<PAGE>
AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON JUNE 13, 1997
REGISTRATION NOS.: 33-62158
811-7700
===============================================================================
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. 5 [X]
AND/OR
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY
ACT OF 1940 [X]
AMENDMENT NO. 6 [X]
---------------
DEAN WITTER LIMITED TERM MUNICIPAL TRUST
(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
BARRY FINK, 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)
X immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b)
-----
on (date), 1997 pursuant to paragraph (b)
-----
60 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (b)
-----
on (date) pursuant to paragraph (a) of rule 485.
-----
---------------
THE REGISTRANT HAS REGISTERED AN INDEFINITE NUMBER OF ITS SHARES UNDER THE
SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 PURSUANT TO SECTION (A)(1) OF RULE 24F-2 UNDER THE
INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940. THE REGISTRANT FILED A RULE 24F-2 NOTICE FOR
ITS FISCAL YEAR ENDED MARCH 31, 1997 WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION ON APRIL 11, 1997.
AMENDING THE PROSPECTUS AND UPDATING FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
=============================================================================
<PAGE>
DEAN WITTER LIMITED TERM MUNICIPAL TRUST
CROSS-REFERENCE SHEET
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
FORM N-1A
PART A
ITEM CAPTION PROSPECTUS
- ------------ -------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C>
1. .....Cover Page
2. .....Summary of Fund Expenses; Prospectus Summary
3. .....Performance Information; Financial Highlights
4. .....Investment Objective and Policies; The Fund and its
Management; Risk Considerations; Cover Page;
Investment Restrictions; Prospectus Summary
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
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PART B
ITEM STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
- ---------- ----- --------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
10. .....Cover Page
11. .....Table of Contents
12. .....The Fund and Its Management
13. .....Investment Practices and Policies; Investment
Restrictions; Portfolio Transactions and Brokerage
14. .....The Fund and Its Management; Trustees and Officers
15. .....Trustees and Officers
16. .....The Fund and Its Management; Purchase of Fund Shares;
Custodian and Transfer Agent; Independent Accountants
17. .....Portfolio Transactions and Brokerage
18. .....Shares of the Fund; Validity of Shares of Beneficial
Interest
19. .....Redemptions and Repurchases; Financial Statements;
Shareholder Services
20. .....Dividends, Distributions and Taxes
21. .....Not applicable
22. .....Dividends, Distributions and Taxes
23. .....Performance Information
</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 -- June 13, 1997
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dean Witter Limited Term Municipal Trust (the "Fund") is a no-load, open-end
diversified management investment company whose investment objective is to
provide a high level of current income that is exempt from federal income
tax, consistent with the preservation of capital and prescribed standards of
quality and maturity. The Fund seeks to achieve its objective by investing
predominately in intermediate term, investment grade municipal securities
with an anticipated average dollar-weighted maturity range of 7 to 10 years
and a maximum average dollar-weighted maturity of 12 years. (See "Investment
Objective and Policies".)
Shares of the Fund are sold and redeemed at net asset value without the
imposition of a sales charge. In accordance with a Plan of Distribution
pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 with Dean
Witter Distributors Inc. (the "Distributor"), the Fund authorizes the
Distributor or any of its affiliates, including Dean Witter InterCapital
Inc., to make payments, out of their own resources, for specific expenses
incurred in promoting the distribution of the Fund's shares.
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 June 13, 1997, which has been filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, and which is available at no charge upon
request of the Fund at the address or telephone numbers listed on this page.
The Statement of Additional Information is incorporated herein by reference.
DEAN WITTER
LIMITED TERM MUNICIPAL TRUST
TWO WORLD TRADE CENTER
NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10048
(212) 392-2550 OR
(800) 869-NEWS (TOLL-FREE)
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Prospectus Summary .................................................... 2
Summary of Fund Expenses .............................................. 3
Financial Highlights .................................................. 4
The Fund and its Management ........................................... 5
Investment Objective and Policies ..................................... 5
Risk Considerations ................................................. 8
Investment Restrictions ............................................... 10
Purchase of Fund Shares ............................................... 11
Shareholder Services .................................................. 13
Redemptions and Repurchases ........................................... 15
Dividends, Distributions and Taxes .................................... 16
Performance Information ............................................... 17
Additional Information ................................................ 18
Shares of the Fund are not deposits or obligations of, or guaranteed or
endorsed by, any bank, and the shares are not federally insured by the
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Federal Reserve Board, or any
other agency. Dean Witter
THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN
APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR
ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION NOR
HAS THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES
COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE ACCURACY
OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY
REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A
CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
DEAN WITTER DISTRIBUTORS INC., DISTRIBUTOR
<PAGE>
PROSPECTUS SUMMARY
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C>
- --------------- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
THE FUND The Fund is organized as a Massachusetts business trust and is a
no-load, open-end, diversified management investment company investing
predominately in intermediate term municipal bonds.
- --------------- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
SHARES OFFERED Shares of beneficial interest with $0.01 par value (see page 18).
- --------------- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
OFFERING PRICE The price of the shares offered by this Prospectus is determined once
daily as of 4:00 p.m., New York time, on each day that the New York
Stock Exchange is open, and is equal to the net asset value per share
without a sales charge (see page 11).
- --------------- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
MINIMUM Minimum initial purchase, $1,000; ($100 if the account is opened
PURCHASE through EasyInvestSM); minimum subsequent investment, $100 (see
page 11).
- --------------- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
INVESTMENT The investment objective of the Fund is to provide investors with a
OBJECTIVE high level of current income that is exempt from federal income tax,
consistent with the preservation of capital and prescribed standards of
quality and maturity.
- --------------- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
INVESTMENT The Fund will invest at least 75% of its net assets in municipal
POLICIES securities rated A or better by Moody's Investors Service ("Moody's")
or Standard & Poor's Corporation ("S&P"). The municipal securities in
the Fund's portfolio will have an anticipated average dollar-weighted
maturity range of 7 to 10 years and a maximum average dollar-weighted
maturity of 12 years (see page 5).
- --------------- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
INVESTMENT Dean Witter InterCapital Inc. ("InterCapital"), the Investment Manager
MANAGER of the Fund, and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Dean Witter Services
Company Inc., serve in various investment management, advisory,
management and administrative capacities to 100 investment companies
and other portfolios with assets of approximately $92.2 billion at
April 30, 1997 (see page 5).
- --------------- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
MANAGEMENT FEE The Investment Manager receives a monthly fee at the annual rate of
0.50% of the average daily net assets (see page 5).
- --------------- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
DIVIDENDS AND Dividends are declared daily and paid monthly. Capital gains
CAPITAL GAINS distributions, if any, are paid at least once a year or are retained
DISTRIBUTIONS for reinvestment by the Fund. Dividends and distributions are
automatically invested in additional shares at net asset value unless
the shareholder elects to receive cash (see page 16).
- --------------- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
DISTRIBUTOR AND Dean Witter Distributors Inc. (the "Distributor") sells shares of the
PLAN OF Fund through Dean Witter Reynolds Inc. ("DWR") and other selected
DISTRIBUTION broker-dealers pursuant to selected broker-dealer agreements. The
Distributor has entered into a Plan of Distribution pursuant to Rule
12b-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "Act"),
with the Fund authorizing the Distributor or any of its affiliates,
including the Investment Manager, to make payments out of their own
resources for expenses incurred in connection with the promotion or
distribution of the Fund's shares (see page 11).
- --------------- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
REDEMPTION Shares are redeemable at net asset value. An account may be
involuntarily redeemed if total value of the account is less than $100
or, if the account was opened through EasyInvest, if after twelve
months the shareholder has invested less than $1,000 in the account.
(see page 15).
- --------------- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
SHAREHOLDER Automatic Investment of Dividends and Distributions (unless otherwise
SERVICES requested); Investment of Distributions Received in Cash; Exchange
Privilege; Systematic Withdrawal Plan; EasyInvestSM; (see page 12).
- --------------- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
RISK The prices of interest-bearing securities are inversely affected by
CONSIDERATIONS changes in interest rates and, therefore, are subject to the risk of
market price fluctuations. The values of fixed-income securities also
may be affected by changes in the credit rating or financial condition
of the issuing entities. Certain of the tax-exempt securities in which
the Fund may invest without limit may subject certain investors to the
federal, and any applicable state, alternative minimum tax. (see
page 8).
- --------------- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
The above is qualified in its entirety by the detailed information appearing
elsewhere in this Prospectus and in the Statement of Additional Information.
2
<PAGE>
SUMMARY OF FUND EXPENSES
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
The following table illustrates all expenses and fees that a shareholder of
the Fund will incur. The expenses and fees set forth in the table are for the
fiscal year ended March 31, 1997.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C>
Shareholder Transaction Expenses
Maximum Sales Charge Imposed on Purchases................................. None
Maximum Sales Charge Imposed on Reinvested Dividends...................... None
Deferred Sales Charge..................................................... None
Redemption Fees........................................................... None
Exchange Fee.............................................................. None
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (as a Percentage of Average Net Assets)
Management Fees........................................................... 0.50%
12b-1 Fees................................................................ None
Other Expenses............................................................ 0.38%
Total Fund Operating Expenses............................................. 0.88%
</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: $9 $28 $48 $108
</TABLE>
THE ABOVE EXAMPLE SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED A REPRESENTATION OF PAST OR
FUTURE EXPENSES OR PERFORMANCE. ACTUAL EXPENSES OF THE FUND MAY BE MORE 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."
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, the notes thereto and the
unqualified report of independent accountants which are contained in the
Statement of Additional Information. Further information about the
performance of the Fund is contained in the Fund's Annual Report to
Shareholders, which may be obtained without charge upon request from the
Fund.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
FOR THE PERIOD
FOR THE YEAR ENDED MARCH 31, JULY 12, 1993*
------------------------------- THROUGH
1997 1996 1995 MARCH 31, 1994
- ----------------------------------------- ---------- ---------- --------- ----------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
PER SHARE OPERATING PERFORMANCE:
Net asset value, beginning of period ..... $ 9.95 $ 9.56 $ 9.61 $10.00
---------- ---------- --------- --------------
Net investment income..................... 0.40 0.41 0.42 0.29
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) .. (0.04) 0.39 (0.05) (0.39)
---------- ---------- --------- --------------
Total from investment operations.......... 0.36 0.80 0.37 (0.10)
Less dividends from net investment
income................................... (0.40) (0.41) (0.42) (0.29)
---------- ---------- --------- --------------
Net asset value, end of period............ $ 9.91 $ 9.95 $ 9.56 $ 9.61
========== ========== ========= ==============
TOTAL INVESTMENT RETURN+.................. 3.65% 8.42% 4.01% (1.11)%(1)
RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET ASSETS:
Expenses.................................. 0.88%(4) 0.87%(4) 0.76% 0.31%(2)(3)
Net investment income..................... 3.99% 4.09% 4.41% 3.92%(2)(3)
SUPPLEMENTAL DATA:
Net assets, end of period, in thousands .. $61,098 $72,766 $85,499 $170,589
Portfolio turnover rate .................. -- % -- % 2% 6%(1)
</TABLE>
- ------------
* Commencement of operations.
+ Calculated based on the net asset value as of the last business day of
the period.
(1) Not annualized.
(2) Annualized.
(3) If the Fund had borne all of its expenses that were assumed/reimbursed
or waived by the Investment Manager, the annualized expense and net
investment income ratios would have been 0.75% and 3.48%, respectively.
(4) Does not reflect the effect of expense offsets of 0.01%.
4
<PAGE>
THE FUND AND ITS MANAGEMENT
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dean Witter Limited Term Municipal Trust (the "Fund") is a no-load,
open-end, diversified management investment company. The Fund is a trust of
the type commonly known as a "Massachusetts business trust" and was organized
under the laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts on February 25, 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 Morgan Stanley,
Dean Witter, Discover & Co., a preeminent global financial services firm that
maintains leading market positions in each of its three primary
businesses--securities, asset management and credit services.
InterCapital and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Dean Witter Services Company
Inc., serve in various investment management, advisory, management and
administrative capacities to a total of 100 investment companies, thirty of
which are listed on the New York Stock Exchange, with combined total assets,
including this Fund, of approximately $89 billion as of April 30, 1997. The
Investment Manager also manages portfolios of pensions plans, other
institutions and individuals which aggregated approximately $3.2 billion at
such date.
The Fund has retained the Investment Manager, pursuant to an Investment
Management Agreement, to provide administrative services, manage its business
affairs and manage the investment of the Fund's assets, including the placing
of orders for the purchase and sale of portfolio securities. InterCapital has
retained Dean Witter Services Company Inc. to perform the aforementioned
administrative services for the Fund. The Fund's Board of Trustees reviews
the various services provided by or under the direction of the Investment
Manager to ensure that the Fund's general investment policies and programs
are being properly carried out and that administrative services are being
provided to the Fund in a satisfactory manner.
As full compensation for the services and facilities furnished to the Fund
and 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 0.50% to the Fund's net assets determined as of the close of
each business day. For the fiscal year ended March 31, 1997, the Fund accrued
total compensation to the Investment Manager amounting to 0.50% of the Fund's
average daily net assets and the Fund's total expenses amounted to 0.88% of
the Fund's average daily net assets.
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE AND POLICIES
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
The investment objective of the Fund is to provide a high level of current
income that is exempt from federal income tax, consistent with the
preservation of capital and prescribed standards of quality and maturity. The
Fund will seek to achieve its investment objective by investing predominately
in intermediate term municipal securities. The investment objective is a
fundamental policy of the Fund and may not be changed without the approval of
the holders of a majority of the Fund's shares. There is no assurance that
the Fund's investment objective will be achieved.
The Fund will invest at least 75% of its net assets in (a) Municipal Bonds
which are rated at the time of purchase within the three highest grades by
Moody's Investors Service, Inc. ("Moody's") or Standard & Poor's Corporation
("S&P"); (b) Municipal Notes which at the time of purchase are rated in the
two highest grades by Moody's or S&P, or, if not rated, have outstanding one
or more issues of Municipal Bonds rated as set forth in clause (a) of this
paragraph; and (c) Municipal Commercial Paper which at the time of purchase
are rated P-1 by Moody's or A-1 by S&P. The Fund may also invest
5
<PAGE>
up to 25% of its net assets in municipal securities rated Baa by Moody's or
BBB by S&P, or if not rated, are determined by the Investment Manager to be
the equivalent of Baa/BBB or better. A description of municipal security
ratings is contained in the Appendix to the Statement of Additional
Information.
The municipal securities in the Fund's portfolio will have an anticipated
average dollar-weighted maturity range of 7 to 10 years, with a maximum
average dollar-weighted maturity of 12 years. However, at least 80% of the
net assets of the Fund will be subject to an average dollar-weighted maturity
constraint of 15 years. When computing the average dollar-weighted maturity,
the Fund intends to treat investments which permit the holder to demand
payment of principal at any time or at specified intervals prior to the
stated final maturity as having a maturity equal to the next demand date. The
final maturity of these demand obligations will be no more than 25 years,
until such time as the Staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission has
determined the appropriateness of using maturity shortening techniques for
obligations with longer final maturities.
The foregoing percentage and rating limitations apply at the time of
acquisition of a security based on the last previous determination of the net
asset value of the Fund. Any subsequent change in any rating by a rating
service or change in percentages resulting from market fluctuations or other
changes in total assets of the Fund will not require elimination of any
security from the Fund's portfolio. Therefore, the Fund may hold securities
which have been downgraded from ratings of Baa or BBB or lower by Moody's or
S&P. However such investments may not exceed 5% of the net assets of the
Fund. Any investments which exceed this limitation will be eliminated from
the portfolio within a reasonable period of time (such time as the Investment
Manager determines that it is practicable to sell the investment without
undue market or tax consequences to the Fund). Municipal obligations rated
below investment grade by Moody's or S&P are considered to be speculative
investments, some of which may not be currently paying any interest and may
have extremely poor prospects of ever attaining any real investment standing.
The two principal classifications of municipal obligations and commercial
paper are "general obligation" and "revenue" obligations or commercial paper.
General obligation bonds, notes or commercial paper are secured by the
issuer's pledge of its faith, credit and taxing power for the payment of
principal and interest. Issuers of general obligation bonds, notes or
commercial paper include a state, its counties, cities, towns and other
governmental units. Revenue bonds, notes or commercial paper are payable from
the revenues derived from a particular facility or class of facilities or, in
some cases, from specific revenue sources. Revenue bonds, notes or commercial
paper are issued for a wide variety of purposes, including the financing of
electric, gas, water and sewer systems and other public utilities; industrial
development and pollution control facilities; single and multi-family housing
units; public buildings and facilities; air and marine ports, transportation
facilities such as toll roads, bridges and tunnels; and health and
educational facilities such as hospitals and dormitories. They rely primarily
on user fees to pay debt service, although the principal revenue source is
often supplemented by additional security features which are intended to
enhance the creditworthiness of the issuer's obligations. In some cases,
particularly revenue bonds issued to finance housing and public buildings, a
direct or implied "moral obligation" of a governmental unit may be pledged to
the payment of debt service. In other cases, a special tax or other charge
may augment user fees.
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
6
<PAGE>
the Fund's assets which may be committed to the purchase of securities on a
when-issued, delayed delivery or forward commitment basis. An increase in the
percentage of the Fund's assets committed to the purchase of securities on a
when-issued, delayed delivery or forward commitment basis may increase the
volatility of the Fund's net asset value.
When, As and If Issued Securities. The Fund may purchase securities on a
"when, as and if issued" basis under which the issuance of the security
depends upon the occurrence of a subsequent event, such as approval of a
merger, corporate reorganization, leveraged buyout or debt restructuring. If
the anticipated event does not occur and the securities are not issued, the
Fund will have lost an investment opportunity. There is no overall limit on
the percentage of the Fund's assets which may be committed to the purchase of
securities on a "when, as and if issued" basis. An increase in the percentage
of the Fund's assets committed to the purchase of securities on a "when, as
and if issued" basis may increase the volatility of its net asset value.
HEDGING ACTIVITIES
Subject to applicable state law, the Fund may enter into financial futures
contracts, options on such futures and municipal bond index futures contracts
for hedging purposes.
Financial Futures Contracts and Options on Futures. The Fund may invest in
financial futures contracts and related options thereon. The Fund may sell a
financial futures contract or purchase a put option on such futures contract,
if the Investment Manager anticipates interest rates to rise, as a hedge
against a decrease in the value of the Funds' portfolio securities. If the
Investment Manager anticipates that interest rates will decline, the Fund may
purchase a financial futures contract or a call option thereon to protect
against an increase in the price of the securities that the Fund intends to
purchase. These futures contracts and related options thereon will be used
only as a hedge against anticipated interest rate changes. A futures contract
sale creates an obligation by the Fund, as seller, to deliver the specific
type of instrument called for in the contract at a specified future time for
a specified price. A futures contract purchase would create an obligation by
the Fund, as purchaser, to take delivery of the specific type of financial
instrument at a specified future time at a specified price. The specific
securities delivered or taken, respectively, at settlement date, would not be
determined until or near that date. The determination would be in accordance
with the rules of the exchange on which the futures contract sale or purchase
was effected.
Although the terms of financial futures contracts specify actual delivery
or receipt of securities, in most instances the contracts are closed out
before the settlement date without the making or taking of delivery of the
securities. Closing out of a futures contract is effected by entering into an
offsetting purchase or sale transaction.
Unlike a financial futures contract, which requires the parties to buy and
sell a security on a set date, an option on such a futures contract entitles
its holder to decide on or before a future date whether to enter into such a
contract (a long position in the case of a call option and a short position
in the case of a put option). If the holder decides not to enter into the
contract, the premium paid for the option on the contract is lost. Since the
value of the option is fixed at the point of sale, there are no daily
payments of cash to reflect the change in the value of the underlying
contract as there is by a purchaser or seller of a futures contract. The
value of the option does change and is reflected in the net asset value of
the Fund.
Municipal Bond Index Futures. The Fund may utilize municipal bond index
futures contracts for hedging purposes. The strategies in employing such
contracts will be similar to that discussed above with respect to financial
futures and options thereon. A municipal bond index is a method of reflecting
in a single number the market value of many different municipal bonds and is
designed to be representative of the municipal bond market generally. The
index fluctuates in response to changes in the market values of the bonds
included within the
7
<PAGE>
index. Unlike futures contracts on particular financial instruments,
transactions in futures on a municipal bond index will be settled in cash, if
held until the close of trading in the contract. However, like any other
futures contract, a position in the contract may be closed out by a purchase
or sale of an offsetting contract for the same delivery month prior to
expiration of the contract.
The Fund may not enter into futures contracts or related options thereon
if, immediately thereafter, the amount committed to margin plus the amount
paid for option premiums exceeds 5% of the value of the Fund's total assets.
The Fund may not purchase or sell futures contracts or related options, if,
immediately thereafter, more than one-third of the net assets of the Fund
would be hedged.
Options. The Fund may purchase or sell (write) options on debt securities
as a means of achieving additional return or hedging the value of the Fund's
portfolio. The Fund would only buy options listed on national securities
exchanges. The Fund will not purchase options on behalf of the Fund if, as a
result, the aggregate cost of all outstanding options exceeds 10% of the
Fund's total assets.
Lending of Portfolio Securities. The Fund will not lend 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 the total assets of the Fund.
RISK CONSIDERATIONS
Municipal Securities and Ratings. The value of the Fund's portfolio
securities and, therefore, the Fund's net asset value per share, may increase
or decrease due to various factors, principally changes in prevailing
interest rates and the ability of the issuers of the Fund's portfolio
securities to pay interest and principal on such obligations on a timely
basis. Generally, a rise in interest rates will result in a decrease in the
Fund's net asset value per share, while a drop in interest rates will result
in an increase in the Fund's net asset value per share.
Under normal conditions, at least 80% of the total assets of the Fund will
be invested in securities, the interest on which is exempt from federal
income taxes. However, the Fund may invest more than 20% of its total assets
in taxable money market instruments in order to maintain a temporary
"defensive" position, when, in the opinion of the Investment Manager,
prevailing market or financial conditions (including unavailability of
securities of requisite quality) so warrant. Certain of the tax-exempt
securities in which the Fund may invest without limit may subject certain
investors to the federal alternative minimum tax or any applicable state
alternative minimum tax and, therefore, a substantial portion of the income
produced by the Fund may be taxable to such investors under any federal or
any applicable state alternative minimum tax. The Fund, therefore, may not be
a suitable investment for investors who are subject to the alternative
minimum tax. The suitability of the Fund for these investors will depend upon
a comparison of the after-tax yield likely to be provided from the Fund to
comparable tax-exempt investments not subject to such tax and also to
comparable fully taxable investments in light of each investor's tax
position. See "Dividends, Distributions and Taxes".
Investments in municipal bonds rated either Baa by Moody's or BBB by S&P
(investment grade bonds--the lowest rated permissible investments by the
Fund) 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.
The ratings assigned by Moody's and S&P represent their opinions as to the
quality of the securities which they undertake to rate (see the Appendix to
the Statement of Additional Information). It should be emphasized, however,
that the ratings are general and not absolute standards of quality.
Lease Obligations. Included within the revenue bonds category, as noted
above, are partici-
8
<PAGE>
pations in lease obligations or installment purchase contracts (hereinafter
collectively called "lease obligations") of municipalities. State and local
governments, agencies or authorities issue lease obligations to acquire
equipment and facilities. Lease obligations may have risks not normally
associated with general obligation or other revenue bonds. Leases, and
installment purchase or conditional sale contracts (which may provide for
title to the leased asset to pass eventually to the issuer), have developed
as a means for governmental issuers to acquire property and equipment without
the necessity of complying with the constitutional and statutory requirements
generally applicable for the issuance of debt. Certain lease obligations
contain "non-appropriation" clauses that provide that the governmental issuer
has no obligation to make future payments under the lease or contract unless
money is appropriated for such purpose by the appropriate legislative body on
an annual or other periodic basis. Consequently, continued lease payments on
those lease obligations containing "non-appropriation" clauses are dependent
on future legislative actions. If such legislative actions do not occur, the
holders of the lease obligation may experience difficulty in exercising their
rights, including disposition of the property.
In addition, lease obligations represent a relatively new type of
financing that has not yet developed the depth of marketability associated
with more conventional municipal obligations, and, as a result, certain of
such lease obligations may be considered illiquid securities. To determine
whether or not the Fund will consider such securities to be illiquid (the
Fund may not invest more than fifteen percent of its net assets in illiquid
securities), the Trustees of the Fund have established guidelines to be
utilized by the Fund in determining the liquidity of a lease obligation. The
factors to be considered in making the determination include: 1) the
frequency of trades and quoted prices for the obligation; 2) the number of
dealers willing to purchase or sell the security and the number of other
potential purchasers; 3) the willingness of dealers to undertake to make a
market in the security; and 4) the nature of the marketplace trades,
including the time needed to dispose of the security, the method of
soliciting offers, and the mechanics of the transfer.
Futures Contracts and Options on Futures. A risk in employing futures
contracts to protect against the price volatility of portfolio securities is
that the prices of securities subject to such futures contracts may correlate
imperfectly with the behavior of the cash prices of the Fund's portfolio
securities. The risk of imperfect correlation will be increased by the fact
that the financial futures contracts in which the Fund may invest are on
taxable securities rather than tax-exempt securities, and there is no
guarantee that the prices of taxable securities will move in a similar manner
to the prices of tax-exempt securities. The correlation may 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.
Another risk is that the Investment Manager could be incorrect in its
expectations as to the direction or extent of various interest rate movements
or the time span within which the movements take place. For example, if the
Fund sold financial 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.
In addition to the risks that apply to all options transactions (see the
Statement of Additional Information for a description of the characteristics
of, and the risks of investing in, options on debt securities), there are
several special risks relating to options on futures. In particular, the
ability to establish and close out positions on such options will be subject
to the development and maintenance of a liquid secondary market. It is not
certain that this market will develop or be maintained.
Zero Coupon Securities. A portion of the fixed-income securities purchased
by the Fund may be
9
<PAGE>
zero coupon securities. Such securities are purchased at a discount from
their face amount, giving the purchaser the right to receive their full value
at maturity. The interest earned on such securities is, implicitly,
automatically compounded and paid out at maturity. While such compounding at
a constant rate eliminates the risk of receiving lower yields upon
reinvestment of interest if prevailing interest rates decline, the owner of a
zero coupon security will be unable to participate in higher yields upon
reinvestment of interest received on interest-paying securities if prevailing
interest rates rise.
A zero coupon security pays no interest to its holder during its life.
Therefore, to the extent the Fund invests in zero coupon securities, it will
not receive current cash available for distribution to shareholders. In
addition, zero coupon securities are subject to substantially greater price
fluctuations during periods of changing prevailing interest rates than are
comparable securities which pay interest on a current basis. Current federal
tax law requires that a holder (such as the Fund) of a zero coupon security
accrue a portion of the discount at which the security was purchased as
income each year even though the Fund receives no interest payments in cash
on the security during the year.
For additional risk disclosure, please refer to the "Investment Objective
and Policies" section of the Prospectus and to the "Investment Practices and
Policies" section of the Statement of Additional Information.
PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT
The Fund's portfolio is actively managed by its Investment Manager with a
view to achieving the Fund's investment objective. The Fund is managed within
InterCapital's Tax-Exempt Group, which manages 40 tax-exempt municipal bond
funds, with approximately $10.5 billion in assets as of April 30, 1997. Ms.
Katherine H. Stromberg is the Fund's portfolio manager. Ms. Stromberg has
been a municipal bond portfolio manager for more than 15 years and has been a
portfolio manager at InterCapital for over five years. 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 the 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.
Brokerage commissions are not normally charged on the purchase or sale of
municipal obligations, but such transactions may involve costs in the form of
spreads between bid and asked prices. Pursuant to an order of the Securities
and Exchange Commission, the Fund may effect principal transactions in
certain taxable money market instruments with DWR. In addition, the Fund may
incur brokerage commissions on futures' and options' transactions conducted
through DWR. It is not anticipated that the portfolio trading engaged in by
the Fund will result in its portfolio turnover rate exceeding 100%.
INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
The investment restrictions listed below are among the restrictions, a
complete listing of which is contained in the Statement of Additional
Information, which have been adopted by the Fund as fundamental policies.
Under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "Act"), a
fundamental policy may not be changed without the vote of a majority of the
outstanding voting securities of the Fund, as defined in the Act.
For purposes of the following restrictions: (a) an "issuer" of a security
is the entity whose assets and revenues are committed to the payment of
interest
10
<PAGE>
and principal on that particular security, provided that the guarantee of a
security will be considered a separate security and provided further that a
guarantee of a security shall not be deemed to be a security issued by the
guarantor if the value of all securities issued or guaranteed by the
guarantor and owned by the Fund does not exceed 10% of the value of the total
assets of the Fund; (b) a "taxable security" is any security the interest on
which is subject to federal income tax; and (c) all percentage limitations
apply immediately after a purchase or initial investment, and any subsequent
change in any applicable percentage resulting from market fluctuations does
not require elimination of any security from the portfolio.
The Fund may not:
1. With respect to 75% of its total assets, purchase securities of any
issuer if, immediately thereafter, more than 5% of the value of its total
assets are in the securities of any one issuer (other than obligations
issued, or guaranteed by, the United States Government, its agencies or
instrumentalities).
2. With respect to 75% of its total assets, purchase more than 10% of all
outstanding taxable debt securities of any one issuer (other than debt
securities issued, or guaranteed as to principal and interest by, the
United States Government, its agencies or instrumentalities).
3. Invest 25% or more of the value of its total assets in securities of
issuers in any one industry (industrial development and pollution control
bonds are grouped into industries based upon the business in which the
issuers of such obligations are engaged). This restriction does not apply
to obligations issued or guaranteed by the United States Government, its
agencies or instrumentalities or to domestic bank obligations.
Notwithstanding any other investment policy or restriction, the Fund may
seek to achieve its investment objective by investing all or substantially
all of its assets in another investment company having substantially the same
investment objective and policies as the Fund.
PURCHASE OF FUND SHARES
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Fund offers it shares for sale to the public on a continuous basis at
the offering price without the imposition of a sales charge. The offering
price will be the net asset value per share next determined following receipt
of an order (see "Determination of Net Asset Value"). Pursuant to a
Distribution Agreement between the Fund and Dean Witter Distributors Inc.
(the "Distributor"), an affiliate of the Investment Manager, shares of the
Fund are distributed by the Distributor and are offered by DWR and other
broker-dealers which have entered into selected broker-dealer agreements with
the Distributor ("Selected Broker-Dealers"). The principal executive office
of the Distributor is located at Two World Trade Center, New York, New York
10048.
The minimum initial purchase is $1,000 and subsequent purchases of $100 or
more may be made by sending a check, payable to Dean Witter Limited Term
Municipal Trust, 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 EasyInvestSM, 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, 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.
11
<PAGE>
Shares of the Fund are sold through the Distributor or a Selected
Broker-Dealer 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 or Selected Broker-Dealer. Shares of the Fund
purchased through the Distributor are entitled to dividends beginning on the
next business day following settlement date. Since DWR or 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. Shares
purchased through the Transfer Agent are entitled to dividends beginning on
the next business day following receipt of an order. As noted above, orders
placed directly with the Transfer Agent must be accompanied by payment.
Investors will be entitled to receive capital gains distributions if their
order is received by the close of business on the day prior to the record
date for such distributions. Investors will be entitled to receive income
dividends if their order is received by the close of business on the day
prior to the record date for such dividends and distributions.
Sales personnel of a Selected Broker-Dealer are compensated for shares of
the Fund sold by them by the Distributor or any of its affiliates and/or by a
Selected Broker-Dealer. In addition, some sales personnel of the Selected
Broker-Dealer will receive non-cash compensation as special sales incentives,
including trips, educational and/or business seminars and merchandise. The
Fund and the Distributor reserve the right to reject any purchase orders.
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
The Fund has entered into a Plan of Distribution pursuant to Rule 12b-1
under the Act with the Distributor whereby the Distributor is authorized to
utilize its own resources or those of its affiliates, including InterCapital,
to finance certain services and activities in connection with the
distribution of the Fund's shares. The principal activities and services
which may be provided by the Distributor, DWR, its affiliates and other
Selected Broker-Dealers under the Plan include: (1) compensation to, and
expenses of, account executives and other employees of DWR and other Selected
Broker-Dealers, including overhead and telephone expenses; (2) sales
incentives and bonuses to sales representatives and to marketing personnel in
connection with promoting sales of the Fund's shares; (3) expenses incurred
in connection with promoting sales of the Fund's shares; (4) preparing and
distributing sales literature; and (5) providing advertising and promotional
activities, including direct mail solicitation and television, radio,
newspaper, magazine and other media advertisements.
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 of its respective liabilities, dividing by the number of
shares outstanding and adjusting to the nearest cent. The net asset value per
share of the Fund 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.
Certain of the Fund's portfolio securities (other than short-term taxable
debt securities, futures and options) may be valued by an outside independent
pricing service approved by the Fund's Trustees. The service may utilize a
computerized grid matrix of tax-exempt securities and evaluations by its
staff in determining what it believes is the fair value of the Fund's
portfolio securities. The Board believes that timely and reliable market
quotations are generally not readily available to the Fund for purposes of
valuing tax-exempt securities and that the valuations supplied by the pricing
service are more likely to approximate the fair value of such securities. A
more detailed discussion of valuation procedures is in the Fund's Statement
of Additional Information.
12
<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. Such dividends and
distributions will be paid, at the net asset value per share, in shares of
the Fund (or in cash if the shareholder so requests) on the monthly payment
date, which will be no later than the last business day of the month for
which the dividend or distribution is payable. Processing of dividend checks
begins immediately following the monthly payment date. Shareholders who have
requested to receive dividends in cash will normally receive their monthly
dividend check during the first ten days of the following month.
EasyInvest(Service Mark). 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.
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.
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 could 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, and generally, for state and
local tax purposes.
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. An "Exchange Privilege," that is, the privilege of
exchanging shares of certain Dean Witter Funds for shares of the Fund, exists
whereby shares of various Dean Witter Funds which are open-end investment
companies sold with either a front-end (at time of purchase) sales charge
("FESC funds") or a contingent deferred sales charge ("CDSC funds") may be
redeemed at their next calculated net asset value and the proceeds of the
redemption may be used to purchase shares of the Fund, shares of Dean Witter
Tax-Free Daily Income Trust, Dean Witter U.S. Government Money Market Trust,
Dean Witter Liquid Asset Fund Inc., Dean Witter California Tax-Free Daily
Income Trust and Dean Witter New York Municipal Money Market Trust (which
five funds are hereinafter called "money market funds") and shares of Dean
Witter Short-Term U.S. Treasury Trust, Dean Witter Short-Term Bond Fund, Dean
Witter Intermediate Term U.S. Treasury Trust, Dean Witter Balanced Income
Fund and Dean Witter Balanced Growth Fund (collectively, the Fund, the money
market funds, Dean Witter Short-Term U.S. Treasury Trust, Dean Witter
Short-Term Bond Fund, Dean Witter Intermediate Term U.S. Treasury Trust, Dean
Witter Balanced Income Fund and Dean Witter Balanced Growth Fund are referred
to herein as the "Exchange Funds"). An exchange from an FESC fund or a CDSC
fund to an Exchange Fund is on the basis of the next calculated net asset
value per share of each fund after the exchange order is received. When
exchanging into a money market fund from an FESC fund or a CDSC fund, shares
of the FESC fund or the CDSC fund are redeemed at their next calculated net
asset value and exchanged for shares
13
<PAGE>
of the money market fund at their net asset value determined the following
business day. Subsequently, shares of the Exchange Funds received in an
exchange for shares of an FESC fund (regardless of the type of fund
originally purchased) may be redeemed and exchanged for shares of the other
Exchange Funds, FESC funds or CDSC funds (however, shares of CDSC funds,
including shares acquired in exchange for (i) shares of FESC funds or (ii)
shares of the Exchange Funds which were acquired in exchange for shares of
FESC funds, may not be exchanged for shares of FESC funds). Additionally,
shares of the Exchange Funds received in an exchange for shares of a CDSC
fund (regardless of the type of fund originally purchased) may be redeemed
and exchanged for shares of the other Exchange Funds or CDSC funds.
Ultimately, any applicable contingent deferred sales charge ("CDSC") will
have to be paid upon redemption of shares originally purchased from a CDSC
fund. (If shares of the Exchange Funds received in exchange for shares
originally purchased from a CDSC fund are exchanged for shares of another
CDSC fund having a different CDSC schedule than that of the CDSC fund from
which the Exchange Funds shares were acquired, the shares will be subject to
the higher CDSC schedule.) During the period of time the shares originally
purchased from a CDSC fund remain in the Exchange Funds (calculated from the
last day of the month in which the Exchange Funds shares were acquired), the
holding period (for the purpose of determining the rate of CDSC) is frozen.
If those shares are subsequently reexchanged for shares of a CDSC fund, the
holding period previously frozen when the first exchange was made resumes on
the last day of the month in which shares of CDSC fund are reacquired. Thus,
the CDSC is based upon the period of time the shareholder was invested in a
CDSC fund. Exchanges involving FESC funds or CDSC funds may be made after the
shares of the FESC fund or CDSC fund acquired by purchase (not by exchange or
dividend reinvestment) have been held for thirty days. There is no waiting
period for exchanges of shares acquired by exchange or dividend reinvestment.
Purchases and exchanges should be made for investment purposes only. A
pattern of frequent exchanges may be deemed by the Investment Manager to be
abusive and contrary to the best interests of the Fund's other shareholders
and, at the Investment Manager's discretion, may be limited by the Fund's
refusal to accept additional purchases and/or exchanges from the investor.
Although the Fund does not have any specific definition of what constitutes a
pattern of frequent exchanges, and will consider all relevant factors in
determining whether a particular situation is abusive and contrary to the
best interests of the Fund and its other shareholders, investors should be
aware that the Fund and each of the other Dean Witter Funds may in their
discretion limit or otherwise restrict the number of times this Exchange
Privilege may be exercised by any investor. Any such restriction will be made
by the Fund on a prospective basis only, upon notice to the shareholder not
later than ten days following such shareholder's most recent exchange. Also,
the Exchange Privilege may be terminated or revised at any time by the Fund
and/or any of such Dean Witter Funds for which shares of the Fund may be
exchanged, upon such notice as may be required by applicable regulatory
agencies. Shareholders maintaining margin accounts with DWR or another
Selected Broker-Dealer are referred to their account executive regarding
restrictions or exchanging of shares of the Fund pledged in the Margin
Account.
The current prospectus for each fund describes its investment objective(s)
and policies, and shareholders should obtain one and read it carefully before
investing. Exchanges are subject to the minimum investment requirement and
any other conditions imposed by each fund. An exchange will be treated for
federal income tax purposes the same as a repurchase or redemption of shares
on which the shareholder has realized a capital gain or loss. However, the
ability to deduct capital losses on an exchange may be limited in situations
where there is an exchange of shares within ninety days after the shares are
purchased. The Exchange Privilege is only available in states where an
exchange may legally be made.
14
<PAGE>
If DWR or another Selected Broker-Dealer is the current dealer of record
and its account numbers are part of the account information, shareholders may
initiate an exchange of shares of the Fund for shares of any of the above
Dean Witter Funds (for which the Exchange Privilege is available) pursuant to
this Exchange Privilege by contacting their DWR or an other Selected
Broker-Dealer account executive (no Exchange Privilege Authorization Form is
required). Other shareholders (and those shareholders who are clients of DWR
or another Selected Broker-Dealer but who wish to make exchanges directly by
writing or telephoning the Transfer Agent) must complete and forward to the
Transfer Agent an Exchange Privilege Authorization Form, copies of which may
be obtained from the Transfer Agent, to initiate an exchange. If the
Authorization Form is used, exchanges may be made in writing or by contacting
the Transfer Agent at (800) 869-NEWS (toll-free). The Fund will employ
reasonable procedures to confirm that exchange instructions communicated over
the telephone are genuine. Such procedures may include requiring various
forms of personal identification such as name, mailing address, social
security or other tax identification number and DWR or other Selected
Broker-Dealer account number (if any). Telephone instructions may also be
recorded. If such procedures are not employed, the Fund may be liable for any
losses due to unauthorized or fraudulent instructions.
Telephone exchange instructions will be accepted if received by the
Transfer Agent between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. New York time, on any day the
New York Stock Exchange is open. Any shareholder wishing to make an exchange
who has previously filed an Exchange Privilege Authorization Form and who is
unable to reach the Fund by telephone should contact his or her DWR or other
Selected Broker-Dealer account executive, if appropriate, or make a written
exchange request. Shareholders are advised that during periods of drastic
economic or market changes, it is possible that the telephone exchange
procedures may be difficult to implement, although this has not been the
experience of the other 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 its
respective current net asset value per share (without any redemption or other
charge). If shares are held in a shareholder's account without a share
certificate, a written request for redemption 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, to the Fund's Transfer Agent at
P.O. Box 983, Jersey City, NJ 07303.
Repurchase. DWR and other Selected Broker-Dealers are authorized to
repurchase shares represented by a share certificate which is delivered to
any of their offices. Shares held in a shareholder's account without a share
certificate may also be repurchased by DWR and other Selected Broker-Dealers
upon the telephonic request of the shareholder. The repurchase price is the
net asset value next determined (see "Purchase of Fund Shares--Determination
of Net Asset Value") after such repurchase order is received by DWR and other
Selected Broker-Dealers.
Payment for Shares Redeemed or Repurchased. Payment for shares presented
for repurchase or redemption will be made by check within seven days after
receipt by the Transfer Agent of the certificate and/or written request in
good order. Such payment may be postponed or the right of redemption
suspended under unusual circumstances. If the shares to be redeemed have
recently been purchased by check, payment of the redemption proceeds may be
delayed for the minimum time needed to verify that the check used for
investment has been honored (not more than fifteen days from the time of
receipt of the check by the Transfer Agent). Shareholders maintaining margin
accounts with
15
<PAGE>
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.
Involuntary Redemption. The Fund reserves the right to redeem, on 60 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 EasyInvestSM, if after twelve months the shareholder has invested
less than $1,000 in the account. However, before the Fund redeems such shares
and sends the proceeds to the shareholder, it will notify the shareholder
that the value of the shares is less than the applicable amount and allow the
shareholder sixty days to make an additional investment in an amount which
will increase the value of his or her account to at least the applicable
amount before the redemption is processed.
DIVIDENDS, DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dividends and Distributions. The Fund declares dividends on each day the
New York Stock Exchange is open for business. Such dividends are payable
monthly. The Fund intends to distribute substantially all of its daily net
investment income on an annual basis. Dividends from net short-term capital
gains, if any, will be paid at least once each year. The Fund may, however,
determine either to distribute or to retain all or part of any net long-term
capital gains in any year for reinvestment. Any dividends or distributions
declared in the last quarter of any calendar year which are paid in the
following calendar year prior to February 1 will be deemed received by the
shareholder in the prior calendar year. Shareholders may instruct the
Transfer Agent (in writing) to have their dividends paid out monthly in cash.
Processing of dividend checks begins immediately following the monthly
payment date. Shareholders who have requested to receive dividends in cash
will normally be sent their monthly dividend check during the first ten days
of the following month.
Taxes. Because the Fund intends to distribute substantially all of its net
investment income and net capital gains, if any, to shareholders, and intends
to otherwise comply with all the provisions of Subchapter M of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), to qualify as a regulated
investment company ("RIC"), it is not expected that the Fund will be required
to pay any federal income tax.
The Fund intends to qualify to pay "exempt-in terest dividends" to its
shareholders by maintaining, as of the close of each quarter of its taxable
year, at least 50% of the value of its total assets in tax-exempt securities.
If the fund qualifies as a RIC and satisfies such requirement, dividends from
net investment income to shareholders, whether taken in cash or reinvested in
additional Fund shares, will be excludable from gross income for federal
income tax purposes to the extent net interest income is represented by
interest on tax-exempt securities. Exempt-interest dividends are included,
however, in determining what portion, if any, of a person's Social Security
benefits are subject to federal income tax.
The Code subjects interest received on certain otherwise tax-exempt
securities to an alternative minimum tax. This alternative minimum tax
applies to interest received on "private activity bonds" (in general, bonds
that benefit non-governmental entities) issued after August 7, 1986 which,
although tax-exempt, are used for purposes other than those generally
performed by governmental units (e.g., bonds used for commercial or housing
purposes). Income received on such bonds is classified as a "tax preference
item," under the alternative minimum tax, for both individual and corporate
investors. There is no percentage limitation with respect to the Fund's
investments in such "private activity bonds," with the result that a portion
of the exempt-
16
<PAGE>
interest dividends paid by the Fund may be an item of tax preference to
shareholders subject to the alternative minimum tax. In addition, certain
corporations which are subject to the alternative minimum tax may have to
include a portion of exempt-interest dividends in calculating their
alternative minimum taxable income in situations where the "adjusted current
earnings" of the corporation exceeds its alternative minimum taxable income.
The Fund will mail to shareholders a statement indicating the percentage
of the dividend distributions for each taxable year which constitutes
exempt-interest dividends and the percentage, if any, that is taxable, and
the percentage, if any, of the exempt-interest dividends which constitutes an
item of tax preference.
Shareholders will normally be subject to federal personal income tax on
market discount on certain taxable and tax-exempt fixed-income securities,
dividends paid from interest income derived from taxable securities and on
distributions of net capital gains. For federal income tax purposes,
distributions of 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 cash. To avoid being subject to a 31% backup withholding
tax on taxable dividends and capital gains distributions and the proceeds of
redemptions and repurchases, shareholders' taxpayer identification numbers
must be furnished and certified as to accuracy. Interest on indebtedness
incurred by shareholders or related parties to purchase or carry shares of an
investment company paying exempt-interest dividends, such as the Fund, will
not be deductible by the investor for federal income tax purposes.
Under the Revenue Reconciliation Act of 1993, all or a portion of the
Fund's gain from the sale or redemption of tax-exempt obligations purchased
at a market discount after April 30, 1993 will be treated as ordinary income
rather than capital gain. This rule may increase the amount of ordinary
income dividends received by shareholders.
The foregoing relates to federal income taxation as in effect as of the
date of this Prospectus. Distributions from investment income and capital
gains, including exempt-interest dividends, may be subject to state franchise
taxes if received by a corporation doing business in various states, and to
state and local taxes. Shareholders should consult their tax advisers as to
the applicability of the above to their own tax situation.
PERFORMANCE INFORMATION
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
From time to time the Fund may quote its "yield" and/or its "total return"
in advertisements and sales literature. Both the yield and the total return
of the Fund are based on historical earnings and are not intended to indicate
future performance. The yield of the Fund is computed by dividing the Fund's
net investment income over a 30-day period by an average value (using the
average number of shares entitled to receive dividends and the maximum
offering price per share at the end of the period), all in accordance with
applicable regulatory requirements. Such amount is compounded for six months
and then annualized for a twelve-month period to derive the Fund's yield. The
Fund may also quote tax-equivalent yield, which is calculated by determining
the pre-tax yield which, after being taxed at a stated rate, would be
equivalent to the yield determined as described above.
The "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 of $1,000 over periods of one, five and ten
years, as well as the life of the Fund if less than any of the foregoing.
Average annual total return reflects all income earned by the Fund, any
appreciation or depreciation of the Fund's assets and all expenses incurred
by the Fund for the stated periods. It also assumes reinvestment of all
dividends and distributions paid by the Fund.
17
<PAGE>
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. The Fund from time to time may also advertise its performance relative
to certain performance rankings (such as Lipper Analytical Services Inc.) and
indices compiled by independent organizations (such as the Lehman Brothers
Municipal Bond Index and Sub-indices).
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Voting Rights. All shares of beneficial interest of the Fund are of $0.01
par value and are equal as to earnings, assets and voting privileges.
The Fund is not required to hold Annual Meetings of Shareholders and, in
ordinary circumstances, the Fund does not intend to hold such meetings.
Under Massachusetts law, shareholders of a business trust may, under
certain 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 documents include such disclaimer and provides for indemnification and
reimbursement of expenses out of the Fund's property for any shareholder held
personally liable for the obligations of the Fund. Thus, the risk of a
shareholder incurring financial loss on account of shareholder liability is
limited to circumstances in which the Fund itself would be unable to meet its
obligations. Given the above limitations on shareholder personal liability
and the nature of the Fund's assets and operations, the possibility of the
Fund being unable to meet its obligations is remote and, 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 options transactions and profiting on
short-term trading (that is, a purchase within 60 days of a sale or a sale
within 60 days of a purchase) of a security. In addition, investment
personnel may not purchase or sell a security for their personal account
within 30 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.
Master/Feeder Conversion. The Fund reserves the right to seek to achieve
its investment objective by investing all of its investable assets in a
diversified, open-end management investment company having the same
investment objective and policies and substantially the same investment
restrictions as those applicable to the Fund.
Shareholder Inquiries. All inquiries regarding the Fund should be directed
to the Fund at the telephone numbers or addresses set forth on the front
cover of this Prospectus.
18
<PAGE>
THE DEAN WITTER FAMILY OF FUNDS
MONEY MARKET FUNDS
Dean Witter Liquid Asset Fund Inc.
Dean Witter U.S. Government Money Market Trust
Dean Witter Tax-Free Daily Income Trust
Dean Witter California Tax-Free Daily Income Trust
Dean Witter New York Municipal Money Market Trust
EQUITY FUNDS
Dean Witter American Value Fund
Dean Witter Natural Resource Development
Securities Inc.
Dean Witter Dividend Growth Securities Inc.
Dean Witter Developing Growth Securities Trust
Dean Witter World Wide Investment Trust
Dean Witter Value-Added Market Series
Dean Witter Utilities Fund
Dean Witter Capital Growth Securities
Dean Witter European Growth Fund Inc.
Dean Witter Precious Metals and Minerals Trust
Dean Witter Pacific Growth Fund Inc.
Dean Witter Health Sciences Trust
Dean Witter Global Dividend Growth Securities
Dean Witter Global Utilities Fund
Dean Witter Mid-Cap Growth Fund
Dean Witter International SmallCap Fund
Dean Witter Balanced Growth Fund
Dean Witter Capital Appreciation Fund
Dean Witter Information Fund
Dean Witter Japan Fund
Dean Witter Income Builder Fund
Dean Witter Special Value Fund
Dean Witter Financial Services Trust
Dean Witter Market Leader Trust
FIXED-INCOME FUNDS
Dean Witter High Yield Securities Inc.
Dean Witter Tax-Exempt Securities Trust
Dean Witter U.S. Government Securities Trust
Dean Witter Federal Securities Trust
Dean Witter Convertible Securities Trust
Dean Witter California Tax-Free Income Fund
Dean Witter New York Tax-Free Income Fund
Dean Witter World Wide Income Trust
Dean Witter Intermediate Income Securities
Dean Witter Global Short-Term Income Fund Inc.
Dean Witter Multi-State Municipal Series Trust
Dean Witter Short-Term U.S. Treasury Trust
Dean Witter Diversified Income Trust
Dean Witter Limited Term Municipal Trust
Dean Witter Short-Term Bond Fund
Dean Witter High Income Securities
Dean Witter National Municipal Trust
Dean Witter Balanced Income Fund
Dean Witter Hawaii Municipal Trust
Dean Witter Intermediate Term U.S. Treasury Trust
ASSET ALLOCATION FUNDS
Dean Witter Strategist Fund
Dean Witter Global Asset Allocation Fund
ACTIVE ASSETS ACCOUNT PROGRAM
Active Assets Money Trust
Active Assets Tax-Free Trust
Active Assets California Tax-Free Trust
Active Assets Government Securities Trust
DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES
Liquid Asset Series
U.S. Government Money Market Series
U.S. Government Securities Series
Intermediate Income Securities Series
American Value Series
Capital Growth Series
Dividend Growth Series
Stategist Series
Utilities Series
Value-Added Market Series
Global Equity Series
<PAGE>
Dean Witter
Limited Term Municipal Trust
Two World Trade Center
New York, New York 10048
TRUSTEES
Michael Bozic
Charles A. Fiumefreddo
Edwin J. Garn
John R. Haire
Dr. Manuel H. Johnson
Michael E. Nugent
Philip J. Purcell
John L. Schroeder
OFFICERS
Charles A. Fiumefreddo
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Barry Fink
Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel
Katherine H. Stromberg
Vice President
Thomas F. Caloia
Treasurer
CUSTODIAN
The Bank of New York
90 Washington Street
New York, New York 10286
TRANSFER AGENT AND
DIVIDEND DISBURSING AGENT
Dean Witter Trust Company
Harborside Financial Center
Plaza Two
Jersey City, New Jersey 07311
INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
Price Waterhouse LLP
1177 Avenue of the Americas
New York, New York 10036
INVESTMENT MANAGER
Dean Witter InterCapital Inc.
Dean Witter
Limited Term
Municipal Trust
PROSPECTUS--June 13, 1997
<PAGE>
DEAN WITTER
LIMITED TERM
MUNICIPAL TRUST
STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
June 13, 1997
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dean Witter Limited Term Municipal Trust (the "Fund") is an open-end,
diversified management investment company whose investment objective is to
provide a high level of current income exempt from federal income tax,
consistent with the preservation of capital and prescribed standards of
quality and maturity. The Fund seeks to achieve its objective by investing
predominately in intermediate term high quality municipal securities with an
anticipated average dollar-weighted maturity range of 7 to 10 years and a
average maximum dollar-weighted maturity of 12 years. (See "Investment
Objective and Policies.")
A Prospectus for the Fund dated June 13, 1997, which provides the basic
information you should know before investing in the Fund, may be obtained
without charge from the Fund at its address or telephone numbers listed below
or from the Fund's Distributor, Dean Witter Distributors Inc., or from Dean
Witter Reynolds Inc. at any of its branch offices. This Statement of
Additional Information is not a Prospectus. It contains information in
addition to and more detailed than that set forth in the Prospectus. It is
intended to provide additional information regarding the activities and
operations of the Fund, and should be read in conjunction with the
Prospectus.
Dean Witter
Limited Term Municipal Trust
Two World Trade Center
New York, New York 10048
(212) 392-2550 or
(800) 869-NEWS (toll-free)
<PAGE>
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C>
The Fund and its Management .......... 3
Trustees and Officers ................ 6
Investment Practices and Policies ... 12
Investment Restrictions .............. 20
Portfolio Transactions and Brokerage 21
Purchase of Fund Shares .............. 22
Shareholder Services ................. 25
Redemptions and Repurchases .......... 29
Dividends, Distributions and Taxes .. 29
Performance Information .............. 32
Shares of the Fund ................... 33
Custodian and Transfer Agent ......... 33
Independent Accountants .............. 34
Reports to Shareholders .............. 34
Legal Counsel ........................ 34
Experts .............................. 34
Registration Statement ............... 34
Financial Statements--March 31, 1997 . 35
Report of Independent Accountants .... 46
Appendix ............................. 47
</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 February 25, 1993.
THE INVESTMENT MANAGER
Dean Witter InterCapital Inc. (the "Investment Manager" or
"InterCapital"), 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 Morgan Stanley, Dean Witter, Discover & Co. ("MSDWD"), a
Delaware corporation. In an internal reorganization which took place in
January, 1993, InterCapital assumed the 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 periodic review by the Fund's
Trustees. Information as to these Trustees and Officers is contained under
the caption "Trustees and Officers".
InterCapital is also the investment manager (or investment adviser and
administrator) of the following management investment companies: Active
Assets Money Trust, Active Assets Tax-Free Trust, Active Assets California
Tax-Free Trust, Active Assets Government Securities Trust, Dean Witter Liquid
Asset Fund Inc., InterCapital Income Securities Inc., InterCapital California
Insured Municipal Income Trust, InterCapital Insured Municipal Income Trust,
InterCapital Quality Municipal Income Trust, InterCapital Quality Municipal
Securities, InterCapital California Quality Municipal Securities,
InterCapital New York Quality Municipal Securities, InterCapital Insured
Municipal Securities, InterCapital Insured California Municipal Securities,
Dean Witter Short-Term Bond Fund, Dean Witter Global Utilities Fund, Dean
Witter National Municipal Trust, Dean Witter High Income Securities, 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 Short-Term U.S. Treasury Trust, InterCapital Insured Municipal Trust,
Dean Witter Diversified Income Trust, Dean Witter Health Sciences Trust, Dean
Witter Global Dividend Growth Securities, Dean Witter Retirement Series, Dean
Witter International SmallCap Fund, Dean Witter Mid Cap Growth Fund, Dean
Witter Select Dimensions Investment Series, Dean Witter Multi-State Municipal
Series Trust, Dean Witter Global Asset Allocation, Dean Witter Balanced
Growth Fund, Dean Witter Balanced Income Fund, Dean Witter Hawaii Municipal
Trust, Dean Witter Capital Appreciation Fund, Dean Witter Information Fund,
Dean Witter Intermediate Term U.S. Treasury Trust, Dean Witter Japan Fund,
Dean Witter Income Builder Fund, Dean Witter Special Value Fund, Dean Witter
Financial Services Trust, Dean Witter Market Leader Trust, Municipal Income
Trust, Municipal Income Trust II, Municipal Income Trust III, Municipal
Income Opportunities Trust, Municipal Income Opportunities Trust II,
Municipal Income Opportunities Trust III, Prime Income Trust and Municipal
Premium Income Trust.
3
<PAGE>
The foregoing investment companies, together with the Fund, are collectively
referred to as the Dean Witter Funds. In addition, Dean Witter Services
Company Inc. ("DWSC"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of InterCapital, serves as
manager for the following 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
Term Trust 2000, TCW/DW Emerging Markets Opportunities Trust, TCW/DW Global
Telecom Trust, TCW/DW Strategic Income Trust, TCW/DW Term Trust 2002, TCW/DW
Income and Growth Fund, TCW/DW Small Cap Growth Fund, TCW/DW Balanced Fund,
TCW/DW Total Return Trust, TCW/DW Mid-Cap Equity Trust and TCW/DW Term Trust
2003 (the "TCW/DW Funds"). InterCapital also serves as: (i) administrator of
The BlackRock Strategic Term Trust Inc., a closed-end investment company; and
(ii) sub-administrator of MassMutual Participation Investors.
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.
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 reorganizations did not result in any change in the
nature or scope of the administrative services being provided to the Fund or
any of the fees being paid by the Fund for the overall services being
performed under the terms of the existing Management Agreement.
The Fund pays all expenses incurred in its operation. Expenses not
expressly assumed by the Investment Manager under the Agreement or by Dean
Witter Distributors Inc. ("Distributors" or the "Distributor"), the
Distributor of the Fund's shares (see "Purchase of Fund Shares") will be paid
by the Fund. The expenses borne by the Fund include, but are not limited to:
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 the Fund's borrowings; postage; insurance premiums on property or
personnel (including officers and Trustees) of the Fund which inure to its
benefit; extraordinary expenses including,
4
<PAGE>
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), the costs of litigation, payment of legal
claims or liabilities or indemnification relating thereto; and all other
costs of the Fund's operations properly payable by the Fund.
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
annual rate of 0.50% to the daily net assets of the Fund. For the fiscal
years ended March 31, 1995, 1996 and 1997, the Fund accrued to the Investment
Manager monthly compensation under the Agreement of $589,450, $401,513 and
$331,532, respectively.
The Agreement provides that in the absence of willful misfeasance, bad
faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of its obligations thereunder,
the Investment Manager is not liable to the Fund or any of its investors for
any act or omission by the Investment Manager or for any losses sustained by
the Fund or its investors. The Agreement in no way restricts the Investment
Manager from acting as investment manager or adviser to others.
The Investment Manager paid the organizational expenses of the Fund
incurred prior to the offering of the Fund's shares. The Fund agreed to bear
and reimburse the Investment Manager for such expenses which totalled
approximately $140,000. The Fund has deferred and is amortizing these
organizational 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 February 21, 1997
and by the shareholders of the Fund at a Special Meeting of Shareholders held
on May 21, 1997. The Agreement is substantially identical to a prior
investment management agreement which was initially approved by the Trustees
on October 30, 1992 and by the shareholders of the Fund at a Special Meeting
of Shareholders held on January 12, 1993. The Agreement took effect on May
31, 1997 upon the consummation of the merger of Dean Witter, Discover & Co.
with Morgan Stanley Group Inc. The Agreement may be terminated at any time,
without penalty, on thirty days' notice by the Board of Trustees of the Fund,
by the holders of a majority, as defined in the Investment Company Act of
1940 (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).
By its terms, the Agreement has an initial term ending April 30, 1999, and
provides that it 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 of the outstanding shares of the Fund, as defined in
the Act, or by the Trustees of the Fund; provided that in either event such
continuance is approved annually by the vote of a majority of the Trustees of
the Fund who are not parties to the Agreement or "interested persons" (as
defined in the Act) of any such party (the "Independent Trustees"), which
vote must be cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on
such approval.
The Fund has acknowledged that the name "Dean Witter" is a property right
of DWR. The Fund has agreed that DWR or its parent company may use, or at any
time permit others to use, the name "Dean Witter." The Fund has also agreed
that in the event the investment management contract between the Investment
Manager and the Fund is terminated, or if the affiliation between
InterCapital and its parent company is terminated, the Fund will eliminate
the name "Dean Witter" from its name if DWR or its parent company shall so
request.
5
<PAGE>
TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Trustees and Executive Officers of the Fund, their principal business
occupations during the last five years and their affiliations, if any, with
InterCapital, and with the 83 Dean Witter Funds and the 14 TCW/DW Funds are
shown below:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NAME, AGE, POSITION WITH FUND
AND ADDRESS PRINCIPAL OCCUPATIONS DURING LAST FIVE YEARS
- ----------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C>
Michael Bozic (56) Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Levitz Furniture (since November,
Trustee 1995); Director or Trustee of the Dean Witter Funds; formerly President
c/o Levitz Furniture Corporation and Chief Executive Officer of Hills Department Stores (May, 1991-July,
6111 Broken Sound Parkway, N.W. 1995); formerly variously Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, President
Boca Raton, Florida 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* (64) Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and Director of InterCapital,
Chairman, President Distributors and DWSC; Director and Executive Vice President of DWR;
Chief Executive Officer and Trustee Chairman, Director or Trustee, President and Chief Executive Officer
Two World Trade Center of the Dean Witter Funds; Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and Trustee
New York, New York of the TCW/DW Funds; Chairman and Director of Dean Witter Trust Company
("DWTC"); Director and/or officer of various MSDWD subsidiaries and
affiliates; formerly Executive Vice President and Director of Dean
Witter, Discover & Co. (until February, 1993).
Edwin J. Garn (64) Director or Trustee of the Dean Witter Funds; formerly United States
Trustee Senator (R-Utah)(1974-1992) and Chairman, Senate Banking Committee
c/o Huntsman Corporation 500 Huntsman Way (1980-1986); formerly Mayor of Salt Lake City, Utah (1971-1974); formerly
Salt Lake City, Utah Astronaut, Space Shuttle Discovery (April 12-19, 1985); Vice Chairman,
Huntsman Corporation (since January, 1993); Director of Franklin Quest
(time management systems) and John Alden Financial Corp (health
insurance); Member of the board of various civic and charitable
organizations.
John R. Haire (72) Chairman of the Audit Committee and Chairman of the Committee of the
Trustee Independent Directors or Trustees and Director or Trustee of the Dean
Two World Trade Center Witter Funds; Chairman of the Audit Committee and Chairman of the Committee
New York, New York of the Independent Trustees and Trustee of the TCW/DW Funds; formerly
President, Council for Aid to Education (1978-1989) and Chairman and
Chief Executive Officer of Anchor Corporation, an Investment Adviser
(1964-1978); Director of Washington National Corporation (insurance).
</TABLE>
6
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NAME, AGE, POSITION WITH FUND
AND ADDRESS PRINCIPAL OCCUPATIONS DURING LAST FIVE YEARS
- ----------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C>
Wayne E. Hedien** (63) Retired; Director or Trustee of the Dean Witter Funds (commencing on
Trustee September 1, 1997); Director of The PMI Group, Inc. (private mortgage
c/o Gordon Altman Butowsky insurance); Trustee and Vice Chairman of The Field Museum of Natural
Weitzen Shalov & Wein History; formerly associated with the Allstate Companies (1966-1994),
Counsel to the Independent most recently as Chairman of The Allstate Corporation (March,
Trustees 1993-December, 1994) and Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of its
114 West 47th Street wholly-owned subsidiary, Allstate Insurance Company (July,
New York, New York 1989-December, 1994); director of various other business and charitable
organizations.
Dr. Manuel H. Johnson (48) Senior Partner, Johnson Smick International, Inc., a consulting firm;
Trustee Co-Chairman and a founder of the Group of Seven Council (G7C), an
c/o Johnson Smick International, Inc. international economic commission; Director or Trustee of the Dean
1133 Connecticut Avenue, N.W. Witter Funds; Trustee of the TCW/DW Funds; Director of NASDAQ (since
Washington, D.C. June, 1995); Director of Greenwich Capital Markets Inc. (broker-dealer);
Trustee of the Financial Accounting Foundation (oversight organization
for the FASB); formerly Vice Chairman of the Board of Governors of
the Federal Reserve System (1986-1990) and Assistant Secretary of the
U.S. Treasury (1982-1988).
Michael E. Nugent (61) General Partner, Triumph Capital, L.P., a private investment partnership;
Trustee Director or Trustee of the Dean Witter Funds; Trustee of the TCW/DW
c/o Triumph Capital, L.P. Funds; formerly Vice President, Bankers Trust Company and BT Capital
237 Park Avenue Corporation (1984-1988); director of various business organizations.
New York, New York
Philip J. Purcell* (53) Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer of MSDWD,
Trustee DWR and Novus Credit Services Inc.; Director of InterCapital, DWSC
Two World Trade Center and Distributors; Director or Trustee of the Dean Witter Funds; director
New York, New York and/or officer of various MSDWD subsidiaries.
John L. Schroeder (66) Retired; Director or Trustee of the Dean Witter Funds; Trustee of the
Trustee TCW/DW Funds; Director of Citizens Utilities Company; formerly Executive
c/o Gordon Altman Butowsky Vice President and Chief Investment Officer of the Home Insurance Company
Weitzen Shalov & Wein (August, 1991-September, 1995) and Chairman and Chief Investment Officer
Counsel to the Independent Trustees of Axe-Houghton Management and the Axe-Houghton Funds (April, 1983-June,
114 West 47th Street 1991).
New York, New York
</TABLE>
7
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NAME, AGE, POSITION WITH FUND
AND ADDRESS PRINCIPAL OCCUPATIONS DURING LAST FIVE YEARS
- ----------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C>
Barry Fink (42) Senior Vice President (since March, 1997) and Secretary and General
Vice President, Secretary Counsel (since February, 1997) of InterCapital and DWSC; Senior Vice
and General Counsel President (since March, 1997) and Assistant Secretary and Assistant
Two World Trade Center General Counsel (since February, 1997) of Distributors; Assistant
New York, New York Secretary of DWR (since August, 1996); Vice President, Secretary and
General Counsel of the Dean Witter Funds and the TCW/DW Funds (since
February, 1997); previously First Vice President (June, 1993-February,
1997), Vice President (until June, 1993) and Assistant Secretary and
Assistant General Counsel of InterCapital and DWSC and Assistant Secretary
of the Dean Witter Funds and the TCW/DW Funds.
Katherine H. Stromberg (48) Vice President of InterCapital; Vice President of various Dean Witter
Vice President Funds.
Two World Trade Center
New York, New York
Thomas F. Caloia (51) First Vice President and Assistant Treasurer of InterCapital and DWSC;
Treasurer Treasurer of the Dean Witter Funds and the TCW/DW Funds.
Two World Trade Center
New York, New York
</TABLE>
- ------------------
* Denotes Trustees who are "interested persons" of the Fund, as defined in
the Act.
** Mr. Hedien's term as Trustee will commence on September 1, 1997.
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, Mitchell M. Merin, President and Chief Strategic Officer of
InterCapital and DWSC, Executive Vice President of Distributors and DWTC and
Director of DWTC, Executive Vice President and Director of DWR, Director of
SPS Transaction Services, Inc. and various other MSDWD subsidiaries, Joseph
J. McAlinden, Executive Vice President and Chief Investment Officer of
InterCapital and Director of DWTC, Robert S. Giambrone, Senior Vice President
of InterCapital, DWSC, Distributors and DWTC and Director of DWTC and Peter
M. Avelar, Jonathan R. Page and James F. Willison, Senior Vice Presidents of
InterCapital, and Joseph Arcieri and Gerard J. Lian, Vice Presidents of
InterCapital, are Vice Presidents of the Fund. Marilyn K. Cranney, First Vice
President and Assistant General Counsel of InterCapital and DWSC, and Lou
Anne D. McInnis and Ruth Rossi, Vice Presidents and Assistant General
Counsels of InterCapital and DWSC, and Frank Bruttomesso and Carsten Otto,
Staff Attorneys with InterCapital, are Assistant Secretaries of the Fund.
THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES, THE INDEPENDENT TRUSTEES, AND THE COMMITTEES
The Board of Trustees consists of eight (8) trustees; as noted above, Mr.
Hedien's term will commence on September 1, 1997. These same individuals also
serve as directors or trustees for all of the Dean Witter Funds, and are
referred to in this section as Trustees. As of the date of this Statement of
Additional Information, there are a total of 83 Dean Witter Funds, comprised
of 126 portfolios. As of April 30, 1997, the Dean Witter Funds had total net
assets of approximately $83.4 billion and more than six million shareholders.
Six Trustees and Mr. Hedien (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. Four of the six independent Trustees are also Independent
Trustees of the TCW/DW Funds.
8
<PAGE>
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 current Independent Trustees serve as members of the Audit
Committee and the Committee of the Independent Trustees. Three of them also
serve as members of the Derivatives Committee. During the calendar year ended
December 31, 1996, the three Committees held a combined total of sixteen
meetings. The Committees hold some meetings at InterCapital's offices and
some outside InterCapital. Management Trustees or officers do not attend
these meetings unless they are invited for purposes of furnishing information
or making a report.
The Committee of the Independent Trustees is charged with recommending to
the full Board approval of management, advisory and administration contracts,
Rule 12b-1 plans and distribution and underwriting agreements; continually
reviewing Fund performance; checking on the pricing of portfolio securities,
brokerage commissions, transfer agent costs and performance, and trading
among Funds in the same complex; and approving fidelity bond and related
insurance coverage and allocations, as well as other matters that arise from
time to time. The Independent Trustees are required to select and nominate
individuals to fill any Independent Trustee vacancy on the Board of any Fund
that has a Rule 12b-1 plan of distribution. Most of the Dean Witter Funds
have such a plan.
The Audit Committee is charged with recommending to the full Board the
engagement or discharge of the Fund's independent accountants; directing
investigations into matters within the scope of the independent accountants'
duties, including the power to retain outside specialists; reviewing with the
independent accountants the audit plan and results of the auditing
engagement; approving professional services provided by the independent
accountants and other accounting firms prior to the performance of such
services; reviewing the independence of the independent accountants;
considering the range of audit and non-audit fees; reviewing the adequacy of
the Fund's system of internal controls; and preparing and submitting
Committee meeting minutes to the full Board.
Finally, the Board of each Fund has formed a Derivatives Committee to
establish parameters for and oversee the activities of the Fund with respect
to derivative investments, if any, made by the Fund.
DUTIES OF CHAIRMAN OF COMMITTEE OF THE INDEPENDENT TRUSTEES AND AUDIT
COMMITTEE
The Chairman of the Committee of the Independent Trustees and the Audit
Committee maintains an office at the Funds' headquarters in New York. He is
responsible for keeping abreast of regulatory and industry developments and
the Funds' operations and management. He screens and/or prepares written
materials and identifies critical issues for the Independent Trustees to
consider, develops agendas for Committee meetings, determines the type and
amount of information that the Committees will need to form a judgment on
various issues, and arranges to have that information furnished to Committee
members. He also arranges for the services of independent experts and
consults with them in advance of meetings to help refine reports and to focus
on critical issues. Members of the Committees believe that the person who
serves as Chairman of both Committees and guides their efforts is pivotal to
the effective functioning of the Committees.
The Chairman of the Committees also maintains continuous contact with the
Funds' management, with independent counsel to the Independent Trustees and
with the Funds' independent auditors. He arranges for a series of special
meetings involving the annual review of investment advisory, management and
other operating contracts of the Funds and, on behalf of the Committees,
conducts negotiations with the Investment Manager and other service
providers. In effect, the Chairman of the Committees serves as a combination
of chief executive and support staff of the Independent Trustees.
The Chairman of the Committee of the Independent Trustees and the Audit
Committee is not employed by any other organization and devotes his time
primarily to the services he performs as
9
<PAGE>
Committee Chairman and Independent Trustee of the Dean Witter Funds and as an
Independent Trustee and, since July 1, 1996, as Chairman of the Committee of
the Independent Trustees and the Audit Committee of the TCW/DW Funds. The
current Committee Chairman has had more than 35 years experience as a senior
executive in the investment company industry.
ADVANTAGES OF HAVING SAME INDIVIDUALS AS INDEPENDENT TRUSTEES FOR ALL DEAN
WITTER FUNDS
The Independent Trustees and the Funds' management believe that having the
same Independent Trustees for each of the Dean Witter Funds avoids the
duplication of effort that would arise from having different groups of
individuals serving as Independent Trustees for each of the Funds or even of
sub-groups of Funds. They believe that having the same individuals serve as
Independent Trustees of all the Funds tends to increase their knowledge and
expertise regarding matters which affect the Fund complex generally and
enhances their ability to negotiate on behalf of each Fund with the Fund's
service providers. This arrangement also precludes the possibility of
separate groups of Independent Trustees arriving at conflicting decisions
regarding operations and management of the Funds and avoids the cost and
confusion that would likely ensue. Finally, having the same Independent
Trustees serve on all Fund Boards enhances the ability of each Fund to
obtain, at modest cost to each separate Fund, the services of Independent
Trustees, and a Chairman of their Committees, of the caliber, experience and
business acumen of the individuals who serve as Independent Trustees of the
Dean Witter Funds.
COMPENSATION OF INDEPENDENT TRUSTEES
The Fund pays each Independent Trustee an annual fee of $1,000 plus a per
meeting fee of $50 for meetings of the Board of Trustees or committees of the
Board of Trustees attended by the Trustee (the Fund pays the Chairman of the
Audit Committee an annual fee of $750 and pays the Chairman of the Committee
of the Independent Trustees an additional annual fee of $1,200). The Fund
also reimburses such Trustees for travel and other out-of-pocket expenses
incurred by them in connection with attending such meetings. Trustees and
officers of the Fund who are or have been employed by the Investment Manager
or an affiliated company receive no compensation or expense reimbursement
from the Fund.
The following table illustrates the compensation paid to the Fund's
Independent Trustees by the Fund for the fiscal year ended March 31, 1997.
FUND COMPENSATION
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
AGGREGATE
NAME OF INDEPENDENT COMPENSATION
TRUSTEE FROM THE FUND
- -------------------------- ---------------
<S> <C>
Michael Bozic ............. $1,800
Edwin J. Garn ............. 1,900
John R. Haire ............. 3,550
Dr. Manuel H. Johnson .... 1,850
Michael E. Nugent ......... 1,900
John L. Schroeder.......... 1,900
</TABLE>
10
<PAGE>
The following table illustrates the compensation paid to the Fund's
Independent Trustees for the calendar year ended December 31, 1996 for
services to the 82 Dean Witter Funds and, in the case of Messrs. Haire,
Johnson, Nugent and Schroeder, the 14 TCW/DW Funds that were in operation at
December 31, 1996. With respect to Messrs. Haire, Johnson, Nugent and
Schroeder, the TCW/DW Funds are included solely because of a limited exchange
privilege between those Funds and five Dean Witter Money Market Funds.
CASH COMPENSATION FROM DEAN WITTER FUNDS AND TCW/DW FUNDS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
FOR SERVICE AS
CHAIRMAN OF
COMMITTEES OF FOR SERVICE AS
INDEPENDENT CHAIRMAN OF
FOR SERVICE DIRECTORS/ COMMITTEES OF TOTAL CASH
AS DIRECTOR OR FOR SERVICE AS TRUSTEES AND INDEPENDENT COMPENSATION
TRUSTEE AND TRUSTEE AND AUDIT TRUSTEES FOR SERVICES TO
COMMITTEE MEMBER COMMITTEE MEMBER COMMITTEES OF 82 AND AUDIT 82 DEAN WITTER
NAME OF OF 82 DEAN WITTER OF 14 TCW/DW DEAN WITTER COMMITTEES OF 14 FUNDS AND 14
INDEPENDENT TRUSTEE FUNDS FUNDS FUNDS TCW/DW FUNDS TCW/DW FUNDS
- ---------------------- ----------------- ---------------- ---------------- ---------------- ---------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Michael Bozic ......... $138,850 -- -- -- $138,850
Edwin J. Garn ......... 140,900 -- -- -- 140,900
John R. Haire ......... 106,400 $64,283 $195,450 $12,187 378,320
Dr. Manuel H. Johnson 137,100 66,483 -- -- 203,583
Michael E. Nugent .... 138,850 64,283 -- -- 203,133
John L. Schroeder...... 137,150 69,083 -- -- 206,233
</TABLE>
As of the date of this Statement of Additional Information, 57 of the Dean
Witter Funds, including the Fund, have adopted a retirement program under
which an Independent Trustee who retires after serving for at least five
years (or such lesser period as may be determined by the Board) as an
Independent Director or Trustee of any Dean Witter Fund that has adopted the
retirement program (each such Fund referred to as an "Adopting Fund" and each
such Trustee referred to as an "Eligible Trustee") is entitled to retirement
payments upon reaching the eligible retirement age (normally, after attaining
age 72). Annual payments are based upon length of service. Currently, upon
retirement, each Eligible Trustee is entitled to receive from the Adopting
Fund, commencing as of his or her retirement date and continuing for the
remainder of his or her life, an annual retirement benefit (the "Regular
Benefit") equal to 25.0% of his or her Eligible Compensation plus 0.4166666%
of such Eligible Compensation for each full month of service as an
Independent Director or Trustee of any Adopting Fund in excess of five years
up to a maximum of 50.0% after ten years of service. The foregoing
<F1>
percentages may be changed by the Board.(1) "Eligible Compensation" is
one-fifth of the total compensation earned by such Eligible Trustee for
service to the Adopting Fund in the five year period prior to the date of the
Eligible Trustee's retirement. Benefits under the retirement program are not
secured or funded by the Adopting Funds.
- ------------
(1) An Eligible Trustee may elect alternate payments of his or her
retirement benefits based upon the combined life expectancy of such
Eligible Trustee and his or her spouse on the date of such Eligible
Trustee's retirement. The amount estimated to be payable under this
method, through the remainder of the later of the lives of such
Eligible Trustee and spouse, will be the actuarial equivalent of the
Regular Benefit. In addition, the Eligible Trustee may elect that the
surviving spouse's periodic payment of benefits will be equal to either
50% or 100% of the previous periodic amount, an election that,
respectively, increases or decreases the previous periodic amount so
that the resulting payments will be the actuarial equivalent of the
Regular Benefit.
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,
1997 and by the 57 Dean Witter Funds (including the Fund) for the year ended
December 31, 1996, and the estimated retirement benefits for the Fund's
Independent Trustees, to commence upon their retirement, from the Fund as of
March 31, 1997 and from the 57 Dean Witter Funds as of December 31, 1996.
RETIREMENT BENEFITS FROM THE FUND AND ALL DEAN WITTER FUNDS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
FOR ALL ADOPTING FUNDS
-------------------------------
ESTIMATED RETIREMENT BENEFITS BENEFITS
CREDITED ACCRUED AS EXPENSES UPON RETIREMENT(2)
YEARS ESTIMATED ------------------- ------------------
OF SERVICE AT PERCENTAGE OF BY ALL FROM FROM ALL
NAME OF INDEPENDENT RETIREMENT ELIGIBLE BY THE ADOPTING THE ADOPTING
TRUSTEE (MAXIMUM 10) COMPENSATION FUND FUNDS FUND FUNDS
- -------------------------- --------------- --------------- -------- ---------- ------- ----------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Michael Bozic ............. 10 50.0% $ 372 $20,147 $ 875 $ 51,325
Edwin J. Garn ............. 10 50.0 623 27,772 875 51,325
John R. Haire ............. 10 50.0 2,084 46,952 1,563 129,550
Dr. Manuel H. Johnson .... 10 50.0 251 10,926 875 51,325
Michael E. Nugent ......... 10 50.0 170 19,217 875 51,325
John L. Schroeder.......... 8 41.7 716 38,700 729 42,771
</TABLE>
- ------------
(2) Based on current levels of compensation. Amount of annual benefits also
varies depending on the Trustee's elections described in Footnote (1)
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
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
PORTFOLIO SECURITIES
Taxable Securities. As discussed in the Prospectus, the Fund may invest up
to 20% of its total assets in taxable money market instruments, under any one
of the following circumstances: (a) pending investment of proceeds of the
sale of the Fund's shares or of portfolio securities, (b) pending settlement
of purchases of portfolio securities and (c) to maintain liquidity for the
purpose of meeting anticipated redemptions.
In addition, the Fund may temporarily invest more than 20% of its total
assets in taxable securities, or in tax-exempt securities subject to the
federal alternative minimum tax for individual shareholders, in order to
maintain a "defensive" posture when, in the opinion of the Investment
Manager, it is advisable to do so because of market conditions. The types of
taxable money market instruments in which the Fund may invest are limited to
the following short-term fixed-income securities (maturing in one year or
less from the time of purchase): (i) obligations of the United States
Government, its agencies, instrumentalities or authorities; (ii) commercial
paper rated P-1 by Moody's Investors Service, Inc. ("Moody's") or A-1 by
Standard & Poor's Corporation ("S&P"); (iii) certificates of deposit of
domestic banks with assets of $1 billion or more; and (iv) repurchase
agreements with respect to the foregoing portfolio securities.
Tax-Exempt Securities. Under normal conditions, at least 80% of the total
assets of the Fund will be invested in securities, the interest on which is
exempt from federal income taxes. The tax-exempt securities in which the Fund
may invest include any or all of the following securities: fixed, variable,
or floating rate general obligation and revenue bonds (including municipal
lease obligations and resource recovery bonds); zero coupon and asset-backed
securities, inverse floaters; tax, revenue, or bond anticipation notes; and
tax-exempt commercial paper. In regard to the Moody's and S&P ratings
discussed in the Prospectus, it should be noted that the ratings represent
the organizations' opinions as to the quality of the securities which they
undertake to rate and that the ratings are general and not
12
<PAGE>
absolute standards of quality. For a description of municipal bond, municipal
note and municipal commercial paper ratings by Moody's and S&P, see the
Appendix to this Statement of Additional Information.
The percentage and rating policies in the Prospectus apply at the time of
acquisition of a security based upon the last previous determination of the
Fund's net asset value; any subsequent change in any ratings by a rating
service or change in percentages resulting from market fluctuations or other
changes in the amount of total assets will not require elimination of any
security from the Fund's portfolio until such time as the Investment Manager
determines that it is practicable to sell the security without undue market
or tax consequences to the Fund. Therefore, the Fund may hold securities
which have been downgraded to ratings of Ba or BB or lower by Moody's or S&P.
Such securities are considered to be speculative investments.
Although certain quality standards are applicable at the time of purchase,
the Fund does not have any minimum quality rating standard for its downgraded
investments. As such, the Fund may continue to hold securities rated as low
as Caa, Ca or C by Moody's or CCC, CC, C or CI by S&P. However, such
investments may not exceed more than 5% of the total assets of the Fund.
Bonds rated Caa or Ca by Moody's may already be in default on payment of
interest or principal, while bonds rated C by Moody's, their lowest bond
rating, can be regarded as having extremely poor prospects of ever attaining
any real investment standing. Bonds rated CI by S&P, their lowest Bond
rating, are no longer making interest payments.
The payment of principal and interest by issuers of certain municipal
securities purchased by the Fund may be guaranteed by letters of credit or
other credit facilities offered by banks or other financial institutions.
Such guarantees will be considered in determining whether municipal
securities meet the investment quality requirements of the Fund. In addition,
some issues may contain provisions which permit the Fund to demand from the
issuer repayment of principal at some specified period(s) prior to maturity.
Municipal Bonds. Municipal bonds, as referred to in the Prospectus, are
debt obligations of a state, its cities, municipalities and municipal
agencies (all of which are generally referred to as "municipalities") which
generally have a maturity at the time of issue of one year or more, and the
interest from which is, in the opinion of bond counsel to the issuer at time
of original issuance, exempt from regular federal income tax. These
obligations are issued to raise funds for various public purposes, such as
construction of a wide range of public facilities, to refund outstanding
obligations and to obtain funds for general operating expenses or to loan to
other public institutions and facilities. In addition, certain types of
industrial development bonds and pollution control bonds are issued by or on
behalf of public authorities to provide funding for various privately
operated facilities.
Municipal Notes. Municipal notes are short-term obligations of
municipalities, generally with a maturity at the time of issuance ranging
from six months to three years, the interest from which is, in the opinion of
bond counsel to the issuer at time of original issuance, exempt from regular
federal income tax. The principal types of municipal notes include tax
anticipation notes, bond anticipation notes, revenue anticipation notes and
project notes, although there are other types of municipal notes, in which
the Fund may invest. Notes sold in anticipation of collection of taxes, a
bond sale or receipt of other revenues are usually general obligations of the
issuing municipality or agency.
Municipal Commercial Paper. Municipal commercial paper refers to
short-term obligations of municipalities the interest from which is, in the
opinion of bond counsel to the issuer at time of original issuance, exempt
from regular federal income tax. Municipal commercial paper is likely to be
used to meet seasonal working capital needs of a municipality or interim
construction financing and to be paid from general revenues of the
municipality or refinanced with long-term debt. In most cases municipal
commercial paper is backed by letters of credit, lending agreements, note
repurchase agreements or other credit facility agreements offered by banks or
other institutions.
The two principal classifications of municipal bonds, notes and commercial
paper are "general obligation" and "revenue" bonds, notes or commercial
paper. General obligation bonds, notes or
13
<PAGE>
commercial paper are secured by the issuer's pledge of its faith, credit and
taxing power for the payment of principal and interest. Issuers of general
obligation bonds, notes or commercial paper include a state, its counties,
cities, towns and other governmental units. Revenue bonds, notes or
commercial paper are payable from the revenues derived from a particular
facility or class of facilities or, in some cases, from specific revenue
sources. Revenue bonds, notes or commercial paper are issued for a wide
variety of purposes, including the financing of electric, gas, water and
sewer systems and other public utilities; industrial development and
pollution control facilities; single and multi-family housing units; public
buildings and facilities; air and marine ports; transportation facilities
such as toll roads, bridges and tunnels; and health and educational
facilities such as hospitals and dormitories. They rely primarily on user
fees to pay debt service, although the principal revenue source is often
supplemented by additional security features which are intended to enhance
the credit worthiness of the issuer's obligations. In some cases,
particularly revenue bonds issued to finance housing and public buildings, a
direct or implied "moral obligation" of a governmental unit may be pledged to
the payment of debt service. In other cases, a special tax or other charge
may augment user fees.
Issuers of municipal securities are subject to the provisions of
bankruptcy, insolvency and other laws affecting the rights and remedies of
creditors, such as the Federal Bankruptcy Act, and laws, if any, which may be
enacted by Congress or any state extending the time for payment of principal
or interest, or both, or imposing other constraints upon enforcement of such
obligations or upon municipalities to levy taxes. There is also the
possibility that as a result of litigation or other conditions the power or
ability of any one or more issuers to pay, when due, principal of and
interest on its, or their, municipal bonds, municipal notes and municipal
commercial paper may be materially affected.
Variable Rate Obligations. As stated in the Prospectus, the Fund may
invest in obligations of the type called "variable rate obligations." The
interest rate payable on a variable rate obligation is adjusted either at
predesignated periodic intervals or whenever there is a change in the market
rate of interest on which the interest rate payable is based. Other features
may include the right whereby the Fund may demand prepayment of the principal
amount of the obligation prior to its stated maturity (a "demand feature")
and the right of the issuer to prepay the principal amount prior to maturity.
The principal benefit of a variable rate obligation is that the interest rate
adjustment minimizes changes in the market value of the obligation. The
principal benefit to the Fund of purchasing obligations with a demand feature
is that liquidity, and the ability of the Fund to obtain repayment of the
full principal amount of the obligation prior to maturity, is enhanced.
Zero Coupon Securities. The Fund also may invest in zero coupon securities
which are debt securities issued or sold at a discount from their face value
which do not entitle the holder to any periodic payment of interest prior to
maturity or a specified redemption date (or cash payment date). The amount of
the discount varies depending on the time remaining until maturity or cash
payment date, prevailing interest rates, liquidity of the security and
perceived credit quality of the issuer. Zero coupon securities also may take
the form of debt securities that have been stripped of their unmatured
interest coupons, the coupons themselves and receipts or certificates
representing interests in such stripped debt obligations and coupons. The
market prices of zero coupon securities generally are more volatile than the
market prices of interest-bearing securities and are likely to respond to a
greater degree to changes in interest rates than interest-bearing securities
having similar maturities and credit qualities.
Lending of Portfolio Securities. The Fund may lend portfolio securities to
brokers, dealers and financial institutions provided that cash equal to at
least 100% of the market value of the securities loaned is deposited by the
borrower with the Fund and is maintained each business day in a segregated
account pursuant to applicable regulations. The collateral value of the
loaned securities will be marked-to-market daily. While such securities are
on loan, the borrower will pay the Fund any income accruing thereon, and the
Fund may invest the cash collateral in portfolio securities, thereby earning
additional income. The Fund will not lend the 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
the total assets of the Fund. Loans will be subject to termination by the
Fund, in the normal settlement time, currently five business days after
notice, or by the borrower on one day's notice. Borrowed securities must be
returned when the loan is terminated. Any gain or loss in the market price
14
<PAGE>
of the borrowed securities which occurs during the term of the loan inures to
the Fund and its shareholders. The Fund may pay reasonable finders,
borrowers, administrative, and custodial fees in connection with a loan. The
creditworthiness of firms to which the Fund lends its portfolio securities
will be monitored on an ongoing basis. During the fiscal year ended March 31,
1997, the Fund did not loan any of its portfolio securities and it has no
current intention of doing so in the foreseeable future.
When-Issued and Delayed Delivery Securities and Forward Commitments. As
discussed in the Prospectus, from time to time, in the ordinary course of
business, the Fund may purchase securities on a when-issued or delayed
delivery basis and 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. The securities so purchased are subject to
market fluctuation and no interest accrues to the purchaser during this
period. While the Fund will only purchase securities on a when-issued,
delayed delivery or forward commitment basis with the intention of acquiring
the securities, the Fund may sell the securities before the settlement date,
if it is deemed advisable. At the time the Fund makes the commitment to
purchase securities on a when-issued or delayed delivery basis, the Fund will
record the transaction and thereafter reflect the value, each day, of such
security in determining the net asset value of the Fund. At the time of
delivery of the securities, the value may be more or less than the purchase
price. The Fund will also establish a segregated account with the Fund's
custodian bank in which it will continuously maintain cash or U.S. Government
securities or other high grade debt portfolio securities equal in value to
commitments for such when-issued or delayed delivery securities; subject to
this requirement, the Fund may purchase securities on such basis without
limit. An increase in the percentage of the Fund's assets committed to the
purchase of securities on a when-issued or delayed delivery basis may
increase the volatility of the Fund's net asset value. The Investment Manager
and the Trustees do not believe that the Fund's net asset value or income
will be adversely affected by its purchase of securities on such basis.
When, As and If Issued Securities. As discussed in the Prospectus, the
Fund may purchase securities on a "when, as and if issued" basis under which
the issuance of the security depends upon the occurrence of a subsequent
event, such as approval of a merger, corporate reorganization, leveraged
buyout or debt restructuring. The commitment for the purchase of any such
security will not be recognized in the portfolio of the Fund until the
Investment Manager determines that issuance of the security is probable. At
such time, the Fund will record the transaction and, in determining its net
asset value, will reflect the value of the security daily. At such time, the
Fund will also establish a segregated account with its custodian bank in
which it will continuously maintain cash or U.S. Government securities or
other liquid portfolio securities equal in value to recognized commitments
for such securities. Settlement of the trade will occur within five business
days of the occurrence of the subsequent event. The value of the Fund's
commitments to purchase the securities of any one issuer, together with the
value of all securities of such issuer owned by the Fund, may not exceed 5%
of the value of the Fund's total assets of 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.
Repurchase Agreements. When cash may be available for only a few days, it
may be invested by the Fund in repurchase agreements until such time as it
may otherwise be invested or used for payments of obligations of the Fund.
These agreements, which may be viewed as a type of secured lending by the
Fund, typically involve the acquisition by the Fund of debt securities from a
selling financial institution such as a bank, savings and loan association or
broker-dealer. The agreement provides that the Fund will sell back to the
institution, and that the institution will repurchase, the underlying
security ("collateral"), which is held by the Fund's Custodian at a specified
price and at a fixed time in the future which is usually not more than seven
days from the date of purchase. The Fund will receive interest from
15
<PAGE>
the institution until the time when the repurchase is to occur. Although such
date is deemed by the Fund to be the maturity date of a repurchase agreement,
the maturities of securities subject to repurchase agreements are not subject
to any limits and may exceed one year. While repurchase agreements involve
certain risks not associated with direct investments in debt securities, the
Fund follows procedures designed to minimize such risks. These procedures
include effecting repurchase transactions only with large, well-capitalized,
and well-established financial institutions, whose financial condition will
be continually monitored. In addition, the value of the collateral underlying
the repurchase agreement will always be at least equal to the 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 the net assets of the Fund. During the fiscal year ended
March 31, 1997, the Fund did not enter into repurchase agreements, and it is
the Fund's current intention not to invest in repurchase agreements in the
foreseeable future.
HEDGING ACTIVITIES
The Fund may enter into financial futures contracts, options on such
futures and municipal bond index futures contracts for hedging purposes.
FUTURES CONTRACT AND OPTIONS ON FUTURES
As discussed in the Prospectus, the Fund may invest in financial futures
contracts ("futures contracts") and related options thereon. These futures
contracts and related options thereon will be used only as a hedge against
anticipated interest rate changes. A futures contract sales creates an
obligation by the Fund, as seller to deliver the specific type of instrument
called for in the contract at a specified future time for a specified price.
A futures contract purchase would create an obligation by the Fund, as
purchaser to take delivery of the specific type of financial instrument at a
specified future time at a specified price. The specific securities delivered
or taken, respectively, at settlement date, would not be determined until or
near that date. The determination would be in accordance with the rules of
the exchange on which the futures contract sale or purchase was effected.
Although the terms of futures contracts specify actual delivery or receipt
of securities, in most instances the contracts are closed out before the
settlement date without the making or taking of delivery of the securities.
Closing out of a futures contract is usually effected by entering into an
offsetting transaction. An offsetting transaction for a futures contract sale
is effected by the Fund entering into a futures contract purchase for the
same aggregate amount of the specific type of financial instrument at the
same delivery date. If the price in the sale exceeds the price in the
offsetting purchase, the Fund is immediately paid the difference and thus
realizes a gain. If the offsetting purchase price exceeds the sale price, the
Fund pays the difference and realizes the loss. Similarly, the closing out of
a futures contract purchase is effected by the Fund entering into a futures
contract sale. If the offsetting sale price exceeds the purchase price, the
Fund realizes a gain, and if the offsetting sale price is less than the
purchase price, the Fund realizes a loss.
Unlike a futures contract which requires the parties to buy and sell a
security on a set date, an option on a futures contract entitles its holder
to decide on or before a future date whether to enter into such a contract.
If the holder decides not to enter into the contract, the premium paid for
the option is lost. Since the value of the option is fixed at the point of
sale, there are no daily payments of cash to reflect the change in the value
of the underlying contract, as discussed below for futures contracts. The
value of the option changes and is reflected in the net asset value of the
Fund.
The Fund is required to maintain margin deposits with brokerage firms
through which it effects futures contracts and options thereon. The initial
margin requirements vary according to the type of the
16
<PAGE>
underlying security. 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.
Currently, 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, Certificates of the Government National Mortgage
Association and Bank Certificates of Deposit. The Fund may invest in interest
rate futures contracts covering these types of financial instruments as well
as in new types of contracts that become available in the future.
Financial futures contracts are traded in an auction environment on the
floors of several Exchanges -principally, the Chicago Board of Trade, the
Chicago Mercantile Exchange and the New York Futures Exchange. Each Exchange
guarantees performance under contract provisions through a clearing
corporation, a nonprofit organization managed by the Exchange membership
which is also responsible for handling daily accounting of deposits or
withdrawals of margin.
A risk in employing futures contracts to protect against the price
volatility of portfolio securities is that the prices of securities subject
to futures contracts may correlate imperfectly with the behavior of the cash
prices of the Funds' portfolio securities. The correlation may 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. This would reduce their value for
hedging purposes over a short time period. The correlation may be further
distorted since the futures contracts that are being used to hedge are not
based on municipal obligations.
Another risk is that the Fund's Investment Manager could be incorrect in
its expectations as to the direction or extent of various interest rate
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.
Put and call options on financial futures have similar characteristics as
Exchange-traded options. See below for a further description of options.
In addition to the risks associated in investing in options on securities,
there are particular risks associated with investing in options on futures.
In particular, the ability to establish and close out positions on such
options will be subject to the development and maintenance of a liquid
secondary market. It is not certain that this market will develop.
In order to assure that the Fund is utilizing futures transactions for
hedging purposes only, a substantial majority (i.e., approximately 75%) of
all anticipatory hedge transactions of the Fund (transactions in which the
Fund does not own at the time of the transaction, but expects to acquire, the
securities underlying the relevant futures contract) involving the purchase
of futures contracts or call options thereon will be completed by the
purchase of securities which are the subject of the hedge.
The Fund may not enter into futures contracts or related options thereon
if immediately thereafter the amount committed to margin of all the Funds'
futures contracts plus the amount paid for option premiums exceeds 5% of the
value of the Fund's total assets. In instances involving the purchase of
futures contracts by the Fund the market value of the futures contract will
be deposited in a segregated account containing cash and cash equivalents to
collateralize the position and thereby ensure that the use of such futures is
unleveraged. The Fund may not purchase or sell futures contracts or related
options thereon if, immediately thereafter, more than one-third of the Fund's
net assets would be hedged.
Municipal Bond Index Futures. The Fund may utilize municipal bond index
futures contracts for hedging purposes. The Fund's strategies in employing
such contracts will be similar to that discussed above with respect to
financial futures and options thereon. A municipal bond index is a method of
reflecting in a single number the market value of many different municipal
bonds and is designed to be representative of the municipal bond market
generally. The index fluctuates in response to changes in the market values
of the bonds included within the index. Unlike futures contracts on
particular financial
17
<PAGE>
instruments, transactions in futures on a municipal bond index will be
settled in cash if held until the close of trading in the contract. However,
like any other futures contract, a position in the contract may be closed out
by purchase or sale of an offsetting contract for the same delivery month
prior to expiration of the contract. The Fund's ability to utilize such
contracts will be dependent upon the development and maintenance of a liquid
secondary market for such contracts.
Options. The Fund may purchase or sell (write) options on debt securities
as a means of achieving additional return or hedging the value of the Fund's
portfolio. The Fund would only buy options listed on national securities
exchanges. The Fund, will not purchase options if, as a result, the aggregate
cost of all outstanding options exceeds 10% of the Fund's total assets.
A call option is a contract that gives the holder of the option the right
to buy from the writer of the call option, in return for a premium, the
security underlying the option at a specified exercise price at any time
during the term of the option. The writer of the call option has the
obligation upon exercise of the option to deliver the underlying security
upon payment of the exercise price during the option period. A put option is
a contract that gives the holder of the option the right to sell to the
writer, in return for a premium, the underlying security at a specified price
during the term of the option. The writer of the put has the obligation to
buy the underlying security upon exercise, at the exercise price during the
option period.
The Fund will only write covered call or covered put options. The Fund may
not write covered options in an amount exceeding 10% of the value of the
total assets of the Fund. A call option is "covered" if the Fund owns the
underlying security subject to the option or has an absolute and immediate
right to acquire that security or futures contract without additional cash
consideration (or for additional cash consideration held in a segregated
account by its custodian) upon conversion or exchange of other securities
held in its portfolio. A call option is also covered if the Fund holds a call
on the same security or futures contract as the call written where the
exercise price of the call held is (i) equal to or less than the exercise
price of the call written or (ii) greater than the exercise price of the call
written if the difference is maintained by the Fund in cash, Treasury bills
or other high grade short-term debt obligations in a segregated account with
its custodian. A put option is "covered" if the Fund maintains cash, Treasury
bills or other liquid portfolio securities with a value equal to the exercise
price in a segregated account with its custodian, or else holds a put on the
same security or futures contract as the put written where the exercise price
of the put held is equal to or greater than the exercise price of the put
written.
If the Fund has written an option it may terminate its obligation by
effecting a closing purchase transaction. This 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. Similarly, if the Fund is the holder
of an option it may liquidate its position by effecting a closing sale
transaction. This is accomplished by selling an option of the same series as
the option previously purchased. There can be no assurance that either a
closing purchase or sale transaction can be effected when the Fund so
desires.
The Fund will realize a profit from a closing transaction if the price of
the transaction is less than the premium received from writing the option or
is more than the premium paid to purchase the option; the Fund, will realize
a loss from a closing transaction if the price of the transaction is more
than the premium received from writing the option or is less than the premium
paid to purchase the option. Since call option prices generally reflect
increases in the price of the underlying security, any loss resulting from
the repurchase of a call option may also be wholly or partially offset by
unrealized appreciation of the underlying security. Other principal factors
affecting the market value of a put or a call option include supply and
demand, interest rates, the current market price and price volatility of the
underlying security and the time remaining until the expiration date.
An option position may be closed out only on an exchange which provides a
secondary market for an option of the same series. Although the Fund will
generally purchase or write only those options for which there appears to be
an active secondary market, there is no assurance that a liquid secondary
market on an exchange will exist for any particular option. In such event it
might not be possible to effect
18
<PAGE>
closing transactions in particular options, so that the Fund would have to
exercise its options in order to realize any profit and would incur brokerage
commissions upon the exercise of call options and upon the subsequent
disposition of underlying securities for the exercise of put options. If the
Fund as a covered call option writer is unable to effect a closing purchase
transaction in a secondary market, it will not be able to sell the underlying
security until the option expires or it delivers the underlying security upon
exercise.
PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT
The Fund's portfolio turnover rate during the fiscal year ended March 31,
1997 was 0%. It is anticipated that the Fund's portfolio turnover rate will
not exceed 50% during the fiscal year ending March 31, 1998. A 50% turnover
rate would occur, for example, if 50% 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. However, the Fund may
engage in short-term trading consistent with its investment objective.
Securities may be sold in anticipation of a market decline (a rise in
interest rates) or purchased in anticipation of a market rise (a decline in
interest rates). In addition, a security may be sold and another security of
comparable quality purchased at approximately the same time to take advantage
of what the Investment Manager believes to be a temporary disparity in the
normal yield relationship between the two securities. These yield disparities
may occur for reasons not directly related to the investment quality of
particular issues or the general movement of interest rates, such as changes
in the overall demand for, or supply of, various types of tax-exempt
securities.
In general, purchases and sales may also be made to restructure the
portfolio in terms of average maturity, quality, coupon yield, or
diversification for any one or more of the following purposes: (a) to
increase income, (b) to improve portfolio quality, (c) to minimize capital
depreciation, (d) to realize gains or losses, or for such other reasons as
the Investment Manager deems relevant in light of economic and market
conditions.
The Fund does not generally intend to invest more than 25% of its total
assets in securities of any one governmental unit. Subject to investment
restriction number 3 in the Prospectus, the Fund may invest more than 25% of
the total assets in private activity bonds (a certain type of tax-exempt
municipal security).
The Fund may invest up to 15% of its net assets in obligations customarily
sold to institutional investors in private transactions with the issuers
thereof and other securities which may be deemed to be illiquid. Due to the
limited market for certain of these securities, the Fund may be unable to
dispose of such securities promptly at reasonable prices. It is the current
intention of the Fund not to invest in such obligations.
LOCAL GOVERNMENTAL UNIT AND RELATED AUTHORITY OBLIGATIONS
Various state statutes authorize local units of government (counties,
cities, school districts and the like) to issue general obligations and
revenue obligations, subject to compliance with the requirements of such
statutes. In addition, various statutes permit local government units to
organize authorities having the power to issue obligations which are not
subject to debt limits that may be applicable to the organizing governmental
unit and which are payable from assets of or revenues derived from projects
financed by such authorities. Such authorities include parking authorities,
industrial development authorities, redevelopment authorities, transportation
authorities, water and sewer authorities, and authorities to undertake
projects for institutions of higher education and health care. Such
obligations may generally be affected by adverse changes in the economy of
the area in which such local government units or projects financed by them or
by authorities created by them are located, by changes in applicable federal,
state or local law or regulation, or by changes in levels of federal, state
or local appropriations, grants or subsidies to the extent such
appropriations, grants or subsidies directly or indirectly affect revenues of
such issuers.
19
<PAGE>
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, which may not be changed without the vote of a majority
of the outstanding voting securities as defined in the Act. Such a majority
is defined as the lesser of (a) 67% of the shares of the Fund present at a
meeting of shareholders, if the holders of more than 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. For purposes of the following
restrictions and those recited in the Prospectus: (a) an "issuer" of a
security is the entity whose assets and revenues are committed to the payment
of interest and principal on that particular security, provided that the
securities guaranteed by separate entities will be considered a separate
security and provided further that a guarantee of a security shall not be
deemed to be a security issued by the guarantor if the value of all
securities issued or guaranteed by the guarantor and owned by the Fund does
not exceed 10% of the value of the total assets of the Fund; (b) a "taxable
security" is any security the interest on which is subject to regular federal
income tax; and (c) all percentage limitations apply immediately after a
purchase or initial investment, and any subsequent change in any applicable
percentage resulting from market fluctuations or other changes in total or
net assets does not require elimination of any security from the portfolio.
The Fund may not:
1. Invest in common stock.
2. Invest in securities of any issuer if, to the knowledge of the Fund,
any officer or trustee of the Fund or any officer or director of the
Investment Manager owns more than 1/2 of 1% of the outstanding securities
of such issuer, and such officers, trustees and directors who own more
than 1/2 of 1% own in the aggregate more than 5% of the outstanding
securities of such issuer.
3. Purchase or sell real estate or interests therein (including limited
partnership interests), although it may purchase securities secured by
real estate or interests therein.
4. Purchase or sell commodities except that the Fund may purchase
financial futures contracts and related options in accordance with
procedures adopted by the Trustees described in its Prospectus and
Statement of Additional Information.
5. Purchase oil, gas or other mineral leases, rights or royalty
contracts, or exploration or development programs.
6. Write, purchase or sell puts, calls, or combinations thereof, except
options on futures contracts or options on debt securities.
7. Purchase securities of other investment companies, except in
connection with a merger, consolidation, reorganization or acquisition of
assets.
8. Borrow money, except that the Fund may borrow from a bank for
temporary or emergency purposes in amounts up to 5% (taken at the lower
of cost or current value) of the value of the total assets of the Fund
(including the amount borrowed) less its liabilities (not including any
borrowings but including the fair market value at the time of computation
of any senior securities then outstanding).
9. Pledge its assets or assign or otherwise encumber them except to
secure permitted borrowings. (For the purpose of this restriction,
collateral arrangements with respect to the writing of options and
collateral arrangements with respect to initial margin for futures are
not deemed to be pledges of assets and neither such arrangements nor the
purchase or sale of futures are deemed to be the issuance of a senior
security as set forth in restriction 10.)
10. Issue senior securities as defined in the Act except insofar as the
Fund may be deemed to have issued a senior security by reason of: (a)
entering into any repurchase agreement; (b) purchasing any securities on
a when-issued or delayed delivery basis; or (c) borrowing money in
accordance with restrictions described above.
20
<PAGE>
11. Make loans of money or securities, except: (a) by the purchase of
debt obligations in which the Fund may invest consistent with its
investment objective and policies; (b) by investment in repurchase
agreements; and (c) by lending its portfolio securities.
12. Make short sales of securities.
13. Purchase securities on margin, except for such short-term loans as
are necessary for the clearance of purchases 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.
14. 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.
15. Invest for the purpose of exercising control or management of any
other issuer.
16. 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 continuing operation. This restriction does not apply to
obligations issued or guaranteed by the United States Government, its
agencies or instrumentalities.
Notwithstanding any other investment policy or restriction, the Fund may
seek to achieve its investment objective by investing all or substantially
all of its assets in another investment company having substantially the same
investment objective and policies as the Fund.
PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS AND BROKERAGE
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Investment Manager is responsible for decisions to buy and sell
securities and commodities for the Fund, the selection of brokers and dealers
to effect the transactions, and the negotiation of brokerage commissions, if
any. The Fund expects that the primary market for the securities in which it
intends to invest will generally be the over-the-counter market. Securities
are generally traded in the over-the-counter market on a "net" basis with
dealers acting as principal for their own accounts without charging a stated
commission, although the price of the security usually includes a profit to
the dealer. Options and futures transactions will usually be effected through
a broker and a commission will be charged. The Fund also expects that
securities will be purchased at times in underwritten offerings where the
price includes a fixed amount of compensation, generally referred to as the
underwriter's concession or discount. On occasion, the Fund may also purchase
certain money market instruments directly from an issuer, in which case no
commissions or discounts are paid. During the fiscal years ended March 31,
1995, 1996 and 1997, the Fund did not pay any brokerage commissions.
The Investment Manager currently serves as investment manager or adviser
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 opinion of the persons
responsible for managing the porfolios 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 is
that primary consideration be given to obtaining the most favorable prices
and efficient execution of transactions. In seeking to implement the Fund's
policies, the Investment Manager effects transactions with those brokers and
dealers who the Investment Manager believes provide the most favorable prices
and are capable of providing efficient executions. If the Investment Manager
believes such price and executions are obtainable from more than one broker
or dealer, it may give consideration to placing portfolio
21
<PAGE>
transactions with those brokers and dealers who also furnish research and
other services to the Fund or the Investment Manager. Although the Fund may
purchase securities from brokers or dealers acting as principal, who also
provide research for the advisor, it will not pay a mark-up in consideration
for such services. Such services may include, but are not limited to, any one
or more of the following: information as to the availability of securities
for purchase or sale; statistical or factual information or opinions
pertaining to investment; wire services; and appraisals or evaluations of
portfolio securities.
The information and services received by the Investment Manager from
brokers and dealers may be of benefit to the Investment Manager in the
management of accounts of some of its other clients and may not, in every
case, benefit the Fund directly. While the receipt of such information and
services is useful in varying degrees and would generally reduce the amount
of research or services otherwise performed by the Investment Manager and
thereby reduce its expenses, it is of indeterminable value and the Fund will
not reduce the management fee it pays to the Investment Manager by any amount
that may be attributable to the value of such services.
Pursuant to an order of the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Fund
may effect principal transactions in certain money market instruments with
DWR. The Fund will limit its transactions with DWR to U.S. Government and
Government Agency Securities, Bank Money Instruments (i.e., Certificates of
Deposit and Bankers' Acceptances) and Commercial Paper. 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 and commodities listed on exchanges or admitted to unlisted
trading privileges may be effected through DWR. In order for DWR to effect
portfolio transactions for the Fund, the commissions, fees or other
remuneration received by DWR must be reasonable and fair compared to the
commissions, fees or other remuneration paid to other brokers in connection
with comparable transactions involving similar securities being purchased or
sold on an exchange during a comparable period of time. This standard would
allow DWR to receive no more than the remuneration which would be expected to
be received by an unaffiliated broker in a commensurate arms-length
transaction. Furthermore, the Trustees of the Fund, including a majority of
the Trustees who are not "interested" Trustees, have adopted procedures which
are reasonably designed to provide that any commissions, fees or other
remuneration paid to DWR are consistent with the foregoing standard. During
the fiscal years ended March 31, 1995, 1996 and 1997, the Fund paid no
brokerage commissions to DWR.
PURCHASE OF FUND SHARES
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
As discussed in the Prospectus, the Fund offers its shares for sale to the
public through Dean Witter Distributors Inc. (the "Distributor") on a
continous basis at an offering price equal to the net asset value per share
next determined following receipt of any order without a sales charge. (See
the Prospectus -- "Purchase of Fund Shares.") The Distributor has entered
into selected broker-dealer agreements with DWR and other selected dealers
("Selected Broker-Dealers") pursuant to which shares of the Fund are sold.
The Distributor, a Delaware corporation, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of
MSDWD. 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 24, 1997, the current
Distribution Agreement appointing the Distributor as exclusive distributor of
the Fund's shares and providing for the Distributor to bear distribution
expenses not borne by the Fund. By its terms, the Distribution Agreement has
an initial term ending April 30, 1998, and will remain in effect from year to
year thereafter if approved by the Board. The Distribution Agreement took
effect on May 31, 1997 upon the consummation of the merger of Dean Witter,
Discover & Co. with Morgan Stanley Group Inc. and is substantially identical
to the Fund's previous Distribution Agreement except for its dates of
effectiveness and termination.
The Distributor will bear 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 will also pay certain expenses in
connection with the distribution of the shares of the Fund, 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
22
<PAGE>
bears the costs of initial typesetting, printing and distribution of
prospectuses and supplements thereto to shareholders. The Fund also will bear
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
The Fund has adopted a Plan of Distribution pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under
the Act (the "Plan") whereby the Distributor or any of its affiliates,
including InterCapital, is authorized to utilize their own resources to
finance certain activities in connection with the distribution of shares of
the Fund. The Plan was approved initially by the Trustees on June 3, 1993,
and by InterCapital as the Fund's then sole shareholder on June 25, 1993,
whereupon the Plan went into effect. The vote of the Trustees, which was cast
in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such Plan,
included a majority of the Trustees who are not and were not at the time of
their voting interested persons of the Fund and who have and had at the time
of their votes no direct or indirect financial interest in the operation of
the Plan (the "Independent 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.
The Plan provides that the Fund authorizes the Distributor or any of its
affiliates, including InterCapital, to bear the expense of all promotional
and distribution related activities on behalf of the Fund. Among the
activities and services which may be provided under the Plan are: (1)
compensation to and expenses of account executives and other employees of the
Distributor and other Selected Broker-Dealers including overhead and
telephone expenses; (2) sales incentives and bonuses to sales representatives
and to marketing personnel in connection with promoting sales of the Fund's
shares; (3) expenses incurred in connection with promoting sales of the
Fund's shares; (4) preparing and distributing sales literature; and (5)
providing advertising and promotional activities, including direct mail
solicitation and television, radio, newspaper, magazine and other media
advertisements.
Pursuant to the Selected Broker-Dealer Agreements between the Distributor
and DWR and other Selected Broker-Dealers, the account executives of DWR and
other Selected Broker-Dealers may be paid an annual fee based upon the
current value of the respective accounts for which they are the account
executives of record. The fee also reflects a payment made for expenses
associated with the servicing of shareholder's accounts, including the
expenses of operating branch offices in connection with the servicing of
shareholder's accounts, which expenses include lease costs, the salaries and
employee benefits of operations and sales support personnel, utility costs,
communications costs and the costs of stationery and supplies and other
expenses relating to branch office servicing of shareholder accounts.
Under the Plan, the Distributor uses its best efforts in rendering
services to the Fund, but in the absence of willful misfeasance, bad faith,
gross negligence or reckless disregard of its obligations, the Distributor is
not liable to the Fund or any of its shareholders for any error of judgment
or mistake of law or for any act or omission or for any losses sustained by
the Fund or its shareholders.
At their meeting held April 24, 1997, the Trustees of the Fund, including
all of the Independent 12b-1 Trustees approved the continuance of the Plan.
The Plan will remain in effect until April 30, 1998, and from year to year
thereafter will continue in effect, provided such continuance is approved
annually by a vote of the Trustees, including a majority of the Independent
12b-1 Trustees. Assumption by the Fund of any distribution expenses under the
Plan must be approved by the shareholders, and all material amendments to the
Plan must be approved by the Trustees in the manner described above. The Plan
may be terminated at any time, without payment of any penalty, by vote of the
holders of a majority of
23
<PAGE>
the Independent 12b-1 Trustees or by a vote of a majority of the outstanding
voting securities (as defined in the Act) on not more than 30 days' written
notice to any other party to the Plan. So long as the Plan is in effect, the
selection or nomination of the Independent 12b-1 Trustees is committed to the
discretion of the Independent 12b-1 Trustees.
Under the Plan, the Distributor provides the Fund, for review by the
Trustees, and the Trustees review, promptly after the end of each fiscal
quarter, a written report regarding the distribution expenses incurred by the
Distributor of the Fund during such fiscal quarter, which report includes (1)
an itemization of the types of expenses and the purposes therefor; (2) the
amounts of such expenses; and (3) a description of the benefits derived by
the Fund. In the Trustees' quarterly review of the Plan they will consider
its continued appropriateness and the level of compensation provided therein.
No interested person of the Fund nor any Trustee of the Fund who is not an
interested person of the Fund, as defined in the Act, has any direct or
indirect financial interest in the operation of the Plan except to the extent
that the Distributor or certain of its employees may be deemed to have such
an interest as a result of benefits derived from the successful operation of
the Plan or as a result of receiving a portion of the amounts expended
thereunder by the Distributor or any of its affiliates, including
InterCapital.
DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE
As discussed in the Prospectus, portfolio securities (other than
short-term debt securities and futures and options) are valued for the Fund
by an outside independent pricing service approved by the Trustees. The
pricing service has informed the Fund that in valuing the portfolio
securities, it uses both a computerized grid matrix of tax-exempt securities
and evaluations by its staff, in each case based on information concerning
market transactions and quotations from dealers which reflect the bid side of
the market each day. The portfolio securities are thus valued for the Fund by
reference to a combination of transactions and quotations for the same or
other securities believed to be comparable in quality, coupon, maturity, type
of issue, call provisions, trading characteristics and other features deemed
to be relevant. The Trustees believe that timely and reliable market
quotations are generally not readily available to the Fund for purposes of
valuing tax-exempt securities and that the valuations supplied by the pricing
service, using the procedures outlined above and subject to periodic review,
are more likely to approximate the fair value of such securities. Short-term
taxable 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' fair value, in which case these
securities will be valued at their fair value as determined by the Trustees.
Other short-term taxable 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' fair
value, in which case these securities will be valued at their fair value as
determined by the Trustees. Listed options 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 are valued
at the mean between their latest bid and asked prices. Futures are valued at
the latest sale price as of the close of the commodities exchange on which
they trade unless the Trustees determine that such price does not reflect
their fair value, in which case they will be valued at their fair value as
determined by the Trustees. All other securities, including illiquid
securities, and other assets are valued at their fair value as determined in
good faith under procedures established by and under the supervision of the
Trustees.
The net asset value per share will be 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. 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.
24
<PAGE>
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 the
Fund's Transfer Agent, Dean Witter Trust Company (the "Transfer Agent"). This
is an open account in which shares owned by the investor are credited by the
Transfer Agent in lieu of issuance of a share certificate. If a share
certificate is desired, it must be requested in writing for each transaction.
Certificates are issued only for full shares and may be redeposited in the
account at any time. There is no charge to the investor for issuance of a
certificate. Whenever a shareholder instituted transaction takes place in the
Shareholder Investment Account, the shareholder will be mailed a confirmation
of the transaction from the Fund or from DWR or another Selected
Broker-Dealer.
Automatic Investment of Dividends and Distributions. 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 distributions on shares owned by the investor. Such dividends
and distributions will be paid on the monthly payment date, which will be no
later than the last business day of the month for which the dividend or
distribution is payable in shares of the Fund at net asset value per share.
Processing of dividend or distribution checks begins immediately following
the monthly payment date. Shareholders who have requested to receive
dividends in cash will normally be sent their monthly dividend check during
the first ten days of the following month. At any time an investor may
request the Transfer Agent in writing to have subsequent dividends and/or
capital gains distributions paid to the investor in cash rather than shares.
In order to provide sufficient time to process the change, such requests must
be received by the Transfer Agent at least five business days prior to the
payment date of the dividend or the record date of the distribution. In case
of recently purchased shares for which registration instructions have not
been received on the payment or record date, cash payments will be made to
the Distributor or the dealer through whom shares were purchased which
payments will be forwarded to the shareholder, upon receipt of proper
instructions.
EasyInvest (Service Mark) . 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 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 offering price.
The 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.
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.
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.
25
<PAGE>
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.
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 and the address to which checks are mailed through his or
her account executive or by written notification to the Transfer Agent. The
shareholder's signature on such notification must be guaranteed by an
eligible guarantor as described above. The shareholder may also terminate the
Systematic 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
Shareholder Investment Account. The shareholder may also redeem all or part
of the shares held in the Systematic 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.
Targeted Dividends(Service Mark) . In states where it is legally
permissible, shareholders may also have all income dividends and capital
gains distributions automatically invested in shares of any open-end Dean
Witter Fund other than Dean Witter Limited Term Municipal Trust. Such
investment will be made at the net asset value per share (without sales
charge) 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.
Shareholders of the Fund must be shareholders of the Dean Witter Fund
targeted to receive investments from dividends and distributions at the time
they enter the Targeted Dividend program. Nevertheless, investors should
review the prospectus of the targeted Dean Witter Fund before entering the
program.
Direct Investments through Transfer Agent. As discussed in the Prospectus,
a shareholder may make additional investments in Fund shares at any time
through the Shareholder Investment Account by sending a check in any amount,
not less than $100, payable to Dean Witter Limited Term Municipal Trust,
directly to the Fund's Transfer Agent. The investment proceeds will be
applied to the purchase of shares of the Fund 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.
Tax-Sheltered Retirement Plans. Retirement plans are available for use by
corporations, the self-employed, Individual Retirement Accounts and Custodial
Accounts under Section 403(b)(7) of the Internal Revenue Code. Adoption of
such plans should be on advice of legal counsel or tax adviser.
For further information regarding plan administration, custodial fees and
other details, investors should contact their DWR or other Selected
Broker-Dealer account executive or the Transfer Agent.
Exchange Privilege. As discussed in the Prospectus, an Exchange Privilege
exists whereby investors who have purchased shares of any of the Dean Witter
Funds sold with either a front-end (at time of purchase) sales charge ("FESC
funds") or a contingent deferred (at time of redemption) sales charge ("CDSC
funds") will be permitted, after the shares of the fund acquired by purchase
(not by exchange or dividend reinvestment) have been held for thirty days, to
redeem all or part of their shares in that fund and have the proceeds
invested in shares of the Fund, in shares of Dean Witter Short-Term Treasury
Trust, Dean Witter Short-Term Bond Fund, Dean Witter Balanced Income Fund,
Dean Witter Balanced Growth Fund, Dean Witter Intermediate Term U. S.
Treasury Trust and in shares of five Dean Witter Funds which are money market
funds (the Fund, Dean Witter Short-Term U.S. Treasury Trust, Dean Witter
Short-Term Bond Fund, Dean Witter Balanced Income Fund, Dean Witter Balanced
Growth Fund, Dean Witter Intermediate Term U. S. Treasury Trust and the five
money market funds hereinafter referred to as "Exchange Funds"). There is no
waiting period for exchanges of shares acquired by
26
<PAGE>
exchange or dividend reinvestment. Subsequently, shares of the Exchange Funds
received in an exchange for shares of an FESC fund (regardless of the type of
fund originally purchased) may be redeemed and exchanged for shares of the
Exchange Funds, FESC funds or CDSC funds (however, shares of CDSC funds,
including shares acquired in exchange of (i) shares of FESC funds or (ii)
shares of the Exchange Funds which were acquired in exchange for shares of
FESC funds, may not be exchanged for shares of FESC funds). Additionally,
shares of the Exchange Funds received in an exchange for shares of a CDSC
fund (regardless of the type of fund originally purchased) may be redeemed
and exchanged for shares of the Exchange Funds or CDSC funds. Ultimately, any
applicable contingent deferred sales charge ("CDSC") will have to be paid
upon redemption of shares originally purchased from a CDSC fund. An exchange
will be treated for federal income tax purposes and applicable state income
tax purposes the same as a repurchase or redemption of shares, on which the
shareholder may realize a capital gain or loss.
Any new account established through the Exchange Privilege will have the
same registration and cash dividend or dividend reinvestment plan as the
present account, unless the Transfer Agent receives written notification to
the contrary. For telephone exchanges, the exact registration of the existing
account and the account number must be provided.
Any shares held in certificate form cannot be exchanged but must be
forwarded to the Transfer Agent and deposited into the shareholder's account
before being eligible for exchange. (Certificates mailed in for deposit
should not be endorsed.)
The current prospectus for each of the Dean Witter Funds describes its
investment objective(s) and policies. Shareholders should obtain a copy and
read it carefully before investing. Exchanges are subject to the minimum
investment requirement and any other conditions imposed by each Fund. In the
case of any shareholder holding a share certificate or certificates, no
exchanges may be made until all applicable share certificates have been
received by the Transfer Agent and deposited in the shareholder's account. An
exchange will be treated for federal income tax purposes the same as a
repurchase or redemption of shares on which the shareholder will 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.
When shares of any CDSC fund are exchanged for shares of the Exchange
Funds, 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 Funds (calculated from the last day
of the month in which the Exchange Funds shares were acquired), the holding
period or "year since purchase payment made" is frozen. When shares are
redeemed out of the Exchange Funds, they will be subject to a CDSC which
would be based upon the period of time the shareholder held shares in a CDSC
fund. Shareholders acquiring shares of the Exchange Funds pursuant to this
exchange privilege may exchange those shares back into a CDSC fund from the
Exchange Funds, with no CDSC being imposed on such exchange. The holding
period previously frozen when shares were first exchanged for shares of the
Exchange Funds resumes on the last day of the month in which shares of a CDSC
fund are reacquired. Thus, a CDSC is imposed only upon an ultimate
redemption, based upon the time (calculated as described above) the
shareholder was invested in a CDSC fund. Shares of a CDSC fund acquired in
exchange for shares of an FESC fund (or in exchange for shares of other Dean
Witter Funds for which shares of an FESC fund have been exchanged) are not
subject to any CDSC upon their redemption.
When shares initially purchased in a CDSC fund are exchanged for shares of
another CDSC fund or for shares of the Exchange Funds, 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
27
<PAGE>
or distributions and (iii) acquired in exchange for shares of FESC funds, or
for shares of other Dean Witter Funds for which shares of FESC funds have
been exchanged (all such shares called "Free Shares"), will be exchanged
first. Shares of Dean Witter American Value Fund acquired prior to April 30,
1984, shares of Dean Witter Dividend Growth Securities Inc. and Dean Witter
Natural Resource Development Securities Inc. acquired prior to July 2, 1984,
and shares of Dean Witter Strategist Fund acquired prior to November 8, 1989
are also considered Free Shares and will be the first Free Shares to be
exchanged. After an exchange, all dividends earned on shares in the Fund or
the money market fund will be considered Free Shares. If the exchanged amount
exceeds the value of such Free Shares, an exchange is made, on a
block-by-block basis, of non-Free Shares held for the longest period of time
(except that if shares held for identical periods of time but subject to
different CDSC schedules are held in the same Exchange Privilege Account, the
shares of that block that are subject to a lower CDSC rate will be exchanged
prior to the shares of that block that are subject to a higher CDSC rate).
Shares equal to any appreciation in the value of non-Free Shares exchanged
will be treated as Free Shares, and the amount of the purchase payments for
the non-Free Shares of the fund exchanged into will be equal to the lesser of
(a) the purchase payments for, or (b) the current net asset value of, the
exchanged non-Free Shares. If an exchange between funds would result in
exchange of only part of a particular block of non-Free Shares, then shares
equal to any appreciation in the value of the block (up to the amount of the
exchange) will be treated as Free Shares and exchanged first, and the
purchase payment for that block will be allocated on a pro-rata basis between
the non-Free Shares of that block to be retained and the non-Free Shares to
be exchanged. The prorated amount of such purchase payment attributable to
the retained non-Free Shares will remain as the purchase payment for such
shares, and the amount of purchase payment for the exchanged non-Free Shares
will be equal to the lesser of (a) the prorated amount of the purchase
payment for, or (b) the current net asset value of, those exchanged non-Free
Shares. Based upon the procedures described in the CDSC fund Prospectus under
the caption "Contingent Deferred Sales Charge," any applicable CDSC will be
imposed upon the ultimate redemption of shares of any fund, regardless of the
number of exchanges since those shares were originally purchased.
With respect to exchanges, redemptions or repurchases, the Transfer Agent
shall be liable for its own negligence and not for the default or negligence
of its correspondents or for losses in transit. The Fund shall not be liable
for any default or negligence of the Transfer Agent, the Distributor or any
Selected Broker-Dealer.
The Distributor and any Selected Broker-Dealer have authorized and
appointed the Transfer Agent to act as their agent in connection with the
application of proceeds of any redemption of Fund shares to the purchase of
shares of any other fund and the general administration of the Exchange
Privilege. No commission or discounts will be paid to the Distributor or any
Selected Broker-Dealer for any transactions pursuant to this Exchange
Privilege.
Exchanges are subject to the minimum investment requirement and any other
conditions imposed by each fund. (The minimum initial investment is $5,000
for Dean Witter Liquid Asset Fund Inc., Dean Witter Tax-Free Daily Income
Trust, Dean Witter New York Municipal Money Market Trust and Dean Witter
California Tax-Free Daily Income Trust, although those funds may, at their
discretion, accept initial investments of as low as $1,000. The minimum
initial investment for Dean Witter Short-Term U.S. Treasury Trust is $10,000,
although that fund, in its discretion, may accept initial investments of as
low as $5,000. The minimum initial investment is $5,000 for Dean Witter
Special Value Fund. The minimum initial investment for all other Dean Witter
Funds for which the Exchange Privilege is available is $1,000.) Upon exchange
into an Exchange Fund, the shares of that fund will be held in a special
Exchange Privilege Account separately from accounts of those shareholders who
have acquired their shares directly from that fund. As a result, certain
services normally available to shareholders of Dean Witter Short-Term U.S.
Treasury or money market funds, including the check writing feature, will not
be available for funds held in that account.
The Fund and each of the other Dean Witter Funds may limit the number of
times this Exchange Privilege may be exercised by any investor within a
specified period of time. Also, the Exchange Privilege may be terminated or
revised at any time by the Fund and/or any of the Dean Witter Funds for which
28
<PAGE>
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 Dean Witter Short-Term U.S. Treasury Trust, Dean Witter Short-Term
Bond Fund, Dean Witter Balanced Income Fund, Dean Witter Balanced Growth
Fund, Dean Witter Intermediate Term U.S. Treasury Trust, Dean Witter Liquid
Asset Fund Inc., Dean Witter Tax-Free Daily Income Trust, Dean Witter New
York Municipal Money Market Trust, Dean Witter California Tax-Free Daily
Income Trust or Dean Witter U.S. Government Money Market Trust, pursuant to
this Exchange Privilege and provided further that the Exchange Privilege may
be terminated or materially revised without notice at times (a) when the New
York Stock Exchange is closed for other than customary weekends and holidays,
(b) when trading on that Exchange is restricted, (c) when an emergency exists
as 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.
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
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
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 (including a certified check or bank cashier's
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.
Involuntary Redemption. As described in the Prospectus, due to the
relatively high cost of handling small investments, the Fund reserves the
right to redeem, at net asset value, the shares of any shareholder whose
shares have a value of less than $100, or such lesser amount as may be fixed
by the Board of Trustees. However, before the Fund redeems such shares and
sends the proceeds to the shareholder, it will notify the shareholder that
the value of the shares is less than $100 and allow him or her 60 days to
make an additional investment in an amount which will increase the value of
his or her account to $100 or more before the redemption is processed.
DIVIDENDS, DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Fund intends to distribute substantially all of its net investment
income and all of its net short-term capital gains, if any, and will
determine whether to retain all or part of any net long-term capital gains
for reinvestment. If any such gains are retained, the Fund will pay federal
income tax thereon, and will notify shareholders that following such election
the shareholders will be required to include such
29
<PAGE>
undistributed gains in determining their taxable income and may claim their
share of the tax paid as a credit against their individual federal income tax
(but not the personal income tax of a particular state).
As discussed in the Prospectus, the Fund may invest a portion of its
assets in certain "private activity bonds" issued after August 7, 1986. As a
result, a portion of the exempt-interest dividends paid by the Fund may be an
item of tax preference to shareholders subject to the federal alternative
minimum tax. Certain corporations which are subject to the alternative
minimum tax may also have to include exempt-interest dividends in calculating
their alternative minimum taxable income in situations where the "adjusted
current earnings" of the corporation exceeds its alternative minimum taxable
income.
Each shareholder will be sent a summary of his or her account, at least
quarterly, including information as to reinvested dividends and capital gains
distributions. Share certificates for dividends or distributions will not be
issued unless a shareholder requests in writing that a certificate be issued
for a specific number of shares.
In computing interest income, the Fund will amortize any premiums and
original issue discounts on securities owned. Additionally, with respect to
market discount on bonds purchased after April 30, 1993, a portion of any
capital gain realized upon disposition is recharacterized as investment
income. Capital gains or losses realized upon sale or maturity of such
securities will be based on their amortized cost.
Gains or losses on the sales of securities by the Fund will be long-term
capital gains or losses if the securities have been held by the Fund for more
than twelve months. Gains or losses on the sale of securities held for twelve
months or less will be short-term capital gains or losses. Gains and losses
on the sale, expiration or other termination of options on securities will
generally be treated as gains and losses from the sale of securities.
Pursuant to present federal income tax laws, futures contracts held by the
Fund at the end of each fiscal year will be required to be
"marked-to-market," that is, treated as having been sold at their fair market
value at such date. Sixty percent of any gain or loss recognized on these
deemed sales will be treated as long-term capital gain or loss, and the
remainder will be treated as short-term capital gain or loss. Gains or losses
from options on futures and options on debt instruments will also generally
be treated as part short-term and part long-term capital gains or losses,
unless such gains or losses were incurred as part of a securities "straddle,"
in which case the appropriate straddle rules of the Internal Revenue Code
(the "Code") would apply.
Because the Fund intends to distribute all of its net investment income
and capital gains to shareholders and otherwise continue to qualify as a
regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code,
it is not expected that the Fund will be required to pay any federal income
tax. Shareholders will normally have to pay federal income taxes, and any
applicable state and/or local income taxes, on the dividends and
distributions they receive from the Fund. Such dividends and distributions,
to the extent that they are derived from net investment income or short-term
capital gains, are taxable to the shareholder as ordinary income regardless
of whether the shareholder receives such payments in additional shares or in
cash. Any dividends declared in the last quarter of any calendar year which
are paid in the following calendar year prior to February 1 will be deemed
received by the shareholder in the prior calendar year.
One of the requirements for regulated investment company status is that at
least 90% of a fund's gross income be derived from dividends, interest, gains
from the sale or other disposition of securities and certain other related
income. Another requirement for regulated investment company status is that
less than 30% of a fund's gross income can be derived from gains from the
sale or other disposition of securities held less than three months.
Accordingly, the Fund may be restricted in the writing of options on
securities held for less than three months, in the writing of options which
expire in less than three months, and in effecting closing transactions with
respect to call or put options which have been written or purchased less than
three months prior to such transactions. The Fund may also be restricted in
its ability to engage in transactions involving futures contracts.
As discussed in the Prospectus, the Fund intends to qualify to pay
"exempt-interest dividends" to its shareholders by maintaining, as of the
close of each quarter of its taxable year, at least 50% of the value
30
<PAGE>
of its total assets in tax-exempt securities. An exempt-interest dividend is
that part of dividend distributions made by the Fund which consists of
interest received by the Fund on tax-exempt securities upon which the
shareholder incurs no federal income taxes (apart from any possible
application of the alternative minimum tax).
Under the Revenue Reconciliation Act of 1993, all or a portion of the
Fund's gain from the sale or redemption of tax-exempt obligations purchased
at a market discount after April 30, 1993 will be treated as ordinary income
rather than capital gain. This rule may increase the amount of ordinary
income dividends received by shareholders.
The Fund will mail to shareholders a statement indicating the percentage
of the dividend distributions for each fiscal year which constitutes
exempt-interest dividends and the percentage, if any, that is taxable, and
the percentage, if any, of the exempt-interest dividends which constitutes an
item of tax preference, and to what extent the taxable portion is long-term
capital gain or ordinary income. These percentages should be applied
uniformly to all monthly distributions made during the fiscal year to
determine the proportion of dividends that is tax-exempt. The percentages may
differ from the percentage of tax-exempt dividend distributions for any
particular month.
Shareholders will be subject to federal income tax on dividends paid from
interest income derived from taxable securities and on distributions of net
short-term capital gains. Such dividends and distributions are taxable to the
shareholder as ordinary dividend income regardless of whether the shareholder
receives such distributions in additional shares or in cash. Distributions of
long-term capital gains, if any, are taxable as long-term gains, regardless
of how long the shareholder has held Fund shares and whether the distribution
is received in additional shares or in cash. Since the Fund's income is
expected to be derived entirely from interest rather than dividends, none of
such dividend distributions will be eligible for the 70% dividends received
deduction generally available to corporations. Net long-term capital gains
distributions are not eligible for the dividends received deduction.
Any loss on the sale or exchange of shares of the Fund which are held for
six months or less is disallowed to the extent of the amount of any
exempt-interest dividends paid with respect to such shares. Treasury
Regulations may provide for a reduction in such required holding period. If a
shareholder receives a distribution that is taxed as long-term capital gain
on shares held for six months or less and then sells those shares at a loss,
the loss will be treated as a long-term capital loss to the extent of the
capital gains distribution.
Interest on indebtedness incurred or continued by a shareholder to
purchase or carry shares of the Fund is not deductible to the extent
allocable to exempt-interest dividends of the Fund (which allocation does not
take into account capital gain distributions from the Fund). Furthermore,
entities or persons who are "substantial users" (or related persons) of
facilities financed by industrial development bonds should consult their tax
advisers before purchasing shares of the Fund. "Substantial user" is defined
generally by Income Tax Regulation 1.103-11 (b) as including a "non-exempt
person" who regularly uses in a trade or business a part of a facility
financed from the proceeds of industrial development bonds.
Federal Income Tax Status. From time to time, proposals have been
introduced before Congress for the purpose of restricting or eliminating the
federal income tax exemption for interest on municipal securities. It can be
expected that similar proposals may be introduced in the future. If such a
proposal were enacted, the availability of municipal securities for
investment by the Fund could be affected. In such event, the Fund would
re-evaluate its investment objective and policies.
At March 31, 1997, the Fund had an approximate net capital loss carryover
of $8,798,000 of which $4,630,000 will be available through March 31, 2003,
$3,941,000 will be available through March 31, 2004 and $227,000 will be
available through March 31, 2005. To the extent that these net capital loss
carryovers are used to offset future capital gains, it is probable that the
gains so offset will not be distributed to shareholders.
Any dividends or distributions 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 fund by the exact amount of the dividend or
distribution. Furthermore, capital gains distributions are, and some portion
of the dividends
31
<PAGE>
may be, subject to income tax. If the net asset value of the shares should be
reduced below a shareholder's cost as a result of the payment of taxable
dividends or the distribution of realized long-term capital gains, such
payment or distribution would be in part a return of capital but nonetheless
taxable to the shareholder. Therefore, an investor should consider the tax
implications of purchasing Fund shares immediately prior to a distribution
record date.
The foregoing relates to federal income taxation in effect as of the date
of the Prospectus.
The Fund is organized as a Massachusetts business trust. Under current
law, so long as it qualifies as a "regulated investment company" under the
Code, the Fund itself is not liable for any income or franchise tax in The
Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
PERFORMANCE INFORMATION
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
As discussed in the Prospectus, from time to time the Fund may quote its
"yield" and/or its "total return" in advertisements and sales literature. The
yield is calculated for any 30-day period as follows: the amount of interest
income for each security in the Fund's portfolio is determined in accordance
with regulatory requirements; the total for the entire portfolio constitutes
the Fund's gross income for the period. Expenses accrued during the period
are subtracted to arrive at "net investment income". The resulting amount is
divided by the product of the net asset value per share of the Fund on the
last day of the period multiplied by the average number of shares outstanding
during the period that were entitled to dividends. This amount is added to 1
and raised to the sixth power. 1 is then subtracted from the result and the
difference is multiplied by 2 to arrive at the annualized yield. Based on the
foregoing calculation, the Fund's annualized yield for the thirty (30) day
period ending March 31, 1997 was 4.22%.
To determine interest income from debt obligations, a yield-to-maturity,
expressed as a percentage, is determined for obligations held at the
beginning of the period, based on the current market value of the security
plus accrued interest, generally as of the end of the month preceding the
30-day period, or, for obligations purchased during the period, based on the
cost of the security (including accrued interest). The yield-to-maturity is
multiplied by the market value (plus accrued interest) for each security and
the result is divided by 360 and multiplied by 30 days or the number of days
the security was held during the period, if less. Modifications are made for
determining yield-to-maturity on certain tax-exempt securities.
The Fund may also quote a "tax-equivalent yield" determined by dividing
the tax-exempt portion of the quoted yield by 1 minus the stated income tax
rate and adding the result to the portion of the yield that is not
tax-exempt. Based on the foregoing calculation and a Federal personal income
tax bracket of 39.6%, the Fund's annualized tax-equivalent yield for the
thirty (30) day period ending March 31, 1997 was 6.99%.
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. 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. Based on the foregoing calculation, the Fund's average
annual total return for the fiscal year ended March 31, 1997 and for the
period July 12, 1993 (commencement of operations) through March 31, 1997 was
3.65% and 3.98%, 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. In addition, the Fund may also 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
32
<PAGE>
obtained by dividing the ending value by the initial $1,000 investment and
subtracting 1 from the result. Based on the foregoing calculation, the Fund's
aggregate total return for the fiscal year ended March 31, 1997 and for the
period July 12, 1993 (commencement of operations) through March 31, 1997 was
3.65% and 15.60%, respectively. The Fund may also advertise the growth of
hypothetical investments of $10,000, $50,000 and $100,000 in shares of the
Fund by adding 1 to the Fund's aggregate total return (expressed as a
decimal) 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 $11,560, $57,800 and $115,600, respectively at March 31, 1997.
The Fund from time to time may also advertise its performance relative to
certain performance rankings and indices compiled by independent
organizations.
SHARES OF THE FUND
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
As discussed in the Prospectus, the shareholders of the Fund are entitled
to a full vote for each full share held. All of the Trustees have been
elected by the shareholders of the Fund, most recently at a Special Meeting
of Shareholders held on May 21, 1997. On that date, Wayne E. Hedien was also
elected as a Trustee of the Fund, with his term to commence on September 1,
1997. The Trustees themselves have the power to alter the number and the
terms of office of the Trustees (as provided for in the Declaration of
Trust), and they may at any time lengthen or shorten 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 following a meeting called for
the purpose, requested in writing by recordholders of not less than 10% of
the Fund's outstanding shares. 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 elected, while the holders of the
remaining shares would be unable to elect any Trustees.
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.) The Trustees have not presently
authorized any such additional series or classes of shares.
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 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 shall be of unlimited duration subject to the provisions in the
Declaration of Trust concerning termination by action of the shareholders.
CUSTODIAN AND TRANSFER AGENT
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Bank of New York, 90 Washington Street, New York, New York 10286 is
the Custodian of the Fund's assets. Any Fund cash balances with the Custodian
in excess of $100,000 are unprotected by federal deposit insurance. Such
balances may at times be substantial.
33
<PAGE>
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 of 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 sub-account and recordkeeping services for
certain retirement accounts, disbursing cash dividends and distributions and
reinvesting dividends and distributions, 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 audited by independent accountants together
with their report thereon, 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 Trustees.
LEGAL COUNSEL
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Barry Fink, Esq., who is an officer and the General Counsel of the
Investment Manager, is an officer and the General Counsel of the Fund.
EXPERTS
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
The financial statements of the Fund included in this Statement of
Additional Information and incorporated by reference in the Prospectus have
been so included and incorporated in reliance on the report of Price
Waterhouse LLP, independent accountants, given on the authority of said firm
as experts in auditing and accounting.
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
This Statement of Additional Information and the Prospectus do not contain
all of the information set forth in the Registration Statement the Fund has
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The complete Registration
Statement may be obtained from the Securities and Exchange Commission upon
payment of the fee prescribed by the rules and regulations of the Commission.
34
<PAGE>
DEAN WITTER LIMITED TERM MUNICIPAL TRUST
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS March 31, 1997
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PRINCIPAL
AMOUNT IN COUPON MATURITY
THOUSANDS RATE DATE VALUE
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
MUNICIPAL BONDS (89.0%)
General Obligation (9.7%)
$1,000 Wilmington, Delaware, Refg Ser 1993 B (FGIC) ................... 4.60 % 07/01/04 $ 976,560
1,000 Honolulu, Hawaii, Refg Ser 1993 B .............................. 5.00 10/01/03 1,002,200
1,000 Rosemont, Illinois, Ser 1993 B .................................. 5.30 12/01/04 1,008,700
2,000 Massachusetts, Refg Ser 1993 C ................................. 4.80 08/01/03 1,982,660
1,000 Massillon City School District, Ohio, Refg Ser 1994 (AMBAC) .... 4.70 12/01/05 974,520
- ----------- -------------
6,000 5,944,640
- ----------- -------------
Educational Facilities Revenue (10.5%)
1,500 University of Delaware, Ser 1993 ............................... 4.90 11/01/02 1,501,395
1,000 Massachusetts Health & Educational Facilities Authority, Boston
College Ser K ................................................. 4.80 06/01/04 987,890
2,000 University of Minnesota, Ser 1993 A ............................. 4.80 08/15/03 1,981,520
2,000 New York State Dormitory Authority, State University Ser 1993 B 5.25 05/15/05 1,963,620
- ----------- -------------
6,500 6,434,425
- ----------- -------------
Electric Revenue (4.8%)
1,000 Salt River Project Agricultural Improvement & Power District,
Arizona, Refg Ser 1993 B ...................................... 4.75 01/01/03 992,490
2,000 San Antonio, Texas, Electric & Gas Refg Ser 1994 ................ 4.70 02/01/05 1,946,720
- ----------- -------------
3,000 2,939,210
- ----------- -------------
Hospital Revenue (8.0%)
1,000 California Statewide Communities Development Authority,
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center Ser 1993 ........................... 4.70 11/01/03 972,930
1,000 Michigan Hospital Finance Authority, McLaren Obligated Group Ser
1993 A ........................................................ 5.00 10/15/04 965,870
1,000 Murray, Utah, IHC Hospitals Inc Refg Ser 1993 (AMBAC) .......... 5.00 05/15/04 1,000,540
1,000 Fairfax County Industrial Development Authority, Virginia, Inova
Health System Foundation Refg Ser 1993 A ....................... 4.70 08/15/04 975,020
1,000 Wisconsin Health & Educational Facilities Authority, Hospital
Sisters Services
Ser 1993 (MBIA) ................................................ 5.00 06/01/03 995,220
- ----------- -------------
5,000 4,909,580
- ----------- -------------
Industrial Development/Pollution Control Revenue (4.9%)
1,000 Massachusetts Industrial Finance Agency, Eastern Edison Co Refg
Ser 1993 ...................................................... 5.875 08/01/08 968,900
2,000 Greenwood, Wisconsin, Land O'Lakes Inc (AMT) .................... 5.50 09/01/03 2,017,500
- ----------- -------------
3,000 2,986,400
- ----------- -------------
Mortgage Revenue -Multi-Family (3.5%)
2,130 Wisconsin Housing & Economic Development Authority, Ser 1993 B
(AMT) ......................................................... 5.10 11/01/03 2,117,689
- ----------- -------------
SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
35
<PAGE>
DEAN WITTER LIMITED TERM MUNICIPAL TRUST
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS March 31, 1997, continued
PRINCIPAL
AMOUNT IN COUPON MATURITY
THOUSANDS RATE DATE VALUE
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mortgage Revenue - Single Family (3.3%)
$2,000 Connecticut Housing Finance Authority, 1993 Subser F-1 .......... 4.90 % 05/15/04 $1,991,340
- ----------- -------------
Public Facilities Revenue (6.3%)
2,000 Regional Convention & Sports Complex Authority, Missouri, Refg
Ser A 1993 .................................................... 4.75 08/15/04 1,931,100
2,000 Ohio Building Authority, Correctional Refg 1994 Ser A ........... 4.65 10/01/04 1,945,220
- ----------- -------------
4,000 3,876,320
- ----------- -------------
Resource Recovery Revenue (3.3%)
2,000 Northeast Maryland Waste Disposal Authority, Montgomery County
- ----------- Ser 1993 A (AMT) ................................................ 5.50 07/01/01 2,023,200
-------------
Student Loan Revenue (6.5%)
2,000 Montana Higher Education Student Assistance Corporation, Senior
Ser 1993 B (AMT) .............................................. 5.10 12/01/01 1,997,400
2,000 South Carolina Education Assistance Authority, Ser 1993 A-1
(AMT) ......................................................... 5.00 09/01/03 1,975,100
- ----------- -------------
4,000 3,972,500
- ----------- -------------
Tax Allocation (6.4%)
1,895 Pleasanton Joint Powers Financing Authority, California,
Reassessment Ser 1993 A ........................................ 5.60 09/02/00 1,929,053
2,000 Sacramento Financing Authority, California, Refg Ser 1993 A
(AMBAC) ....................................................... 4.85 11/01/04 1,989,900
- ----------- -------------
3,895 3,918,953
- ----------- -------------
Transporation Facilities Revenue (9.6%)
1,000 Delaware River & Bay Authority, Delaware & New Jersey, Ser 1993+ 4.50 01/01/04 967,130
2,000 Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, District of
Columbia, Maryland and Virginia, Refg Ser 1993 (FGIC)++ ........ 4.90 01/01/05 1,964,960
1,000 Chicago, Illinois, Chicago-O'Hare Int'l Airport Refg Ser 1993 A 4.80 01/01/05 961,840
2,000 Harris County, Texas, Toll Road Refg Ser 1994 (AMBAC) ........... 4.85 08/15/05 1,975,000
- ----------- -------------
6,000 5,868,930
- ----------- -------------
Water & Sewer Revenue (8.9%)
1,000 Atlanta, Georgia, Water & Sewer Ser 1993 ....................... 4.50 01/01/04 968,800
1,000 Massachusetts Water Resources Authority, Ser 1993 C ............ 5.25 12/01/06 999,170
1,000 New York City Municipal Water Finance Authority, New York, Ser
1994 B ........................................................ 5.125 06/15/04 997,240
1,500 Pittsburgh Water & Sewer Authority, Pennsylvania, Refg Ser 1993
A (FGIC) ....................................................... 4.60 09/01/03 1,465,575
1,000 Southeastern Public Service Authority, Virginia, Regional Solid
Waste Refg ....................................................
Ser 1993 A (MBIA) .............................................. 4.70 07/01/04 980,560
- ----------- -------------
5,500 5,411,345
- ----------- -------------
SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
36
<PAGE>
DEAN WITTER LIMITED TERM MUNICIPAL TRUST
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS March 31, 1997, continued
PRINCIPAL
AMOUNT IN COUPON MATURITY
THOUSANDS RATE DATE VALUE
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other Revenue (3.3%)
$2,000 Pennsylvania Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority, Special
Tax Ser 1993 (FGIC) ............................................ 5.05% 06/15/04 $1,997,460
- ---------- -------------
55,025 TOTAL MUNICIPAL BONDS
- ----------- (Identified Cost $54,766,712) ........................................... 54,391,992
-------------
SHORT-TERM MUNICIPAL OBLIGATIONS (7.7%)
1,800 East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana, Exxon Corp Ser 1989
(Demand 04/01/97) ............................................. 3.90* 11/01/19 1,800,000
2,900 Royal Oak Hospital Finance Authority, Michigan, William Beaumont
- ----------- Hospital Ser 1996 J (Demand 04/01/97) ......................... 3.80* 01/01/03 2,900,000
-------------
4,700 TOTAL SHORT-TERM MUNICIPAL OBLIGATIONS
- ----------- (Identified Cost $4,700,000) ....................................................... 4,700,000
-------------
$59,725 TOTAL INVESTMENTS
(Identified Cost $59,466,712)(a) ......................................... 96.7% 59,091,992
=========== -------------
CASH AND OTHER ASSETS IN EXCESS OF LIABILITIES ........................... 3.3 2,005,848
---------- -------------
NET ASSETS .............................................................. 100.0% $61,097,840
========== =============
</TABLE>
- ------------
AMT Alternative Minimum Tax.
+ Joint Exemption in Delaware and New Jersey.
++ Joint Exemption in District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia.
* Current coupon of variable rate demand obligation.
(a) The aggregate cost for federal income tax purposes approximates
identified cost. The aggregate gross unrealized appreciation is
$123,290 and the aggregate gross unrealized depreciation is
$498,010, resulting in net unrealized depreciation of $374,720.
Bond Insurance:
- ---------------
AMBAC AMBAC Indemnity Corporation.
FGIC Financial Guaranty Insurance Company.
MBIA Municipal Bond Investors Assurance Corporation.
SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
37
<PAGE>
DEAN WITTER LIMITED TERM MUNICIPAL TRUST
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS March 31, 1997, continued
GEOGRAPHIC SUMMARY OF INVESTMENTS
Based on Market Value as a Percentage of Net Assets
March 31, 1997
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C>
Arizona 1.6%
California 8.0
Connecticut 3.3
Delaware 5.6
District of Columbia 3.2
Georgia 1.6
Hawaii 1.6
Illinois 3.2
Louisiana 2.9
Maryland 6.5%
Massachusetts 8.1
Michigan 6.3
Minnesota 3.2
Missouri 3.2
Montana 3.3
New Jersey 1.6
New York 4.8
Ohio 4.8
Pennsylvania 5.7%
South Carolina 3.2
Texas 6.4
Utah 1.6
Virginia 6.4
Wisconsin 8.4
Joint Exemptions* (7.8)
-------
Total 96.7%
=======
</TABLE>
- ------------
* Joint exemptions have been included in more than one geographic location.
SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
38
<PAGE>
DEAN WITTER LIMITED TERM MUNICIPAL TRUST
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
March 31, 1997
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C>
ASSETS:
Investments in securities, at value
(identified cost $59,466,712)....................................... $59,091,992
Cash................................................................. 98,804
Receivable for:
Shares of beneficial interest sold................................. 1,506,713
Interest........................................................... 732,027
Deferred organizational expenses .................................... 40,457
Prepaid expenses and other assets.................................... 4,184
-------------
TOTAL ASSETS....................................................... 61,474,177
-------------
LIABILITIES:
Payable for:
Shares of beneficial interest repurchased.......................... 221,335
Dividends to shareholders.......................................... 34,394
Investment management fee.......................................... 25,958
Accrued expenses .................................................... 94,650
-------------
TOTAL LIABILITIES.................................................. 376,337
-------------
NET ASSETS:
Paid-in-capital...................................................... 70,270,587
Net unrealized depreciation ......................................... (374,720)
Accumulated net realized loss........................................ (8,798,027)
-------------
NET ASSETS ........................................................ $61,097,840
=============
NET ASSET VALUE PER SHARE,
6,165,243 shares outstanding (unlimited shares authorized of $.01
par value).......................................................... $ 9.91
=============
</TABLE>
SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
39
<PAGE>
DEAN WITTER LIMITED TERM MUNICIPAL TRUST
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, continued
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
For the year ended March 31, 1997
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C>
NET INVESTMENT INCOME:
INTEREST INCOME........................ $3,225,927
------------
EXPENSES
Investment management fee.............. 331,532
Shareholder reports and notices ...... 60,216
Professional fees ..................... 52,835
Registration fees ..................... 51,691
Transfer agent fees and expenses ...... 35,885
Organizational expenses ............... 31,690
Trustees' fees and expenses............ 9,598
Custodian fees......................... 3,973
Other.................................. 9,312
------------
TOTAL EXPENSES....................... 586,732
LESS: EXPENSE OFFSET................. (3,958)
------------
NET EXPENSES......................... 582,774
------------
NET INVESTMENT INCOME................ 2,643,153
------------
NET REALIZED AND UNREALIZED LOSS:
Net realized loss ..................... (226,959)
Net change in unrealized depreciation (32,266)
------------
NET LOSS............................. (259,225)
------------
NET INCREASE........................... $2,383,928
============
</TABLE>
SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
40
<PAGE>
DEAN WITTER LIMITED TERM MUNICIPAL TRUST
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, continued
STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
FOR THE YEAR FOR THE YEAR
ENDED ENDED
MARCH 31, 1997 MARCH 31, 1996
- ------------------------------------------------------ -------------- --------------
<S> <C> <C>
INCREASE (DECREASE) IN NET ASSETS:
OPERATIONS:
Net investment income ................................. $ 2,643,153 $ 3,288,222
Net realized loss...................................... (226,959) (204,169)
Net change in unrealized depreciation ................. (32,266) 3,701,666
-------------- --------------
NET INCREASE......................................... 2,383,928 6,785,719
Dividends from net investment income................... (2,659,597) (3,271,778)
Net decrease from transactions in shares of beneficial
interest.............................................. (11,392,426) (16,247,458)
-------------- --------------
NET DECREASE......................................... (11,668,095) (12,733,517)
NET ASSETS:
Beginning of period.................................... 72,765,935 85,499,452
-------------- --------------
END OF PERIOD
(Including undistributed net investment income of
$0 and $16,444, respectively) ....................... $ 61,097,840 $ 72,765,935
============== ==============
</TABLE>
SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
41
<PAGE>
DEAN WITTER LIMITED TERM MUNICIPAL TRUST
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS March 31, 1997
1. ORGANIZATION AND ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Dean Witter Limited Term Municipal Trust (the "Fund") is registered under the
Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, as a diversified, open-end
management investment company. The Fund's investment objective is to provide
a high level of current income which is exempt from federal income tax,
consistent with the preservation of capital and prescribed standards of
quality and maturity. The Fund seeks to achieve this objective by investing
primarily in intermediate term, investment grade municipal securities. The
Fund was organized as a Massachusetts business trust on February 25, 1993 and
commenced operations on July 12, 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 -- Portfolio securities are valued by an outside
independent pricing service approved by the Trustees. The pricing service has
informed the Fund that in valuing the portfolio securities, it uses both a
computerized matrix of tax-exempt securities and evaluations by its staff, in
each case based on information concerning market transactions and quotations
from dealers which reflect the bid side of the market each day. The portfolio
securities are thus valued by reference to a combination of transactions and
quotations for the same or other securities believed to be comparable in
quality, coupon, maturity, type of issue, call provisions, trading
characteristics and other features deemed to be relevant. 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. Discounts are accreted and premiums are amortized over the life of
the respective securities. Interest income is accrued daily.
C. FEDERAL INCOME TAX STATUS -- It is the Fund's policy to comply with the
requirements of the Internal Revenue Code applicable to regulated investment
companies and to distribute all of its taxable and nontaxable income to its
shareholders. Accordingly, no federal income tax provision is required.
42
<PAGE>
DEAN WITTER LIMITED TERM MUNICIPAL TRUST
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS March 31, 1997, continued
D. DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS -- The Fund records dividends
and distributions to its shareholders on the record date. The amount of
dividends and distributions from net investment income and net realized
capital gains are determined in accordance with federal income tax
regulations which may differ from generally accepted accounting principles.
These "book/tax" differences are either considered temporary or permanent in
nature. To the extent these differences are permanent in nature, such amounts
are reclassified within the capital accounts based on their federal tax-basis
treatment; temporary differences do not require reclassification. Dividends
and distributions which exceed net investment income and net realized capital
gains for financial reporting purposes but not for tax purposes are reported
as dividends in excess of net investment income or distributions in excess of
net realized capital gains. To the extent they exceed net investment income
and net realized capital gains for tax purposes, they are reported as
distributions of paid-in-capital.
E. ORGANIZATIONAL EXPENSES -- Dean Witter InterCapital Inc. (the "Investment
Manager") paid the organizational expenses of the Fund in the amount of
$141,529 which were reimbursed exclusive of $12,651 which was absorbed by the
Investment Manager. Such expenses have been deferred and are being amortized
by 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 the Investment
Manager a management fee, accrued daily and payable monthly, by applying the
annual rate of 0.50% to the Fund's net assets determined as of the close of
each business day.
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. SECURITY TRANSACTIONS AND TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES
The proceeds from sales of portfolio securities, excluding short-term
investments, for the year ended March 31, 1997 aggregated $16,219,488.
43
<PAGE>
DEAN WITTER LIMITED TERM MUNICIPAL TRUST
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS March 31, 1997, continued
Dean Witter Trust Company, an affiliate of the Investment Manager, is the
Fund's transfer agent. At March 31, 1997, the Fund had transfer agent fees
and expenses payable of approximately $11,700.
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, 1997 included in Trustees' fees and expenses in the Statement
of Operations amounted to $4,550. At March 31, 1997, the Fund had an accrued
pension liability of $19,862 which is included in accrued expenses in the
Statement of Assets and Liabilities.
4. SHARES OF BENEFICIAL INTEREST
Transactions in shares of beneficial interest were as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
FOR THE FOR THE
YEAR ENDED YEAR ENDED
MARCH 31, 1997 MARCH 31, 1996
----------------------------- ----------------------------
SHARES AMOUNT SHARES AMOUNT
------------- --------------- ------------- --------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Sold 2,662,724 $ 26,485,209 4,179,668 $ 41,325,172
Reinvestment of dividends 207,775 2,068,215 252,716 2,510,255
------------- --------------- ------------- --------------
2,870,499 28,553,424 4,432,384 43,835,427
Repurchased (4,015,739) (39,945,850) (6,068,284) (60,082,885)
------------- --------------- ------------- --------------
Net decrease (1,145,240) $(11,392,426) (1,635,900) $(16,247,458)
============= =============== ============= ==============
</TABLE>
5. FEDERAL INCOME TAX STATUS
At March 31, 1997, the Fund had an approximate net capital loss carryover
which may be used to offset future capital gains to the extent provided by
regulations, which is available through March 31 of the following years:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
AMOUNTS IN THOUSANDS
- --------------------------------
2003 2004 2005 TOTAL
- -------- -------- ------ -------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
$4,630 $3,941 $227 $8,798
======== ======== ====== =======
</TABLE>
44
<PAGE>
DEAN WITTER LIMITED TERM MUNICIPAL TRUST
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 YEAR ENDED MARCH 31, JULY 12, 1993*
------------------------------- THROUGH
1997 1996 1995 MARCH 31, 1994
- ----------------------------------------- ---------- ---------- --------- ----------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
PER SHARE OPERATING PERFORMANCE:
Net asset value, beginning of period ..... $ 9.95 $ 9.56 $ 9.61 $10.00
---------- ---------- --------- --------------
Net investment income..................... 0.40 0.41 0.42 0.29
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) .. (0.04) 0.39 (0.05) (0.39)
---------- ---------- --------- --------------
Total from investment operations.......... 0.36 0.80 0.37 (0.10)
Less dividends from net investment
income................................... (0.40) (0.41) (0.42) (0.29)
---------- ---------- --------- --------------
Net asset value, end of period............ $ 9.91 $ 9.95 $ 9.56 $ 9.61
========== ========== ========= ==============
TOTAL INVESTMENT RETURN+.................. 3.65% 8.42% 4.01% (1.11)%(1)
RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET ASSETS:
Expenses.................................. 0.88%(4) 0.87%(4) 0.76% 0.31%(2)(3)
Net investment income..................... 3.99% 4.09% 4.41% 3.92%(2)(3)
SUPPLEMENTAL DATA:
Net assets, end of period, in thousands .. $61,098 $72,766 $85,499 $170,589
Portfolio turnover rate .................. -- % -- % 2% 6%(1)
</TABLE>
- ------------
* Commencement of operations.
+ Calculated based on the net asset value as of the last business day of
the period.
(1) Not annualized.
(2) Annualized.
(3) If the Fund had borne all of its expenses that were assumed/reimbursed
or waived by the Investment Manager, the annualized expense and net
investment income ratios would have been 0.75% and 3.48%, respectively.
(4) Does not reflect the effect of expense offsets of 0.01%.
SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
45
<PAGE>
DEAN WITTER LIMITED TERM MUNICIPAL TRUST
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
TO THE SHAREHOLDERS AND TRUSTEES
OF DEAN WITTER LIMITED TERM MUNICIPAL TRUST
In our opinion, the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities,
including the portfolio of investments, and the related statements of
operations and of changes in net assets and the financial highlights present
fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Dean Witter
Limited Term Municipal Trust (the "Fund") at March 31, 1997, 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 three years in the period then ended and for the period July
12, 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, 1997 by correspondence with the custodian, provide a reasonable basis for
the opinion expressed above.
PRICE WATERHOUSE LLP
1177 Avenue of the Americas
New York, New York 10036
May 9, 1997
1997 FEDERAL TAX NOTICE (unaudited)
During the year ended March 31, 1997, the Fund paid to shareholders
$0.40 per share from net investment income. All of the Fund's dividends
from net investment income were exempt interest dividends, excludable
from gross income for Federal income tax purposes.
<PAGE>
APPENDIX
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
RATINGS OF INVESTMENTS
MOODY'S INVESTORS SERVICE INC. ("MOODY'S")
MUNICIPAL BOND RATINGS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C>
Aaa Bonds which are rated Aaa are judged to be of the best quality. They carry the smallest degree of investment
risk and are generally referred to as "gilt edge." Interest payments are protected by a large or by an
exceptionally stable margin and principal is secure. While the various protective elements are likely to
change, such changes as can be visualized are most unlikely to impair the fundamentally strong position
of such issues.
Aa Bonds which are rated Aa are judged to be of high quality by all standards. Together with the Aaa group
they comprise what are generally known as high grade bonds. They are rated lower than the best bonds because
margins of protection may not be as large as in Aaa securities or fluctuation of protective elements may
be of greater amplitude or there may be other elements present which make the long-term risks appear somewhat
larger than in Aaa securities.
A Bonds which are rated A possess many favorable investment attributes and are to be considered as upper
medium grade obligations. Factors giving security to principal and interest are considered adequate, but
elements may be present which suggest a susceptibility to impairment sometime in the future.
Baa Bonds which are rated Baa are considered as medium grade obligation; i.e., they are neither highly protected
nor poorly secured. Interest payments and principal security appear adequate for the present but certain
protective elements may be lacking or may be characteristically unreliable over any great length of time.
Such bonds lack outstanding investment characteristics and in fact have speculative characteristics as
well.
Bonds rated Aaa, Aa, A and Baa are considered investment grade bonds.
Ba Bonds which are rated Ba are judged to have speculative elements; their future cannot be considered as
well assured. Often the protection of interest and principal payments may be very moderate, and therefore
not well safeguarded during both good and bad times over the future. Uncertainty of position characterizes
bonds in this class.
B Bonds which are rated B generally lack characteristics of the desirable investment. Assurance of interest
and principal payments or of maintenance of other terms of the contract over any long period of time may
be small.
Caa Bonds which are rated Caa are of poor standing. Such issues may be in default or there may be present elements
of danger with respect to principal or interest.
Ca Bonds which are rated Ca present obligations which are speculative in a high degree. Such issues are often
in default or have other marked shortcomings.
C Bonds which are rated C are the lowest rated class of bonds, and issues so rated can be regarded as having
extremely poor prospects of ever attaining any real investment standing.
</TABLE>
Conditional Rating: Bonds for which the security depends upon the
completion of some act of the fulfillment of some condition are rated
conditionally. These are bonds secured by (a) earnings of projects under
construction, (b) earnings of projects unseasoned in operation experience,
(c) rentals which begin when facilities are completed, or (d) payments to
which some other limiting condition attaches. Parenthetical rating denotes
probable credit stature upon completion of construction or elimination of
basis of condition.
Rating Refinements: Moody's may apply numerical modifiers, 1, 2 and 3 in
each generic rating classification from Aa through B in its municipal bond
rating system. The modifier 1 indicates a mid-range ranking; and a modifier 3
indicates that the issue ranks in the lower end of its generic rating
category.
47
<PAGE>
MUNICIPAL NOTE RATINGS
Moody's ratings for state and municipal notes and other short-term loans
are designated Moody's Investment Grade (MIG). MIG 1 denotes best quality and
means there is present strong protection from established cash flows,
superior liquidity support or demonstrated broad-based access to the market
for refinancing. MIG 2 denotes high quality and means that margins of
protection are ample although not as large as in MIG 1. MIG 3 denotes
favorable quality and means that all security elements are accounted for but
that the undeniable strength of the previous grades, MIG 1 and MIG 2, is
lacking. MIG 4 denotes adequate quality and means that the protection
commonly regarded as required of an investment security is present and that
while the notes are not distinctly or predominantly speculative, there is
specific risk.
VARIABLE RATE DEMAND OBLIGATIONS
A short-term rating, in addition to the Bond or MIG ratings, designated
VMIG may also be assigned to an issue having a demand feature. The assignment
of the VMIG symbol reflects such characteristics as payment upon periodic
demand rather than fixed maturity dates and payment relying on external
liquidity. The VMIG rating criteria are identical to the MIG criteria
discussed above.
COMMERCIAL PAPER RATINGS
Moody's Commercial Paper ratings are opinions of the ability to repay
punctually promissory obligations not having an original maturity in excess
of nine months. These ratings apply to Municipal commercial Paper as well as
taxable Commercial Paper. Moody's employs the following three designations,
all judged to be investment grade, to indicate the relative repayment
capacity of rated issuers: Prime-1, Prime-2, Prime-3.
Issuers rated Prime-1 have a superior capacity for repayment of short-term
promissory obligations. Issuers rated Prime-2 have a strong capacity for
repayment of short-term promissory obligations; and Issuers rated Prime-3
have an acceptable capacity for repayment of short-term promissory
obligations. Issuers rated Not Prime do not fall within any of the Prime
rating categories.
STANDARD & POOR'S CORPORATION ("STANDARD & POOR'S")
MUNICIPAL BOND RATINGS
A Standard & Poor's municipal rating is a current assessment of the
creditworthiness of an obligor with respect to a specific obligation. This
assessment may take into consideration obligors such as guarantors, insurers,
or lessees.
The ratings are based on current information furnished by the issuer or
obtained by Standard & Poor's from other sources it considers reliable. The
ratings are based, in varying degrees, on the following considerations: (1)
likelihood of default-capacity and willingness of the obligor as to the
timely payment of interest and repayment of principal in accordance with the
terms of the obligation; (2) nature of and provisions of the obligation; and
(3) protection afforded by, and relative position of, the obligation in the
event of bankruptcy, reorganization or other arrangement under the laws of
bankruptcy and other laws affecting creditors' rights.
Standard & Poor's does not perform an audit in connection with any rating
and may, on occasion, rely on unaudited financial information. The ratings
may be changed, suspended or withdrawn as a result of changes in, or
unavailability of, such information, or for other reasons.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C>
AAA Debt rated "AAA" has the highest rating assigned by Standard & Poor's. Capacity to pay interest and repay
principal is extremely strong.
AA Debt rated "AA" has a very strong capacity to pay interest and repay principal and differs from the highest-rated
issues only in small degree.
48
<PAGE>
A Debt rated "A" has a strong capacity to pay interest and repay principal although they are somewhat more susceptible
to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions than debt in higher-rated categories.
BBB Debt rated "BBB" is regarded as having an adequate capacity to pay interest and repay principal. Whereas it
normally exhibits adequate protection parameters, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are
more likely to lead to a weakened capacity to pay interest and repay principal for debt in this category than
for debt in higher-rated categories.
Bonds rated AAA, AA, A and BBB are considered investment grade bonds.
BB Debt rated "BB" has less near-term vulnerability to default than other speculative grade debt. However, it
faces major ongoing uncertainties or exposure to adverse business, financial or economic conditions which
could lead to inadequate capacity to meet timely interest and principal payment.
B Debt rated "B" has a greater vulnerability to default but presently has the capacity to meet interest payments
and principal repayments. Adverse business, financial or economic conditions would likely impair capacity
or willingness to pay interest and repay principal.
CCC Debt rated "CCC" has a current identifiable vulnerability to default, and is dependent upon favorable business,
financial and economic conditions to meet timely payments of interest and repayments of principal. In the
event of adverse business, financial or economic conditions, it is not likely to have the capacity to pay
interest and repay principal.
CC The rating "CC" is typically applied to debt subordinated to senior debt which is assigned an actual or implied
"CCC" rating.
C The rating "C" is typically applied to debt subordinated to senior debt which is assigned an actual or implied
"CCC" debt rating.
Cl The rating "Cl" is reserved for income bonds on which no interest is being paid.
D Debt rated "D" is in payment default. The 'D' rating category is used when interest payments or principal
payments are not made on the date due even if the applicable grace period has not expired, unless S&P believes
that such payments will be made during such grace period. The 'D' rating also will be used upon the filing
of a bankruptcy petition if debt service payments are jeopardized.
NR Indicates that no rating has been requested, that there is insufficient information on which to base a rating
or that Standard & Poor's does not rate a particular type of obligation as a matter of policy.
Bonds rated "BB", "B", "CCC", "CC" and "C" are regarded as having predominantly speculative characteristics
with respect to capacity to pay interest and repay principal. "BB" indicates the least degree of speculation
and "C" the highest degree of speculation. While such debt will likely have some quality and protective characteristics,
these are outweighed by large uncertainties or major risk exposures to adverse conditions.
Plus (+) or minus (-): The ratings from "AA" to "CCC" may be modified by the addition of a plus or minus sign
to show relative standing within the major ratings categories.
The foregoing ratings are sometimes followed by a "p" which indicates that the rating is provisional. A provisional
rating assumes the successful completion of the project being financed by the bonds being rated and indicates
that payment of debt service requirements is largely or entirely dependent upon the successful and timely
completion of the project. This rating, however, while addressing credit quality subsequent to completion
of the project, makes no comment on the likelihood or risk of default upon failure of such completion.
</TABLE>
49
<PAGE>
MUNICIPAL NOTE RATINGS
Commencing on July 27, 1984, Standard & Poor's instituted a new rating
category with respect to certain municipal note issues with a maturity of
less than three years. The new note ratings denote the following:
SP-1 denotes a very strong or strong capacity to pay principal and
interest. Issues determined to possess overwhelming safety
characteristics are given a plus (+) designation (SP-1+).
SP-2 denotes a satisfactory capacity to pay principal and interest.
SP-3 denotes a speculative capacity to pay principal and interest.
COMMERCIAL PAPER RATINGS
Standard and Poor's commerical paper rating is a current assessment of the
likelihood of timely payment of debt having an original maturity of no more
than 365 days. The commercial paper rating is not a recommendation to
purchase or sell a security. The ratings are based upon current information
furnished by the issuer or obtained by S&P from other sources it considers
reliable. The ratings may be changed, suspended, or withdrawn as a result of
changes in or unavailability of such information. Ratings are graded into
group categories, ranging from "A" for the highest quality obligations to "D"
for the lowest. Ratings are applicable to both taxable and tax-exempt
commercial paper. The categories are as follows:
Issues assigned A ratings are regarded as having the greatest capacity for
timely payment. Issues in this category are further refined with the
designation 1, 2 and 3 to indicate the relative degree of safety.
A-1 indicates that the degree of safety regarding timely payments is very
strong.
A-2 indicates capacity for timely payment on issues with this designation is
strong. However, the relative degree of safety is not as overwhelming as
for issues designated "A-1".
A-3 indicates a satisfactory capacity for timely payment. Obligations
carrying this designation are, however, somewhat more vulnerable to the
adverse effects of changes in circumstances than obligations carrying the
higher designations.
50
<PAGE>
DEAN WITTER LIMITED TERM MUNICIPAL TRUST
PART C OTHER INFORMATION
Item 24. Financial Statements and Exhibits
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
(a) Financial Statements
--------------------
(1) Financial statements and schedules, included
in Prospectus (Part A): Page in
Prospectus
----------
<S> <C>
Financial highlights for the period July 12, 1993 through
March 31, 1994 and for the fiscal years
ended March 31, 1995, 1996, 1997................................................. 2
(2) Financial statements included in the Statement of
Additional Information (Part B): Page in
SAI
-------
Portfolio of Investments at March 31, 1997...................................... 35
Statement of assets and liabilities at
March 31, 1997.................................................................. 39
Statement of operations for the year ended
March 31, 1997.................................................................. 40
Statement of changes in net assets for the fiscal
years ended March 31, 1996 and 1997............................................. 41
Notes to Financial Statements................................................... 42
Financial highlights for the period July 12, 1993 through
March 31, 1994 and for the fiscal years
ended March 31, 1995, 1996, 1997................................................ 45
</TABLE>
(3) Financial statements included in Part C:
None
(b) Exhibits:
--------
2. -- By-Laws of the Registrant, Amended and Restated
as of October 25, 1996
5. -- Form of Investment Management Agreement between Registrant
and Dean Witter InterCapital Inc.
6. -- Form of Distribution Agreement between the Registrant and
Dean Witter Distributors Inc.
<PAGE>
11. -- Consent of Independent Accountants
16. -- Schedule for Computation of Performance Quotations
27. -- Financial Data Schedule
- ------------------------------
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 31, 1997
-------------- ------------------------
Shares of Beneficial Interest 2,774
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 Morgan Stanley, 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
(4) High Income Advantage Trust III
(5) Municipal Income Trust
3
<PAGE>
(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.
(30) Dean Witter Multi-State Municipal Series Trust
(31) Dean Witter Short-Term U.S. Treasury Trust
(32) Dean Witter Diversified Income Trust
(33) Dean Witter U.S. Government Money Market Trust
4
<PAGE>
(34) Dean Witter Global Dividend Growth Securities
(35) Active Assets California Tax-Free Trust
(36) Dean Witter Natural Resource Development Securities Inc.
(37) Active Assets Government Securities Trust
(38) Active Assets Money Trust
(39) Active Assets Tax-Free Trust
(40) Dean Witter Limited Term Municipal Trust
(41) 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
(58) Dean Witter Special Value Fund
(59) Dean Witter Financial Services Trust
(60) Dean Witter Market Leader Trust
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
(9) TCW/DW Global Telecom Trust
(10)TCW/DW Strategic Income 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>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NAME AND POSITION OTHER SUBSTANTIAL BUSINESS, PROFESSION, VOCATION
WITH DEAN WITTER OR EMPLOYMENT, INCLUDING NAME, PRINCIPAL ADDRESS
INTERCAPITAL INC. AND NATURE OF CONNECTION
- ----------------- ------------------------------------------------
<S> <C>
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; Director and/or officer of
various Morgan Stanley, Dean
Witter, Discover & Co. ("MSDWD")
subsidiaries; Formerly Executive
Vice President and Director of Dean
Witter, Discover & Co.
Philip J. Purcell Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and Director of
Director of MSDWD and DWR; Director of DWSC and
Distributors; Director or Trustee
of the Dean Witter Funds; Director
and/or officer of various MSDWD
subsidiaries.
Richard M. DeMartini Executive Vice President of DWDC; President and
Director Chief Operating Officer of Dean Witter Capital,
a division of DWR; Member of the
MSDWD Management Committee;
Director of DWR, DWSC, Distributors
and DWTC; Trustee of the TCW/DW
Funds.
James F. Higgins Executive Vice President of MSDWD; 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 MSDWD, 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 MSDWD 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.
</TABLE>
6
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NAME AND POSITION OTHER SUBSTANTIAL BUSINESS, PROFESSION, VOCATION
WITH DEAN WITTER OR EMPLOYMENT, INCLUDING NAME, PRINCIPAL ADDRESS
INTERCAPITAL INC. AND NATURE OF CONNECTION
- ----------------- ------------------------------------------------
<S> <C>
Mitchell M. Merin President and Chief Operating Officer of DWSC,
President and Chief Executive Vice President of Distributors;
Strategic Officer Executive Vice President and Director of DWTC;
Executive Vice President and Director of DWR;
Director of SPS Transaction Services, Inc. and
various other MSDWD subsidiaries.
John B. Van Heuvelen President, Chief Operating Officer and Director
Executive Vice of DWTC.
President
Joseph J. McAlinden
Executive Vice President
and Chief Investment Vice President of the Dean Witter Funds and
Officer Director of DWTC.
Barry Fink Assistant Secretary of DWR; Senior Vice President,
Senior Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel of DWSC; Senior Vice
Secretary and General President, Assistant Secretary and Assistant
Counsel General Counsel of Distributors; 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 F. Gaylor
Senior Vice President Vice President of various Dean Witter Funds.
Robert S. Giambrone Senior Vice President of DWSC, Distributors
Senior Vice President and DWTC and Director of 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.
Jenny Beth Jones Vice President of Dean Witter Special Value Fund.
Senior Vice President
</TABLE>
7
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NAME AND POSITION OTHER SUBSTANTIAL BUSINESS, PROFESSION, VOCATION
WITH DEAN WITTER OR EMPLOYMENT, INCLUDING NAME, PRINCIPAL ADDRESS
INTERCAPITAL INC. AND NATURE OF CONNECTION
- ----------------- ------------------------------------------------
<S> <C>
John B. Kemp, III Director of the Provident Savings Bank, Jersey
Senior Vice President City, New Jersey.
Anita H. 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 N. Ross
Senior Vice President Vice President of various Dean Witter Funds.
Guy G. Rutherfurd, Jr. Vice President of Dean Witter Market Leader
Senior Vice President Trust
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.
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 G. Allman
Vice President
</TABLE>
8
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NAME AND POSITION OTHER SUBSTANTIAL BUSINESS, PROFESSION, VOCATION
WITH DEAN WITTER OR EMPLOYMENT, INCLUDING NAME, PRINCIPAL ADDRESS
INTERCAPITAL INC. AND NATURE OF CONNECTION
- ----------------- ------------------------------------------------
<S> <C>
Joseph Arcieri
Vice President Vice President of various Dean Witter Funds.
Kirk Balzer
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
B. Catherine Connelly
Vice President
Salvatore DeSteno
Vice President Vice President of DWSC.
Frank J. DeVito
Vice President Vice President of DWSC.
Bruce Dunn
Vice President
Jeffrey D. Geffen
Vice President
Deborah Genovese
Vice President
Stephen Greenhut
Vice President
Peter W. Gurman
Vice President
Peter Hermann
Vice President Vice President of various Dean Witter Funds.
Elizabeth Hinchman
Vice President
David Hoffman
Vice President
</TABLE>
9
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NAME AND POSITION OTHER SUBSTANTIAL BUSINESS, PROFESSION, VOCATION
WITH DEAN WITTER OR EMPLOYMENT, INCLUDING NAME, PRINCIPAL ADDRESS
INTERCAPITAL INC. AND NATURE OF CONNECTION
- ----------------- ------------------------------------------------
<S> <C>
David Johnson
Vice President
Christopher Jones
Vice President
James P. Kastberg
Vice President
Stanley Kapica
Vice President
Michael Knox
Vice President Vice President of various Dean Witter Funds
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 J. 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
George Paoletti
Vice President
Anne Pickrell
Vice President Vice President of Dean Witter Global Short-
Term Income Fund Inc.
</TABLE>
10
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NAME AND POSITION OTHER SUBSTANTIAL BUSINESS, PROFESSION, VOCATION
WITH DEAN WITTER OR EMPLOYMENT, INCLUDING NAME, PRINCIPAL ADDRESS
INTERCAPITAL INC. AND NATURE OF CONNECTION
- ----------------- ------------------------------------------------
<S> <C>
Hugh Rose
Vice President
Robert Rossetti Dean Witter Precious Metal and Minerals Trust.
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.
Carl F. Sadler
Vice President
Rafael Scolari
Vice President Vice President of Prime Income Trust
Peter Seeley Vice President of Dean Witter World
Vice President Wide Income Trust
Jayne M. Stevlingson
Vice President Vice President of various Dean Witter Funds.
Kathleen H. 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.
Katherine Wickham
Vice President
</TABLE>
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.
(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
<PAGE>
(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 Value-Added Market Series
(43) Dean Witter Global Utilities Fund
(44) Dean Witter High Income Securities
(45) Dean Witter National Municipal Trust
(46) Dean Witter International SmallCap Fund
(47) Dean Witter Balanced Growth Fund
(48) Dean Witter Balanced Income Fund
(49) Dean Witter Hawaii Municipal Trust
(50) Dean Witter Variable Investment Series
(51) Dean Witter Capital Appreciation Fund
(52) Dean Witter Intermediate Term U.S. Treasury Trust
(53) Dean Witter Information Fund
(54) Dean Witter Japan Fund
(55) Dean Witter Income Builder Fund
(56) Dean Witter Special Value Fund
(57) Dean Witter Financial Services Trust
(58) Dean Witter Market Leader Trust
(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
12
<PAGE>
(7) TCW/DW Total Return Trust
(8) TCW/DW Mid-Cap Equity Trust
(9) TCW/DW Global Telecom Trust
(10) TCW/DW Strategic Income 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 13th day of June, 1997.
DEAN WITTER LIMITED TERM MUNICIPAL TRUST
By /s/ Barry Fink
-----------------------------
Barry Fink
Vice President and Secretary
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Post-Effective Amendment No. 5 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 06/13/97
----------------------------
Charles A. Fiumefreddo
(2) Principal Financial Officer Treasurer and Principal
Accounting Officer
By /s/ Thomas F. Caloia 06/13/97
----------------------------
Thomas F. Caloia
(3) Majority of the Trustees
Charles A. Fiumefreddo (Chairman)
Philip J. Purcell
By /s/ Barry Fink 06/13/97
----------------------------
Barry Fink
Attorney-in-Fact
Michael Bozic Manuel H. Johnson
Edwin J. Garn Michael E. Nugent
John R. Haire John L. Schroeder
By /s/ David M. Butowsky 06/13/97
----------------------------
David M. Butowsky
Attorney-in-Fact
<PAGE>
Exhibits
--------
2. -- By-Laws of the Registrant, Amended and Restated
as of October 25, 1996
5. -- Form of Investment Management Agreement between Registrant and
Dean Witter InterCapital Inc.
6. -- Form of Distribution Agreement between the Registrant and
Dean Witter Distributors Inc.
11. -- Consent of Independent Accountants
16. -- Schedule for Computation of Performance Quotations
27. -- Financial Data Schedule
<PAGE>
BY-LAWS
OF
DEAN WITTER LIMITED TERM MUNICIPAL TRUST
AMENDED AND RESTATED AS OF OCTOBER 25, 1996
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
The terms "Commission", "Declaration", "Distributor", "Investment
Adviser", "Majority Shareholder Vote", "1940 Act", "Shareholder", "Shares",
"Transfer Agent", "Trust", "Trust Property", and "Trustees" have the
respective meanings given them in the Declaration of Trust of Dean Witter
Limited Term Municipal Trust, formerly known as Dean Witter Intermediate Term
Municipal Trust, dated February 25, 1993.
ARTICLE II
OFFICES
SECTION 2.1. Principal Office. Until changed by the Trustees, the
principal office of the Trust in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts shall be
in the City of Boston, County of Suffolk.
SECTION 2.2. Other Offices. In addition to its principal office in the
Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the Trust may have an office or offices in the
City of New York, State of New York, and at such other places within and
without the Commonwealth as the Trustees may from time to time designate or
the business of the Trust may require.
ARTICLE III
SHAREHOLDERS' MEETINGS
SECTION 3.1. Place of Meetings. Meetings of Shareholders shall be held at
such place, within or without the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as may be
designated from time to time by the Trustees.
SECTION 3.2. Meetings. Meetings of Shareholders of the Trust shall be held
whenever called by the Trustees or the President of the Trust and whenever
election of a Trustee or Trustees by Shareholders is required by the
provisions of Section 16(a) of the 1940 Act, for that purpose. Meetings of
Shareholders shall also be called by the Secretary upon the written request
of the holders of Shares entitled to vote not less than twenty-five percent
(25%) of all the votes entitled to be cast at such meeting, except to the
extent otherwise required by Section 16(c) of the 1940 Act, as made
applicable to the Trust by the provisions of Section 2.3 of the Declaration.
Such request shall state the purpose or purposes of such meeting and the
matters proposed to be acted on thereat. Except to the extent otherwise
required by Section 16(c) of the 1940 Act, as made applicable to the Trust by
the provisions of Section 2.3 of the Declaration, the Secretary shall inform
such Shareholders of the reasonable estimated cost of preparing and mailing
such notice of the meeting, and upon payment to the Trust of such costs, the
Secretary shall give notice stating the purpose or purposes of the meeting to
all entitled to vote at such meeting. No meeting need be called upon the
request of the holders of Shares entitled to cast less than a majority of all
votes entitled to be cast at such meeting, to consider any matter which is
substantially the same as a matter voted upon at any meeting of Shareholders
held during the preceding twelve months.
SECTION 3.3. Notice of Meetings. Written or printed notice of every
Shareholders' meeting stating the place, date, and purpose or purposes
thereof, shall be given by the Secretary not less than ten (10) nor more than
ninety (90) days before such meeting to each Shareholder entitled to vote at
such meeting. Such notice shall be deemed to be given when deposited in the
United States mail, postage prepaid, directed to the Shareholder at his
address as it appears on the records of the Trust.
C65826
<PAGE>
SECTION 3.4. Quorum and Adjournment of Meetings. Except as otherwise
provided by law, by the Declaration or by these By-Laws, at all meetings of
Shareholders the holders of a majority of the Shares issued and outstanding
and entitled to vote thereat, present in person or represented by proxy,
shall be requisite and shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of
business. In the absence of a quorum, the Shareholders present or represented
by proxy and entitled to vote thereat shall have power to adjourn the meeting
from time to time. Any adjourned meeting may be held as adjourned without
further notice. At any adjourned meeting at which a quorum shall be present,
any business may be transacted as if the meeting had been held as originally
called.
SECTION 3.5. Voting Rights, Proxies. At each meeting of Shareholders, each
holder of record of Shares entitled to vote thereat shall be entitled to one
vote in person or by proxy, executed in writing by the Shareholder or his
duly authorized attorney-in-fact, for each Share of beneficial interest of
the Trust and for the fractional portion of one vote for each fractional
Share entitled to vote so registered in his name on the records of the Trust
on the date fixed as the record date for the determination of Shareholders
entitled to vote at such meeting. No proxy shall be valid after eleven months
from its date, unless otherwise provided in the proxy. At all meetings of
Shareholders, unless the voting is conducted by inspectors, all questions
relating to the qualification of voters and the validity of proxies and the
acceptance or rejection of votes shall be decided by the chairman of the
meeting. Pursuant to a resolution of a majority of the Trustees, proxies may
be solicited in the name of one or more Trustees or Officers of the Trust.
SECTION 3.6. Vote Required. Except as otherwise provided by law, by the
Declaration of Trust, or by these By-Laws, at each meeting of Shareholders at
which a quorum is present, all matters shall be decided by Majority
Shareholder Vote.
SECTION 3.7. Inspectors of Election. In advance of any meeting of
Shareholders, the Trustees may appoint Inspectors of Election to act at the
meeting or any adjournment thereof. If Inspectors of Election are not so
appointed, the chairman of any meeting of Shareholders may, and on the
request of any Shareholder or his proxy shall, appoint Inspectors of Election
of the meeting. In case any person appointed as Inspector fails to appear or
fails or refuses to act, the vacancy may be filled by appointment made by the
Trustees in advance of the convening of the meeting or at the meeting by the
person acting as chairman. The Inspectors of Election shall determine the
number of Shares outstanding, the Shares represented at the meeting, the
existence of a quorum, the authenticity, validity and effect of proxies,
shall receive votes, ballots or consents, shall hear and determine all
challenges and questions in any way arising in connection with the right to
vote, shall count and tabulate all votes or consents, determine the results,
and do such other acts as may be proper to conduct the election or vote with
fairness to all Shareholders. On request of the chairman of the meeting, or
of any Shareholder or his proxy, the Inspectors of Election shall make a
report in writing of any challenge or question or matter determined by them
and shall execute a certificate of any facts found by them.
SECTION 3.8. Inspection of Books and Records. Shareholders shall have such
rights and procedures of inspection of the books and records of the Trust as
are granted to Shareholders under the Corporations and Associations Law of
the State of Maryland.
SECTION 3.9. Action by Shareholders Without Meeting. Except as otherwise
provided by law, the provisions of these By-Laws relating to notices and
meetings to the contrary notwithstanding, any action required or permitted to
be taken at any meeting of Shareholders may be taken without a meeting if a
majority of the Shareholders entitled to vote upon the action consent to the
action in writing and such consents are filed with the records of the Trust.
Such consent shall be treated for all purposes as a vote taken at a meeting
of Shareholders.
SECTION 3.10. Presence at Meetings. Presence at meetings of shareholders
requires physical attendance by the shareholder or his or her proxy at the
meeting site and does not encompass attendance by telephonic or other
electronic means.
2
<PAGE>
ARTICLE IV
TRUSTEES
SECTION 4.1. Meetings of the Trustees. The Trustees may in their
discretion provide for regular or special meetings of the Trustees. Regular
meetings of the Trustees may be held at such time and place as shall be
determined from time to time by the Trustees without further notice. Special
meetings of the Trustees may be called at any time by the Chairman and shall
be called by the Chairman or the Secretary upon the written request of any
two (2) Trustees.
SECTION 4.2. Notice of Special Meetings. Written notice of special
meetings of the Trustees, stating the place, date and time thereof, shall be
given not less than two (2) days before such meeting to each Trustee,
personally, by telegram, by mail, or by leaving such notice at his place of
residence or usual place of business. If mailed, such notice shall be deemed
to be given when deposited in the United States mail, postage prepaid,
directed to the Trustee at his address as it appears on the records of the
Trust. Subject to the provisions of the 1940 Act, notice or waiver of notice
need not specify the purpose of any special meeting.
SECTION 4.3. Telephone Meetings. Subject to the provisions of the 1940
Act, any Trustee, or any member or members of any committee designated by the
Trustees, may participate in a meeting of the Trustees, or any such
committee, as the case may be, by means of a conference telephone or similar
communications equipment if all persons participating in the meeting can hear
each other at the same time. Participation in a meeting by these means
constitutes presence in person at the meeting.
SECTION 4.4. Quorum, Voting and Adjournment of Meetings. At all meetings
of the Trustees, a majority of the Trustees shall be requisite to and shall
constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. If a quorum is present,
the affirmative vote of a majority of the Trustees present shall be the act
of the Trustees, unless the concurrence of a greater proportion is expressly
required for such action by law, the Declaration or these By-Laws. If at any
meeting of the Trustees there be less than a quorum present, the Trustees
present thereat may adjourn the meeting from time to time, without notice
other than announcement at the meeting, until a quorum shall have been
obtained.
SECTION 4.5. Action by Trustees Without Meeting. The provisions of these
By-Laws covering notices and meetings to the contrary notwithstanding, and
except as required by law, any action required or permitted to be taken at
any meeting of the Trustees may be taken without a meeting if a consent in
writing setting forth the action shall be signed by all of the Trustees
entitled to vote upon the action and such written consent is filed with the
minutes of proceedings of the Trustees.
SECTION 4.6. Expenses and Fees. Each Trustee may be allowed expenses, if
any, for attendance at each regular or special meeting of the Trustees, and
each Trustee who is not an officer or employee of the Trust or of its
investment manager or underwriter or of any corporate affiliate of any of
said persons shall receive for services rendered as a Trustee of the Trust
such compensation as may be fixed by the Trustees. Nothing herein contained
shall be construed to preclude any Trustee from serving the Trust in any
other capacity and receiving compensation therefor.
SECTION 4.7. Execution of Instruments and Documents and Signing of Checks
and Other Obligations and Transfers. All instruments, documents and other
papers shall be executed in the name and on behalf of the Trust and all
checks, notes, drafts and other obligations for the payment of money by the
Trust shall be signed, and all transfer of securities standing in the name of
the Trust shall be executed, by the Chairman, the President, any Vice
President or the Treasurer or by any one or more officers or agents of the
Trust as shall be designated for that purpose by vote of the Trustees;
notwithstanding the above, nothing in this Section 4.7 shall be deemed to
preclude the electronic authorization, by designated persons, of the Trust's
Custodian (as described herein in Section 9.1) to transfer assets of the
Trust, as provided for herein in Section 9.1.
SECTION 4.8. Indemnification of Trustees, Officers, Employees and
Agents. (a) The Trust shall indemnify any person who was or is a party or is
threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending, or completed
action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or
investigative
3
<PAGE>
(other than an action by or in the right of the Trust) by reason of the fact
that he is or was a Trustee, officer, employee, or agent of the Trust. The
indemnification shall be against expenses, including attorneys' fees,
judgments, fines, and amounts paid in settlement, actually and reasonably
incurred by him in connection with the action, suit, or proceeding, if he
acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not
opposed to the best interests of the Trust, and, with respect to any criminal
action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was
unlawful. The termination of any action, suit or proceeding by judgment,
order, settlement, conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its
equivalent, shall not, of itself, create a presumption that the person did
not act in good faith and in a manner which he reasonably believed to be in
or not opposed to the best interests of the Trust, and, with respect to any
criminal action or proceeding, had reasonable cause to believe that his
conduct was unlawful.
(b) The Trust shall indemnify any person who was or is a party or is
threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action
or suit by or on behalf of the Trust to obtain a judgment or decree in its
favor by reason of the fact that he is or was a Trustee, officer, employee,
or agent of the Trust. The indemnification shall be against expenses,
including attorneys' fees actually and reasonably incurred by him in
connection with the defense or settlement of the action or suit, if he acted
in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed
to the best interests of the Trust; except that no indemnification shall be
made in respect of any claim, issue, or matter as to which the person has
been adjudged to be liable for negligence or misconduct in the performance of
his duty to the Trust, except to the extent that the court in which the
action or suit was brought, or a court of equity in the county in which the
Trust has its principal office, determines upon application that, despite the
adjudication of liability but in view of all circumstances of the case, the
person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for those expenses
which the court shall deem proper, provided such Trustee, officer, employee
or agent is not adjudged to be liable by reason of his willful misfeasance,
bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in
the conduct of his office.
(c) To the extent that a Trustee, officer, employee, or agent of the Trust
has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any action, suit
or proceeding referred to in subsection (a) or (b) or in defense of any
claim, issue or matter therein, he shall be indemnified against expenses,
including attorneys' fees, actually and reasonably incurred by him in
connection therewith.
(d) (1) Unless a court orders otherwise, any indemnification under
subsections (a) or (b) of this section may be made by the Trust only as
authorized in the specific case after a determination that indemnification of
the Trustee, officer, employee, or agent is proper in the circumstances
because he has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in
subsections (a) or (b).
(2) The determination shall be made:
(i) By the Trustees, by a majority vote of a quorum which consists of
Trustees who were not parties to the action, suit or proceeding; or
(ii) If the required quorum is not obtainable, or if a quorum of
disinterested Trustees so directs, by independent legal counsel in a
written opinion; or
(iii) By the Shareholders.
(3) Notwithstanding any provision of this Section 4.8, no person shall
be entitled to indemnification for any liability, whether or not there is
an adjudication of liability, arising by reason of willful misfeasance,
bad faith, gross negligence, or reckless disregard of duties as described
in Section 17(h) and (i) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
("disabling conduct"). A person shall be deemed not liable by reason of
disabling conduct if, either:
(i) a final decision on the merits is made by a court or other body
before whom the proceeding was brought that the person to be indemnified
("indemnitee") was not liable by reason of disabling conduct; or
(ii) in the absence of such a decision, a reasonable determination,
based upon a review of the facts, that the indemnitee was not liable by
reason of disabling conduct, is made by either--
4
<PAGE>
(A) a majority of a quorum of Trustees who are neither "interested
persons" of the Trust, as defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the
Investment Company Act of 1940, nor parties to the action, suit or
proceeding, or
(B) an independent legal counsel in a written opinion.
(e) Expenses, including attorneys' fees, incurred by a Trustee, officer,
employee or agent of the Trust in defending a civil or criminal action, suit
or proceeding may be paid by the Trust in advance of the final disposition
thereof if:
(1) authorized in the specific case by the Trustees; and
(2) the Trust receives an undertaking by or on behalf of the Trustee,
officer, employee or agent of the Trust to repay the advance if it is not
ultimately determined that such person is entitled to be indemnified by
the Trust; and
(3) either, (i) such person provides a security for his undertaking,
or
(ii) the Trust is insured against losses by reason of any lawful
advances, or
(iii) a determination, based on a review of readily available
facts, that there is reason to believe that such person ultimately
will be found entitled to indemnification, is made by either--
(A) a majority of a quorum which consists of Trustees who are
neither "interested persons" of the Trust, as defined in Section
2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act, nor parties to the action, suit or
proceeding, or
(B) an independent legal counsel in a written opinion.
(f) The indemnification provided by this Section shall not be deemed
exclusive of any other rights to which a person may be entitled under any
by-law, agreement, vote of Shareholders or disinterested Trustees or
otherwise, both as to action in his official capacity and as to action in
another capacity while holding the office, and shall continue as to a person
who has ceased to be a Trustee, officer, employee, or agent and inure to the
benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such person; provided
that no person may satisfy any right of indemnity or reimbursement granted
herein or to which he may be otherwise entitled except out of the property of
the Trust, and no Shareholder shall be personally liable with respect to any
claim for indemnity or reimbursement or otherwise.
(g) The Trust may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person
who is or was a Trustee, officer, employee, or agent of the Trust, against
any liability asserted against him and incurred by him in any such capacity,
or arising out of his status as such. However, in no event will the Trust
purchase insurance to indemnify any officer or Trustee against liability for
any act for which the Trust itself is not permitted to indemnify him.
(h) Nothing contained in this Section shall be construed to protect any
Trustee or officer of the Trust against any liability to the Trust or to its
security holders to which he would otherwise be subject by reason of willful
misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties
involved in the conduct of his office.
ARTICLE V
COMMITTEES
SECTION 5.1. Executive and Other Committees. The Trustees, by resolution
adopted by a majority of the Trustees, may designate an Executive Committee
and/or committees, each committee to consist of two (2) or more of the
Trustees of the Trust and may delegate to such committees, in the intervals
between meetings of the Trustees, any or all of the powers of the Trustees in
the management of the business and affairs of the Trust. In the absence of
any member of any such committee, the members thereof present at any meeting,
whether or not they constitute a quorum, may appoint a Trustee to act in
place of such absent member. Each such committee shall keep a record of its
proceedings.
5
<PAGE>
The Executive Committee and any other committee shall fix its own rules or
procedure, but the presence of at least fifty percent (50%) of the members of
the whole committee shall in each case be necessary to constitute a quorum of
the committee and the affirmative vote of the majority of the members of the
committee present at the meeting shall be necessary to take action.
All actions of the Executive Committee shall be reported to the Trustees
at the meeting thereof next succeeding to the taking of such action.
SECTION 5.2. Advisory Committee. The Trustees may appoint an advisory
committee which shall be composed of persons who do not serve the Trust in
any other capacity and which shall have advisory functions with respect to
the investments of the Trust but which shall have no power to determine that
any security or other investment shall be purchased, sold or otherwise
disposed of by the Trust. The number of persons constituting any such
advisory committee shall be determined from time to time by the Trustees. The
members of any such advisory committee may receive compensation for their
services and may be allowed such fees and expenses for the attendance at
meetings as the Trustees may from time to time determine to be appropriate.
SECTION 5.3. Committee Action Without Meeting. The provisions of these
By-Laws covering notices and meetings to the contrary notwithstanding, and
except as required by law, any action required or permitted to be taken at
any meeting of any Committee of the Trustees appointed pursuant to Section
5.1 of these By-Laws may be taken without a meeting if a consent in writing
setting forth the action shall be signed by all members of the Committee
entitled to vote upon the action and such written consent is filed with the
records of the proceedings of the Committee.
ARTICLE VI
OFFICERS
SECTION 6.1. Executive Officers. The executive officers of the Trust shall
be a Chairman, a President, one or more Vice Presidents, a Secretary and a
Treasurer. The Chairman shall be selected from among the Trustees but none of
the other executive officers need be a Trustee. Two or more offices, except
those of President and any Vice President, may be held by the same person,
but no officer shall execute, acknowledge or verify any instrument in more
than one capacity. The executive officers of the Trust shall be elected
annually by the Trustees and each executive officer so elected shall hold
office until his successor is elected and has qualified.
SECTION 6.2. Other Officers and Agents. The Trustees may also elect one or
more Assistant Vice Presidents, Assistant Secretaries and Assistant
Treasurers and may elect, or may delegate to the President the power to
appoint, such other officers and agents as the Trustees shall at any time or
from time to time deem advisable.
SECTION 6.3. Term and Removal and Vacancies. Each officer of the Trust
shall hold office until his successor is elected and has qualified. Any
officer or agent of the Trust may be removed by the Trustees whenever, in
their judgment, the best interests of the Trust will be served thereby, but
such removal shall be without prejudice to the contractual rights, if any, of
the person so removed.
SECTION 6.4. Compensation of Officers. The compensation of officers and
agents of the Trust shall be fixed by the Trustees, or by the Chairman to the
extent provided by the Trustees with respect to officers appointed by the
Chairman.
SECTION 6.5. Power and Duties. All officers and agents of the Trust, as
between themselves and the Trust, shall have such authority and perform such
duties in the management of the Trust as may be provided in or pursuant to
these By-Laws, or to the extent not so provided, as may be prescribed by the
Trustees; provided, that no rights of any third party shall be affected or
impaired by any such By-Law or resolution of the Trustees unless he has
knowledge thereof.
SECTION 6.6. The Chairman. (a) The Chairman shall be the chief executive
officer of the Trust; he shall preside at all meetings of the Shareholders
and of the Trustees; he shall have general and active management of the
business of the Trust, shall see that all orders and resolutions of the
Trustees are
6
<PAGE>
carried into effect, and, in connection therewith, shall be authorized to
delegate to the President or to one or more Vice Presidents such of his
powers and duties at such times and in such manner as he may deem advisable;
he shall be a signatory on all Annual and Semi-Annual Reports as may be sent
to Shareholders, and he shall perform such other duties as the Trustees may
from time to time prescribe.
(b) In the absence of the Chairman, the Board shall determine who shall
preside at all meetings of the Shareholders and the Board of Trustees.
SECTION 6.7. The President. The President shall perform such duties as the
Board of Trustees and the Chairman may from time to time prescribe.
SECTION 6.8. The Vice Presidents. The Vice Presidents shall be of such
number and shall have such titles as may be determined from time to time by
the Trustees. The Vice President, or, if there be more than one, the Vice
Presidents in the order of their seniority as may be determined from time to
time by the Trustees or the Chairman, shall, in the absence or disability of
the President, exercise the powers and perform the duties of the President,
and he or they shall perform such other duties as the Trustees or the
Chairman may from time to time prescribe.
SECTION 6.9. The Assistant Vice Presidents. The Assistant Vice President,
or, if there be more than one, the Assistant Vice Presidents, shall perform
such duties and have such powers as may be assigned them from time to time by
the Trustees or the Chairman.
SECTION 6.10. The Secretary. The Secretary shall attend all meetings of
the Trustees and all meetings of the Shareholders and record all the
proceedings of the meetings of the Shareholders and of the Trustees in a book
to be kept for that purpose, and shall perform like duties for the standing
committees when required. He shall give, or cause to be given, notice of all
meetings of the Shareholders and special meetings of the Trustees, and shall
perform such other duties and have such powers as the Trustees, or the
Chairman, may from time to time prescribe. He shall keep in safe custody the
seal of the Trust and affix or cause the same to be affixed to any instrument
requiring it, and, when so affixed, it shall be attested by his signature or
by the signature of an Assistant Secretary.
SECTION 6.11. The Assistant Secretaries. The Assistant Secretary, or, if
there be more than one, the Assistant Secretaries in the order determined by
the Trustees or the Chairman, shall, in the absence or disability of the
Secretary, perform the duties and exercise the powers of the Secretary and
shall perform such duties and have such other powers as the Trustees or the
Chairman may from time to time prescribe.
SECTION 6.12. The Treasurer. The Treasurer shall be the chief financial
officer of the Trust. He shall keep or cause to be kept full and accurate
accounts of receipts and disbursements in books belonging to the Trust, and
he shall render to the Trustees and the Chairman, whenever any of them
require it, an account of his transactions as Treasurer and of the financial
condition of the Trust; and he shall perform such other duties as the
Trustees, or the Chairman, may from time to time prescribe.
SECTION 6.13. The Assistant Treasurers. The Assistant Treasurer, or, if
there shall be more than one, the Assistant Treasurers in the order
determined by the Trustees or the Chairman, shall, in the absence or
disability of the Treasurer, perform the duties and exercise the powers of
the Treasurer and shall perform such other duties and have such other powers
as the Trustees, or the Chairman, may from time to time prescribe.
SECTION 6.14. Delegation of Duties. Whenever an officer is absent or
disabled, or whenever for any reason the Trustees may deem it desirable, the
Trustees may delegate the powers and duties of an officer or officers to any
other officer or officers or to any Trustee or Trustees.
ARTICLE VII
DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS
Subject to any applicable provisions of law and the Declaration, dividends
and distributions upon the Shares may be declared at such intervals as the
Trustees may determine, in cash, in securities or other property, or in
Shares, from any sources permitted by law, all as the Trustees shall from
time to time determine.
7
<PAGE>
Inasmuch as the computation of net income and net profits from the sales
of securities or other properties for federal income tax purposes may vary
from the computation thereof on the records of the Trust, the Trustees shall
have power, in their discretion, to distribute as income dividends and as
capital gain distributions, respectively, amounts sufficient to enable the
Trust to avoid or reduce liability for federal income taxes.
ARTICLE VIII
CERTIFICATES OF SHARES
SECTION 8.1. Certificates of Shares. Certificates for Shares of each
series or class of Shares shall be in such form and of such design as the
Trustees shall approve, subject to the right of the Trustees to change such
form and design at any time or from time to time, and shall be entered in the
records of the Trust as they are issued. Each such certificate shall bear a
distinguishing number; shall exhibit the holder's name and certify the number
of full Shares owned by such holder; shall be signed by or in the name of the
Trust by the Chairman, the President, or a Vice President, and countersigned
by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary or the Treasurer and an Assistant
Treasurer of the Trust; shall be sealed with the seal; and shall contain such
recitals as may be required by law. Where any certificate is signed by a
Transfer Agent or by a Registrar, the signature of such officers and the seal
may be facsimile, printed or engraved. The Trust may, at its option,
determine not to issue a certificate or certificates to evidence Shares owned
of record by any Shareholder.
In case any officer or officers who shall have signed, or whose facsimile
signature or signatures shall appear on, any such certificate or certificates
shall cease to be such officer or officers of the Trust, whether because of
death, resignation or otherwise, before such certificate or certificates
shall have been delivered by the Trust, such certificate or certificates
shall, nevertheless, be adopted by the Trust and be issued and delivered as
though the person or persons who signed such certificate or certificates or
whose facsimile signature or signatures shall appear therein had not ceased
to be such officer or officers of the Trust.
No certificate shall be issued for any share until such share is fully
paid.
SECTION 8.2. Lost, Stolen, Destroyed and Mutilated Certificates. The
Trustees may direct a new certificate or certificates to be issued in place
of any certificate or certificates theretofore issued by the Trust alleged to
have been lost, stolen or destroyed, upon satisfactory proof of such loss,
theft, or destruction; and the Trustees may, in their discretion, require the
owner of the lost, stolen or destroyed certificate, or his legal
representative, to give to the Trust and to such Registrar, Transfer Agent
and/or Transfer Clerk as may be authorized or required to countersign such
new certificate or certificates, a bond in such sum and of such type as they
may direct, and with such surety or sureties, as they may direct, as
indemnity against any claim that may be against them or any of them on
account of or in connection with the alleged loss, theft or destruction of
any such certificate.
ARTICLE IX
CUSTODIAN
SECTION 9.1. Appointment and Duties. The Trust shall at times employ a
bank or trust company having capital, surplus and undivided profits of at
least five million dollars ($5,000,000) as custodian with authority as its
agent, but subject to such restrictions, limitations and other requirements,
if any, as may be contained in these By-Laws and the 1940 Act:
(1) to receive and hold the securities owned by the Trust and deliver
the same upon written or electronically transmitted order;
(2) to receive and receipt for any moneys due to the Trust and deposit
the same in its own banking department or elsewhere as the Trustees may
direct;
(3) to disburse such funds upon orders or vouchers;
8
<PAGE>
all upon such basis of compensation as may be agreed upon between the
Trustees and the custodian. If so directed by a Majority Shareholder Vote,
the custodian shall deliver and pay over all property of the Trust held by it
as specified in such vote.
The Trustees may also authorize the custodian to employ one or more
sub-custodians from time to time to perform such of the acts and services of
the custodian and upon such terms and conditions as may be agreed upon
between the custodian and such sub-custodian and approved by the Trustees.
SECTION 9.2. Central Certificate System. Subject to such rules,
regulations and orders as the Commission may adopt, the Trustees may direct
the custodian to deposit all or any part of the securities owned by the Trust
in a system for the central handling of securities established by a national
securities exchange or a national securities association registered with the
Commission under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or such other person as
may be permitted by the Commission, or otherwise in accordance with the 1940
Act, pursuant to which system all securities of any particular class or
series of any issuer deposited within the system are treated as fungible and
may be transferred or pledged by bookkeeping entry without physical delivery
of such securities, provided that all such deposits shall be subject to
withdrawal only upon the order of the Trust.
ARTICLE X
WAIVER OF NOTICE
Whenever any notice of the time, place or purpose of any meeting of
Shareholders, Trustees, or of any committee is required to be given in
accordance with law or under the provisions of the Declaration or these
By-Laws, a waiver thereof in writing, signed by the person or persons
entitled to such notice and filed with the records of the meeting, whether
before or after the holding thereof, or actual attendance at the meeting of
Shareholders, Trustees or committee, as the case may be, in person, shall be
deemed equivalent to the giving of such notice to such person.
ARTICLE XI
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 11.1. Location of Books and Records. The books and records of the
Trust may be kept outside the Commonwealth of Massachusetts at such place or
places as the Trustees may from time to time determine, except as otherwise
required by law.
SECTION 11.2. Record Date. The Trustees may fix in advance a date as the
record date for the purpose of determining Shareholders entitled to notice
of, or to vote at, any meeting of Shareholders, or Shareholders entitled to
receive payment of any dividend or the allotment of any rights, or in order
to make a determination of Shareholders for any other proper purpose. Such
date, in any case, shall be not more than ninety (90) days, and in case of a
meeting of Shareholders not less than ten (10) days, prior to the date on
which particular action requiring such determination of Shareholders is to be
taken. In lieu of fixing a record date the Trustees may provide that the
transfer books shall be closed for a stated period but not to exceed, in any
case, twenty (20) days. If the transfer books are closed for the purpose of
determining Shareholders entitled to notice of a vote at a meeting of
Shareholders, such books shall be closed for at least ten (10) days
immediately preceding such meeting.
SECTION 11.3. Seal. The Trustees shall adopt a seal, which shall be in
such form and shall have such inscription thereon as the Trustees may from
time to time provide. The seal of the Trust may be affixed to any document,
and the seal and its attestation may be lithographed, engraved or otherwise
printed on any document with the same force and effect as if it had been
imprinted and attested manually in the same manner and with the same effect
as if done by a Massachusetts business corporation under Massachusetts law.
SECTION 11.4. Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the Trust shall end on such
date as the Trustees may by resolution specify, and the Trustees may by
resolution change such date for future fiscal years at any time and from time
to time.
9
<PAGE>
SECTION 11.5. Orders for Payment of Money. All orders or instructions for
the payment of money of the Trust, and all notes or other evidences of
indebtedness issued in the name of the Trust, shall be signed by such officer
or officers or such other person or persons as the Trustees may from time to
time designate, or as may be specified in or pursuant to the agreement
between the Trust and the bank or trust company appointed as Custodian of the
securities and funds of the Trust.
ARTICLE XII
COMPLIANCE WITH FEDERAL REGULATIONS
The Trustees are hereby empowered to take such action as they may deem to
be necessary, desirable or appropriate so that the Trust is or shall be in
compliance with any federal or state statute, rule or regulation with which
compliance by the Trust is required.
ARTICLE XIII
AMENDMENTS
These By-Laws may be amended, altered, or repealed, or new By-Laws may be
adopted, (a) by a Majority Shareholder Vote, or (b) by the Trustees;
provided, however, that no By-Law may be amended, adopted or repealed by the
Trustees if such amendment, adoption or repeal requires, pursuant to law, the
Declaration, or these By-Laws, a vote of the Shareholders. The Trustees shall
in no event adopt By-Laws which are in conflict with the Declaration, and any
apparent inconsistency shall be construed in favor of the related provisions
in the Declaration.
ARTICLE XIV
DECLARATION OF TRUST
The Declaration of Trust establishing Dean Witter Limited Term Municipal
Trust, dated February 25, 1993, a copy of which is on file in the office of
the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, provides that the name
Dean Witter Limited Term Municipal Trust 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
Limited Term Municipal Trust 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 Limited Term Municipal Trust, but the Trust Estate only shall be
liable.
10
<PAGE>
INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT
AGREEMENT made as of the 31st day of May, 1997 by and between Dean Witter
Limited Term Municipal Trust, an unincorporated business trust organized
under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts (hereinafter called the
"Fund"), and Dean Witter InterCapital Inc., a Delaware corporation
(hereinafter called the "Investment Manager"):
WHEREAS, 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, 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 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 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.
<PAGE>
5. The Fund assumes and shall pay or cause to be paid all other expenses
of the Fund, including without limitation: 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 facilities furnished, and the
expenses assumed by the Investment Manager, the Fund shall pay to the
Investment Manager monthly compensation determined by applying the annual
rate of 0.50% to the daily net assets of the Fund determined as of the close
of each business day. 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 net assets of the Fund 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 in
respect to the Fund 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 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.
2
<PAGE>
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 Trustee, 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, 1999 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 (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 purpose, (iii) the Investment Manager or
its parent, Morgan Stanley, Dean Witter, Discover & Co., 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.
3
<PAGE>
14. The Declaration of Trust establishing Dean Witter Limited Term
Municipal Trust, dated February 25, 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 Limited Term Municipal Trust 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
Limited Term Municipal Trust 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 Limited Term Municipal Trust, but the Trust Estate only shall be
liable.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed and delivered this
Agreement on the day and year first above written in New York, New York.
DEAN WITTER LIMITED TERM
MUNICIPAL TRUST
By: ........................
Attest:
.............................
DEAN WITTER INTERCAPITAL INC.
By: ........................
Attest:
.............................
4
<PAGE>
DEAN WITTER LIMITED TERM MUNICIPAL TRUST
DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT
AGREEMENT made as of this 31st day of May, 1997 between Dean Witter
Limited Term Municipal Trust, 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 an 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"), to commence on
the date listed above, 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 Fund 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. 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,
used in determining the public offering price on which such orders were
based.
(b) The Shares are to be resold by the Distributor at the public offering
price, as set forth in the Prospectus, to investors or to securities dealers
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(e) 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
1
<PAGE>
have been some other extraordinary event which, in the judgment of the Fund,
makes it impracticable to sell the Shares.
(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).
(e) With respect to Shares sold by any Selected Dealer, the Distributor is
authorized to direct the Trust'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 Trust'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.
All payments by the Fund hereunder shall be made in the manner set forth
below.
Upon any redemption of Shares the Fund shall pay the total amount of the
redemption price in accordance with applicable provisions of the Prospectus
in New York Clearing House funds.
(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) With respect to Shares tendered for redemption or repurchase by any
Selected Dealer on behalf of their customers, the Distributor is authorized
to instruct the transfer agent of the Trust to accept orders for redemption
or repurchase directly from the Selected Dealer on behalf of the Distributor
and to instruct the Fund to transmit payments for such redemption 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 shall 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.
(e) 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.
2
<PAGE>
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 pay the filing fees for an
appropriate number of the Shares for sale under the securities laws of such
states as the Distributor and the Fund may approve. Any qualification to sell
its Shares in a state may be withheld, terminated or withdrawn by the Fund at
any time in its discretion. As provided in Section 8(c) hereof, such filing
fees shall be borne by the Fund. The Distributor shall furnish any
information and other material relating to its affairs and activities as may
be required by the Fund in connection with the sale of its Shares in any
state.
(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 Trust 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 may act as principal underwriter for other registered
investment companies so long as the performance of its obligations hereunder
is not impaired hereby. 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 applicable terms
and limitations of the Rules of the Association of the National Association
of Securities Dealers, Inc. ("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 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. The Distributor shall bear the costs and expenses of
preparing, printing and distributing any supplementary sales literature used
by the Distributor or furnished by it for use by Selected Dealers in
connection with the offering of the Shares for sale. Any expenses of
advertising incurred in connection with such offering
3
<PAGE>
will also be the obligation of the Distributor. It is understood and agreed
that, so long as the Fund's Plan of Distribution pursuant to Rule12b-1 (the
"Rule 12b-1 Plan") continues in effect, any expenses incurred by the
Distributor hereunder may be paid in accordance with the terms of such Rule
12b-1 Plan.
(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 pay the filing fees and, if necessary or advisable in
connection therewith, bear the cost and expense 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 to
offer Shares therein until the Fund decides to discontinue selling Shares
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 Statements 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.
(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
4
<PAGE>
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 Section 4(d) 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 Section
3(e).
(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 as 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, 1998, and thereafter, but only so long as such
continuance is specifically approved at least annually by (i) the Board of
Trustees 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
5
<PAGE>
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 Rule 12b-1 Plan, 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 Limited Term Municipal Trust, dated February 25, 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 Limited Term Municipal Trust 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 Limited Term Municipal Trust 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 Limited Term Municipal Trust, 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 Limited Term Municipal Trust
By: ........................
Dean Witter Distributors Inc.
By: ........................
6
<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. 5 to the Registration
Statement on Form N-1A (the "Registration Statement") of our report dated
May 9, 1997, relating to the financial statements and financial highlights of
Dean Witter Limited Term Municipal Trust, 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 reference to us under the heading "Financial
Highlights" in such Prospectus and to the references to us under the headings
"Independent Accountants" and "Experts" in the Statement of Additional
Information.
/s/ Price Waterhouse LLP
PRICE WATERHOUSE LLP
1177 Avenue of the Americas
New York, New York 10036
June 11, 1997
<PAGE>
SCHEDULE FOR COMPUTATIONS OF PERFORMANCE QUOTATIONS
DEAN WITTER LIMITED TERM MUNICIPAL TRUST
(A) AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS (NO LOAD FUND)
(B) TOTAL RETURN (NO LOAD FUND)
_ _
| ______________________ |
FORMULA: | | |
| /\ n | EV |
t = | \ | ------------- | - 1
| \ | P |
| \| |
|_ _|
EV
TR = ---------- - 1
P
t = AVERAGE ANNUAL COMPOUND RETURN
n = NUMBER OF YEARS
EV = ENDING VALUE
P = INITIAL INVESTMENT
TR = TOTAL RETURN
(B) (A)
$1,000 EV AS OF TOTAL NUMBER OF AVERAGE ANNUAL
INVESTED - P 31-Mar-97 RETURN - TR YEARS - n COMPOUND RETURN
- ------------ --------- ----------- --------- ---------------
31-Mar-96 $1,036.50 3.65% 1.00 3.65%
12-Jul-93 $1,156.00 15.60% 3.72 3.98%
(C) GROWTH OF $10,000
(D) GROWTH OF $50,000
(E) GROWTH OF $100,000
FORMULA: G= (TR+1)*P
G= GROWTH OF INITIAL INVESTMENT
P= INITIAL INVESTMENT
TR= TOTAL RETURN SINCE INCEPTION
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
TOTAL (D) GROWTH OF (E) GROWTH OF (F) GROWTH OF
INVESTED - P RETURN - TR $10,000 INVESTMENT-G $50,000 INVESTMENT-G $100,000 INVESTMENT-G
------------ ----------- -------------------- -------------------- ---------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
12-Jul-93 15.60 $11,560 $57,800 $115,600
</TABLE>
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<PAGE>
<ARTICLE> 6
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> MAR-31-1997
<PERIOD-START> APR-01-1996
<PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1997
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 59,466,712
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 59,091,992
<RECEIVABLES> 2,238,740
<ASSETS-OTHER> 143,445
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 61,474,177
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 376,337
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 376,337
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 70,270,587
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 6,165,243
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 7,310,483
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> (8,798,027)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> (374,720)
<NET-ASSETS> 61,097,840
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 0
<INTEREST-INCOME> 3,225,927
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 582,774
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 2,643,153
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> (226,959)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> (32,266)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 2,383,928
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (2,659,597)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 2,662,724
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (4,015,739)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 207,775
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> (11,668,095)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 16,444
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> (8,571,068)
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 331,532
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 586,732
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 66,306,483
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 9.95
<PER-SHARE-NII> .40
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> (.04)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (.40)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 9.91
<EXPENSE-RATIO> .88
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING> 0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0
</TABLE>
