be amended to increase materially the amount to be spent
for the services described therein without approval of the shareholders of the
Fund, and all material amendments of the Plan must also be approved by the
Trustees in the manner described above. The Plan may be terminated at any time,
without payment of any penalty, by vote of a majority of the Independent 12b-1
Trustees or by a vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the
Fund (as defined in the Act) on not more than thirty days' written notice to any
other party to the Plan. So long as the Plan is in effect, the election and
nomination of Independent Trustees shall be committed to the discretion of the
Independent Trustees.
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 its
liabilities, dividing by the number of shares outstanding and adjusting to the
nearest cent. The New York Stock Exchange currently observes the following
holidays: New Year's Day, Presidents' Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day,
Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.
As stated in the Prospectus, short-term 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. Other short-term debt securities will be valued on a
mark-to-market basis until such time as they reach a remaining maturity of 60
days, whereupon they will be valued at amortized cost using their value on the
61st day unless the Trustees determine such does not reflect the securities'
market value, in which case these securities will be valued at their fair value
as determined by the Trustees. Listed options on debt securities are valued at
the latest sale price on the exchange on which they are listed unless no sales
of such options have taken place that day, in which case they will be valued at
the mean between their latest bid and asked prices. Unlisted options on debt
securities and all options on equity securities are valued at the mean between
their latest bid and asked prices. Futures are valued at the latest sale price
on the commodities exchange on which they trade unless the Trustees determine
that such price does not reflect their market value, in which case they will be
valued at their fair value as determined by the Trustees. All other securities
and other assets are valued at their fair value as determined in good faith
under procedures established by and under the supervision of the Trustees.
SHAREHOLDER SERVICES
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Upon the purchase of shares of the Fund, a Shareholder Investment Account is
opened for the investor on the books of the Fund and maintained by Dean Witter
Trust Company (the "Transfer Agent"). This is an open account in which shares
owned by the investor are credited by the Transfer Agent in lieu of issuance of
a share certificate. If a share certificate is desired, it must be requested in
writing for each transaction. Certificates are issued only for full shares and
may be redeposited in the account at any time. There is no charge to the
investor for issuance of a certificate. Whenever a shareholder-instituted
transaction takes place in the Shareholder Investment Account, the shareholder
will be mailed a confirmation of the transaction from the Fund or from DWR or
other selected broker-dealer.
INVESTMENT OF DIVIDENDS OR DISTRIBUTIONS RECEIVED IN CASH. As discussed in
the Prospectus, any shareholder who receives a cash payment representing a
dividend or distribution may invest such dividend or distribution at the net
asset value next determined after receipt by the Transfer Agent, without the
imposition of a contingent deferred sales charge upon redemption, by returning
the check or the proceeds to the Transfer Agent within 30 days after the payment
date. If the shareholder returns the
34
<PAGE>
proceeds of a dividend or distribution, such funds must be accompanied by a
signed statement indicating that the proceeds constitute a dividend or
distribution to be invested. Such investment will be made at the net asset value
per share next determined after receipt of the check or proceeds by the Transfer
Agent.
AUTOMATIC INVESTMENT OF DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS. As stated in the
Prospectus, all income dividends and capital gains distributions are
automatically paid in full and fractional shares of the Fund, unless the
shareholder requests that they be paid in cash. Each purchase of shares of the
Fund is made upon the condition that the Transfer Agent is thereby automatically
appointed as agent of the investor to receive all dividends and capital gains
distributions on shares owned by the investor. Such dividends and distributions
will be paid, at the net asset value per share, in shares of the Fund (or in
cash if the shareholder so requests) as of the close of business on the record
date. At any time an investor may request the Transfer Agent, in writing, to
have subsequent dividends and/or capital gains distributions paid to him or her
in cash rather than shares. To assure sufficient time to process the change,
such request should be received by the Transfer Agent as least five business
days prior to the record date of the dividend or distribution. In the case of
recently purchased shares for which registration instructions have not been
received on the record date, cash payments will be made to the Distributor,
which will be forwarded to the shareholder, upon the receipt of proper
instructions.
TARGETED DIVIDENDS-SM-. In states where it is legally permissible,
shareholders may also have all income dividends and capital gains distributions
automatically invested in shares of a Dean Witter Fund other than Dean Witter
Global Dividend Growth Securities. Such investment will be made as described
above for automatic investment in shares of the Fund, at the net asset value per
share of the selected Dean Witter Fund as of the close of business on the
payment date of the dividend or distribution and will begin to earn dividends,
if any, in the selected Dean Witter Fund the next business day. To participate
in the Targeted Dividends program, shareholders should contact their DWR or
other selected broker-dealer account executive or the Transfer Agent.
Shareholders of the Fund must be shareholders of the Dean Witter Fund targeted
to receive investments from dividends at the time they enter the Targeted
Dividends program. Investors should review the prospectus of the targeted Dean
Witter Fund before entering the program.
EASYINVEST-SM-. Shareholders may subscribe to Easyinvest, an automatic
purchase plan which provides for any amount from $100 to $5,000 to be
transferred automatically from a checking or savings account, on a semi-monthly,
monthly or quarterly basis, to the Transfer Agent for investment in shares of
the Fund. Shares purchased through Easyinvest will be added to the shareholder's
existing account at the net asset value calculated the same business day the
transfer of funds is effected. For further information or to subscribe to
Easyinvest, shareholders should contact their DWR or other selected
broker-dealer account executive or the Transfer Agent.
SYSTEMATIC WITHDRAWAL PLAN. As discussed in the Prospectus, a systematic
withdrawal plan (the "Withdrawal Plan") is available for shareholders who own or
purchase shares of the Fund having a minimum value of $10,000 based upon the
then current net asset value. The Withdrawal Plan provides for monthly or
quarterly (March, June, September and December) checks in any dollar amount, not
less than $25, or in any whole percentage of the account balance, on an
annualized basis. Any applicable contingent deferred sales charge will be
imposed on shares redeemed under the Withdrawal Plan (see "Redemptions and
Repurchases--Contingent Deferred Sales Charge" in the Prospectus). Therefore,
any shareholder participating in the Withdrawal Plan will have sufficient shares
redeemed from his or her account so that the proceeds (net of any applicable
contingent deferred sales charge) to the shareholder will be the designated
monthly or quarterly amount.
Dividends and capital gains distributions on shares held under the
Systematic Withdrawal Plan will be invested in additional full and fractional
shares at net asset value (without a sales charge). Shares will be credited to
an open account for the investor by the Transfer Agent; no share certificates
will be issued. A shareholder is entitled to a share certificate upon written
request to the Transfer Agent, although in that event the shareholder's
Systematic Withdrawal Plan will be terminated.
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<PAGE>
The Transfer Agent acts as agent for the shareholder in tendering to the
Fund for redemption sufficient full and fractional shares to provide the amount
of the periodic withdrawal payment designated in the application. The shares
will be redeemed at their net asset value determined, at the shareholder's
option, on the tenth or twenty-fifth day (or next following business day) of the
relevant month or quarter and normally a check for the proceeds will be mailed
by the Transfer Agent, or amounts credited to a shareholder's DWR or other
selected broker-dealer brokerage account within five business days after the
date of redemption. The Withdrawal Plan may be terminated at any time by the
Fund.
Withdrawal Plan payments should not be considered as dividends, yields or
income. If periodic withdrawal plan payments continuously exceed net investment
income and net capital gains, the shareholder's original investment will be
correspondingly reduced and ultimately exhausted.
Each withdrawal constitutes a redemption of shares and any gain or loss
realized must be recognized for federal income tax purposes. Although the
shareholder may make additional investments of $2,500 or more under the
Withdrawal Plan, withdrawals made concurrently with purchases of additional
shares may be inadvisable because of the contingent deferred sales charge
applicable to the redemption of shares purchased during the preceding six years
(see "Redemptions and Repurchases-- Contingent Deferred Sales Charge").
Any shareholder who wishes to have payments under the Withdrawal Plan made
to a third party or sent to an address other than the one listed on the account
must send complete written instructions to the Transfer Agent to enroll in the
Withdrawal Plan. The shareholder's signature on such instructions must be
guaranteed by an eligible guarantor acceptable to the Transfer Agent
(shareholders should contact the Transfer Agent for a determination as to
whether a particular institution is such an eligible guarantor.) A shareholder
may, at any time, change the amount and interval of withdrawal payments through
his or her account executive or by written notification to the Transfer Agent.
In addition, the party and/or the address to which checks are mailed may be
changed by written notification to the Transfer Agent, with signature guarantees
required in the manner described above. The shareholder may also terminate the
Withdrawal Plan at any time by written notice to the Transfer Agent. In the
event of such termination, the account will be continued as a regular
shareholder investment account. The shareholder may also redeem all or part of
the shares held in the Withdrawal Plan account (see "Redemptions and
Repurchases" in the Prospectus) at any time. Shareholders wishing to enroll in
the Withdrawal Plan should contact their account executive or the Transfer
Agent.
DIRECT INVESTMENTS THROUGH TRANSFER AGENT. As discussed in the Prospectus,
a shareholder may make additional investments in Fund shares at any time by
sending a check in any amount, not less than $100, payable to Dean Witter
Intermediate Income Securities, directly to the Fund's Transfer Agent. Such
amounts will be applied to the purchase of Fund shares at the net asset value
per share next computed after receipt of the check or purchase payment by the
Transfer Agent. The shares so purchased will be credited to the investor's
account.
EXCHANGE PRIVILEGE
As discussed in the Prospectus, the Fund makes available to its shareholders
an Exchange Privilege whereby shareholders of the Fund may exchange their shares
for shares of other Dean Witter Funds sold with a contingent deferred sales
charge ("CDSC funds"), for shares of Dean Witter Short-Term U.S. Treasury Trust,
Dean Witter Limited Term Municipal Trust, Dean Witter Short-Term Bond Fund, Dean
Witter Intermediate Term U.S. Treasury Trust, Dean Witter Balanced Income Food,
Dean Witter Balanced Growth Fund and five Dean Witter Funds which are money
market funds (the foregoing ten seven non-CDSC funds are hereinafter referred to
for purposes of this section as the "Exchange Funds"). Exchanges may be made
after the shares of the Fund acquired by purchase (not by exchange or dividend
reinvestment) have been held for thirty days. There is no waiting period for
exchanges of shares acquired by exchange or dividend reinvestment. An exchange
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.
36
<PAGE>
Any new account established through the Exchange Privilege will have the
same registration and cash dividend or dividend reinvestment plan as the present
account, unless the Transfer Agent receives written notification to the
contrary. For telephone exchanges, the exact registration of the existing
account and the account number must be provided.
Any shares held in certificate form cannot be exchanged but must be
forwarded to the Transfer Agent and deposited into the shareholder's account
before being eligible for exchange. (Certificates mailed in for deposit should
not be endorsed.)
As described below, and in the Prospectus under the captions "Exchange
Privilege" and "Contingent Deferred Sales Charge", a contingent deferred sales
charge ("CDSC") may be imposed upon a redemption, depending on a number of
factors, including the number of years from the time of purchase until the time
of redemption or exchange ("holding period"). When shares of the Fund or any
other CDSC fund are exchanged for shares of an Exchange Fund, the exchange is
executed at no charge to the shareholder, without the imposition of the CDSC at
the time of the exchange. During the period of time the shareholder remains in
the Exchange Fund (calculated from the last day of the month in which the
Exchange Fund shares were acquired), the holding period or "year since purchase
payment made" is frozen. When shares are redeemed out of the Exchange Fund, they
will be subject to a CDSC which would be based upon the period of time the
shareholder held shares in a CDSC fund. However, in the case of shares exchanged
into an Exchange Fund on or after April 23, 1990, upon a redemption of shares
which results in a CDSC being imposed, a credit (not to exceed the amount of the
CDSC) will be given in an amount equal to the Exchange Fund 12b-1 distribution
fees, if any, incurred on or after that date which are attributable to those
shares. Shareholders acquiring shares of an Exchange Fund pursuant to this
exchange privilege may exchange those shares back into a CDSC fund from the
Exchange Fund, with no CDSC being imposed on such exchange. The holding period
previously frozen when shares were first exchanged for shares of the Exchange
Fund resumes on the last day of the month in which shares of a CDSC fund are
reacquired. A CDSC is imposed only upon an ultimate redemption, based upon the
time (calculated as described above) the shareholder was invested in a CDSC
fund.
In addition, shares of the Fund may be acquired in exchange for shares of
Dean Witter Funds sold with a front-end sales charge ("front-end sales charge
funds"), but shares of the Fund, however acquired, may not be exchanged for
shares of front-end sales charge funds. Shares of a CDSC fund acquired in
exchange for shares of a front-end sales charge fund (or in exchange for shares
of other Dean Witter Funds for which shares of a front-end sales charge fund
have been exchanged) are not subject to any CDSC upon their redemption.
When shares initially purchased in a CDSC fund are exchanged for shares of
another CDSC fund, or for shares of an Exchange Fund, the date of purchase of
the shares of the fund exchanged into, for purposes of the CDSC upon redemption,
will be the last day of the month in which the shares being exchanged were
originally purchased. In allocating the purchase payments between funds for
purposes of the CDSC, the amount which represents the current net asset value of
shares at the time of the exchange which were (i) purchased more than three or
six years (depending on the CDSC schedule applicable to the shares) prior to the
exchange, (ii) originally acquired through reinvestment of dividends or
distributions and (iii) acquired in exchange for shares of front-end sales
charge funds, or for shares of other Dean Witter Funds for which shares of
front-end sales charge funds have been exchanged (all such shares called "Free
Shares"), will be exchanged first. Shares of Dean Witter American Value Fund
acquired prior to April 30, 1984, shares of Dean Witter Dividend Growth
Securities Inc. and Dean Witter Natural Resource Development Securities Inc.
acquired prior to July 2, 1984, and shares of Dean Witter Strategist Fund
acquired prior to November 8, 1989, are also considered Free Shares and will be
the first Free Shares to be exchanged. After an exchange, all dividends earned
on shares in an Exchange Fund will be considered Free Shares. If the exchanged
amount exceeds the value of such Free Shares, an exchange is made, on a
block-by-block basis, of non-Free Shares held for the longest period of time
(except that if shares held for identical periods of time but subject to
different CDSC schedules are held in the same Exchange Privilege account, the
shares of that block that are subject to a lower CDSC rate will be exchanged
prior to the shares of that block that are subject to a higher CDSC rate).
Shares equal
37
<PAGE>
to any appreciation in the value of non-Free Shares exchanged will be treated as
Free Shares, and the amount of the purchase payments for the non-Free Shares of
the fund exchanged into will be equal to the lesser of (a) the purchase payments
for, or (b) the current net asset value of, the exchanged non-Free Shares. If an
exchange between funds would result in exchange of only part of a particular
block of non-Free Shares, then shares equal to any appreciation in the value of
the block (up to the amount of the exchange) will be treated as Free Shares and
exchanged first, and the purchase payment for that block will be allocated on a
pro rata basis between the non-Free Shares of that block to be retained and the
non-Free Shares to be exchanged. The prorated amount of such purchase payment
attributable to the retained non-Free Shares will remain as the purchase payment
for such shares, and the amount of purchase payment for the exchanged non-Free
Shares will be equal to the lesser of (a) the prorated amount of the purchase
payment for, or (b) the current net asset value of, those exchanged non-Free
Shares. Based upon the procedures described in the Prospectus under the caption
"Contingent Deferred Sales Charge", any applicable CDSC will be imposed upon the
ultimate redemption of shares of any fund, regardless of the number of exchanges
since those shares were originally purchased.
The Transfer Agent acts as agent for shareholders of the Fund in effecting
redemptions of Fund shares and in applying the proceeds to the purchase of other
fund shares. In the absence of negligence on its part, neither the Transfer
Agent nor the Fund shall be liable for any redemption of Fund shares caused by
unauthorized telephone instructions. Accordingly, in such an event the investor
shall bear the risk of loss. The staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission
is currently considering the propriety of such a policy.
With respect to the redemption or repurchase of shares of the Fund, the
application of proceeds to the purchase of new shares in the Fund or any other
of the funds and the general administration of the Exchange Privilege, the
Transfer Agent acts as agent for the Distributor and for the shareholder's
selected broker-dealer, if any, in the performance of such functions. With
respect to exchanges, redemptions or repurchases, the Transfer Agent shall be
liable for its own negligence and not for the default or negligence of its
correspondents or for losses in transit. The Fund shall not be liable for any
default or negligence of the Transfer Agent, the Distributor or any selected
broker-dealer.
The Distributor and all selected broker-dealers have authorized and
appointed the Transfer Agent to act as their agent in connection with the
application of proceeds of any redemption of Fund shares to the purchase of
shares of any other fund and the general administration of the Exchange
Privilege. No commission or discounts will be paid to the Distributor or any
selected broker-dealer for any transactions pursuant to this Exchange Privilege.
Exchanges are subject to the minimum investment requirement and any other
conditions imposed by each fund. (The minimum initial investment is $5,000 for
Dean Witter Liquid Asset Fund Inc., Dean Witter Tax-Free Daily Income Trust,
Dean Witter California Tax-Free Daily Income Trust and Dean Witter New York
Municipal Money Market Trust, although those funds may, at their discretion,
accept initial investments of as low as $1,000. The minimum investment is
$10,000 for Dean Witter Short-Term U.S. Treasury Trust, although that fund, in
its discretion, may accept initial purchases as low as $5,000. The minimum
initial investment for all other Dean Witter Funds for which the Exchange
Privilege is available is $1,000.) Upon exchange into an Exchange Fund, the
shares of that fund will be held in a special Exchange Privilege Account
separately from accounts of those shareholders who have acquired their shares
directly from that fund. As a result, certain services normally available to
shareholders of those funds, including the check writing feature, will not be
available for funds held in that account.
The Fund and each of the other Dean Witter Funds may limit the number of
times this Exchange Privilege may be exercised by any investor within a
specified period of time. Also, the Exchange Privilege may be terminated or
revised at any time by the Fund and/or any of the Dean Witter Funds for which
shares of the Fund have been exchanged, upon such notice as may be required by
applicable regulatory agencies (presently sixty days' prior written notice for
termination or material revision), provided that six months' prior written
notice of termination will be given to the shareholders who hold shares of
Exchange Funds, pursuant to the Exchange Privilege, and provided further that
the Exchange Privilege
38
<PAGE>
may be terminated or materially revised without notice at times (a) when the New
York Stock Exchange is closed for other than customary weekends and holidays,
(b) when trading on that Exchange is restricted, (c) when an emergency exists as
a result of which disposal by the Fund of securities owned by it is not
reasonably practicable or it is not reasonably practicable for the Fund fairly
to determine the value of its net assets, (d) during any other period when the
Securities and Exchange Commission by order so permits (provided that applicable
rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission shall govern as
to whether the conditions prescribed in (b) or (c) exist) or (e) if the Fund
would be unable to invest amounts effectively in accordance with its investment
objective, policies and restrictions.
The current prospectus for each fund describes its investment objective(s)
and policies, and shareholders should obtain a copy and examine it carefully
before investing. An exchange will be treated for federal income tax purposes
the same as a repurchase or redemption of shares, on which the shareholder may
realize a capital gain or loss. However, the ability to deduct capital losses on
an exchange may be limited in situations where there is an exchange of shares
within ninety days after the shares are purchased. The Exchange Privilege is
only available in states where an exchange may legally be made.
For further information regarding the Exchange Privilege, shareholders
should contact their DWR or other selected broker-dealer account executive or
the Transfer Agent.
REDEMPTIONS AND REPURCHASES
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
REDEMPTION. As stated in the Prospectus, shares of the Fund can be redeemed
for cash at any time at the net asset value per share next determined; however,
such redemption proceeds may be reduced by the amount of any applicable
contingent deferred sales charges (see below). If shares are held in a
shareholder's account without a share certificate, a written request for
redemption to the Fund's Transfer Agent at P.O. Box 983, Jersey City, NJ 07303
is required. If certificates are held by the shareholder, the shares may be
redeemed by surrendering the certificates with a written request for redemption.
The share certificate, or an accompanying stock power, and the request for
redemption, must be signed by the shareholder or shareholders exactly as the
shares are registered. Each request for redemption, whether or not accompanied
by a share certificate, must be sent to the Fund's Transfer Agent, which will
redeem the shares at their net asset value next computed (see "Purchase of Fund
Shares") after it receives the request, and certificate, if any, in good order.
Any redemption request received after such computation will be redeemed at the
next determined net asset value. The term "good order" means that the share
certificate, if any, and request for redemption are properly signed, accompanied
by any documentation required by the Transfer Agent, and bear signature
guarantees when required by the Fund or the Transfer Agent. If redemption is
requested by a corporation, partnership, trust or fiduciary, the Transfer Agent
may require that written evidence of authority acceptable to the Transfer Agent
be submitted before such request is accepted.
Whether certificates are held by the shareholder or shares are held in a
shareholder's account, if the proceeds are to be paid to any person other than
the record owner, or if the proceeds are to be paid to a corporation (other than
the Distributor or a selected broker-dealer for the account of the shareholder),
partnership, trust or fiduciary, or sent to a shareholder at an address other
than the registered address, signatures must be guaranteed by an eligible
guarantor. A stock power may be obtained from any dealer or commercial bank. The
Fund may change the signature guarantee requirements from time to time upon
notice to shareholders, which may be by means of a new prospectus.
CONTINGENT DEFERRED SALES CHARGE. As stated in the Prospectus, a contingent
deferred sales charge ("CDSC") will be imposed on any redemption by an investor
if after such redemption the current value of the investor's shares of the Fund
is less than the dollar amount of all payments by the shareholder for the
purchase of Fund shares during the preceding six years (see "The
Distributor--Plan of Distribution"). However, no CDSC will be imposed to the
extent that the net asset value of the shares redeemed does not exceed: (a) the
current net asset value of shares purchased more than six years
39
<PAGE>
prior to the redemption, plus (b) the current net asset value of shares
purchased through reinvestment of dividends or distributions of the Fund or
another Dean Witter Fund (see "Shareholder Services-- Targeted Dividends"), plus
(c) the current net asset value of shares acquired in exchange for (i) shares of
Dean Witter front-end sales charge funds, or (ii) shares of other Dean Witter
Funds for which shares of front-end sales charge funds have been exchanged (see
"Shareholder Services--Exchange Privilege"), plus (d) increases in the net asset
value of the investor's shares above the total amount of payments for the
purchase of Fund shares made during the preceding six years. The CDSC will be
paid to the Distributor.
In determining the applicability of a CDSC to each redemption, the amount
which represents an increase in the net asset value of the investor's shares
above the amount of the total payments for the purchase of shares within the
last six years will be redeemed first. In the event the redemption amount
exceeds such increase in value, the next portion of the amount redeemed will be
the amount which represents the net asset value of the investor's shares
purchased more than six years prior to the redemption and/or shares purchased
through reinvestment of dividends or distributions and/or shares acquired in
exchange for shares of Dean Witter front-end sales charge funds, or for shares
of other Dean Witter funds for which shares of front-end sales charge funds have
been exchanged. A portion of the amount redeemed which exceeds an amount which
represents both such increase in value and the value of shares purchased more
than six years prior to the redemption and/or shares purchased through
reinvestment of dividends or distributions and/or shares acquired in the
above-described exchanges will be subject to a CDSC.
In addition, the CDSC, if otherwise applicable, will be waived in the case
of: (i) redemptions of shares held at the time a shareholder dies or becomes
disabled, only if the shares are (a) registered either in the name of an
individual shareholder (not a trust), or in the names of such shareholder and
his or her spouse as joint tenants with right of survivorship, or (b) held in a
qualified corporate or self-employed retirement plan, Individual Retirement
Account or Custodial Account under Section 403(b)(7) of the Internal Revenue
Code, provided in either case that the redemption is requested within one year
of the death or initial determination of disability, and (ii) redemption in
connection with the following retirement plan distributions: (a) lump-sum or
other distributions from a qualified corporate or self-employed retirement plan
following retirement (or in the case of a "key-employee" of a "top heavy" plan,
following attainment of age 59 1/2); (b) distributions from an Individual
Retirement Account or Custodial Account under Section 403(b)(7) of the Internal
Revenue code following attainment of age 59 1/2; and (c) a tax-free return of an
excess contribution to an IRA. For the purpose of determining disability, the
Distributor utilizes the definition of disability contained in Section 72(m)(7)
of the Code, which relates to the inability to engage in gainful employment. All
waivers will be granted only following receipt by the Distributor of
confirmation of the investor's entitlement.
The amount of the CDSC, if any, will vary depending on the number of years
from the time of payment for the purchase of Fund shares until the time of
redemption of such shares. For purposes of determining the number of years from
the time of any payment for the purchase of shares, all payments made during a
month will be aggregated and deemed to have been made on the last day of the
month. The following table sets forth the rates of the CDSC:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
CONTINGENT DEFERRED
YEAR SINCE SALES CHARGE
PURCHASE AS A PERCENTAGE OF
PAYMENT MADE AMOUNT REDEEMED
- -------------------------------------------------- --------------------
<S> <C>
First............................................. 5.0%
Second............................................ 4.0%
Third............................................. 3.0%
Fourth............................................ 2.0%
Fifth............................................. 2.0%
Sixth............................................. 1.0%
Seventh and thereafter............................ None
</TABLE>
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<PAGE>
In determining the rate of the CDSC, it will be assumed that a redemption is
made of shares held by the investor for the longest period of time within the
applicable six-year period. This will result in any such CDSC being imposed at
the lowest possible rate. Accordingly, shareholders may redeem, without
incurring any CDSC, amounts equal to any net increase in the value of their
shares above the amount of their purchase payments made within the past six
years, and amounts equal to the current value of shares purchased more than six
years prior to the redemption and shares purchased through reinvestment of
dividends or distributions or acquired in exchange for shares of Dean Witter
front-end sales charge funds, or for shares of other Dean Witter Funds for which
shares of front-end sales charge funds have been exchanged. The CDSC will be
imposed, in accordance with the table shown above, on any redemptions within six
years of purchase which are in excess of these amounts and which redemptions are
not (a) requested within one year of death or initial determination of
disability of a shareholder, or (b) made pursuant to certain taxable
distributions from retirement plans or retirement accounts, as described above.
PAYMENT FOR SHARES REDEEMED OR REPURCHASED. As discussed in the Prospectus,
payment for shares presented for repurchase or redemption will be made by check
within seven days after receipt by the Transfer Agent of the certificate and/or
written request in good order. The term good order means that the share
certificate, if any, and request for redemption are properly signed, accompanied
by any documentation required by the Transfer Agent, and bear signature
guarantees when required by the Fund or the Transfer Agent. Such payment may be
postponed or the right of redemption suspended at times (a) when the New York
Stock Exchange is closed for other than customary weekends and holidays, (b)
when trading on that Exchange is restricted, (c) when an emergency exists as a
result of which disposal by the Fund of securities owned by it is not reasonably
practicable or it is not reasonably practicable for the Fund fairly to determine
the value of its net assets, or (d) during any other period when the Securities
and Exchange Commission by order so permits; provided that applicable rules and
regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission shall govern as to whether
the conditions prescribed in (b) or (c) exist. If the shares to be redeemed have
recently been purchased by check, payment of the redemption proceeds may be
delayed for the minimum time needed to verify that the check used for investment
has been honored (not more than fifteen days from the time of receipt of the
check by the Transfer Agent). Shareholders maintaining accounts with DWR or
another selected broker-dealer are referred to their account executive regarding
restrictions on redemption of shares of the Fund pledged in the margin account.
TRANSFERS OF SHARES. In the event a shareholder requests a transfer of any
shares to a new registration, such shares will be transferred without sales
charge at the time of transfer. With regard to the status of shares which are
either subject to the contingent deferred sales charge or free of such charge
(and with regard to the length of time shares subject to the charge have been
held), any transfer involving less than all of the shares in an account will be
made on a pro-rata basis (that is, by transferring shares in the same proportion
that the transferred shares bear to the total shares in the account immediately
prior to the transfer). The transferred shares will continue to be subject to
any applicable contingent deferred sales charge as if they had not been so
transferred.
REINSTATEMENT PRIVILEGE. As discussed in the Prospectus, a shareholder who
has had his or her shares redeemed or repurchased and has not previously
exercised this reinstatement privilege may within 30 days after the date of
redemption or repurchase reinstate any portion of all of the proceeds of such
redemption or repurchase in shares of the Fund at the net asset value next
determined after a reinstatement request, together with such proceeds, is
received by the Transfer Agent.
Exercise of the reinstatement privilege will not affect the federal income
tax treatment of any gain or loss realized upon the redemption or repurchase,
except that if the redemption or repurchase resulted in a loss and reinstatement
is made in shares of the Fund, some or all of the loss, depending on the amount
reinstated, will not be allowed as a deduction for federal income tax purposes,
but will be applied to adjust the cost basis of the shares acquired upon
reinstatement.
41
<PAGE>
DIVIDENDS, DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
As discussed in the Prospectus, the Fund will determine either to distribute
or to retain all or part of any net long-term capital gains in any year for
reinvestment. If any such gains are retained, the Fund will pay federal income
tax thereon, and, if the Fund makes an election, the shareholders would include
such undistributed gains in their income and shareholders will be able to claim
their share of the tax paid by the Fund as a credit against their individual
federal income tax.
Gains or losses on sales of securities by the Fund will generally be
long-term capital gains or losses if the securities have been held by the Fund
for more than twelve months. Gains or losses on the sale of securities held for
twelve months or less will be generally short-term capital gains or losses.
The Fund intends to qualify as a regulated investment company under
Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"). If
so qualified, the Fund will not be subject to federal income tax on its net
investment income and capital gains, if any, realized during any fiscal year in
which it distributes such income and capital gains to its shareholders. In
addition, the Fund intends to distribute to its shareholders each calendar year
a sufficient amount of ordinary income and capital gains to avoid the imposition
of a 4% excise tax.
Any dividend or capital gains distribution received by a shareholder from
any investment company will have the effect of reducing the net asset value of
the shareholder's stock in that company by the exact amount of the dividend or
capital gains distribution. Furthermore, capital gains distributions and
dividends are subject to federal income taxes. If the net asset value of the
shares should be reduced below a shareholder's cost as a result of the payment
of dividends or the distribution of realized net long-term capital gains, such
payment or distribution would be in part a return of the shareholder's
investment to the extent of such reduction below the shareholder's cost, but
nonetheless would be fully taxable. Therefore, an investor should consider the
tax implications of purchasing Fund shares immediately prior to a distribution
record date.
Any loss realized by shareholders upon a redemption of shares within six
months of the date of their purchase will be treated as a long-term capital loss
to the extent of any distributions of net long-term capital gains during the
six-month period.
Dividends, interest and capital gains received by the Fund may give rise to
withholding and other taxes imposed by foreign countries. Tax conventions
between certain countries and the United States may reduce or eliminate such
taxes. Investors may be entitled to claim United States foreign tax credits or
deductions with respect to such taxes, subject to certain provisions and
limitations contained in the Code. If more than 50% of the Fund's total assets
at the close of its fiscal year consist of securities of foreign corporations,
the Fund would be eligible and would determine whether or not to file an
election with the Internal Revenue Service pursuant to which shareholders of the
Fund will be required to include their respective pro rata portions of such
withholding taxes in their United States income tax returns as gross income,
treat such respective pro rata portions as taxes paid by them, and deduct such
respective pro rata portions in computing their taxable income or,
alternatively, use them as foreign tax credits against their United States
income taxes. If the Fund does elect to file the election with the Internal
Revenue Service, the Fund will report annually to its shareholders the amount
per share of such withholding.
SPECIAL RULES FOR CERTAIN FOREIGN CURRENCY TRANSACTIONS. In general, gains
from foreign currencies and from foreign currency options, foreign currency
futures and forward foreign exchange contracts relating to investments in stock,
securities or foreign currencies are currently considered to be qualifying
income for purposes of determining whether the Fund qualifies as a regulated
investment company. It is currently unclear, however, who will be treated as the
issuer of certain foreign currency instruments or how foreign currency options,
futures, or forward foreign currency contracts will be valued for purposes of
the regulated investment company diversification requirements applicable to the
Fund. The Fund may request a private letter ruling from the Internal Revenue
Service on some or all of these issues.
42
<PAGE>
Under Code Section 988, special rules are provided for certain transactions
in a foreign currency other than the taxpayer's functional currency (I.E.,
unless certain special rules apply, currencies other than the U.S. dollar). In
general, foreign currency gains or losses from forward contracts, from futures
contracts that are not "regulated futures contracts", and from unlisted options
will be treated as ordinary income or loss under Code Section 988. Also, certain
foreign exchange gains or losses derived with respect to foreign fixed-income
securities are also subject to Section 988 treatment. In general, therefore,
Code Section 988 gains or losses will increase or decrease the amount of the
Fund's investment company taxable income available to be distributed to
shareholders as ordinary income, rather than increasing or decreasing the amount
of the Fund's net capital gain. Additionally, if Code Section 988 losses exceed
other investment company taxable income during a taxable year, the Fund would
not be able to make any ordinary dividend distributions.
If the Fund invests in an entity which is classified as a "passive foreign
investment company" ("PFIC") for U.S. tax purposes, the application of certain
technical tax provisions applying to such companies could result in the
imposition of federal income tax with respect to such investments at the Fund
level which could not be eliminated by distributions to shareholders. It is not
anticipated that any taxes on the Fund with respect to investments in PFIC's
would be significant.
Shareholders are urged to consult their attorneys or tax advisers regarding
specific questions as to federal, state or local taxes.
PERFORMANCE INFORMATION
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Fund's "average annual total return" represents an annualization of the
Fund's total return over a particular period and is computed by finding the
annual percentage rate which will result in the ending redeemable value of a
hypothetical $1,000 investment made at the beginning of a one, five or ten year
period, or for the period from the date of commencement of the Fund's
operations, if shorter than any of the foregoing. The ending redeemable value is
reduced by any contingent deferred sales charge at the end of the one, five or
ten year or other period. For the purpose of this calculation, it is assumed
that all dividends and distributions are reinvested. The formula for computing
the average annual total return involves a percentage obtained by dividing the
ending redeemable value by the amount of the initial investment, taking a root
of the quotient (where the root is equivalent to the number of years in the
period) and subtracting 1 from the result. The average annual total return of
the Fund for the fiscal year ended March 31, 1996 and the period June 30, 1993
through March 31, 1996 were 13.77% and 12.64%, respectively.
In addition to the foregoing, the Fund may advertise its total return over
different periods of time by means of aggregate, average, year-by-year or other
types of total return figures. Such calculations may or may not reflect the
deduction of the contingent deferred sales charge which, if reflected, would
reduce the performance quoted. For example, the average annual total returns of
the Fund may be calculated in the manner described above, but without deduction
for any applicable contingent deferred sales charge. Based on this calculation,
the average annual total return of the Fund for the fiscal year ended March 31,
1996 and the period June 30, 1993 through March 31, 1996 were 18.77% and 13.52%,
respectively.
In addition, the Fund may compute its aggregate total return for specified
periods by determining the aggregate percentage rate which will result in the
ending value of a hypothetical $1,000 investment made at the beginning of the
period. For the purpose of this calculation, it is assumed that all dividends
and distributions are reinvested. The formula for computing aggregate total
return involves a percentage obtained by dividing the ending value (without the
reduction for any contingent deferred sales charge) by the initial $1,000
investment and subtracting 1 from the result. Based on the foregoing
calculation, the Fund's total return for the fiscal year ended March 31, 1996
and the period June 30, 1993 through March 31, 1996 were 18.77% and 41.75%,
respectively.
43
<PAGE>
The Fund may also advertise the growth of hypothetical investments of
$10,000, $50,000 and $100,000 in shares of the Fund by adding 1 to the Fund's
aggregate total return to date (expressed as a decimal and without taking into
account the effect of any applicable CDSC) and multiplying by 10,000, $50,000 or
$100,000 as the case may be. Investments of $10,000, $50,000 and $100,000 in the
Fund at inception would have grown to $14,175, $70,875 and $141,750,
respectively, at March 31, 1996.
The Fund from time to time may also advertise its performance relative to
certain performance rankings and indexes compiled by independent organizations.
DESCRIPTION OF SHARES
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
As discussed in the Prospectus, the shareholders of the Fund are entitled to
a full vote for each full share held. The Trustees themselves have the power to
alter the number and the terms of office of the Trustees, and they may at any
time lengthen their own terms or make their terms of unlimited duration and
appoint their own successors, provided that always at least a majority of the
Trustees has been elected by the shareholders of the Fund. Under certain
circumstances the Trustees may be removed by action of the Trustees. The
shareholders also have the right under certain circumstances to remove the
Trustees. The voting rights of shareholders are not cumulative, so that holders
of more than 50 percent of the shares voting can, if they choose, elect all
Trustees being selected, while the holders of the remaining shares would be
unable to elect any Trustees.
The Fund is not required to hold Annual Meetings of Shareholders and in
ordinary circumstances the Fund does not intend to hold such meetings. The
Trustees may call Special Meetings of Shareholders for action by shareholder
vote as may be required by the Act or the Declaration of Trust.
The Declaration of Trust permits the Trustees to authorize the creation of
additional series of shares (the proceeds of which would be invested in
separate, independently managed portfolios) and additional classes of shares
within any series (which would be used to distinguish among the rights of
different categories of shareholders, as might be required by future regulations
or other unforeseen circumstances). However, the Trustees have not authorized
any such additional series or classes of shares.
Under Massachusetts law, shareholders of a business trust may, under certain
limited circumstances, be held personally liable as partners for obligations of
the Fund. However, the Declaration of Trust contains an express disclaimer of
shareholder liability for acts or obligations of the Fund, requires that Fund
obligations include such disclaimer, and provides for indemnification and
reimbursement of expenses out of the Fund's property for any shareholder held
personally liable for the obligations of the Fund. Thus, the risk of a
shareholder incurring financial loss on account of shareholder liability is
limited to circumstances in which the Fund itself would be unable to meet its
obligations. Given the above limitations on shareholder personal liability, and
the nature of the Fund's assets and operations, in the opinion of Massachusetts
counsel to the Fund, the risk to shareholders of personal liability is remote.
The Declaration of Trust further provides that no Trustee, officer, employee
or agent of the Fund is liable to the Fund or to a shareholder, nor is any
Trustee, officer, employee or agent liable to any third persons in connection
with the affairs of the Fund, except as such liability may arise from his/her or
its own bad faith, willful misfeasance, gross negligence, or reckless disregard
of his/her or its duties. It also provides that all third persons shall look
solely to the Fund's property for satisfaction of claims arising in connection
with the affairs of the Fund. With the exceptions stated, the Declaration of
Trust provides that a Trustee, officer, employee or agent is entitled to be
indemnified against all liability in connection with the affairs of the Fund.
The Fund is authorized to issue an unlimited number of shares of beneficial
interest. The Fund shall be of unlimited duration subject to the provisions in
the Declaration of Trust concerning termination by action of the shareholders.
44
<PAGE>
CUSTODIAN AND TRANSFER AGENT
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Chase Manhattan Bank, N.A., One Chase Plaza, New York, New York 10005 is
the Custodian of the Fund's assets in the United States and around the world. As
Custodian, The Chase Manhattan Bank has contracted with various foreign banks
and depositaries to hold portfolio securities of non-U.S. issuers on behalf of
the Fund. Any of the Fund's cash balances with the Custodian in excess of
$100,000 are unprotected by federal deposit insurance. Such balances may, at
times, be substantial.
Dean Witter Trust Company, Harborside Financial Center, Plaza Two, Jersey
City, New Jersey 07311 is the Transfer Agent of the Fund's shares and Dividend
Disbursing Agent for payment of dividends and distributions on Fund shares and
Agent for shareholders under various investment plans described herein. Dean
Witter Trust Company is an affiliate of Dean Witter InterCapital Inc., the
Fund's Investment Manager, and of Dean Witter Distributors Inc., the Fund's
Distributor. As Transfer Agent and Dividend Disbursing Agent, Dean Witter Trust
Company's responsibilities include maintaining shareholder accounts, including
providing subaccounting and recordkeeping services for certain retirement
accounts; disbursing cash dividends and reinvesting dividends; processing
account registration changes; handling purchase and redemption transactions;
mailing prospectuses and reports; mailing and tabulating proxies; processing
share certificate transactions; and maintaining shareholder records and lists.
For these services Dean Witter Trust Company receives a per shareholder account
fee from the Fund.
INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Price Waterhouse LLP serves as the independent accountants of the Fund. The
independent accountants are responsible for auditing the annual financial
statements of the Fund.
REPORTS TO SHAREHOLDERS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Fund will send to shareholders, at least semi-annually, reports showing
the Fund's portfolio and other information. An annual report containing
financial statements, together with a report of its independent accountants,
will be sent to shareholders each year.
The Fund's fiscal year ends on March 31. The financial statements of the
Fund must be audited at least once a year by independent accountants whose
selection is made annually by the Fund's Board of Trustees.
LEGAL COUNSEL
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sheldon Curtis, Esq., who is an officer and the General Counsel of the
Investment Manager, is an officer and the General Counsel of the Fund.
EXPERTS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The financial statements of the Fund included in this Statement of
Additional Information and incorporated by reference in the Prospectus has been
so included and incorporated in reliance on the report of Price Waterhouse LLP,
independent accountants, given on the authority of said firm as experts in
auditing and accounting.
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This Statement of Additional Information and the Prospectus do not contain
all of the information set forth in the Registration Statement the Fund has
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The complete Registration
Statement may be obtained from the Securities and Exchange Commission upon
payment of the fee prescribed by the rules and regulations of the Commission.
45
<PAGE>
DEAN WITTER GLOBAL DIVIDEND GROWTH SECURITIES
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS MARCH 31, 1996
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NUMBER OF
SHARES VALUE
- -----------------------------------------------------------------
<C> <S> <C>
COMMON AND PREFERRED STOCKS (99.0%)
AUSTRALIA (1.5%)
BUILDING & CONSTRUCTION
4,050,000 Pioneer International Ltd..... $ 12,096,775
-----------------
MULTI-INDUSTRY
4,800,000 Southcorp Holdings Ltd........ 12,535,421
-----------------
PAPER & FOREST PRODUCTS
1,825,000 Amcor Ltd..................... 11,872,369
-----------------
TOTAL AUSTRALIA............... 36,504,565
-----------------
CANADA (2.9%)
NATURAL GAS
1,250,000 TransCanada Pipelines Ltd..... 17,477,371
-----------------
OIL RELATED
476,000 Imperial Oil Ltd.............. 18,783,943
640,000 IPL Energy, Inc............... 15,541,983
-----------------
34,325,926
-----------------
TELECOMMUNICATIONS
513,000 BCE, Inc...................... 18,214,916
-----------------
TOTAL CANADA.................. 70,018,213
-----------------
FRANCE (7.5%)
BANKING
138,200 Societe Generale de Paris..... 15,379,968
-----------------
FINANCIAL SERVICES
40,885 Societe Eurafrance S.A........ 16,217,501
-----------------
FOODS & BEVERAGES
90,000 Eridania Beghin-Say S.A....... 15,292,130
-----------------
HOUSEHOLD PRODUCTS
140,000 BIC........................... 15,441,176
-----------------
MULTI-INDUSTRY
61,000 Compagnie Generale d'Industrie
et de Participations.......... 14,607,512
34,414 Financiere et Industrielle Gaz
et Eaux....................... 14,943,281
53,500 Saint-Louis................... 15,033,585
270,000 Worms et Compagnie............ 14,428,259
-----------------
59,012,637
-----------------
OIL INTEGRATED - INTERNATIONAL
216,000 Societe National Elf
Aquitaine..................... 14,658,983
230,000 Total S.A. (B Shares)......... 15,540,541
-----------------
30,199,524
-----------------
TELECOMMUNICATIONS
175,000 Alcatel Alsthom............... 16,237,579
-----------------
<CAPTION>
NUMBER OF
SHARES VALUE
- -----------------------------------------------------------------
<C> <S> <C>
TELEVISION
149,000 Societe Television
Francaise..................... $ 15,249,404
-----------------
TOTAL FRANCE.................. 183,029,919
-----------------
GERMANY (6.4%)
BANKING
245,000 Deutsche Bank
Aktiengesellschaft............ 12,337,974
-----------------
BUILDING & CONSTRUCTION
31,950 Bilfinger & Berger Bau AG..... 12,544,055
-----------------
CHEMICALS
45,500 BASF AG....................... 12,284,384
36,300 Bayer AG...................... 12,368,069
-----------------
24,652,453
-----------------
MACHINERY - DIVERSIFIED
50,000 IWKA AG....................... 8,739,837
-----------------
MULTI-INDUSTRY
43,500 Preussag AG................... 12,098,069
300,000 RWE AG........................ 12,046,748
28,000 Viag AG....................... 11,410,569
-----------------
35,555,386
-----------------
RETAIL - DEPARTMENT STORES
32,800 Karstadt AG................... 12,388,889
-----------------
RETAIL - SPECIALTY
354,000 Douglas Holding AG............ 12,111,789
-----------------
STEEL & IRON
67,500 Thyssen AG.................... 12,242,378
-----------------
TEXTILES - APPAREL
12,000 Hugo Boss AG (Pref.).......... 12,886,179
-----------------
UTILITIES - ELECTRIC
268,000 Veba AG....................... 13,027,778
-----------------
TOTAL GERMANY................. 156,486,718
-----------------
HONG KONG (3.9%)
BANKING
1,185,000 HSBC Holdings PLC............. 17,773,008
-----------------
CONGLOMERATES
2,050,000 Swire Pacific Ltd. (Class
A)............................ 18,023,842
-----------------
REAL ESTATE
2,600,000 Cheung Kong (Holdings) Ltd.... 18,321,222
1,227,000 Realty Development Corp.
(Class A)..................... 4,267,578
-----------------
22,588,800
-----------------
</TABLE>
SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
46
<PAGE>
DEAN WITTER GLOBAL DIVIDEND GROWTH SECURITIES
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS MARCH 31, 1996, CONTINUED
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NUMBER OF
SHARES VALUE
- -----------------------------------------------------------------
<C> <S> <C>
TELECOMMUNICATIONS
9,152,000 Hong Kong Telecommunications,
Ltd........................... $ 18,282,227
-----------------
UTILITIES - ELECTRIC
5,550,000 Hong Kong Electric Holdings
Ltd........................... 18,047,439
-----------------
TOTAL HONG KONG............... 94,715,316
-----------------
ITALY (4.1%)
FINANCIAL SERVICES
2,444,000 Istituto Mobiliare Italiano
SpA........................... 16,786,187
-----------------
NATURAL GAS
5,700,000 Italgas SpA................... 16,585,662
-----------------
OIL INTEGRATED - INTERNATIONAL
4,360,000 Ente Nazionale Idrocarburi
SpA........................... 15,879,133
-----------------
TELECOMMUNICATIONS
2,740,000 Sirti SpA..................... 15,682,676
12,000,000 Telecom Italia SpA............ 16,998,145
-----------------
32,680,821
-----------------
TEXTILES - APPAREL
1,500,000 Benetton Group SpA............ 17,218,776
-----------------
TOTAL ITALY................... 99,150,579
-----------------
JAPAN (25.8%)
AUTOMOTIVE
1,259,000 Honda Motor Co................ 27,372,119
1,252,000 Toyota Motor Corp............. 27,570,402
-----------------
54,942,521
-----------------
BREWERS
2,285,000 Kirin Brewery Co., Ltd........ 27,504,432
-----------------
BUILDING MATERIALS
2,066,000 Sankyo Aluminium Industrial... 11,932,948
2,200,000 Sekisui House Ltd............. 27,507,698
-----------------
39,440,646
-----------------
COMPUTER SERVICES
2,650,000 AT&T Global Info Solutions.... 22,402,725
-----------------
ELECTRICAL & ELECTRONICS
2,850,000 Hitachi, Ltd.................. 27,656,993
417,000 Kyocera Corp.................. 28,248,764
1,700,000 Matsushita Electric Industrial
Co. Ltd....................... 27,601,008
2,530,000 Matsushita Electric Works..... 27,148,456
2,450,000 NEC Corp...................... 28,347,485
1,738,000 Sharp Corp.................... 27,731,455
<CAPTION>
NUMBER OF
SHARES VALUE
- -----------------------------------------------------------------
<C> <S> <C>
454,000 Sony Corp..................... $ 27,069,702
545,000 TDK Corp...................... 28,020,435
-----------------
221,824,298
-----------------
ENTERTAINMENT & LEISURE TIME
2,500,000 Mizuno Corp................... 22,184,380
430,000 Nintendo Co., Ltd............. 27,444,247
-----------------
49,628,627
-----------------
FOODS & BEVERAGES
1,475,000 House Food Industry........... 26,700,569
3,773,000 Snow Brand Milk Products...... 26,826,780
-----------------
53,527,349
-----------------
MACHINERY
3,650,000 Mitsubishi Electric Corp...... 27,110,199
3,300,000 Mitsubishi Heavy Industries,
Ltd........................... 28,451,992
-----------------
55,562,191
-----------------
METALS & MINING
4,009,000 Furukawa Co., Ltd............. 20,948,400
-----------------
PHARMACEUTICALS
1,376,000 Taisho Pharmaceutical Co.,
Ltd........................... 28,246,711
1,725,000 Takeda Chemical Industries.... 26,880,190
-----------------
55,126,901
-----------------
TRANSPORTATION
2,400,000 Yamato Transport Co. Ltd...... 28,440,795
-----------------
TOTAL JAPAN................... 629,348,885
-----------------
MALAYSIA (2.0%)
BANKING
920,000 AMMB Holdings Berhad.......... 12,164,989
-----------------
BUILDING & CONSTRUCTION
852,000 Cement Industries of
Malaysia...................... 2,841,682
1,480,000 Malayan Cement Berhad......... 3,475,824
1,840,000 United Engineers Malaysia
Berhad........................ 12,709,690
-----------------
19,027,196
-----------------
CONGLOMERATES
4,470,000 Sime Darby Berhad............. 12,350,503
-----------------
FOODS & BEVERAGES
390,000 Nestle (Malaysia) Berhad...... 3,463,588
-----------------
OIL RELATED
820,000 Esso Malaysia Berhad.......... 2,281,824
-----------------
TOTAL MALAYSIA................ 49,288,100
-----------------
</TABLE>
SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
47
<PAGE>
DEAN WITTER GLOBAL DIVIDEND GROWTH SECURITIES
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS MARCH 31, 1996, CONTINUED
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NUMBER OF
SHARES VALUE
- -----------------------------------------------------------------
<C> <S> <C>
NETHERLANDS (3.0%)
BANKING
172,000 ABN-AMRO Holdings............. $ 8,553,176
-----------------
BUILDING & CONSTRUCTION
102,000 Koninklijke Volker Stevin
NV............................ 6,898,730
-----------------
CHEMICALS
90,000 DSM NV........................ 8,537,205
-----------------
ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
225,000 Philips Electronics NV........ 8,180,581
-----------------
FINANCIAL SERVICES
119,500 Internationale Nederlanden
Groep NV...................... 8,675,136
-----------------
INSURANCE
124,000 Fortis Amev NV................ 8,739,262
-----------------
OIL INTEGRATED - INTERNATIONAL
59,000 Royal Dutch Petroleum Co...... 8,352,087
-----------------
TELECOMMUNICATIONS
203,000 Koninklijke PTT Nederland
NV............................ 7,982,456
-----------------
TEXTILES
140,000 Gamma Holding NV.............. 5,937,084
-----------------
TOTAL NETHERLANDS............. 71,855,717
-----------------
SWITZERLAND (2.0%)
BANKING
43,300 Swiss Bank Corp............... 15,892,911
-----------------
CHEMICALS
13,400 Ciba-Geigy Ltd................ 16,600,874
-----------------
FOODS & BEVERAGES
14,200 Nestle AG..................... 16,005,711
-----------------
TOTAL SWITZERLAND............. 48,499,496
-----------------
UNITED KINGDOM (9.8%)
BANKING
3,900,000 Hambros PLC................... 14,185,715
3,290,000 Lloyds TSB Group PLC.......... 15,771,727
1,580,000 National Westminster Bank
PLC........................... 15,365,625
-----------------
45,323,067
-----------------
<CAPTION>
NUMBER OF
SHARES VALUE
- -----------------------------------------------------------------
<C> <S> <C>
BREWERS
1,330,000 Bass PLC...................... $ 15,107,002
1,520,000 Scottish & Newcastle Breweries
PLC........................... 14,828,532
-----------------
29,935,534
-----------------
FOODS & BEVERAGES
5,050,000 Hazlewood Food PLC............ 8,018,228
5,650,000 Hillsdown Holdings PLC........ 16,044,090
-----------------
24,062,318
-----------------
MULTI-INDUSTRY
5,212,000 Hanson PLC.................... 15,237,962
-----------------
NATURAL GAS
4,400,000 British Gas PLC............... 15,315,854
-----------------
RETAIL - MERCHANDISING
3,730,000 Tesco PLC..................... 15,204,558
-----------------
STEEL & IRON
5,200,000 British Steel PLC............. 15,083,796
-----------------
TELECOMMUNICATIONS
2,970,000 British Telecommunications
PLC........................... 16,763,303
-----------------
TOBACCO
2,000,000 B.A.T. Industries PLC......... 14,778,456
-----------------
UTILITIES - ELECTRIC
3,090,000 Scottish Hydro-Electric PLC... 15,143,185
-----------------
UTILITIES - WATER
1,300,000 Hyder PLC..................... 15,024,255
1,350,000 Hyder PLC (Pref.)............. 2,081,655
1,690,000 Severn Trent PLC.............. 15,222,726
-----------------
32,328,636
-----------------
TOTAL UNITED KINGDOM.......... 239,176,669
-----------------
UNITED STATES (30.1%)
AEROSPACE & DEFENSE
570,000 Northrop Grumman Corp......... 36,266,250
-----------------
AUTOMOTIVE
1,168,000 Ford Motor Co................. 40,150,000
-----------------
BANKING
512,000 BankAmerica Corp.............. 39,680,000
1,022,000 KeyCorp....................... 39,474,750
-----------------
79,154,750
-----------------
</TABLE>
SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
48
<PAGE>
DEAN WITTER GLOBAL DIVIDEND GROWTH SECURITIES
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS MARCH 31, 1996, CONTINUED
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NUMBER OF
SHARES VALUE
- -----------------------------------------------------------------
<C> <S> <C>
CHEMICALS
249,000 Monsanto Co................... $ 38,221,500
-----------------
COMPUTERS
347,000 International Business
Machines Corp................. 38,560,375
-----------------
CONGLOMERATES
583,400 Minnesota Mining &
Manufacturing Co.............. 37,848,075
682,000 Tenneco Inc................... 38,106,750
-----------------
75,954,825
-----------------
HEALTH & PERSONAL CARE
453,000 Bristol-Myers Squibb Co....... 38,788,125
-----------------
MACHINERY - DIVERSIFIED
912,000 Deere & Co.................... 38,076,000
-----------------
METALS & MINING
566,000 Phelps Dodge Corp............. 38,841,750
-----------------
OIL INTEGRATED - INTERNATIONAL
688,000 Chevron Corp.................. 38,614,000
-----------------
PAPER & FOREST PRODUCTS
990,500 International Paper Co........ 39,000,937
-----------------
RETAIL - MERCHANDISING
460,000 Dayton-Hudson Corp............ 39,042,500
-----------------
TELECOMMUNICATIONS
289,666 360 Communications Co.*....... 6,915,792
880,000 Sprint Corp................... 33,440,000
-----------------
40,355,792
-----------------
TIRE & RUBBER GOODS
752,000 Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co..... 38,352,000
-----------------
TOBACCO
440,000 Philip Morris Companies,
Inc........................... 38,610,000
-----------------
TRANSPORTATION
535,000 Conrail, Inc.................. 38,319,375
-----------------
UTILITIES - ELECTRIC
1,590,000 Pacific Gas & Electric Co..... 35,973,750
-----------------
TOTAL UNITED STATES........... 732,281,929
-----------------
TOTAL COMMON AND PREFERRED
STOCKS
(IDENTIFIED COST
$2,122,312,593)............... 2,410,356,106
-----------------
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PRINCIPAL
AMOUNT IN
THOUSANDS VALUE
- -----------------------------------------------------------------
<C> <S> <C>
SHORT-TERM INVESTMENT (a) (0.8%)
U.S. GOVERNMENT AGENCY
$ 20,000 Federal Home Loan Mortgage
Corp. 5.30% due 04/01/96
(Amortized Cost
$20,000,000).................. $ 20,000,000
-----------------
TOTAL INVESTMENTS
(IDENTIFIED COST
$2,142,312,593) (B)........ 99.8% 2,430,356,106
CASH AND OTHER ASSETS IN
EXCESS OF LIABILITIES...... 0.2 3,644,708
----- -------------
NET ASSETS................. 100.0% $2,434,000,814
----- -------------
----- -------------
<FN>
- ---------------------
* Non-income producing security.
(a) Security was purchased on a discount basis. The interest rate shown has
been adjusted to reflect a money market equivalent yield.
(b) The aggregate cost for federal income tax purposes approximates identified
cost. The aggregate gross unrealized appreciation was $351,570,395 and the
aggregate gross unrealized depreciation was $63,526,882 resulting in net
unrealized appreciation of $288,043,513.
</TABLE>
FORWARD FOREIGN CURRENCY CONTRACTS OPEN AT MARCH 31, 1996:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
UNREALIZED
CONTRACTS TO IN DELIVERY APPRECIATION
DELIVER EXCHANGE FOR DATE (DEPRECIATION)
- --------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
HKD 215,362 $ 27,846 04/01/96 $ 1
Y 301,694,584 $ 2,831,484 04/01/96 16,381
Y 202,649,922 $ 1,898,182 04/01/96 7,262
CHF 743,464 $ 623,084 04/01/96 (1,361)
HKD 293,938 $ 38,000 04/02/96 (5)
Y 223,603,476 $ 2,094,646 04/02/96 8,209
$ 430,920 L 283,537 04/02/96 1,957
$ 138,776 ITL 218,981,058 04/02/96 1,265
Y 91,199,534 $ 849,553 04/03/96 (1,427)
$ 445,416 FRF 2,241,023 04/03/96 (62)
$ 1,161,759 DEM 1,714,524 04/03/96 (157)
$ 1,467,127 L 962,366 04/03/96 2,117
$ 3,251,554 ITL 5,105,914,829 04/03/96 13,724
$ 196,221 NLG 324,000 04/03/96 (214)
$ 1,251,513 L 818,999 04/04/96 (1,147)
$ 495,956 AUD 633,446 04/09/96 (665)
$ 278,558 DEM 410,970 04/09/96 (123)
$ 1,091,471 L 714,547 04/09/96 (572)
$ 370,480 CHF 440,334 04/09/96 (638)
FRF 2,940,142 $ 584,370 04/30/96 81
-------
Net unrealized appreciation........... $44,626
-------
-------
</TABLE>
SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
49
<PAGE>
DEAN WITTER GLOBAL DIVIDEND GROWTH SECURITIES
SUMMARY OF INVESTMENTS MARCH 31, 1996
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PERCENT OF
INDUSTRY VALUE NET ASSETS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Aerospace & Defense............................................................... $ 36,266,250 1.5%
Automotive........................................................................ 95,092,521 3.9
Banking........................................................................... 206,579,843 8.5
Brewers........................................................................... 57,439,966 2.4
Building & Construction........................................................... 50,566,756 2.1
Building Materials................................................................ 39,440,646 1.6
Chemicals......................................................................... 88,012,032 3.6
Computer Services................................................................. 22,402,725 0.9
Computers......................................................................... 38,560,375 1.6
Conglomerates..................................................................... 106,329,170 4.4
Electrical Equipment.............................................................. 8,180,581 0.3
Electrical & Electronics.......................................................... 221,824,298 9.1
Entertainment & Leisure Time...................................................... 49,628,627 2.1
Financial Services................................................................ 41,678,824 1.7
Foods & Beverages................................................................. 112,351,096 4.6
Health & Personal Care............................................................ 38,788,125 1.6
Household Products................................................................ 15,441,176 0.6
Insurance......................................................................... 8,739,262 0.4
Machinery......................................................................... 55,562,191 2.3
Machinery - Diversified........................................................... 46,815,837 1.9
Metals & Mining................................................................... 59,790,150 2.5
Multi-Industry.................................................................... 122,341,406 5.0
Natural Gas....................................................................... 49,378,887 2.0
Oil Integrated - International.................................................... 93,044,744 3.8
Oil Related....................................................................... 36,607,750 1.5
Paper & Forest Products........................................................... 50,873,306 2.1
Pharmaceuticals................................................................... 55,126,901 2.3
Real Estate....................................................................... 22,588,800 0.9
Retail - Department Stores........................................................ 12,388,889 0.5
Retail - Merchandising............................................................ 54,247,058 2.3
Retail - Specialty................................................................ 12,111,789 0.5
Steel & Iron...................................................................... 27,326,174 1.1
Telecommunications................................................................ 150,517,094 6.2
Television........................................................................ 15,249,404 0.6
Textiles.......................................................................... 5,937,084 0.2
Textiles - Apparel................................................................ 30,104,955 1.2
Tire & Rubber Goods............................................................... 38,352,000 1.6
Tobacco........................................................................... 53,388,456 2.2
Transportation.................................................................... 66,760,170 2.7
U.S. Government Agency............................................................ 20,000,000 0.8
Utilities - Electric.............................................................. 82,192,152 3.4
Utilities - Water................................................................. 32,328,636 1.3
-------------- -----
$2,430,356,106 99.8%
-------------- -----
-------------- -----
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PERCENT OF
TYPE OF INVESTMENT VALUE NET ASSETS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Common Stocks..................................................................... $2,395,388,272 98.4%
Preferred Stocks.................................................................. 14,967,834 0.6
Short-Term Investment............................................................. 20,000,000 0.8
-------------- -----
$2,430,356,106 99.8%
-------------- -----
-------------- -----
</TABLE>
SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
50
<PAGE>
DEAN WITTER GLOBAL DIVIDEND GROWTH SECURITIES
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
MARCH 31, 1996
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
ASSETS:
Investments in securities, at value
(identified cost $2,142,312,593).......................... $2,430,356,106
Cash........................................................ 796,220
Receivable for:
Investments sold........................................ 11,179,232
Dividends............................................... 7,061,733
Shares of beneficial interest sold...................... 5,809,650
Foreign withholding taxes reclaimed..................... 2,871,277
Interest................................................ 22,748
Deferred organizational expenses............................ 81,112
Prepaid expenses and other assets........................... 92,997
--------------
TOTAL ASSETS........................................... 2,458,271,075
--------------
LIABILITIES:
Payable for:
Investments purchased................................... 19,250,360
Plan of distribution fee................................ 1,737,639
Investment management fee............................... 1,464,775
Shares of beneficial interest repurchased............... 928,620
Accrued expenses and other payables......................... 888,867
--------------
TOTAL LIABILITIES...................................... 24,270,261
--------------
NET ASSETS:
Paid-in-capital............................................. 2,062,892,978
Net unrealized appreciation................................. 287,869,584
Distributions in excess of net investment income............ (2,223,051)
Accumulated undistributed net realized gain................. 85,461,303
--------------
NET ASSETS............................................. $2,434,000,814
--------------
--------------
NET ASSET VALUE PER SHARE,
189,217,911 SHARES OUTSTANDING (UNLIMITED SHARES
AUTHORIZED OF $.01 PAR VALUE).............................
$12.86
--------------
--------------
</TABLE>
SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
51
<PAGE>
DEAN WITTER GLOBAL DIVIDEND GROWTH SECURITIES
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, CONTINUED
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED MARCH 31, 1996
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
NET INVESTMENT INCOME:
INCOME
Dividends (net of $6,129,271 foreign withholding tax)....... $ 60,471,146
Interest.................................................... 1,183,810
------------
TOTAL INCOME........................................... 61,654,956
------------
EXPENSES
Plan of distribution fee.................................... 18,919,175
Investment management fee................................... 15,506,578
Transfer agent fees and expenses............................ 2,633,577
Custodian fees.............................................. 1,558,514
Registration fees........................................... 233,208
Shareholder reports and notices............................. 196,828
Professional fees........................................... 70,392
Organizational expenses..................................... 35,525
Trustees' fees and expenses................................. 31,492
Other....................................................... 155,615
------------
TOTAL EXPENSES......................................... 39,340,904
------------
NET INVESTMENT INCOME.................................. 22,314,052
------------
NET REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAIN (LOSS):
Net realized gain on:
Investments............................................. 127,010,147
Foreign exchange transactions........................... 31,166
------------
TOTAL GAIN............................................. 127,041,313
------------
Net change in unrealized appreciation on:
Investments............................................. 215,785,858
Translation of other assets and liabilities denominated
in foreign currencies................................. (573,475)
------------
TOTAL APPRECIATION..................................... 215,212,383
------------
NET GAIN............................................... 342,253,696
------------
NET INCREASE................................................ $364,567,748
------------
------------
</TABLE>
SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
52
<PAGE>
DEAN WITTER GLOBAL DIVIDEND GROWTH SECURITIES
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, CONTINUED
STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
FOR THE YEAR FOR THE YEAR
ENDED ENDED
MARCH 31, 1996 MARCH 31, 1995
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
INCREASE (DECREASE) IN NET ASSETS:
OPERATIONS:
Net investment income....................................... $ 22,314,052 $ 18,696,831
Net realized gain........................................... 127,041,313 74,942,236
Net change in unrealized appreciation....................... 215,212,383 37,046,383
-------------- --------------
NET INCREASE........................................... 364,567,748 130,685,450
-------------- --------------
DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS FROM:
Net investment income....................................... (25,446,868) (18,860,127)
Net realized gain........................................... (83,961,762) (40,561,883)
-------------- --------------
TOTAL.................................................. (109,408,630) (59,422,010)
-------------- --------------
Net increase from transactions in shares of beneficial
interest.................................................. 324,894,923 661,443,032
-------------- --------------
TOTAL INCREASE......................................... 580,054,041 732,706,472
NET ASSETS:
Beginning of period......................................... 1,853,946,773 1,121,240,301
-------------- --------------
END OF PERIOD
(INCLUDING DISTRIBUTIONS IN EXCESS OF NET INVESTMENT
INCOME OF $2,223,051 AND $0, RESPECTIVELY).............. $2,434,000,814 $1,853,946,773
-------------- --------------
-------------- --------------
</TABLE>
SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
53
<PAGE>
DEAN WITTER GLOBAL DIVIDEND GROWTH SECURITIES
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS MARCH 31, 1996
1. ORGANIZATION AND ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Dean Witter Global Dividend Growth Securities (the "Fund") is registered under
the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "Act"), as a diversified,
open-end management investment company. The Fund's investment objective is to
provide reasonable current income and long-term growth of income and capital.
The Fund seeks to achieve its objective by investing primarily in common stock
of issuers worldwide, with a record of paying dividends and the potential for
increasing dividends. The Fund was organized as a Massachusetts business trust
on January 12, 1993 and commenced operations on June 30, 1993.
The preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted
accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that
affect the reported amounts and disclosures. Actual results could differ from
those estimates. The following is a summary of significant accounting policies:
A. VALUATION OF INVESTMENTS -- (1) an equity security listed or traded on the
New York, American, 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 securities are traded on more than one exchange, the securities are
valued on the exchange designated as the primary market by the Trustees); (2)
all other portfolio securities for which over-the-counter market quotations are
readily available are valued at the latest available bid price prior to the time
of valuation; (3) when market quotations are not readily available, including
circumstances under which it is determined by the Investment Manager that sale
and bid prices are not reflective of a security's market value, portfolio
securities are valued at their fair value as determined in good faith under
procedures established by and under the general supervision of the Trustees
(valuation of debt securities for which market quotations are not readily
available may be based upon current market prices of securities which are
comparable in coupon, rating and maturity or an appropriate matrix utilizing
similar factors); and (4) short-term debt securities having a maturity date of
more than sixty days at time of purchase are valued on a mark-to-market basis
until sixty days prior to maturity and thereafter at amortized cost based on
their value on the 61st day. Short-term debt securities having a maturity date
of sixty days or less at the time of purchase are valued at amortized cost.
B. ACCOUNTING FOR INVESTMENTS -- Security transactions are accounted for on the
trade date (date the order to buy or sell is executed). Realized gains and
losses on security transactions are determined by the identified cost method.
Dividend income and other distributions are recorded on the ex-
54
<PAGE>
DEAN WITTER GLOBAL DIVIDEND GROWTH SECURITIES
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS MARCH 31, 1996, CONTINUED
dividend date except for certain dividends from foreign securities which are
recorded as soon as the Fund is informed after the ex-dividend date. Discounts
are accreted over the life of the respective securities. Interest income is
accrued daily.
C. FOREIGN CURRENCY TRANSLATION -- The books and records of the Fund are
maintained in U.S. dollars as follows: (1) the foreign currency market value of
investment securities, other assets and liabilities and forward foreign currency
contracts are translated at the exchange rates prevailing at the end of the
period; and (2) purchases, sales, income and expenses are translated at the
exchange rates prevailing on the respective dates of such transactions. The
resultant exchange gains and losses are included in the Statement of Operations
as realized and unrealized gain/loss on foreign exchange transactions. Pursuant
to U.S. Federal income tax regulations, certain foreign exchange gains/losses
included in realized and unrealized gain/loss are included in or are a reduction
of ordinary income for federal income tax purposes. The Fund does not isolate
that portion of the results of operations arising as a result of changes in the
foreign exchange rates from the changes in the market prices of the securities.
D. FORWARD FOREIGN CURRENCY CONTRACTS -- The Fund may enter into forward foreign
currency contracts which are valued daily at the appropriate exchange rates. The
resultant unrealized exchange gains and losses are included in the Statement of
Operations as unrealized gain/loss on foreign exchange transactions. The Fund
records realized gains or losses on delivery of the currency or at the time the
forward contract is extinguished (compensated) by entering into a closing
transaction prior to delivery.
E. FEDERAL INCOME TAX STATUS -- It is the Fund's policy to comply with the
requirements of the Internal Revenue Code applicable to regulated investment
companies and to distribute all of its taxable income to its shareholders.
Accordingly, no federal income tax provision is required.
F. DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS -- The Fund records dividends and
distributions to its shareholders on the record date. The amount of dividends
and distributions from net investment income and net realized capital gains are
determined in accordance with federal income tax regulations which may differ
from generally accepted accounting principles. These "book/tax" differences are
either considered temporary or permanent in nature. To the extent these
differences are permanent in nature, such amounts are reclassified within the
capital accounts based on their federal tax-basis treatment; temporary
differences do not require reclassification. Dividends and distributions which
exceed net investment income and net realized capital gains for financial
reporting purposes but not for tax purposes are reported as dividends in excess
of net investment
55
<PAGE>
DEAN WITTER GLOBAL DIVIDEND GROWTH SECURITIES
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS MARCH 31, 1996, CONTINUED
income or distributions in excess of net realized capital gains. To the extent
they exceed net investment income and net realized capital gains for tax
purposes, they are reported as distributions of paid-in-capital.
G. ORGANIZATIONAL EXPENSES -- Dean Witter InterCapital Inc. (the "Investment
Manager") paid the organizational expenses of approximately $180,000 which have
been reimbursed for the full amount thereof. Such expenses have been deferred
and are being amortized on the straight-line method over a period not to exceed
five years from the commencement of operations.
2. INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT
Pursuant to an Investment Management Agreement, the Fund pays a management fee,
accrued daily and payable monthly. Prior to April 30, 1995, the Fund paid an
annual rate of 0.75% of daily net assets determined at the close of each
business day. Effective May 1, 1995, the fee changed to the following annual
rates which are also applied to the net assets of the Fund as of the close of
each business day: 0.75% of daily net assets up to $1 billion; 0.725% of the
next $500 million; and 0.70% of daily net assets over $1.5 billion. Effective
May 1, 1996, the annual rate will be reduced to 0.675% of net assets in excess
of $2.5 billion.
Under the terms of the Agreement, in addition to managing the Fund's
investments, the Investment Manager maintains certain of the Fund's books and
records and furnishes, at its own expense, office space, facilities, equipment,
clerical, bookkeeping and certain legal services and pays the salaries of all
personnel, including officers of the Fund who are employees of the Investment
Manager. The Investment Manager also bears the cost of telephone services, heat,
light, power and other utilities provided to the Fund.
3. PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
Shares of the Fund are distributed by Dean Witter Distributors Inc. (the
"Distributor"), an affiliate of the Investment Manager. The Fund has adopted a
Plan of Distribution (the "Plan") pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Act pursuant
to which the Fund pays the Distributor compensation, accrued daily and payable
monthly, at an annual rate of 1.0% of the lesser of: (a) the average daily
aggregate gross sales of the Fund's shares since the Fund's inception (not
including reinvestment of dividend or capital gain distributions) less the
average daily aggregate net asset value of the Fund's shares redeemed since the
Fund's inception upon which a contingent deferred sales charge has been imposed
or upon which such charge has been waived; or (b) the Fund's average daily net
assets. Amounts paid under the Plan are paid to the Distributor to compensate it
for the services provided
56
<PAGE>
DEAN WITTER GLOBAL DIVIDEND GROWTH SECURITIES
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS MARCH 31, 1996, CONTINUED
and the expenses borne by it and others in the distribution of the Fund's
shares, including the payment of commissions for sales of the Fund's shares and
incentive compensation to, and expenses of, the account executives of Dean
Witter Reynolds Inc. ("DWR"), an affiliate of the Investment Manager and
Distributor, and other employees or selected broker-dealers who engage in or
support distribution of the Fund's shares or who service shareholder accounts,
including overhead and telephone expenses, printing and distribution of
prospectuses and reports used in connection with the offering of the Fund's
shares to other than current shareholders and preparation, printing and
distribution of sales literature and advertising materials. In addition, the
Distributor may be compensated under the Plan for its opportunity costs in
advancing such amounts, which compensation would be in the form of a carrying
charge on any unreimbursed expenses incurred by the Distributor.
Provided that the Plan continues in effect, any cumulative expenses incurred but
not yet recovered may be recovered through future distribution fees from the
Fund and contingent deferred sales charges from the Fund's shareholders.
The Distributor has informed the Fund that for the year ended March 31, 1996, it
received approximately $4,167,000 in contingent deferred sales charges from
certain redemptions of the Fund's shares.
4. SECURITY TRANSACTIONS AND TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES
The cost of purchases and proceeds from sales of portfolio securities, excluding
short-term investments, for the year ended March 31, 1996 aggregated
$1,059,232,985 and $830,392,189, respectively.
For the year ended March 31, 1996, the Fund incurred brokerage commissions of
$193,780 with DWR for portfolio transactions executed on behalf of the Fund. At
March 31, 1996, included in the Fund's payable for investments purchased for
unsettled trades with DWR was $1,706,150.
Dean Witter Trust Company, an affiliate of the Investment Manager and
Distributor, is the Fund's transfer agent. At March 31, 1996, the Fund had
transfer agent fees and expenses payable of approximately $248,000.
The Fund has an unfunded noncontributory defined benefit pension plan covering
all independent Trustees of the Fund who will have served as independent
Trustees for at least five years at the time of retirement. Benefits under this
plan are based on years of service and compensation during the last five years
of service. Aggregate pension costs for the year ended March 31, 1996 included
in
57
<PAGE>
DEAN WITTER GLOBAL DIVIDEND GROWTH SECURITIES
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS MARCH 31, 1996, CONTINUED
Trustees' fees and expenses in the Statement of Operations amounted to $10,044.
At March 31, 1996, the Fund had an accrued pension liability of $26,511 which is
included in accrued expenses in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.
5. SHARES OF BENEFICIAL INTEREST
Transactions in shares of beneficial interest were as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
FOR THE YEAR ENDED FOR THE YEAR ENDED
MARCH 31, 1996 MARCH 31, 1995
---------------------------- --------------------------
SHARES AMOUNT SHARES AMOUNT
----------- -------------- ----------- ------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Sold............................................................. 46,573,003 $ 566,276,970 74,392,250 $835,025,001
Reinvestment of dividends and distributions...................... 8,465,778 101,615,413 5,026,624 54,808,636
----------- -------------- ----------- ------------
55,038,781 667,892,383 79,418,874 889,833,637
Repurchased...................................................... (28,302,433) (342,997,460) (20,654,535) (228,390,605)
----------- -------------- ----------- ------------
Net increase..................................................... 26,736,348 $ 324,894,923 58,764,339 $661,443,032
----------- -------------- ----------- ------------
----------- -------------- ----------- ------------
</TABLE>
6. FEDERAL INCOME TAX STATUS
Currency losses incurred after October 31 ("post-October losses") within the
taxable year are deemed to arise on the first business day of the Fund's next
taxable year. The Fund incurred and will elect to defer net currency losses of
approximately $76,000 during fiscal 1996.
As of March 31, 1996, the Fund had temporary book/tax differences primarily
attributable to capital loss deferrals on wash sales and income from the
mark-to-market of passive foreign investment companies ("PFICs") and permanent
book/tax differences primarily attributable to tax adjustments on PFICs sold by
the Fund. To reflect reclassifications arising from permanent book/tax
differences for the year ended March 31, 1996, accumulated net realized gains
was charged $768,700, paid-in-capital was charged $141,065 and distributions in
excess of net investment income was credited $909,765.
7. PURPOSES OF AND RISKS RELATING TO CERTAIN FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
The Fund may enter into forward foreign currency contracts ("forward contracts")
to facilitate settlement of foreign currency denominated portfolio transactions
or to manage foreign currency exposure associated with foreign currency
denominated securities.
At March 31, 1996, there were outstanding forward contracts used to facilitate
settlement of foreign currency denominated portfolio transactions.
Forward contracts involve elements of market risk in excess of the amounts
reflected in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. The Fund bears the risk of
an unfavorable change in the foreign exchange rates underlying the forward
contracts. Risks may also arise upon entering into these contracts from the
potential inability of the counterparties to meet the terms of their contracts.
58
<PAGE>
DEAN WITTER GLOBAL DIVIDEND GROWTH SECURITIES
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
Selected ratios and per share data for a share of beneficial interest
outstanding throughout each period:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
FOR THE PERIOD
FOR THE FOR THE JUNE 30, 1993*
YEAR ENDED YEAR ENDED THROUGH
MARCH 31, 1996 MARCH 31, 1995 MARCH 31, 1994
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
PER SHARE OPERATING PERFORMANCE:
Net asset value, beginning of
period............................ $ 11.41 $ 10.81 $ 10.00
------ ------ ------
Net investment income.............. 0.13 0.14 0.05
Net realized and unrealized gain... 1.96 0.88 0.84
------ ------ ------
Total from investment operations... 2.09 1.02 0.89
------ ------ ------
Less dividends and distributions
from:
Net investment income........... (0.15) (0.14) (0.05)
Net realized gain............... (0.49) (0.28) (0.03)
------ ------ ------
Total dividends and
distributions..................... (0.64) (0.42) (0.08)
------ ------ ------
Net asset value, end of period..... $ 12.86 $ 11.41 $ 10.81
------ ------ ------
------ ------ ------
TOTAL INVESTMENT RETURN+........... 18.77% 9.60% 8.89%(1)
RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET ASSETS:
Expenses........................... 1.85% 1.97% 2.03%(2)
Net investment income.............. 1.05% 1.22% 0.66%(2)
SUPPLEMENTAL DATA:
Net assets, end of period, in
millions.......................... $2,434 $1,854 $1,121
Portfolio turnover rate............ 40% 32% 21%(1)
Average commission rate paid....... $0.0311 -- --
<FN>
- ---------------------
* Commencement of operations.
+ Does not reflect the deduction of sales charge. Calculated as of the last
business day of the period.
(1) Not annualized.
(2) Annualized.
</TABLE>
SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
59
<PAGE>
DEAN WITTER GLOBAL DIVIDEND GROWTH SECURITIES
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
TO THE SHAREHOLDERS AND TRUSTEES
OF DEAN WITTER GLOBAL DIVIDEND GROWTH SECURITIES
In our opinion, the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including
the portfolio of investments, and the related statements of operations and of
changes in net assets and the financial highlights present fairly, in all
material respects, the financial position of Dean Witter Global Dividend Growth
Securities (the "Fund") at March 31, 1996, the results of its operations for the
year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the
period then ended and the financial highlights for each of the two years in the
period then ended and for the period June 30, 1993 (commencement of operations)
through March 31, 1994, in conformity with generally accepted accounting
principles. These financial statements and financial highlights (hereafter
referred to as "financial statements") are the responsibility of the Fund's
management; our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial
statements based on our audits. We conducted our audits of these financial
statements in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards which
require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about
whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit
includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and
disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles
used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall
financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits, which included
confirmation of securities at March 31, 1996 by correspondence with the
custodian and brokers and the application of alternative auditing procedures
where confirmations from brokers were not received, provide a reasonable basis
for the opinion expressed above.
PRICE WATERHOUSE LLP
1177 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS
NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10036
MAY 10, 1996
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1996 FEDERAL TAX NOTICE (UNAUDITED)
During the year ended March 31, 1996, the Fund paid to
shareholders $0.34 per share from long-term capital gains. For
such period, 35.45% of the ordinary dividends qualified for the
dividends received deduction available to corporations. For the
year ended March 31, 1996, the Fund has elected, pursuant to
Section 853 of the Internal Revenue Code, to pass-through foreign
taxes of $0.01 per share to its shareholders. The Fund generated
net foreign source income of $0.06 per share with respect to this
election.
60
<PAGE>
DEAN WITTER GLOBAL DIVIDEND GROWTH SECURITIES
PART C OTHER INFORMATION
Item 24. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS
(a) FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(1) Financial statements and schedules, included
in Prospectus (Part A): Page in
Prospectus
----------
Financial highlights for the period June 30, 1993
through March 31, 1994 and for the fiscal years
ended March 31, 1995 and March 31, 1996............. 4
(2) Financial statements included in the Statement of
Additional Information (Part B): Page in
SAI
--------
Portfolio of Investments at March 31, 1996.......... 46
Summary of Investment at March 31, 1996 ............ 50
Statement of assets and liabilities at
March 31, 1996...................................... 51
Statement of operations for the year ended
March 31, 1996...................................... 52
Statement of changes in net assets for the years
March 31, 1995 and March 31, 1996................... 53
Notes to Financial Statements....................... 54
Financial highlights for the period June 30, 1993
through March 31, 1994 and for the fiscal years
ended March 31, 1995 and March 31, 1996............. 59
(3) Financial statements included in Part C:
None
(b) EXHIBITS:
1. -- Declaration of Trust of Registrant*
5. -- Investment Management Agreement between
Registrant and Dean Witter InterCapital Inc.
6. -- Distribution Agreement between Registrant
and Dean Witter Distributors Inc.*
8.(a) -- Custody Agreement between Registrant and The
Chase Manhattan Bank, N. A.*
<PAGE>
(b) -- Transfer Agency Agreement between Registrant
and Dean Witter Trust Company*
11. -- Consent of Independent Accountants
15. -- Amended and Restated Plan of Distribution
pursuant to Rule 12b-1
16. -- Schedules for Computation of Performance Quotations
27. -- Financial Data Schedule
* Exhibits being re-filed via EDGAR; all other exhibits
previously filed and incorporated by reference.
Item 25. PERSONS CONTROLLED BY OR UNDER COMMON CONTROL WITH REGISTRANT.
None
Item 26. NUMBER OF HOLDERS OF SECURITIES.
(1) (2)
Number of Record Holders
Title of Class at April 30, 1996
-------------- -------------------------
Shares of Beneficial Interest 236,886
Item 27. INDEMNIFICATION.
Pursuant to Section 5.3 of the Registrant's Declaration of
Trust and under Section 4.8 of the Registrant's By-Laws, the
indemnification of the Registrant's trustees, officers, employees and
agents is permitted if it is determined that they acted under the belief
that their actions were in or not opposed to the best interest of the
Registrant, and, with respect to any criminal proceeding, they had
reasonable cause to believe their conduct was not unlawful. In addition,
indemnification is permitted only if it is determined that the actions in
question did not render them liable by reason of willful misfeasance, bad
faith or gross negligence in the performance of their duties or by reason
of reckless disregard of their obligations and duties to the Registrant.
Trustees, officers, employees and agents will be indemnified for the
expense of litigation if it is determined that they are entitled to
indemnification against any liability established in such litigation. The
Registrant may also advance money for these expenses provided that they
give their undertakings to repay the Registrant unless their conduct is
later determined to permit indemnification.
Pursuant to Section 5.2 of the Registrant's Declaration of Trust
and paragraph 8 of the Registrant's Investment Management Agreement,
neither the Investment Manager nor any trustee, officer, employee or agent
of the Registrant shall be liable for any action or failure to act, except
in the case of bad faith, willful misfeasance, gross negligence or reckless
disregard of duties to the Registrant.
2
<PAGE>
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the
Securities Act of 1933 (the "Act") may be permitted to trustees, officers
and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing
provisions or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the
opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is
against public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore,
unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such
liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred
or paid by a trustee, officer, or controlling person of the Registrant in
connection with the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding)
is asserted against the Registrant by such trustee, officer or controlling
person in connection with the shares being registered, the Registrant will,
unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by
controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the
question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as
expressed in the Act, and will be governed by the final adjudication of
such issue.
The Registrant hereby undertakes that it will apply the
indemnification provision of its by-laws in a manner consistent with
Release 11330 of the Securities and Exchange Commission under the
Investment Company Act of 1940, so long as the interpretation of Sections
17(h) and 17(i) of such Act remains in effect.
Registrant, in conjunction with the Investment Manager,
Registrant's Trustees, and other registered investment management companies
managed by the Investment Manager, maintains insurance on behalf of any
person who is or was a Trustee, officer, employee, or agent of Registrant,
or who is or was serving at the request of Registrant as a trustee,
director, officer, employee or agent of another trust or corporation,
against any liability asserted against him and incurred by him or arising
out of his position. However, in no event will Registrant maintain
insurance to indemnify any such person for any act for which Registrant
itself is not permitted to indemnify him.
Item 28. BUSINESS AND OTHER CONNECTIONS OF INVESTMENT ADVISER.
See "The Fund and Its Management" in the Prospectus regarding the
business of the investment adviser. The following information is given
regarding officers of Dean Witter InterCapital Inc. InterCapital is a
wholly-owned subsidiary of Dean Witter, Discover & Co. The principal
address of the Dean Witter Funds is Two World Trade Center, New York, New
York 10048.
The term "Dean Witter Funds" used below refers to the following
registered investment companies:
CLOSED-END INVESTMENT COMPANIES
(1) InterCapital Income Securities Inc.
(2) High Income Advantage Trust
(3) High Income Advantage Trust II
3
<PAGE>
(4) High Income Advantage Trust III
(5) Municipal Income Trust
(6) Municipal Income Trust II
(7) Municipal Income Trust III
(8) Dean Witter Government Income Trust
(9) Municipal Premium Income Trust
(10) Municipal Income Opportunities Trust
(11) Municipal Income Opportunities Trust II
(12) Municipal Income Opportunities Trust III
(13) Prime Income Trust
(14) InterCapital Insured Municipal Bond Trust
(15) InterCapital Quality Municipal Income Trust
(16) InterCapital Quality Municipal Investment Trust
(17) InterCapital Insured Municipal Income Trust
(18) InterCapital California Insured Municipal Income Trust
(19) InterCapital Insured Municipal Trust
(20) InterCapital Quality Municipal Securities
(21) InterCapital New York Quality Municipal Securities
(22) InterCapital California Quality Municipal Securities
(23) InterCapital Insured California Municipal Securities
(24) InterCapital Insured Municipal Securities
OPEN-END INVESTMENT COMPANIES:
(1) Dean Witter Short-Term Bond Fund
(2) Dean Witter Tax-Exempt Securities Trust
(3) Dean Witter Tax-Free Daily Income Trust
(4) Dean Witter Dividend Growth Securities Inc.
(5) Dean Witter Convertible Securities Trust
(6) Dean Witter Liquid Asset Fund Inc.
(7) Dean Witter Developing Growth Securities Trust
(8) Dean Witter Retirement Series
(9) Dean Witter Federal Securities Trust
(10) Dean Witter World Wide Investment Trust
(11) Dean Witter U.S. Government Securities Trust
(12) Dean Witter Select Municipal Reinvestment Fund
(13) Dean Witter High Yield Securities Inc.
(14) Dean Witter Intermediate Income Securities
(15) Dean Witter New York Tax-Free Income Fund
(16) Dean Witter California Tax-Free Income Fund
(17) Dean Witter Health Sciences Trust
(18) Dean Witter California Tax-Free Daily Income Trust
(19) Dean Witter Global Asset Allocation Fund
(20) Dean Witter American Value Fund
(21) Dean Witter Strategist Fund
(22) Dean Witter Utilities Fund
(23) Dean Witter World Wide Income Trust
(24) Dean Witter New York Municipal Money Market Trust
(25) Dean Witter Capital Growth Securities
(26) Dean Witter Precious Metals and Minerals Trust
(27) Dean Witter European Growth Fund Inc.
(28) Dean Witter Global Short-Term Income Fund Inc.
(29) Dean Witter Pacific Growth Fund Inc.
4
<PAGE>
(30) Dean Witter Multi-State Municipal Series Trust
(31) Dean Witter Premier Income Trust
(32) Dean Witter Short-Term U.S. Treasury Trust
(33) Dean Witter Diversified Income Trust
(34) Dean Witter U.S. Government Money Market Trust
(35) Dean Witter Global Dividend Growth Securities
(36) Active Assets California Tax-Free Trust
(37) Dean Witter Natural Resource Development Securities Inc.
(38) Active Assets Government Securities Trust
(39) Active Assets Money Trust
(40) Active Assets Tax-Free Trust
(41) Dean Witter Limited Term Municipal Trust
(42) Dean Witter Variable Investment Series
(43) Dean Witter Value-Added Market Series
(44) Dean Witter Global Utilities Fund
(45) Dean Witter High Income Securities
(46) Dean Witter National Municipal Trust
(47) Dean Witter International SmallCap Fund
(48) Dean Witter Mid-Cap Growth Fund
(49) Dean Witter Select Dimensions Investment Series
(50) Dean Witter Balanced Growth Fund
(51) Dean Witter Balanced Income Fund
(52) Dean Witter Hawaii Municipal Trust
(53) Dean Witter Capital Appreciation Fund
(54) Dean Witter Intermediate Term U.S. Treasury Trust
(55) Dean Witter Information Fund
(56) Dean Witter Japan Fund
(57) Dean Witter Income Builder Fund
The term "TCW/DW Funds" refers to the following registered investment
companies:
OPEN-END INVESTMENT COMPANIES
(1) TCW/DW Core Equity Trust
(2) TCW/DW North American Government Income Trust
(3) TCW/DW Latin American Growth Fund
(4) TCW/DW Income and Growth Fund
(5) TCW/DW Small Cap Growth Fund
(6) TCW/DW Balanced Fund
(7) TCW/DW Total Return Trust
(8) TCW/DW Mid-Cap Equity Trust
CLOSED-END INVESTMENT COMPANIES
(1) TCW/DW Term Trust 2000
(2) TCW/DW Term Trust 2002
(3) TCW/DW Term Trust 2003
(4) TCW/DW Emerging Markets Opportunities Trust
5
<PAGE>
Name and Position Other Substantial Business, Profession, Vocation
with Dean Witter or Employment, including Name, Principal Address
InterCapital Inc. and Nature of Connection
------------------ ------------------------------------------------
Charles A. Fiumefreddo Executive Vice President and Director of Dean
Chairman, Chief Witter Reynolds Inc. ("DWR"); Chairman, Chief
Executive Officer and Executive Officer and Director of Dean Witter
Director Distributors Inc. ("Distributors") and Dean
Witter Services Company Inc. ("DWSC"); Chairman
and Director of Dean Witter Trust Company
("DWTC"); Chairman, Director or Trustee, President
and Chief Executive Officer of the Dean Witter
Funds and Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and
Trustee of the TCW/DW Funds; Formerly Executive
Vice President and Director of Dean Witter,
Discover & Co. ("DWDC"); Director and/or officer
of various DWDC subsidiaries.
Philip J. Purcell Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and Director of
Director of DWDC and DWR; Director of DWSC and
Distributors; Director or Trustee of the Dean
Witter Funds; Director and/or officer of various
DWDC subsidiaries.
Richard M. DeMartini Executive Vice President of DWDC; President and
Director Chief Operating Officer of Dean Witter Capital;
Director of DWR, DWSC, Distributors and DWTC;
Trustee of the TCW/DW Funds; Member (since
January, 1993) and Chairman (since January,
1995) of the Board of Directors of NASDAQ.
James F. Higgins Executive Vice President of DWDC; President and
Director Chief Operating Officer of Dean Witter Financial;
Director of DWR, DWSC, Distributors and DWTC.
Thomas C. Schneider Executive Vice President and Chief Financial
Executive Vice Officer of DWDC, DWR, DWSC and Distributors;
President, Chief Director of DWR, DWSC and Distributors.
Financial Officer and
Director
Christine A. Edwards Executive Vice President, Secretary and General
Director Counsel of DWDC and DWR; Executive Vice President,
Secretary and Chief Legal Officer of Distributors;
Director of DWR, DWSC and Distributors.
Robert M. Scanlan President and Chief Operating Officer of DWSC,
President and Chief Executive Vice President of Distributors;
Operating Officer Executive Vice President and Director of DWTC;
Vice President of the Dean Witter Funds and the
TCW/DW Funds.
6
<PAGE>
Name and Position Other Substantial Business, Profession, Vocation
with Dean Witter or Employment, including Name, Principal Address
InterCapital Inc. and Nature of Connection
------------------ ------------------------------------------------
David A. Hughey Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative
Executive Vice Officer of DWSC, Distributors and DWTC; Director
President and Chief of DWTC; Vice President of the Dean Witter Funds
Administrative Officer and the TCW/DW Funds.
Joseph J. McAlinden
Executive Vice President Vice President of the Dean Witter Funds.
and Chief Investment
Officer
John Van Heuvelen President, Chief Operating Officer and Director
Executive Vice of DWTC.
President
Sheldon Curtis Assistant Secretary of DWR; Senior Vice President,
Senior Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel of DWSC; Senior Vice
General Counsel and President, Assistant General Counsel and Assistant
Secretary Secretary of Distributors; Senior Vice President
and Secretary of DWTC; Vice President, Secretary
and General Counsel of the Dean Witter Funds and
the TCW/DW Funds.
Peter M. Avelar
Senior Vice President Vice President of various Dean Witter Funds.
Mark Bavoso
Senior Vice President Vice President of various Dean Witter Funds.
Richard Felegy
Senior Vice President
Edward Gaylor
Senior Vice President Vice President of various Dean Witter Funds.
Robert S. Giambrone
Senior Vice President Senior Vice President of DWSC, Distributors
and DWTC; Vice President of the Dean Witter Funds
and the TCW/DW Funds.
Rajesh K. Gupta
Senior Vice President Vice President of various Dean Witter Funds.
Kenton J. Hinchcliffe
Senior Vice President Vice President of various Dean Witter Funds.
Kevin Hurley
Senior Vice President Vice President of various Dean Witter Funds.
7
<PAGE>
Name and Position Other Substantial Business, Profession, Vocation
with Dean Witter or Employment, including Name, Principal Address
InterCapital Inc. and Nature of Connection
------------------ ------------------------------------------------
John B. Kemp, III Director of the Provident Savings Bank, Jersey
Senior Vice President City, New Jersey.
Anita Kolleeny
Senior Vice President Vice President of various Dean Witter Funds.
Jonathan R. Page
Senior Vice President Vice President of various Dean Witter Funds.
Ira Ross
Senior Vice President Vice President of various Dean Witter Funds.
Rochelle G. Siegel
Senior Vice President Vice President of various Dean Witter Funds.
Paul D. Vance
Senior Vice President Vice President of various Dean Witter Funds.
Elizabeth A. Vetell
Senior Vice President
James F. Willison
Senior Vice President Vice President of various Dean Witter Funds.
Ronald J. Worobel
Senior Vice President Vice President of various Dean Witter Funds.
Thomas F. Caloia First Vice President and Assistant Treasurer of
First Vice President DWSC, Assistant Treasurer of Distributors;
and Assistant Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer of the
Treasurer Dean Witter Funds and the TCW/DW Funds.
Marilyn K. Cranney Assistant Secretary of DWR; First Vice President
First Vice President and Assistant Secretary of DWSC; Assistant
and Assistant Secretary Secretary of the Dean Witter Funds and the TCW/DW
Funds.
Barry Fink First Vice President and Assistant Secretary of
First Vice President DWSC; Assistant Secretary of the Dean Witter
and Assistant Secretary Funds and the TCW/DW Funds.
Michael Interrante First Vice President and Controller of DWSC;
First Vice President Assistant Treasurer of Distributors;First Vice
and Controller President and Treasurer of DWTC.
Robert Zimmerman
First Vice President
Joan Allman
Vice President
8
<PAGE>
Name and Position Other Substantial Business, Profession, Vocation
with Dean Witter or Employment, including Name, Principal Address
InterCapital Inc. and Nature of Connection
------------------ ------------------------------------------------
Joseph Arcieri
Vice President Vice President of various Dean Witter Funds.
Douglas Brown
Vice President
Philip Casparius
Vice President
Thomas Chronert
Vice President
Rosalie Clough
Vice President
Patricia A. Cuddy
Vice President Vice President of various Dean Witter Funds.
B. Catherine Connelly
Vice President
Salvatore DeSteno
Vice President Vice President of DWSC.
Frank J. DeVito
Vice President Vice President of DWSC.
Dwight Doolan
Vice President
Bruce Dunn
Vice President
Jeffrey D. Geffen
Vice President
Deborah Genovese
Vice President
Peter W. Gurman
Vice President
John Hechtlinger
Vice President
Peter Hermann
Vice President Vice President of various Dean Witter Funds.
Elizabeth Hinchman
Vice President
9
<PAGE>
Name and Position Other Substantial Business, Profession, Vocation
with Dean Witter or Employment, including Name, Principal Address
InterCapital Inc. and Nature of Connection
------------------ ------------------------------------------------
David Hoffman
Vice President
David Johnson
Vice President
Christopher Jones
Vice President
Stanley Kapica
Vice President
James Kastberg
Vice President Vice President of various Dean Witter Funds.
Michael Knox Vice President of Dean Witter Convertible
Vice President Securities Trust.
Konrad J. Krill
Vice President Vice President of various Dean Witter Funds.
Paula LaCosta
Vice President Vice President of various Dean Witter Funds.
Thomas Lawlor
Vice President
Gerard Lian
Vice President Vice President of various Dean Witter Funds.
LouAnne D. McInnis Vice President and Assistant Secretary of DWSC;
Vice President and Assistant Secretary of the Dean Witter Funds and
Assistant Secretary the TCW/DW Funds.
Sharon K. Milligan
Vice President
Julie Morrone
Vice President
David Myers
Vice President
James Nash
Vice President
Richard Norris
Vice President
10
<PAGE>
Name and Position Other Substantial Business, Profession, Vocation
with Dean Witter or Employment, including Name, Principal Address
InterCapital Inc. and Nature of Connection
------------------ ------------------------------------------------
Anne Pickrell Vice President of various Dean Witter Funds.
Vice President
Hugh Rose
Vice President
Ruth Rossi Vice President and Assistant Secretary of DWSC;
Vice President and Assistant Secretary of the Dean Witter Funds and
Assistant Secretary the TCW/DW Funds.
Robert Rossetti
Vice President
Carl F. Sadler
Vice President
Rafael Scolari
Vice President Vice President of Prime Income Trust.
Peter Seeley Vice President of various Dean Witter Funds.
Vice President
Jayne M. Stevlingson
Vice President Vice President of various Dean Witter Funds.
Kathleen Stromberg
Vice President Vice President of various Dean Witter Funds.
Vinh Q. Tran
Vice President Vice President of various Dean Witter Funds.
Alice Weiss
Vice President Vice President of various Dean Witter Funds.
Marianne Zalys
Vice President
Item 29. PRINCIPAL UNDERWRITERS
(a) Dean Witter Distributors Inc. ("Distributors"), a Delaware
corporation, is the principal underwriter of the Registrant.
Distributors is also the principal underwriter of the following
investment companies:
(1) Dean Witter Liquid Asset Fund Inc.
(2) Dean Witter Tax-Free Daily Income Trust
(3) Dean Witter California Tax-Free Daily Income Trust
(4) Dean Witter Retirement Series
(5) Dean Witter Dividend Growth Securities Inc.
11
<PAGE>
(6) Dean Witter Global Asset Allocation
(7) Dean Witter World Wide Investment Trust
(8) Dean Witter Capital Growth Securities
(9) Dean Witter Convertible Securities Trust
(10) Active Assets Tax-Free Trust
(11) Active Assets Money Trust
(12) Active Assets California Tax-Free Trust
(13) Active Assets Government Securities Trust
(14) Dean Witter Short-Term Bond Fund
(15) Dean Witter Mid-Cap Growth Fund
(16) Dean Witter U.S. Government Securities Trust
(17) Dean Witter High Yield Securities Inc.
(18) Dean Witter New York Tax-Free Income Fund
(19) Dean Witter Tax-Exempt Securities Trust
(20) Dean Witter California Tax-Free Income Fund
(21) Dean Witter Limited Term Municipal Trust
(22) Dean Witter Natural Resource Development Securities Inc.
(23) Dean Witter World Wide Income Trust
(24) Dean Witter Utilities Fund
(25) Dean Witter Strategist Fund
(26) Dean Witter New York Municipal Money Market Trust
(27) Dean Witter Intermediate Income Securities
(28) Prime Income Trust
(29) Dean Witter European Growth Fund Inc.
(30) Dean Witter Developing Growth Securities Trust
(31) Dean Witter Precious Metals and Minerals Trust
(32) Dean Witter Pacific Growth Fund Inc.
(33) Dean Witter Multi-State Municipal Series Trust
(34) Dean Witter Federal Securities Trust
(35) Dean Witter Short-Term U.S. Treasury Trust
(36) Dean Witter Diversified Income Trust
(37) Dean Witter Health Sciences Trust
(38) Dean Witter Global Dividend Growth Securities
(39) Dean Witter American Value Fund
(40) Dean Witter U.S. Government Money Market Trust
(41) Dean Witter Global Short-Term Income Fund Inc.
(42) Dean Witter Premier Income Trust
(43) Dean Witter Value-Added Market Series
(44) Dean Witter Global Utilities Fund
(45) Dean Witter High Income Securities
(46) Dean Witter National Municipal Trust
(47) Dean Witter International SmallCap Fund
(48) Dean Witter Balanced Growth Fund
(49) Dean Witter Balanced Income Fund
(50) Dean Witter Hawaii Municipal Trust
(51) Dean Witter Variable Investment Series
(52) Dean Witter Capital Appreciation Fund
(53) Dean Witter Intermediate Term U.S. Treasury Trust
(54) Dean Witter Information Fund
(55) Dean Witter Japan Fund
(56) Dean Witter Income Builder Fund
(1) TCW/DW Core Equity Trust
(2) TCW/DW North American Government Income Trust
(3) TCW/DW Latin American Growth Fund
12
<PAGE>
(4) TCW/DW Income and Growth Fund
(5) TCW/DW Small Cap Growth Fund
(6) TCW/DW Balanced Fund
(7) TCW/DW Total Return Trust
(8) TCW/DW Mid-Cap Equity Trust
(b) The following information is given regarding directors and
officers of Distributors not listed in Item 28 above. The
principal address of Distributors is Two World Trade Center,
New York, New York 10048. None of the following persons has
any position or office with the Registrant.
Positions and
Office with
Name Distributors
---- --------------
Fredrick K. Kubler Senior Vice President, Assistant
Secretary and Chief Compliance
Officer.
Michael T. Gregg Vice President and Assistant
Secretary.
Item 30. LOCATION OF ACCOUNTS AND RECORDS
All accounts, books and other documents required to be maintained by
Section 31(a) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 and the Rules
thereunder are maintained by the Investment Manager at its offices, except
records relating to holders of shares issued by the Registrant, which are
maintained by the Registrant's Transfer Agent, at its place of business as
shown in the prospectus.
Item 31. MANAGEMENT SERVICES
Registrant is not a party to any such management-related service
contract.
Item 32. UNDERTAKINGS
Registrant hereby undertakes to furnish each person to whom a
prospectus is delivered with a copy of the Registrant's latest annual
report to shareholders upon request and without charge.
13
<PAGE>
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 and the
Investment Company Act of 1940, the Registrant certifies that it meets all of
the requirements for effectiveness of this Registration Statement pursuant to
Rule 485(b) under the Securities Act of 1933 and has duly caused this Post-
Effective Amendment to the Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by
the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of New York and State of
New York on the 23rd day of May, 1996.
DEAN WITTER GLOBAL DIVIDEND GROWTH SECURITIES
By /s/ Sheldon Curtis
--------------------------------
Sheldon Curtis
Vice President and Secretary
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Post-
Effective Amendment No. 4 has been signed below by the following persons in the
capacities and on the dates indicated.
Signatures Title Date
---------- ----- ----
(1) Principal Executive Officer President, Chief
Executive Officer,
Trustee and Chairman
By /s/ Charles A. Fiumefreddo 05/23/96
----------------------------
Charles A. Fiumefreddo
(2) Principal Financial Officer Treasurer and Principal
Accounting Officer
By /s/ Thomas F. Caloia 05/23/96
--------------------------
Thomas F. Caloia
(3) Majority of the Trustees
Charles A. Fiumefreddo (Chairman)
Philip J. Purcell
By /s/ Sheldon Curtis 05/23/96
--------------------------
Sheldon Curtis
Attorney-in-Fact
Michael Bozic
Edwin J. Garn
John R. Haire
Manuel H. Johnson
Paul Kolton
Michael E. Nugent
John L. Schroeder
By /s/ David M. Butowsky 05/23/96
---------------------------
David M. Butowsky
Attorney-in-Fact
<PAGE>
DEAN WITTER GLOBAL DIVIDEND GROWTH SECURITIES
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit No. Description
- ----------- -----------
1. -- Declaration of Trust of Registrant*
5. -- Form of Investment Management Agreement between
Registrant and Dean Witter InterCapital Inc.
6. -- Distribution Agreement between Registrant and Dean
Witter Distributors Inc.
8.(a) -- Form of Custody Agreement between the
Registrant and The Chase Manhattan Bank, N.A.*
(b) -- Transfer Agency Agreement between Registrant
and Dean Witter Trust Company*
11. -- Consent of Independent Accountants
15. -- Form of Plan of Distribution pursuant to Rule
12b-1 between Registrant and Dean Witter
Distributors Inc.*
16. -- Schedule for Computation of Performance
Quotations
27. -- Financial Data Schedule
*Exhibits being re-filed via EDGAR;All other exhibits previously
filed and incorporated by reference.
<PAGE>
DEAN WITTER
GLOBAL DIVIDEND GROWTH SECURITIES
TWO WORLD TRADE CENTER
NEW YORK, NY 10048
DECLARATION OF TRUST
DATED: JANUARY 8, 1993
<PAGE>
TABLE OF CONTENTS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PAGE
-----------
<S> <C> <C>
ARTICLE I -- NAME AND DEFINITIONS......................................................................... 2
Section 1.1 Name..................................................................................... 2
Section 1.2 Definitions.............................................................................. 2
ARTICLE II -- TRUSTEES.................................................................................... 3
Section 2.1 Number of Trustees....................................................................... 3
Section 2.2 Election and Term........................................................................ 3
Section 2.3 Resignation and Removal.................................................................. 3
Section 2.4 Vacancies................................................................................ 3
Section 2.5 Delegation of Power to Other Trustees.................................................... 4
ARTICLE III -- POWERS OF TRUSTEES......................................................................... 4
Section 3.1 General.................................................................................. 4
Section 3.2 Investments.............................................................................. 4
Section 3.3 Legal Title.............................................................................. 5
Section 3.4 Issuance and Repurchase of Securities.................................................... 5
Section 3.5 Borrowing Money; Lending Trust Assets.................................................... 5
Section 3.6 Delegation; Committees................................................................... 5
Section 3.7 Collection and Payment................................................................... 5
Section 3.8 Expenses................................................................................. 5
Section 3.9 Manner of Acting; By-Laws................................................................ 5
Section 3.10 Miscellaneous Powers..................................................................... 6
Section 3.11 Principal Transactions................................................................... 6
Section 3.12 Litigation............................................................................... 6
ARTICLE IV -- INVESTMENT ADVISER, DISTRIBUTOR, CUSTODIAN AND TRANSFER AGENT............................... 6
Section 4.1 Investment Adviser....................................................................... 6
Section 4.2 Administrative Services.................................................................. 7
Section 4.3 Distributor.............................................................................. 7
Section 4.4 Transfer Agent........................................................................... 7
Section 4.5 Custodian................................................................................ 7
Section 4.6 Parties to Contract...................................................................... 7
ARTICLE V -- LIMITATIONS OF LIABILITY OF SHAREHOLDERS, TRUSTEES AND OTHERS................................ 8
Section 5.1 No Personal Liability of Shareholders, Trustees, etc..................................... 8
Section 5.2 Non-Liability of Trustees, etc........................................................... 8
Section 5.3 Indemnification.......................................................................... 8
Section 5.4 No Bond Required of Trustees............................................................. 8
Section 5.5 No Duty of Investigation; Notice in Trust Instruments, etc............................... 8
Section 5.6 Reliance on Experts, etc................................................................. 9
</TABLE>
i
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PAGE
-----------
<S> <C> <C>
ARTICLE VI -- SHARES OF BENEFICIAL INTEREST............................................................... 9
Section 6.1 Beneficial Interest...................................................................... 9
Section 6.2 Rights of Shareholders................................................................... 9
Section 6.3 Trust Only............................................................................... 9
Section 6.4 Issuance of Shares....................................................................... 9
Section 6.5 Register of Shares....................................................................... 10
Section 6.6 Transfer of Shares....................................................................... 10
Section 6.7 Notices.................................................................................. 10
Section 6.8 Voting Powers............................................................................ 10
Section 6.9 Series or Classes of Shares.............................................................. 11
ARTICLE VII -- REDEMPTIONS................................................................................ 13
Section 7.1 Redemptions.............................................................................. 13
Section 7.2 Redemption at the Option of the Trust.................................................... 13
Section 7.3 Effect of Suspension of Determination of Net Asset Value................................. 13
Section 7.4 Suspension of Right of Redemption........................................................ 13
ARTICLE VIII -- DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE, NET INCOME AND DISTRIBUTIONS............................ 14
Section 8.1 Net Asset Value.......................................................................... 14
Section 8.2 Distributions to Shareholders............................................................ 14
Section 8.3 Determination of Net Income.............................................................. 14
Section 8.4 Power to Modify Foregoing Procedures..................................................... 15
ARTICLE IX -- DURATION; TERMINATION OF TRUST; AMENDMENT; MERGERS, ETC..................................... 15
Section 9.1 Duration................................................................................. 15
Section 9.2 Termination of Trust or a Series......................................................... 15
Section 9.3 Amendment Procedure...................................................................... 15
Section 9.4 Merger, Consolidation and Sale of Assets................................................. 16
Section 9.5 Incorporation............................................................................ 16
ARTICLE X -- REPORTS TO SHAREHOLDERS...................................................................... 17
ARTICLE XI -- MISCELLANEOUS............................................................................... 17
Section 11.1 Filing................................................................................... 17
Section 11.2 Resident Agent........................................................................... 17
Section 11.3 Governing Law............................................................................ 17
Section 11.4 Counterparts............................................................................. 17
Section 11.5 Reliance by Third Parties................................................................ 17
Section 11.6 Provisions in Conflict with Law or Regulations........................................... 17
Section 11.7 Use of the Name "Dean Witter"............................................................ 18
Section 11.8 Principal Place of Business.............................................................. 18
SIGNATURE PAGE............................................................................................ 19
</TABLE>
ii
<PAGE>
DECLARATION OF TRUST
OF
DEAN WITTER GLOBAL DIVIDEND GROWTH SECURITIES
DATED: January 8, 1993
THE DECLARATION OF TRUST of Dean Witter Global Dividend Growth
Securities is made the 8th day of January, 1993 by the parties signatory
hereto, as trustees (such persons, so long as they shall continue in office
in accordance with the terms of this Declaration of Trust, and all other
persons who at the time in question have been duly elected or appointed as
trustees in accordance with the provisions of this Declaration of Trust and
are then in office, being hereinafter called the "Trustees").
WITNESSETH:
WHEREAS, the Trustees desire to form a trust fund under the laws of
Massachusetts for the investment and reinvestment of funds contributed thereto;
and
WHEREAS, it is provided that the beneficial interest in the trust assets be
divided into transferable shares of beneficial interest as hereinafter provided;
NOW, THEREFORE, the Trustees hereby declare that they will hold in trust,
all money and property contributed to the trust fund to manage and dispose of
the same for the benefit of the holders from time to time of the shares of
beneficial interest issued hereunder and subject to the provisions hereof, to
wit:
1
<PAGE>
ARTICLE I
NAME AND DEFINITIONS
Section 1.1. NAME. The name of the trust created hereby is the "Dean Witter
Global Dividend Growth Securities," and so far as may be practicable the
Trustees shall conduct the Trust's activities, execute all documents and sue or
be sued under that name, which name (and the word "Trust" wherever herein used)
shall refer to the Trustees as Trustees, and not as individuals, or personally,
and shall not refer to the officers, agents, employees or Shareholders of the
Trust. Should the Trustees determine that the use of such name is not advisable,
they may use such other name for the Trust as they deem proper and the Trust may
hold its property and conduct its activities under such other name.
Section 1.2. DEFINITIONS. Wherever they are used herein, the following
terms have the following respective meanings:
(a) "BY-LAWS" means the By-Laws referred to in Section 3.9 hereof, as
from time to time amended.
(b) the terms "COMMISSION," "AFFILIATED PERSON" and "INTERESTED
PERSON," have the meanings given them in the 1940 Act.
(c) "DECLARATION" means this Declaration of Trust as amended from
time to time. Reference in this Declaration of Trust to "DECLARATION,"
"HEREOF," "HEREIN" and "HEREUNDER" shall be deemed to refer to this
Declaration rather than the article or section in which such words appear.
(d) "DISTRIBUTOR" means the party, other than the Trust, to a contract
described in Section 4.3 hereof.
(e) "FUNDAMENTAL POLICIES" shall mean the investment policies and
restrictions set forth in the Prospectus and Statement of Additional
Information and designated as fundamental policies therein.
(f) "INVESTMENT ADVISER" means any party, other than the Trust, to a
contract described in Section 4.1 hereof.
(g) "MAJORITY SHAREHOLDER VOTE" means the vote of the holders of a
majority of Shares, which shall consist of: (i) a majority of Shares
represented in person or by proxy and entitled to vote at a meeting of
Shareholders at which a quorum, as determined in accordance with the
By-Laws, is present; (ii) a majority of Shares issued and outstanding and
entitled to vote when action is taken by written consent of Shareholders;
and (iii) a "majority of the outstanding voting securities," as the phrase
is defined in the 1940 Act, when any action is required by the 1940 Act by
such majority as so defined.
(h) "1940 ACT" means the Investment Company Act of 1940 and the rules
and regulations thereunder as amended from time to time.
(i) "PERSON" means and includes individuals, corporations,
partnerships, trusts, associations, joint ventures and other entities,
whether or not legal entities, and governments and agencies and political
subdivisions thereof.
(j) "PROSPECTUS" means the Prospectus and Statement of Additional
Information constituting parts of the Registration Statement of the Trust
under the Securities Act of 1933 as such Prospectus and Statement of
Additional Information may be amended or supplemented and filed with the
Commission from time to time.
(k) "SERIES" means one of the separately managed components of the
Trust (or, if the Trust shall have only one such component, then that one)
as set forth in Section 6.1 hereof or as may be established and designated
from time to time by the Trustees pursuant to that section.
(l) "SHAREHOLDER" means a record owner of outstanding Shares.
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(m) "SHARES" means the units of interest into which the beneficial
interest in the Trust shall be divided from time to time, including the
shares of any and all series or classes which may be established by the
Trustees, and includes fractions of Shares as well as whole Shares.
(n) "TRANSFER AGENT" means the party, other than the Trust, to the
contract described in Section 4.4 hereof.
(o) "TRUST" means the Dean Witter Global Dividend Growth Securities.
(p) "TRUST PROPERTY" means any and all property, real or personal,
tangible or intangible, which is owned or held by or for the account of the
Trust or the Trustees.
(q) "TRUSTEES" means the persons who have signed the Declaration, so
long as they shall continue in office in accordance with the terms hereof,
and all other persons who may from time to time be duly elected or
appointed, qualified and serving as Trustees in accordance with the
provisions hereof, and reference herein to a Trustee or the Trustees shall
refer to such person or persons in their capacity as trustees hereunder.
ARTICLE II
TRUSTEES
Section 2.1. NUMBER OF TRUSTEES. The number of Trustees shall be such
number as shall be fixed from time to time by a written instrument signed by a
majority of the Trustees, provided, however, that the number of Trustees shall
in no event be less than three (3) nor more than fifteen (15).
Section 2.2. ELECTION AND TERM. The Trustees shall be elected by a
Majority Shareholder Vote at the first meeting of Shareholders following the
public offering of Shares of the Trust. The Trustees shall have the power to
set and alter the terms of office of the Trustees, and they may at any time
lengthen or lessen their own terms or make their terms of unlimited duration,
subject to the resignation and removal provisions of Section 2.3 hereof.
Subject to Section 16(a) of the 1940 Act, the Trustees may elect their own
successors and may, pursuant to Section 2.4 hereof, appoint Trustees to fill
vacancies. The Trustees shall adopt By-Laws not inconsistent with this
Declaration or any provision of law to provide for election of Trustees by
Shareholders at such time or times as the Trustees shall determine to be
necessary or advisable.
Section 2.3. RESIGNATION AND REMOVAL. Any Trustee may resign his trust
(without need for prior or subsequent accounting) by an instrument in writing
signed by him and delivered to the other Trustees and such resignation shall be
effective upon such delivery, or at a later date according to the terms of the
instrument. Any of the Trustees may be removed (provided the aggregate number of
Trustees after such removal shall not be less than the number required by
Section 2.1 hereof) by the action of two-thirds of the remaining Trustees or by
the action of the Shareholders of record of not less than two-thirds of the
Shares outstanding (for purposes of determining the circumstances and procedures
under which such removal by the Shareholders may take place, the provisions of
Section 16(c) of the 1940 Act shall be applicable to the same extent as if the
Trust were subject to the provisions of that Section). Upon the resignation or
removal of a Trustee, or his otherwise ceasing to be a Trustee, he shall execute
and deliver such documents as the remaining Trustees shall require for the
purpose of conveying to the Trust or the remaining Trustees any Trust Property
held in the name of the resigning or removed Trustee. Upon the incapacity or
death of any Trustee, his legal representative shall execute and deliver on his
behalf such documents as the remaining Trustees shall require as provided in the
preceding sentence.
Section 2.4. VACANCIES. The term of office of a Trustee shall terminate and
a vacancy shall occur in the event of the death, resignation, removal,
bankruptcy, adjudicated incompetence or other incapacity to perform the duties
of the office of a Trustee. No such vacancy shall operate to annul the
Declaration or to revoke any existing agency created pursuant to the terms of
the Declaration. In the case of an existing vacancy existing by reason of an
increase in the number of Trustees, subject to the provisions of Section 16(a)
of the 1940 Act, the remaining Trustees or, prior to the public offering of
Shares of the
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Trust, if only one Trustee shall then remain in office, the remaining Trustee
shall fill such vacancy by the appointment of such other person as they or he,
in their or his discretion, shall see fit, made by a written instrument signed
by a majority of the remaining Trustees or by the remaining Trustee, as the case
may be. Any such appointment shall not become effective, however, until the
person named in the written instrument of appointment shall have accepted in
writing such appointment and agreed in writing to be bound by the terms of the
Declaration. An appointment of a Trustee may be made in anticipation of a
vacancy to occur at a later date by reason of retirement, resignation or
increase in the number of Trustees, provided that such appointment shall not
become effective prior to such retirement, resignation or increase in the number
of Trustees. Whenever a vacancy in the number of Trustees shall occur, until
such vacancy is filled as provided in this Section 2.4, the Trustees in office,
regardless of their number, shall have all the powers granted to the Trustees
and shall discharge all the duties imposed upon the Trustees by the Declaration.
A written instrument certifying the existence of such vacancy signed by a
majority of the Trustees shall be conclusive evidence of the existence of such
vacancy.
Section 2.5. DELEGATION OF POWER TO OTHER TRUSTEES. Any Trustee may, by
power of attorney, delegate his power for a period not exceeding six (6) months
at any one time to any other Trustee or Trustees; provided that in no case shall
less than two (2) Trustees personally exercise the powers granted to the
Trustees under the Declaration except as herein otherwise expressly provided.
ARTICLE III
POWERS OF TRUSTEES
Section 3.1. GENERAL. The Trustees shall have exclusive and absolute
control over the Trust Property and over the business of the Trust to the
same extent as if the Trustees were the sole owners of the Trust Property and
business in their own right, but with such powers of delegation as may be
permitted by the Declaration. The Trustees shall have power to conduct the
business of the Trust and carry on its operations in any and all of its
branches and maintain offices both within and without the Commonwealth of
Massachusetts, in any and all states of the United States of America, in the
District of Columbia, and in any and all commonwealths, territories,
dependencies, colonies, possessions, agencies or instrumentalities
wheresoever in the world they may be located as they deem necessary, proper
or desirable in order to promote the interests of the Trust although such
things are not herein specifically mentioned. Any determination as to what is
in the interests of the Trust made by the Trustees in good faith shall be
conclusive. In construing the provisions of the Declaration, the presumption
shall be in favor of a grant of power to the Trustees.
The enumeration of any specific power herein shall not be construed as
limiting the aforesaid power. Such powers of the Trustees may be exercised
without order of or resort to any court.
Section 3.2. INVESTMENTS. The Trustees shall have the power to:
(a) conduct, operate and carry on the business of an investment
company;
(b) subscribe for, invest in, reinvest in, purchase or otherwise
acquire, hold, pledge, sell, assign, transfer, exchange, distribute, lend
or otherwise deal in or dispose of negotiable or nonnegotiable instruments,
obligations, evidences of indebtedness, certificates of deposit or
indebtedness, commercial paper, repurchase agreements, reverse repurchase
agreements, options, commodities, commodity futures contracts and related
options, currencies, currency futures and forward contracts, and other
securities, investment contracts and other instruments of any kind,
including, without limitation, those issued, guaranteed or sponsored by any
and all Persons including, without limitation, states, territories and
possessions of the United States, the District of Columbia and any of the
political subdivisions, agencies or instrumentalities thereof, and by the
United States Government or its agencies or instrumentalities, foreign or
international instrumentalities, or by any bank or savings institution, or
by any corporation or organization organized under the laws of the United
States or of any state, territory or possession thereof, and of
corporations or organizations organized under foreign laws, or in "when
issued" contracts for any such securities, or retain Trust assets in cash
and from time to time change the investments of the assets of the Trust;
and to exercise any and all rights, powers and privileges of ownership or
interest in respect of any and all
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such investments of every kind and description, including, without
limitation, the right to consent and otherwise act with respect thereto,
with power to designate one or more persons, firms, associations or
corporations to exercise any of said rights, powers and privileges in
respect of any of said instruments; and the Trustees shall be deemed to
have the foregoing powers with respect to any additional securities in
which the Trust may invest should the Fundamental Policies be amended.
The Trustees shall not be limited to investing in obligations maturing before
the possible termination of the Trust, nor shall the Trustees be limited by any
law limiting the investments which may be made by fiduciaries.
Section 3.3. LEGAL TITLE. Legal title to all the Trust Property shall be
vested in the Trustees as joint tenants except that the Trustees shall have
power to cause legal title to any Trust Property to be held by or in the name of
one or more of the Trustees, or in the name of the Trust, or in the name of any
other Person as nominee, on such terms as the Trustees may determine, provided
that the interest of the Trust therein is appropriately protected. The right,
title and interest of the Trustees in the Trust Property shall vest
automatically in each Person who may hereafter become a Trustee. Upon the
resignation, removal or death of a Trustee he shall automatically cease to have
any right, title or interest in any of the Trust Property, and the right, title
and interest of such Trustee in the Trust Property shall vest automatically in
the remaining Trustees. Such vesting and cessation of title shall be effective
whether or not conveyancing documents have been executed and delivered.
Section 3.4. ISSUANCE AND REPURCHASE OF SECURITIES. The Trustees shall have
the power to issue, sell, repurchase, redeem, retire, cancel, acquire, hold,
resell, reissue, dispose of, transfer, and otherwise deal in Shares and, subject
to the provisions set forth in Articles VII, VIII and IX and Section 6.9 hereof,
to apply to any such repurchase, redemption, retirement, cancellation or
acquisition of Shares any funds or property of the Trust, whether capital or
surplus or otherwise, to the full extent now or hereafter permitted by the laws
of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts governing business corporations.
Section 3.5. BORROWING MONEY; LENDING TRUST ASSETS. Subject to the
Fundamental Policies, the Trustee shall have power to borrow money or otherwise
obtain credit and to secure the same by mortgaging, pledging or otherwise
subjecting as security the assets of the Trust, to endorse, guarantee, or
undertake the performance of any obligation, contract or engagement of any other
Person and to lend Trust assets.
Section 3.6. DELEGATION; COMMITTEES. The Trustees shall have power,
consistent with their continuing exclusive authority over the management of the
Trust and the Trust Property, to delegate from time to time to such of their
number or to officers, employees or agents of the Trust the doing of such things
and the execution of such instruments either in the name of the Trust or the
names of the Trustees or otherwise as the Trustees may deem expedient.
Section 3.7. COLLECTION AND PAYMENT. Subject to Section 6.9 hereof, the
Trustees shall have power to collect all property due to the Trust; to pay all
claims, including taxes, against the Trust Property; to prosecute, defend,
compromise or abandon any claims relating to the Trust Property; to foreclose
any security interest securing any obligations, by virtue of which any property
is owed to the Trust; and to enter into releases, agreements and other
instruments.
Section 3.8. EXPENSES. Subject to Section 6.9 hereof, the Trustees shall
have the power to incur and pay any expenses which in the opinion of the
Trustees are necessary or incidental to carry out any of the purposes of the
Declaration, and to pay reasonable compensation from the funds of the Trust to
themselves as Trustees. The Trustees shall fix the compensation of all officers,
employees and Trustees.
Section 3.9. MANNER OF ACTING; BY-LAWS. Except as otherwise provided herein
or in the By-Laws or by any provision of law, any action to be taken by the
Trustees may be taken by a majority of the Trustees present at a meeting of
Trustees (a quorum being present), including any meeting held by means of a
conference telephone circuit or similar communications equipment by means of
which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, or by
written consents of all the Trustees. The
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Trustees may adopt By-Laws not inconsistent with this Declaration to provide for
the conduct of the business of the Trust and may amend or repeal such By-Laws to
the extent such power is not reserved to the Shareholders.
Section 3.10. MISCELLANEOUS POWERS. The Trustees shall have the power to:
(a) employ or contract with such Persons as the Trustees may deem desirable for
the transaction of the business of the Trust or any Series thereof; (b) enter
into joint ventures, partnerships and any other combinations or associations;
(c) remove Trustees or fill vacancies in or add to their number, elect and
remove such officers and appoint and terminate such agents or employees as they
consider appropriate, and appoint from their own number, and terminate, any one
or more committees which may exercise some or all of the power and authority of
the Trustees as the Trustees may determine; (d) purchase, and pay for out of
Trust Property or the property of the appropriate Series of the Trust, insurance
policies insuring the Shareholders, Trustees, officers, employees, agents,
investment advisers, distributors, selected dealers or independent contractors
of the Trust against all claims arising by reason of holding any such position
or by reason of any action taken or omitted to be taken by any such Person in
such capacity, whether or not constituting negligence, or whether or not the
Trust would have the power to indemnify such Person against such liability; (e)
establish pension, profit-sharing, Share purchase, and other retirement,
incentive and benefit plans for any Trustees, officers, employees and agents of
the Trust; (f) to the extent permitted by law, indemnify any person with whom
the Trust or any Series thereof has dealings, including any Investment Adviser,
Distributor, Transfer Agent and selected dealers, to such extent as the Trustees
shall determine; (g) guarantee indebtedness or contractual obligations of
others; (h) determine and change the fiscal year of the Trust or any Series
thereof and the method by which its accounts shall be kept; and (i) adopt a seal
for the Trust but the absence of such seal shall not impair the validity of any
instrument executed on behalf of the Trust.
Section 3.11. PRINCIPAL TRANSACTIONS. Except in transactions permitted by
the 1940 Act or any rule or regulation thereunder, or any order of exemption
issued by the Commission, or effected to implement the provisions of any
agreement to which the Trust is a party, the Trustees shall not, on behalf of
the Trust, buy any securities (other than Shares) from or sell any securities
(other than Shares) to, or lend any assets of the Trust or any Series thereof
to, any Trustee or officer of the Trust or any firm of which any such Trustee or
officer is a member acting as principal, or have any such dealings with any
Investment Adviser, Distributor or Transfer Agent or with any Affiliated Person
of such Person; but the Trust or any Series thereof may employ any such Person,
or firm or company in which such Person is an Interested Person, as broker,
legal counsel, registrar, transfer agent, dividend disbursing agent or custodian
upon customary terms.
Section 3.12. LITIGATION. The Trustees shall have the power to engage in
and to prosecute, defend, compromise, abandon, or adjust, by arbitration, or
otherwise, any actions, suits, proceedings, disputes, claims, and demands
relating to the Trust, and out of the assets of the Trust or any Series thereof
to pay or to satisfy any debts, claims or expenses incurred in connection
therewith, including those of litigation, and such power shall include without
limitation the power of the Trustees or any appropriate committee thereof, in
the exercise of their or its good faith business judgment, to dismiss any
action, suit, proceeding, dispute, claim, or demand, derivative or otherwise,
brought by any person, including a Shareholder in its own name or the name of
the Trust, whether or not the Trust or any of the Trustees may be named
individually therein or the subject matter arises by reason of business for or
on behalf of the Trust.
ARTICLE IV
INVESTMENT ADVISER, DISTRIBUTOR, CUSTODIAN AND TRANSFER AGENT
Section 4.1. INVESTMENT ADVISER. Subject to approval by a Majority
Shareholder Vote, the Trustees may in their discretion from time to time enter
into one or more investment advisory or management contracts or, if the Trustees
establish multiple Series, separate investment advisory or management contracts
with respect to one or more Series whereby the other party or parties to any
such contracts shall undertake to furnish the Trust or such Series such
management, investment advisory, administration,
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accounting, legal, statistical and research facilities and services, promotional
or marketing activities, and such other facilities and services, if any, as the
Trustees shall from time to time consider desirable and all upon such terms and
conditions as the Trustees may in their discretion determine. Notwithstanding
any provisions of the Declaration, the Trustees may authorize the Investment
Advisers, or any of them, under any such contracts (subject to such general or
specific instructions as the Trustees may from time to time adopt) to effect
purchases, sales, loans or exchanges of portfolio securities and other
investments of the Trust on behalf of the Trustees or may authorize any officer,
employee or Trustee to effect such purchases, sales, loans or exchanges pursuant
to recommendations of such Investment Advisers, or any of them (and all without
further action by the Trustees). Any such purchases, sales, loans and exchanges
shall be deemed to have been authorized by all of the Trustees. The Trustees
may, in the their sole discretion, call a meeting of Shareholders in order to
submit to a vote of Shareholders at such meeting the approval or continuance of
any such investment advisory or management contract. If the Shareholders of any
one or more of the Series of the Trust should fail to approve any such
investment advisory or management contract, the Investment Adviser may
nonetheless serve as Investment Adviser with respect to any Series whose
Shareholders approve such contract.
Section 4.2. ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES. The Trustees may in their discretion
from time to time contract for administrative personnel and services whereby the
other party shall agree to provide the Trustees or the Trust administrative
personnel and services to operate the Trust on a daily or other basis, on such
terms and conditions as the Trustees may in their discretion determine. Such
services may be provided by one or more persons or entities.
Section 4.3. DISTRIBUTOR. The Trustees may in their discretion from time to
time enter into one or more contracts, providing for the sale of Shares to net
the Trust or the applicable Series of the Trust not less than the net asset
value per Share (as described in Article VIII hereof) and pursuant to which the
Trust may either agree to sell the Shares to the other parties to the contracts,
or any of them, or appoint any such other party its sales agent for such Shares.
In either case, any such contract shall be on such terms and conditions as the
Trustees may in their discretion determine not inconsistent with the provisions
of this Article IV, including, without limitation, the provision for the
repurchase or sale of shares of the Trust by such other party as principal or as
agent of the Trust.
Section 4.4. TRANSFER AGENT. The Trustees may in their discretion from time
to time enter into a transfer agency and shareholder service contract whereby
the other party to such contract shall undertake to furnish transfer agency and
shareholder services to the Trust. The contract shall have such terms and
conditions as the Trustees may in their discretion determine not inconsistent
with the Declaration. Such services may be provided by one or more Persons.
Section 4.5. CUSTODIAN. The Trustees may appoint or otherwise engage one or
more banks or trust companies, each having an aggregate capital, surplus and
undivided profits (as shown in its last published report) of at least five
million dollars ($5,000,000) to serve as Custodian with authority as its agent,
but subject to such restrictions, limitations and other requirements, if any, as
may be contained in the By-Laws of the Trust.
Section 4.6. PARTIES TO CONTRACT. Any contract of the character described
in Sections 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4 or 4.5 of this Article IV and any other contract
may be entered into with any Person, although one or more of the Trustees or
officers of the Trust may be an officer, director, trustee, shareholder, or
member of such other party to the contract, and no such contract shall be
invalidated or rendered voidable by reason of the existence of any such
relationship; nor shall any Person holding such relationship be liable merely by
reason of such relationship for any loss or expense to the Trust under or by
reason of said contract or accountable for any profit realized directly or
indirectly therefrom, provided that the contract when entered into was not
inconsistent with the provisions of this Article IV. The same Person may be the
other party to any contracts entered into pursuant to Sections 4.1, 4.2, 4.3,
4.4 or 4.5 above or otherwise, and any individual may be financially interested
or otherwise affiliated with Persons who are parties to any or all of the
contracts mentioned in this Section 4.6.
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ARTICLE V
LIMITATIONS OF LIABILITY OF SHAREHOLDERS,
TRUSTEES AND OTHERS
Section 5.1. NO PERSONAL LIABILITY OF SHAREHOLDERS, TRUSTEES, ETC. No
Shareholder shall be subject to any personal liability whatsoever to any Person
in connection with Trust Property or the acts, obligations or affairs of the
Trust. No Trustee, officer, employee or agent of the Trust shall be subject to
any personal liability whatsoever to any Person, other than the Trust or its
Shareholders, in connection with the Trust Property or the affairs of the Trust,
save only that arising from bad faith, willful misfeasance, gross negligence or
reckless disregard for his duty to such Person; and all such Persons shall look
solely to the Trust Property, or to the Property of one or more specific Series
of the Trust if the claim arises from the conduct of such Trustee, officer,
employee or agent with respect to only such Series, for satisfaction of claims
of any nature arising in connection with the affairs of the Trust. If any
Shareholder, Trustee, officer, employee or agent, as such, of the Trust is made
a party to any suit or proceeding to enforce any such liability, he shall not,
on account thereof, be held to any personal liability. The Trust shall indemnify
out of the property of the Trust and hold each Shareholder harmless from and
against all claims and liabilities, to which such Shareholder may become subject
by reason of his being or having been a Shareholder, and shall reimburse such
Shareholder for all legal and other expenses reasonably incurred by him in
connection with any such claim or liability; provided that, in the event the
Trust shall consist of more than one Series, Shareholders of a particular Series
who are faced with claims or liabilities solely by reason of their status as
Shareholders of that Series shall be limited to the assets of that Series for
recovery of such loss and related expenses. The rights accruing to a Shareholder
under this Section 5.1 shall not exclude any other right to which such
Shareholder may be lawfully entitled, nor shall anything herein contained
restrict the right of the Trust to indemnify or reimburse a Shareholder in any
appropriate situation even though not specifically provided herein.
Section 5.2. NON-LIABILITY OF TRUSTEES, ETC. No Trustee, officer, employee
or agent of the Trust shall be liable to the Trust, its Shareholders, or to any
Shareholder, Trustee, officer, employee, or agent thereof for any action or
failure to act (including without limitation the failure to compel in any way
any former or acting Trustee to redress any breach of trust) except for this own
bad faith, willful misfeasance, gross negligence or reckless disregard of his
duties.
Section 5.3. INDEMNIFICATION. (a) The Trustees shall provide for
indemnification by the Trust, or by one or more Series thereof if the claim
arises from his or her conduct with respect to only such Series, of any person
who is, or has been, a Trustee, officer, employee or agent of the Trust against
all liability and against all expenses reasonably incurred or paid by him in
connection with any claim, action, suit or proceeding in which he becomes
involved as a party or otherwise by virtue of his being or having been a
Trustee, officer, employee or agent and against amounts paid or incurred by him
in the settlement thereof, in such manner as the Trustees may provide from time
to time in the By-Laws.
(b) The words "claim," "action," "suit," or "proceeding" shall apply to all
claims, actions, suits or proceedings (civil, criminal, or other, including
appeals), actual or threatened; and the words "liability" and "expenses" shall
include, without limitation, attorneys' fees, costs, judgments, amounts paid in
settlement, fines, penalties and other liabilities.
Section 5.4. NO BOND REQUIRED OF TRUSTEES. No Trustee shall be obligated to
give any bond or other security for the performance of any of his duties
hereunder.
Section 5.5. NO DUTY OF INVESTIGATION; NOTICE IN TRUST INSTRUMENTS, ETC. No
purchaser, lender, transfer agent or other Person dealing with the Trustees or
any officer, employee or agent of the Trust or a Series thereof shall be bound
to make any inquiry concerning the validity of any transaction purporting to be
made by the Trustees or by said officer, employee or agent or be liable for the
application of money or property paid, loaned or delivered to or on the order of
the Trustees or of said officer, employee or agent. Every obligation, contract,
instrument, certificate, Share, other security of the Trust or a Series thereof
or undertaking, and every other act or thing whatsoever executed in connection
with the Trust shall be conclusively presumed to have been executed or done by
the executors thereof only in their
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capacity as officers, employees or agents of the Trust or a Series thereof.
Every written obligation, contract, instrument, certificate, Share, other
security of the Trust or undertaking made or issued by the Trustees shall recite
that the same is executed or made by them not individually, but as Trustees
under the Declaration, and that the obligations of the Trust or a Series thereof
under any such instrument are not binding upon any of the Trustees or
Shareholders, individually, but bind only the Trust Estate (or, in the event the
Trust shall consist of more than one Series, in the case of any such obligation
which relates to a specific Series, only the Series which is a party thereto),
and may contain any further recital which they or he may deem appropriate, but
the omission of such recital shall not affect the validity of such obligation,
contract instrument, certificate, Share, security or undertaking and shall not
operate to bind the Trustees or Shareholders individually. The Trustees shall at
all times maintain insurance for the protection of the Trust Property, its
Shareholders, Trustees, officers, employees and agents in such amount as the
Trustees shall deem adequate to cover possible tort liability, and such other
insurance as the Trustees in their sole judgment shall deem advisable.
Section 5.6. RELIANCE ON EXPERTS, ETC. Each Trustee and officer or employee
of the Trust shall, in the performance of his duties, be fully and completely
justified and protected with regard to any act or any failure to act resulting
from reliance in good faith upon the books of account or other records of the
Trust, upon an opinion of counsel, or upon reports made to the Trust by any of
its officers or employees or by any Investment Adviser, Distributor, Transfer
Agent, selected dealers, accountants, appraisers or other experts or consultants
selected with reasonable care by the Trustees, officers or employees of the
Trust, regardless of whether such counsel or expert may also be a Trustee.
ARTICLE VI
SHARES OF BENEFICIAL INTEREST
Section 6.1. BENEFICIAL INTEREST. The interest of the beneficiaries
hereunder shall be divided into transferable shares of beneficial interest of
$.01 par value. The number of such shares of beneficial interest authorized
hereunder is unlimited. The Trustee shall have the authority to establish and
designate one or more Series of classes or shares. Each share of any Series
shall represent an equal proportionate share in the assets of that Series with
each other Share in that Series. The Trustees may divide or combine the shares
of any Series into a greater or lesser number of shares in that Series without
thereby changing the proportionate interests in the assets of that Series.
Subject to the provisions of Section 6.9 hereof, the Trustees may also authorize
the creation of additional series of shares (the proceeds of which may be
invested in separate, independently managed portfolios) and additional classes
of shares within any series. All Shares issued hereunder including, without
limitation, Shares issued in connection with a dividend in Shares or a split in
Shares, shall be fully paid and nonassessable.
Section 6.2. RIGHTS OF SHAREHOLDERS. The ownership of the Trust Property of
every description and the right to conduct any business hereinbefore described
are vested exclusively in the Trustees, and the Shareholders shall have no
interest therein other than the beneficial interest conferred by their Shares,
and they shall have no right to call for any partition of division of any
property, profits, rights or interests of the Trust nor can they be called upon
to assume any losses of the Trust or suffer an assessment of any kind by virtue
of their ownership of Shares. The Shares shall be personal property giving only
the rights in the Declaration specifically set forth. The Shares shall not
entitle the holder to preference, preemptive, appraisal, conversion or exchange
rights, except as the Trustees may determine with respect to any series of
Shares.
Section 6.3. TRUST ONLY. It is the intention of the Trustees to create only
the relationship of Trustees and beneficiary between the Trustees and each
Shareholder from time to time. It is not the intention of the Trustee to create
a general partnership, limited partnership, joint stock association,
corporation, bailment or any form of legal relationship other than a trust.
Nothing in the Declaration shall be construed to make the Shareholders, either
by themselves or with the Trustees, partners or members of a joint stock
association.
Section 6.4. ISSUANCE OF SHARES. The Trustees, in their discretion may,
from time to time without vote of the Shareholders, issue Shares of any Series,
in addition to the then issued and outstanding
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Shares and Shares held in the treasury, to such party or parties and for such
amount and type of consideration, including cash or property, at such time or
times and on such terms as the Trustees may deem best, and may in such manner
acquire other assets (including the acquisition of assets subject to, and in
connection with the assumption of liabilities) and businesses. In connection
with any issuance of Shares, the Trustees may issue fractional Shares. The
Trustees may from time to time divide or combine the Shares of any Series into a
greater or lesser number without thereby changing the proportionate beneficial
interests in that Series. Contributions to the Trust may be accepted for, and
Shares shall be redeemed as, whole Shares and/or fractions of a Share as
described in the Prospectus.
Section 6.5. REGISTER OF SHARES. A register shall be kept in respect of
each Series at the principal office of the Trust or at an office of the Transfer
Agent which shall contain the names and addresses of the Shareholders and the
number of Shares of each Series held by them respectively and a record of all
transfers thereof. Such register may be in written form or any other form
capable of being converted into written form within a reasonable time for visual
inspection. Such register shall be conclusive as to who are the holders of the
Shares and who shall be entitled to receive dividends or distributions or
otherwise to exercise or enjoy the rights of Shareholders. No Shareholder shall
be entitled to receive payment of any dividend or distribution, nor to have
notice given to him as herein or in the By-Laws provided, until he has given his
address to the Transfer Agent or such other officer or agent of the Trustees as
shall keep the said register for entry thereon. It is not contemplated that
certificates will be issued for the Shares; however, the Trustees, in their
discretion, may authorize the issuance of Share certificates and promulgate
appropriate rules and regulations as to their use.
Section 6.6. TRANSFER OF SHARES. Shares shall be transferable on the
records of the Trust only by the record holder or by his agent thereunto duly
authorized in writing, upon delivery to the Trustees or the Transfer Agent of a
duly executed instrument of transfer, together with such evidence of the
genuineness of each such execution and authorization and of other matters as may
reasonably be required. Upon such delivery the transfer shall be recorded on the
register of the Trust. Until such record is made, the Shareholder of record
shall be deemed to be the holder of such Shares for all purposes hereunder and
neither the Trustees nor any Transfer Agent or registrar nor any officer,
employee or agent of the Trust shall be affected by any notice of the proposed
transfer.
Any person becoming entitled to any Shares in consequence of the death,
bankruptcy, or incompetence of any Shareholder, or otherwise by operation of
law, shall be recorded on the register of Shares as the holder of such Shares
upon production of the proper evidence thereof to the Trustees or the Transfer
Agent, but until such record is made, the Shareholder of record shall be deemed
to be the holder of such Shares for all purposes hereunder and neither the
Trustees nor any Transfer Agent or registrar nor any officer or agent of the
Trust shall be affected by any notice of such death, bankruptcy or incompetence,
or other operation of law, except as may otherwise be provided by the laws of
the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Section 6.7. NOTICES. Any and all notices to which any Shareholder may be
entitled and any and all communications shall be deemed duly served or given if
mailed, postage prepaid, addressed to any Shareholder of record at his last
known address as recorded on the register of the Trust. Annual reports and proxy
statements need not be sent to a shareholder if: (i) an annual report and proxy
statement for two consecutive annual meetings, or (ii) all, and at least two,
checks (if sent by first class mail) in payment of dividends or interest and
shares during a twelve month period have been mailed to such shareholder's
address and have been returned undelivered. However, delivery of such annual
reports and proxy statements shall resume once a Shareholder's current address
is determined.
Section 6.8. VOTING POWERS. The Shareholders shall have power to vote only
(i) for the election of Trustees as provided in Section 2.2 hereof, (ii) for the
removal of Trustees as provided in Section 2.3 hereof, (iii) with respect to any
investment advisory or management contract as provided in Section 4.1, (iv) with
respect to termination of the Trust as provided in Section 9.2, (v) with respect
to any amendment of the Declaration to the extent and as provided in Section
9.3, (vi) with respect to any merger, consolidation or sale of assets as
provided in Section 9.4, (vii) with respect to incorporation of the Trust to the
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extent and as provided in Section 9.5, (viii) to the same extent as the
stockholders of a Massachusetts business corporation as to whether or not a
court action, proceeding or claim should or should not be brought or maintained
derivatively or as a class action on behalf of the Trust or the Shareholders
(provided that Shareholders of a Series are not entitled to vote in connection
with the bringing of a derivative or class action with respect to any matter
which only affects another Series or its Shareholders), (ix) with respect to any
plan adopted pursuant to Rule 12b-1 (or any successor rule) under the 1940 Act
and (x) with respect to such additional matters relating to the Trust as may be
required by law, the Declaration, the By-Laws or any registration of the Trust
with the Commission (or any successor agency) or any state, or as and when the
Trustee may consider necessary or desirable. Each whole Share shall be entitled
to one vote as to any matter on which it is entitled to vote and each fractional
Share shall be entitled to a proportionate fractional vote, except that Shares
held in the treasury of the Trust as of the record date, as determined in
accordance with the By-Laws, shall not be voted. On any matter submitted to a
vote of Shareholders, all Shares shall be voted by individual Series except (1)
when required by the 1940 Act, Shares shall be voted in the aggregate and not by
individual Series; and (2) when the Trustees have determined that the matter
affects only the interests of one or more Series, then only the Shareholders of
such Series shall be entitled to vote thereon. The Trustees may, in conjunction
with the establishment of any further Series or any classes of Shares, establish
conditions under which the several series or classes of Shares shall have
separate voting rights or no voting rights. There shall be no cumulative voting
in the election of Trustees. Until Shares are issued, the Trustees may exercise
all rights of Shareholders and may take any action required by law, the
Declaration or the By-Laws to be taken by Shareholders. The By-Laws may include
further provisions for Shareholders' votes and meetings and related matters.
Section 6.9. SERIES OR CLASSES OF SHARES. The following provisions are
applicable regarding the Series of Shares of the Trust established in Section
6.1 hereof and shall be applicable if the Trustees shall establish additional
Series or shall divide the shares of any Series into two or more classes, also
as provided in Section 6.1 hereof, and all provisions relating to the Trust
shall apply equally to each Series thereof except as the context requires:
(a) The number of authorized shares and the number of shares of each
Series or of each class that may be issued shall be unlimited. The Trustees
may classify or reclassify any unissued shares or any shares previously
issued and reacquired of any Series or class into one or more Series or one
or more classes that may be established and designated from time to time.
The Trustees may hold as treasury shares (of the same or some other Series
or class), reissue for such consideration and on such terms as they may
determine, or cancel any shares of any Series or any class reacquired by
the Trust at their discretion from time to time.
(b) The power of the Trustees to invest and reinvest the Trust
Property shall be governed by Section 3.2 of this Declaration with respect
to any one or more Series which represents the interests in the assets of
the Trust immediately prior to the establishment of any additional Series
and the power of the Trustees to invest and reinvest assets applicable to
any other Series shall be as set forth in the instrument of the Trustees
establishing such series which is hereinafter described.
(c) All consideration received by the Trust for the issue or sale of
shares of a particular Series or class together with all assets in which
such consideration is invested or reinvested, all income, earnings,
profits, and proceeds thereof, including any proceeds derived from the
sale, exchange or liquidation of such assets, and any funds or payments
derived from any reinvestment of such proceeds in whatever form the same
may be, shall irrevocably belong to that Series or class for all purposes,
subject only to the rights of creditors, and shall be so recorded upon the
books of account of the Trust. In the event that there are any assets,
income, earnings, profits, and proceeds thereof, funds, or payments which
are not readily identifiable as belonging to any particular Series or
class, the Trustees shall allocate them among any one or more of the Series
or classes established and designated from time to time in such manner and
on such basis as they, in their sole discretion, deem fair and equitable.
Each such allocation by the Trustees shall be conclusive and binding upon
the shareholders of all Series or classes for all purposes. No holder of
Shares of any Series shall have any claim on or right to any assets
allocated or belonging to any other Series.
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(d) The assets belonging to each particular Series shall be charged
with the liabilities of the Trust in respect of that Series and all
expenses, costs, charges and reserves attributable to that Series. All
expenses and liabilities incurred or arising in connection with a
particular Series, or in connection with the management thereof, shall be
payable solely out of the assets of that Series and creditors of a
particular Series shall be entitled to look solely to the property of such
Series for satisfaction of their claims. Any general liabilities, expenses,
costs, charges or reserves of the Trust which are not readily identifiable
as belonging to any particular Series shall be allocated and charged by the
Trustees to and among any one or more of the series established and
designated from time to time in such manner and on such basis as the
Trustees in their sole discretion deem fair and equitable. Each allocation
of liabilities, expenses, costs, charges and reserves by the Trustees shall
be conclusive and binding upon the holders of all Series for all purposes.
The Trustees shall have full discretion, to the extent not inconsistent
with the 1940 Act, to determine which items shall be treated as income and
which items as capital; and each such determination and allocation shall be
conclusive and binding upon the shareholders.
(e) The power of the Trustees to pay dividends and make distributions
shall be governed by Section 8.2 of this Declaration with respect to any
one or more Series or classes which represents the interests in the assets
of the Trust immediately prior to the establishment of any additional
Series or classes. With respect to any other Series or class, dividends and
distributions on shares of a particular Series or class may be paid with
such frequency as the Trustees may determine, which may be daily or
otherwise, pursuant to a standing resolution or resolutions adopted only
once or with such frequency as the Trustees may determine, to the holders
of shares of that Series or class, from such of the income and capital
gains, accrued or realized, from the assets belonging to that Series or
class, as the Trustees may determine, after providing for actual and
accrued liabilities belonging to that Series or class. All dividends and
distributions on shares of a particular Series or class shall be
distributed pro rata to the holders of that Series or class in proportion
to the number of shares of that Series or class held by such holders at the
date and time of record established for the payment of such dividends or
distributions.
(f) The Trustees shall have the power to determine the
designations, preferences, privileges, limitations and rights,
including voting and dividend rights, of each class and Series of Shares.
(g) Subject to compliance with the requirements of the 1940 Act, the
Trustees shall have the authority to provide that the holders of Shares of
any Series or class shall have the right to convert or exchange said Shares
into Shares of one or more Series of Shares in accordance with such
requirements and procedures as may be established by the Trustees.
(h) The establishment and designation of any Series or class of
shares in addition to those established in Section 6.1 hereof shall be
effective upon the execution by a majority of the then Trustees of an
instrument setting forth such establishment and designation and the
relative rights, preferences, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as
to dividends, qualifications, and terms and conditions of redemption of
such Series or class, or as otherwise provided in such instrument. At any
time that there are no shares outstanding of any particular Series or class
previously established and designated, the Trustees may by an instrument
executed by a majority of their number abolish that Series or class and the
establishment and designation thereof. Each instrument referred to in this
paragraph shall have the status of an amendment to this Declaration.
(i) Shareholders of a Series shall not be entitled to participate in
a derivative or class action with respect to any matter which only affects
another Series or its Shareholders.
(j) Each Share of a Series of the Trust shall represent a beneficial
interest in the net assets of such Series. Each holder of Shares of a
Series shall be entitled to receive his pro rata share of distributions of
income and capital gains made with respect to such Series. In the event of
the liquidation of a particular Series, the Shareholders of that Series
which has been established and designated and which is being liquidated
shall be entitled to receive, when and as declared by the Trustees, the
excess of the assets belonging to that Series over the liabilities
belonging to that Series. The holders of Shares of any Series shall not be
entitled hereby to any distribution upon
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liquidation of any other Series. The assets so distributable to the
Shareholders of any Series shall be distributed among such Shareholders in
proportion to the number of Shares of that Series held by them and recorded
on the books of the Trust. The liquidation of any particular Series in
which there are Shares then outstanding may be authorized by an instrument
in writing, without a meeting, signed by a majority of the Trustees then in
office, subject to the approval of a majority of the outstanding voting
securities of that Series, as that phrase is defined in the 1940 Act.
ARTICLE VII
REDEMPTIONS
Section 7.1. REDEMPTIONS. Each Shareholder of a particular Series shall
have the right at such times as may be permitted by the Trust to require the
Trust to redeem all or any part of his Shares of that Series, upon and subject
to the terms and conditions provided in this Article VII. The Trust shall, upon
application of any Shareholder or pursuant to authorization from any
Shareholder, redeem or repurchase from such Shareholder outstanding shares for
an amount per share determined by the Trustees in accordance with any applicable
laws and regulations; provided that (a) such amount per share shall not exceed
the cash equivalent of the proportionate interest of each share or of any class
or Series of shares in the assets of the Trust at the time of the redemption or
repurchase and (b) if so authorized by the Trustees, the Trust may, at any time
and from time to time charge fees for effecting such redemption or repurchase,
at such rates as the Trustees may establish, as and to the extent permitted
under the 1940 Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and
may, at any time and from time to time, pursuant to such Act and such rules and
regulations, suspend such right of redemption. The procedures for effecting and
suspending redemption shall be as set forth in the Prospectus from time to time.
Payment will be made in such manner as described in the Prospectus.
Section 7.2. REDEMPTION AT THE OPTION OF THE TRUST. Each Share of the Trust
or any Series of the Trust shall be subject to redemption at the option of the
Trust at the redemption price which would be applicable if such Share were then
being redeemed by the Shareholder pursuant to Section 7.1: (i) at any time, if
the Trustees determine in their sole discretion that failure to so redeem may
have materially adverse consequences to the holders of the Shares of the Trust
or of any Series, or (ii) upon such other conditions with respect to maintenance
of Shareholder accounts of a minimum amount as may from time to time be
determined by the Trustees and set forth in the then current Prospectus of the
Trust. Upon such redemption the holders of the Shares so redeemed shall have no
further right with respect thereto other than to receive payment of such
redemption price.
Section 7.3. EFFECT OF SUSPENSION OF DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE. If,
pursuant to Section 7.4 hereof, the Trustees shall declare a suspension of the
determination of net asset value with respect to Shares of the Trust or of any
Series thereof, the rights of Shareholders (including those who shall have
applied for redemption pursuant to Section 7.1 hereof but who shall not yet have
received payment) to have Shares redeemed and paid for by the Trust or a Series
thereof shall be suspended until the termination of such suspension is declared.
Any record holder who shall have his redemption right so suspended may, during
the period of such suspension, by appropriate written notice of revocation at
the office or agency where application was made, revoke any application for
redemption not honored and withdraw any certificates on deposit. The redemption
price of Shares for which redemption applications have not been revoked shall be
the net asset value of such Shares next determined as set forth in Section 8.1
after the termination of such suspension, and payment shall be made within seven
(7) days after the date upon which the application was made plus the period
after such application during which the determination of net asset value was
suspended.
Section 7.4. SUSPENSION OF RIGHT OF REDEMPTION. The Trust may declare a
suspension of the right of redemption or postpone the date of payment or
redemption for the whole or any part of any period (i) during which the New York
Stock Exchange is closed other than customary weekend and holiday closings, (ii)
during which trading on the New York Stock Exchange is restricted, (iii) during
which an emergency exists as a result of which disposal by the Trust or a Series
thereof of securities owned by it is not reasonably practicable or it is not
reasonably practicable for the Trust or a Series thereof fairly to
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determine the value of its net assets, or (iv) during any other period when the
Commission may for the protection of security holders of the Trust by order
permit suspension of the rights of redemption or postponement of the date of
payment or redemption; provided that applicable rules and regulations of the
Commission shall govern as to whether the conditions prescribed in (ii), (iii)
or (iv) exist. Such suspension shall take effect at such time as the Trust shall
specify but not later than the close of business on the business day next
following the declaration of suspension, and thereafter there shall be no right
of redemption or payment on redemption until the Trust shall declare the
suspension at an end, except that the suspension shall terminate in any event on
the first day on which said stock exchange shall have reopened or the period
specified in (ii) or (iii) shall have expired (as to which in the absence of an
official ruling by the Commission, the determination of the Trust shall be
conclusive). In the case of a suspension of the right of redemption, a
Shareholder may either withdraw his request for redemption or receive payment
based on the net asset value existing after the termination of the suspension.
ARTICLE VIII
DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE,
NET INCOME AND DISTRIBUTIONS
Section 8.1. NET ASSET VALUE. The net asset value of each outstanding Share
of each Series of the Trust shall be determined on such days and at such time or
times as the Trustees may determine. The method of determination of net asset
value shall be determined by the Trustees and shall be as set forth in the
Prospectus. The power and duty to make the daily calculations may be delegated
by the Trustees to any Investment Adviser, the Custodian, the Transfer Agent or
such other person as the Trustees by resolution may determine. The Trustees may
suspend the daily determination of net asset value to the extent permitted by
the 1940 Act.
Section 8.2. DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS. The Trustees shall from time to
time distribute ratably among the Shareholders of the Trust or of any Series
such proportion of the net income, earnings, profits, gains, surplus (including
paid-in surplus), capital, or assets of the Trust or of such Series held by the
Trustees as they may deem proper. Such distribution may be made in cash or
property (including without limitation any type of obligations of the Trust or
of such Series or any assets thereof), and the Trustees may distribute ratably
among the Shareholders of the Trust or of that Series additional Shares issuable
hereunder in such manner, at such times, and on such terms as the Trustees may
deem proper. Such distributions may be among the Shareholders of record
(determined in accordance with the Prospectus) of the Trust or of such Series at
the time of declaring a distribution or among the Shareholders of record of the
Trust or of such Series at such later date as the Trustees shall determine. The
Trustees may always retain from the net income, earnings, profits or gains of
the Trust or of such Series such amount as they may deem necessary to pay the
debts or expenses of the Trust or of such Series or to meet obligations of the
Trust or of such Series, or as they may deem desirable to use in the conduct of
its affairs or to retain for future requirements or extensions of the business.
The Trustees may adopt and offer to Shareholders of the Trust or of any Series
such dividend reinvestment plans, cash dividend payout plans or related plans as
the Trustees deem appropriate.
Inasmuch as the computation of net income and gains for Federal income tax
purposes may vary from the computation thereof on the books, the above
provisions shall be interpreted to give the Trustees the power in their
discretion to distribute for any fiscal year as ordinary dividends and as
capital gains distributions, respectively, additional amounts sufficient to
enable the Trust to avoid or reduce liability for taxes.
Section 8.3. DETERMINATION OF NET INCOME. The Trustees shall have the power
to determine the net income of any Series of the Trust and from time to time to
distribute such net income ratably among the Shareholders as dividends in cash
or additional Shares of such Series issuable hereunder. The determination of net
income and the resultant declaration of dividends shall be as set forth in the
Prospectus. The Trustees shall have full discretion to determine whether any
cash or property received by any Series of the Trust shall be treated as income
or as principal and whether any item of expense shall be charged to the income
or the principal account, and their determination made in good faith shall
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be conclusive upon the Shareholders. In the case of stock dividends received,
the Trustees shall have full discretion to determine, in the light of the
particular circumstances, how much, if any, of the value thereof shall be
treated as income, the balance, if any, to be treated as principal.
Section 8.4. POWER TO MODIFY FOREGOING PROCEDURES. Notwithstanding any of
the foregoing provisions of this Article VIII, the Trustees may prescribe, in
their absolute discretion, such other bases and times for determining the per
Share net asset value of the Shares or net income, or the declaration and
payment of dividends and distributions, as they may deem necessary or desirable
to enable the Trust to comply with any provision of the 1940 Act, or any rule or
regulation thereunder, including any rule or regulation adopted pursuant to
Section 22 of the 1940 Act by the Commission or any securities association
registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or any order of exemption
issued by said Commission, all as in effect now or hereafter amended or
modified. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Trustees may
establish classes or additional Series of Shares in accordance with Section 6.9.
ARTICLE IX
DURATION; TERMINATION OF TRUST; AMENDMENT; MERGERS, ETC.
Section 9.1. DURATION. The Trust shall continue without limitation of time
but subject to the provisions of this Article IX.
Section 9.2. TERMINATION OF TRUST. (a) The Trust or any Series may be
terminated (i) by a Majority Shareholder Vote at any meeting of Shareholders of
the Trust or the appropriate Series thereof, (ii) by an instrument in writing,
without a meeting, signed by a majority of the Trustees and consented to by a
Majority Shareholder Vote of the Trust or the appropriate Series thereof, or by
such other vote as may be established by the Trustees with respect to any class
or Series of Shares, or (iii) with respect to a Series as provided in Section
6.9(h). Upon the termination of the Trust or the Series:
(i) The Trust or the Series shall carry on no business except for
the purpose of winding up its affairs.
(ii) The Trustees shall proceed to wind up the affairs of the Trust
or the Series and all of the powers of the Trustees under this Declaration
shall continue until the affairs of the Trust shall have been wound up,
including the power to fulfill or discharge the contracts of the Trust or
the Series, collect its assets, sell, convey, assign, exchange, transfer or
otherwise dispose of all or any part of the remaining Trust Property or
Trust Property allocated or belonging to such Series to one or more persons
at public or private sale for consideration which may consist in whole or
in part of cash, securities or other property of any kind, discharge or pay
its liabilities, and to do all other acts appropriate to liquidate its
business; provided that any sale, conveyance, assignment, exchange,
transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all the Trust
Property or Trust Property allocated or belonging to such Series shall
require Shareholder approval in accordance with Section 9.4 hereof.
(iii) After paying or adequately providing for the payment of all
liabilities, and upon receipt of such releases, indemnities and refunding
agreements, as they deem necessary for their protection, the Trustees may
distribute the remaining Trust Property or Trust Property allocated or
belonging to such Series, in cash or in kind or partly each, among the
Shareholders of the Trust according to their respective rights.
Section 9.3. AMENDMENT PROCEDURE. (a) This Declaration may be amended by a
Majority Shareholder Vote, at a meeting of Shareholders, or by written consent
without a meeting. The Trustees may also amend this Declaration without the vote
or consent of Shareholders (i) to change the name of the Trust or any Series or
classes of Shares, (ii) to supply any omission, or cure, correct or supplement
any ambiguous, defective or inconsistent provision hereof, (iii) if they deem it
necessary to conform this Declaration to the requirements of applicable federal
or state laws or regulations or the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code,
or to eliminate or reduce any federal, state or local taxes which are or may by
the Trust or the Shareholders, but the Trustees shall not be liable for failing
to do so, or (iv)
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for any other purpose which does not adversely affect the rights of any
Shareholder with respect to which the amendment is or purports to be applicable.
(b) No amendment may be made under this Section 9.3 which would
change any rights with respect to any Shares of the Trust or of any Series
of the Trust by reducing the amount payable thereon upon liquidation of the
Trust or of such Series of the Trust or by diminishing or eliminating any
voting rights pertaining thereto, except with the vote or consent of the
holders of two-thirds of the Shares of the Trust or of such Series
outstanding and entitled to vote, or by such other vote as may be
established by the Trustees with respect to any Series or class of Shares.
Nothing contained in this Declaration shall permit the amendment of this
Declaration to impair the exemption from personal liability of the
Shareholders, Trustees, officers, employees and agents of the Trust or to
permit assessments upon Shareholders.
(c) A certificate signed by a majority of the Trustees or by the
Secretary or any Assistant Secretary of the Trust, setting forth an
amendment and reciting that it was duly adopted by the Shareholders or by
the Trustees as aforesaid or a copy of the Declaration, as amended, and
executed by a majority of the Trustees or certified by the Secretary or any
Assistant Secretary of the Trust, shall be conclusive evidence of such
amendment when lodged among the records of the Trust. Unless such amendment
or such certificate sets forth some later time for the effectiveness of
such amendment, such amendment shall be effective when lodged among the
records of the Trust.
Notwithstanding any other provision hereof, until such time as a
Registration Statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, covering
the first public offering of securities of the Trust shall have become
effective, this Declaration may be terminated or amended in any respect by the
affirmative vote of a majority of the Trustees or by an instrument signed by a
majority of the Trustees.
Section 9.4. MERGER, CONSOLIDATION AND SALE OF ASSETS. The Trust or any
Series thereof may merge or consolidate with any other corporation, association,
trust or other organization or may sell, lease or exchange all or substantially
all of the Trust Property or Trust Property allocated or belonging to such
Series, including its good will, upon such terms and conditions and for such
consideration when and as authorized, at any meeting of Shareholders called for
the purpose, by the affirmative vote of the holders of not less than two-thirds
of the Shares of the Trust or such Series outstanding and entitled to vote, or
by an instrument or instruments in writing without a meeting, consented to by
the holders of not less than two-thirds of such Shares, or by such other vote as
may be established by the Trustees with respect to any series or class of
Shares; provided, however, that, if such merger, consolidation, sale, lease or
exchange is recommended by the Trustees, a Majority Shareholder Vote shall be
sufficient authorization; and any such merger, consolidation, sale, lease or
exchange shall be deemed for all purposes to have been accomplished under and
pursuant to the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Section 9.5. INCORPORATION. With approval of a Majority Shareholder Vote,
or by such other vote as may be established by the Trustees with respect to any
Series or class of Shares, the Trustees may cause to be organized or assist in
organizing a corporation or corporations under the laws of any jurisdiction or
any other trust, partnership, association or other organization to take over all
of the Trust Property or the Trust Property allocated or belonging to such
Series or to carry on any business in which the Trust shall directly or
indirectly have any interest, and to sell, convey and transfer the Trust
Property or the Trust Property allocated or belonging to such Series to any such
corporation, trust, partnership, association or organization in exchange for the
shares or securities thereof or otherwise, and to lend money to, subscribe for
the shares or securities of, and enter into any contracts with any such
corporation, trust, partnership, association or organization in which the Trust
or such Series holds or is about to acquire shares or any other interest. The
Trustees may also cause a merger or consolidation between the Trust or any
successor thereto and any such corporation, trust, partnership, association or
other organization if and to the extent permitted by law, as provided under the
law then in effect. Nothing contained herein shall be construed as requiring
approval of Shareholders for the Trustees to organize or assist in organizing
one or more corporations, trusts, partnerships, associations or other
organizations and selling, conveying or transferring a portion of the Trust
Property to such organization or entities.
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ARTICLE X
REPORTS TO SHAREHOLDERS
The Trustees shall at least semi-annually submit or cause the officers of
the Trust to submit to the Shareholders a written financial report of each
Series of the Trust, including financial statements which shall at least
annually be certified by independent public accountants.
ARTICLE XI
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 11.1. FILING. This Declaration and any amendment hereto shall be
filed in the office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and in
such other places as may be required under the laws of Massachusetts and may
also be filed or recorded in such other places as the Trustees deem appropriate.
Each amendment so filed shall be accompanied by a certificate signed and
acknowledged by a Trustee or by the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary of the
Trust stating that such action was duly taken in a manner provided herein. A
restated Declaration, integrating into a single instrument all of the provisions
of the Declaration which are then in effect and operative, may be executed from
time to time by a majority of the Trustees and shall, upon filing with the
Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, be conclusive evidence of all
amendments contained therein and may thereafter be referred to in lieu of the
original Declaration and the various amendments thereto.
Section 11.2. RESIDENT AGENT. The Prentice-Hall Corporation System, Inc.,
84 State Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02109 is the resident agent of the Trust
in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Section 11.3. GOVERNING LAW. This Declaration is executed by the Trustees
and delivered in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and with reference to the
laws thereof and the rights of all parties and the validity and construction of
every provision hereof shall be subject to and construed according to the laws
of said State.
Section 11.4. COUNTERPARTS. The Declaration may be simultaneously executed
in several counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, and
such counterparts, together, shall constitute one and the same instrument, which
shall be sufficiently evidenced by any such original counterpart.
Section 11.5. RELIANCE BY THIRD PARTIES. Any certificate executed by an
individual who, according to the records of the Trust, appears to be a Trustee
hereunder, or Secretary or Assistant Secretary of the Trust, certifying to: (a)
the number or identity of Trustees or Shareholders, (b) the due authorization of
the execution of any instrument or writing, (c) the form of any vote passed at a
meeting of Trustees or Shareholders, (d) the fact that the number of Trustees or
Shareholders present at any meeting or executing any written instrument
satisfies the requirements of this Declaration, (e) the form of any By-Laws
adopted by or the identity of any officers elected by the Trustees, or (f) the
existence of any fact or facts which in any manner relate to the affairs of the
Trust, shall be conclusive evidence as to the matters so certified in favor of
any Person dealing with the Trustees and their successors.
Section 11.6. PROVISIONS IN CONFLICT WITH LAW OR REGULATIONS. (a) The
provisions of the Declaration are severable, and if the Trustees shall
determine, with the advice of counsel, that any of such provisions is in
conflict with the 1940 Act, the regulated investment company provisions of the
Internal Revenue Code or with other applicable laws and regulations, the
conflicting provisions shall be deemed superseded by such law or regulation to
the extent necessary to eliminate such conflict; provided, however, that such
determination shall not affect any of the remaining provisions of the
Declaration or render invalid or improper any action taken or omitted prior to
such determination.
(b) If any provision of the Declaration shall be held invalid or
unenforceable in any jurisdiction, such invalidity or unenforceability shall
pertain only to such provision in such jurisdiction and shall not in any manner
affect such provision in any other jurisdiction or any other provision of the
Declaration in any jurisdiction.
17
<PAGE>
Section 11.7. USE OF THE NAME "DEAN WITTER." Dean Witter Reynolds Inc.
("DWR") has consented to the use by the Trust of the identifying name "Dean
Witter," which is a property right of DWR. The Trust will only use the name
"Dean Witter" as a component of its name and for no other purpose, and will not
purport to grant to any third party the right to use the name "Dean Witter" for
any purpose. DWR, or any corporate affiliate of the parent of DWR, may use or
grant to others the right to use the name "Dean Witter", or any combination or
abbreviation thereof, as all or a portion of a corporate or business name or for
any commercial purpose, including a grant of such right to any other investment
company. At the request of DWR or its parent, the Trust will take such action as
may be required to provide its consent to the use by DWR or its parent, or any
corporate affiliate of DWR's parent, or by any person to whom DWR or its parent
or an affiliate of DWR's parent shall have granted the right to the use, of the
name "Dean Witter," or any combination or abbreviation thereof. Upon the
termination of any investment advisory or investment management agreement into
which DWR and the Trust may enter, the Trust shall, upon request by DWR or its
parent, cease to use the name "Dean Witter" as a component of its name, and
shall not use the name, or any combination or abbreviation thereof, as a part of
its name or for any other commercial purpose, and shall cause its officers,
trustees and shareholders to take any and all actions which DWR or its parent
may request to effect the foregoing and to reconvey to DWR or its parent any and
all rights to such name.
Section 11.8. PRINCIPAL PLACE OF BUSINESS. The principal place of business
of the Trust shall be Two World Trade Center, New York, New York 10048, or such
other location as the Trustees may designate from time to time.
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<PAGE>
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed this Declaration of
Trust this 8th day of January, 1993.
/s/ Charles A. Fiumefreddo /s/ David A. Hughey
- ---------------------------------- -----------------------------
Charles A. Fiumefreddo, as David A. Hughey, as
Trustee and not individually Trustee and not individually
One World Trade Center Two World Trade Center
New York, New York 10048 New York, New York 10048
/s/ Sheldon Curtis
- ---------------------------------
Sheldon Curtis, as Trustee
and not individually
One World Trade Center
New York, New York 10048
STATE OF NEW YORK :ss.:
COUNTY OF NEW YORK
On this 8th day of January, 1993, DAVID A. HUGHEY, CHARLES A. FIUMEFREDDO
and SHELDON CURTIS, known to me and known to be the individuals described in and
who executed the foregoing instrument, personally appeared before me and they
severally acknowledged the foregoing instrument to be their free act and deed.
/s/ Ruth Rossi
[SEAL] --------------------------
Notary Public
My commission expires: 2/25/93
---------------
19
<PAGE>
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this instrument this 12th day
of January, 1993.
/s/ Joseph F. Mazzella
---------------------------------------------
Joseph F. Mazzella, as Trustee
and not individually
101 Federal Street
Boston, MA 02110
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS
Suffolk, SS. Boston, MA
January 12, 1993
Then personally appeared the above-named Joseph F. Mazzella who acknowledged the
foregoing instrument to be his free act and deed.
/s/ Sheila M. McCarty
---------------------------
Notary Public
My commission expires: 5/31/96
---------------------
20
<PAGE>
INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT
AGREEMENT made as of the 30th day of June, 1993, and amended as of May 1,
1995 and May 1, 1996, by and between Dean Witter Global Dividend Growth
Securities, a Massachusetts business trust (hereinafter called the "Fund"), and
Dean Witter InterCapital Inc., a Delaware corporation (hereinafter called the
"Investment Manager"):
WHEREAS, The Fund intends to engage in business as an open-end management
investment company and is registered as such under the Investment Company Act of
1940, as amended (the "Act"); and
WHEREAS, The Investment Manager is registered as an investment adviser under
the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, and engages in the business of acting as
investment adviser; and
WHEREAS, The Fund desires to retain the Investment Manager to render
management and investment advisory services in the manner and on the terms and
conditions hereinafter set forth; and
WHEREAS, The Investment Manager desires to be retained to perform services
on said terms and conditions:
Now, Therefore, this Agreement
W I T N E S S E T H:
that in consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants hereinafter
contained, the Fund and the Investment Manager agree as follows:
1. The Fund hereby retains the Investment Manager to act as investment
manager of the Fund and, subject to the supervision of the Board of Trustees, to
supervise the investment activities of the Fund as hereinafter set forth.
Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Investment Manager shall
obtain and evaluate such information and advice relating to the economy,
securities and commodities markets and securities and commodities as it deems
necessary or useful to discharge its duties hereunder; shall continuously manage
the assets of the Fund in a manner consistent with the investment objectives and
policies of the Fund; shall determine the securities and commodities to be
purchased, sold or otherwise disposed of by the Fund and the timing of such
purchases, sales and dispositions; and shall take such further action, including
the placing of purchase and sale orders on behalf of the Fund, as the Investment
Manager shall deem necessary or appropriate. The Investment Manager shall also
furnish to or place at the disposal of the Fund such of the information,
evaluations, analyses and opinions formulated or obtained by the Investment
Manager in the discharge of its duties as the Fund may, from time to time,
reasonably request.
2. The Investment Manager shall, at its own expense, maintain such staff
and employ or retain such personnel and consult with such other persons as it
shall from time to time determine to be necessary or useful to the performance
of its obligations under this Agreement. Without limiting the generality of the
foregoing, the staff and personnel of the Investment Manager shall be deemed to
include persons employed or otherwise retained by the Investment Manager to
furnish statistical and other factual data, advice regarding economic factors
and trends, information with respect to technical and scientific developments,
and such other information, advice and assistance as the Investment Manager may
desire. The Investment Manager shall, as agent for the Fund, maintain the Fund's
records and books of account (other than those maintained by the Fund's transfer
agent, registrar, custodian and other agencies). All such books and records so
maintained shall be the property of the Fund and, upon request therefor, the
Investment Manager shall surrender to the Fund such of the books and records so
requested.
3. The Fund will, from time to time, furnish or otherwise make available to
the Investment Manager such financial reports, proxy statements and other
information relating to the business and affairs of the Fund as the Investment
Manager may reasonably require in order to discharge its duties and obligations
hereunder.
4. The Investment Manager shall bear the cost of rendering the investment
management and supervisory services to be performed by it under this Agreement,
and shall, at its own expense, pay the compensation of the officers and
employees, if any, of the Fund, and provide such office space, facilities and
equipment
<PAGE>
and such clerical help and bookkeeping services as the Fund shall reasonably
require in the conduct of its business. The Investment Manager shall also bear
the cost of telephone service, heat, light, power and other utilities provided
to the Fund.
5. The Fund assumes and shall pay or cause to be paid all other expenses of
the Fund, including without limitation: fees pursuant to any plan of
distribution that the Fund may adopt; the charges and expenses of any registrar,
any custodian or depository appointed by the Fund for the safekeeping of its
cash, portfolio securities or commodities and other property, and any stock
transfer or dividend agent or agents appointed by the Fund; brokers' commissions
chargeable to the Fund in connection with portfolio transactions to which the
Fund is a party; all taxes, including securities or commodities issuance and
transfer taxes, and fees payable by the Fund to federal, state or other
governmental agencies; the cost and expense of engraving or printing
certificates representing shares of the Fund; all costs and expenses in
connection with the registration and maintenance of registration of the Fund and
its shares with the Securities and Exchange Commission and various states and
other jurisdictions (including filing fees and legal fees and disbursements of
counsel); the cost and expense of preparing, printing (including typesetting)
and distributing prospectuses and statements of additional information of the
Fund and supplements thereto to the Fund's shareholders; all expenses of
shareholders' and Trustees' meetings and of preparing, printing and mailing
proxy statements and reports to shareholders; fees and travel expenses of
Trustees or members of any advisory board or committee who are not employees of
the Investment Manager or any corporate affiliate of the Investment Manager; all
expenses incident to the payment of any dividend, distribution, withdrawal or
redemption, whether in shares or in cash; charges and expenses of any outside
service used for pricing of the Fund's shares; charges and expenses of legal
counsel, including counsel to the Trustees of the Fund who are not interested
persons (as defined in the Act) of the Fund or the Investment Manager, and of
independent accountants, in connection with any matter relating to the Fund;
membership dues of industry associations; interest payable on Fund borrowings;
postage; insurance premiums on property or personnel (including officers and
Trustees) of the Fund which inure to its benefit; extraordinary expenses
(including, but not limited to, legal claims and liabilities and litigation
costs and any indemnification related thereto); and all other charges and costs
of the Fund's operation unless otherwise explicitly provided herein.
6. For the services to be rendered, the facilties furnished, and the
expenses assumed by the Investment Manager, the Fund shall pay to the Investment
Manager monthly compensation determined by applying the following annual rates
to the Fund's daily net assets: 0.75% of daily net assets up to $1 billion;
0.725% of the next $500 million; 0.70% of the next $1 billion; and 0.675% of
daily net assets over $2.5 billion. Except as hereinafter set forth,
compensation under this Agreement shall be calculated and accrued daily and the
amounts of the daily accruals shall be paid monthly. Such calculations shall be
made by applying 1/365ths of the annual rates to the Fund's net assets each day
determined as of the close of business on that day or the last previous business
day. If this Agreement becomes effective subsequent to the first day of a month
or shall terminate before the last day of a month, compensation for that part of
the month this Agreement is in effect shall be prorated in a manner consistent
with the calculation of the fees as set forth above.
Subject to the provisions of paragraph 7 hereof, payment of the Investment
Manager's compensation for the preceding month shall be made as promptly as
possible after completion of the computations contemplated by paragraph 7
hereof.
7. In the event the operating expenses of the Fund, including amounts
payable to the Investment Manager pursuant to paragraph 6 hereof, for any fiscal
year ending on a date on which this Agreement is in effect, exceed the expense
limitations applicable to the Fund imposed by state securities laws or
regulations thereunder, as such limitations may be raised or lowered from time
to time, the Investment Manager shall reduce its management fee to the extent of
such excess and, if required, pursuant to any such laws or regulations, will
reimburse the Fund for annual operating expenses in excess of any expense
limitation that may be applicable; provided, however, there shall be excluded
from such expenses the amount of any interest, taxes, brokerage commissions,
distribution fees and extraordinary expenses (including but not limited to legal
claims and liabilities and litigation costs and any indemnification related
thereto) paid or payable by the Fund. Such reduction, if any, shall be computed
and accrued daily, shall be settled on a
2
<PAGE>
monthly basis, and shall be based upon the expense limitation applicable to the
Fund as at the end of the last business day of the month. Should two or more
such expense limitations be applicable as at the end of the last business day of
the month, that expense limitation which results in the largest reduction in the
Investment Manager's fee shall be applicable.
For purposes of this provision, should any applicable expense limitation be
based upon the gross income of the Fund, such gross income shall include, but
not be limited to, interest on debt securities in the Fund's portfolio accrued
to and including the last day of the Fund's fiscal year, and dividends declared
on equity securities in the Fund's portfolio, the record dates for which fall on
or prior to the last day of such fiscal year, but shall not include gains from
the sale of securities.
8. The Investment Manager will use its best efforts in the supervision and
management of the investment activities of the Fund, but in the absence of
willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of its
obligations hereunder, the Investment Manager shall not be liable to the Fund or
any of its investors for any error of judgment or mistake of law or for any act
or omission by the Investment Manager or for any losses sustained by the Fund or
its investors.
9. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall prevent the Investment Manager
or any affiliated person of the Investment Manager from acting as investment
adviser or manager for any other person, firm or corporation and shall not in
any way bind or restrict the Investment Manager or any such affiliated person
from buying, selling or trading any securities or commodities for their own
accounts or for the account of others for whom they may be acting. Nothing in
this Agreement shall limit or restrict the right of any Director, officer or
employee of the Investment Manager to engage in any other business or to devote
his or her time and attention in part to the management or other aspects of any
other business whether of a similar or dissimilar nature.
10. This Agreement shall remain in effect until April 30, 1997 and from year
to year thereafter provided such continuance is approved at least annually by
the vote of holders of a majority, as defined in the Investment Company Act of
1940, as amended (the "Act"), of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund
or by the Trustees of the Fund; provided that in either event such continuance
is also approved annually by the vote of a majority of the Trustees of the Fund
who are not parties to this Agreement or "interested persons" (as defined in the
Act) of any such party, which vote must be cast in person at a meeting called
for the purpose of voting on such approval; provided, however, that (a) the Fund
may, at any time and without the payment of any penalty, terminate this
Agreement upon thirty days' written notice to the Investment Manager, either by
majority vote of the Trustees of the Fund or by the vote of a majority of the
outstanding voting securities of the Fund; (b) this Agreement shall immediately
terminate in the event of its assignment (to the extent required by the Act and
the rules thereunder) unless such automatic terminations shall be prevented by
an exemptive order of the Securities and Exchange Commission; and (c) the
Investment Manager may terminate this Agreement without payment of penalty on
thirty days' written notice to the Fund. Any notice under this Agreement shall
be given in writing, addressed and delivered, or mailed post-paid, to the other
party at the principal office of such party.
11. This Agreement may be amended by the parties without the vote or consent
of the shareholders of the Fund to supply any omission, to cure, correct or
supplement any ambiguous, defective or inconsistent provision hereof, or if they
deem it necessary to conform this Agreement to the requirements of applicable
federal laws or regulations, but neither the Fund nor the Investment Manager
shall be liable for failing to do so.
12. This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with the laws of the
State of New York and the applicable provisions of the Act. To the extent the
applicable law of the State of New York, or any of the provisions herein,
conflicts with the applicable provisions of the Act, the latter shall control.
13. The Investment Manager and the Fund each agree that the name "Dean
Witter", which comprises a component of the Fund's name, is a property right of
Dean Witter Reynolds Inc. The Fund agrees and consents that (i) it will only use
the name "Dean Witter" as a component of its name and for no other purpose, (ii)
it will not purport to grant to any third party the right to use the name "Dean
Witter" for any
3
<PAGE>
purpose, (iii) the Investment Manager or its parent, Dean Witter Reynolds Inc.,
or any corporate affiliate of the Investment Manager's parent, may use or grant
to others the right to use the name "Dean Witter", or any combination or
abbreviation thereof, as all or a portion of a corporate or business name or for
any commercial purpose, including a grant of such right to any other investment
company, (iv) at the request of the Investment Manager or its parent, the Fund
will take such action as may be required to provide its consent to the use of
the name "Dean Witter", or any combination or abbreviation thereof, by the
Investment Manager or its parent or any corporate affiliate of the Investment
Manager's parent, or by any person to whom the Investment Manager or its parent
or any corporate affiliate of the Investment Manager's parent shall have granted
the right to such use, and (v) upon the termination of any investment advisory
agreement into which the Investment Manager and the Fund may enter, or upon
termination of affiliation of the Investment Manager with its parent, the Fund
shall, upon request by the Investment Manager or its parent, cease to use the
name "Dean Witter" as a component of its name, and shall not use the name, or
any combination or abbreviation thereof, as a part of its name or for any other
commercial purpose, and shall cause its officers, Trustees and shareholders to
take any and all actions which the Investment Manager or its parent may request
to effect the foregoing and to reconvey to the Investment Manager or its parent
any and all rights to such name.
14. The Declaration of Trust establishing Dean Witter Global Dividend Growth
Securities, dated January 8, 1993, a copy of which, together with all amendments
thereto (the "Declaration"), is on file in the office of the Secretary of the
Commonwealth of Massachusetts, provides that the name Dean Witter Global
Dividend Growth Securities refers to the Trustees under the Declaration
collectively as Trustees, but not as individuals or personally; and no Trustee,
shareholder, officer, employee or agent of Dean Witter Global Dividend Growth
Securities shall be held to any personal liability, nor shall resort be had to
their private property for the satisfaction of any obligation or claim or
otherwise, in connection with the affairs of said Dean Witter Global Dividend
Growth Securities, but the Trust Estate only shall be liable.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed and delivered this
Agreement, as amended, on May 1, 1996, in New York, New York.
DEAN WITTER GLOBAL DIVIDEND GROWTH
SECURITIES
By /s/ Sheldon Curtis
......................................
Attest:
/s/ Carsten Otto
.....................................
DEAN WITTER INTERCAPITAL INC.
By /s/ R. M. Scanlan
......................................
Attest:
/s/ Marilyn K. Cranney
.....................................
4
<PAGE>
DEAN WITTER GLOBAL DIVIDEND GROWTH SECURITIES
DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT
AGREEMENT made as of this 30th day of June, 1993 between Dean Witter Global
Dividend Growth Securities, an unincorporated business trust organized under the
laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts (the "Fund"), and Dean Witter
Distributors Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Distributor");
W I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS, the Fund is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940,
as amended (the "1940 Act"), as a diversified open-end investment company and it
is in the interest of the Fund to offer its shares for sale continuously, and
WHEREAS, the Fund and the Distributor wish to enter into an agreement with
each other with respect to the continuous offering of the Fund's transferable
shares of beneficial interest, of $.01 par value ("Shares"), in order to promote
the growth of the Fund and facilitate the distribution of its shares.
NOW, THEREFORE, the parties agree as follows:
SECTION 1. APPOINTMENT OF THE DISTRIBUTOR. (a) The Fund hereby appoints
the Distributor as the principal underwriter of the Fund to sell Shares to the
public on the terms set forth in this Agreement and the Fund's Prospectus and
the Distributor hereby accepts such appointment and agrees to act hereunder. The
Fund, during the term of this Agreement, shall sell Shares to the Distributor
upon the terms and conditions set forth herein.
(b) The Distributor agrees to purchase Shares, as principal for its own
account, from the Fund and to sell Shares as principal to investors and
securities dealers, including Dean Witter Reynolds Inc. ("DWR"), an affiliate of
the Distributor, upon the terms described herein and in the Fund's prospectus
(the "Prospectus") and statement of additional information included in the
Fund's registration statement (the "Registration Statement") most recently filed
from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") and
effective under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act"), and
1940 Act or as said Prospectus may be otherwise amended or supplemented and
filed with the SEC pursuant to Rule 497 under the 1933 Act.
SECTION 2. EXCLUSIVE NATURE OF DUTIES. The Distributor shall be the
exclusive principal underwriter and distributor of the Fund, except that the
exclusive rights granted to the Distributor to sell the Shares shall not apply
to Shares issued by the Fund: (i) in connection with the merger or consolidation
of any other investment company or personal holding company with the Fund or the
acquisition by purchase or otherwise of all (or substantially all) the assets or
the outstanding shares of any such company by the Fund; or (ii) pursuant to
reinvestment of dividends or capital gains distributions; or (iii) pursuant to
the reinstatement privilege afforded redeeming shareholders.
SECTION 3. PURCHASE OF SHARES FROM THE FUND. (a) The Distributor shall
have the right to buy from the Trust the Shares needed, but not more than the
Shares needed (except for clerical errors in transmission), to fill
unconditional orders for Shares placed with the Distributor by investors and
securities dealers. The price which the Distributor shall pay for the Shares so
purchased from the Fund shall be the net asset value, determined as set forth in
the Prospectus.
(b) The shares are to be resold by the Distributor at the net asset value
per share, as set forth in the Prospectus to investors, or to securities dealers
of its choice, including DWR, who have entered into selected dealer agreements
with the Distributor pursuant to Section 7 ("Selected Dealers").
(c) The Fund shall have the right to suspend the sale of the Shares at
times when redemption is suspended pursuant to the conditions set forth in
Section 4(d) hereof. The Fund shall also have the right to suspend the sale of
the Shares if trading on the New York Stock Exchange shall have been suspended,
if a banking moratorium shall have been declared by federal or New York
authorities, or if there shall have been some other extraordinary event which,
in the judgment of the Fund, makes it impracticable to sell the Shares.
1
<PAGE>
(d) The Fund, or any agent of the Fund designated in writing by the Fund,
shall be promptly advised of all purchase orders for Shares received by the
Distributor. Any order may be rejected by the Fund; provided, however, that the
Fund will not arbitrarily or without reasonable cause refuse to accept orders
for the purchase of Shares. The Distributor will confirm orders upon their
receipt, and the Fund (or its agent) upon receipt of payment therefor and
instructions will deliver share certificates for such Shares or a statement
confirming the issuance of Shares. Payment shall be made to the Fund in New York
Clearing House funds. The Distributor agrees to cause such payment and such
instructions to be delivered promptly to the Fund (or its agent).
With respect to Shares sold by any Selected Dealer, the Distributor is
authorized to direct the Fund's transfer agent to receive instructions directly
from the Selected Dealer on behalf of the Distributor as to registration of
Shares in the names of investors and to confirm issuance of the Shares to such
investors. The Distributor is also authorized to instruct the transfer agent to
receive payment directly from the Selected Dealer on behalf of the Distributor,
for prompt transmittal to the Fund's custodian, of the purchase price of the
Shares. In such event the Distributor shall obtain from the Selected Dealer and
maintain a record of such registration instructions and payments.
SECTION 4. REPURCHASE OR REDEMPTION OF SHARES. (a) Any of the outstanding
Shares may be tendered for redemption at any time, and the Fund agrees to redeem
the Shares so tendered in accordance with the applicable provisions set forth in
the Prospectus. The price to be paid to redeem the Shares shall be equal to the
net asset value determined as set forth in the Prospectus less any applicable
contingent deferred sales charge. All payments by the Fund hereunder shall be
made in the manner set forth below.
The proceeds of any redemption of shares shall be paid by the Fund as
follows: (i) any applicable contingent deferred sales charge shall be paid to
the Distributor or to the Selected Dealer, or, when applicable, pursuant to the
Rules of Fair Practice of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.
("NASD"), retained by the Fund and (ii) the balance shall be paid to the
redeeming shareholders, in each case in accordance with applicable provisions of
the Prospectus in New York Clearing House funds. The Distributor is authorized
to direct the Fund to pay directly to the Selected Dealer any contingent
deferred sales charges payable by the Fund to the Distributor in respect of
Shares sold by the Selected Dealer to the redeeming shareholders.
(b) The Distributor is authorized, as agent for the Fund, to repurchase
Shares, represented by a share certificate which is delivered to any office of
the Distributor in accordance with applicable provisions set forth in the
Prospectus. The Distributor shall promptly transmit to the transfer agent of the
Fund for redemption all Shares so delivered. The Distributor shall be
responsible for the accuracy of instructions transmitted to the Fund's transfer
agent in connection with all such repurchases.
(c) The Distributor is authorized, as agent for the Fund, to repurchase
Shares held in a shareholder's account with the Fund for which no share
certificate has been issued, upon the telephonic or telegraphic request of the
shareholder, or at the discretion of the Distributor. The Distributor shall
promptly transmit to the transfer agent of the Fund, for redemption, all such
orders for repurchase of shares. Payment for shares repurchased may be made by
the Fund to the Distributor for the account of the shareholder. The Distributor
shall be responsible for the accuracy of instructions transmitted to the Fund's
transfer agent in connection with all such repurchases.
(d) Redemption of Shares or payment by the Fund may be suspended at times
when the New York Stock Exchange is closed, when trading on said Exchange is
restricted, when an emergency exists as a result of which disposal by the Fund
of securities owned by it is not reasonably practicable or it is not reasonably
practicable for the Fund fairly to determine the value of its net assets, or
during any other period when the Securities and Exchange Commission, by order,
so permits.
With respect to Shares tendered for redemption or repurchase by any
Selected Dealer on behalf of its customers, the Distributor is authorized to
instruct the transfer agent of the Fund to accept orders for redemption or
repurchase directly from the Selected Dealer on behalf of the Distributor and to
instruct
2
<PAGE>
the Fund to transmit payments for such redemptions and repurchases directly to
the Selected Dealer on behalf of the Distributor for the account of the
shareholder. The Distributor shall obtain from the Selected Dealer and maintain
a record of such orders. The Distributor is further authorized to obtain from
the Fund; and shall maintain, a record of payments made directly to the Selected
Dealer on behalf of the Distributor.
SECTION 5. DUTIES OF THE FUND. (a) The Fund shall furnish to the
Distributor copies of all information, financial statements and other papers
which the Distributor may reasonably request for use in connection with the
distribution of the Shares, including one certified copy, upon request by the
Distributor, of all financial statements prepared by the Fund and examined by
independent accountants. The Fund shall, at the expense of the Distributor, make
available to the Distributor such number of copies of the Prospectus as the
Distributor shall reasonably request.
(b) The Fund shall take, from time to time, but subject to the necessary
approval of its shareholders, all necessary action to fix the number of its
authorized Shares and to register Shares under the 1933 Act, to the end that
there will be available for sale such number of Shares as investors may
reasonably be expected to purchase.
(c) The Fund shall use its best efforts to qualify and maintain the
qualification of an appropriate number of the Shares for sale under the
securities laws of such states as the Distributor and the Fund may approve. Any
such qualification may be withheld, terminated or withdrawn by the Fund at any
time in its discretion. As provided in Section 8(c) hereof, the expense of
qualification and maintenance of qualification shall be borne by the Fund. The
Distributor shall furnish such information and other material relating to its
affairs and activities as may be required by the Fund in connection with such
qualification.
(d) The Fund shall, at the expense of the Distributor, furnish, in
reasonable quantities upon request by the Distributor, copies of annual and
interim reports of the Fund.
SECTION 6. DUTIES OF THE DISTRIBUTOR. (a) The Distributor shall sell
shares of the Fund through DWR and may sell shares through other securities
dealers, and shall devote reasonable time and effort to promote sales of the
Shares, but shall not be obligated to sell any specific number of Shares. The
services of the Distributor hereunder are not exclusive and it is understood
that the Distributor acts as principal underwriter for other registered
investment companies. It is also understood that Selected Dealers, including
DWR, may also sell shares for other registered investment companies.
(b) Neither the Distributor nor any Selected Dealer shall give any
information or make any representations, other than those contained in the
Registration Statement or related Prospectus and any sales literature
specifically approved by the Fund.
(c) The Distributor agrees that it will comply with the terms and
limitations of the Rules of Fair Practice of the NASD.
SECTION 7. SELECTED DEALERS AGREEMENTS. (a) The Distributor shall have the
right to enter into selected dealers agreements with Selected Dealers for the
sale of Shares. In making agreements with Selected Dealers, the Distributor
shall act only as principal and not as agent for the Fund. Shares sold to
Selected Dealers shall be for resale by such dealers only at the public offering
price set forth in the Prospectus.
(b) Within the United States, the Distributor shall offer and sell Shares
only to Selected Dealers that are members in good standing of the NASD.
(c) The Distributor shall adopt and follow procedures, as approved by the
Fund, for the confirmation of sales of Shares to investors and Selected Dealers,
the collection of amounts payable by investors and Selected Dealers on such
sales, and the cancellation of unsettled transactions, as may be necessary to
comply with the requirements of the NASD, as such requirements may from time to
time exist.
SECTION 8. PAYMENT OF EXPENSES. (a) The Distributor shall bear all
expenses incurred by it in connection with its duties and activities under this
Agreement including the payment to Selected Dealers of any sales commissions
service fees, and other expenses for sales of the Fund's shares (except such
expenses as are specifically undertaken herein by the Fund) incurred or paid by
Selected Dealers, including DWR. It is understood and agreed that, so long as
the Fund's Plan of Distribution pursuant to
3
<PAGE>
Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act continues in effect, any expenses incurred by the
Distributor hereunder may be paid from amounts the Distributor and any Selected
Dealer are entitled to receive from the Fund under such Plan. It is further
understood and agreed that expenses for which the Distributor and any Selected
Dealer may be paid under said Plan include opportunity costs, which may be
calculated as a carrying charge on the excess of distribution expenses, incurred
by the Distributor and/or the Selected Dealer over distribution revenues
received by each of them, respectively, under this Agreement.
(b) The Fund shall bear all costs and expenses of the Fund, including fees
and disbursements of legal counsel including counsel to the Trustees of the Fund
who are not interested persons (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Fund or the
Distributor, and independent accountants, in connection with the preparation and
filing of any required Registration Statements and Prospectuses and all
amendments and supplements thereto, and the expense of preparing, printing,
mailing and otherwise distributing prospectuses and statements of additional
information, annual or interim reports or proxy materials to shareholders.
(c) The Fund shall bear the cost and expenses of qualification of the
Shares for sale, and, if necessary or advisable in connection therewith, of
qualifying the Fund as a broker or dealer, in such states of the United States
or other jurisdictions as shall be selected by the Fund and the Distributor
pursuant to Section 5(c) hereof and the cost and expenses payable to each such
state for continuing qualification therein until the Fund decides to discontinue
such qualification pursuant to Section 5(c) hereof.
SECTION 9. INDEMNIFICATION. (a) The Fund shall indemnify and hold harmless
the Distributor and each person, if any, who controls the Distributor against
any loss, liability, claim, damage or expense (including the reasonable cost of
investigating or defending any alleged loss, liability, claim, damage or expense
and reasonable counsel fees incurred in connection therewith) arising by reason
of any person acquiring any Shares, which may be based upon the 1933 Act, or on
any other statute or at common law, on the ground that the Registration
Statement or related Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information, as from
time to time amended and supplemented, or the annual or interim reports to
shareholders of the Fund, includes an untrue statement of a material fact or
omits to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in
order to make the statements therein not misleading, unless such statement or
omission was made in reliance upon, and in conformity with, information
furnished to the Fund in connection therewith by or on behalf of the
Distributor; provided, however, that in no case (i) is the indemnity of the Fund
in favor of the Distributor and any such controlling persons to be deemed to
protect the Distributor or any such controlling persons thereof against any
liability to the Fund or its security holders to which the Distributor or any
such controlling persons would otherwise be subject by reason of willful
misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence in the performance of its duties or
by reason of reckless disregard of its obligations and duties under this
Agreement; or (ii) is the Fund to be liable under its indemnity agreement
contained in this paragraph with respect to any claim made against the
Distributor or any such controlling persons, unless the Distributor or any such
controlling persons, as the case may be, shall have notified the Fund in writing
within a reasonable time after the summons or other first legal process giving
information of the nature of the claim shall have been served upon the
Distributor or such controlling persons (or after the Distributor or such
controlling persons shall have received notice of such service on any designated
agent), but failure to notify the Fund of any such claim shall not relieve it
from any liability which it may have to the person against whom such action is
brought otherwise than on account of its indemnity agreement contained in this
paragraph. The Fund will be entitled to participate at its own expense in the
defense, or, if it so elects, to assume the defense, of any suit brought to
enforce any such liability, but if the Fund elects to assume the defense, such
defense shall be conducted by counsel chosen by it and satisfactory to the
Distributor or such controlling person or persons, defendant or defendants in
the suit. In the event the Fund elects to assume the defense of any such suit
and retain such counsel, the Distributor or such controlling person or persons,
defendant or defendants in the suit, shall bear the fees and expenses of any
additional counsel retained by them, but, in case the Fund does not elect to
assume the defense of any such suit, it will reimburse the Distributor or such
controlling person or persons, defendant or defendants in the suit, for the
reasonable fees and expenses of any counsel retained by them. The Fund shall
promptly notify the Distributor of the commencement of any litigation or
proceedings against it or any of its officers or trustees in connection with the
issuance or sale of the Shares.
4
<PAGE>
(b) (i) The Distributor shall indemnify and hold harmless the Fund and
each of its Trustees and officers and each person, if any, who controls the Fund
against any loss, liability, claim, damage, or expense described in the
foregoing indemnity contained in subsection (a) of this Section, but only with
respect to statements or omissions made in reliance upon, and in conformity
with, information furnished to the Fund in writing by or on behalf of the
Distributor for use in connection with the Registration Statement or related
Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information, as from time to time
amended, or the annual or interim reports to shareholders.
(ii) The Distributor shall indemnify and hold harmless the Fund and
the Fund's transfer agent, individually and in its capacity as the Fund's
transfer agent, from and against any claims, damages and liabilities which
arise as a result of actions taken pursuant to instructions from, or on
behalf of, the Distributor to: (1) redeem all or a part of shareholder
accounts in the Fund pursuant to subsection 4(c) hereof and pay the
proceeds to, or as directed by, the Distributor for the account of each
shareholder whose Shares are so redeemed; and (2) register Shares in the
names of investors, confirm the issuance thereof and receive payment
therefor pursuant to subsection 3(d).
(iii) In case any action shall be brought against the Fund or any
person so indemnified by this subsection 9(b) in respect of which indemnity
may be sought against the Distributor, the Distributor shall have the
rights and duties given to the Fund, and the Fund and each person so
indemnified shall have the rights and duties given to the Distributor by
the provisions of subsection (a) of this Section 9.
(c) If the indemnification provided for in this Section 9 is unavailable
or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under subsection (a) or
(b) above in respect of any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses (or
actions in respect thereof) referred to herein, then each indemnifying party
shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a
result of such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses (or actions in
respect thereof) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative
benefits received by the Fund on the one hand and the Distributor on the other
from the offering of the Shares. If, however, the allocation provided by the
immediately preceding sentence is not permitted by applicable law, then each
indemnifying party shall contribute to such amount paid or payable by such
indemnified party in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only such
relative benefits but also the relative fault of the Fund on the one hand and
the Distributor on the other in connection with the statements or omissions
which resulted in such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses (or
actions in respect thereof), as well as any other relevant equitable
considerations. The relative benefits received by the Fund on the one hand and
the Distributor on the other shall be deemed to be in the same proportion as the
total net proceeds from the offering (before deducting expenses) received by the
Fund bear to the total compensation received by the Distributor, in each case
set forth in the Prospectus. The relative fault shall be determined by reference
to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a
material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact
relates to information supplied by the Fund or the Distributor and the parties'
relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or
prevent such statement or omission. The Fund and the Distributor agree that it
would not be just and equitable if contribution were determined by pro rata
allocation or by any other method of allocation which does not take into account
the equitable considerations referred to above. The amount paid or payable by an
indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages, liabilities or
expenses (or actions in respect thereof) referred to above shall be deemed to
include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified
party in connection with investigating or defending any such claim.
Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection (c), the Distributor shall not
be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total
price at which the Shares distributed by it to the public were offered to the
public exceeds the amount of any damages which it has otherwise been required to
pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged
omission. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning
of Section 11(f) of the 1933 Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any
person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.
SECTION 10. DURATION AND TERMINATION OF THIS AGREEMENT. This Agreement
shall become effective as of the date first above written and shall remain in
force until April 30, 1995, and thereafter, but only so long as such continuance
is specifically approved at least annually by (i) the Board of Trus-
5
<PAGE>
tees of the Fund, or by the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting
securities of the Fund, cast in person or by proxy, and (ii) a majority of those
Trustees who are not parties to this Agreement or interested persons of any such
party and who have no direct or indirect financial interest in this Agreement or
in the operation of the Fund's Rule 12b-1 Plan or in any agreement related
thereto, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting upon such
approval.
This Agreement may be terminated at any time without the payment of any
penalty, by the Trustees of the Fund, by a majority of the Trustees of the Fund
who are not interested persons of the Fund and who have no direct or indirect
financial interest in this Agreement, or by vote of a majority of the
outstanding voting securities of the Fund, or by the Distributor, on sixty days'
written notice to the other party. This Agreement shall automatically terminate
in the event of its assignment.
The terms "vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities,"
"assignment" and "interested person", when used in this Agreement, shall have
the respective meanings specified in the 1940 Act.
SECTION 11. AMENDMENTS OF THIS AGREEMENT. This Agreement may be amended by
the parties only if such amendment is specifically approved by (i) the Trustees
of the Fund, or by the vote of a majority of outstanding voting securities of
the Fund, and (ii) a majority of those Trustees of the Fund who are not parties
to this Agreement or interested persons of any such party and who have no direct
or indirect financial interest in this Agreement or in any Agreement related to
the Fund's Plan of Distribution pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act, cast
in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval.
SECTION 12. GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement shall be construed in accordance
with the law of the State of New York and the applicable provisions of the 1940
Act. To the extent the applicable law of the State of New York, or any of the
provisions herein, conflict with the applicable provisions of the 1940 Act, the
latter shall control.
SECTION 13. PERSONAL LIABILITY. The Declaration of the Trust establishing
Dean Witter Global Dividend Growth Securities, dated January 8, 1993, a copy of
which, together with all amendments thereto (the "Declaration"), is on file in
the office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, provides that
the name Dean Witter Global Dividend Growth Securities refers to the Trustees
under the Declaration collectively as Trustees, but not as individuals or
personally; and no Trustee, shareholder, officer, employee or agent of Dean
Witter Global Dividend Growth Securities shall be held to any personal
liability, nor shall resort be had to their private property for the
satisfaction of any obligation or claim or otherwise, in connection with the
affairs of said Dean Witter Global Dividend Growth Securities, but the Trust
Estate only shall be liable.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed and delivered this
Agreement as of the day and year first written in New York, New York.
DEAN WITTER GLOBAL DIVIDEND
GROWTH SECURITIES
By: ..................................
DEAN WITTER DISTRIBUTORS INC.
By: ..................................
6
<PAGE>
[CHASE LOGO]
GLOBAL
CUSTODY
AGREEMENT
<PAGE>
This AGREEMENT is effective April 28, 1993, and is between THE CHASE MANHATTAN
BANK, N.A. (the "Bank") and Dean Witter Global Dividend Growth Securities (the
"Customer").
1. CUSTOMER ACCOUNTS.
The Bank agrees to establish and maintain the following accounts
("Accounts"):
(a) a custody account in the name of the Customer ("Custody Account") for
any and all stocks, shares, bonds, debentures, notes, mortgages or other
obligations for the payment of money, bullion, coin and any certificates,
receipts, warrants or other instruments representing rights to receive,
purchase, or subscribe for the same or evidencing or representing any other
rights or interests therein and other similar property whether certificated
or uncertificated as may be received by the Bank or its Subcustodian (as
defined in Section 3) for the account of the Customer ("Securities"); and
(b) a deposit account in the name of the Customer ("Deposit Account") for
any and all cash in any currency received by the Bank or its Subcustodian for
the account of the Customer, which cash shall not be subject to withdrawal by
draft or check.
The Customer warrants its authority to: 1) deposit the cash and
Securities ("Assets") received in the Accounts and 2) give Instructions (as
defined in Section 11) concerning the Accounts. The Bank may deliver
securities of the same class in place of those deposited in the Custody
Account.
Upon written agreement between the Bank and the Customer, additional
Accounts may be established and separately accounted for as additional
Accounts under the terms of this Agreement.
2. MAINTENANCE OF SECURITIES AND CASH AT BANK AND SUBCUSTODIAN LOCATIONS.
Unless instructions specifically require another location acceptable to the
Bank:
(a) Securities will be held in the country or other jurisdiction in which
the principal trading market for such Securities is located, where such
Securities are to be presented for payment or where such Securities are
acquired; and
(b) cash will be credited to an account in a country or other jurisdiction
in which such cash may be legally deposited or in the legal currency for the
payment of public or private debts.
Cash may be held pursuant to Instructions in either interest or non-
interest bearing accounts as may be available for the particular currency. To
the extent Instructions are issued and the Bank can comply with such
Instructions, the Bank is authorized to maintain cash balances on deposit for
the Customer with itself or one of its affiliates at such reasonable rates of
interest as may from time to time be paid on such accounts, or in non-interest
bearing accounts as the Customer may direct, if acceptable to the Bank.
If the Customer wishes to have any of its Assets held in the custody of an
institution other than the established Subcustodians or their securities
depositories, such arrangement must be authorized by a written agreement, signed
by the Bank and the Customer.
3. SUBCUSTODIANS AND SECURITIES DEPOSITORIES.
The Bank may act under this Agreement through subcustodians listed in
Schedule A of this Agreement with which the Bank has entered into
subcustodial agreements ("Subcustodians"). The Customer authorizes the Bank
to hold Assets in the Accounts in accounts which the Bank has established
with one or more of its branches or Subcustodians. The Bank and
Subcustodians are authorized to hold any of the Securities in their account
with any securities depository in which they participate.
The Bank reserves the right to add new, replace or remove Subcustodians.
The Customer will be given reasonable notice by the Bank of any amendment to
Schedule A. Upon request by the Customer, the Bank will identify the name,
address and principal place of business of any Subcustodian of the Customer's
Assets and the name and address of the governmental agency or other
regulatory authority that supervises or regulates such Subcustodian.
4. USE OF SUBCUSTODIAN.
(a) The Bank will identify Assets on its books as belongings to the
Customer.
(b) A Subcustodian will hold Assets together with assets belonging to other
customers of the Bank in accounts identified on such Subcustodian's books as
special custody accounts for the exclusive benefit of customers of the Bank.
(c) Any Assets in the Accounts held by a Subcustodian will be subject only
to the instructions of the Bank or its agent. Any Securities held in a
securities depository for the account of a Subcustodian will be subject only to
the instructions of such Subcustodian.
(d) Any agreement the Bank enters into with a Subcustodian for holding
its customer's assets shall provide that such assets will not be subject to
any right, charge, security interest, lien or claim of any kind in favor of
such Subcustodian except for safe custody or administration, and that the
beneficial ownership of such assets will be freely transferable without the
payment of money or value other than for safe custody or administration. The
foregoing shall not apply to the extent of any special agreement or
arrangement made by the Customer with any particular Subcustodian.
<PAGE>
5. DEPOSIT ACCOUNT TRANSACTIONS.
(a) The Bank or its Subcustodians will make payments from the Deposit
Account upon receipt of instructions which include all information required by
the Bank.
(b) In the event that any payment to be made under this Section 5 exceeds
the funds available in the Deposit Account, the Bank, in its discretion may
advance the Customer such excess amount which shall be deemed a loan payable
on demand, bearing interest at the rate customarily charged by the Bank on
similar loans.
(c) If the Bank credits the Deposit Account on a payable date, or at any
time prior to actual collection and reconciliation to the Deposit Account,
with interest, dividends, redemptions or any other amount due, the Customer
will promptly return any such amount upon oral or written notification: (i)
that such amount has not been received in the ordinary course of business or
(ii) that such amount was incorrectly credited. If the Customer does not
promptly return any amount upon such notification, the Bank shall be
entitled, upon oral or written notification to the Customer, to reverse such
credit by debiting the Deposit Account for the amount previously credited.
The Bank or its Subcustodian shall have no duty or obligation to institute
legal proceedings, file a claim or a proof of claim in any insolvency
proceeding or take any other action with respect to the collection of such
amount, but may act for the Customer upon Instructions after consultation
with the Customer.
6. CUSTODY ACCOUNT TRANSACTIONS.
(a) Securities will be transferred, exchanged or delivered by the Bank or
its Subcustodian upon receipt by the Bank of Instructions which include all
information required by the Bank. Settlement and payment for Securities
received for, and delivery of Securities out of, the Custody Account may be
made in accordance with the customary or established securities trading or
securities processing practices and procedures in the jurisdiction or market
in which the transaction occurs, including, without limitation, delivery of
Securities to a purchaser, dealer or their agents against a receipt with the
expectation of receiving later payment and free delivery. Delivery of
Securities out of the Custody Account may also be made in any manner
specifically required by Instructions acceptable to the Bank.
(b) The Bank, in its discretion, may credit or debit the Accounts on a
contractual settlement date with cash or Securities with respect to any sale,
exchange or purchase of Securities. Otherwise, such transactions will be
credited or debited to the Accounts on the date cash or Securities are
actually received by the Bank and reconciled to the Accounts.
(i) The Bank may reverse credits or debits made to the Accounts in its
discretion if the related transaction fails to settle within a
reasonable period, determined by the Bank in its discretion, after the
contractual settlement date for the related transaction.
(ii) If any Securities delivered pursuant to this Section 6 are
returned by the recipient thereof, the Bank may reverse the credits and
debits of the particular transaction at any time.
7. ACTIONS OF THE BANK.
The Bank shall follow Instructions received regarding Assets held in the
Accounts. However, until it receives Instructions to the contrary, the Bank
will perform the following functions:
(a) Present for payment any Securities which are called, redeemed or
retired or otherwise become payable and all coupons and other income items which
call for payment upon presentation, to the extent that the Bank or Subcustodian
is actually aware of such opportunities.
(b) Execute in the name of the Customer such ownership and other
certificates as may be required to obtain payments in respect of Securities.
(c) Exchange interim receipts or temporary Securities for definitive
Securities.
(d) Appoint brokers and agents for any transaction involving the
Securities, including, without limitation, affiliates of the Bank or any
Subcustodian.
(e) Issue statements to the Customer, at times mutually agreed upon,
identifying the Assets in the Accounts.
The Bank will send the Customer an advice or notification of any transfers
of Assets to or from the Accounts. Such statement advices or notifications
shall indicate the identity of the entity having custody of the Assets. Unless
the Customer sends the Bank a written exception or objection to any Bank
statement within sixty days of receipt, the Customer shall be deemed to have
approved such statement. In such event, or where the Customer has otherwise
approved any such statement, the Bank shall, to the extent permitted by law, be
released, relieved and discharged with respect to all matters set forth in such
statement or reasonably implied therefrom as though it had been settled by the
decree of a court of competent jurisdiction in an action where the Customer and
all persons having or claiming an interest in the Customer or the Customer's
Accounts were parties.
<PAGE>
All collections of funds or other property paid or distributed in respect
of Securities in the Custody Account shall be made at the risk of the
Customer. The Bank shall have no liability for any loss occasioned by delay
in the actual receipt of notice by the Bank or by its Subcustodians of any
payment, redemption, or other transaction regarding Securities in the Custody
Account in respect of which the Bank has agreed to take any action under this
Agreement.
8. CORPORATE ACTIONS: PROXIES.
Whenever the Bank receives information concerning the Securities which
requires discretionary action by the beneficial owner of the Securities (other
than a proxy), such as subscription rights, bonus issues, stock repurchase plans
and rights offerings, or legal notices or other material intended to be
transmitted to securities holders ("Corporate Actions"), the Bank will give the
Customer notice of such Corporate Actions to the extent that the Bank's central
corporate actions department has actual knowledge of a Corporate Action in time
to notify its customers.
When a rights entitlement or a fractional interest resulting from a
rights issue, stock dividend, stock split or similar Corporate Action is
received which bears an expiration date, the Bank will endeavor to obtain
Instructions from the Customer or its Authorized Person, as defined in
Section 10, but if Instructions are not received in time for the Bank to take
timely action, or actual notice of such Corporate Action was received too
late to seek Instruction, the Bank is authorized to sell such rights
entitlement or fractional interest and to credit the Deposit Account with the
proceeds or take any other action it deems, in good faith, to be appropriate
in which case it shall be held harmless for any such action.
The Bank will deliver proxies to the Customer or its designated agent
pursuant to special arrangements which may have been agreed to in writing.
Such proxies shall be executed in the appropriate nominee name relating to
Securities in the Custody Account registered in the name of such nominee but
without indicating the manner in which such proxies are to be voted and where
bearer Securities are involved, proxies will be delivered in accordance with
Instructions.
9. NOMINEES.
Securities which are ordinarily held in registered form may be registered
in a nominee name of the Bank, Subcustodian or securities depository, as the
case may be. The Bank may, without notice to the Customer, cause any such
Securities to cease to be registered in the name of any such nominee and to be
registered in the name of the Customer. In the event that any Securities
registered in a nominee name are called for partial redemption by the issuer,
the Bank may allot the called portion to the respective beneficial holders of
such class of security in any manner the Bank deems to be fair and equitable.
The Customer agrees to hold the Bank, Subcustodians, and their respective
nominees harmless from any liability arising directly or indirectly from their
status as a mere record holder of Securities in the Custody Account.
10. AUTHORIZED PERSONS.
As used in this Agreement, the term "Authorized Person" means employees or
agents including investment managers as have been designated by written notice
from the Customer or its designated agent to act on behalf of the Customer under
this Agreement. Such persons shall continue to be Authorized Persons until such
time as the Bank receives Instructions from the Customer or its designated agent
that any such employee or agent is no longer an Authorized Person.
11. INSTRUCTIONS.
The term "Instructions" means instructions of any Authorized Person
received by the Bank, via telephone, telex, TWX, facsimile transmission, bank
wire or other teleprocess or electronic instruction or trade information system
acceptable to the Bank which the Bank believes in good faith to have been given
by Authorized Persons or which are transmitted with proper testing or
authentication pursuant to terms and conditions which the Bank may specify.
Unless otherwise expressly provided, all instructions shall continue in full
force and effect until cancelled or superseded.
Any Instructions delivered to the Bank by telephone shall promptly
thereafter be confirmed in writing by an Authorized Person (which confirmation
may bear the facsimile signature of such Person), but the Customer will hold the
Bank harmless for the failure of an Authorized Person to send such confirmation
in writing, the failure of such confirmation to conform to the telephone
instructions received or the Bank's failure to produce such confirmation at any
subsequent time. Either Party may electronically record any Instructions given
by telephone, and any other telephone discussions with respect to the Custody
Account. The Customer shall be responsible for safeguarding any testkeys,
identification codes or other security devices which the Bank shall make
available to the Customer or its Authorized Persons.
<PAGE>
12. STANDARD OF CARE: LIABILITIES.
(a) The Bank shall be responsible for the performance of only such duties
as are set forth in this Agreement or expressly contained in Instructions which
are consistent with the provisions of the Agreement.
(i) The Bank will use reasonable care with respect to its obligations
under this Agreement and the safekeeping of Assets. The Bank shall be
liable to the Customer for any loss which shall occur as the result of
the failure of a Subcustodian to exercise reasonable care with respect
to the safekeeping of such Assets to the same extent that the Bank
would be liable to the Customer if the Bank were holding such Assets in
New York. In the event of any loss to the Customer by reason of the
failure of the Bank or its Subcustodian to utilize reasonable care, the
Bank shall be liable to the Customer only to the extent of the
Customer's direct damages, to be determined based on the market value
of the property which is the subject of the loss at the date of
discovery of such loss and without reference to any special conditions
or circumstances.
(ii) The Bank will not be responsible for any act, omission, default or
for the solvency of any broker or agent which it or a Subcustodian
appoints unless such appointment was made negligently or in bad faith.
(iii) The Bank shall indemnified by, and without any liability to the
Customer for any action taken or omitted by the Bank whether pursuant
to Instructions or otherwise within the scope of this Agreement if such
act or omission was in good faith, without negligence. In performing
its obligations under this Agreement, the Bank may rely on the
genuineness or any document which it believes in good faith to have
been validly executed.
(iv) The Customer agrees to pay for and hold the Bank harmless from any
liability or loss resulting from the imposition or assessment of any
taxes or other governmental charges, and any related expenses with
respect to income from or Assets to the Accounts.
(v) The Bank shall be entitled to rely, and may act upon the advice of
counsel (who may be counsel for the Customer) on all matters, and shall
be without liability for any action reasonably taken or omitted
pursuant to such advice.
(vi) The Bank need not maintain any insurance for the benefit of the
Customer.
(vii) Without limiting the foregoing, the Bank shall not be liable for
any loss which results from: 1) the general risk of investing or 2)
investing or holding Assets in a particular country including, but not
limited to, losses resulting from nationalization expropriation or
other governmental actions; regulation of the banking or securities
industry; currency restrictions; devaluations or fluctuations; and
market conditions which prevent the orderly execution of securities
transactions or affect the value of Assets.
(viii) Neither party shall be liable to the other for any loss due to
forces beyond their control including, but not limited to strikes or
work stoppages, acts of war or terrorism, insurrection, revolution,
nuclear fusion, fission or radiation, or acts of God.
(b) Consistent with and without limiting the first paragraph of this
Section 12, it is specifically acknowledged that the Bank shall have no duty or
responsibility to:
(i) question Instructions or make any suggestions to the Customer or an
Authorized Person regarding such Instructions;
(ii) supervise or make recommendations with respect to investments or
the retention of Securities;
(iii) advise the Customer or an Authorized Person regarding any default
in the payment of principal or income of any security other than as
provided in Section 5(c) of this Agreement;
(iv) evaluate or report to the Customer or an Authorized Person
regarding the financial condition of any broker, agent or other party
to which Securities are delivered or payments are made pursuant to this
Agreement; or
(v) review or reconcile trade confirmations received from brokers. The
Customer or its Authorized Persons issuing Instructions shall bear any
responsibility to review such confirmations against Instructions issued
to and statements issued by the Bank.
(c) The Customer authorizes the Bank to act under this Agreement
notwithstanding that the Bank or any of its divisions or affiliates may have a
material interest in a transaction, or circumstances are such that the Bank may
have a potential conflict of duty or interest including the fact that the Bank
of any of its affiliates may provide brokerage services to other customers, act
as financial advisor to the issuer of Securities, act as a lender to the issuer
of Securities, act in the same transaction as agent for more than one customer,
have a material interest in the issue of Securities, or earn profits from any of
the activities listed herein.
<PAGE>
13. FEES AND EXPENSES.
The Customer agrees to pay the Bank for its services under this Agreement
such amount as may be agreed upon in writing, together with the Bank's
reasonable out-of-pocket or incidental expenses, including, but not limited to
legal fees. The Bank shall have a lien on and is authorized to charge any
Accounts of the Customer for any amount owing to the Bank under any provision of
this Agreement.
14. MISCELLANEOUS.
(a) FOREIGN EXCHANGE TRANSACTIONS. To facilitate the administration of
the Customer's trading and investment activity, the Bank is authorized to
enter into spot or forward foreign exchange contracts through its
subsidiaries, affiliates or Subcustodians. Instructions, including standing
instructions, may be issued with respect to such contracts but the Bank may
establish rules or limitations concerning any foreign exchange facility made
available. In all cases where the Bank, its subsidiaries, affiliates or
Subcustodians enter into a foreign exchange contract related to Accounts, the
terms and conditions of the then current foreign exchange contract of the
Bank, its subsidiary, affiliate or Subcustodian and, to the extent not
inconsistent, this Agreement, shall apply to such transaction.
(b) CERTIFICATION OF RESIDENCY, ETC. The Customer certifies that it is a
resident of the United States and agrees to notify the Bank of any changes in
residency. The Bank may rely upon this certification or the certification of
such other facts as may be required to administer the Bank's obligations under
this Agreement. The Customer will indemnify the Bank against all losses,
liability, claims or demands arising directly or indirectly from any such
certifications.
(c) ACCESS TO RECORDS. The Bank shall allow the Customer's independent
public accountants reasonable access to the records of the Bank relating to the
Assets as is required in connection with their examination of books and records
pertaining to the Customer's affairs. Subject to restrictions under applicable
law, the Bank shall also obtain an undertaking to permit the Customer's
independent public accountants reasonable access to the records of any
Subcustodian which has physical possession of any Assets as may be required in
connection with the examination of the Customer's books and records.
(d) GOVERNING LAW; SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS. This Agreement shall be governed
by the laws of the State of New York and shall not be assignable by either
party, but shall bind the successors in interest of the Customer and the Bank.
(e) ENTIRE AGREEMENT; APPLICABLE RIDERS. Customer represents that the
Assets deposited in the Accounts are (check one):
employment benefit plan or other assets subject to the Employee
----- Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended ("ERISA");
XX mutual fund assets subject to Securities and Exchange Commission
----- ("SEC") rules and regulations;
neither of the above.
-----
This agreement consists exclusively of this document together with Schedule
A, Exhibits 1 - ____ and the following rider(s) [check applicable rider(s)]:
ERISA
-----
XX MUTUAL FUNDS
-----
SPECIAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS
-----
There are no other provisions of this Agreement and this Agreement
supersedes any other agreements, whether written or oral, between the parties.
Any amendment to this Agreement must be in writing, executed by both parties.
(f) SEVERABILITY. In the event that one or more provisions of this
Agreement are held invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect on the
basis of any particular circumstances or in any jurisdiction, the validity,
legality and enforceability of any such provision and the remaining
provisions, under other circumstances or in other jurisdictions will not in
any way be affected or impaired.
<PAGE>
(g) WAIVER. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, no failure or
delay on the part of either party in exercising any power or right under this
Agreement operates as a waiver, nor does any single or partial exercise of any
power or right preclude any other or further exercise thereof, or the exercise
of any other power or right. No waiver by a party or any provision of this
Agreement or waiver of any breach or default, is effective unless in writing and
signed by the party against whom the waiver is to be enforced.
(h) NOTICES. All notices under this Agreement shall be effective when
actually received. Any notices or other communication which may be required
under this Agreement are to be sent to the parties at the following addresses or
such other addresses as may subsequently be given to the other party in writing:
Bank: The Chase Manhattan Bank, N.A.
Chase MetroTech Center, 18th floor
Brooklyn, NY 11245
Atten: Global Securities Services Division
Customer: Dean Witter InterCapital Inc.
------------------------------------------------------------
Two World Trade Center, 72nd floor
------------------------------------------------------------
New York, NY 10048
------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------
(i) TERMINATION. This Agreement may be terminated by the Customer or the
Bank by giving sixty days written notice to the other provided that such notice
to the Bank shall specify the names of the persons to whom the Bank shall
deliver the Assets in the Account. If notice of termination is given by the
Bank, the Customer shall, within sixty days following receipt of the notice,
deliver to the Bank, Instructions specifying the names or the persons to whom
the Bank shall deliver the Assets. In either case the Bank will deliver the
Assets to the persons so specified, after deducting any amounts which the Bank
determines in good faith to be owed to it under Section 13. If within sixty
days following receipt of a notice of termination by the Bank, the Bank does not
receive instructions from the Customer specifying the names of the persons to
whom the Bank shall deliver the Assets, the Bank, at its election, may deliver
the Assets to a bank or trust company doing business in the State of New York to
be held and disposed of pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement, or to
Authorized Persons, or may continue to hold the Assets until Instructions are
provided to the Bank.
CUSTOMER
By /s/illegible signature
--------------------------------
Chairman
--------------------------------
Title
THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK, N.A.
By Kathleen Roeder
--------------------------------
Vice President
--------------------------------
Title
<PAGE>
Mutual Fund Rider to Global Custody Agreement
Between The Chase Manhattan Bank, N.A. and
Dean Witter Global Dividend Growth
Securities, effective June 30, 1993
The Customer represents that the Assets being placed in the Bank's custody
are subject to the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the "Act"), as the same may
be amended from time to time.
Except to the extent that the Bank has specifically agreed to comply with a
condition of a rule, regulation or interpretation promulgated by or under the
authority of the SEC or the Exemptive Order applicable to accounts of this
nature issued to the Bank (Investment Company Act of 1940, Release No. 12053,
November 20, 1981), as amended, or unless the Bank has otherwise specifically
agreed, the Customer shall be solely responsible to assure that the maintenance
of Assets under this Agreement complies with such rules, regulations,
interpretations or exemptive order promulgated by or under the authority of
the Securities and Exchange Commission.
The following modifications are made to the Agreement:
SECTION 3. SUBCUSTODIANS AND SECURITIES DEPOSITORIES.
Add the following language to the end of Section 3:
The terms Subcustodian and securities depositories as used in this
Agreement shall mean a branch of a qualified U.S. bank, an eligible foreign
custodian or an eligible foreign securities depository, which are further
defined as follows:
(a) "qualified U.S. Bank" shall mean a qualified U.S. bank as defined in
Rule 17f-5 under the Act;
(b) "eligible foreign custodian" shall mean (i) a banking institution or
trust company incorporated or organized under the laws of a country other than
the United States that is regulated as such by that country's government or an
agency thereof and that has shareholders' equity in excess of $200 million in
U.S. currency (or a foreign currency equivalent thereof), (ii) a majority owned
direct or indirect subsidiary of a qualified U.S. bank or bank holding company
that is incorporated or organized under the laws of a country other than the
United States and that has shareholders' equity in excess of $100 million in
U.S. currency (or a foreign currency equivalent thereof), (iii) a banking
institution or trust company incorporated or organized under the laws of a
country other than the United States or a majority owned direct or indirect
subsidiary of a qualified U.S. bank or bank holding company that is incorporated
or organized under the laws of a country other than the United States which has
such other qualifications as shall be specified in Instructions and approved by
the Bank or (iv) any other entity that shall have been so qualified by exemptive
order, rule or other appropriate action of the SEC; and
(c) "eligible foreign securities depository" shall mean a securities
depository or clearing agency, incorporated or organized under the laws of a
country other than the United States, which operates (i) the central system for
handling securities or equivalent book-entries in that country or (ii) a
transnational system for the central handling of securities or equivalent book-
entries.
The Customer represents that its Board of Directors has approved each of
the Subcustodians listed in Schedule A to this Agreement and the terms of the
subcustody agreements between the Bank and each Subcustodian, which are attached
as Exhibits 1 through ____ of Schedule A, and further represents that its Board
has determined that the use of each Subcustodian and the terms of each
subcustody agreement are consistent with the best interests of the Customer's
fund(s) and its (their) shareholders. The Bank will supply the Customer with
any amendment to Schedule A for approval. The Customer has supplied or will
supply the Bank with certified copies of its Board of Directors resolution(s)
with respect to the foregoing prior to placing Assets with any Subcustodian so
approved.
SECTION 11. INSTRUCTIONS.
Add the following language to the end of Section 11:
Account transactions made pursuant to Sections 5 and 6 of this Agreement
may be made only for the purposes listed below. Instructions must specify the
purpose for which any transaction is to be made and the Customer shall be solely
responsible to assure that Instructions are in accord with any limitations or
restrictions applicable to the Customer by law or as may be set forth in its
prospectus.
<PAGE>
(a) In connection with the purchase or sale of Securities at prices as
confirmed by Instructions.
(b) When Securities are called, redeemed or retired, or otherwise become
payable.
(c) In exchange for or upon conversion into other securities alone or other
securities and cash pursuant to any plan or merger, consolidation,
reorganization, recapitalization or readjustment.
(d) Upon conversion of Securities pursuant to their terms into other
securities.
(e) Upon exercise of subscription, purchase or other similar rights
represented by Securities.
(f) For the payment of interest, taxes, management or supervisory fees,
distributions or operating expenses.
(g) In connection with any borrowings by the Customer requiring a pledge of
Securities, but only against receipt of amounts borrowed.
(h) In connection with any loans, but only against receipt of adequate
collateral as specified in Instructions which shall reflect any restrictions
applicable to the Customer.
(i) For the purpose of redeeming shares of the capital stock of the
Customer and the delivery to, or the crediting to the account of the Bank, its
Subcustodian or the Customer's transfer agent, such shares to be purchased or
redeemed.
(j) For the purpose of redeeming in kind shares of the Customer against
delivery of the shares to be redeemed to the Bank, its Subcustodian or the
Customer's transfer agent.
(k) For delivery in accordance with the provisions of any agreement among
the Customer, the Bank and a broker-dealer registered under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act") and a member of the National
Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., relating to compliance with the rules
of The Options Clearing Corporation and of any registered national securities
exchange, or of any similar organization or organizations, regarding escrow or
other arrangements in connection with transactions by the Customer.
(l) For release of Securities to designated brokers under covered call
options, provided, however, that such Securities shall be released only upon
payment to the Bank of monies for the premium due and a receipt for the
Securities which are to be held in escrow. Upon exercise of the option, or at
expiration, the Bank will receive the Securities previously deposited from
brokers. The Bank will act strictly in accordance with Instructions in the
delivery of Securities to be held in escrow and will have no responsibility or
liability for any such Securities which are not returned promptly when due other
than to make proper request for such return.
(m) For spot or forward foreign exchange transactions to facilitate
security trading, receipt of income from Securities or related transactions.
(n) For other proper purposes as may be specified in Instructions issued by
an officer of the Customer which shall include a statement of the purpose for
which the delivery or payment is to be made, the amount of the payment or
specific Securities to be delivered, the name of the person or persons to whom
delivery or payment is to be made, and a certification that the purpose is a
proper purpose under the instruments governing the Customer.
(o) Upon the termination of this Agreement as set forth in Section 14(i).
SECTION 12. STANDARD OF CARE; LIABILITIES.
Add the following subsection (d) to Section 12:
(d) The Bank hereby warrants to the Customer that in its opinion, after due
inquiry, the established procedures to be followed by each of its branches, each
branch of a qualified U.S. bank, each eligible foreign custodian and each
eligible foreign securities depository holding the Customer's Securities
pursuant to this Agreement afford protection for such Securities at least equal
to those afforded by the Bank's established procedures with respect to similar
securities held by the Bank and its Securities depository in New York.
SECTION 14. ACCESS TO RECORDS.
Add the following language to the end of Section 14(c):
Upon reasonable request from the Customer, the Bank shall furnish the
Customer such reports (or portions thereof) of the Bank's system of internal
accounting controls applicable to the Bank's duties under this Agreement. The
Bank shall endeavor to obtain and furnish the Customer with such similar reports
as it may be reasonably request with respect to each Subcustodian and securities
depository holding the Customer's assets.
<PAGE>
[CHASE LOGO]
GLOBAL CUSTODY AGREEMENT
with Dean Witter Global Dividend Growth
-----------------------------------
Securities (Customer)
dated June 30, 1993
--------------
SPECIAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS
----------------------------
page 1 of 1
<PAGE>
June, 1993
SUB-CUSTODIANS EMPLOYED BY
THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK, N.A. LONDON, GLOBAL CUSTODY
COUNTRY SUB-CUSTODIAN CORRESPONDENT BANK
- ------- ------------- ------------------
ARGENTINA The Chase Manhattan Bank, N.A. THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK, N.A.
Main Branch BUENOS AIRES
25 De Mayo 130/140
Buenos Aires
ARGENTINA
AUSTRALIA The Chase Manhattan Bank THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK
Australia Limited AUSTRALIA LIMITED
36th Floor SYDNEY
World Trade Centre
Jamison Street
Sydney
New South Wales 2000
AUSTRALIA
AUSTRIA Creditanstalt - Bankverein CREDIT LYONNAIS
Schottengasse 6 VIENNA
A - 1011, Vienna
AUSTRIA
BANGLADESH Standard Chartered Bank STANDARD CHARTERED BANK
18-20 Motijheel C.A. DHAKA
Box 536,
Dhaka-1000
BANGLADESH
BELGIUM Generale Bank CREDIT LYONNAIS BANK
3 Montagne Du Parc BRUSSELS
1000 Bruxelles
BELGIUM
BRAZIL Banco Chase Manhattan, S.A. BANCO CHASE MANHATTAN S.A.
Chase Manhattan Center SAO PAULO
Rua Verbo Divino, 1400
Sao Paulo, SP 04719-002
BRAZIL
<PAGE>
2
CANADA The Royal Bank of Canada TORONTO DOMINION BANK
Royal Bank Plaza TORONTO
Toronto
Ontario M5J 2J5
CANADA
Canada Trust TORONTO DOMIONION BANK
Canada Trust Tower TORONTO
BCE Place
161 Bay at Front
Toronto
Ontario M5J 2T2
CANADA
CHILE The Chase Manhattan Bank, N.A. THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK, N.A.
Agustinas 1235 SANTIAGO
Casilla 9192
Santiago
CHILE
COLOMBIA Cititrust Colombia S.A. CITITRUST COLOMBIA S.A.
Sociedad Fiduciaria SOCIEDAD FIDUCIARIA
Av. Jimenez No 8-89 SANTAFE DE BOGATA
Santafe de Bogata, DC
COLOMBIA
DENMARK Den Danske Bank DEN DANSKE BANK
2 Holmens Kanala DK 1091 COPENHAGEN
Copenhagen
DENMARK
EUROBONDS Cedel S.A. ECU:LLOYDS BANK PLC
67 Boulevard Grande Duchesse International Banking Division
Charlotte LONDON
LUXEMBOURG FOR ALL OTHER CURRENCIES: SEE
A/c The Chase Manhattan Bank, N.A. RELEVANT COUNTRY
London
A/c No. 17817
EURO CDS First Chicago Clearing Centre ECU:LLOYDS BANK PLC
27 Ledenhall Street BANKING DIVISION LONDON
London EC3A 1AA FOR ALL OTHER CURRENCIES: SEE
UNITED KINGDOM RELEVANT COUNTRY
FINLAND Kansallis-Osake-Pankki KANSALLIS-OSAKE-PANKKI
Aleksanterinkatu 42 HELSINKI
00100 Helsinki 10
FINLAND
<PAGE>
3
FRANCE Banque Paribas SOCIETE GENERALE
Ref 256 PARIS
3, Rue D'Antin
75078 Paris
Cedex 02
FRANCE
GERMANY Chase Bank A.G. CHASE BANK A.G.
Alexanderstrasse 59 FRANKFURT
Postfach 90 01 09
6000 Frankfurt/Main 90
Fankfurt - Rodelheim
GERMANY
GREECE National Bank of Greece S.A. NATIONAL BANK OF GREECE S.A.
38 Stadiou Street ATHENS
Athens A/C CHASE MANHATTAN BANK, N.A.
GREECE LONDON
A/C NO. 040/7/921578-68
HONG KONG The Chase Manhattan Bank, N.A. THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK, N.A.
40/F One Exchange Square HONG KONG
8, Connaught Place
Central, Hong Kong
HONG KONG
HUNGARY Citibank Budapest Rt. CITIBANK BUDAPEST RT.
Vaci Utca 19-21 BUDAPEST
1052 Budapest V
HUNGARY
INDIA The Hongkong and Shanghai THE HONGKONG AND SHANGHAI
Banking Corporation Limited BANKING CORPORATION LIMITED
52/60 Mahatma Gandhi Road BOMBAY
Bombay 400 001
INDIA
INDONESIA The Hongkong and Shanghai THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK, N.A.
Banking Corporation Limited JAKARTA
World Trade Center
J1. Jend Surirman Kav. 29-31
Jakarta 10023
INDONESIA
<PAGE>
4
IRELAND Bank of Ireland ALLIED IRISH BANK
International Financial Services DUBLIN
Centre
1 Harbourmaster Place
Dublin 1
IRELAND
ISRAEL Bank Leumi Le-Israel B.M. BANK LEUMI LE-ISRAEL B.M.
19 Herzl Street TEL AVIV
65136 Tel Aviv
ISRAEL
ITALY The Chase Manhattan Bank, N.A. THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK, N.A.
Piazza Meda 1 MILAN
20121 Milan
ITALY
JAPAN The Chase Manhattan Bank, N.A. THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK, N.A.
1-3 Marunouchi 1-Chome TOKYO
Chiyoda-Ku
Tokyo 100
JAPAN
JORDAN Arab Bank Limited Arab Bank Limited
P O Box 950544-5 AMMAN
Amman
Shmeisani
JORDAN
LUXEMBOURG Banque Generale du Luxembourg S.A. BANQUE GENERALE DU LUXEMBOURG
27 Avenue Monterey S.A.
LUXEMBOURG LUXEMBOURG
MALYSIA The Chase Manhattan Bank, N.A. The Chase Manhattan Bank, N.A.
Pernas International KUALA LUMPUR
Jalan Sultan Ismail
50250, Kuala Lumpur
MALAYSIA
MEXICO The Chase Manhattan Bank, N.A. NO CORRESPONDENT BANK
(Equities) Hamburgo 213, Piso 7
06660 Mexico D.F.
MEXICO
(Government Banco Nacional de Mexico. NO CORRESPONDENT BANK
Bonds) Avenida Juarez No. 104 - 11 Piso
06040 Mexico D.F.
MEXICO
<PAGE>
5
NETHERLANDS ABN AMRO N.V. CREDIT LYONNAIS
Securities Center BANK NEDERLAND N.V.
P O Box 3200 ROTTERDAM
4800 De Breda
NETHERLANDS
NEW ZEALAND National Nominees Limited NATIONAL BANK OF NEW
Level 2 BNZ Tower ZEALAND
125 Queen Street WELLINGTON
Auckland
NEW ZEALAND
NORWAY Den Norske Bank DEN NORSKE BANK
Kirkegaten 21 OSLO Oslo 1
NORWAY
PAKISTAN Citibank, N.A. CITIBANK N.A.
State Life Building No. 1 KARACHI
I.I. Chundrigar Road
Karachi
PAKISTAN
PERU Citibank, N.A. CITIBANK N.A.
Camino Real 457 LIMA
CC Torre Real - 5th Floor
San Isidro, Lima 27
PERU
PHILIPPINES The Hongkong and Shanghai THE HONGKONG AND SHANGHAI
Banking Corporation Limited BANKING CORPORATION LIMITED
Hong Kong Bank Centre 3/F MANILA
San Miguel Avenue
Ortigas Commercial Centre
Pasig Metro Manila
PHILIPPINES
POLAND Bank Polska Kasa Opieki S.A. BANK POLSKA KASA OPIEKI
S.A.
6/12 Nowy Swiat Str WARSAW
00-920 Warsaw
POLAND
PORTUGAL Banco Espirito Santo & Commercial AVENIDA FONTES PEREIRA DE
de Lisboa BANCO PINTO & SOTTA MAYOR MELO
195, Avenida da Liberdade 1000 LISBON
P-1200 Lisbon
PORTUGAL
<PAGE>
6
SHENZHEN Standard Chartered Bank STANDARD CHARTERED BANK
(CHINA) 8/F, Edinburgh Tower HONG KONG
The Landmark
HONG KONG
SINGAPORE The Chase Manhattan Bank, N.A. THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK,
Shell Tower N.A.
50 Raffles Place SINGAPORE
Singapore 0104
SINGAPORE
SOUTH KOREA The Hongkong & Shanghai THE HONGKONG & SHANGHAI
Banking Corporation Limited BANKING CORPORATION
6/F Kyobo Building LIMITED
#1 Chongro, 1-ka Chongro-Ku, SEOUL
Seoul
SOUTH KOREA
SPAIN The Chase Manhattan Bank, N.A. BANCO ZARAGOZANO, S.A.
Calle Peonias 2 MADRID
7th Floor
La Piovera
28042 Madrid
SPAIN
SRI LANKA The Hongkong & Shanghai THE HONGKONG & SHANGHAI
Banking Corporation Limited BANKING CORPORATION
24, Sir Baron Jayatilaka Mawatha, LIMITED
Colombo 1, COLOMBO
SRI LANKA
SWEDEN Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken SVWENSKA HANDELSBANKEN
Kungstradgardsgatan 8 STOCKHOLM
Stockholm S-106 40
SWEDEN
SWITZERLAND Union Bank of Switzerland UNION BANK OF SWITZERLAND
45 Bahnhofstrasse ZURICH
8021 Zurich
SWITZERLAND
TAIWAN The Chase Manhattan Bank, N.A. NO CORRESPONDENT BANK
673 Min Sheng East Road-9th Floor
Taipei
TAIWAN
Republic of China
<PAGE>
7
THAILAND The Chase Manhattan Bank, N.A. THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK, N.A.
Bubhajit Building BANGKOK
20 North Sathorn Road
Silom, Bangrak
Bangkok 10500
THAILAND
TURKEY The Chase Manhattan Bank, N.A. THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK, N.A.
Yildiz Posta Caddesi 52 ISTANBUL
Dedeman Ticaret Merkezi, Kat 11
80700 Esentepe
Istanbul
TURKEY
U.K. The Chase Manhattan Bank, N.A. THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK, N.A.
Woolgate House LONDON
Coleman Street
London EC2P 2HD
UNITED KINGDOM
U.S.A. The Chase Manhattan Bank, N.A. THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK, N.A.
1 Chase Manhattan Plaza NEW YORK
New York
NY 10081
U.S.A.
VENEZUELA Citibank N.A. CITIBANK N.A.
Carmelitas a Altagracia CARACAS
Edificio Citibank
Caracas 1010
VENEZUELA
<PAGE>
AMENDED AND RESTATED
TRANSFER AGENCY AND SERVICE AGREEMENT
with
DEAN WITTER TRUST COMPANY
DWR
[open-end]
<PAGE>
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE
----
Article 1 Terms of Appointment; Duties of DWTC. . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Article 2 Fees and Expenses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Article 3 Representations and Warranties of DWTC. . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Article 4 Representations and Warranties of the
Fund. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Article 5 Duty of Care and Indemnification. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Article 6 Documents and Covenants of the Fund and
DWTC. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Article 7 Duration and Termination of Agreement . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Article 8 Assignment. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Article 9 Affiliations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Article 10 Amendment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Article 11 Applicable Law. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Article 12 Miscellaneous . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Article 13 Merger of Agreement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Article 14 Personal Liability. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
-i-
<PAGE>
AMENDED AND RESTATED TRANSFER AGENCY AND SERVICE AGREEMENT
AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT made as of the 1st day of August, 1993
by and between each of the Dean Witter Funds listed on the signature pages
hereof, each of such Funds acting severally on its own behalf and not jointly
with any of such other Funds (each such Fund hereinafter referred to as the
"Fund"), each such Fund having its principal office and place of business at Two
World Trade Center, New York, New York, 10048, and DEAN WITTER TRUST COMPANY, a
trust company organized under the laws of New Jersey, having its principal
office and place of business at Harborside Financial Center, Plaza Two, Jersey
City, New Jersey 07311 ("DWTC").
WHEREAS, the Fund desires to appoint DWTC as its transfer agent,
dividend disbursing agent and shareholder servicing agent and DWTC desires to
accept such appointment;
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants herein
contained, the parties hereto agree as follows:
-1-
<PAGE>
Article I. TERMS OF APPOINTMENT; DUTIES OF DWTC
1.1 Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this
Agreement, the Fund hereby employs and appoints DWTC to act as, and DWTC agrees
to act as, the transfer agent for each series and class of shares of the Fund,
whether now or hereafter authorized or issued ("Shares"), dividend disbursing
agent and shareholder servicing agent in connection with any accumulation, open-
account or similar plans provided to the holders of such Shares ("Shareholders")
and set out in the currently effective prospectus and statement of additional
information ("prospectus") of the Fund, including without limitation any
periodic investment plan or periodic withdrawal program.
1.2 DWTC agrees that it will perform the following services:
(a) In accordance with procedures established from time to time
by agreement between the Fund and DWTC, DWTC shall:
(i) Receive for acceptance, orders for the purchase of Shares,
and promptly deliver payment and appropriate documentation therefor to the
custodian of the assets of the Fund (the "Custodian");
-2-
<PAGE>
(ii) Pursuant to purchase orders, issue the appropriate number
of Shares and issue certificates therefor or hold such Shares in book form in
the appropriate Shareholder account;
(iii) Receive for acceptance redemption requests and redemption
directions and deliver the appropriate documentation therefor to the Custodian;
(iv) At the appropriate time as and when it receives monies paid
to it by the Custodian with respect to any redemption, pay over or cause to be
paid over in the appropriate manner such monies as instructed by the redeeming
Shareholders;
(v) Effect transfers of Shares by the registered owners thereof
upon receipt of appropriate instructions;
(vi) Prepare and transmit payments for dividends and
distributions declared by the Fund;
(vii) Calculate any sales charges payable by a Shareholder on
purchases and/or redemptions of Shares of the Fund as such charges may be
reflected in the prospectus;
(viii) Maintain records of account for and advise the Fund and
its Shareholders as to the foregoing; and
-3-
<PAGE>
(ix) Record the issuance of Shares of the Fund and maintain
pursuant to Rule 17Ad-10(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 ("1934
Act") a record of the total number of Shares of the Fund which are authorized,
based upon data provided to it by the Fund, and issued and outstanding. DWTC
shall also provide to the Fund on a regular basis the total number of Shares
which are authorized, issued and outstanding and shall notify the Fund in case
any proposed issue of Shares by the Fund would result in an overissue. In case
any issue of Shares would result in an overissue, DWTC shall refuse to issue
such Shares and shall not countersign and issue any certificates requested for
such Shares. When recording the issuance of Shares, DWTC shall have no
obligation to take cognizance of any Blue Sky laws relating to the issue of sale
of such Shares, which functions shall be the sole responsibility of the Fund.
(b) In addition to and not in lieu of the services set forth in
the above paragraph (a), DWTC shall: (i) perform all of the customary services
of a transfer agent, dividend disbursing agent and, as relevant, shareholder
servicing agent in connection with dividend reinvestment, accumulation, open-
account or similar plans (including without limitation any periodic investment
plan or periodic withdrawal program), including but not limited to, maintaining
all Shareholder accounts, preparing Shareholder meeting lists,
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<PAGE>
mailing proxies, receiving and tabulating proxies, mailing shareholder reports
and prospectuses to current Shareholders, withholding taxes on U.S. resident and
non-resident alien accounts, preparing and filing appropriate forms required
with respect to dividends and distributions by federal tax authorities for all
Shareholders, preparing and mailing confirmation forms and statements of account
to Shareholders for all purchases and redemptions of Shares and other
confirmable transactions in Shareholder accounts, preparing and mailing activity
statements for Shareholders and providing Shareholder account information; (ii)
open any and all bank accounts which may be necessary or appropriate in order to
provide the foregoing services; and (iii) provide a system which will enable the
Fund to monitor the total number of Shares sold in each State or other
jurisdiction.
(c) In addition, the Fund shall (i) identify to DWTC in writing
those transactions and assets to be treated as exempt from Blue Sky reporting
for each State and (ii) verify the establishment of transactions for each State
on the system prior to activation and thereafter monitor the daily activity for
each State. The responsibility of DWTC for the Fund's registration status under
the Blue Sky or securities laws of any State or other jurisdiction is solely
limited to the initial establishment of transactions subject to Blue Sky
compliance by the Fund and the reporting of such transactions
-5-
<PAGE>
to the Fund as provided above and as agreed from time to time by the Fund and
DWTC.
(d) DWTC shall provide such additional services and functions
not specifically described herein as may be mutually agreed between DWTC and
the Fund. Procedures applicable to such services may be established from time
to time by agreement between the Fund and DWTC.
Article 2 FEES AND EXPENSES
2.1 For performance by DWTC pursuant to this Agreement, each
Fund agrees to pay DWTC an annual maintenance fee for each Shareholder account
and certain transactional fees, if applicable, as set out in the respective fee
schedule attached hereto as Schedule A. Such fees and out-of-pocket expenses
and advances identified under Section 2.2 below may be changed from time to time
subject to mutual written agreement between the Fund and DWTC.
2.2 In addition to the fees paid under Section 2.1 above, the
Fund agrees to reimburse DWTC in connection with the services rendered by DWTC
hereunder. In addition, any other expenses incurred by DWTC at the request or
with the consent of the Fund will be reimbursed by the Fund.
2.3 The Fund agrees to pay all fees and reimbursable expenses
within a reasonable period of time
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<PAGE>
following the mailing of the respective billing notice. Postage for mailing of
dividends, proxies, Fund reports and other mailings to all Shareholder accounts
shall be advanced to DWTC by the Fund upon request prior to the mailing date of
such materials.
Article 3 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF DWTC
DWTC represents and warrants to the Fund that:
3.1 It is a trust company duly organized and existing and in
good standing under the laws of New Jersey and it is duly qualified to carry on
its business in New Jersey.
3.2 It is and will remain registered with the U.S. Securities
and Exchange Commission ("SEC") as a Transfer Agent pursuant to the requirements
of Section 17A of the 1934 Act.
3.3 It is empowered under applicable laws and by its charter and
By-Laws to enter into and perform this Agreement.
3.4 All requisite corporate proceedings have been taken to
authorize it to enter into and perform this Agreement.
3.5 It has and will continue to have access to the necessary
facilities, equipment and personnel to perform its duties and obligations under
this Agreement.
-7-
<PAGE>
Article 4 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE FUND
The Fund represents and warrants to DWTC that:
4.1 It is a corporation duly organized and existing and in good
standing under the laws of Delaware or Maryland or a trust duly organized and
existing and in good standing under the laws of Massachusetts, as the case may
be.
4.2 It is empowered under applicable laws and by its Articles of
Incorporation or Declaration of Trust, as the case may be, and under its By-Laws
to enter into and perform this Agreement.
4.3 All corporate proceedings necessary to authorize it to
enter into and perform this Agreement have been taken.
4.4 It is an investment company registered with the SEC under
the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act").
4.5 A registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933
(the "1933 Act") is currently effective and will remain effective, and
appropriate state securities law filings have been made and will continue to be
made, with respect to all Shares of the Fund being offered for sale.
Article 5 DUTY OF CARE AND INDEMNIFICATION
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<PAGE>
5.1 DWTC shall not be responsible for, and the Fund shall
indemnify and hold DWTC harmless from and against, any and all losses, damages,
costs, charges, counsel fees, payments, expenses and liability arising out of or
attributable to:
(a) All actions of DWTC or its agents or subcontractors required to
be taken pursuant to this Agreement, provided that such actions are taken in
good faith and without negligence or willful misconduct.
(b) The Fund's refusal or failure to comply with the terms of this
Agreement, or which arise out of the Fund's lack of good faith, negligence or
willful misconduct or which arise out of breach of any representation or
warranty of the Fund hereunder.
(c) The reliance on or use by DWTC or its agents or subcontractors of
information, records and documents which (i) are received by DWTC or its agents
or subcontractors and furnished to it by or on behalf of the Fund, and (ii) have
been prepared and/or maintained by the Fund or any other person or firm on
behalf of the Fund.
(d) The reliance on, or the carrying out by DWTC or its agents or
subcontractors of, any instructions or requests of the Fund.
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<PAGE>
(e) The offer or sale of Shares in violation of any requirement under
the federal securities laws or regulations or the securities or Blue Sky laws of
any State or other jurisdiction that such Shares be registered in such State or
other jurisdiction or in violation of any stop order or other determination or
ruling by any federal agency or any State or other jurisdiction with respect to
the offer or sale of such Shares in such State or other jurisdiction.
5.2 DWTC shall indemnify and hold the Fund harmless from or
against any and all losses, damages, costs, charges, counsel fees, payments,
expenses and liability arising out of or attributable to any action or failure
or omission to act by DWTC as a result of the lack of good faith, negligence or
willful misconduct of DWTC, its officers, employees or agents.
5.3 At any time, DWTC may apply to any officer of the Fund for
instructions, and may consult with legal counsel to the Fund, with respect to
any matter arising in connection with the services to be performed by DWTC under
this Agreement, and DWTC and its agents or subcontractors shall not be liable
and shall be indemnified by the Fund for any action taken or omitted by it in
reliance upon such instructions or upon the opinion of such counsel. DWTC, its
agents and subcontractors shall be protected and indemnified
-10-
<PAGE>
in acting upon any paper or document furnished by or on behalf of the Fund,
reasonably believed to be genuine and to have been signed by the proper person
or persons, or upon any instruction, information, data, records or documents
provided to DWTC or its agents or subcontractors by machine readable input,
telex, CRT data entry or other similar means authorized by the Fund, and shall
not be held to have notice of any change of authority of any person, until
receipt of written notice thereof from the Fund. DWTC, its agents and
subcontractors shall also be protected and indemnified in recognizing stock
certificates which are reasonably believed to bear the proper manual or
facsimile signature of the officers of the Fund, and the proper countersignature
of any former transfer agent or registrar, or of a co-transfer agent or co-
registrar.
5.4 In the event either party is unable to perform its
obligations under the terms of this Agreement because of acts of God, strikes,
equipment or transmission failure or damage reasonably beyond its control, or
other causes reasonably beyond its control, such party shall not be liable for
damages to the other for any damages resulting from such failure to perform or
otherwise from such causes.
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<PAGE>
5.5 Neither party to this Agreement shall be liable to the other
party for consequential damages under any provision of this Agreement or for any
act or failure to act hereunder.
5.6 In order that the indemnification provisions contained in
this Article 5 shall apply, upon the assertion of a claim for which either party
may be required to indemnify the other, the party seeking indemnification shall
promptly notify the other party of such assertion, and shall keep the other
party advised with respect to all developments concerning such claim. The party
who may be required to indemnify shall have the option to participate with the
party seeking indemnification in the defense of such claim. The party seeking
indemnification shall in no case confess any claim or make any compromise in any
case in which the other party may be required to indemnify it except with the
other party's prior written consent.
Article 6 DOCUMENTS AND COVENANTS OF THE FUND AND DWTC
6.1 The Fund shall promptly furnish to DWTC the following:
(a) If a corporation:
(i) A certified copy of the resolution of the Board of Directors of
the Fund authorizing the appointment of DWTC and the execution and delivery of
this Agreement;
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<PAGE>
(ii) A certified copy of the Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws of
the Fund and all amendments thereto;
(iii) Certified copies of each vote of the Board of Directors
designating persons authorized to give instructions on behalf of the Fund and
signature cards bearing the signature of any officer of the Fund or any other
person authorized to sign written instructions on behalf of the Fund;
(iv) A specimen of the certificate for Shares of the Fund in the form
approved by the Board of Directors, with a certificate of the Secretary of the
Fund as to such approval;
(b) If a business trust:
(i) A certified copy of the resolution of the Board of Trustees
of the Fund authorizing the appointment of DWTC and the execution and delivery
of this Agreement;
(ii) A certified copy of the Declaration of Trust and By-laws of
the Fund and all amendments thereto;
(iii) Certified copies of each vote of the Board of Trustees
designating persons authorized to give instructions on behalf of the Fund and
signature cards bearing the signature of any officer of the Fund or any other
person authorized to sign written instructions on behalf of the Fund;
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<PAGE>
(iv) A specimen of the certificate for Shares of the Fund in the
form approved by the Board of Trustees, with a certificate of the Secretary of
the Fund as to such approval;
(c) The current registration statements and any amendments and
supplements thereto filed with the SEC pursuant to the requirements of the 1933
Act or the 1940 Act;
(d) All account application forms or other documents relating to
Shareholder accounts and/or relating to any plan, program or service offered or
to be offered by the Fund; and
(e) Such other certificates, documents or opinions as DWTC deems to
be appropriate or necessary for the proper performance of its duties.
6.2 DWTC hereby agrees to establish and maintain facilities and
procedures reasonably acceptable to the Fund for safekeeping of Share
certificates, check forms and facsimile signature imprinting devices, if any;
and for the preparation or use, and for keeping account of, such certificates,
forms and devices.
6.3 DWTC shall prepare and keep records relating to the services
to be performed hereunder, in the form and manner as it may deem advisable and
as required by applicable laws and regulations. To the extent required by
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<PAGE>
Section 31 of the 1940 Act, and the rules and regulations thereunder, DWTC
agrees that all such records prepared or maintained by DWTC relating to the
services performed by DWTC hereunder are the property of the Fund and will be
preserved, maintained and made available in accordance with such Section 31 of
the 1940 Act, and the rules and regulations thereunder, and will be surrendered
promptly to the Fund on and in accordance with its request.
6.4 DWTC and the Fund agree that all books, records, information
and data pertaining to the business of the other party which are exchanged or
received pursuant to the negotiation or the carrying out of this Agreement shall
remain confidential and shall not be voluntarily disclosed to any other person
except as may be required by law or with the prior consent of DWTC and the Fund.
6.5 In case of any request or demands for the inspection of the
Shareholder records of the Fund, DWTC will endeavor to notify the Fund and to
secure instructions from an authorized officer of the Fund as to such
inspection. DWTC reserves the right, however, to exhibit the Shareholder
records to any person whenever it is advised by its counsel that it may be held
liable for the failure to exhibit the Shareholder records to such person.
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<PAGE>
Article 7 DURATION AND TERMINATION OF AGREEMENT
7.1 This Agreement shall remain in full force and effect until
July 31, 1996 and from year-to-year thereafter unless terminated by either party
as provided in Section 7.2 hereof.
7.2 This Agreement may be terminated by the Fund on 60 days
written notice, and by DWTC on 90 days written notice, to the other party
without payment of any penalty.
7.3 Should the Fund exercise its right to terminate, all out-of-
pocket expenses associated with the movement of records and other materials will
be borne by the Fund. Additionally, DWTC reserves the right to charge for any
other reasonable fees and expenses associated with such termination.
Article 8 ASSIGNMENT
8.1 Except as provided in Section 8.3 below, neither this
Agreement nor any rights or obligations hereunder may be assigned by either
party without the written consent of the other party.
8.2 This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding
upon the parties and their respective permitted successors and assigns.
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<PAGE>
8.3 DWTC may, in its sole discretion and without further consent
by the Fund, subcontract, in whole or in part, for the performance of its
obligations and duties hereunder with any person or entity including but not
limited to companies which are affiliated with DWTC; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that
such person or entity has and maintains the qualifications, if any, required to
perform such obligations and duties, and that DWTC shall be as fully responsible
to the Fund for the acts and omissions of any agent or subcontractor as it is
for its own acts or omissions under this Agreement.
Article 9 AFFILIATIONS
9.1 DWTC may now or hereafter, without the consent of or notice
to the Fund, function as transfer agent and/or shareholder servicing agent for
any other investment company registered with the SEC under the 1940 Act and for
any other issuer, including without limitation any investment company whose
adviser, administrator, sponsor or principal underwriter is or may become
affiliated with Dean Witter, Discover & Co. or any of its direct or indirect
subsidiaries or affiliates.
9.2 It is understood and agreed that the Directors or Trustees
(as the case may be), officers, employees, agents and shareholders of the Fund,
and the directors, officers, employees, agents and shareholders of the
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<PAGE>
Fund's investment adviser and/or distributor, are or may be interested in DWTC
as directors, officers, employees, agents and shareholders or otherwise, and
that the directors, officers, employees, agents and shareholders of DWTC may be
interested in the Fund as Directors or Trustees (as the case may be), officers,
employees, agents and shareholders or otherwise, or in the investment adviser
and/or distributor as directors, officers, employees, agents, shareholders or
otherwise.
Article 10 AMENDMENT
10.1 This Agreement may be amended or modified by a written
agreement executed by both parties and authorized or approved by a resolution of
the Board of Directors or the Board of Trustees (as the case may be) of the
Fund.
Article 11 APPLICABLE LAW
11.1 This Agreement shall be construed and the provisions
thereof interpreted under and in accordance with the laws of the State of New
York.
Article 12 MISCELLANEOUS
12.1 In the event that one or more additional investment
companies managed or administered by Dean Witter InterCapital Inc. or any of its
affiliates ("Additional Funds") desires to retain DWTC to act as transfer
agent, dividend disbursing agent and/or shareholder servicing agent,
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<PAGE>
and DWTC desires to render such services, such services shall be provided
pursuant to a letter agreement, substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto,
between DWTC and each Additional Fund.
12.2 In the event of an alleged loss or destruction of any Share
certificate, no new certificate shall be issued in lieu thereof, unless there
shall first be furnished to DWTC an affidavit of loss or non-receipt by the
holder of Shares with respect to which a certificate has been lost or destroyed,
supported by an appropriate bond satisfactory to DWTC and the Fund issued by a
surety company satisfactory to DWTC, except that DWTC may accept an affidavit of
loss and indemnity agreement executed by the registered holder (or legal
representative) without surety in such form as DWTC deems appropriate
indemnifying DWTC and the Fund for the issuance of a replacement certificate, in
cases where the alleged loss is in the amount of $1000 or less.
12.3 In the event that any check or other order for payment of money
on the account of any Shareholder or new investor is returned unpaid for any
reason, DWTC will (a) give prompt notification to the Fund's distributor
("Distributor") (or to the Fund if the Fund acts as its own distributor) of such
non-payment; and (b) take such other action, including imposition of a
reasonable processing or handling fee, as DWTC
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<PAGE>
may, in its sole discretion, deem appropriate or as the Fund and, if applicable,
the Distributor may instruct DWTC.
12.4 Any notice or other instrument authorized or required by this
Agreement to be given in writing to the Fund or to DWTC shall be sufficiently
given if addressed to that party and received by it at its office set forth
below or at such other place as it may from time to time designate in writing.
To the Fund:
[Name of Fund]
Two World Trade Center
New York, New York 10048
Attention: General Counsel
To DWTC:
Dean Witter Trust Company
Harborside Financial Center
Plaza Two
Jersey City, New Jersey 07311
Attention: President
Article 13 MERGER OF AGREEMENT
13.1 This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the
parties hereto and supersedes any prior agreement with respect to the subject
matter hereof whether oral or written.
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<PAGE>
Article 14 PERSONAL LIABILITY
14.1 In the case of a Fund organized as a Massachusetts business
trust, a copy of the Declaration of Trust of the Fund is on file with the
Secretary of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and notice is hereby given that
this instrument is executed on behalf of the Board of Trustees of the Fund as
Trustees and not individually and that the obligations of this instrument are
not binding upon any of the Trustees or shareholders individually but are
binding only upon the assets and property of the Fund; provided, however, that
the Declaration of Trust of the Fund provides that the assets of a particular
Series of the Fund shall under no circumstances be charged with liabilities
attributable to any other Series of the Fund and that all persons extending
credit to, or contracting with or having any claim against, a particular Series
of the Fund shall look only to the assets of that particular Series for payment
of such credit, contract or claim.
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<PAGE>
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Amended and
Restated Agreement to be executed in their names and on their behalf by and
through their duly authorized officers, as of the day and year first above
written.
(1) Dean Witter Liquid Asset Fund Inc.
(2) Dean Witter Tax-Free Daily Income Trust
(3) Dean Witter California Tax-Free Daily Income Trust
(4) Dean Witter Retirement Series
(5) Dean Witter Dividend Growth Securities Inc.
(6) Dean Witter Natural Resource Development Securities Inc.
(7) Dean Witter World Wide Investment Trust
(8) Dean Witter Capital Growth Securities
(9) Dean Witter Convertible Securities Trust
(10) Active Assets Tax-Free Trust
(11) Active Assets Money Trust
(12) Active Assets California Tax-Free Trust
(13) Active Assets Government Securities Trust
(14) Dean Witter Equity Income Trust
(15) Dean Witter Federal Securities Trust
(16) Dean Witter U.S. Government Securities Trust
(17) Dean Witter High Yield Securities Inc.
(18) Dean Witter New York Tax-Free Income Fund
(19) Dean Witter Tax-Exempt Securities Trust
(20) Dean Witter California Tax-Free Income Fund
(21) Dean Witter Managed Assets Trust
(22) Dean Witter Limited Term Municipal Trust
(23) Dean Witter World Wide Income Trust
(24) Dean Witter Utilities Fund
(25) Dean Witter Strategist Fund
(26) Dean Witter New York Municipal Money Market Trust
(27) Dean Witter Intermediate Income Securities
(28) Prime Income Trust
(29) Dean Witter European Growth Fund Inc.
(30) Dean Witter Developing Growth Securities Trust
(31) Dean Witter Precious Metals and Minerals Trust
(32) Dean Witter Pacific Growth Fund Inc.
(33) Dean Witter Multi-State Municipal Series Trust
(34) Dean Witter Premier Income Trust
(35) Dean Witter Short-Term U.S. Treasury Trust
(36) Dean Witter Diversified Income Trust
(37) Dean Witter Health Sciences Trust
(38) Dean Witter Global Dividend Growth Securities
(39) Dean Witter American Value Fund
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<PAGE>
(40) Dean Witter U.S. Government Money Market Trust
(41) Dean Witter Global Short-Term Income Fund Inc.
(42) Dean Witter Value-Added Market Series
(43) Dean Witter Select Municipal Reinvestment Fund
(44) Dean Witter Variable Investment Series
BY:/s/ Sheldon Curtis
----------------------------------
Sheldon Curtis
Vice President and General Counsel
ATTEST:
/s/ Barry Fink
- ---------------------------
Barry Fink
Assistant Secretary
DEAN WITTER TRUST COMPANY
BY:/s/ Charles A. Fiumefreddo
----------------------------------
Charles A. Fiumefreddo
Chairman
ATTEST:
/s/ David A. Hughey
- --------------------------
David A. Hughey
Executive Vice President
-23-
<PAGE>
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Amended and
Restated Agreement to be executed in their names and on their behalf by and
through their duly authorized officers, as of the day and year first above
written.
(1) Dean Witter Liquid Asset Fund Inc.
(2) Dean Witter Tax-Free Daily Income Trust
(3) Dean Witter California Tax-Free Daily Income Trust
(4) Dean Witter Retirement Series
(5) Dean Witter Dividend Growth Securities Inc.
(6) Dean Witter Natural Resource Development Securities Inc.
(7) Dean Witter World Wide Investment Trust
(8) Dean Witter Capital Growth Securities
(9) Dean Witter Convertible Securities Trust
(10) Active Assets Tax-Free Trust
(11) Active Assets Money Trust
(12) Active Assets California Tax-Free Trust
(13) Active Assets Government Securities Trust
(14) Dean Witter Equity Income Trust
(15) Dean Witter Federal Securities Trust
(16) Dean Witter U.S. Government Securities Trust
(17) Dean Witter High Yield Securities Inc.
(18) Dean Witter New York Tax-Free Income Fund
(19) Dean Witter Tax-Exempt Securities Trust
(20) Dean Witter California Tax-Free Income Fund
(21) Dean Witter Managed Assets Trust
(22) Dean Witter Limited Term Municipal Trust
(23) Dean Witter World Wide Income Trust
(24) Dean Witter Utilities Fund
(25) Dean Witter Strategist Fund
(26) Dean Witter New York Municipal Money Market Trust
(27) Dean Witter Intermediate Income Securities
(28) Prime Income Trust
(29) Dean Witter European Growth Fund Inc.
(30) Dean Witter Developing Growth Securities Trust
(31) Dean Witter Precious Metals and Minerals Trust
(32) Dean Witter Pacific Growth Fund Inc.
(33) Dean Witter Multi-State Municipal Series Trust
(34) Dean Witter Premier Income Trust
(35) Dean Witter Short-Term U.S. Treasury Trust
(36) Dean Witter Diversified Income Trust
(37) Dean Witter Health Sciences Trust
(38) Dean Witter Global Dividend Growth Securities
(39) Dean Witter American Value Fund
(40) Dean Witter U.S. Government Money Market Trust
(41) Dean Witter Global Short-Term Income Fund Inc.
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<PAGE>
(42) Dean Witter Value-Added Market Series
(43) Dean Witter Select Municipal Reinvestment Fund
(44) Dean Witter Variable Investment Series
BY:/s/ Sheldon Curtis
----------------------------------
Sheldon Curtis
Vice President and General Counsel
ATTEST:
/s/ Barry Fink
- ---------------------------
Barry Fink
Assistant Secretary
DEAN WITTER TRUST COMPANY
BY:/s/ Charles A. Fiumefreddo
----------------------------------
Charles A. Fiumefreddo
Chairman
ATTEST:
/s/ David A. Hughey
- --------------------------
David A. Hughey
Executive Vice President
-25-
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT A
Dean Witter Trust Company
Harborside Financial Center
Plaza Two
Jersey City, NJ 07311
Gentlemen:
The undersigned, ( Name of Fund ) a (Massachusetts business
trust/Maryland Corporation) (the "Fund"), desires to employ and appoint Dean
Witter Trust Company ("DWTC") to act as transfer agent for each series and class
of shares of the Fund, whether now or hereafter authorized or issued ("shares"),
dividend disbursing agent and shareholder servicing agent, registrar and agent
in connection with any accumulation, open-account or similar plan provided to
the holders of Shares, including without limitation any periodic investment plan
or periodic withdrawal plan.
The Fund hereby agrees that, in consideration for the payment by the Fund
to DWTC of fees as set out in the fee schedule attached hereto as Schedule A,
DWTC shall provide such services to the Fund pursuant to the terms and
conditions set forth in the Transfer Agency and Service Agreement annexed
hereto, as if the Fund was a signatory thereto.
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<PAGE>
Please indicate DWTC's acceptance of employment and appointment by the Fund
in the capacities set forth above by so indicating in the space provided below.
Very truly yours,
[ Fund Name ]
By:
---------------------------------------
Sheldon Curtis
Vice President and General Counsel
ACCEPTED AND AGREED TO:
DEAN WITTER TRUST COMPANY
By:
-----------------------------
Its:
-----------------------------
Date:
----------------------------
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<PAGE>
SCHEDULE A
Fund: Dean Witter Global Dividend Growth Securities
Fees: (1) Annual maintenance fee of $11.00 per shareholder account,
payable monthly.
(2) A fee equal to 1/12 of the fee set forth in (1) above, for
providing Forms 1099 for accounts closed during the year, payable
following the end of the calendar year.
(3) Out-of-pocket expenses in accordance with Section 2.2 of the
Agreement.
(4) Fees for additional services not set forth in this Agreement
shall be as negotiated between the parties.
<PAGE>
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
We hereby consent to the use in the Statement of Additional Information
constituting part of this Post-Effective Amendment No. 4 to the registration
statement on Form N-1A (the "Registration Statement") of our report dated May
10, 1996, relating to the financial statements and financial highlights of Dean
Witter Global Dividend Growth Securities, which appears in such Statement of
Additional Information, and to the incorporation by reference of our report into
the Prospectus which constitutes part of this Registration Statement. We also
consent to the references to us under the headings "Independent Accountants" and
"Experts" in such Statement of Additional Information and to the reference to us
under the heading "Financial Highlights" in such prospectus.
PRICE WATERHOUSE LLP
1177 Avenue of the Americas
New York, New York 10036
May 10, 1996
<PAGE>
AMENDED AND RESTATED PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION PURSUANT TO RULE 12b-1
OF
DEAN WITTER GLOBAL DIVIDEND GROWTH SECURITIES
WHEREAS, Dean Witter Global Dividend Growth Securities (the "Fund") is
engaged in business as an open-end management investment company and is
registered as such under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the
"Act"); and
WHEREAS, on April 28, 1993, the Fund adopted a Plan of Distribution pursuant
to Rule 12b-1 under the Act, and the Trustees then determined that there was a
reasonable likelihood that adoption of the Plan of Distribution would benefit
the Fund and its shareholders; and
WHEREAS, the Trustees believe that continuation of said Plan of
Distribution, as amended and restated herein, is reasonably likely to continue
to benefit the Fund and its shareholders; and
WHEREAS, the Fund and the Distributor entered into a separate Distribution
Agreement dated as of April 28, 1993, pursuant to which the Fund has employed
the Distributor in such capacity during the continuous offering of shares of the
Fund.
NOW, THEREFORE, the Fund hereby amends the Plan of Distribution previously
adopted, and the Distributor hereby agrees to the terms of said Plan of
Distribution (the "Plan"), as amended herein, in accordance with Rule 12b-1
under the Act on the following terms and conditions:
1. The Fund shall pay to the Distributor, as the distributor of securities
of which the Fund is the issuer, compensation for distribution of its shares at
the rate of the lesser of (i) 1.0% per annum of the average daily aggregate
sales of the shares of the Fund since its inception (not including reinvestment
of dividends and capital gains distributions from the Fund) less the average
daily aggregate net asset value of the shares of the Fund redeemed since the
Fund's inception upon which a contingent deferred sales charge has been imposed
or upon which such charge has been waived, or (ii) 1.0% per annum of the Fund's
average daily net assets. Such compensation shall be calculated and accrued
daily and paid monthly or at such other intervals as the Trustees shall
determine. The Distributor may direct that all or any part of the amounts
receivable by it under this Plan be paid directly to Dean Witter Reynolds Inc.
("DWR"), its affiliates or other broker-dealers who provide distribution and
shareholder services. All payments made hereunder pursuant to the Plan shall be
in accordance with the terms and limitations of the Rules of Fair Practice of
the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.
2. The amount set forth in paragraph 1 of this Plan shall be paid for
services of the Distributor, DWR, its affiliates and other broker-dealers it may
select, in connection with the distribution of the Fund's shares, including
personal services to shareholders with respect to their holdings of Fund shares,
and may be spent by the Distributor, DWR, its affiliates and such broker-dealers
on any activities or expenses related to the distribution of the Fund's shares
or services to shareholders, including, but not limited to: compensation to, and
expenses of, account executives or other employees of the Distributor, DWR, its
affiliates or other broker-dealers; overhead and other branch office
distribution-related expenses and telephone expenses of persons who engage in or
support distribution of shares or who provide personal services to shareholders;
printing of prospectuses and reports for other than existing shareholders;
preparation, printing and distribution of sales literature and advertising
materials and opportunity costs in incurring the foregoing expenses (which may
be calculated as a carrying charge on the excess of the distribution expenses
incurred by the Distributor, DWR, its affiliates or other broker-dealers over
distribution revenues received by them, such excess being hereinafter referred
to as "carryover expenses"). The overhead and other branch office
distribution-related expenses referred to in this paragraph 2 may include: (a)
the expenses of operating the branch offices of the Distributor or other
broker-dealers, including DWR, in connection with the sale of Fund shares,
including lease costs, the salaries and employee benefits of operations and
sales support personnel, utility costs, communications costs and the costs of
stationery and supplies; (b) the costs of client sales seminars; (c) travel
expenses of mutual fund sales coordinators to promote the sale of Fund shares;
and (d) other expenses relating to branch promotion of Fund sales. Payments may
also be made with respect to distribution expenses incurred in connection with
the distribution of shares, including personal services to shareholders with
respect to holdings of such shares, of an investment company whose assets are
acquired by the Fund in a tax-free reorganization, provided that carryover
expenses as a percentage of Fund assets will not be materially increased
thereby.
1
<PAGE>
3. This Plan, as amended and restated, shall not take effect until it has
been approved, together with any related agreements, by votes of a majority of
the Board of Trustees of the Fund and of the Trustees who are not "interested
persons" of the Fund (as defined in the Act) and have no direct or indirect
financial interest in the operation of this Plan or any agreements related to it
(the "Rule 12b-1 Trustees"), cast in person at a meeting (or meetings) called
for the purpose of voting on this Plan and such related agreements.
4. This Plan shall continue in effect until April 30, 1996, and from year
to year thereafter, provided such continuance is specifically approved at least
annually in the manner provided for approval of this Plan in paragraph 3 hereof.
5. The Distributor shall provide to the Trustees of the Fund and the
Trustees shall review, at least quarterly, a written report of the amounts so
expended and the purposes for which such expenditures were made. In this regard,
the Trustees shall request the Distributor to specify such items of expenses as
the Trustees deem appropriate. The Trustees shall consider such items as they
deem relevant in making the determinations required by paragraph 4 hereof.
6. This Plan may be terminated at any time by vote of a majority of the
Rule 12b-1 Trustees, or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting
securities of the Fund. In the event of any such termination or in the event of
nonrenewal, the Fund shall have no obligation to pay expenses which have been
incurred by the Distributor, DWR, its affiliates or other broker-dealers in
excess of payments made by the Fund pursuant to this Plan. However, this shall
not preclude consideration by the Trustees of the manner in which such excess
expenses shall be treated.
7. This Plan may not be amended to increase materially the amount the Fund
may spend for distribution provided in paragraph 1 hereof unless such amendment
is approved by a vote of at least a majority (as defined in the Act) of the
outstanding voting securities of the Fund, and no material amendment to the Plan
shall be made unless approved in the manner provided for approval in paragraph 3
hereof.
8. While this Plan is in effect, the selection and nomination of Trustees
who are not interested persons (as defined in the Act) of the Fund shall be
committed to the discretion of the Trustees who are not interested persons.
9. The Fund shall preserve copies of this Plan and any related agreements
and all reports made pursuant to paragraph 5 hereof, for a period of not less
than six years from the date of this Plan, any such agreement or any such
report, as the case may be, the first two years in an easily accessible place.
10. The Declaration of Trust establishing Dean Witter Global Dividend Growth
Securities, dated January 8, 1993, a copy of which, together with all amendments
thereto (the "Declaration"), is on file in the office of the Secretary of the
Commonwealth of Massachusetts, provides that the name Dean Witter Global
Dividend Growth Securities refers to the Trustees under the Declaration
collectively as Trustees but not as individuals or personally; and no Trustee,
shareholder, officer, employee or agent of Dean Witter Global Dividend Growth
Securities shall be held to any personal liability, nor shall resort be had to
their private property for the satisfaction of any obligation or claim or
otherwise, in connection with the affairs of said Dean Witter Global Dividend
Growth Securities, but the Trust Estate only shall be liable.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Fund and the Distributor have executed this amended
and restated Plan of Distribution as of the day and year set forth below in New
York, New York.
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
Date: April 28, 1993 DEAN WITTER GLOBAL DIVIDEND GROWTH SECURITIES
As amended on October 26, 1995
By
..................................................
Attest:
......................................
DEAN WITTER DISTRIBUTORS INC.
By
..................................................
Attest:
......................................
</TABLE>
2
<PAGE>
SCHEDULE FOR COMPUTATIONS OF PERFORMANCE QUOTATIONS
GLOBAL DIVIDEND GROWTH SECURITIES
(A) AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS (I.E. STANDARDIZED COMPUTATIONS)
_ _
| ______________________ |
FORMULA: | |
| /\ n | ERV |
T = | \ | ------------- | - 1
| \ | P |
| \| |
|_ _|
T = AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURN
n = NUMBER OF YEARS
ERV = ENDING REDEEMABLE VALUE
P = INITIAL INVESTMENT
(A)
$1,000 ERV AS OF AGGREGATE NUMBER OF AVERAGE ANNUAL
INVESTED - P 31-Mar-96 TOTAL RETURN YEARS - n TOTAL RETURN - T
- ------------ ---------- ------------ ---------- -----------------
31-Mar-95 $1,137.70 13.77% -95.25 -0.11%
30-Jun-93 $1,387.50 38.75% -93.50 -0.35%
(B) AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS WITHOUT DEDUCTION FOR APPLICABLE
SALES CHARGE (NON STANDARD COMPUTATIONS)
(C) TOTAL RETURN WITHOUT DEDUCTION FOR APPLICABLE SALES CHARGE
(NON STANDARD COMPUTATIONS)
| ______________________ |
FORMULA: | |
| /\ n | EV |
t = | \ | ------------- | - 1
| \ | P |
| \| |
|_ _|
EV
TR = ---------- - 1
P
t = AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURN
(NO DEDUCTION FOR APPLICABLE SALES CHARGE)
n = NUMBER OF YEARS
EV = ENDING VALUE (NO DEDUCTION FOR APPLICABLE SALES CHARGE)
P = INITIAL INVESTMENT
TR = TOTAL RETURN (NO DEDUCTION FOR APPLICABLE SALES CHARGE)
(C) (B)
$1,000 EV AS OF TOTAL NUMBER OF AVERAGE ANNUAL
INVESTED - P 31-Mar-96 RETURN - TR YEARS - n TOTAL RETURN - t
- ------------ --------- ----------- --------- -----------------
31-Mar-95 $1,187.70 18.77% 1.00 18.77%
30-Jun-93 $1,417.50 41.75% -93.50 -0.37%
(D) GROWTH OF $10,000
(E) GROWTH OF $50,000
(F) GROWTH OF $100,000
FORMULA: G= (TR+1)*P
G= GROWTH OF INITIAL INVESTMENT
P= INITIAL INVESTMENT
TR= TOTAL RETURN SINCE INCEPTION
(D) GROWTH OF (E) GROWTH OF (F) GROWTH OF
$10,000 TOTAL $10,000 $50,000 $100,000
INVESTED - P RETURN - TR INVESTMENT - G INVESTMENT- G INVESTMENT- G
- ------------ ----------- -------------- ------------- -------------
30-Jun-93 41.75 $14,175 $70,875 $141,750
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<PAGE>
<ARTICLE> 6
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> MAR-31-1996
<PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1996
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 2,142,312,593
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 2,430,356,106
<RECEIVABLES> 26,944,640
<ASSETS-OTHER> 970,329
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 2,458,271,075
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 19,250,360
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 5,019,901
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 24,270,261
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 2,062,892,978
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 189,217,911
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 162,481,563
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 2,223,051
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 85,461,303
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 287,869,584
<NET-ASSETS> 2,434,000,814
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 60,471,146
<INTEREST-INCOME> 1,183,810
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 39,340,904
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 22,314,052
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 127,041,313
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 215,212,383
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 364,567,748
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 25,446,868
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 83,961,762
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 46,573,003
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 28,302,433
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 8,465,778
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 580,054,041
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 43,150,452
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 15,506,578
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 39,340,904
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 2,122,219,985
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 11.41
<PER-SHARE-NII> .13
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 1.96
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (.15)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> (.49)
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 12.86
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 1.85
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING> 0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0
</TABLE>
