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PROSPECTUS
DECEMBER 22, 1994
Dean Witter International SmallCap Fund (the "Fund") is an
open-end, non-diversified management investment company whose investment
objective is to seek long-term growth of capital. The Fund seeks to meet its
investment objective by investing primarily in securities of small non-U.S.
companies.
Shares of the Fund are continuously offered at net asset value
without the imposition of a sales charge. However, redemptions and/or
repurchases are subject in most cases to a contingent deferred sales charge,
scaled down from 5% to 1% of the amount redeemed, if made within six years of
purchase, which charge will be paid to the Fund's Distributor, Dean Witter
Distributors Inc. (See "Redemption and Repurchases--Contingent Deferred Sales
Charge.") In addition, the Fund pays the Distributor a Rule 12b-1 distribution
fee pursuant to a Plan of Distribution at the annual rate of 1% of the lesser of
the (i) average daily aggregate net sales or (ii) average daily net assets of
the Fund. (See "Purchase of Fund Shares--Plan of Distribution.")
This Prospectus sets forth concisely the information you should
know before investing in the Fund. It should be read and retained for future
reference. Additional information about the Fund is contained in the Statement
of Additional Information, dated December 22, 1994, 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 DISTRIBUTORS INC.
DISTRIBUTOR
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Prospectus Summary/2
Summary of Fund Expenses/3
Financial Highlights/5
The Fund and its Management/6
Investment Objective and Policies/6
Risk Considerations/8
Investment Restrictions/14
Purchase of Fund Shares/15
Shareholder Services/17
Redemptions and Repurchases/20
Dividends, Distributions and Taxes/22
Performance Information/23
Additional Information/23
SHARES OF THE FUND ARE NOT DEPOSITS OR OBLIGATIONS OF, OR GUARANTEED OR ENDORSED
BY, ANY BANK, AND THE SHARES ARE NOT FEDERALLY INSURED BY THE FEDERAL DEPOSIT
INSURANCE CORPORATION, THE FEDERAL RESERVE BOARD, OR ANY OTHER AGENCY.
THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION NOR HAS THE SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE
ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A
CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
Dean Witter
International SmallCap Fund
Two World Trade Center
New York, New York 10048
(212) 392-2550 or
(800) 526-3143
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PROSPECTUS SUMMARY
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The The Fund is organized as a Trust, commonly known as a Massachusetts business trust, and is an open-end,
Fund non-diversified management investment company. The Fund invests primarily in securities of small non-U.S.
companies.
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Shares Offered Shares of beneficial interest with $.01 par value (see page 23).
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Minimum Minimum initial investment, $1,000; minimum subsequent investment, $100 (see page 15).
Purchase
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Offering At net asset value without sales charge (see page 15). Shares redeemed within six years of purchase are subject
Price to a contingent deferred sales charge under most circumstances (see page 20).
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Investment The investment objective of the Fund is to seek long-term growth of capital.
Objective
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Investment Dean Witter InterCapital Inc., the Investment Manager of the Fund, and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Dean Witter
Manager and Services Company Inc., serve in various investment management, advisory, management and administrative
Sub-Advisor capacities to ninety investment companies and other portfolios with net assets under management of approximately
$69.5 billion at October 31, 1994. Morgan Grenfell Investment Services Ltd. has been retained by the Investment
Manager as Sub-Advisor to provide investment advice and manage the Fund's portfolio. Morgan Grenfell Investment
Services Ltd. currently serves as investment advisor for U.S. corporate and public employee benefit plans,
investment companies, endowments and foundations with assets of approximately $9.4 billion at September 30, 1994
(see page 6).
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Management The Investment Manager receives a monthly fee at the annual rate of 1.25% of the Fund's daily net assets, of
Fee which the Sub-Advisor receives 40% (see page 6).
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Dividends and Dividends from net investment income are paid at least annually. Capital gains, if any, are distributed at least
Distributions annually or retained for reinvestment by the Fund. Dividends and capital gains distributions are automatically
reinvested in additional shares at net asset value (without sales charge), unless the shareholder elects to
receive cash (see page 22).
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Distributor Dean Witter Distributors Inc. (the "Distributor"). The Distributor receives from the Fund a distribution fee
and accrued daily and payable monthly at the rate of 1.0% per annum of the lesser of (i) the Fund's average daily
Distribution Fee aggregate net sales or (ii) the Fund's average daily net assets. This fee compensates the Distributor for the
services provided in distributing shares of the Fund and for sales related expenses. The Distributor also
receives the proceeds of any contingent deferred sales charges (see page 15).
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Redemption-- Shares are redeemable by the shareholder at net asset value. An account may be involuntarily redeemed if the
Contingent total value of the account is less than $100. Although no commission or sales load is imposed upon the purchase
Deferred of shares, a contingent deferred sales charge (scaled down from 5% to 1%) is imposed on any redemption of shares
Sales if after such redemption the aggregate current value of an account with the Fund falls below the aggregate
Charge amount of the investor's purchase payments made during the six years preceding the redemption. However, there is
no charge imposed on redemption of shares purchased through reinvestment of dividends or distributions (see page
20).
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Risks The net asset value of the Fund's shares will fluctuate with changes in market value of portfolio securities.
Investing in lesser known, smaller capitalization companies may involve greater risk of volatility in the Fund's
net asset value than is customarily associated with investing in larger, more established companies. In
addition, it should be recognized that the foreign securities and markets in which the Fund will invest pose
different and greater risks than those customarily associated with domestic securities and their markets. The
Fund is a non-diversified investment company and, as such, is not subject to the diversification requirements of
the Investment Company Act of 1940. As a result, a relatively high percentage of the Fund's assets may be
invested in a limited number of issuers. However, the Fund intends to continue to qualify as a regulated
investment company under the federal income tax laws and, as such, is subject to the diversification
requirements of the Internal Revenue Code (see page 8).
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THE ABOVE IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY THE DETAILED INFORMATION APPEARING
ELSEWHERE
IN THIS PROSPECTUS AND IN THE STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
2
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SUMMARY OF FUND EXPENSES
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The following table illustrates all expenses and fees that a shareholder of
the Fund will incur.
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SHAREHOLDER TRANSACTION EXPENSES
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Maximum Sales Charge Imposed on Purchases.............................................. None
Maximum Sales Charge Imposed on Reinvested Dividends................................... None
Contingent Deferred Sales Charge
(as a percentage of the lesser of original purchase price or redemption proceeds).... 5.0%
A contingent deferred sales charge is imposed at the following declining rates:
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<CAPTION>
YEAR SINCE PURCHASE
PAYMENT MADE PERCENTAGE
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First....................................................................................... 5.0%
Second...................................................................................... 4.0%
Third....................................................................................... 3.0%
Fourth...................................................................................... 2.0%
Fifth....................................................................................... 2.0%
Sixth....................................................................................... 1.0%
Seventh and thereafter...................................................................... None
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Redemption Fees....................................................................... None
Exchange Fee.......................................................................... None
ANNUAL FUND OPERATING EXPENSES (AS A PERCENTAGE OF AVERAGE NET ASSETS)
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Management Fees....................................................................... 1.25%
12b-1 Fees*........................................................................... 1.00%
Other Expenses........................................................................ 0.56%
Total Fund Operating Expenses**....................................................... 2.81%
Management and 12b-1 Fees are for the current fiscal period of the Fund ending May 31, 1995.
"Other Expenses," as shown above, are based upon estimated amounts of expenses of the Fund for
the fiscal period ending May 31, 1995.
<FN>
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* THE 12B-1 FEE IS ACCRUED DAILY AND PAYABLE MONTHLY, AT AN ANNUAL RATE OF 1.0%
OF THE LESSER OF: (A) THE AVERAGE DAILY AGGREGATE GROSS SALES OF THE FUND'S
SHARES SINCE THE INCEPTION OF THE FUND (NOT INCLUDING REINVESTMENTS OF
DIVIDENDS OR DISTRIBUTIONS), LESS THE AVERAGE DAILY AGGREGATE NET ASSET VALUE
OF THE FUND'S SHARES REDEEMED SINCE THE FUND'S INCEPTION UPON WHICH A
CONTINGENT DEFERRED SALES CHARGE HAS BEEN IMPOSED OR WAIVED, OR (B) THE
FUND'S AVERAGE DAILY NET ASSETS. A PORTION OF THE 12B-1 FEE EQUAL TO 0.25% OF
THE FUND'S AVERAGE DAILY NET ASSETS IS CHARACTERIZED AS A SERVICE FEE WITHIN
THE MEANING OF NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF SECURITIES DEALERS, INC. ("NASD")
GUIDELINES.
** "TOTAL FUND OPERATING EXPENSES," AS SHOWN ABOVE, IS BASED UPON THE SUM OF THE
12B-1 FEES, MANAGEMENT FEES AND ESTIMATED "OTHER EXPENSES," WHICH MAY BE
INCURRED BY THE FUND.
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3
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<CAPTION>
EXAMPLE 1 year 3 years
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You would pay the following expenses on a $1,000 investment, assuming (1) 5% annual return and
(2) redemption at the end of each time period:.................................................. $ 78 $ 117
You would pay the following expenses on the same investment, assuming no redemption:............. $ 28 $ 87
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THE ABOVE EXAMPLE SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED A REPRESENTATION OF PAST OR
FUTURE EXPENSES OR PERFORMANCE. ACTUAL EXPENSES OF THE FUND MAY BE GREATER OR
LESS THAN THOSE SHOWN.
The purpose of this table is to assist the investor in understanding the
various costs and expenses that an investor in the Fund will bear directly or
indirectly. For a more complete description of these costs and expenses, see
"The Fund and its Management," "Plan of Distribution" and "Redemption and
Repurchases."
Long-term shareholders of the Fund may pay more in sales charges and
distribution fees than the economic equivalent of the maximum front-end sales
charges permitted by the NASD.
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FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
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The following ratios and per share data for a share of beneficial interest
outstanding throughout the period has been taken from the records of the Fund
without examination by independent accountants. The financial highlights should
be read in conjunction with the financial statements and notes thereto. The
related unaudited financial statements are contained in the Statement of
Additional Information.
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<CAPTION>
FOR THE PERIOD
JULY 29, 1994*
THROUGH
NOVEMBER 30, 1994
(UNAUDITED)
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PER SHARE OPERATING PERFORMANCE:
Net asset value, beginning of period......... $10.00
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Net investment loss.......................... (0.04)
Net realized and unrealized loss on
investments................................. (1.04)
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Total from investment operations............. (1.08)
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Net asset value, end of period............... $ 8.92
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TOTAL INVESTMENT RETURN+..................... (10.80)%(1)
RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA:
Net assets, end of period (in thousands)..... 95,291
Ratios to average net assets:
Expenses................................... 2.81%(2)
Net investment loss........................ (1.20)%(2)
Portfolio turnover rate...................... 7%(1)
<FN>
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+ DOES NOT REFLECT THE DEDUCTION OF SALES LOAD.
* COMMENCEMENT OF OPERATIONS.
(1) NOT ANNUALIZED.
(2) ANNUALIZED.
</TABLE>
SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
5
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THE FUND AND ITS MANAGEMENT
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Dean Witter International SmallCap Fund (the "Fund") is an open-end,
non-diversified, management investment company. The Fund is a trust of the type
commonly known as a "Massachusetts business trust" and was organized under the
laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts on April 21, 1994.
Dean Witter InterCapital Inc. ("InterCapital" or the "Investment Manager"),
whose address is Two World Trade Center, New York, New York 10048, is the Fund's
Investment Manager. The Investment Manager, which was incorporated in July,
1992, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Dean Witter, Discover & Co. ("DWDC"), a
balanced financial services organization providing a broad range of nationally
marketed credit and investment products.
InterCapital and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Dean Witter Services Company
Inc., serve in various investment management, advisory, management and
administrative capacities to ninety investment companies, thirty of which are
listed on the New York Stock Exchange, with combined assets of approximately
$67.5 billion at October 31, 1994. The Investment Manager also manages
portfolios of pension plans, other institutions and individuals which aggregated
approximately $2.0 billion at such date.
The Fund has retained the Investment Manager to provide administrative
services, manage its business affairs and supervise the investment of the Fund's
assets. InterCapital has retained Dean Witter Services Company Inc. to perform
the aforementioned administrative services for the Fund.
Under a Sub-Advisory Agreement between Morgan Grenfell Investment Services
Limited (the "Sub-Advisor") and the Investment Manager, the Sub-Advisor provides
the Fund with investment advice and portfolio management relating to the Fund's
investments, subject to the overall supervision of the Investment Manager. The
Fund's Trustees review the various services provided by the Investment Manager
and the Sub-Advisor 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.
The Sub-Advisor, whose address is 20 Finsbury Circus, London, England,
manages, as of September 30, 1994, assets of approximately $9.4 billion for U.S.
corporate and public employee benefit plans, investment companies, endowments
and foundations. The Sub-Advisor is an indirect subsidiary of Deutsche Bank AG,
the largest commercial bank in Germany.
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 1.25% to the Fund's net assets. As compensation for its services
provided pursuant to the Sub-Advisory Agreement, the Investment Manager pays the
Sub-Advisor monthly compensation equal to 40% of its monthly compensation.
The Fund's expenses include: the fee of the Investment Manager; the fee
pursuant to the Plan of Distribution (see "Purchase of Fund Shares"); taxes;
certain legal, transfer agent, custodian and auditing fees; and printing and
other expenses relating to the Fund's operations which are not expressly assumed
by the Investment Manager under its Investment Management Agreement with the
Fund.
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE AND POLICIES
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The investment objective of the Fund is long-term growth of capital. The
objective is a fundamental policy of the Fund and may not be changed without
shareholder approval. There is no assurance that the objective will be
achieved.
6
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The Fund seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing, under
normal circumstances, at least 65% of its total assets in equity
securities of "small capitalization" companies located outside of the United
States. A "small capitalization" company is defined as being, at the time of
purchase of its equity securities by the Fund, among the smallest capitalized
companies (where capitalization is calculated by multiplying the total number of
outstanding shares of common stock of the company by their market price and by
ranking the resulting companies from smallest to largest capitalization)
principally located in a given country, whose aggregate capitalizations comprise
no more than 25% of the total market capitalization of the country. Equity
securities in which the Fund may invest include common stocks, rights or
warrants to purchase common stocks and securities convertible into common
stocks.
The Fund will invest in securities issued by issuers located in at least
three countries outside of the U.S. An issuer of a security will be considered
to be located in a given country if it: (i) is organized under the laws of the
country; (ii) derives at least 50% of its revenues from goods produced or sold,
investments made, or services performed in the country; (iii) maintains at least
50% of its assets in the country; or (iv) has securities which are principally
traded on a stock exchange in the country.
The Fund currently may invest, from time to time, more than 25% of its total
assets in securities issued by issuers located in each of the United Kingdom and
Japan. The concentration of the Fund's assets in Japanese issuers will subject
the Fund to the risks of adverse social, political or economic events which
occur in Japan. Specifically, investments in the Japanese stock market may
entail a higher degree of risk than investments in other markets as, by
fundamental measures of corporate valuation, such as its high price-earnings
ratios and low dividend yields, the Japanese market as a whole may appear
expensive relative to other world stock markets, (I.E., the prices of Japanese
stocks may be relatively high). In addition, the prices of securities traded on
the Japanese markets may be more volatile than many other markets.
Generally, the investment risks presented by equity markets in the United
Kingdom are comparable to those occurring in the U.S. However, the concentration
of the Fund's assets in British issuers will subject the Fund's investment
performance to social, political and economic events occurring in the United
Kingdom to a larger effect than to those occurring elsewhere, internationally.
In addition, political and economic developments occurring elsewhere in Europe,
especially as they relate to changes in the structure of the European Economic
Community, and the anticipated development of a unified common market, may have
profound effects upon the value of the British segment of the Fund's portfolio
of investments.
The remainder of the Fund's portfolio equalling, at times, up to 35% of the
Fund's total assets, may be invested in (i) securities issued by companies whose
market capitalizations place them outside the Fund's definition of "small
capitalization" and/or (ii) fixed-income securities issued or guaranteed by
foreign governments. In addition, this portion of the Fund's portfolio will
consist of various other financial instruments such as forward foreign exchange
contracts, futures contracts and options.
The Fund may also invest in securities of foreign issuers in the form of
American Depository Receipts (ADRs), European Depository Receipts (EDRs) or
other similar securities convertible into securities of foreign issuers. These
securities may not necessarily be denominated in the same currency as the
securities into which they may be converted. ADRs are receipts typically issued
by a United States bank or trust company evidencing ownership of the underlying
securities. EDRs are European receipts evidencing a similar arrangement.
Generally, ADRs, in registered form, are designed for use in the United States
securities markets and EDRs, in bearer form, are designed for use in European
securities markets.
In constructing its portfolio, the Fund will utilize an
investment/decision-making process that
7
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primarily emphasizes stock research and selection which is complemented by
regional asset allocation and order execution. In recognition of the
characteristics of the small-cap security universe (I.E., lesser liquidity,
generally, than securities issued by companies with larger capitalizations),
regional asset allocations are made with a long-term view in mind. This
long-term perspective will be implemented by searching for securities of
companies with long-term growth prospects, attractive valuation comparisons and
adequate market liquidity.
The securities selected for purchase by the Fund's Sub-Advisor will be
biased toward price appreciation potential: attractive stocks will exhibit
above-average earnings growth, below-average price-earnings ratios in their
market and relative price-earnings ratios below the historic norm. In addition,
the Fund will maintain a disciplined sell process for liquidating portfolio
holdings.
There may be periods during which, in the opinion of the Investment Manager
or Sub-Advisor, market conditions warrant reduction of some or all of the Fund's
securities holdings. During such periods, the Fund may adopt a temporary
"defensive" posture in which greater than 35% of its net assets are invested in
cash or money market instruments. Money market instruments in which the Fund may
invest are securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government (Treasury
bills, notes and bonds, including zero coupon securities); bank obligations
(such as certificates of deposit and bankers' acceptances); Yankee instruments;
Eurodollar certificates of deposit; obligations of savings institutions; fully
insured certificates of deposit; and commercial paper rated within the two
highest grades by Moody's or S&P or, if not rated, are issued by a company
having an outstanding debt issue rated at least AA by S&P or Aa by Moody's.
RISK CONSIDERATIONS
SMALL-CAP STOCKS. Investing in lesser-known, smaller capitalized companies
may involve greater risk of volatility of the Fund's net asset value than is
customarily associated with investing in larger, more established companies.
There is typically less publicly available information concerning foreign and
smaller companies than for domestic and larger, more established companies. Some
small companies have limited product lines, distribution channels and financial
and managerial resources and tend to concentrate on fewer geographic markets
than do larger companies. Also, because smaller companies normally have fewer
shares outstanding than larger companies and trade less frequently, it may be
more difficult for the Fund to buy and sell significant amounts of such shares
without an unfavorable impact on prevailing market prices. Some of the companies
in which the Fund may invest may distribute, sell or produce products which have
recently been brought to market and may be dependent on key personnel with
varying degrees of experience.
FOREIGN SECURITIES. Foreign securities investments may be affected by
changes in currency rates or exchange control regulations, changes in
governmental administration or economic or monetary policy (in the United States
and abroad) or changed circumstances in dealings between nations. Fluctuations
in the relative rates of exchange between the currencies of different nations
will affect the value of the Fund's investments denominated in foreign currency.
Changes in foreign currency exchange rates relative to the U.S. dollar will
affect the U.S. dollar value of the Fund's assets denominated in that currency
and thereby impact upon the Fund's total return on such assets.
Foreign currency exchange rates are determined by forces of supply and
demand on the foreign exchange markets. These forces are themselves affected by
the international balance of payments and other economic and financial
conditions, government intervention, speculation and other factors. Moreover,
foreign currency exchange rates may be affected by the regulatory control of the
exchanges on which the currencies trade. The foreign currency transactions of
the Fund will be conducted on a spot basis or through forward foreign currency
exchange contracts (described below).
8
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The Fund will incur certain costs in connection with these currency
transactions.
Investments in foreign securities will also occasion risks relating to
political and economic developments abroad, including the possibility of
expropriations or confiscatory taxation, limitations on the use or transfer of
Fund assets and any effects of foreign social, economic or political
instability. Foreign companies are not subject to the regulatory requirements of
U.S. companies and, as such, there may be less publicly available information
about such companies. Moreover, foreign companies are not subject to uniform
accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards and requirements
comparable to those applicable to U.S. companies.
Securities of foreign issuers may be less liquid than comparable securities
of U.S. issuers and, as such, their price changes may be more volatile.
Furthermore, foreign exchanges and broker-dealers are generally subject to less
government and exchange scrutiny and regulation than their American
counterparts. Brokerage commissions, dealer concessions and other transaction
costs may be higher on foreign markets than in the U.S. In addition, differences
in clearance and settlement procedures on foreign markets may occasion delays in
settlements of the Fund's trades effected in such markets. As such, the
inability to dispose of portfolio securities due to settlement delays could
result in losses to the Fund due to subsequent declines in value of such
securities and the inability of the Fund to make intended security purchases due
to settlement problems could result in a failure of the Fund to make potentially
advantageous investments.
LOWER-RATED CONVERTIBLE SECURITIES. The Fund may invest a portion of its
assets (up to 35% of its net assets) in lower-rated convertible securities. Most
convertible securities in which the Fund may invest are not rated; when rated,
such ratings will generally be below investment grade. Securities below
investment grade are the equivalent of high yield, high risk bonds, commonly
known as "junk bonds." Investment grade is generally considered to be debt
securities rated BBB or higher by Standard & Poor's Corporation ("S&P") or Baa
or higher by Moody's Investors Service, Inc. ("Moody's"). However, the Fund will
not invest in debt securities that are in default in payment of principal or
interest.
Because of the special nature of the Fund's permitted investments in lower
rated debt securities, the Investment Manager and Sub-Adviser must take account
of certain special considerations in assessing the risks associated with such
investments. The prices of lower rated securities have been found to be less
sensitive to changes in prevailing interest rates than higher rated investments,
but are likely to be more sensitive to adverse economic changes or individual
corporate developments. During an economic downturn or substantial period of
rising interest rates, highly leveraged issuers may experience financial stress
which would adversely affect their ability to service their principal and
interest payment obligations, to meet their projected business goals or to
obtain additional financing. If the issuer of a fixed-income security owned by
the Fund defaults, the Fund may incur additional expenses to seek recovery. In
addition, periods of economic uncertainty and change can be expected to result
in an increased volatility of market prices of lower rated securities and a
corresponding volatility in the net asset value of a share of the Fund.
REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS. The Fund may enter into repurchase agreements, which
may be viewed as a type of secured lending by the Fund, and which typically
involve the acquisition by the Fund of debt securities, from a selling financial
institution such as a bank, savings and loan association or broker-dealer. The
agreement provides that the Fund will sell back to the institution, and that the
institution will repurchase, the underlying security at a specified price and at
a fixed time in the future, usually not more than seven days from the date of
purchase. While repurchase agreements involve certain risks not associated with
direct investments in debt securities, including the risks of default or
bankruptcy of the selling financial institution, the Fund follows procedures to
minimize such risks. These procedures include effecting repurchase
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<PAGE>
transactions only with large, well-capitalized and well-established financial
institutions and maintaining adequate collateralization.
REVERSE REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS AND DOLLAR ROLLS. The Fund may also use
reverse repurchase agreements and dollar rolls as part of its investment
strategy. Reverse repurchase agreements involve sales by the Fund of portfolio
assets concurrently with an agreement by the Fund to repurchase the same assets
at a later date at a fixed price. The Fund may enter into dollar rolls in which
the Fund sells securities and simultaneously contracts to repurchase
substantially similar (same type and coupon) securities on a specified future
date. Reverse repurchase agreements and dollar rolls involve the risk that the
market value of the securities the Fund is obligated to repurchase under the
agreement may decline below the repurchase price. In the event the buyer of
securities under a reverse repurchase agreement or dollar roll files for
bankruptcy or becomes insolvent, the Fund's use of proceeds of the agreement may
be restricted pending a determination by the other party, or its trustee or
receiver, whether to enforce the Fund's obligation to repurchase the securities.
Reverse Repurchase agreements and dollar rolls are speculative techniques
involving leverage, and are considered borrowings by the Fund.
WHEN-ISSUED AND DELAYED DELIVERY SECURITIES AND FORWARD COMMITMENTS. From
time to time, in the ordinary course of business, the Fund may purchase
securities on a when-issued or delayed delivery basis or may purchase or sell
securities on a forward commitment basis. When such transactions are negotiated,
the price is fixed at the time of the commitment, but delivery and payment can
take place a month or more after the date of the commitment. There is no overall
limit on the percentage of the Fund's assets which may be committed to the
purchase of securities on a when-issued, delayed delivery or forward commitment
basis. An increase in the percentage of the Fund's assets committed to the
purchase of securities on a when-issued, delayed delivery or forward commitment
basis may increase the volatility of the Fund's net asset value. An increase in
the percentage of the Fund's assets committed to the purchase of securities on a
when-issued or delayed delivery basis may increase the volatility of the Fund's
net asset value.
WHEN, AS AND IF ISSUED SECURITIES. The Fund may purchase securities on a
"when, as and if issued" basis under which the issuance of the security depends
upon the occurrence of a subsequent event, such as approval of a merger,
corporate reorganization, leveraged buyout or debt restructuring. If the
anticipated event does not occur and the securities are not issued, the Fund
will have lost an investment opportunity. There is no overall limit on the
percentage of the Fund's assets which may be committed to the purchase of
securities on a "when, as and if issued" basis. An increase in the percentage of
the Fund's assets committed to the purchase of securities on a "when, as and if
issued" basis may increase the volatility of its net asset value.
PRIVATE PLACEMENTS. The Fund may invest up to 5% of its total assets in
securities which are subject to restrictions on resale because they have not
been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities
Act"), or which are otherwise not readily marketable. (Securities eligible for
resale pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act, and determined to be
liquid pursuant to the procedures discussed in the following paragraph, are not
subject to the foregoing restriction.) These securities are generally referred
to as private placements or restricted securities. Limitations on the resale of
such securities may have an adverse effect on their marketability, and may
prevent the Fund from disposing of them promptly at reasonable prices. The Fund
may have to bear the expense of registering such securities for resale and the
risk of substantial delays in effecting such registration.
The Securities and Exchange Commission has adopted Rule 144A under the
Securities Act, which permits the Fund to sell restricted securities to
qualified institutional buyers without limitation. The Investment Manager,
pursuant to procedures
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adopted by the Trustees of the Fund, will make a determination as to the
liquidity of each restricted security purchased by the Fund. If a restricted
security is determined to be "liquid," such security will not be included within
the category "illiquid securities," which under current policy may not exceed
15% of the Fund's net assets.
OPTIONS AND FUTURE TRANSACTIONS. The Fund may purchase and sell (write)
call and put options on portfolio securities which are denominated in either
U.S. dollars or foreign currencies and on the U.S. dollar and foreign
currencies, which are or may in the future be listed on several U.S. and foreign
securities exchanges or are written in over-the-counter transactions ("OTC
options"). OTC options are purchased from or sold (written) to dealers or
financial institutions which have entered into direct agreements with the Fund.
The Fund is permitted to write covered call options on portfolio securities
and the U.S. dollar and foreign currencies, without limit, in order to hedge
against the decline in the value of a security or currency in which such
security is denominated and to close out long call option positions. The Fund
may write covered put options, under which the Fund incurs an obligation to buy
the security (or currency) underlying the option from the purchaser of the put
at the option's exercise price at any time during the option period, at the
purchaser's election.
The Fund may purchase listed and OTC call and put options in amounts
equalling up to 5% of its total assets. The Fund may purchase call options to
close out a covered call position or to protect against an increase in the price
of a security it anticipates purchasing or, in the case of call options on a
foreign currency, to hedge against an adverse exchange rate change of the
currency in which the security it anticipates purchasing is denominated
vis-a-vis the currency in which the exercise price is denominated. The Fund may
purchase put options on securities which it holds in its portfolio to protect
itself against a decline in the value of the security and to close out written
put positions in a manner similar to call option closing purchase transactions.
There are no other limits on the Fund's ability to purchase call and put
options.
The Fund may purchase and sell futures contracts that are currently traded,
or may in the future be traded, on U.S. and foreign commodity exchanges on
underlying portfolio securities, on any currency ("currency" futures), on U.S.
and foreign fixed-income securities ("interest rate" futures) and on such
indexes of U.S. or foreign equity or fixed-income securities as may exist or
come into being ("index" futures). The Fund may purchase or sell interest rate
futures contracts for the purpose of hedging some or all of the value of its
portfolio securities (or anticipated portfolio securities) against changes in
prevailing interest rates. The Fund may purchase or sell index futures contracts
for the purpose of hedging some or all of its portfolio (or anticipated
portfolio) securities against changes in their prices (or the currency in which
they are denominated). As a futures contract purchaser, the Fund incurs an
obligation to take delivery of a specified amount of the obligation underlying
the contract at a specified time in the future for a specified price. As a
seller of a futures contract, the Fund incurs an obligation to deliver the
specified amount of the underlying obligation at a specified time in return for
an agreed upon price.
The Fund also may purchase and write call and put options on futures
contracts which are traded on an exchange and enter into closing transactions
with respect to such options to terminate an existing position.
New futures contracts, options and other financial products and various
combinations thereof continue to be developed. The Fund may invest in any such
futures, options or products as may be developed, to the extent consistent with
its investment objective and applicable regulatory requirements.
RISKS OF OPTIONS AND FUTURES TRANSACTIONS. The Fund may close out its
position as writer of an option, or as a buyer or seller of a futures contract,
only if a liquid secondary market exists for options or futures contracts of
that series. There is no
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assurance that such a market will exist, particularly in the case of OTC
options, as such options may generally only be closed out by entering into a
closing purchase transaction with the purchasing dealer. Also, exchanges may
limit the amount by which the price of many futures contracts may move on any
day. If the price moves equal the daily limit on successive days, then it may
prove impossible to liquidate a futures position until the daily limit moves
have ceased.
While the futures contracts and options transactions to be engaged in by the
Fund for the purpose of hedging the Fund's portfolio securities are not
speculative in nature, there are risks inherent in the use of such instruments.
One such risk is that the Investment Manager or Sub-Advisor could be incorrect
in its expectations as to the direction or extent of various interest rate or
price movements or the time span within which the movements take place. For
example, if the Fund sold futures contracts for the sale of securities in
anticipation of an increase in interest rates, and then interest rates went down
instead, causing bond prices to rise, the Fund would lose money on the sale.
Another risk which will arise in employing futures contracts to protect against
the price volatility of portfolio securities is that the prices of securities,
currencies and indexes subject to futures contracts (and thereby the futures
contract prices) may correlate imperfectly with the behavior of the U.S. dollar
cash prices of the Fund's portfolio securities and their denominated currencies.
See the Statement of Additional Information for a further discussion of risks.
NON-DIVERSIFIED STATUS. The Fund is a non-diversified investment company
and, as such, is not subject to the diversification requirements of the Act. As
a non-diversified investment company, the Fund may invest a greater portion of
its assets in the securities of a single issuer and thus is subject to greater
exposure to risks such as a decline in the credit rating of that issuer.
However, the Fund anticipates that it will qualify as a regulated investment
company under the federal income tax laws and, if so qualified, will be subject
to the applicable diversification requirements of the Internal Revenue Code, as
amended (the "Code"). As a regulated investment company under the Code, the Fund
may not, as of the end of any of its fiscal quarters, have invested more than
25% of its total assets in the securities of any one issuer (including a foreign
government), or as to 50% of its total assets, have invested more than 5% of its
total assets in the securities of a single issuer.
FORWARD FOREIGN CURRENCY EXCHANGE CONTRACTS. The Fund may enter into forward
foreign currency exchange contracts ("forward contracts") in connection with its
foreign securities investments.
A forward contract involves an obligation to purchase or sell a currency at
a future date, which may be any fixed number of days from the date of the
contract agreed upon by the parties, at a price set at the time of the contract.
The Fund may enter into forward contracts as a hedge against fluctuations in
future foreign exchange rates.
The Fund will enter into forward contracts under various circumstances. When
the Fund enters into a contract for the purchase or sale of a security
denominated in a foreign currency, it may, for example, desire to "lock in" the
price of the security in U.S. dollars or some other foreign currency which the
Fund is temporarily holding in its portfolio. By entering into a forward
contract for the purchase or sale, for a fixed amount of dollars or other
currency, of the amount of foreign currency involved in the underlying security
transactions, the Fund will be able to protect itself against a possible loss
resulting from an adverse change in the relationship between the U.S. dollar or
other currency which is being used for the security purchase (by the Fund or the
counterparty) and the foreign currency in which the security is denominated
during the period between the date on which the security is purchased or sold
and the date on which payment is made or received.
At other times, when, for example, the Fund's Investment Manager believes
that the currency of a particular foreign country may suffer a substantial
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decline against the U.S. dollar or some other foreign currency, the Fund may
enter into a forward contract to sell, for a fixed amount of dollars or other
currency, the amount of foreign currency approximating the value of some or all
of the Fund's securities holdings (or securities which the Fund has purchased
for its portfolio) denominated in such foreign currency. Under identical
circumstances, the Fund may enter into a forward contract to sell, for a fixed
amount of U.S. dollars or other currency, an amount of foreign currency other
than the currency in which the securities to be hedged are denominated
approximating the value of some or all of the portfolio securities to be hedged.
This method of hedging, called "cross-hedging," will be selected by the
Investment Manager when it is determined that the foreign currency in which the
portfolio securities are denominated has insufficient liquidity or is trading at
a discount as compared with some other foreign currency with which it tends to
move in tandem.
In addition, when the Fund's Investment Manager anticipates purchasing
securities at some time in the future, and wishes to lock in the current
exchange rate of the currency in which those securities are denominated against
the U.S. dollar or some other foreign currency, the Fund may enter into a
forward contract to purchase an amount of currency equal to some or all of the
value of the anticipated purchase, for a fixed amount of U.S. dollars or other
currency.
In all of the above circumstances, if the currency in which the Fund
securities holdings (or anticipated portfolio securities) are denominated rises
in value with respect to the currency which is being purchased (or sold), then
the Fund will have realized fewer gains than had the Fund not entered into the
forward contracts. Moreover, the precise matching of the forward contract
amounts and the value of the securities involved will not generally be possible,
since the future value of such securities in foreign currencies will change as a
consequence of market movements in the value of those securities between the
date the forward contract is entered into and the date it matures. The Fund is
not required to enter into such transactions with regard to its foreign
currency-denominated securities and will not do so unless deemed appropriate by
the Investment Manager. The Fund generally will not enter into a forward
contract with a term of greater than one year, although it may enter into
forward contracts for periods of up to five years. The Fund may be limited in
its ability to enter into hedging transactions involving forward contracts by
the Internal Revenue Code requirements relating to qualification as a regulated
investment company (see "Dividends, Distributions and Taxes").
RIGHTS AND WARRANTS. The Fund may acquire rights and/or warrants which are
attached to other securities in its portfolio, or which are issued as a
distribution by the issuer of a security held in its portfolio. Rights and/or
warrants are, in effect, options to purchase equity securities at a specific
price, generally valid for a specific period of time, and have no voting rights,
pay no dividends and have no rights with respect to the corporation issuing
them.
CONVERTIBLE SECURITIES. The Fund may acquire, through purchase or a
distribution by the issuer of a security held in its portfolio, a fixed-income
security which is convertible into common stock of the issuer. Convertible
securities rank senior to common stocks in a corporation's capital structure
and, therefore, entail less risk than the corporation's common stock. The value
of a convertible security is a function of its "investment value" (its value as
if it did not have a conversion privilege), and its "conversion value" (the
security's worth if it were to be exchanged for the underlying security, at
market value, pursuant to its conversion privilege).
To the extent that a convertible security's investment value is greater than
its conversion value, its price will be primarily a reflection of such
investment value and its price will be likely to increase when interest rates
fall and decrease when interest rates rise, as with a fixed-income security (the
credit standing of the issuer and other factors may also have an effect on the
convertible security's value). If
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the conversion value exceeds the investment value, the price of the convertible
security will rise above its investment value and, in addition, will sell at
some premium over its conversion value. (This premium represents the price
investors are willing to pay for the privilege of purchasing a fixed-income
security with a possibility of capital appreciation due to the conversion
privilege.) At such times the price of the convertible security will tend to
fluctuate directly with the price of the underlying equity security. A portion
of the convertible securities in which the Fund may invest may be unrated or, if
rated, rated below investment grade by a nationally recognized statistical
rating organization.
PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT
The Fund's portfolio is actively managed by its Investment Manager and the
Sub-Advisor with a view to achieving the Fund's investment objective. In
determining which securities to purchase for the Fund or hold in the Fund's
portfolio, the Investment Manager and the Sub-Advisor will rely on information
from various sources, including research, analysis and appraisals of brokers and
dealers, the views of Trustees of the Fund and others regarding economic
developments and interest rate trends, and the Investment Manager's and
Sub-Advisor's own analysis of factors they deem relevant. The Fund's primary
portfolio manager is Mr. Graham D. Bamping, a Director of the Sub-Advisor. Mr.
Bamping has been managing equity portfolios for the Sub-Advisor for over five
years.
Personnel of the Investment Manager and Sub-Advisor have substantial
experience in the use of the investment techniques described above under the
heading "Options and Futures Transactions," which techniques require skills
different from those needed to select the portfolio securities underlying
various options and futures contracts.
Orders for transactions in portfolio securities and commodities may be
placed for the Fund with a number of brokers and dealers, including DWR and two
affiliated broker-dealers of the Sub-Advisor (Morgan Grenfell Asia and Partners
Securities Pte. Limited and Morgan Grenfell Asia Securities (Hong Kong)
Limited). Pursuant to an order of the Securities and Exchange Commission, the
Fund may effect principal transactions in certain money market instruments with
Dean Witter Reynolds Inc. ("DWR"), a broker-dealer affiliate of the Investment
Manager. In addition, the Fund may incur brokerage commissions on transactions
conducted through DWR and the two above-mentioned affiliated broker-dealers of
the Sub-Advisor.
Although the Fund does not intend to engage in short-term trading, it may
sell portfolio securities without regard to the length of time they have been
held when such sale will, in the opinion of the Investment Manager or
Sub-Advisor, contribute to the Fund's investment objective. It is not
anticipated that the Fund's portfolio turnover rate will exceed 100% in any one
year.
The expenses of the Fund relating to its portfolio management are likely to
be greater than those incurred by other investment companies investing primarily
in securities issued by domestic issuers as custodial costs, brokerage
commissions and other transaction charges related to investing on foreign
markets are generally higher than in the United States.
INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS
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The investment restrictions listed below are among the restrictions which
have been adopted by the Fund as fundamental policies. Under the Investment
Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "Act"), a fundamental policy may not be
changed without the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of
the Fund, as defined in the Act. For purposes of the following limitations: (i)
all percentage limitations apply immediately after a purchase or initial
investment, and (ii) any subsequent change in any applicable percentage
resulting from market fluctuations or other changes in total or net
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assets does not require elimination of any security from the portfolio.
The Fund may not:
1. Invest 25% or more of the value of its total
assets in securities of issuers in any one industry. This restriction does not
apply to obligations issued or guaranteed by the United States Government, its
agencies or instrumentalities.
2. Invest more than 5% of the value of its total
assets in securities of issuers having a record, together with predecessors, of
less than three years of continuous operation. This restriction shall not apply
to any obligation issued or guaranteed by the United States Government, its
agencies or instrumentalities.
In addition, as a non-fundamental policy, the Fund may not, as to 75% of its
total assets, purchase more than 10% of the voting securities of any
issuer.
PURCHASE OF FUND SHARES
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Fund offers its shares for sale to the public on a continuous basis.
Pursuant to a Distribution Agreement between the Fund and Dean Witter
Distributors Inc. (the "Distributor"), an affiliate of the Investment Manager,
shares of the Fund are distributed by the Distributor and offered by DWR and
other dealers who have entered into selected dealer agreements with the
Distributor ("Selected Broker-Dealers"). The principal executive office of the
Distributor is located at Two World Trade Center, New York, New York 10048.
The minimum initial purchase is $1,000. Minimum subsequent purchases of $100
or more may be made by sending a check, payable to Dean Witter International
SmallCap Fund, 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 other Selected Broker-Dealer. In the case of investments pursuant to
Systematic Payroll Deduction Plans (including Individual Retirement Plans), the
Fund, in its discretion, may accept investments without regard to any minimum
amounts which would otherwise be required if the Fund has reason to believe that
additional investments will increase the investment in all accounts under such
Plans to at least $1,000. Certificates for shares purchased will not be issued
unless a request is made by the shareholder in writing to the Transfer Agent.
The offering price will be the net asset value per share next determined
following receipt of an order (see "Determination of Net Asset Value").
Shares of the Fund are sold through the Distributor on a normal five
business day settlement basis; that is, payment is due on the fifth business day
(settlement date) after the order is placed with the Distributor. Shares of the
Fund purchased through the Distributor are entitled to any dividends declared
beginning on the next business day following settlement date. Since DWR and
other Selected Broker-Dealers forward investors' funds on settlement date, they
will benefit from the temporary use of the funds if payment is made prior
thereto. Shares purchased through the Transfer Agent are entitled to any
dividends declared 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 dividends and
capital gains distributions if their order is received by the close of business
on the day prior to the record date for such distributions. While no sales
charge is imposed at the time shares are purchased, a contingent deferred sales
charge may be imposed at the time of redemption (see "Redemptions and
Repurchases"). Sales personnel are compensated for selling shares of the Fund at
the time of their sale by the Distributor and/or Selected Broker-Dealer. In
addition, some sales personnel of the Selected Broker-Dealer will receive
various types of non-cash
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compensation as special sales incentives, including trips, educational and/or
business seminars and merchandise as special sales incentives. The Fund and the
Distributor reserve the right to reject any purchase orders.
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
The Fund has adopted a Plan of Distribution pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the
Act (the "Plan"), under which the Fund pays the Distributor a fee, which is
accrued daily and payable monthly, at an annual rate of 1.0% of the lesser of:
(a) the average daily aggregate gross sales of the Fund's shares since the
inception of the Fund (not including reinvestments of dividends or capital gains
distributions), less the average daily aggregate net asset value of the Fund's
shares redeemed since the Fund's inception upon which a contingent deferred
sales charge has been imposed or waived; or (b) the Fund's average daily net
assets. This fee is treated by the Fund as an expense in the year it is accrued.
A portion of the fee payable pursuant to the Plan, equal to 0.25% of the Fund's
average daily net assets, is characterized as a service fee within the meaning
of NASD guidelines.
Amounts paid under the Plan are paid to the Distributor for services
provided and the expenses borne by the Distributor and others in the
distribution of the Fund's shares, including the payment of commissions for
sales of the Fund's shares and incentive compensation to and expenses of DWR's
account executives and others who engage in or support distribution of shares or
who service shareholder accounts, including overhead and telephone expenses;
printing and distribution of prospectuses and reports used in connection with
the offering of the Fund's shares to other than current shareholders; and
preparation, printing and distribution of sales literature and advertising
materials. In addition, the Distributor may utilize fees paid pursuant to the
Plan to compensate DWR and other Selected Broker-Dealers for their opportunity
costs in advancing such amounts, which compensation would be in the form of a
carrying charge on any unreimbursed expenses.
For the period July 29, 1994 (commencement of the Fund's operations) through
November 30, 1994, the Fund accrued payments under the Plan amounting to
$315,225, which amount is equal to 1.0% of the Fund's average daily net assets
for the period. These payments accrued under the Plan were calculated pursuant
to clause (b) of the compensation formula under the Plan.
At any given time, the expenses in distributing shares of the Fund may be in
excess of the total of (i) the payments made by the Fund pursuant to the Plan,
and (ii) the proceeds of contingent deferred sales charges paid by investors
upon the redemption of shares (see "Redemptions and Repurchases--Contingent
Deferred Sales Charge"). For example, if $1 million in expenses in distributing
shares of the Fund had been incurred and $750,000 had been received as described
in (i) and (ii) above, the excess expense would amount to $250,000. The
Distributor has advised the Fund that such excess amounts, including the
carrying charge described above, totalled $5,473,992 at November 30, 1994, which
was equal to 5.75% of the Fund's net assets on such date.
Because there is no requirement under the Plan that the Distributor be
reimbursed for all distribution expenses or any requirement that the Plan be
continued from year to year, such excess amount, if any, does not constitute a
liability of the Fund. Although there is no legal obligation for the Fund to pay
expenses incurred in excess of payments made to the Distributor under the Plan,
and the proceeds of contingent deferred sales charges paid by investors upon
redemption of shares, if for any reason the Plan is terminated the Trustees will
consider at that time the manner in which to treat such expenses. Any cumulative
expenses incurred, but not yet recovered through distribution fees or contingent
deferred sales charges, may or may not be recovered through future distribution
fees or contingent deferred sales charges.
DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE
The net asset value per share of the Fund is determined once daily at 4:00
p.m., New York time,
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on each day that the New York Stock Exchange is open by taking the value of all
assets of the Fund, subtracting all its liabilities, dividing by the number of
shares outstanding and adjusting to the nearest cent. The net asset value per
share will not be determined on Good Friday and on such other federal and
non-federal holidays as are observed by the New York Stock Exchange.
In the calculation of the Fund's net asset value: (1) an equity portfolio
security listed or traded on the New York or American Stock Exchange or other
domestic or foreign stock exchange is valued at its latest sale price on that
exchange, prior to the time assets are valued; if there were no sales that day,
the security is valued at the latest bid price (in cases where a security is
traded on more than one exchange, the security is valued on the exchange
designated as the primary market by the Trustees); and (2) all other portfolio
securities for which over-the-counter market quotations are readily available
are valued at the latest bid price. When market quotations are not readily
available, including circumstances under which it is determined by the
Investment Manager that sale and bid prices are not reflective of a security's
market value, portfolio securities are valued at their fair value as determined
in good faith under procedures established by and under the general supervision
of the Board of Trustees. For valuation purposes, quotations of foreign
portfolio securities, other assets and liabilities and forward contracts stated
in foreign currency are translated into U.S. dollar equivalents at the
prevailing market rates prior to the close of the New York Stock Exchange.
Dividends receivable are accrued as of the ex-dividend date or as of the time
that the relevant ex-dividend date and amounts become known.
Short-term debt securities with remaining maturities of sixty 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 Trust
ees.
Certain of the Fund's portfolio securities may be valued by an outside
pricing service approved by the Fund's Trustees. The pricing service utilizes a
matrix system incorporating security quality, maturity and coupon as the
evaluation model parameters, and/or research evaluations by its staff, including
review of broker-dealer market price quotations, in determining what it believes
is the fair valuation of the portfolio securities valued by such pricing
service.
SHAREHOLDER SERVICES
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AUTOMATIC INVESTMENT OF DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS. All income dividends
and capital gains distributions are automatically paid in full and fractional
shares of the Fund (or, if specified by the shareholder, any other open-end
investment company for which InterCapital serves as investment manager
(collectively, with the Fund, the "Dean Witter Funds")), unless the shareholder
requests that they be paid in cash. Shares as acquired are not subject to the
imposition of a contingent deferred sales charge upon their redemption (see
"Redemptions and Repurchases").
INVESTMENT OF DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS RECEIVED IN CASH. Any shareholder
who receives a cash payment representing a dividend or capital gains
distribution may invest such dividend or distribution at the net asset value per
share next determined after receipt by the Transfer Agent, by returning the
check or the proceeds to the Transfer Agent within thirty days after the payment
date. Shares so acquired are not subject to the imposition of a contingent
deferred sales charge upon their redemption (see "Redemptions and Repurchases").
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<PAGE>
EASYINVESTSM. 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.
SYSTEMATIC WITHDRAWAL PLAN. A systematic withdrawal plan (the "Withdrawal
Plan") is available for shareholders who own or purchase shares of the Fund
having a minimum value of $10,000 based upon the then current net asset value.
The Withdrawal Plan provides for monthly or quarterly (March, June, September
and December) checks in any dollar amount, not less than $25, or in any whole
percentage of the account balance, on an annualized basis. Any applicable
contingent deferred sales charge will be imposed on shares redeemed under the
Withdrawal Plan (See "Redemptions and Repurchases--Contingent Deferred Sales
Charge"). Therefore, any shareholder participating in the Withdrawal Plan will
have sufficient shares redeemed from his or her account so that the proceeds
(net of any applicable contingent deferred sales charge) to the shareholder will
be the designated monthly or quarterly amount.
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.
Shareholders should contact their DWR or other Selected Broker-Dealer
account executive or the Transfer Agent for further information about any of the
above services.
TAX-SHELTERED RETIREMENT PLANS. Retirement plans are available for use by
corporations, the self-employed, 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 Dealer
account executive or the Transfer Agent.
EXCHANGE PRIVILEGE
The Fund makes available to its shareholders an "Exchange Privilege"
allowing the exchange of shares of the Fund for shares of other Dean Witter
Funds sold with a contingent deferred sales charge ("CDSC funds"), and for
shares of Dean Witter Short-Term U.S. Treasury Trust, Dean Witter Short-Term
Bond Fund, Dean Witter Limited Term Municipal Trust and five Dean Witter Funds
which are money market funds (the foregoing eight non-CDSC funds are hereinafter
collectively referred to as the "Exchange Funds"). Exchanges may be made after
the shares of the Fund acquired by purchase (not by exchange or dividend
reinvestment) have been held for thirty days. There is no waiting period for
exchanges of shares acquired by exchange or dividend reinvestment.
An exchange to another CDSC fund or to any Exchange Fund that is not a money
market fund is on the basis of the next calculated net asset value per share of
each fund after the exchange order is received. When exchanging into a money
market fund from the Fund, shares of the Fund are redeemed out of the Fund at
their next calculated net asset value and the proceeds of the redemption are
used to purchase shares of the money market fund at the net asset value
determined the following business day. Subsequent exchanges between any of the
money market funds and any of the CDSC funds can be effected on the same basis.
No contingent deferred sales charge ("CDSC") is imposed at the time of any
exchange, although any applicable CDSC will be imposed upon ultimate redemption.
Shares of the Fund acquired in exchange for shares of another CDSC fund having a
different CDSC schedule than that of this Fund will be subject to the CDSC
schedule of this Fund, even if such shares are subsequently re-exchanged for
shares of the CDSC fund originally purchased. During the period of time the
shareholder remains in the Exchange
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Fund (calculated from the last day of the month in which the Exchange Fund
shares were acquired), the holding period (for the purpose of determining the
rate of the CDSC) is frozen. If those shares are subsequently reexchanged for
shares of a CDSC fund, the holding period previously frozen when the first
exchange was made resumes on the last day of the month in which shares of a CDSC
fund are reacquired. Thus, the CDSC is based upon the time (calculated as
described above) the shareholder was invested in a CDSC fund (see "Redemptions
and Repurchases--Contingent Deferred Sales Charge"). However, in the case of
shares exchanged into an Exchange Fund, upon a redemption of shares which
results in a CDSC being imposed, a credit (not to exceed the amount of the CDSC)
will be given in an amount equal to the Exchange Fund 12b-1 distribution fees
incurred on or after that date which are attributable to those shares. (Exchange
Fund 12b-1 distribution fees are described in the prospectuses for those funds.)
In addition, shares of the Fund may be acquired in exchange for shares of
Dean Witter Funds sold with a front-end sales charge ("front-end sales charge
funds"), but shares of the Fund, however acquired, may not be exchanged for
shares of front-end sales charge funds. Shares of a CDSC fund acquired in
exchange for shares of a front-end sales charge fund (or in exchange for shares
of other Dean Witter Funds for which shares of a front-end sales charge fund
have been exchanged) are not subject to any CDSC upon their redemption.
Purchases and exchanges should be made for investment purposes only. A
pattern of frequent exchanges may be deemed by the Investment Manager to be
abusive and contrary to the best interests of the Fund's other shareholders and,
at the Investment Manager's discretion, may be limited by the Fund's refusal to
accept additional purchases and/ or exchanges from the investor. Although the
Fund does not have any specific definition of what constitutes a pattern of
frequent exchanges, and will consider all relevant factors in determining
whether a particular situation is abusive and contrary to the best interests of
the Fund and its other shareholders, investors should be aware that the Fund and
each of the other Dean Witter Funds may in their discretion limit or otherwise
restrict the number of times this Exchange Privilege may be exercised by any
investor. Any such restriction will be made by the Fund on a prospective basis
only, upon notice of the shareholder not later than ten days following such
shareholder's most recent exchange. Also, the Exchange Privilege may be
terminated or revised at any time by the Fund and/or any of such Dean Witter
Funds for which shares of the Fund have been exchanged, upon such notice as may
be required by applicable regulatory agencies. Shareholders maintaining margin
accounts with DWR or another Selected Broker-Dealer are referred to their
account executive regarding restrictions on exchange of shares of the Fund
pledged in the margin account.
The current prospectus for each fund describes its investment objective(s)
and policies, and shareholders should obtain a copy and examine it carefully
before investing. Exchanges are subject to the minimum investment requirement
and any other conditions imposed by each fund. 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 may realize a capital gain or loss. However, the ability to
deduct capital losses on an exchange may be limited in situations where there is
an exchange of shares within ninety days after the shares are purchased. The
Exchange Privilege is only available in states where an exchange may legally be
made.
If DWR or another Selected Broker-Dealer is the current dealer of record and
its account numbers are part of the account information, shareholders may
initiate an exchange of shares of the Fund for shares of any of the Dean Witter
Funds (for which the Exchange Privilege is available) pursuant to this Exchange
Privilege by contacting their account
19
<PAGE>
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) 526-3143 (toll
free).
The Fund will employ reasonable procedures to confirm that exchange
instructions communicated over the telephone are genuine. Such procedures may
include requiring various forms of personal identification such as name, mailing
address, social security or other tax identification number and DWR or other
Selected Broker-Dealer account number (if any). Telephone instructions may also
be recorded. If such procedures are not employed, the Fund may be liable for any
losses due to unauthorized or fraudulent instructions.
Telephone exchange instructions will be accepted if received by the Transfer
Agent between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., New York time, on any day the New York
Stock Exchange is open. Any shareholder wishing to make an exchange who has
previously filed an Exchange Privilege Authorization Form and who is unable to
reach the Fund by telephone should contact his or her DWR or other Selected
Broker-Dealer account executive, if appropriate, or make a written exchange
request. Shareholders are advised that during periods of drastic economic or
market changes, it is possible that the telephone exchange procedures may be
difficult to implement, although this has not been the experience with the Dean
Witter Funds in the past.
Shareholders should contact their DWR or other Selected Broker-Dealer
account executive or the Transfer Agent for further information about the
Exchange Privilege.
REDEMPTIONS AND REPURCHASES
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
REDEMPTION. Shares of the Fund can be redeemed for cash at any time at the
net asset value per share next determined; however, such redemption proceeds may
be reduced by the amount of any applicable contingent deferred sales charges
(see below). If shares are held in a shareholder's account without a share
certificate, a written request for redemption sent to the Fund's Transfer Agent
at P.O. Box 983, Jersey City, NJ 07303 is required. If certificates are held by
the shareholder(s), the shares may be redeemed by surrendering the certificates
with a written request for redemption, along with any additional information
required by the Transfer Agent.
CONTINGENT DEFERRED SALES CHARGE. Shares of the Fund which are held for six
years or more after purchase (calculated from the last day of the month in which
the shares were purchased) will not be subject to any charge upon redemption.
Shares redeemed sooner than six years after purchase may, however, be subject to
a charge upon redemption. This charge is called a "contingent deferred sales
charge" ("CDSC"), which will be a percentage of the dollar amount of shares
redeemed and will be assessed on an amount equal to the lesser of the current
market value or the cost of the shares being redeemed. The size of this
percentage will depend upon how long the shares have been held, as set forth in
the table below:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
CONTINGENT DEFERRED
YEAR SINCE SALES CHARGE
PURCHASE AS A PERCENTAGE OF
PAYMENT MADE AMOUNT REDEEMED
- ----------------------------------- -----------------------
<S> <C>
First.............................. 5.0%
Second............................. 4.0%
Third.............................. 3.0%
Fourth............................. 2.0%
Fifth.............................. 2.0%
Sixth.............................. 1.0%
Seventh and thereafter............. None
</TABLE>
20
<PAGE>
A CDSC will not be imposed on: (i) any amount which represents an increase
in value of shares purchased within the six years preceding the redemption; (ii)
the current net asset value of shares purchased more than six years prior to the
redemption; and (iii) the current net asset value of shares purchased through
reinvestment of dividends or distributions and/or shares acquired in exchange
for shares of Dean Witter Funds sold with a front-end sales charge or of other
Dean Witter Funds acquired in exchange for such shares. Moreover, in determining
whether a CDSC is applicable it will be assumed that amounts described in (i),
(ii) and (iii) above (in that order) are redeemed first. In addition, no CDSC
will be imposed on redemptions of shares which are attributable to reinvestment
of dividends or distributions from, or the proceeds of, certain Unit Investment
Trusts.
In addition, the CDSC, if otherwise applicable, will be waived in the case
of: (i) redemptions of shares held at the time a shareholder dies or becomes
disabled, only if the shares are (a) registered either in the name of an
individual shareholder (not a trust), or in the names of such shareholder and
his or her spouse as joint tenants with right of survivorship, or (b) held in a
qualified corporate or self-employed retirement plan, Individual Retirement
Account or Custodial Account under Section 403(b)(7) of the Internal Revenue
Code, provided in either case that the redemption is requested within one year
of the death or initial determination of disability, and (ii) redemptions in
connection with the following retirement plan distributions: (a) lump-sum or
other distributions from a qualified corporate or self-employed retirement plan
following retirement (or in the case of a "key employee" of a "top heavy" plan,
following attainment of age 59 1/2; (b) distributions from an Individual
Retirement Account or Custodial Account under Section 403(b)(7) of the Internal
Revenue Code following attainment of age 59 1/2); and (c) a tax-free return of
an excess contribution to an IRA. For the purpose of determining disability, the
Distributor utilizes the definition of disability contained in Section 72(m)(7)
of the Internal Revenue Code, which relates to the inability to engage in
gainful employment. All waivers will be granted only following receipt by the
Distributor of confirmation of the shareholder's entitlement.
REPURCHASE. DWR and other Selected Broker-Dealers are authorized to
repurchase shares represented by a share certificate which is delivered to any
of their offices. Shares held in a shareholder's account without a share
certificate may also be repurchased by DWR and other Selected Broker-Dealers
upon the telephonic or telegraphic request of the shareholder. The repurchase
price is the net asset value next computed (see "Purchase of Fund Shares") after
such repurchase order is received by DWR or other Selected Broker-Dealer,
reduced by any applicable CDSC.
The CDSC, if any, will be the only fee imposed by either the Fund, the
Distributor or DWR or other Selected Broker-Dealer. The offer by DWR and other
Selected Broker-Dealers to repurchase shares may be suspended without notice by
the Distributor at any time. In that event, shareholders may redeem their shares
through the Fund's Transfer Agent as set forth above under "Redemption."
PAYMENT FOR SHARES REDEEMED OR REPURCHASED. Payment for shares presented
for repurchase or redemption will be made by check within seven days after
receipt by the Transfer Agent of the certificate and/or written request in good
order. Such payment may be postponed or the right of redemption suspended under
unusual circumstances; E.G., when normal trading is not taking place on the New
York Stock Exchange. If the shares to be redeemed have recently been purchased
by check, payment of the redemption proceeds may be delayed for the minimum time
needed to verify that the check used for investment has been honored (not more
than fifteen days from the time of receipt of the check by the Transfer Agent).
Shareholders maintaining margin accounts with DWR or another Selected
Broker-Dealer are referred to their account executive regarding restrictions on
redemption of shares of the Fund pledged in the margin account.
21
<PAGE>
REINSTATEMENT PRIVILEGE. A shareholder who has had his or her shares
redeemed or repurchased and has not previously exercised this reinstatement
privilege may, within thirty days after the date of the redemption or
repurchase, reinstate any portion or all of the proceeds of such redemption or
repurchase in shares of the Fund at their net asset value next determined after
a reinstatement request, together with the proceeds, is received by the Transfer
Agent and receive a pro-rata credit for any CDSC paid in connection with such
redemption or repurchase.
INVOLUNTARY REDEMPTION. The Fund reserves the right to redeem, on sixty
days' notice and at net asset
value, the shares of any shareholder (other than shares held in an Individual
Retirement Account or custodial account under Section 403(b)(7) of the Internal
Revenue Code) whose shares due to redemptions by the shareholder have a value of
less than $100 or such lesser amount as may be fixed by the Trustees. 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 sixty 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. No CDSC will be imposed on any involuntary redemption.
DIVIDENDS, DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS. The Fund intends to pay dividends and to
distribute substantially all of its net investment income and distribute capital
gains, if any, once each year. The Fund may, however, determine either to
distribute or to retain all or part of any long-term capital gains in any year
for reinvestment.
All dividends and any capital gains distributions will be paid in additional
Fund shares and automatically credited to the shareholder's account without
issuance of a share certificate unless the shareholder requests in writing that
all dividends and/or distributions be paid in cash. (See "Shareholder Services--
Automatic Investment of Dividends and Distributions".)
TAXES. Because the Fund intends to distribute all of its net investment
income and net short-term capital gains to shareholders and otherwise 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
on any such income and capital gains. Shareholders will normally have to pay
Federal income taxes, and any state and local income taxes, on the dividends and
distributions they receive from the Fund.
Distributions of net investment income and net short-term capital gains are
taxable to the shareholder as ordinary dividend income regardless of whether the
shareholder receives such distributions in additional shares or in cash. Some
part of such dividends and distributions may be eligible for the Federal
dividends received deduction available to the Fund's corporate shareholders.
Distributions of net long-term capital gains, if any, are taxable to
shareholders as long-term capital gains regardless of how long a shareholder has
held the Fund's shares and regardless of whether the distribution is received in
additional shares or in cash. Capital gains distributions are not eligible for
the dividends received deduction.
After the end of the calendar year, shareholders will be sent full
information on their dividends and capital gains distributions for tax purposes.
To avoid being subject to a 31% Federal backup withholding tax on taxable
dividends, capital gains distributions and the proceeds of redemptions and
repurchases, shareholders' taxpayer identification numbers must be furnished and
certified as to their accuracy.
Dividends, interest and gains received by the Fund may give rise to
withholding and other taxes imposed by foreign countries. If it qualifies for
and makes the appropriate election with the Internal
22
<PAGE>
Revenue Service, the Fund will report annually to its shareholders the amount
per share of such taxes to enable shareholders to claim United States foreign
tax credits or deductions with respect to such taxes. In the absence of such an
election, the Fund would
deduct foreign tax in computing the amount of its distributable income.
Shareholders should consult their tax advisers as to the applicability of
the foregoing to their current situation.
PERFORMANCE INFORMATION
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From time to time the Fund may quote its "total return" in advertisements
and sales literature. The total return of the Fund is based on historical
earnings and is not intended to indicate future performance.
The "average annual total return" of the Fund refers to a figure reflecting
the average annualized percentage increase (or decrease) in the value of an
initial investment in the Fund of $1,000 over a period of one year as well as
over the life of the Fund. Average annual total return reflects all income
earned by the Fund, any appreciation or depreciation of the Fund's assets, all
expenses incurred by the Fund and all sales charges incurred by shareholders,
for the stated periods. It also assumes reinvestment of all dividends and
distributions paid by the Fund.
In addition to the foregoing, the Fund may advertise its total return over
different periods of time by means of aggregate, average, and year-by-year or
other types of total return figures. The Fund may also advertise the growth of
hypothetical investments of $10,000, $50,000 and $100,000 in shares of the Fund.
Such calculations may or may not reflect the deduction of the contingent
deferred sales charge which, if reflected, would reduce the performance quoted.
The Fund from time to time may also advertise its performance relative to
certain performance rankings and indexes compiled by independent organizations,
such as mutual fund performance rankings of Lipper Analytical Services, Inc.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
VOTING RIGHTS. All shares of beneficial interest of the Fund are of $0.01
par value and are equal as to earnings, assets and voting privileges. There are
no conversion, pre-emptive or other subscription rights. In the event of a
liquidation, each share of beneficial interest of the Fund is entitled to its
portion of all the Fund's assets after all debts and expenses have been paid.
The shares do not have cumulative voting rights.
The Fund is not required to hold Annual Meetings of Shareholders and, in
ordinary circumstances, the Fund does not intend to hold such meetings. The
Trustees may call Special Meetings of Shareholders for action by shareholder
vote as may be required by the Act or the Declaration of Trust. Under certain
circumstances the Trustees may be removed by action of the Trustees or by the
shareholders.
Under Massachusetts law, shareholders of a business trust may, under certain
circumstances, be held personally liable as partners for obligations of the
Fund. However, the Declaration of Trust contains an express disclaimer of
shareholder liability for acts or obligations of the Fund, requires that Fund
obligations include such disclaimer, and provides for indemnification and
reimbursement of expenses out of the Fund's property for any shareholder held
personally liable for the obligations of the Fund. Thus, the risk of a
shareholder incurring financial loss on account of shareholder liability is
limited to circumstances in which the Fund itself would be unable to meet its
obligations. Given the above limitations on shareholder personal liability, and
the nature of the Fund's assets and operations, in the opinion of Massachusetts
counsel to the Fund, the risk to shareholders of personal liability is remote.
SHAREHOLDER INQUIRIES. All inquiries regarding the Fund should be directed
to the Fund at the telephone numbers or address set forth on the front cover of
this Prospectus.
23
<PAGE>
Dean Witter
International SmallCap Fund
Dean Witter
Two World Trade Center
New York, New York 10048
(212) 392-2550 International
TRUSTEES SmallCap
Jack F. Bennett Fund
Michael Bozic
Charles A. Fiumefreddo
Edwin J. Garn
John R. Haire
Dr. Manuel H. Johnson
Paul Kolton
Michael E. Nugent
Philip J. Purcell
John L. Schroeder
OFFICERS
Charles A. Fiumefreddo
Chairman and Chief Executive
Officer
Sheldon Curtis
Vice President, Secretary and
General Counsel
Thomas F. Caloia
Treasurer
CUSTODIAN
The Chase Manhattan Bank, N.A.
One Chase Plaza
New York, New York 10081
TRANSFER AGENT AND DIVIDEND
DISBURSING AGENT
Dean Witter Trust Company
Harborside Financial Center,
Plaza Two
Jersey City, New Jersey 07311
INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
Price Waterhouse LLP
1177 Avenue of the Americas
New York, New York 10036
INVESTMENT MANAGER
Dean Witter InterCapital Inc.
SUB-ADVISOR
Morgan Grenfell Investment Services
Limited
PROSPECTUS -- DECEMBER 22, 1994
<PAGE>
STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
DEAN WITTER
DECEMBER 22, 1994
INTERNATIONAL
SMALLCAP FUND
- --------------------------------------------------
Dean Witter International SmallCap Fund (the "Fund") is an open-end,
non-diversified management investment company whose investment objective is to
seek both capital appreciation and current income. The Fund seeks to achieve its
objective by investing primarily in securities of small non-U.S. companies. (See
"Investment Objective and Policies").
A Prospectus for the Fund dated December 22, 1994, 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 number 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
International SmallCap Fund
Two World Trade Center
New York, New York 10048
(212) 392-2550
<PAGE>
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
The Fund and its Management............................................................ 3
Trustees and Officers.................................................................. 7
Investment Practices and Policies...................................................... 10
Investment Restrictions................................................................ 24
Portfolio Transactions and Brokerage................................................... 26
The Distributor........................................................................ 27
Determination of Net Asset Value....................................................... 30
Shareholder Services................................................................... 30
Redemptions and Repurchases............................................................ 35
Dividends, Distributions and Taxes..................................................... 38
Performance Information................................................................ 39
Description of Shares.................................................................. 40
Custodian and Transfer Agent........................................................... 41
Independent Accountants................................................................ 41
Reports to Shareholders................................................................ 41
Legal Counsel.......................................................................... 41
Experts................................................................................ 42
Registration Statement................................................................. 42
Report of Independent Accountants...................................................... 43
Statement of Assets and Liabilities.................................................... 43
Financial Statements -- November 30, 1994 (unaudited).................................. 45
</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
April 21, 1994.
THE INVESTMENT MANAGER
Dean Witter InterCapital Inc. (the "Investment Manager" or "InterCapital"),
a Delaware corporation, whose address is Two World Trade Center, New York, New
York 10048, is the Fund's Investment Manager. InterCapital is a wholly-owned
subsidiary of Dean Witter, Discover & Co. ("DWDC"), a Delaware corporation. In
an internal reorganization which took place in January, 1993, InterCapital
assumed the advisory, administrative and management activities previously
performed by the InterCapital Division of Dean Witter Reynolds Inc. ("DWR"), a
broker-dealer affiliate of InterCapital. (As hereinafter used in this Statement
of Additional Information, the terms "InterCapital" and "Investment Manager"
refer to DWR's InterCapital Division prior to the internal reorganization and to
Dean Witter InterCapital Inc. thereafter.) The daily management of the Fund and
research relating to the Fund's portfolio are conducted by or under the
direction of officers of the Fund and of the Investment Manager, subject to
review of investments by the Fund's Trustees. In addition, Trustees of the Fund
provide guidance on economic factors and interest rate trends. Information as to
these Trustees and officers is contained under the caption "Trustees and
Officers".
InterCapital is also the investment manager or investment adviser 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, InterCapital Income Securities Inc., InterCapital
Insured Municipal Bond Trust, InterCapital Insured Municipal Trust, InterCapital
Insured Municipal Income Trust, InterCapital Insured Municipal Securities,
InterCapital California Insured Municipal Income Trust, InterCapital Insured
California Municipal Securities, InterCapital Quality Municipal Investment
Trust, InterCapital Quality Municipal Income Trust, InterCapital Quality
Municipal Securities, InterCapital California Quality Municipal Securities,
InterCapital New York Quality Municipal Securities, High Income Advantage Trust,
High Income Advantage Trust II, High Income Advantage Trust III, Dean Witter
Government Income Trust, Dean Witter High Yield Securities Inc., Dean Witter
Tax-Free Daily Income Trust, Dean Witter Tax-Exempt Securities Trust, Dean
Witter Dividend Growth Securities Inc., Dean Witter Natural Resource Development
Securities Inc., Dean Witter American Value Fund, Dean Witter Developing Growth
Securities Trust, 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 World Wide Income 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, Dean Witter Utilities Fund, Dean Witter Managed Assets Trust,
Dean Witter California Tax-Free Daily Income Trust, Dean Witter Strategist Fund,
Dean Witter Intermediate Income Securites, Dean Witter Capital Growth
Securities, Dean Witter Precious Metals and Minerals Trust, Dean Witter New York
Municipal Money Market Trust, Dean Witter European Growth Fund Inc., Dean Witter
Global Short-Term Income Fund Inc., Dean Witter Pacific Growth Fund Inc., Dean
Witter Multi-State Municipal Series Trust, Dean Witter Short-Term U.S. Treasury
Trust, Dean Witter Premier Income Trust, Dean Witter Diversified Income Trust,
Dean Witter Health Sciences Trust, Dean Witter Retirement Series, Dean Witter
Global Dividend Growth Securities, Dean Witter Limited Term Municipal Trust,
Dean Witter Short-Term Bond Fund, Dean Witter Global Utilities Fund, Dean Witter
High Income Securities, Dean Witter National Municipal Trust, Dean Witter
International SmallCap Fund, Dean Witter Mid-Cap Growth Fund, Dean Witter Select
Dimensions Investment Series, Municipal Income Trust, Municipal Income Trust II,
Municipal Income Trust III, Municipal Income Opportunities Trust, Municipal
Income Opportunities Trust II, Municipal Income Opportunities Trust III,
Municipal Premium Income Trust and Prime Income Trust. The foregoing investment
companies, together with the Fund, are collectively referred to as the Dean
Witter Funds.
3
<PAGE>
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 2002, TCW/DW Income and Growth
Fund, TCW/DW Small Cap Growth Fund, TCW/DW Balanced Fund, TCW/DW Global
Convertible Trust, TCW/DW Total Return Trust, TCW/DW Emerging Markets
Opportunities Trust, TCW/DW North American Intermediate Income Trust, TCW/DW
Term Trust 2001, TCW/DW Term Trust 2000 and TCW/ DW Term Trust 2003 (the "TCW/DW
Funds"). InterCapital also serves as: (1) sub-adviser to Templeton Global
Opportunities Trust, an open-end investment company; (ii) administrator of the
BlackRock Strategic Term Trust Inc., a closed-end investment company; and (iii)
sub-administrator of MassMutual Participation Investors and Templeton Global
Governments Income Trust, closed-end investment companies.
The Investment Manager also serves as an investment adviser for Dean Witter
World Wide Investment Fund, an investment company organized under the laws of
Luxembourg, shares of which company may not be offered in the United States or
purchased by American citizens outside of the United States.
Pursuant to an Investment Management Agreement (the "Management Agreement")
with the Investment Manager, the Fund has retained the Investment Manager to
supervise the investment of the Fund's assets. The Investment Manager, through
consultation with Morgan Grenfell Investment Services Ltd. (the "Sub-Advisor")
and through its own portfolio management staff, 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 Management Agreement, the Investment Manager
maintains certain of the Fund's books and records and furnishes, at its own
expense, such office space, facilities, equipment, clerical help and bookkeeping
and certain legal services as the Fund may reasonably require in the conduct of
its business, including the preparation of prospectuses, statements of
additional information, proxy statements and reports required to be filed with
federal and state securities commissions (except insofar as the participation or
assistance of independent accountants and attorneys is, in the opinion of the
Investment Manager, necessary or desirable). In addition, the Investment Manager
pays the salaries of all personnel, including officers of the Fund, who are
employees of the Investment Manager. The Investment Manager also bears the cost
of telephone service, heat, light, power and other utilities provided to the
Fund. The Investment Manager has retained DWSC to perform its administrative
services under the Agreement.
Expenses not expressly assumed by the Investment Manager under the
Management Agreement, by the Sub-Advisor pursuant to the Sub-Advisory Agreement
(see below) or by the distributor of the Fund's shares, Dean Witter Distributors
Inc. ("Distributors" or the "Distributor") (see "The Distributor") 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 Sub-Advisor or any corporate affiliate of the
Investment Manager or Sub-Advisor; 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 or Sub-Advisor (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
4
<PAGE>
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, but not limited to, legal claims and
liabilities and litigation costs and any indemnification relating thereto
(depending upon the nature of the legal claim, liability or lawsuit) and all
other costs of the Fund's operations properly payable by the Fund.
The Management Agreement provides that in the absence of willful
misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of its obligation
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 Management Agreement in no way
restricts the Investment Manager from acting as investment manager or adviser to
others.
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 1.25% to the daily net assets of the Fund. The Fund accrued total
compensation to the Investment Manager of $236,349 during the period July 29,
1994 (commencement of operations) through November 30, 1994.
Pursuant to a Sub-Advisory Agreement between the Investment Manager and
Sub-Advisor, the Sub-Advisor has been retained, subject to the overall
supervision of the Investment Manager and the Trustees of the Fund, to
continuously furnish investment advice concerning individual security
selections, asset allocations and overall economic trends with respect to
international small-cap issuers and to manage the Fund's portfolio subject to
the supervision of the Investment Manager. On occasion, the Sub-Advisor will
also provide the Investment Manager with investment advice concerning potential
investment opportunities for the Fund which are available outside of Asia,
Australia and New Zealand.
Morgan Grenfell Investment Services Limited ("MGIS") was organized as a
British corporation in 1972 and manages, as of September 30, 1994, assets of
approximately $9.4 billion for U.S. corporate and public employee benefit plans,
investment companies, endowments and foundations. MGIS' principal office is
located at 20 Finsbury Circus, London, England. MGIS is a subsidiary of London
based Morgan Grenfell Asset Management Limited which is itself a subsidiary of
London-based Morgan Grenfell Group plc (which is owned by Deutsche Bank AG, an
international commercial and investment banking group) and is registered as an
investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940. In 1838 Morgan
Grenfell was founded to provide merchant banking services, primarily trade
financing between Great Britain and the United States. In 1958, its investment
management arm began operations. In recent years Morgan Grenfell Group plc has
achieved a prominent position in the securities industry by providing investment
and commercial banking services, financial services, and discretionary
management and advisory services covering all of the world's leading securities
markets. Morgan Grenfell Asset Management Limited, through its various
investment management subsidiaries, which have extensive experience in global
investment management, is managing, as of September 30, 1994, approximately
$43.8 billion worldwide.
Both the Investment Manager and the Sub-Advisor have authorized any of their
directors, officers and employees who have been elected as Trustees or officers
of the Fund to serve in the capacities in which they have been elected. Services
furnished by the Investment Manager and the Sub-Advisor may be furnished by
directors, officers and employees of the Investment Manager and the Sub-Advisor.
In connection with the services rendered by the Sub-Advisor, the Sub-Advisor
bears the following expenses: (a) the salaries and expenses of its personnel;
and (b) all expenses incurred by it in connection with performing the services
provided by it as Sub-Advisor, as described above.
As full compensation for the services and facilities furnished to the Fund
and the Investment Manager and expenses of the Fund and the Investment Manager
assumed by the Sub-Advisor, the Investment Manager pays the Sub-Advisor monthly
compensation equal to 40% of the Investment Manager's monthly compensation
payable under the Management Agreement. The Fund accrued total compensation to
the Sub-Advisor of $157,566 during the period July 29, 1994 (commencement of
operations) through November 30, 1994.
5
<PAGE>
Pursuant to the Management Agreement and the Sub-Advisory Agreement, total
operating expenses of the Fund are subject to applicable limitations under rules
and regulations of states where the Fund is authorized to sell its shares.
Therefore, operating expenses of the Fund are effectively subject to such
limitations as the same may be amended from time to time. Presently, the most
restrictive limitation is as follows: If, in any fiscal year, the total
operating expenses of a fund, exclusive of taxes, interest, brokerage fees,
distribution fees and extraordinary expenses (to the extent permitted by
applicable state securities laws and regulations), exceed 2 1/2% of the first
$30,000,000 of average daily net assets, 2% of the next $70,000,000 and 1 1/2%
of any excess over $100,000,000, the Investment Manager will reimburse such fund
for the amount of such excess. Pursuant to the Sub-Advisory Agreement, if any
such reimbursement is made by the Investment Manager, the Investment Manager
will, in turn, be reimbursed for 40% of such payment by the Sub-Advisor. The
reimbursement, if any, will be calculated daily and credited on a monthly basis.
The Fund's expenses did not exceed the limitation set forth above during the
period ended November 30, 1994.
The Investment Manager paid the organizational expenses of the Fund incurred
prior to the offering of the Fund's shares. The Fund will reimburse the
Investment Manager for such expenses in accordance with the terms of the
Underwriting Agreement between the Fund and Distributors. The Fund is deferring
and amortizing the 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 Management Agreement and the Sub-Advisory Agreement (the "Agreements")
were initially approved by the Trustees on May 10, 1994 and by InterCapital as
the then sole shareholder on June 2, 1994. The Agreements may be terminated at
any time, without penalty, on thirty days' notice by the Trustees of the Fund,
by the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of the Fund, as defined
in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "Act"), or by the
Investment Manager and/or Sub-Advisor. The Agreements will automatically
terminate in the event of their assignment (as defined in the Act).
Under its terms, the Agreements will continue in effect until April 30,
1996, and from year to year thereafter, provided continuance of the Agreements
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 Agreement is terminated, or if the affiliation between
InterCapital and its parent is terminated, the Fund will eliminate the name
"Dean Witter" from its name if DWR or its parent company shall so request.
6
<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 Dean Witter Funds and the TCW/DW Funds are shown
below:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NAME, POSITION WITH FUND AND ADDRESS PRINCIPAL OCCUPATIONS DURING LAST FIVE YEARS
- ------------------------------------------------------ ----------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C>
Jack F. Bennett ...................................... Retired; Director or Trustee of the Dean Witter Funds;
Trustee formerly Senior Vice President and Director of Exxon
c/o Gordon Altman Butowsky Weitzen Shalov & Wein Corporation (1975-January, 1989) and Under Secretary of
Counsel to the Independent Trustees the U.S. Treasury for Monetary Affairs (1974-1975);
114 West 47th Street Director of Philips Electronics N.V., Tandem Computers
New York, New York Inc. and Massachusetts Mutual Insurance Co.; director or
trustee of various not-for-profit and business
organizations.
Michael Bozic ........................................ President and Chief Executive Officer of Hills Department
Trustee Stores (since May, 1991); formerly Chairman and Chief
c/o Hills Stores, Inc. Executive Officer (January, 1987-August, 1990) and
15 Dan Road President and Chief Operating Officer (August,
Canton, Massachusetts 1990-February, 1991) of the Sears Merchandise Group of
Sears, Roebuck and Co.; Director or Trustee of the Dean
Witter Funds; Director of Harley Davidson Credit Inc., the
United Negro College Fund and Domain Inc. (home decor
retailer).
Charles A. Fiumefreddo* .............................. Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and Director of
Chairman of the Board, InterCapital, Distributors and DWSC; Executive Vice
President and Chief Executive President and Director of DWR; Chairman, Director or
Officer and Trustee Trustee, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Dean
Two World Trade Center Witter Funds; Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and
New York, New York Trustee of the TCW/DW Funds; Chairman and Director of Dean
Witter Trust Company ("DWTC"); Director and/or officer of
various DWDC subsidiaries; formerly Executive Vice
President and Director of DWDC (until February, 1993).
Edwin J. Garn ........................................ Director or Trustee of the Dean Witter Funds; formerly
Trustee United States Senator (R-Utah) (1974-1992) and Chairman,
c/o Huntsman Chemical Corporation Senate Banking Committee (1980-1986); formerly Mayor of
2000 Eagle Gate Tower Salt Lake City, Utah (1972-1974); formerly Astronaut,
Salt Lake City, Utah Space Shuttle Discovery (April 12-19, 1985); Vice
Chairman, Huntsman Chemical Corporation (since January,
1993); Member of the board of various civic and charitable
organizations.
John R. Haire ........................................ Chairman of the Audit Committee and Chairman of the
Trustee Committee of the Independent Directors or Trustees and
Two World Trade Center Director or Trustee of the Dean Witter Funds; Trustee of
New York, New York the TCW/DW Funds; formerly President, Council for Aid to
Education (1978-1989) and Chairman and Chief Executive
Officer of Anchor Corporation, an Investment Adviser
(1964-1978); Director of Washington National Corporation
(insurance) and Bowne & Co., Inc. (printing).
</TABLE>
7
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NAME, POSITION WITH FUND AND ADDRESS PRINCIPAL OCCUPATIONS DURING LAST FIVE YEARS
- ------------------------------------------------------ ----------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C>
Dr. Manuel H. Johnson ................................ Senior Partner, Johnson Smick International, Inc., a
Trustee consulting firm (since June, 1985); Koch Professor of
c/o Johnson Smick International, Inc. International Economics and Director of the Center for
1133 Connecticut Avenue, N.W. Global Market Studies at George Mason University (since
Washington, DC September, 1990); Co-Chairman and a founder of the Group
of Seven Council (G7C), an international economic
commission (since September, 1990); Director or Trustee of
the Dean Witter Funds; Trustee of the TCW/DW Funds;
Director of Greenwich Capital Markets, Inc. (broker-
dealer); formerly Vice Chairman of the Board of Governors
of the Federal Reserve System (February, 1986-August,
1990) and Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Treasury
(1982-1986).
Paul Kolton .......................................... Director or Trustee of the Dean Witter Funds; Chairman of
Trustee the Audit Committee and Chairman of the Committee of the
c/o Gordon Altman Butowsky Weitzen Shalov & Wein Independent Trustees and Trustee of the TCW/DW Funds;
Counsel to the Independent Trustees formerly Chairman of the Financial Accounting Standards
114 West 47th Street Advisory Council and Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
New York, New York of the American Stock Exchange; Director of UCC Investors
Holding Inc. (Uniroyal Chemical Company Inc.); director or
trustee of various not-for-profit organizations.
Michael E. Nugent .................................... General Partner, Triumph Capital, L.P., a private
Trustee investment partnership (since April, 1988); Director or
c/o Triumph Capital, L.P. Trustee of the Dean Witter Funds; Trustee of the TCW/DW
237 Park Avenue Funds; formerly Vice President, Bankers Trust Company and
New York, New York BT Capital Corporation; Director of various business
organizations.
Philip J. Purcell* ................................... Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive
Trustee Officer of DWDC, DWR and Novus Credit Services Inc.;
Two World Trade Center Director of InterCapital, DWSC and Distributors; Director
New York, New York or Trustee of the Dean Witter Funds; Director and/or
officer of various DWDC subsidiaries.
John L. Schroeder .................................... Executive Vice President and Chief Investment Officer of
Trustee the Home Insurance Company (since August, 1991); Director
c/o The Home Insurance Company or Trustee of the Dean Witter Funds; Director of Citizens
59 Maiden Lane Utilities Company; formerly Chairman and Chief Investment
New York, New York Officer of Axe-Houghton Management and the Axe-Houghton
Funds (April, 1983-June, 1991) and President of USF&G
Financial Services, Inc. (June 1990-June, 1991).
</TABLE>
8
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NAME, POSITION WITH FUND AND ADDRESS PRINCIPAL OCCUPATIONS DURING LAST FIVE YEARS
- ------------------------------------------------------ ----------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C>
Sheldon Curtis ....................................... Senior Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel of
Vice President, Secretary InterCapital and DWSC; Senior Vice President, Assistant
and General Counsel Secretary and Assistant General Counsel of Distributors;
Two World Trade Center Senior Vice President and Secretary of DWTC; Assistant
New York, New York Secretary of DWDC and DWR and Vice President, Secretary
and General Counsel of the Dean Witter Funds and the
TCW/DW Funds.
Thomas F. Caloia ..................................... First Vice President (since May, 1991) and Assistant
Treasurer Treasurer (since January, 1993) of InterCapital; First
Two World Trade Center Vice President and Assistant Treasurer of DWSC; Treasurer
New York, New York of the Dean Witter Funds and the TCW/DW Funds; previously
Vice President of InterCapital.
<FN>
- ------------
* Denotes Trustees who are "interested persons" of the Fund, as defined in
the Act.
</TABLE>
In addition, Robert M. Scanlan, President and Chief Operating Officer of
InterCapital and DWSC, Executive Vice President of Distributors and DWTC and
Director of DWTC, David A. Hughey, Executive Vice President and Chief
Administrative Officer of InterCapital, DWSC and Distributors and President and
Director of DWTC and Edmund C. Puckhaber, Executive Vice President of
InterCapital and Director of DWTC, are Vice Presidents of the Fund; and Barry
Fink and Marilyn K. Cranney, First Vice Presidents and Assistant General
Counsels of InterCapital and DWSC, and Lawrence S. Lafer, Lou Anne D. McInnis
and Ruth Rossi, Vice Presidents and Assistant General Counsels of InterCapital
and DWSC, are Assistant Secretaries of the Fund.
The Fund pays each Trustee who is not an employee or retired employee of the
Investment Manager or an affiliated company an annual fee of $1,200 plus $50 for
each meeting of the Trustees or of any committee of the Board of Trustees
attended by the Trustee in person (the Fund pays the Chairman of the Audit
Committee an additional annual fee of $1,000 and pays the Chairman of the
Committee of the Independent Trustees an additional annual fee of $2,400, in
each case inclusive of the Committee meeting fees). The Fund also reimburses
such Trustees for travel and other out-of-pocket expenses incurred by them in
connection with attending such meetings. Trustees and officers of the Fund who
are or have been employed by the Investment Manager or an affiliated company
receive no compensation or expense reimbursement from the Fund. The Fund has
adopted a retirement program under which an Independent Trustee, who retires
after a minimum required period of service would be entitled to retirement
payments upon reaching the eligible retirement age (normally, after attaining
age 72) based upon length of service and computed as a percentage of one-fifth
of the total compensation earned by such Trustee for service to the Fund in the
five-year period prior to the date of the Trustee's retirement. Trustees and
officers of the Fund who are employed by the Investment Manager or an affiliated
company receive no compensation or expense reimbursement from the Fund. For the
period July 29, 1994 through November 30, 1994, the Fund accrued a total of
$7,068 for Trustees' fees, expenses and benefits. As of the date of this
Statement of Additional Information, the aggregate shares of common stock 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.
9
<PAGE>
INVESTMENT PRACTICES AND POLICIES
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FORWARD FOREIGN CURRENCY EXCHANGE CONTRACTS. As discussed in the
Prospectus, the Fund may enter into forward foreign currency exchange contracts
("forward contracts") as a hedge against fluctuations in future foreign exchange
rates. The Fund will conduct its foreign currency exchange transactions either
on a spot (i.e., cash) basis at the spot rate prevailing in the foreign currency
exchange market, or through entering into forward contracts to purchase or sell
foreign currencies. A forward contract involves an obligation to purchase or
sell a specific currency at a future date, which may be any fixed number of days
from the date of the contract agreed upon by the parties, at a price set at the
time of the contract. These contracts are traded in the interbank market
conducted directly between currency traders (usually large, commercial and
investment banks) and their customers. Such forward contracts will only be
entered into with United States banks and their foreign branches or foreign
banks whose assets total $1 billion or more. A forward contract generally has no
deposit requirement, and no commissions are charged at any stage for trades.
When management of the Fund believes that the currency of a particular
foreign country may suffer a substantial movement against the U.S. dollar, it
may enter into a forward contract to purchase or sell, for a fixed amount of
dollars or other currency, the amount of foreign currency approximating the
value of some or all of the Fund's portfolio securities denominated in such
foreign currency. The Fund will not enter into such forward contracts or
maintain a net exposure to such contracts where the consummation of the
contracts would obligate the Fund to deliver an amount of foreign currency in
excess of the value of the Fund's portfolio securities or other assets
denominated in that currency. Under normal circumstances, consideration of the
prospect for currency parities will be incorporated into the longer term
investment decisions made with regard to overall diversification strategies.
However, the management of the Fund believes that it is important to have the
flexibility to enter into such forward contracts when it determines that the
best interests of the Fund will be served. The Fund's custodian bank will place
cash, U.S. Government securities or other appropriate liquid high grade debt
securities in a segregated account of the Fund in an amount equal to the value
of the Fund's total assets committed to the consummation of forward contracts
entered into under the circumstances set forth above. If the value of the
securities placed in the segregated account declines, additional cash or
securities will be placed in the account on a daily basis so that the value of
the account will equal the amount of the Fund's commitments with respect to such
contracts.
Where, for example, the Fund is hedging a portfolio position consisting of
foreign securities denominated in a foreign currency against adverse exchange
rate moves vis-a-vis the U.S. dollar, at the maturity of the forward contract
for delivery by the Fund of a foreign currency, the Fund may either sell the
portfolio security and make delivery of the foreign currency, or it may retain
the security and terminate its contractual obligation to deliver the foreign
currency by purchasing an "offsetting" contract with the same currency trader
obligating it to purchase, on the same maturity date, the same amount of the
foreign currency (however, the ability of the Fund to terminate a contract is
contingent upon the willingness of the currency trader with whom the contract
has been entered into to permit an offsetting transaction). It is impossible to
forecast the market value of portfolio securities at the expiration of the
contract. Accordingly, it may be necessary for the Fund to purchase additional
foreign currency on the spot market (and bear the expense of such purchase) if
the market value of the security is less than the amount of foreign currency the
Fund is obligated to deliver and if a decision is made to sell the security and
make delivery of the foreign currency. Conversely, it may be necessary to sell
on the spot market some of the foreign currency received upon the sale of the
portfolio securities if its market value exceeds the amount of foreign currency
the Fund is obligated to deliver.
If the Fund retains the portfolio securities and engages in an offsetting
transaction, the Fund will incur a gain or loss to the extent that there has
been movement in spot or forward contract prices. If the Fund engages in an
offsetting transaction, it may subsequently enter into a new forward contract to
sell the foreign currency. Should forward prices decline during the period
between the Fund's entering into a forward contract for the sale of a foreign
currency and the date it enters into an offsetting contract for the
10
<PAGE>
purchase of the foreign currency, the Fund will realize a gain to the extent the
price of the currency it has agreed to sell exceeds the price of the currency it
has agreed to purchase. Should forward prices increase, the Fund will suffer a
loss to the extent the price of the currency it has agreed to purchase exceeds
the price of the currency it has agreed to sell.
If the Fund purchases a fixed-income security which is denominated in U.S.
dollars but which will pay out its principal based upon a formula tied to the
exchange rate between the U.S. dollar and a foreign currency, it may hedge
against a decline in the principal value of the security by entering into a
forward contract to sell an amount of the relevant foreign currency equal to
some or all of the principal value of the security.
At times when the Fund has written a call option on a security or the
currency in which it is denominated, it may wish to enter into a forward
contract to purchase or sell the foreign currency in which the security is
denominated. A forward contract would, for example, hedge the risk of the
security on which a call option has been written declining in value to a greater
extent than the value of the premium received for the option. The Fund will
maintain with its Custodian at all times, cash, U.S. Government securities, or
other appropriate high grade debt obligations in a segregated account equal in
value to all forward contract obligations and option contract obligations
entered into in hedge situations such as this.
Although the Fund values its assets daily in terms of U.S. dollars, it does
not intend to convert its holdings of foreign currencies into U.S. dollars on a
daily basis. It will, however, do so from time to time, and investors should be
aware of the costs of currency conversion. Although foreign exchange dealers do
not charge a fee for conversion, they do realize a profit based on the spread
between the prices at which they are buying and selling various currencies. Thus
a dealer may offer to sell a foreign currency to the Fund at one rate, while
offering a lesser rate of exchange should the Fund desire to resell that
currency to the dealer.
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") at a specified price and at a fixed time in the future, usually
not more than seven days from the date of purchase. The collateral will be
maintained in a segregated account and will be marked to market daily to
determine that the value of the collateral, as specified in the agreement, does
not decrease below the purchase price plus accrued interest. If such decrease
occurs, additional collateral will be requested and, when received, added to the
account to maintain full collateralization. The Fund will accrue interest from
the institution until the time when the repurchase is to occur. Although such
date is deemed by the Fund to be the maturity date of a repurchase agreement,
the maturities of securities subject to repurchase agreements are not subject to
any limits.
While repurchase agreements involve certain risks not associated with direct
investments in debt securities, the Fund follows procedures designed to minimize
such risks. These procedures include effecting repurchase transactions only with
large, well-capitalized and well-established financial institutions whose
financial condition will be continually monitored by the Investment Manager
subject to procedures established by the Board of Trustees of the Fund. In
addition, as described above, the value of the collateral underlying the
repurchase agreement will be at least equal to the repurchase price, including
any accrued interest earned on the repurchase agreement. In the event of a
default or bankruptcy by a selling financial institution, the Fund will seek to
liquidate such collateral. However, the exercising of the Fund's right to
liquidate such collateral could involve certain costs or delays and, to the
extent that proceeds from any sale upon a default of the obligation to
repurchase were less than the repurchase price, the Fund could suffer a loss. It
is the current policy of the Fund not to invest in repurchase agreements that do
not mature within seven days if any such investment, together with any
11
<PAGE>
other illiquid assets held by the Fund, amounts to more than 15% of its net
assets. The Fund's investments in repurchase agreements may at times be
substantial when, in the view of the Investment Manager, liquidity, tax or other
considerations warrant.
REVERSE REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS AND DOLLAR ROLLS. The Fund may also use
reverse repurchase agreements and dollar rolls as part of its investment
strategy. Reverse repurchase agreements involve sales by the Fund of portfolio
assets concurrently with an agreement by the Fund to repurchase the same assets
at a later date at a fixed price. Generally, the effect of such a transaction is
that the Fund can recover all or most of the cash invested in the portfolio
securities involved during the term of the reverse repurchase agreement, while
it will be able to keep the interest income associated with those portfolio
securities. Such transactions are only advantageous if the interest cost to the
Fund of the reverse repurchase transaction is less than the cost of obtaining
the cash otherwise.
The Fund may enter into dollar rolls in which the Fund sells securities for
delivery in the current months and simultaneously contracts to repurchase
substantially similar (same type and coupon) securities on a specified future
date. During the roll period, the Fund forgoes principal and interest paid on
the securities. The Fund is compensated by the difference between the current
sales price and the lower forward price for the future purchase (often referred
to as the "drop") as well as by the interest earned on the cash proceeds of the
initial sale.
The Fund will establish a segregated account with its custodian bank in
which it will maintain cash, U.S. Government Securities or other liquid high
grade debt obligations equal in value to its obligations in respect of reverse
repurchase agreements and dollar rolls. Reverse repurchase agreements and dollar
rolls involve the risk that the market value of the securities the Fund is
obligated to repurchase under the agreement may decline below the repurchase
price. In the event the buyer of securities under a reverse repurchase agreement
or dollar roll files for bankruptcy or becomes insolvent, the Fund's use of
proceeds of the agreement may be restricted pending a determination by the other
party, or its trustee or receiver, whether to enforce the Fund's obligation to
repurchase the securities. Reverse repurchase agreements and dollar rolls are
speculative techniques involving leverage, and are considered borrowings by the
Fund.
LENDING OF PORTFOLIO SECURITIES. Consistent with applicable regulatory
requirements, the Fund may lend its portfolio securities to brokers, dealers and
other financial institutions, provided that such loans are callable at any time
by the Fund (subject to notice provisions described below), and are at all times
secured by cash or cash equivalents, which are maintained in a segregated
account pursuant to applicable regulations and that are equal to at least the
market value, determined daily, of the loaned securities. The advantage of such
loans is that the Fund continues to receive the income on the loaned securities
while at the same time earning interest on the cash amounts deposited as
collateral, which will be invested in short-term obligations. The Fund will not
lend its portfolio securities if such loans are not permitted by the laws or
regulations of any state in which its shares are qualified for sale and will not
lend more than 25% of the value of its total assets. A loan may be terminated by
the borrower on one business day's notice, or by the Fund on four business days'
notice. If the borrower fails to deliver the loaned securities within four days
after receipt of notice, the Fund could use the collateral to replace the
securities while holding the borrower liable for any excess of replacement cost
over collateral. As with any extensions of credit, there are risks of delay in
recovery and in some cases even loss of rights in the collateral should the
borrower of the securities fail financially. However, these loans of portfolio
securities will only be made to firms deemed by the Fund's management to be
creditworthy and when the income which can be earned from such loans justifies
the attendant risks. Upon termination of the loan, the borrower is required to
return the securities to the Fund. Any gain or loss in the market price during
the loan period would inure to the Fund. The creditworthiness of firms to which
the Fund lends its portfolio securities will be monitored on an ongoing basis by
the Investment Manager pursuant to procedures adopted and reviewed, on an
ongoing basis, by the Board of Trustees of the Fund.
When voting or consent rights which accompany loaned securities pass to the
borrower, the Fund will follow the policy of calling the loaned securities, to
be delivered within one day after notice, to permit
12
<PAGE>
the exercise of such rights if the matters involved would have a material effect
on the Fund's investment in such loaned securities. The Fund will pay reasonable
finder's, administrative and custodial fees in connection with a loan of its
securities. However, the Fund has no intention of lending any of its portfolio
securities during its fiscal year ending May 31, 1995.
WHEN-ISSUED AND DELAYED DELIVERY SECURITIES AND FORWARD COMMITMENTS. From
time to time the Fund may purchase securities on a when-issued or delayed
delivery basis or may purchase or sell securities on a forward commitment basis.
When such transactions are negotiated, the price is fixed at the time of the
commitment, but delivery and payment can take place a month or more after the
date of commitment. While the Fund will only purchase securities on a
when-issued, delayed delivery or forward commitment basis with the intention of
acquiring the securities, the Fund may sell the securities before the settlement
date, if it is deemed advisable. The securities so purchased or sold are subject
to market fluctuation and no interest or dividends accrue to the purchaser prior
to the settlement date. At the time the Fund makes the commitment to purchase or
sell securities on a when-issued, delayed delivery or forward commitment basis,
it will record the transaction and thereafter reflect the value, each day, of
such security purchased, or if a sale, the proceeds to be received, in
determining its net asset value. At the time of delivery of the securities, the
value may be more or less than the purchase or sale price. The Fund will also
establish a segregated account with its custodian bank in which it will
continually maintain cash or cash equivalents or other high grade debt portfolio
securities equal in value to commitments to purchase securities on a
when-issued, delayed delivery or forward commitment basis. Subject to the
foregoing restrictions, the Fund may purchase securities on such basis without
limit. The Investment Manager and the Board of Trustees do not believe that the
Fund's net asset value will be adversely affected by the purchase of securities
on such basis.
WHEN, AS AND IF ISSUED SECURITIES. The Fund may purchase securities on a
"when, as and if issued" basis under which the issuance of the security depends
upon the occurrence of a subsequent event, such as approval of a merger,
corporate reorganization, leveraged buyout or debt restructuring. The commitment
for the purchase of any such security will not be recognized in the portfolio of
the Fund until the Investment Manager determines that issuance of the security
is probable. At such time, the Fund will record the transaction and, in
determining its net asset value, will reflect the value of the security daily.
At such time, the Fund will also establish a segregated account with its
custodian bank in which it will maintain cash or cash equivalents or other high
grade debt portfolio securities equal in value to recognized commitments for
such securities. Once a segregated account has been established, if the
anticipated event does not occur and the securities are not issued, the Fund
will have lost an investment opportunity. The value of the Fund's commitments to
purchase the securities of any one issuer, together with the value of all
securities of such issuer owned by the Fund, may not exceed 5% of the value of
the Fund's total assets at the time the initial commitment to purchase such
securities is made (see "Investment Restrictions"). Subject to the foregoing
restrictions, the Fund may purchase securities on such basis without limit. An
increase in the percentage of the Fund's assets committed to the purchase of
securities on a "when, as and if issued" basis may increase the volatility of
its net asset value. The Investment Manager and the Trustees do not believe that
the net asset value of the Fund will be adversely affected by its purchase of
securities on such basis. The Fund may also sell securities on a "when, as and
if issued" basis provided that the issuance of the security will result
automatically from the exchange or conversion of a security owned by the Fund at
the time of the sale.
PRIVATE PLACEMENTS. The Fund may invest up to 5% of its total assets in
securities which are subject to restrictions on resale because they have not
been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities
Act"), or which are otherwise not readily marketable. (Securities eligible for
resale pursuant to Rule 144A of the Securities Act, and determined to be liquid
pursuant to the procedures discussed in the following paragraph, are not subject
to the foregoing restriction.) Limitations on the resale of such securities may
have an adverse effect on their marketability, and may prevent the Fund from
disposing of them promptly at reasonable prices. The Fund may have to bear the
expense of registering such securities for resale and the risk of substantial
delays in effecting such registration.
13
<PAGE>
The Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") has adopted Rule 144A under
the Securities Act, which permits the Fund to sell restricted securities to
qualified institutional buyers without limitation. The Investment Manager,
pursuant to procedures adopted by the Trustees of the Fund, will make a
determination as to the liquidity of each restricted security purchased by the
Fund. The procedures require that the following factors be taken into account in
making a liquidity determination: (1) the frequency of trades and price quotes
for the security; (2) the number of dealers and other potential purchasers who
have issued quotes on the security; (3) any dealer undertakings to make a market
in the security; and (4) the nature of the security and the nature of the
marketplace trades (the time needed to dispose of the security, the method of
soliciting offers, and the mechanics of transfer). If a restricted security is
determined to be "liquid", such security will not be included within the
category "illiquid securities", which under the SEC's current policies may not
exceed 15% of the Fund's net assets, and will not be subject to the 5%
limitation set out in the preceding paragraph.
The Rule 144A marketplace of sellers and qualified institutional buyers is
new and still developing and may take a period of time to develop into a mature
liquid market. As such, the market for certain private placements purchased
pursuant to Rule 144A may be initially small or may, subsequent to purchase,
become illiquid. Furthermore, the Investment Manager may not posses all the
information concerning an issue of securities that it wishes to purchase in a
private placement to which it would normally have had access, had the
registration statement necessitated by a public offering been filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission.
OPTIONS AND FUTURES TRANSACTIONS
The Fund may write covered call options against securities held in its
portfolio and covered put options on eligible portfolio securities and stock
indexes and purchase options of the same series to effect closing transactions,
and may hedge against potential changes in the market value of investments (or
anticipated investments) and facilitate the reallocation of the Fund's assets
into and out of equities and fixed-income securities by purchasing put and call
options on portfolio (or eligible portfolio) securities and engaging in
transactions involving futures contracts and options on such contracts. The Fund
may also hedge against potential changes in the market value of the currencies
in which its investments (or anticipated investments) are denominated by
purchasing put and call options on currencies and engage in transactions
involving currency futures contracts and options on such contracts.
Call and put options on U.S. Treasury notes, bonds and bills and equity
securities are listed on Exchanges and are written in over-the-counter
transactions ("OTC options"). Listed options are issued by the Options Clearing
Corporation ("OCC") and other clearing entities including foreign exchanges.
Ownership of a listed call option gives the Fund the right to buy from the OCC
the underlying security covered by the option at the stated exercise price (the
price per unit of the underlying security) by filing an exercise notice prior to
the expiration date of the option. The writer (seller) of the option would then
have the obligation to sell to the OCC the underlying security at that exercise
price prior to the expiration date of the option, regardless of its then current
market price. Ownership of a listed put option would give the Fund the right to
sell the underlying security to the OCC at the stated exercise price. Upon
notice of exercise of the put option, the writer of the put would have the
obligation to purchase the underlying security from the OCC at the exercise
price.
OPTIONS ON TREASURY BONDS AND NOTES. Because trading in options written on
Treasury bonds and notes tends to center on the most recently auctioned issues,
the exchanges on which such securities trade will not continue indefinitely to
introduce options with new expirations to replace expiring options on particular
issues. Instead, the expirations introduced at the commencement of options
trading on a particular issue will be allowed to run their course, with the
possible addition of a limited number of new expirations as the original ones
expire. Options trading on each issue of bonds or notes will thus be phased out
as new options are listed on more recent issues, and options representing a full
range of expirations will not ordinarily be available for every issue on which
options are traded.
OPTIONS ON TREASURY BILLS. Because a deliverable Treasury bill changes from
week to week, writers of Treasury bill calls cannot provide in advance for their
potential exercise settlement obligations by
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acquiring and holding the underlying security. However, if the Fund holds a long
position in Treasury bills with a principal amount of the securities deliverable
upon exercise of the option, the position may be hedged from a risk standpoint
by the writing of a call option. For so long as the call option is outstanding,
the Fund will hold the Treasury bills in a segregated account with its
Custodian, so that they will be treated as being covered.
OPTIONS ON FOREIGN CURRENCIES. The Fund may purchase and write options on
foreign currencies for purposes similar to those involved with investing in
forward foreign currency exchange contracts. For example, in order to protect
against declines in the dollar value of portfolio securities which are
denominated in a foreign currency, the Fund may purchase put options on an
amount of such foreign currency equivalent to the current value of the portfolio
securities involved. As a result, the Fund would be enabled to sell the foreign
currency for a fixed amount of U.S. dollars, thereby "locking in" the dollar
value of the portfolio securities (less the amount of the premiums paid for the
options). Conversely, the Fund may purchase call options on foreign currencies
in which securities it anticipates purchasing are denominated to secure a set
U.S. dollar price for such securities and protect against a decline in the value
of the U.S. dollar against such foreign currency. The Fund may also purchase
call and put options to close out written option positions.
The Fund may also write call options on foreign currency to protect against
potential declines in its portfolio securities which are denominated in foreign
currencies. If the U.S. dollar value of the portfolio securities falls as a
result of a decline in the exchange rate between the foreign currency in which a
security is denominated and the U.S. dollar, then a loss to the Fund occasioned
by such value decline would be ameliorated by receipt of the premium on the
option sold. At the same time, however, the Fund gives up the benefit of any
rise in value of the relevant portfolio securities above the exercise price of
the option and, in fact, only receives a benefit from the writing of the option
to the extent that the value of the portfolio securities falls below the price
of the premium received. The Fund may also write options to close out long call
option positions.
The markets in foreign currency options are relatively new and the Fund's
ability to establish and close out positions on such options is subject to the
maintenance of a liquid secondary market. Although the Fund will not purchase or
write such options unless and until, in the opinion of the management of the
Fund, the market for them has developed sufficiently to ensure that the risks in
connection with such options are not greater than the risks in connection with
the underlying currency, there can be no assurance that a liquid secondary
market will exist for a particular option at any specific time. In addition,
options on foreign currencies are affected by all of those factors which
influence foreign exchange rates and investments generally.
The value of a foreign currency option depends upon the value of the
underlying currency relative to the U.S. dollar. As a result, the price of the
option position may vary with changes in the value of either or both currencies
and have no relationship to the investment merits of a foreign security,
including foreign securities held in a "hedged" investment portfolio. Because
foreign currency transactions occurring in the interbank market involve
substantially larger amounts than those that may be involved in the use of
foreign currency options, investors may be disadvantaged by having to deal in an
odd lot market (generally consisting of transactions of less than $1 million)
for the underlying foreign currencies at prices that are less favorable than for
round lots.
There is no systematic reporting of last sale information for foreign
currencies or any regulatory requirement that quotations available through
dealers or other market sources be firm or revised on a timely basis. Quotation
information available is generally representative of very large transactions in
the interbank market and thus may not reflect relatively smaller transactions
(i.e., less than $1 million) where rates may be less favorable. The interbank
market in foreign currencies is a global, around-the-clock market. To the extent
that the U.S. options markets are closed while the markets for the underlying
currencies remain open, significant price and rate movements may take place in
the underlying markets that are not reflected in the options market.
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OTC OPTIONS. Exchange-listed options are issued by the OCC which assures
that all transactions in such options are properly executed. OTC options are
purchased from or sold (written) to dealers or financial institutions which have
entered into direct agreements with the Fund. With OTC options, such variables
as expiration date, exercise price and premium will be agreed upon between the
Fund and the transacting dealer, without the intermediation of a third party
such as the OCC. If the transacting dealer fails to make or take delivery of the
securities underlying an option it has written, in accordance with the terms of
that option, the Fund would lose the premium paid for the option as well as any
anticipated benefit of the transaction. The Fund will engage in OTC option
transactions only with primary U.S. Government securities dealers recognized by
the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.
COVERED CALL WRITING. The Fund is permitted to write covered call options
on portfolio securities and the U.S. dollar and foreign currencies, without
limit, in order to aid in achieving its investment objective. Generally, a call
option is "covered" if the Fund owns, or has the right to acquire, without
additional cash consideration (or for additional cash consideration held for the
Fund by its Custodian in a segregated account) the underlying security
(currency) subject to the option except that in the case of call options on U.S.
Treasury Bills, the Fund might own U.S. Treasury Bills of a different series
from those underlying the call option, but with a principal amount and value
corresponding to the exercise price and a maturity date no later than that of
the securities (currency) deliverable under the call option. A call option is
also covered if the Fund holds a call on the same security (currency) as the
underlying security (currency) of the written option, where the exercise price
of the call used for coverage is equal to or less than the exercise price of the
call written or greater than the exercise price of the call written if the mark
to market difference is maintained by the Fund in cash, U.S. Government
securities or other high grade debt obligations which the Fund holds in a
segregated account maintained with its Custodian.
The Fund will receive from the purchaser, in return for a call it has
written, a "premium"; i.e., the price of the option. Receipt of these premiums
may better enable the Fund to achieve a greater total return than would be
realized from holding the underlying securities (currency) alone. Moreover, the
income received from the premium will offset a portion of the potential loss
incurred by the Fund if the securities (currency) underlying the option are
ultimately sold (exchanged) by the Fund at a loss. The premium received will
fluctuate with varying economic market conditions. If the market value of the
portfolio securities (or the currencies in which they are denominated) upon
which call options have been written increases, the Fund may receive less total
return from the portion of its portfolio upon which calls have been written than
it would have had such calls not been written.
As regards listed options and certain OTC options, during the option period,
the Fund may be required, at any time, to deliver the underlying security
(currency) against payment of the exercise price on any calls it has written
(exercise of certain listed and OTC options may be limited to specific
expiration dates). This obligation is terminated upon the expiration of the
option period or at such earlier time when the writer effects a closing purchase
transaction. A closing purchase transaction is accomplished by purchasing an
option of the same series as the option previously written. However, once the
Fund has been assigned an exercise notice, the Fund will be unable to effect a
closing purchase transaction.
Closing purchase transactions are ordinarily effected to realize a profit on
an outstanding call option to prevent an underlying security (currency) from
being called, to permit the sale of an underlying security (or the exchange of
the underlying currency) or to enable the Fund to write another call option on
the underlying security (currency) with either a different exercise price or
expiration date or both. Also, effecting a closing purchase transaction will
permit the cash or proceeds from the concurrent sale of any securities subject
to the option to be used for other investments by the Fund. The Fund may realize
a net gain or loss from a closing purchase transaction depending upon whether
the amount of the premium received on the call option is more or less than the
cost of effecting the closing purchase transaction. Any loss incurred in a
closing purchase transaction may be wholly or partially offset by unrealized
appreciation in the market value of the underlying security (currency).
Conversely, a gain resulting from a closing purchase transaction could be offset
in whole or in part or exceeded by a decline in the market value of the
underlying security (currency).
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If a call option expires unexercised, the Fund realizes a gain in the amount
of the premium on the option less the commission paid. Such a gain, however, may
be offset by depreciation in the market value of the underlying security
(currency) during the option period. If a call option is exercised, the Fund
realizes a gain or loss from the sale of the underlying security (currency)
equal to the difference between the purchase price of the underlying security
(currency) and the proceeds of the sale of the security (currency) plus the
premium received for on the option less the commission paid.
Options written by a Fund normally have expiration dates of from up to nine
months (equity securities) to eighteen months (fixed-income securities) from the
date written. The exercise price of a call option may be below, equal to or
above the current market value of the underlying security (currency) at the time
the option is written. See "Risks of Options and Futures Transactions," below.
COVERED PUT WRITING. As a writer of a covered put option, the Fund incurs
an obligation to buy the security underlying the option from the purchaser of
the put, at the option's exercise price at any time during the option period, at
the purchaser's election (certain listed and OTC put options written by the Fund
will be exercisable by the purchaser only on a specific date). A put is
"covered" if, at all times, the Fund maintains, in a segregated account
maintained on its behalf at the Fund's Custodian, cash, U.S. Government
securities or other high grade obligations in an amount equal to at least the
exercise price of the option, at all times during the option period. Similarly,
a short put position could be covered by the Fund by its purchase of a put
option on the same security as the underlying security of the written option,
where the exercise price of the purchased option is equal to or more than the
exercise price of the put written or less than the exercise price of the put
written if the mark to market difference is maintained by the Fund in cash, U.S.
Government securities or other high grade debt obligations which the Fund holds
in a segregated account maintained at its Custodian. In writing puts, the Fund
assumes the risk of loss should the market value of the underlying security
decline below the exercise price of the option (any loss being decreased by the
receipt of the premium on the option written). In the case of listed options,
during the option period, the Fund may be required, at any time, to make payment
of the exercise price against delivery of the underlying security. The operation
of and limitations on covered put options in other respects are substantially
identical to those of call options.
The Fund will write put options for two purposes: (1) to receive the income
derived from the premiums paid by purchasers; and (2) when the Investment
Manager wishes to purchase the security underlying the option at a price lower
than its current market price, in which case it will write the covered put at an
exercise price reflecting the lower purchase price sought. The potential gain on
a covered put option is limited to the premium received on the option (less the
commissions paid on the transaction) while the potential loss equals the
difference between the exercise price of the option and the current market price
of the underlying securities when the put is exercised, offset by the premium
received (less the commissions paid on the transaction).
PURCHASING CALL AND PUT OPTIONS. The Fund may purchase listed and OTC call
and put options in amounts equalling up to 5% of its total assets. The Fund may
purchase call options in order to close out a covered call position (see
"Covered Call Writing" above) or purchase call options on securities they intend
to purchase. The Fund may also purchase a call option on foreign currency to
hedge against an adverse exchange rate move of the currency in which the
security it anticipates purchasing is denominated vis-a-vis the currency in
which the exercise price is denominated. The purchase of the call option to
effect a closing transaction or a call written over-the-counter may be a listed
or an OTC option. In either case, the call purchased is likely to be on the same
securities (currencies) and have the same terms as the written option. If
purchased over-the-counter, the option would generally be acquired from the
dealer or financial institution which purchased the call written by the Fund.
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The Fund may purchase put options on securities (currency) which it holds
(or has the right to acquire) in its portfolio only to protect itself against a
decline in the value of the security (currency). If the value of the underlying
security (currency) were to fall below the exercise price of the put purchased
in an amount greater than the premium paid for the option, the Fund would incur
no additional loss. The Fund may also purchase put options to close out written
put positions in a manner similar to call options closing purchase transactions.
In addition, the Fund may sell a put option which it has previously purchased
prior to the sale of the securities (currency) underlying such option. Such a
sale would result in a net gain or loss depending on whether the amount received
on the sale is more or less than the premium and other transaction costs paid on
the put option which is sold. Any such gain or loss could be offset in whole or
in part by a change in the market value of the underlying security (currency).
If a put option purchased by the Fund expired without being sold or exercised,
the premium would be lost.
RISKS OF OPTIONS TRANSACTIONS. During the option period, the covered call
writer has, in return for the premium on the option, given up the opportunity
for capital appreciation above the exercise price should the market price of the
underlying security (or the currency in which it is denominated) increase, but
has retained the risk of loss should the price of the underlying security
(currency) decline. The covered put writer also retains the risk of loss should
the market value of the underlying security (currency) decline below the
exercise price of the option less the premium received on the sale of the
option. In both cases, the writer has no control over the time when it may be
required to fulfill its obligation as a writer of the option. Once an option
writer has received an exercise notice, it cannot effect a closing purchase
transaction in order to terminate its obligation under the option and must
deliver or receive the underlying securities (currency) at the exercise price.
Prior to exercise or expiration, an option position can only be terminated
by entering into a closing purchase or sale transaction. If a covered call
option writer is unable to effect a closing purchase transaction or to purchase
an offsetting over-the-counter option, it cannot sell the underlying security
until the option expires or the option is exercised. Accordingly, a covered call
option writer may not be able to sell (exchange) an underlying security
(currency) at a time when it might otherwise be advantageous to do so. A covered
put option writer who is unable to effect a closing purchase transaction or to
purchase an offsetting over-the-counter option would continue to bear the risk
of decline in the market price of the underlying security (currency) until the
option expires or is exercised. In addition, a covered put writer would be
unable to utilize the amount held in cash or U.S. Government or other high grade
short-term debt obligations as security for the put option for other investment
purposes until the exercise or expiration of the option.
The Fund's ability to close out its position as a writer of an option is
dependent upon the existence of a liquid secondary market on option Exchanges.
There is no assurance that such a market will exist, particularly in the case of
OTC options, as such options will generally only be closed out by entering into
a closing purchase transaction with the purchasing dealer. However, the Fund may
be able to purchase an offsetting option which does not close out its position
as a writer but constitutes an asset of equal value to the obligation under the
option written. If the Fund is not able to either enter into a closing purchase
transaction or purchase an offsetting position, it will be required to maintain
the securities subject to the call, or the collateral underlying the put, even
though it might not be advantageous to do so, until a closing transaction can be
entered into (or the option is exercised or expires).
Among the possible reasons for the absence of a liquid secondary market on
an Exchange are: (i) insufficient trading interest in certain options; (ii)
restrictions on transactions imposed by an Exchange; (iii) trading halts,
suspensions or other restrictions imposed with respect to particular classes or
series of options or underlying securities; (iv) interruption of the normal
operations on an Exchange; (v) inadequacy of the facilities of an Exchange or
the Options Clearing Corporation ("OCC") to handle current trading volume; or
(vi) a decision by one or more Exchanges to discontinue the trading of options
(or a particular class or series of options), in which event the secondary
market on that Exchange (or in that class or series of options) would cease to
exist, although outstanding options on that Exchange that had been issued by the
OCC as a result of trades on that Exchange would generally continue to be
exercisable in accordance with their terms.
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Exchanges limit the amount by which the price of a futures contract may move
on any day. If the price moves equal the daily limit on successive days, then it
may prove impossible to liquidate a futures position until the daily limit moves
have ceased. In the event of adverse price movements, the Fund would continue to
be required to make daily cash payments of variation margin on open futures
positions. In such situations, if the Fund has insufficient cash, it may have to
sell portfolio securities to meet daily variation margin requirements at a time
when it may be disadvantageous to do so. In addition, the Fund may be required
to take or make delivery of the instruments underlying interest rate futures
contracts it holds at a time when it is disadvantageous to do so. The inability
to close out options and futures positions could also have an adverse impact on
the Fund's ability to effectively hedge its portfolio.
In the event of the bankruptcy of a broker through which the Fund engages in
transactions in options, futures or options thereon, the Fund could experience
delays and/or losses in liquidating open positions purchased or sold through the
broker and/or incur a loss of all or part of its margin deposits with the
broker. Similarly, in the event of the bankruptcy of the writer of an OTC option
purchased by the Fund, the Fund could experience a loss of all or part of the
value of the option. Transactions are entered into by the Fund only with brokers
or financial institutions deemed creditworthy by the Investment Manager.
Each of the Exchanges has established limitations governing the maximum
number of call or put options on the same underlying security or futures
contract (whether or not covered) which may be written by a single investor,
whether acting alone or in concert with others (regardless of whether such
options are written on the same or different Exchanges or are held or written on
one or more accounts or through one or more brokers). An Exchange may order the
liquidation of positions found to be in violation of these limits and it may
impose other sanctions or restrictions. These position limits may restrict the
number of listed options which the Fund may write.
While the futures contracts and options transactions to be engaged in by the
Fund for the purpose of hedging the Fund's portfolio securities are not
speculative in nature, there are risks inherent in the use of such instruments.
One such risk which may arise in employing futures contracts to protect against
the price volatility of portfolio securities is that the prices of securities
and indexes subject to futures contracts (and thereby the futures contract
prices) may correlate imperfectly with the behavior of the cash prices of the
Fund's portfolio securities. Another such risk is that prices of interest rate
futures contracts may not move in tandem with the changes in prevailing interest
rates against which the Fund seeks a hedge. A correlation may also be distorted
by the fact that the futures market is dominated by short-term traders seeking
to profit from the difference between a contract or security price objective and
their cost of borrowed funds. Such distortions are generally minor and would
diminish as the contract approached maturity.
The hours of trading for options may not conform to the hours during which
the underlying securities are traded. To the extent that the option markets
close before the markets for the underlying securities, significant price and
rate movements can take place in the underlying markets that cannot be reflected
in the option markets.
STOCK INDEX OPTIONS. Options on stock indexes are similar to options on
stock except that, rather than the right to take or make delivery of stock at a
specified price, an option on a stock index gives the holder the right to
receive, upon exercise of the option, an amount of cash if the closing level of
the stock index upon which the option is based is greater than, in the case of a
call, or less than, in the case of a put, the exercise price of the option. This
amount of cash is equal to such difference between the closing price of the
index and the exercise price of the option expressed in dollars times a
specified multiple (the "multiplier"). The multiplier for an index option
performs a function similar to the unit of trading for a stock option. It
determines the total dollar value per contract of each point in the difference
between the exercise price of an option and the current level of the underlying
index. A multiplier of 100 means that a one-point difference will yield $100.
Options on different indexes may have different multipliers. The writer of the
option is obligated, in return for the premium received, to make delivery of
this amount.
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Unlike stock options, all settlements are in cash and a gain or loss depends on
price movements in the stock market generally (or in a particular segment of the
market) rather than the price movements in individual stocks. Currently, options
are traded on the S&P 100 Index and the S&P 500 Index on the Chicago Board
Options Exchange, the Major Market Index and the Computer Technology Index, Oil
Index and Institutional Index on the American Stock Exchange and the NYSE Index
and NYSE Beta Index on the New York Stock Exchange, The Financial News Composite
Index on the Pacific Stock Exchange and the Value Line Index, National O-T-C
Index and Utilities Index on the Philadelphia Stock Exchange, each of which and
any similar index on which options are traded in the future which include stocks
that are not limited to any particular industry or segment of the market is
referred to as a "broadly based stock market index." Options on stock indexes
provide the Fund with a means of protecting the Fund against the risk of market
wide price movements. If the Investment Manager anticipates a market decline,
the Fund could purchase a stock index put option. If the expected market decline
materialized, the resulting decrease in the value of the Fund's portfolio would
be offset to the extent of the increase in the value of the put option. If the
Investment Manager anticipates a market rise, the Fund may purchase a stock
index call option to enable the Fund to participate in such rise until
completion of anticipated common stock purchases by the Fund. Purchases and
sales of stock index options also enable the Investment Manager to more speedily
achieve changes in the Fund's equity positions.
The Fund will write put options on stock indexes only if such positions are
covered by cash, U.S. Government securities or other high grade debt obligations
equal to the aggregate exercise price of the puts, which cover is held for the
Fund in a segregated account maintained for it by the Fund's Custodian. All call
options on stock indexes written by the Fund will be covered either by a
portfolio of stocks substantially replicating the movement of the index
underlying the call option or by holding a separate call option on the same
stock index with a strike price no higher than the strike price of the call
option sold by the Fund.
RISKS OF OPTIONS ON INDEXES. Because exercises of stock index options are
settled in cash, call writers such as the Fund cannot provide in advance for
their potential settlement obligations by acquiring and holding the underlying
securities. A call writer can offset some of the risk of its writing position by
holding a diversified portfolio of stocks similar to those on which the
underlying index is based. However, most investors cannot, as a practical
matter, acquire and hold a portfolio containing exactly the same stocks as the
underlying index, and, as a result, bear a risk that the value of the securities
held will vary from the value of the index. Even if an index call writer could
assemble a stock portfolio that exactly reproduced the composition of the
underlying index, the writer still would not be fully covered from a risk
standpoint because of the "timing risk" inherent in writing index options. When
an index option is exercised, the amount of cash that the holder is entitled to
receive is determined by the difference between the exercise price and the
closing index level on the date when the option is exercised. As with other
kinds of options, the writer will not learn that it has been assigned until the
next business day, at the earliest. The time lag between exercise and notice of
assignment poses no risk for the writer of a covered call on a specific
underlying security, such as a common stock, because there the writer's
obligation is to deliver the underlying security, not to pay its value as of a
fixed time in the past. So long as the writer already owns the underlying
security, it can satisfy its settlement obligations by simply delivering it, and
the risk that its value may have declined since the exercise date is borne by
the exercising holder. In contrast, even if the writer of an index call holds
stocks that exactly match the composition of the underlying index, it will not
be able to satisfy its assignment obligations by delivering those stocks against
payment of the exercise price. Instead, it will be required to pay cash in an
amount based on the closing index value on the exercise date; and by the time it
learns that it has been assigned, the index may have declined, with a
corresponding decrease in the value of its stock portfolio. This "timing risk"
is an inherent limitation on the ability of index call writers to cover their
risk exposure by holding stock positions.
A holder of an index option who exercises it before the closing index value
for that day is available runs the risk that the level of the underlying index
may subsequently change. If such a change causes the exercised option to fall
out-of-the-money, the exercising holder will be required to pay the difference
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between the closing index value and the exercise price of the option (times the
applicable multiplier) to the assigned writer.
If dissemination of the current level of an underlying index is interrupted,
or if trading is interrupted in stocks accounting for a substantial portion of
the value of an index, the trading of options on that index will ordinarily be
halted. If the trading of options on an underlying index is halted, an exchange
may impose restrictions prohibiting the exercise of such options.
FUTURES CONTRACTS. The Fund may purchase and sell interest rate and stock
index futures contracts ("futures contracts") that are traded on U.S. and
foreign commodity exchanges on such underlying securities as U.S. Treasury
bonds, notes and bills ("interest rate" futures), on the U.S. dollar and foreign
currencies, and such indexes as the S&P 500 Index, the Moody's Investment-Grade
Corporate Bond Index and the New York Stock Exchange Composite Index ("index"
futures).
As a futures contract purchaser, the Fund incurs an obligation to take
delivery of a specified amount of the obligation underlying the contract at a
specified time in the future for a specified price. As a seller of a futures
contract, the Fund incurs an obligation to deliver the specified amount of the
underlying obligation at a specified time in return for an agreed upon price.
The Fund will purchase or sell interest rate futures contracts and bond
index futures contracts for the purpose of hedging its fixed-income portfolio
(or anticipated portfolio) securities against changes in prevailing interest
rates. If the Investment Manager anticipates that interest rates may rise and,
concomitantly, the price of fixed-income securities fall, the Fund may sell an
interest rate futures contract or a bond index futures contract. If declining
interest rates are anticipated, the Fund may purchase an interest rate futures
contract to protect against a potential increase in the price of U.S. Government
securities the Fund intends to purchase. Subsequently, appropriate fixed-income
securities may be purchased by the Fund in an orderly fashion; as securities are
purchased, corresponding futures positions would be terminated by offsetting
sales of contracts.
The Fund will purchase or sell futures contracts on the U.S. dollar and on
foreign currencies to hedge against an anticipated rise or decline in the value
of the U.S. dollar or foreign currency in which a portfolio security of the Fund
is denominated vis-a-vis another currency.
The Fund will purchase or sell stock index futures contracts for the purpose
of hedging its equity portfolio (or anticipated portfolio) securities against
changes in their prices. If the Investment Manager anticipates that the prices
of stock held by the Fund may fall, the Fund may sell a stock index futures
contract. Conversely, if the Investment Manager wishes to hedge against
anticipated price rises in those stocks which the Fund intends to purchase, the
Fund may purchase stock index futures contracts. In addition, interest rate and
stock index futures contracts will be bought or sold in order to close out a
short or long position in a corresponding futures contract.
Although most interest rate futures contracts call for actual delivery or
acceptance of securities, the contracts usually are closed out before the
settlement date without the making or taking of delivery. Index futures
contracts provide for the delivery of an amount of cash equal to a specified
dollar amount times the difference between the stock index value at the open or
close of the last trading day of the contract and the futures contract price. A
futures contract sale is closed out by effecting a futures contract purchase for
the same aggregate amount of the specific type of equity security and the same
delivery date. If the sale price exceeds the offsetting purchase price, the
seller would be paid the difference and would realize a gain. If the offsetting
purchase price exceeds the sale price, the seller would pay the difference and
would realize a loss. Similarly, a futures contract purchase is closed out by
effecting a futures contract sale for the same aggregate amount of the specific
type of equity security and the same delivery date. If the offsetting sale price
exceeds the purchase price, the purchaser would realize a gain, whereas if the
purchase price exceeds the offsetting sale price, the purchaser would realize a
loss. There is no assurance that the Fund will be able to enter into a closing
transaction.
INTEREST RATE FUTURES CONTRACTS. When the Fund enters into an interest rate
futures contract, it is initially required to deposit with the Fund's Custodian,
in a segregated account in the name of the broker
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<PAGE>
performing the transaction, an "initial margin" of cash or U.S. Government
securities or other high grade short-term debt obligations equal to
approximately 2% of the contract amount. Initial margin requirements are
established by the Exchanges on which futures contracts trade and may, from time
to time, change. In addition, brokers may establish margin deposit requirements
in excess of those required by the Exchanges.
Initial margin in futures transactions is different from margin in
securities transactions in that initial margin does not involve the borrowing of
funds by a brokers' client but is, rather, a good faith deposit on the futures
contract which will be returned to the Fund upon the proper termination of the
futures contract. The margin deposits made are marked to market daily and the
Fund may be required to make subsequent deposits called "variation margin", with
the Fund's Custodian, in the account in the name of the broker, which are
reflective of price fluctuations in the futures contract. Currently, interest
rates futures contracts can be purchased on debt securities such as U.S.
Treasury Bills and Bonds, U.S. Treasury Notes with maturities between 6 1/2 and
10 years, GNMA Certificates and Bank Certificates of Deposit.
INDEX FUTURES CONTRACTS. The Fund may invest in index futures contracts. An
index futures contract sale creates an obligation by the Fund, as seller, to
deliver cash at a specified future time. An index futures contract purchase
would create an obligation by the Fund, as purchaser, to take delivery of cash
at a specified future time. Futures contracts on indexes do not require the
physical delivery of securities, but provide for a final cash settlement on the
expiration date which reflects accumulated profits and losses credited or
debited to each party's account.
The Fund is required to maintain margin deposits with brokerage firms
through which it effects index futures contracts in a manner similar to that
described above for interest rate futures contracts. Currently, the initial
margin requirement is approximately 5% of the contract amount for index futures.
In addition, due to current industry practice, daily variations in gains and
losses on open contracts are required to be reflected in cash in the form of
variation margin payments. The Fund may be required to make additional margin
payments during the term of the contract.
At any time prior to expiration of the futures contract, the Fund may elect
to close the position by taking an opposite position which will operate to
terminate the Fund's position in the futures contract. A final determination of
variation margin is then made, additional cash is required to be paid by or
released to the Fund and the Fund realizes a loss or a gain.
Currently, index futures contracts can be purchased or sold with respect to,
among others, the Standard & Poor's 500 Stock Price Index and the Standard &
Poor's 100 Stock Price Index on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, the New York
Stock Exchange Composite Index on the New York Futures Exchange, the Major
Market Index on the American Stock Exchange, the Moody's Investment-Grade
Corporate Bond Index on the Chicago Board of Trade and the Value Line Stock
Index on the Kansas City Board of Trade.
OPTIONS ON FUTURES CONTRACTS. The Fund may purchase and write call and put
options on futures contracts and enter into closing transactions with respect to
such options to terminate an existing position. An option on a futures contract
gives the purchaser the right (in return for the premium paid), and the writer
the obligation, to assume a position in a futures contract (a long position if
the option is a call and a short position if the option is a put) at a specified
exercise price at any time during the term of the option. Upon exercise of the
option, the delivery of the futures position by the writer of the option to the
holder of the option is accompanied by delivery of the accumulated balance in
the writer's futures margin account, which represents the amount by which the
market price of the futures contract at the time of exercise exceeds, in the
case of a call, or is less than, in the case of a put, the exercise price of the
option on the futures contract.
The Fund will purchase and write options on futures contracts for identical
purposes to those set forth above for the purchase of a futures contract
(purchase of a call option or sale of a put option) and the sale of a futures
contract (purchase of a put option or sale of a call option), or to close out a
long or
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<PAGE>
short position in futures contracts. If, for example, the Investment Manager
wished to protect against an increase in interest rates and the resulting
negative impact on the value of a portion of its fixed-income portfolio, it
might write a call option on an interest rate futures contract, the underlying
security of which correlates with the portion of the portfolio the Investment
Manager seeks to hedge. Any premiums received in the writing of options on
futures contracts may, of course, augment the total return of the Fund and
thereby provide a further hedge against losses resulting from price declines in
portions of the Fund's portfolio.
The writer of an option on a futures contract is required to deposit initial
and variation margin pursuant to requirements similar to those applicable to
futures contracts. Premiums received from the writing of an option on a futures
contract are included in initial margin deposits.
LIMITATIONS ON FUTURES CONTRACTS AND OPTIONS ON FUTURES. The Fund may not
enter into futures contracts or purchase related options thereon if, immediately
thereafter, the amount committed to margin plus the amount paid for premiums for
unexpired options on futures contracts exceeds 5% of the value of the Fund's
total assets, after taking into account unrealized gains and unrealized losses
on such contracts it has entered into, provided, however, that in the case of an
option that is in-the-money (the exercise price of the call (put) option is less
(more) than the market price of the underlying security) at the time of
purchase, the in-the-money amount may be excluded in calculating the 5%.
However, there is no overall limitation on the percentage of the Fund's assets
which may be subject to a hedge position. In addition, in accordance with the
regulations of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission ("CFTC") under which the
Fund is exempted from registration as a commodity pool operator, the Fund may
only enter into futures contracts and options on futures contracts transactions
for purposes of hedging a part or all of its portfolio. If the CFTC changes its
regulations so that the Fund would be permitted to write options on futures
contracts for purposes other than hedging the Fund's investments without CFTC
registration, the Fund may engage in such transactions for those purposes.
Except as described above, there are no other limitations on the use of futures
and options thereon by the Fund.
RISKS OF TRANSACTIONS IN FUTURES CONTRACTS AND RELATED OPTIONS. The Fund
may sell a futures contract to protect against the decline in the value of
securities held by the Fund. However, it is possible that the futures market may
advance and the value of securities held in the portfolio of the Fund may
decline. If this occurred, the Fund would lose money on the futures contract and
also experience a decline in value of its portfolio securities. However, while
this could occur for a very brief period or to a very small degree, over time
the value of a diversified portfolio will tend to move in the same direction as
the futures contracts.
If the Fund purchases a futures contract to hedge against the increase in
value of securities it intends to buy, and the value of such securities
decreases, then the Fund may determine not to invest in the securities as
planned and will realize a loss on the futures contract that is not offset by a
reduction in the price of the securities.
In addition, if the Fund holds a long position in a futures contract or has
sold a put option on a futures contract, it will hold cash, U.S. Government
securities or other high grade debt obligations equal to the purchase price of
the contract or the exercise price of the put option (less the amount of initial
or variation margin on deposit) in a segregated account maintained for the Fund
by its Custodian. Alternatively, the Fund could cover its long position by
purchasing a put option on the same futures contract with an exercise price as
high or higher than the price of the contract held by the Fund.
If the Fund maintains a short position in a futures contract or has sold a
call option on a futures contract, it will cover this position by holding, in a
segregated account maintained at its Custodian, cash, U.S. Government securities
or other high grade debt obligations equal in value (when added to any initial
or variation margin on deposit) to the market value of the securities underlying
the futures contract or the exercise price of the option. Such a position may
also be covered by owning the securities underlying the futures contract (in the
case of a stock index futures contract a portfolio of securities substantially
replicating the relevant index), or by holding a call option permitting the Fund
to purchase the same contract at a price no higher than the price at which the
short position was established.
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<PAGE>
Exchanges may limit the amount by which the price of futures contracts may
move on any day. If the price moves equal the daily limit on successive days,
then it may prove impossible to liquidate a futures position until the daily
limit moves have ceased.
The extent to which the Fund may enter into transactions involving options
and futures contracts may be limited by the Internal Revenue Code's requirements
for qualification as a regulated investment company and the Fund's intention to
qualify as such. See "Dividends, Distributions and Taxes" in the Prospectus and
the Statement of Additional Information.
There may exist an imperfect correlation between the price movements of
futures contracts purchased by the Fund and the movements in the prices of the
securities which are the subject of the hedge. If participants in the futures
market elect to close out their contracts through offsetting transactions rather
than meet margin deposit requirements, distortions in the normal relationship
between the debt securities and futures markets could result. Price distortions
could also result if investors in futures contracts opt to make or take delivery
of underlying securities rather than engage in closing transactions due to the
resultant reduction in the liquidity of the futures market. In addition, due to
the fact that, from the point of view of speculators, the deposit requirements
in the futures markets are less onerous than margin requirements in the cash
market, increased participation by speculators in the futures market could cause
temporary price distortions. Due to the possibility of price distortions in the
futures market and because of the imperfect correlation between movements in the
prices of securities and movements in the prices of futures contracts, a correct
forecast of interest rate trends by the Investment Manager may still not result
in a successful hedging transaction.
There is no assurance that a liquid secondary market will exist for futures
contracts and related options in which the Fund may invest. In the event a
liquid market does not exist, it may not be possible to close out a futures
position, and in the event of adverse price movements, the Fund would continue
to be required to make daily cash payments of variation margin. In addition,
limitations imposed by an exchange or board of trade on which futures contracts
are traded may compel or prevent the Fund from closing out a contract which may
result in reduced gain or increased loss to the Fund. The absence of a liquid
market in futures contracts might cause the Fund to make or take delivery of the
underlying securities at a time when it may be disadvantageous to do so.
Compared to the purchase or sale of futures contracts, the purchase of call
or put options on futures contracts involves less potential risk to the Fund
because the maximum amount at risk is the premium paid for the options (plus
transaction costs). However, there may be circumstances when the purchase of a
call or put option on a futures contract would result in a loss to the Fund
notwithstanding that the purchase or sale of a futures contract would not result
in a loss, as in the instance where there is no movement in the prices of the
futures contract or underlying securities.
The Investment Manager has substantial experience in the use of the
investment techniques described above under the heading "Options and Futures
Transactions," which techniques require skills different from those needed to
select the portfolio securities underlying various options and futures
contracts.
PORTFOLIO TURNOVER
It is anticipated that the Fund's portfolio turnover rate will not exceed
100%. A 100% turnover rate would occur, for example, if 100% of the securities
held in the Fund's portfolio (excluding all securities whose maturities at
acquisition were one year or less) were sold and replaced within one year.
INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In addition to the investment restrictions enumerated in the Prospectus, the
investment restrictions listed below have been adopted by the Fund as
fundamental policies, except as otherwise indicated. Under the Act, a
fundamental policy may not be changed without the vote of a majority of the
outstanding voting securities of the Fund, as defined in the Act. Such a
majority is defined as the lesser of (a) 67%
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<PAGE>
or more of the shares present at a meeting of shareholders, if the holders of
50% of the outstanding shares of the Fund are present or represented by proxy or
(b) more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Fund.
The Fund may not:
1. Purchase or sell real estate or interests therein, although the Fund
may purchase securities of issuers which engage in real estate operations
and securities secured by real estate or interests therein.
2. Purchase oil, gas or other mineral leases, rights or royalty
contracts or exploration or development programs, except that the Fund may
invest in the securities of companies which operate, invest in, or sponsor
such programs.
3. Borrow money, except that the Fund, (i) may borrow from a bank for
temporary or emergency purposes and (ii) may engage in reverse repurchase
agreements and dollar rolls, in amounts not exceeding 5% (taken at the lower
of cost or current value) of its total assets (not including the amount
borrowed).
4. Pledge its assets or assign or otherwise encumber them except to
secure borrowings effected within the limitations set forth in restriction
(3). For the purpose of this restriction, collateral arrangements with
respect to the writing of options and collateral arrangements with respect
to initial or variation margin for futures are not deemed to be pledges of
assets.
5. Issue senior securities as defined in the Act, except insofar as the
Fund may be deemed to have issued a senior security by reason of (a)
entering into any repurchase or reverse repurchase agreement; (b) purchasing
any securities on a when-issued or delayed delivery basis; (c) purchasing or
selling futures contracts, forward foreign exchange contracts or options;
(d) borrowing money in accordance with restrictions described above; or (e)
lending portfolio securities.
6. Make loans of money or securities, except: (a) by the purchase of
publicly distributed debt obligations in which the Fund may invest
consistent with its investment objective and policies; (b) by investment in
repurchase agreements; or (c) by lending its portfolio securities.
7. Make short sales of securities.
8. Purchase securities on margin, except for such short-term loans as
are necessary for the clearance of portfolio securities. The deposit or
payment by the Fund of initial or variation margin in connection with
futures contracts or related options thereon is not considered the purchase
of a security on margin.
9. Engage in the underwriting of securities, except insofar as the Fund
may be deemed an underwriter under the Securities Act of 1933 in disposing
of a portfolio security.
10. Invest for the purpose of exercising control or management of any
other issuer.
11. Purchase securities of other investment companies, except in
connection with a merger, consolidation, reorganization or acquisition of
assets or in accordance with the provisions of Section 12(d) of the Act and
any Rules promulgated thereunder.
12. Purchase or sell commodities or commodities contracts except that
the Fund may purchase or sell futures contracts or options on futures.
In addition, as a nonfundamental policy, the Fund may not invest in
securities of any issuer if, to the knowledge of the Fund, any officer or
trustee of the Fund or any officer or director of the Investment Manager owns
more than 1/2 of 1% of the outstanding securities of such issuer, and such
officers, trustees and directors who own more than 1/2 of 1% own in the
aggregate more than 5% of the outstanding securities of such issuers.
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<PAGE>
If a percentage restriction is adhered to at the time of investment, a later
increase or decrease in percentage resulting from a change in values of
portfolio securities or amount of total or net assets will not be considered a
violation of any of the foregoing restrictions.
PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS AND BROKERAGE
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subject to the general supervision of the Trustees, the Investment Manager
and the Sub-Advisor are responsible for decisions to buy and sell securities for
the Fund, the selection of brokers and dealers to effect the transactions, and
the negotiation of brokerage commissions, if any. Purchases and sales of
securities on a stock exchange are effected through brokers who charge a
commission for their services. In the over-the-counter market, securities are
generally traded on a "net" basis with dealers acting as principal for their own
accounts without a stated commission, although the price of the security usually
includes a profit to the dealer. The Fund expects that securities will be
purchased at times in underwritten offerings where the price includes a fixed
amount of compensation, generally referred to as the underwriter's concession or
discount. Options and futures transactions will usually be effected through a
broker and a commission will be charged. On occasion, the Fund may also purchase
certain money market instruments directly from an issuer, in which case no
commissions or discounts are paid. The Fund paid $473,019 in brokerage
commissions during the period from commencement of the Fund's operations through
November 30, 1994.
The Investment Manager and the Sub-Advisor currently serve as investment
advisors to a number of clients, including other investment companies, and may
in the future act as investment adviser to others. It is the practice of the
Investment Manager and the Sub-Advisor 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, the main factors considered are the respective investment
objectives, the relative size of portfolio holdings of the same or comparable
securities, the availability of cash for investment, the size of investment
commitments generally held and the opinions of the persons responsible for
managing the portfolios of the Fund and other client accounts.
The policy of the Fund regarding purchases and sales of securities for its
portfolio is that primary consideration will be given to obtaining the most
favorable prices and efficient executions of transactions. Consistent with this
policy, when securities transactions are effected on a stock exchange, the
Fund's policy is to pay commissions which are considered fair and reasonable
without necessarily determining that the lowest possible commissions are paid in
all circumstances. The Fund believes that a requirement always to seek the
lowest possible commission cost could impede effective portfolio management and
preclude the Fund and the Investment Manager and the Sub-Advisor from obtaining
a high quality of brokerage and research services. In seeking to determine the
reasonableness of brokerage commissions paid in any transaction, the Investment
Manager and the Sub-Advisor rely upon its experience and knowledge regarding
commissions generally charged by various brokers and on its judgment in
evaluating the brokerage and research services received from the broker
effecting the transaction. Such determinations are necessarily subjective and
imprecise, and in most cases an exact dollar value for those services is not
ascertainable.
The Fund anticipates that certain of its transactions involving foreign
securities will be effected on foreign securities exchanges. Fixed commissions
on such transactions are generally higher than negotiated commissions on
domestic transactions. There is also generally less government supervision and
regulation of foreign securities exchanges and brokers than in the United
States.
In seeking to implement the Fund's policies, the Investment Manager and the
Sub-Advisor effect transactions with those brokers and dealers who the
Investment Manager and the Sub-Advisor believe provide the most favorable prices
and are capable of providing efficient executions. If the Investment Manager
and/or the Sub-Advisor believe such prices and executions are obtainable from
more than one broker or dealer, it may give consideration to placing portfolio
transactions with those brokers and dealers who also furnish research and other
services to the Fund or the Investment Manager and/or the
26
<PAGE>
Sub-Advisor. 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 and the
Sub-Advisor from brokers and dealers may be of benefit to them in the management
of accounts of some of their other clients and may not in all cases benefit the
Fund directly. While the receipt of such information and services is useful in
varying degrees and would generally reduce the amount of research or services
otherwise performed by the Investment Manager and/or the Sub-Advisor and thereby
reduce their expenses, it is of indeterminable value and the fees paid to the
Investment Manager and the Sub-Advisor are not reduced 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 listed on exchanges or admitted to unlisted trading privileges may be
effected through DWR and/or affiliated broker-dealers of the Sub-Advisor, i.e.;
Morgan Grenfell Asia and Partners Securities Pte. Limited and Morgan Grenfell
Asia Securities (Hong Kong Limited). In order for these broker-dealers to effect
any portfolio transactions for the Fund, the commissions, fees or other
remuneration received by them must be reasonable and fair compared to the
commissions, fees or other remuneration paid to other brokers in connection with
comparable transactions involving similar securities being purchased or sold on
an exchange during a comparable period of time. This standard would allow DWR to
receive no more than the remuneration which would be expected to be received by
an unaffiliated broker in a commensurate arm's-length transaction. Furthermore,
the Board of Trustees of the Fund, including a majority of the Trustees who are
not "interested" persons of the Fund, as defined in the Act, have adopted
procedures which are reasonably designed to provide that any commissions, fees
or other remuneration paid to DWR and affiliates of the Sub-Advisor are
consistent with the foregoing standard. The Fund does not reduce the management
fee it pays to the Investment Manager by any amount of the brokerage commissions
it may pay to DWR. The Fund paid affiliated broker-dealers of the Sub-Advisor
$24,794 (5.24% of its brokerage commissions) during the period ended November
30, 1994 to effect transactions totalling $163,912 (11.21% of all transactions)
on which brokerage commissions were paid.
THE DISTRIBUTOR
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
As discussed in the Prospectus, shares of the Fund are distributed by Dean
Witter Distributors Inc. (the "Distributor"). The Distributor has entered into a
dealer agreement with DWR, which through its own sales organization sells shares
of the Fund. In addition, the Distributor may enter into similar agreements with
other selected dealers ("Selected Broker-Dealers"). The Distributor, a Delaware
corporation, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of DWDC. The Trustees of the Fund,
including a majority of the Trustees who are not, and were not at the time they
voted, interested persons of the Fund, as defined in the Act (the "Independent
Trustees"), approved, at their meeting held on May 10, 1994, a Distribution
Agreement (the "Distribution Agreement") appointing the Distributor exclusive
distributor of the Fund's shares and providing for the Distributor to bear
distribution expenses not borne by the Fund. By its terms, the Distribution
Agreement continues until April 30, 1995, and provides that it will remain in
effect from year to year thereafter if approved by the Board.
The Distributor bears all expenses it may incur in providing services under
the Distribution Agreement. Such expenses include the payment of commissions for
sales of the Fund's shares and incentive compensation to account executives. The
Distributor also pays certain expenses in connection with the distribution of
the Fund's shares, including the costs of preparing, printing and distributing
advertising or promotional materials, and the costs of printing and distributing
prospectuses and supplements thereto
27
<PAGE>
used in connection with the offering and sale of the Fund's shares. The Fund
bears the costs of initial typesetting, printing and distribution of
prospectuses and supplements thereto to shareholders. The Fund also bears the
costs of registering the Fund and its shares under federal and state securities
laws. The Fund and the Distributor have agreed to indemnify each other against
certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended. Under the Distribution Agreement, the Distributor uses its best efforts
in rendering services to the Fund, but in the absence of willful misfeasance,
bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of its obligations, the
Distributor is not liable to the Fund or any of its shareholders for any error
of judgment or mistake of law or for any act or omission or for any losses
sustained by the Fund or its shareholders.
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
To compensate the Distributor for the services it or any selected dealer
provides and for the expenses it bears under the Distribution Agreement, the
Fund has adopted a Plan of Distribution pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Act
(the "Plan") pursuant to which the Fund pays the Distributor compensation
accrued daily and payable monthly at the annual rate of 1.0% of the lesser of:
(a) the average daily aggregate gross sales of the Fund's shares since the
inception of the Fund (not including reinvestments of dividends or capital gains
distributions), less the average daily aggregate net asset value of the Fund's
shares redeemed since the Fund's inception upon which a contingent deferred
sales charge has been imposed or upon which such charge has been waived; or (b)
the Fund's average daily net assets. The Distributor receives the proceeds of
contingent deferred sales charges imposed on certain redemptions of shares,
which are separate and apart from payments made pursuant to the Plan. The
Distributor has informed the Fund that it received approximately $44,029 in
contingent deferred sales charges during the period ended November 30, 1994.
The Distributor has informed the Fund that an amount of the fees payable by
the Fund each year pursuant to the Plan of Distribution equal to 0.25% of the
Fund's average daily net assets is characterized as a "service fee" under the
Rules of Fair Practice of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.
(of which the Distributor is a member). Such fee is a payment made for personal
service and/or the maintenance of shareholder accounts. The remaining portion of
the Plan of Distribution fee payments made by the Fund is characterized as an
"asset-based sales charge" as such is defined by the aforementioned Rules of
Fair Practice.
The Plan was adopted by a vote of the Trustees of the Fund on May 10, 1994,
at a meeting of the Trustees called for the purpose of voting on such Plan. The
vote included the vote of a majority of the Trustees of the Fund who are not
"interested persons" of the Fund (as defined in the Act) and who have no direct
or indirect financial interest in the operation of the Plan (the "Independent
12b-1 Trustees"). In making their decision to adopt the Plan, the Trustees
requested from the Distributor and received such information as they deemed
necessary to make an informed determination as to whether or not adoption of the
Plan was in the best interests of the shareholders of the Fund. After due
consideration of the information received, the Trustees, including the
Independent 12b-1 Trustees, determined that adoption of the Plan would benefit
the shareholders of the Fund. InterCapital, as sole shareholder of the Fund,
approved the Plan on June 2, 1994, whereupon the Plan went into effect.
Under its terms, the Plan will continue until April 30, 1995 and will remain
in effect from year to year thereafter, provided such continuance is approved
annually by a vote of the Trustees in the manner described above. Under the Plan
and as required by Rule 12b-1, the Trustees will receive and review promptly
after the end of each fiscal quarter a written report provided by the
Distributor of the amounts expended by the Distributor under the Plan and the
purpose for which such expenditures were made.
Pursuant to the Plan and as required by Rule 12b-1, the Trustees will
receive and review promptly after the end of each calendar quarter a written
report provided by the Distributor of the amounts expended by the Distributor
under the Plan and the purpose for which such expenditures were made. The Fund
accrued $315,225 payable to the Distributor, under the Plan, for the period July
29, 1994 through November 30, 1994. This is an accrual at an annual rate of 1.0%
of the average daily net assets of the Fund. This 12b-1 fee is treated by the
Fund as an expense in the year it is accrued.
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<PAGE>
The Plan was adopted in order to permit the implementation of the Fund's
method of distribution. Under this distribution method shares of the Fund are
sold without a sales load being deducted at the time of purchase, so that the
full amount of an investor's purchase payment will be invested in shares without
any deduction for sales charges. Shares of the Fund may be subject to a
contingent deferred sales charge, payable to the Distributor, if redeemed during
the six years after their purchase. DWR compensates its account executives by
paying them, from its own funds, commissions for the sale of the Fund's shares,
currently a gross sales credit of up to 5% of the amount sold and an annual
residual commission of up to 0.25 of 1% of the current value (not including
reinvested dividends or distributions) of the amount sold. The gross sales
credit is a charge which reflects commissions paid by DWR to its account
executives and Fund associated distribution-related expenses, including sales
compensation and overhead. The distribution fee that the Distributor receives
from the Fund under the Plan, in effect, offsets distribution expenses incurred
on behalf of the Fund and opportunity costs, such as the gross sales credit and
an assumed interest charge thereon ("carrying charge"). In the Distributor's
reporting of the distribution expenses to the Fund, such assumed interest
(computed at the "broker's call rate") has been calculated on the gross sales
credit as it is reduced by amounts received by the Distributor under the Plan
and any contingent deferred sales charges received by the Distributor upon
redemption of shares of the Fund. No other interest charge is included as a
distribution expense in the Distributor's calculation of its distribution costs
for this purpose. The broker's call rate is the interest rate charged to
securities brokers on loans secured by exchange-listed securities.
The Fund paid 100% of the $315,225 accrued under the Plan for the period
ended November 30, 1994 to the Distributor. The Distributor estimates it has
spent, pursuant to the Plan, $5,833,218 on behalf of the Fund since the
inception of the Plan. It is estimated that this amount was spent in
approximately the following ways: (i) 9.87% ($575,642)--advertising and
promotional expenses; (ii) 1.56% ($90,753)-- printing of prospectuses for
distribution to other than current stockholders; and (iii) 88.57%
($5,166,823)--other expenses, including the gross sales credit and the carrying
charges of which 1.37% ($70,550) represents carrying charges, 40.63%
($2,099,664) represents commission credits to DWR branch offices for payments of
commissions to account executives and 58.00% ($2,996,609) represents overhead
and other branch office distribution-related expenses. The term "overhead and
other branch office distribution-related expenses" represents (a) the expenses
of operating DWR's branch offices in connection with the sale of the Fund
shares, including lease costs, the salaries and employee benefits of operations
and sales support personnel, utility costs, communications costs and the costs
of stationery and supplies; (b) the costs of client sales seminars; (c) travel
expenses of Mutual Fund sales coordinators to promote the sale of Fund shares;
and (d) other expenses relating to branch promotion of Fund share sales.
At any given time, the expenses in distributing shares of the Fund may be
more or less than the total of (i) the payments made by the Fund pursuant to the
Plan and (ii) the proceeds of contingent deferred sales charges paid by
investors upon redemption of shares. Because there is no requirement under the
Plan that the Distributor be reimbursed for all expenses or any requirement that
the Plan be continued from year to year, this excess amount does not constitute
a liability of the Fund. Although there is no legal obligation for the Fund to
pay distribution expenses in excess of payments made under the Plan and the
proceeds of contingent deferred sales charges paid by investors upon redemption
of shares, if for any reason the Plan is terminated, the Trustees will consider
at that time the manner in which to treat such expenses. Any cumulative expenses
incurred, but not yet recovered through distribution fees or contingent deferred
sales charges, may or may not be recovered through future distribution fees or
contingent deferred sales charges.
No interested person of the Fund nor any Trustee of the Fund who is not an
interested person of the Fund, as defined in the Act, has any direct or indirect
financial interest in the operation of the Plan except to the extent that the
Distributor, InterCapital, DWSC and DWR or certain of their employees may be
deemed to have such an interest as a result of benefits derived from the
successful operation of the Plan or as a result of receiving a portion of the
amounts expended thereunder by the Fund.
29
<PAGE>
The Plan may not be amended to increase materially the amount to be spent
for the services described therein without approval of the shareholders of the
Fund, and all material amendments of the Plan must also be approved by the
Trustees in the manner described above. The Plan may be terminated at any time,
without payment of any penalty, by vote of a majority of the Independent 12b-1
Trustees or by a vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the
Fund (as defined in the Act) on not more than thirty days' written notice to any
other party to the Plan. So long as the Plan is in effect, the election and
nomination of Independent Trustees shall be committed to the discretion of the
Independent Trustees.
DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The net asset value per share of the Fund is determined once daily at 4:00
p.m. New York time on each day that the New York Stock Exchange is open and on
each other day in which there is a sufficient degree of trading in the Fund's
investments to affect the net asset value, except that the net asset value may
not be computed on a day on which no orders to purchase, or tenders to sell or
redeem, Fund shares have been received by taking the value of all assets of the
Fund, subtracting its liabilities, dividing by the number of shares outstanding
and adjusting to the nearest cent. The New York Stock Exchange currently
observes the following holidays: New Year's Day; President's Day; Good Friday;
Memorial Day; Independence Day; Labor Day; Thanksgiving Day; and Christmas Day.
As stated in the Prospectus, short-term securities with remaining maturities
of 60 days or less at the time of purchase are valued at amortized cost, unless
the Trustees determine such does not reflect the securities' market value, in
which case these securities will be valued at their fair value as determined by
the Trustees. Other short-term debt securities will be valued on a
mark-to-market basis until such time as they reach a remaining maturity of 60
days, whereupon they will be valued at amortized cost using their value on the
61st day unless the Trustees determine such does not reflect the securities'
market value, in which case these securities will be valued at their fair value
as determined by the Trustees. Listed options on debt securities are valued at
the latest sale price on the exchange on which they are listed unless no sales
of such options have taken place that day, in which case they will be valued at
the mean between their latest bid and asked prices. Unlisted options on debt
securities and all options on equity securities are valued at the mean between
their latest bid and asked prices. Futures are valued at the latest sale price
on the commodities exchange on which they trade unless the Trustees determine
that such price does not reflect their market value, in which case they will be
valued at their fair value as determined by the Trustees. All other securities
and other assets are valued at their fair value as determined in good faith
under procedures established by and under the supervision of the Trustees.
Generally, trading in foreign securities, as well as corporate bonds, United
States government securities and money market instruments, is substantially
completed each day at various times prior to the close of the New York Stock
Exchange. The values of such securities used in computing the net asset value of
the Fund's shares are determined as of such times. Foreign currency exchange
rates are also generally determined prior to the close of the New York Stock
Exchange. Occasionally, events which affect the values of such securities and
such exchange rates may occur between the times at which they are determined and
the close of the New York Stock Exchange and will therefore not be reflected in
the computation of the Fund's net asset value. If events materially affecting
the value of such securities occur during such period, then these securities
will be valued at their fair value as determined in good faith under procedures
established by and under the supervision of the Trustees.
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
30
<PAGE>
redeposited in the account at any time. There is no charge to the investor for
issuance of a certificate. Whenever a shareholder instituted transaction takes
place in the Shareholder Investment Account, the shareholder will be mailed a
confirmation of the transaction from the Fund or from DWR or other selected
broker-dealer.
AUTOMATIC INVESTMENT OF DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS. As stated in the
Prospectus, all income dividends and capital gains distributions are
automatically paid in full and fractional shares of the Fund, unless the
shareholder requests that they be paid in cash. Each purchase of shares of the
Fund is made upon the condition that the Transfer Agent is thereby automatically
appointed as agent of the investor to receive all dividends and capital gains
distributions on shares owned by the investor. Such dividends and distributions
will be paid, at the net asset value per share, in shares of the Fund (or in
cash if the shareholder so requests) as of the close of business on the record
date. At any time an investor may request the Transfer Agent, in writing, to
have subsequent dividends and/or capital gains distributions paid to him or her
in cash rather than shares. To assure sufficient time to process the charge,
such request should be received by the Transfer Agent at least five business
days prior to the record date of the dividend or distribution. In the case of
recently purchased shares for which registration instructions have not been
received on the record date, cash payments will be made to the Distributor,
which will be forwarded to the shareholder, upon the receipt of proper
instructions.
TARGETED DIVIDENDS.-SM- In states where it is legally permissible,
shareholders may also have all income dividends and capital gains distributions
automatically invested in shares of a Dean Witter Fund other than Dean Witter
International Small-Cap Fund. Such investment will be made as described above
for automatic investment in shares in shares of the Fund, at the net asset value
per share of the selected Dean Witter Fund as of the close of business on the
payment date of the dividend or distribution and will begin to earn dividends,
if any, in the selected Dean Witter Fund the next business day. Shareholders of
Dean Witter International SmallCap Fund must be shareholders of the Dean Witter
Fund targeted to receive investments from dividends at the time they enter the
Targeted Dividends program. Investors should review the prospectus of the
targeted Dean Witter Fund before entering the program.
EASYINVEST.-SM- Shareholders may subscribe to EasyInvest, an automatic
purchase plan which provides for any amount from $100 to $5,000 to be
transferred automatically from a checking or savings account, on a semi-monthly,
monthly or quarterly basis, to the Transfer Agent for investment in shares of
the Fund. Shares purchased through EasyInvest will be added to the shareholder's
existing account at the net asset value calculated the same business day the
transfer of funds is effected. For further information or to subscribe to
EasyInvest, shareholders should contact their DWR or other selected
broker-dealer account executive or the Transfer Agent.
INVESTMENT OF DIVIDENDS OR DISTRIBUTIONS RECEIVED IN CASH. As discussed in
the Prospectus, any shareholder who receives a cash payment representing a
dividend or distribution may invest such dividend or distribution at the net
asset value next determined after receipt by the Transfer Agent, without the
imposition of a contingent deferred sales charge upon redemption, by returning
the check or the proceeds to the Transfer Agent within thirty days after the
payment date. If the shareholder returns the proceeds of a dividend or
distribution, such funds must be accompanied by a signed statement indicating
that the proceeds constitute a dividend or distribution to be invested. Such
investment will be made at the net asset value per share next determined after
receipt of the check or proceeds by the Transfer Agent.
SYSTEMATIC WITHDRAWAL PLAN. As discussed in the Prospectus, a systematic
withdrawal plan (the "Withdrawal Plan") is available for shareholders who own or
purchase shares of the Fund having a minimum value of $10,000 based upon the
then current net asset value. The Withdrawal Plan provides for monthly or
quarterly (March, June, September and December) checks in any dollar amount, not
less than $25, or in any whole percentage of the account balance, on an
annualized basis. Any applicable
31
<PAGE>
contingent deferred sales charge will be imposed on shares redeemed under the
Withdrawal Plan (see "Redemptions and Repurchases--Contingent Deferred Sales
Charge" in the Prospectus). Therefore, any shareholder participating in the
Withdrawal Plan will have sufficient shares redeemed from his or her account so
that the proceeds (net of any applicable deferred sales charge) to the
shareholder will be the designated monthly or quarterly amount.
The Transfer Agent acts as an 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 within five business days after the date of redemption.
The Withdrawal Plan may be terminated at any time by the Fund.
Withdrawal Plan payments should not be considered as dividends, yields or
income. If periodic withdrawal plan payments continuously exceed net investment
income and net capital gains, the shareholder's original investment will be
correspondingly reduced and ultimately exhausted.
Each withdrawal constitutes a redemption of shares and any gain or loss
realized must be recognized for Federal income tax purposes. Although the
shareholder may make additional investments of $2,500 or more under the
Withdrawal Plan, withdrawals made concurrently with purchases of additional
shares may be inadvisable because of the contingent deferred sales charge
applicable to the redemption of shares purchased during the preceding six years
(see "Redemptions and Repurchases-- Contingent Deferred Sales Charge").
Any shareholder who wishes to have payments under the Withdrawal Plan made
to a third party or sent to an address other than the one listed on the account
must send complete written instructions to the Transfer Agent to enroll in the
Withdrawal Plan. The shareholder's signature on such instructions must be
guaranteed by an eligible guarantor acceptable to the Transfer Agent
(shareholders should contact the Transfer Agent for a determination as to
whether a particular institution is such an eligible guarantor). A shareholder
may, at any time, change the amount and interval of withdrawal payments through
his or her Account Executive or by written nomination to the Transfer Agent. In
addition, the party and/or the address to which the checks are mailed may be
changed by written notification to the Transfer Agent, with signature guarantees
required in the manner described above. The shareholder may also terminate the
Withdrawal Plan at any time by written notice to the Transfer Agent. In the
event of such termination, the account will be continued as a regular
shareholder investment account. The shareholder may also redeem all or part of
the shares held in the Withdrawal Plan account (see "Redemptions and
Repurchases" in the Prospectus) at any time.
DIRECT INVESTMENTS THROUGH TRANSFER AGENT. As discussed in the Prospectus,
a shareholder may make additional investments in Fund shares at any time by
sending a check in any amount, not less than $100, payable to Dean Witter
International Small-Cap Fund, directly to the Fund's Transfer Agent. Such
amounts will be applied to the purchase of Fund shares at the net asset value
per share next computed after receipt of the check or purchase payment by the
Transfer Agent. The shares so purchased will be credited to the investor's
account.
EXCHANGE PRIVILEGE
As discussed in the Prospectus, the Fund makes available to its shareholders
an Exchange Privilege whereby shareholders of the Fund may exchange their shares
for shares of other Dean Witter Funds sold with a contingent deferred sales
charge ("CDSC funds"), and for shares of Dean Witter Short-Term U.S. Treasury
Trust, Dean Witter Limited Term Municipal Trust, Dean Witter Short-Term Bond
Fund and five Dean Witter Funds which are money market funds (the foregoing
eight non-CDSC funds are hereinafter referred to as the "Exchange Funds").
Exchanges may be made after the shares of the Fund acquired by purchase (not by
exchange or dividend reinvestment) have been held for thirty days. There is no
waiting period for exchanges of shares acquired by exchange or dividend
reinvestment. An
32
<PAGE>
exchange will be treated for federal income tax purposes the same as a
repurchase or redemption of shares, on which the shareholder may realize a
capital gain or loss.
Any new account established through the Exchange Privilege will have the
same registration and cash dividend or dividend reinvestment plan as the present
account, unless the Transfer Agent receives written notification to the
contrary. For telephone exchanges, the exact registration of the existing
account and the account number must be provided.
Any shares held in certificate form cannot be exchanged but must be
forwarded to the Transfer Agent and deposited into the shareholder's account
before being eligible for exchange. (Certificates mailed in for deposit should
not be endorsed.)
As described below, and in the Prospectus under the captions "Exchange
Privilege" and "Contingent Deferred Sales Charge", a contingent deferred sales
charge ("CDSC") may be imposed upon a redemption, depending on a number of
factors, including the number of years from the time of purchase until the time
of redemption or exchange ("holding period"). When shares of the Fund or any
other CDSC fund are exchanged for shares of an Exchange Fund, the exchange is
executed at no charge to the shareholder, without the imposition of the CDSC at
the time of the exchange. During the period of time the shareholder remains in
the Exchange Fund (calculated from the last day of the month in which the
Exchange Fund shares were acquired), the holding period or "year since purchase
payment made" is frozen. When shares are redeemed out of the Exchange Fund, they
will be subject to a CDSC which would be based upon the period of time the
shareholder held shares in a CDSC fund. However, in the case of shares exchanged
into an Exchange Fund on or after April 23, 1990, upon a redemption of shares
which results in a CDSC being imposed, a credit (not to exceed the amount of the
CDSC) will be given in an amount equal to the Exchange Fund 12b-1 distribution
fees, if any, incurred on or after that date which are attributable to those
shares. Shareholders acquiring shares of an Exchange Fund pursuant to this
exchange privilege may exchange those shares back into a CDSC fund from the
Exchange Fund, with no CDSC being imposed on such exchange. The holding period
previously frozen when shares were first exchanged for shares of the Exchange
Fund resumes on the last day of the month in which shares of a CDSC fund are
reacquired. A CDSC is imposed only upon an ultimate redemption, based upon the
time (calculated as described above) the shareholder was invested in a CDSC
fund.
In addition, shares of the Fund may be acquired in exchange for shares of
Dean Witter Funds sold with a front-end sales charge ("front-end sales charge
funds"), but shares of the Fund, however acquired, may not be exchanged for
shares of front-end sales charge funds. Shares of a CDSC fund acquired in
exchange for shares of a front-end sales charge fund (or in exchange for shares
of other Dean Witter Funds for which shares of a front-end sales charge fund
have been exchanged) are not subject to any CDSC upon their redemption.
When shares initially purchased in a CDSC fund are exchanged for shares of
another CDSC fund, or for shares of an Exchange Fund, the date of purchase of
the shares of the fund exchanged into, for purposes of the CDSC upon redemption,
will be the last day of the month in which the shares being exchanged were
originally purchased. In allocating the purchase payments between funds for
purposes of the CDSC, the amount which represents the current net asset value of
shares at the time of the exchange which were (i) purchased more than three or
six years (depending on the CDSC schedule applicable to the shares) prior to the
exchange, (ii) originally acquired through reinvestment of dividends or
distributions and (iii) acquired in exchange for shares of front-end sales
charge funds, or for shares of other Dean Witter Funds for which shares of
front-end sales charge funds have been exchanged (all such shares called "Free
Shares"), will be exchanged first. Shares of Dean Witter American Value Fund
acquired prior to April 30, 1984, shares of Dean Witter Dividend Growth
Securities Inc. and Dean Witter Natural Resource Development Securities Inc.
acquired prior to July 2, 1984, and shares of Dean Witter Strategist Fund
acquired prior to November 8, 1989, are also considered Free Shares and will be
the first Free Shares to be exchanged. After an exchange, all dividends earned
on shares in an Exchange Fund will be considered Free Shares. If the exchanged
amount exceeds the value of such Free Shares, an exchange is made, on a
block-by-block basis, of non-Free Shares held for the longest period of time
33
<PAGE>
(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
Prospectus under the caption "Contingent Deferred Sales Charge", any applicable
CDSC will be imposed upon the ultimate redemption of shares of any fund,
regardless of the number of exchanges since those shares were originally
purchased.
The Transfer Agent acts as agent for shareholders of the Fund in effecting
redemptions of Fund shares and in applying the proceeds to the purchase of other
fund shares. In the absence of negligence on its part, neither the Transfer
Agent nor the Fund shall be liable for any redemption of Fund shares caused by
unauthorized telephone instructions. Accordingly, in such an event the investor
shall bear the risk of loss. The staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission
is currently considering the propriety of such a policy.
With respect to the redemption or repurchase of shares of the Fund, the
application of proceeds to the purchase of new shares in the Fund or any other
of the funds and the general administration of the Exchange Privilege, the
Transfer Agent acts as agent for the Distributor and for the shareholder's
selected broker-dealer, if any, in the performance of such functions. With
respect to exchanges, redemptions or repurchases, the Transfer Agent shall be
liable for its own negligence and not for the default or negligence of its
correspondents or for losses in transit. The Fund shall not be liable for any
default or negligence of the Transfer Agent, the Distributor or any selected
broker-dealer.
The Distributor and 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 California Tax-Free Daily Income Trust and Dean Witter New York
Municipal Money Market Trust, although those funds may, at their discretion,
accept initial investments of as low as $1,000. The minimum investment is
$10,000 for Dean Witter Short-Term U.S. Treasury Trust, although that fund, in
its discretion, may accept initial purchases as low as $5,000. The minimum
initial investment for all other Dean Witter Funds for which the Exchange
Privilege is available is $1,000.) Upon exchange into an Exchange Fund, the
shares of that fund will be held in a special Exchange Privilege Account
separately from accounts of those shareholders who have acquired their shares
directly from that fund. As a result, certain services normally available to
shareholders of those funds, including the check writing feature, will not be
available for funds held in that account.
The Fund and each of the other Dean Witter Funds may limit the number of
times this Exchange Privilege may be exercised by any investor within a
specified period of time. Also, the Exchange Privilege may be terminated or
revised at any time by the Fund and/or any of the Dean Witter Funds for which
shares of the Fund have been exchanged, upon such notice as may be required by
applicable regulatory
34
<PAGE>
agencies (presently sixty days' prior written notice for termination or material
revision), provided that six months' prior written notice of termination will be
given to the shareholders who hold shares of Exchange Funds, pursuant to the
Exchange Privilege, and provided further that the Exchange Privilege may be
terminated or materially revised without notice at times (a) when the New York
Stock Exchange is closed for other than customary weekends and holidays, (b)
when trading on that Exchange is restricted, (c) when an emergency exists as a
result of which disposal by the Fund of securities owned by it is not reasonably
practicable or it is not reasonably practicable for the Fund fairly to determine
the value of its net assets, (d) during any other period when the Securities and
Exchange Commission by order so permits (provided that applicable rules and
regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission shall govern as to whether
the conditions prescribed in (b) or (c) exist) or (e) if the Fund would be
unable to invest amounts effectively in accordance with its investment
objective, policies and restrictions.
The current prospectus for each fund describes its investment objective(s)
and policies, and shareholders should obtain a copy and examine it carefully
before investing. An exchange will be treated for federal income tax purposes
the same as a repurchase or redemption of shares, on which the shareholder may
realize a capital gain or loss. However, the ability to deduct capital losses on
an exchange may be limited in situations where there is an exchange of shares
within ninety days after the shares are purchased. The Exchange Privilege is
only available in states where an exchange may legally be made.
For further information regarding the Exchange Privilege, shareholders
should contact their DWR or other selected broker-dealer account executive or
the Transfer Agent.
REDEMPTIONS AND REPURCHASES
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
REDEMPTION. As stated in the Prospectus, shares of the Fund can be redeemed
for cash at any time at the net asset value per share next determined; however,
such redemption proceeds may be reduced by the amount of any applicable
contingent deferred sales charges (see below). If shares are held in a
shareholder's account without a share certificate, a written request for
redemption to the Fund's Transfer Agent at P.O. Box 983, Jersey City, NJ 07303
is required. If certificates are held by the shareholder, the shares may be
redeemed by surrendering the certificates with a written request for redemption.
The share certificate, or an accompanying stock power, and the request for
redemption, must be signed by the shareholder or shareholders exactly as the
shares are registered. Each request for redemption, whether or not accompanied
by a share certificates, must be sent to the Fund's Transfer Agent, which will
redeem the shares at their net asset value next computed (see "Purchase of Fund
Shares") after it receives the request, and certificate, if any, in good order.
Any redemption request received after such computation will be redeemed at the
next determined net asset value. The term "good order" means that the share
certificate, if any, and request for redemption are properly signed, accompanied
by any documentation required by the Transfer Agent, and bear signature
guarantees when required by the Fund or the Transfer Agent. If redemption is
requested by a corporation, partnership, trust or fiduciary, the Transfer Agent
may require that written evidence of authority acceptance to the Transfer Agent
be submitted before such request is accepted.
Whether certificates are held by the shareholder or shares are held in a
shareholder's account, if the proceeds are to be paid to any person other than
the record owner, or if the proceeds are to be paid to a corporation (other than
the Distributor or a selected broker-dealer for the account of the shareholder),
partnership, trust or fiduciary, or sent to the shareholder at an address other
than the registered address, signatures must be guaranteed by an eligible
guarantor. A stock power may be obtained from any dealer or commercial bank. The
Fund may change the signature guarantee requirements from time to time upon
notice to shareholders, which may be a means of a new prospectus.
CONTINGENT DEFERRED SALES CHARGE. As stated in the Prospectus, a contingent
deferred sales charge ("CDSC") will be imposed on any redemption by an investor
if after such redemption the current value of the investor's shares of the Fund
is less than the dollar amount of all payments by the
35
<PAGE>
shareholder for the purchase of Fund shares during the preceding six years.
However, no CDSC will be imposed to the extent that the net asset value of the
shares redeemed does not exceed: (a) the current net asset value of shares
purchased more than six years prior to the redemption, plus (b) the current net
asset value of shares purchased through reinvestment of dividends or
distributions of the Fund or another Dean Witter Fund (see "Shareholder Services
- -- Targeted Dividends"), plus (c) the current net asset value of shares acquired
in exchange for (i) shares of Dean Witter front-end sales charge funds, or (ii)
shares of other Dean Witter Funds for which shares of front-end sales charge
funds have been exchanged (see "Shareholder Services -- Exchange Privilege"),
plus (d) increases in the net asset value of the investor's shares above the
total amount of payments for the purchase of Fund shares made during the
preceding six years. The CDSC will be paid to the Distributor. In addition, no
CDSC will be imposed on redemptions of shares which were purchased by the
employee benefit plans established by DWR and SPS Transaction Services, Inc. (an
affiliate of DWR) for their employees as qualified under Section 401K of the
Internal Revenue Code.
In determining the applicability of a CDSC to each redemption, the amount
which represents an increase in the net asset value of the investor's shares
above the amount of the total payments for the purchase of shares within the
last six years will be redeemed first. In the event the redemption amount
exceeds such increase in value, the next portion of the amount redeemed will be
the amount which represents the net asset value of the investor's shares
purchased more than six years prior to the redemption and/or shares purchased
through reinvestment of dividends or distributions and/or shares acquired in
exchange for shares of Dean Witter front-end sales charge funds, or for shares
of other Dean Witter Funds for which shares of front-end sales charge funds have
been exchanged. Any portion of the amount redeemed which exceeds an amount which
represents both such increase in value and the value of shares purchased more
than six years prior to the redemption and/or shares purchased through
reinvestment of dividends or distributions and/or shares acquired in the
above-described exchanges will be subject to a CDSC.
In addition, the CDSC, if otherwise applicable, will be waived in the case
of: (i) redemptions of shares held at the time a shareholder dies or becomes
disabled, only if the shares are (a) registered either in the name of an
individual shareholder (not a trust), or in the names of such shareholder and
his or her spouse as joint tenants with right of survivorship, or (b) held in a
qualified corporate or self-employed retirement plan, Individual Retirement
Account or Custodial Account under Section 403(b)(7) of the Internal Revenue
Code, provided in either case that the redemption is requested within one year
of the death or initial determination of disability, and (ii) redemptions in
connection with the following retirement plan distributions: (a) lump-sum or
other distributions from a qualified corporate of self-employed retirement plan
following retirement (or in the case of a "key employee" of a "top heavy" plan,
following attainment of age 59 1/2); (b) distributions from an Individual
Retirement Account or Custodial Account under Section 403(b)(7) of the Internal
Revenue Code following attainment of age 59 1/2; and (c) a tax-free return of an
excess contribution to an IRA. For the purpose of determining disability, the
Distributor utilizes the definition of disability contained in Section 72(m)(7)
of the Code, which relates to the inability to engage in gainful employment. All
waivers will be granted only following receipt by the Distributor of
confirmation of the investor's entitlement.
The amount of the CDSC, if any, will vary depending on the number of years
from the time of payment for the purchase of Fund shares until the time of
redemption of such shares. For purposes of determining the number of years from
the time of any payment for the purchase of shares, all payments
36
<PAGE>
made during a month will be aggregated and deemed to have been made on the last
day of the month. The following table sets forth the rates of the CDSC:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
CONTINGENT DEFERRED
YEAR SINCE SALES CHARGE
PURCHASE AS A PERCENTAGE OF
PAYMENT MADE AMOUNT REDEEMED
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------
<S> <C>
First....................................................................................... 5.0%
Second...................................................................................... 4.0 %
Third....................................................................................... 3.0 %
Fourth...................................................................................... 2.0 %
Fifth....................................................................................... 2.0 %
Sixth....................................................................................... 1.0 %
Seventh and thereafter...................................................................... None
</TABLE>
In determining the rate of the CDSC, it will be assumed that a redemption is
made of shares held by the investor for the longest period of time within the
applicable six-year period. This will result in any such CDSC being imposed at
the lowest possible rate. Accordingly, shareholders may redeem, without
incurring any CDSC, amounts equal to any net increase in the value of their
shares above the amount of their purchase payments made within the past six
years and amounts equal to the current value of shares purchased more than six
years prior to the redemption and shares purchased through reinvestment of
dividends or distributions or acquired in exchange for shares of Dean Witter
front-end sales charge funds, or for shares of other Dean Witter Funds for which
shares of front-end sales charge funds have been exchanged. The CDSC will be
imposed, in accordance with the table shown above, on any redemptions within six
years of purchase which are in excess of these amounts and which redemptions are
not (a) requested within one year of death or initial determination of
disability of a shareholder, or (b) made pursuant to certain taxable
distributions from retirement plans or retirement accounts, as described above.
PAYMENT FOR SHARES REDEEMED OR REPURCHASED. As discussed in the Prospectus,
payment for shares presented for repurchase or redemption will be made by check
within seven days after receipt by the Transfer Agent of the certificate and/or
written request in good order. The term "good order" means that the share
certificate, if any, and request for redemption, are properly signed,
accompanied by any documentation required by the Transfer Agent, and bear
signature guarantees when required by the Fund or the Transfer Agent. Such
payment may be postponed or the right of redemption suspended at times (a) when
the New York Stock Exchange is closed for other than customary weekends and
holidays, (b) when trading on that Exchange is restricted, (c) when an emergency
exists as a result of which disposal by the Fund of securities owned by it is
not reasonably practicable or it is not reasonably practicable for the Fund
fairly to determine the value of its net assets, or (d) during any period when
the Securities and Exchange Commission by order so permits; provided that
applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission shall
govern as to whether the conditions prescribed in (b) or (c) exist. If the
shares to be redeemed have recently been purchased by check, payment of the
redemption proceeds may be delayed for the minimum time needed to verify that
the check used for investment has been honored (not more than fifteen days from
the time of receipt of the check by the Transfer Agent). Shareholders
maintaining 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.
TRANSFERS OF SHARES. In the event a shareholder requests a transfer of any
shares to a new registration, such shares will be transferred without sales
charge at the time of transfer. With regard to the status of shares which are
either subject to the contingent deferred sales charge or free of such charge
(and with regard to the length of time shares subject to the charge have been
held), any transfer involving less than all of the shares in an account will be
made on a pro-rata basis (that is, by transferring shares in the same proportion
that the transferred shares bear to the total shares in the account immediately
prior to the transfer). The transferred shares will continue to be subject to
any applicable contingent deferred sales charge as if they had not been so
transferred.
37
<PAGE>
REINSTATEMENT PRIVILEGE. As discussed in the Prospectus, a shareholder who
has had his or her shares redeemed or repurchased and has not previously
exercised this reinstatement privilege may, within 30 days after the redemption
or repurchase, reinstate any portion or all of the proceeds of such redemption
or repurchase in shares of the Fund held by the shareholder at the net asset
value next determined after a reinstatement request, together with the proceeds,
is received by the Transfer Agent.
Exercise of the reinstatement privilege will not affect the federal income
tax and state income tax treatment of any gain or loss realized upon the
redemption or repurchase, except that if the redemption or repurchase resulted
in a loss and reinstatement is made in shares of the Fund, some or all of the
loss, depending on the amount reinstated, will not be allowed as a deduction for
federal income tax and state personal income tax purposes but will be applied to
adjust the cost basis of the shares acquired upon reinstatement.
DIVIDENDS, DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
As discussed in the Prospectus, the Fund will determine either to distribute
or to retain all or part of any net long-term capital gains in any year for
reinvestment. If any such gains are retained, the Fund will pay federal income
tax thereon, and, if the Fund makes an election, the shareholders would include
such undistributed gains in their income and shareholders will be able to claim
their share of the tax paid by the Fund as a credit against their individual
federal income tax.
Any dividends declared in the last quarter of any calendar year which are
paid in the following year prior to February 1 will be deemed received by the
shareholder in the prior year.
Gains or losses on sales of securities by the Fund will generally be
long-term capital gains or losses if the securities have been held by the Fund
for more than twelve months. Gains or losses on the sale of securities held for
twelve months or less will be generally short-term capital gains or losses.
The Fund intends to qualify as a regulated investment company under
Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the "Code"). If so qualified,
the Fund will not be subject to federal income tax on its net investment income
and capital gains, if any, realized during any fiscal year in which it
distributes such income and capital gains to its shareholders.
After the end of the calendar year, shareholders will be sent full
information on their dividends and capital gains distributions for tax purposes,
including information as to the portion taxable as ordinary income, the portion
taxable as long-term capital gains, and the amount of dividends eligible for the
Federal dividends received deduction available to corporations. To avoid being
subject to a 31% Federal backup withholding tax on taxable dividends, capital
gains distributions and the proceeds of redemptions and repurchases,
shareholders' taxpayer identification numbers must be furnished and certified as
to their accuracy.
Any dividend or capital gains distribution received by a shareholder from
any investment company will have the effect of reducing the net asset value of
the shareholder's stock in that company by the exact amount of the dividend or
capital gains distribution. Furthermore, capital gains distributions and
dividends are subject to federal income taxes. If the net asset value of the
shares should be reduced below a shareholder's cost as a result of the payment
of dividends or the distribution of realized net long-term capital gains, such
payment or distribution would be in part a return of the shareholder's
investment to the extent of such reduction below the shareholder's cost, but
nonetheless would be fully taxable. Therefore, an investor should consider the
tax implications of purchasing Fund shares immediately prior to a distribution
record date.
The Fund may elect to retain net capital gains and pay corporate income tax
thereon. In such event, each shareholder of record on the last day of the Fund's
taxable year would be required to include in income for tax purposes such
shareholder's proportionate share of the Fund's undistributed net capital gain.
In addition, each shareholder would be entitled to credit such shareholder's
proportionate share of the tax paid by the Fund against federal income tax
liabilities, to claim refunds to the extent that the credit
38
<PAGE>
exceeds such liabilities, and to increase the basis of his shares held for
federal income tax purposes by an amount equal to 65% of such shareholder's
proportionate share of the undistributed net capital gain.
Dividends, interest and capital gains received by the Fund may give rise to
withholding and other taxes imposed by foreign countries. Tax conventions
between certain countries and the United States may reduce or eliminate such
taxes. Investors may be entitled to claim United States foreign tax credits or
deductions with respect to such taxes, subject to certain provisions and
limitations contained in the Code. If more than 50% of the Fund's total assets
at the close of its fiscal year consist of securities of foreign corporations,
the Fund would be eligible and would determine whether or not to file an
election with the Internal Revenue Service pursuant to which shareholders of the
Fund will be required to include their respective pro rata portions of such
withholding taxes in their United States income tax returns as gross income,
treat such respective pro rata portions as taxes paid by them, and deduct such
respective pro rata portions in computing their taxable income or,
alternatively, use them as foreign tax credits against their United States
income taxes. If the Fund does elect to file the election with the Internal
Revenue Service, the Fund will report annually to its shareholders the amount
per share of such withholding.
SPECIAL RULES FOR CERTAIN FOREIGN CURRENCY TRANSACTIONS. In general, gains
from foreign currencies and from foreign currency options, foreign currency
futures and forward foreign exchange contracts relating to investments in stock,
securities or foreign currencies are currently considered to be qualifying
income for purposes of determining whether the Fund qualifies as a regulated
investment company. It is currently unclear, however, who will be treated as the
issuer of certain foreign currency instruments or how foreign currency options,
futures, or forward foreign currency contracts will be valued for purposes of
the regulated investment company diversification requirements applicable to the
Fund. The Fund may request a private letter ruling from the Internal Revenue
Service on some or all of these issues.
Under Code Section 988, special rules are provided for certain transactions
in a foreign currency other than the taxpayer's functional currency (I.E.,
unless certain special rules apply, currencies other than the U.S. dollar). In
general, foreign currency gains or losses from forward contracts, from futures
contracts that are not "regulated futures contracts", and from unlisted options
will be treated as ordinary income or loss under Code Section 988. Also, certain
foreign exchange gains or losses derived with respect to foreign fixed-income
securities are also subject to Section 988 treatment. In general, therefore,
Code Section 988 gains or losses will increase or decrease the amount of the
Fund's investment company taxable income available to be distributed to
shareholders as ordinary income, rather than increasing or decreasing the amount
of the Fund's net capital gain. Additionally, if Code Section 988 losses exceed
other investment company taxable income during a taxable year, the Fund would
not be able to make any ordinary dividend distributions.
If the Fund invests in an entity which is classified as a "passive foreign
investment company" ("PFIC") for U.S. tax purposes, the application of certain
technical tax provisions applying to such companies could result in the
imposition of federal income tax with respect to such investments at the Fund
level which could not be eliminated by distributions to shareholders. The U.S.
Treasury issued proposed regulation section 1.1291- 8 which establishes a
mark-to-market regime which allows investment companies investing in PFIC's to
avoid most, if not all, of the difficulties posed by the PFIC rules. In any
event, it is not anticipated that any taxes on the Fund with respect to
investments in PFIC's would be significant.
Shareholders are urged to consult their attorneys or tax advisers regarding
specific questions as to federal, state or local taxes.
PERFORMANCE INFORMATION
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
As discussed in the Prospectus, from time to time the Fund may quote its
"total return" in advertisements and sales literature. 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
39
<PAGE>
will result in the ending redeemable value of a hypothetical $1,000 investment
made at the beginning of a one, five or ten year period, or for the period from
the date of commencement of the Fund's operations, if shorter than any of the
foregoing. The ending redeemable value is reduced by any contingent deferred
sales charge at the end of the one, five or ten year or other period. For the
purpose of this calculation, it is assumed that all dividends and distributions
are reinvested. The formula for computing the average annual total return
involves a percentage obtained by dividing the ending redeemable value by the
amount of the initial investment, taking a root of the quotient (where the root
is equivalent to the number of years in the period) and subtracting 1 from the
result. The average annual total return of the Fund for the period July 29, 1994
(commencement of the Fund's operations) through November 30, 1994 was -33.58%.
In addition to the foregoing, the Fund may advertise its total return over
different periods of time by means of aggregate, average, year-by-year or other
types of total return figures. Such calculations may or may not reflect the
deduction of the contingent deferred charge which, if reflected, would reduce
the performance quoted. For example, the average annual total returns of the
Fund may be calculated in the manner described above, but without deduction for
any applicable contingent deferred sales charge. Based upon this calculation,
the average annual total return of the Fund for the period ended November 30,
1994 was -10.80%.
In addition, the Fund may compute its aggregate total return for specified
periods by determining the aggregate percentage rate which will result in the
ending value of a hypothetical $1,000 investment made at the beginning of the
period. For the purpose of this calculation, it is assumed that all dividends
and distributions are reinvested. The formula for computing aggregate total
return involves a percentage obtained by dividing the ending value (without the
reduction for any contingent deferred sales charge) by the initial $1,000
investment and subtracting 1 from the result. Based upon the foregoing
calculation the Fund's total return for the period ended November 30, 1994 was
- -28.58%.
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
total aggregate total return to date (expressed as a decimal and without taking
into account the effect of applicable CDSC) and multiplying by 10,000, $50,000
or $100,000 as the case may be. Investments of $10,000, $50,000 and $100,000 in
the Fund at inception would have grown to $8,474, 42,370 and 84,740,
respectively at November 30, 1994.
The Fund from time to time may also advertise its performance relative to
certain performance rankings and indexes compiled by independent organizations.
DESCRIPTION OF SHARES
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The shareholders of the Fund are entitled to a full vote for each full share
held. The Trustees have been elected by InterCapital as the sole shareholder of
the Fund. The Trustees themselves have the power to alter the number and the
terms of office of the Trustees, and they may at any time lengthen their own
terms or make their terms of unlimited duration and appoint their own
successors, provided that always at least a majority of the Trustees has been
elected by the shareholders of the Fund. Under certain circumstances the
Trustees may be removed by action of the Trustees. The shareholders also have
the right to remove the Trustees following a meeting called for that purpose
requested in writing by the record holders of not less than ten percent 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 selected, 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, as might be required by future regulations
or other unforeseen
40
<PAGE>
circumstances). However, the Trustees have not authorized any such additional
series or classes of shares.
The Declaration of Trust provides that no Trustee, officer, employee or
agent of the Fund is liable to the Fund or to a shareholder, nor is any Trustee,
officer, employee or agent liable to any third persons in connection with the
affairs of the Fund, except as such liability may arise from his or her own bad
faith, willful misfeasance, gross negligence, or reckless disregard of his or
her duties. It also provides that all third persons shall look solely to the
Fund's property for satisfaction of claims arising in connection with the
affairs of the Fund. With the exceptions stated, the Declaration of Trust
provides that a Trustee, officer, employee or agent is entitled to be
indemnified against all liabilities in connection with the affairs of the Fund.
The Fund is authorized to issue an unlimited number of shares of beneficial
interest. The Fund shall be of unlimited duration subject to the provisions in
the Declaration of Trust concerning termination by action of the shareholders.
CUSTODIAN AND TRANSFER AGENT
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Chase Manhattan Bank, N.A., One Chase Plaza, New York, New York 10005,
is the Custodian of the Fund's assets. The Custodian has contracted with various
foreign banks and depositaries to hold portfolio securities of non-U.S. issuers
on behalf of the Fund. Any of the Fund's cash balances with the Custodian in
excess of $100,000 are unprotected by federal deposit insurance. Such balances
may, at times, be substantial.
Dean Witter Trust Company, Harborside Financial Center, Plaza Two, Jersey
City, New Jersey 07311 is the Transfer Agent of the Fund's shares and Dividend
Disbursing Agent for payment of dividends and distributions on Fund shares and
Agent for shareholders under various investment plans described herein. Dean
Witter Trust Company is an affiliate of Dean Witter InterCapital Inc., the
Fund's Investment Manager, and of Dean Witter Distributors Inc., the Fund's
Distributor. As Transfer Agent and Dividend Disbursing Agent, Dean Witter Trust
Company's responsibilities include maintaining shareholder accounts; disbursing
cash dividends and reinvesting dividends; processing account registration
changes; handling purchase and redemption transactions; mailing prospectuses and
reports; mailing and tabulating proxies; processing share certificate
transactions; and maintaining shareholder records and lists. For these services
Dean Witter Trust Company receives a per shareholder account fee.
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 will be sent to
shareholders each year.
The Fund's fiscal year ends on May 31. The financial statements of the Fund
must be audited at least once a year by independent accountants whose selection
is made annually by the Fund's Board of Trustees.
LEGAL COUNSEL
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sheldon Curtis, Esq., who is an officer and the General Counsel of the
Investment Manager, is an officer and the General Counsel of the Fund.
41
<PAGE>
EXPERTS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Statement of Assets and Liabilities at June 2, 1994 of the Fund included
in this Statement of Additional Information and incorporated by reference in the
Prospectus has been so included and incorporated in reliance on the report of
Price Waterhouse LLP, independent accountants, given on the authority of said
firm as experts in auditing and accounting.
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This Statement of Additional Information and the Prospectus do not contain
all of the information set forth in the Registration Statement the Fund has
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The complete Registration
Statement may be obtained from the Securities and Exchange Commission upon
payment of the fee prescribed by the rules and regulations of the Commission.
42
<PAGE>
DEAN WITTER INTERNATIONAL SMALLCAP FUND
STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES AT JUNE 2, 1994
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
ASSETS:
Cash........................................................................... $ 100,000
Deferred organizational expenses (Note 1)...................................... 160,000
---------
Total Assets................................................................. 260,000
LIABILITIES:
Organizational expenses payable (Note 1)....................................... 160,000
Commitments (Notes 1 and 2)....................................................
---------
Net Assets................................................................... $ 100,000
---------
---------
Net Asset Value Per Share (10,000 shares of beneficial interest outstanding;
unlimited authorized shares of beneficial interest of $.01 par value)........... $10.00
---------
---------
</TABLE>
- ------------------------
NOTE 1 -- Dean Witter International SmallCap Fund (the "Fund") was organized
as a Massachusetts business trust on April 21, 1994. To date the Fund has had no
transactions other than those relating to organizational matters and the sale of
10,000 shares of beneficial interest for $100,000 to Dean Witter InterCapital
Inc. (the "Investment Manager"). The Fund is registered under the Investment
Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "Act"), as a non-diversified, open-end
management investment company. Organizational expenses of the Fund incurred
prior to the offering of the Fund's shares will be paid by the Investment
Manager. It is currently estimated that the Investment Manager will incur, and
be reimbursed by the Fund for approximately $160,000 in organizational expenses.
These expenses will be deferred and amortized by the Fund on the straight-line
method over a period not to exceed five years from the date of commencement of
the Fund's operations. In the event that, at any time during the five year
period beginning with the date of the commencement of operations, the initial
shares acquired by the Investment Manager prior to such date are redeemed, by
any holder thereof, the redemption proceeds payable in respect of such shares
will be reduced by the pro rata share (based on the proportionate share of the
initial shares redeemed to the total number of original shares outstanding at
the time of redemption) of the then unamortized deferred organizational expenses
as of the date of such redemption. In the event that the Fund liquidates before
the deferred organizational expenses are fully amortized, the Investment Manager
shall bear such unamortized deferred organizational expenses.
NOTE 2 -- The Fund has entered into an investment management agreement with
the Investment Manager. The Investment Manager has entered into a Sub-Advisory
Agreement with Morgan Grenfell Investment Services Limited (the "Sub-Advisor").
The Sub-Advisor will provide investment advice and portfolio management relating
to the Fund's investments in securities, subject to the overall supervision of
the Investment Manager. Certain officers and/or trustees of the Fund are
officers and/or directors of the Investment Manager. The Fund has retained the
Investment Manager to supervise the investment of the Fund's assets. Under the
terms of the Investment Management Agreement, the Investment Manager maintains
certain of the Fund's books and records and furnishes, at its own expense, such
office space, facilities, equipment, supplies, clerical help and bookkeeping and
certain legal services as the Fund may reasonably require in the conduct of its
business. 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 the Fund's telephone
service, heat, light, power and other utilities.
As full compensation for the services and facilities furnished to the Fund
and expenses of the Fund assumed by the Investment Manager, the Fund will pay
the Investment Manager monthly compensation calculated daily by applying the
annual rate of 1.25% to the Fund's daily net assets. As compensation for the
services to be provided pursuant to the Sub-Advisory Agreement, the Investment
Manager will pay the Sub-Advisor monthly compensation equal to 40% of its
monthly compensation.
43
<PAGE>
Shares of the Fund will be distributed by Dean Witter Distributors Inc. (the
"Distributor"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Dean Witter Reynolds Inc. ("DWR")
and an affiliate of the Investment Manager. The Fund has adopted a Plan of
Distribution pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Act ("the "Plan"). The Plan
provides that the Distributor will bear the expense of all promotional and
distribution related activities on behalf of the Fund, including the payment of
commissions for sales of the Fund's shares and incentive compensation to and
expenses of DWR account executives and others who engage in or support
distribution of shares or who service shareholder accounts, including overhead
and telephone expenses; printing and distribution of prospectuses and reports
used in connection with the offering of the Fund's shares to other than current
shareholders; and preparation, printing and distribution of sales literature and
advertising materials. In addition, the Distributor may utilize fees paid
pursuant to the Plan to compensate DWR and others for their opportunity costs in
advancing such amounts, which compensation would be in the form of a carrying
charge on any unreimbursed distribution expenses incurred.
To compensate the Distributor for the services provided and for the expenses
borne by the Distributor and others under the Plan, the Fund will pay the
Distributor compensation accrued daily and payable monthly at the annual rate of
1.0% of the lesser of; (a) the average daily aggregate gross sales of the Fund's
shares since the inception of the Fund (not including reinvestments of dividends
or capital gains distributions), less the average daily aggregate net asset
value of the Fund's shares redeemed since the Fund's inception upon which a
contingent deferred sales charge has been imposed or waived; or (b) the Fund's
average daily net assets.
Dean Witter Trust Company (the "Transfer Agent"), an affiliate of the
Investment Manager and the Distributor, is the transfer agent of the Fund's
shares, dividend disbursing agent for payment of dividends and distributions on
Fund shares and agent for shareholders under various investment plans.
The Investment Manager has undertaken to assume all operating expenses
(except for the Plan fee and brokerage fees) and waive the compensation provided
for in its investment management agreement for services rendered until such time
as the Fund has $50 million of net assets or until six months from the date of
commencement of the Fund's operations, whichever occurs first.
44
<PAGE>
DEAN WITTER INTERNATIONAL SMALLCAP FUND
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS NOVEMBER 30, 1994 (UNAUDITED)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
SHARES VALUE
- ------------- -------------
<C> <S> <C>
COMMON AND PREFERRED STOCKS AND RIGHTS (93.8%)
ARGENTINA (1.1%)
AUTOMOTIVE
40,000 Ciadea S.A.......................... $ 444,000
-------------
FOOD, BEVERAGE, TOBACCO & HOUSEHOLD PRODUCTS
115,000 Nobleza Piccardo S.A................ 575,000
-------------
TOTAL ARGENTINA..................... 1,019,000
-------------
AUSTRALIA (1.2%)
BUILDING & CONSTRUCTION
700,000 MacMahon Holdings, Ltd.............. 300,860
-------------
MANUFACTURING
230,000 Pacific BBA, Ltd.................... 467,791
-------------
METALS & MINING
350,000 QCT Resources, Ltd.................. 346,526
-------------
TOTAL AUSTRALIA..................... 1,115,177
-------------
BELGIUM (1.0%)
FOOD, BEVERAGE, TOBACCO & HOUSEHOLD PRODUCTS
13,300 Quick Restaurants S.A............... 972,769
-------------
FINLAND (1.6%)
TELECOMMUNICATIONS
2,475 Benefon Oy Vappa.................... 635,137
-------------
TRANSPORTATION
112,000 Finnair Oy.......................... 981,811
-------------
TOTAL FINLAND....................... 1,616,948
-------------
FRANCE (6.8%)
FINANCIAL SERVICES
6,000 But S.A............................. 1,008,992
-------------
FOOD, BEVERAGE, TOBACCO & HOUSEHOLD PRODUCTS
8,300 Brioche Pasquier.................... 1,004,895
-------------
INSURANCE
4,500 Cardif S.A.......................... 642,440
-------------
MACHINERY-DIVERSIFIED
4,300 Sidel............................... 871,401
-------------
PHOTOGRAPHY
13,700 Grand Optical-Photoservice.......... 965,236
-------------
TEXTILES
3,000 Hermes International................ 334,848
10,000 Sylea............................... 852,878
-------------
1,187,726
-------------
TEXTILES-APPAREL MANUFACTURERS
6,600 Deveaux S.A......................... 777,046
-------------
TOTAL FRANCE........................ 6,457,736
-------------
GERMANY (7.5%)
AEROSPACE & DEFENSE
2,000 Moebel Walther AG (Preferred)....... 896,775
-------------
BUILDING MATERIALS
1,607 Sto AG (Preferred).................. 904,532
-------------
<CAPTION>
SHARES VALUE
- ------------- -------------
<C> <S> <C>
BUSINESS SERVICES
1,300 Marschollek Laut Und................ $ 659,798
-------------
MACHINE TOOLS
1,898 Doities Scharmann AG................ 241,430
-------------
MACHINERY-DIVERSIFIED
3,800 Jungheinrich (Preferred)............ 816,892
-------------
MANUFACTURING
2,100 Hach AG (Preferred)................. 983,019
565 Hornbach Holding AG (Preferred)..... 506,678
-------------
1,489,697
-------------
MULTI-INDUSTRY
4,000 Draegerwerk AG (Preferred).......... 781,021
595 Hugo Boss AG (Preferred)............ 365,182
-------------
1,146,203
-------------
TEXTILES
460 Adolf Ahlers AG..................... 105,323
3,100 Stohr & Co. AG...................... 486,994
-------------
592,317
-------------
TEXTILES-APPAREL MANUFACTURERS
2,140 Puma AG (Preferred)................. 409,408
-------------
TOTAL GERMANY....................... 7,157,052
-------------
HONG KONG (1.9%)
AEROSPACE & DEFENSE
40,000 Hong Kong Aircraft Engineering...... 136,033
-------------
ELECTRONICS
650,000 Gold Peak Industries................ 264,761
1,000,000 Techtronic Industries Co............ 122,844
-------------
387,605
-------------
HOTELS / MOTELS
200,000 Grand Hotel Holdings (Series A)..... 74,999
-------------
LEISURE
1,050,000 Regal Hotels International.......... 224,028
-------------
MACHINERY-DIVERSIFIED
300,000 Chen Hsong Holdings................. 188,145
-------------
MULTI-INDUSTRY
372,000 TVE Holdings........................ 168,361
-------------
TEXTILES
150,000 Winsor Industrial................... 192,994
-------------
TRANSPORTATION-MISCELLANEOUS
228,000 Kowloon Motor Bus................... 406,859
-------------
TOTAL HONG KONG..................... 1,779,024
-------------
INDONESIA (1.6%)
CHEMICALS
120,000 PT Aneka Kimia Raya................. 302,982
-------------
DISTRIBUTION
100,000 Wicaksana Overseas International.... 247,894
-------------
FOOD, BEVERAGE, TOBACCO & HOUSEHOLD PRODUCTS
142,000 Fast Food Indonesia................. 247,710
-------------
</TABLE>
45
<PAGE>
DEAN WITTER INTERNATIONAL SMALLCAP FUND
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS NOVEMBER 30, 1994 (UNAUDITED) (CONTINUED)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
SHARES VALUE
- ------------- -------------
<C> <S> <C>
PHARMACEUTICALS
100,000 PT Enseval Putera Megatrading....... $ 390,204
60,000 Tempo Scan Pacific.................. 302,982
-------------
693,186
-------------
TOTAL INDONESIA..................... 1,491,772
-------------
ITALY (1.7%)
ELECTRICAL & ELECTRONICS
54,000 Gewiss.............................. 744,091
-------------
INSURANCE
135,000 Unipol.............................. 625,637
-------------
TEXTILES-APPAREL MANUFACTURERS
80,000 Stefanel SPA........................ 211,326
-------------
TOTAL ITALY......................... 1,581,054
-------------
JAPAN (41.2%)
BUILDING & CONSTRUCTION
26,400 C Cube Corp......................... 254,384
11,000 Gantan Beauty Industry.............. 221,976
20,500 Higashi Nihon House................. 465,392
10,000 Hosoda Corp......................... 154,374
30,000 Kaneshita Construction.............. 408,637
18,000 Sankyo Frontier Co., Ltd............ 622,944
30,000 Suido Kiko Kaisha................... 387,448
25,000 Takada Corp......................... 158,914
22,000 Takashimaya Kosakusho Co............ 201,776
35,000 Tohoku Misawa Homes Co.............. 409,646
15,000 Tone Geo Technology Co., Ltd........ 567,551
8,000 Yokogawa Construction Co............ 164,666
-------------
4,017,708
-------------
BUILDING MATERIALS
10,000 Maezawa Kaisei Industries Co........ 625,568
-------------
BUSINESS SERVICES
30,000 Ichiken Co., Ltd.................... 466,149
12,000 Nippon Kanzai Co.................... 665,927
29,000 Tanseisha Co........................ 400,868
-------------
1,532,944
-------------
CHEMICALS
21,000 Shinto Paint Co..................... 326,304
10,000 Sk Kaken Co., Ltd................... 404,601
-------------
730,905
-------------
COMPUTER SERVICES
20,000 Catena Corp......................... 403,592
15,000 Japan Digital Laboratory Co., Ltd... 414,691
30,000 Meitec Corp......................... 535,768
20,000 Nippon Computer System Co........... 232,065
11,000 TKC Corp............................ 349,612
-------------
1,935,728
-------------
COMPUTER SOFTWARE
14,000 Enix Corp........................... 382,807
5,500 Tecmo............................... 63,818
-------------
446,625
-------------
COMPUTERS-SYSTEMS
20,000 Daiwabo Information Systems Co...... 534,759
-------------
<CAPTION>
SHARES VALUE
- ------------- -------------
<C> <S> <C>
DISTRIBUTION
15,000 Misumi Corp......................... $ 575,119
27,000 Trusco Nakayama Corp................ 615,680
-------------
1,190,799
-------------
ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
13,000 Uniden Corp......................... 327,918
-------------
ELECTRONICS
20,000 Katsuragawa Electric Co............. 413,682
15,000 Nihon Dempa Kogyo................... 487,337
15,000 Sanshin Corp........................ 195,238
-------------
1,096,257
-------------
ENGINEERING & CONSTRUCTION
19,000 Meiden Engineering Co............... 316,315
-------------
FINANCIAL SERVICES
11,000 Nissin Co., Ltd..................... 821,310
-------------
FOOD, BEVERAGE, TOBACCO & HOUSEHOLD PRODUCTS
13,000 Beltecno Corp....................... 301,685
25,000 Sanyo Coca Cola Bottling............ 363,233
25,000 Stamina Foods, Inc.................. 353,143
10,000 Yonkyu Co., Ltd..................... 384,421
17,000 Yukiguni Maitake Co., Ltd........... 550,600
-------------
1,953,082
-------------
HEALTH & PERSONAL CARE
22,000 Hitachi Medical Corp................ 377,358
10,000 Maruco Co., Ltd..................... 656,846
-------------
1,034,204
-------------
MACHINERY
44,200 Comson Corp......................... 624,357
2,000 DMW Corp............................ 268,389
20,000 Fuji Machine Manufacturing.......... 619,514
24,000 Fuso Lexel, Inc..................... 254,263
48,000 Maeda Metal Industries.............. 224,236
13,000 Sankyo Engineering.................. 380,385
25,000 Sansei Yusoki Co., Ltd.............. 431,339
-------------
2,802,483
-------------
MANUFACTURING
25,000 Bridgestone Metalpha Corp........... 469,176
25,000 Nichiha Corp........................ 459,086
60,000 Nippon Thompson Co.................. 408,637
18,000 Noritz Corp......................... 341,439
18,700 Rinnai Corp......................... 411,321
45,000 Sodick Co........................... 382,757
50,000 Takada Kiko Steel................... 459,086
10,000 Y.A.C., Ltd......................... 590,253
-------------
3,521,755
-------------
MULTI-INDUSTRY
20,000 Yamae Hisano Co..................... 296,640
-------------
PHARMACEUTICALS
25,000 Kawasumi Laboratories, Inc.......... 592,776
20,000 Santen Pharmaceutical Co............ 536,777
15,000 Seikagaku Corp...................... 612,955
7,000 Towa Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd........ 529,714
-------------
2,272,222
</TABLE>
46
<PAGE>
DEAN WITTER INTERNATIONAL SMALLCAP FUND
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS NOVEMBER 30, 1994 (UNAUDITED) (CONTINUED)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
SHARES VALUE
- ------------- -------------
<C> <S> <C>
-------------
PHOTOGRAPHY
35,000 Fuji PS Corp........................ $ 459,086
-------------
REAL ESTATE
20,000 Chubu Sekiwa Real Estate............ 262,335
24,000 Kansai Sekiwa Real Estate........... 375,341
50,000 Sekiwa Real Estate.................. 486,833
-------------
1,124,509
-------------
RESTAURANTS
14,000 Aiya Co., Ltd....................... 320,654
7,000 Plenus Co., Ltd..................... 478,156
33,000 Steak Miya Co....................... 459,489
240 Yoshinoya D & C Co., Ltd............ 261,528
-------------
1,519,827
-------------
RETAIL
20,000 Arcland Sakamoto.................... 462,113
10,000 Dai-Ichi Clinical Laboratories...... 479,265
4,000 Fast Retailing Co., Ltd............. 439,915
25,000 Izumi Co., Ltd...................... 643,225
24,000 Kojitu Co., Ltd..................... 326,909
15,000 Nissen Co., Ltd..................... 508,526
35,000 Olympic Sports Co., Ltd............. 536,777
24,000 Sumiya Co........................... 406,821
-------------
3,803,551
-------------
RETAIL-DRUG STORES
7,000 Sundrug Co., Ltd.................... 487,337
-------------
RETAIL STORES
12,000 Belluna Co., Ltd.................... 478,256
17,000 Home Wide Corp...................... 325,901
50,000 Juntendo Co......................... 469,176
9,000 Kahma Co., Ltd...................... 254,263
27,000 Kuroganeya Co....................... 490,364
20,000 Ministop Co., Ltd................... 569,065
16,000 Mr. Max Corp........................ 382,605
10,000 Nitori Co........................... 383,412
20,000 Shimachu Co., Ltd................... 629,603
8,000 Tsutsumi Jewelry.................... 735,345
21,000 Xebio Co............................ 752,195
-------------
5,470,185
-------------
TEXTILES-APPAREL MANUFACTURERS
11,000 Yagi Corp........................... 241,953
-------------
TRANSPORTATION
7,000 Kanto Seino Transportation.......... 300,172
-------------
TRANSPORTATION-MISCELLANEOUS
25,000 Chuo Warehouse Co................... 380,890
-------------
TOTAL JAPAN......................... 39,244,732
-------------
MALAYSIA (2.3%)
AUTOMOTIVE
30,000 Cycle & Carriage Bintang Berhad..... 106,146
-------------
BANKS-COMMERCIAL
100,000 Hock Hua Bank Berhad................ 295,176
-------------
BUILDING & CONSTRUCTION
60,000 Muhibbah Engineering Berhad......... 241,614
40,000 Road Builder Berhad................. 228,321
-------------
469,935
-------------
<CAPTION>
SHARES VALUE
- ------------- -------------
<C> <S> <C>
BUILDING MATERIALS
30,000 C.I. Holdings Berhad................ $ 116,702
-------------
FINANCIAL SERVICES
73,333 Arab Malaysian Finance Berhad....... 174,889
73,333 Arab Malaysian Finance Berhad
(Rights)*......................... 28,670
50,000 Public Finance Berhad............... 87,184
-------------
290,743
-------------
MANUFACTURING
40,000 George Kent Berhad.................. 92,267
-------------
MANUFACTURING-DIVERSIFIED INDUSTRIES
50,000 Th Loy Industries Berhad............ 168,113
-------------
MULTI-INDUSTRY
44,000 Lityan Holdings Berhad.............. 122,996
-------------
OIL RELATED
50,000 Projek Penyelenggaraan.............. 166,158
-------------
REAL ESTATE
30,000 Lam Soon Huat Development Berhad.... 113,770
200,000 Tan & Tan Developments Berhad....... 292,439
-------------
406,209
-------------
TOTAL MALAYSIA...................... 2,234,445
-------------
MEXICO (1.9%)
BANKS-COMMERCIAL
25,000 Grupo Financiero Gbm Atlantico S.A.
(GDS)............................. 459,500
-------------
HOUSEHOLD PRODUCTS
25,000 Grupo Industries Saltillo (Class
A)................................ 483,636
-------------
METALS & MINING
90,000 Tubos De Acero de Mexico (ADR)...... 444,420
-------------
TRANSPORTATION
60,000 Transportacion Maritima Mexicana
(ADR)............................. 442,500
-------------
TOTAL MEXICO........................ 1,830,056
-------------
NETHERLANDS (2.7%)
BUSINESS SERVICES
21,600 Randstad Holdings Dutch............. 1,087,178
-------------
ELECTRONICS
1,469 Otra NV............................. 242,010
-------------
PHARMACEUTICALS
9,540 OPG Apotheker Coop UA............... 235,750
-------------
TRANSPORTATION
42,000 IHC Caland NV....................... 990,172
-------------
TOTAL NETHERLANDS................... 2,555,110
-------------
NEW ZEALAND (0.5%)
CHEMICALS
150,000 Fernz Corp., Ltd.................... 480,038
-------------
NORWAY (1.9%)
BUSINESS SERVICES
20,000 Unitor AS........................... 312,797
-------------
ENERGY TECHNOLOGY & EQUIPMENT
150,000 Tomra Systems AS.................... 344,223
-------------
</TABLE>
47
<PAGE>
DEAN WITTER INTERNATIONAL SMALLCAP FUND
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS NOVEMBER 30, 1994 (UNAUDITED) (CONTINUED)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
SHARES VALUE
- ------------- -------------
<C> <S> <C>
MISCELLANEOUS
21,000 Braathens SAFE...................... $ 690,638
-------------
OIL RELATED
50,000 Transocean Drilling................. 380,034
-------------
TRANSPORTATION
5,000 Storli AS........................... 84,046
-------------
TOTAL NORWAY........................ 1,811,738
-------------
PHILIPPINES (0.5%)
ELECTRONICS
106,733 First Philippine Holdings........... 445,475
-------------
SINGAPORE (1.7%)
BUILDING MATERIALS
80,000 Ssangyong Cement, Ltd............... 259,140
-------------
COMMERCIAL SERVICES
20,000 Informatics Holdings, Ltd........... 15,308
-------------
ELECTRIC EQUIPMENT
500,000 Flextech Holdings, Ltd.............. 205,016
-------------
FOOD, BEVERAGE, TOBACCO & HOUSEHOLD PRODUCTS
30,000 Yeo Hiap Seng....................... 78,316
-------------
HOUSEHOLD FURNISHINGS & APPLIANCES
150,000 Courts, Ltd......................... 215,267
200,000 Hwa Tat Lee Holdings, Ltd........... 129,160
-------------
344,427
-------------
INDUSTRIALS
150,000 Singapore Shipbuilding &
Engineering....................... 350,577
-------------
SHIPBUILDING
50,000 Jurong Engineering, Ltd............. 326,317
-------------
TOTAL SINGAPORE..................... 1,579,101
-------------
SPAIN (2.0%)
ELECTRONICS
10,000 Electricas Reunidas de Zaragoza..... 219,546
-------------
FINANCIAL SERVICES
13,000 Banco Pastor S.A.................... 577,756
-------------
PAPER & FOREST PRODUCTS
20,900 Empresa Nacional de Celulosas S.A... 510,630
-------------
RETAIL
21,000 Cortefiel S.A....................... 624,333
-------------
TOTAL SPAIN......................... 1,932,265
-------------
SWEDEN (1.4%)
PHARMACEUTICALS
18,000 Elekta Instrument (Series B)........ 376,514
-------------
STEEL
13,200 Ssab (Series A)..................... 581,055
-------------
TELECOMMUNICATIONS
40,000 Nordic Tel Holdings (Series "AB"
Free)............................. 418,349
-------------
TOTAL SWEDEN........................ 1,375,918
-------------
SWITZERLAND (2.3%)
BUILDING MATERIALS
624 Sarna Kunstoff Holdings AG.......... 717,026
-------------
<CAPTION>
SHARES VALUE
- ------------- -------------
<C> <S> <C>
ELECTRIC EQUIPMENT
2,000 Swisslog Holdings AG................ $ 473,151
-------------
PUBLISHING
1,200 Edipresse S.A....................... 477,657
-------------
TRANSPORTATION
500 Danzas Holding AG................... 491,926
-------------
TOTAL SWITZERLAND................... 2,159,760
-------------
THAILAND (1.0%)
AUTOMOTIVE
24,000 Swedish Motor Corp.................. 144,659
-------------
ELECTRONICS
30,000 KCE Electronics..................... 131,726
15,000 Muramoto Electronic................. 108,375
-------------
240,101
-------------
HOUSEHOLD PRODUCTS
40,000 Srithai Superware Co., Ltd.......... 242,695
-------------
INDUSTRIALS
10,000 Thai Glass Industries............... 41,913
20,000 Thai Glass Industries (Rights)*..... 75,842
-------------
117,755
-------------
MANUFACTURING
150,000 Pan Asia Footwear Co................ 149,689
-------------
PUBLISHING
10,000 Matichon Co......................... 59,875
-------------
TOTAL THAILAND...................... 954,774
-------------
UNITED KINGDOM (10.0%)
ADVERTISING
300,000 Shandwick PLC....................... 203,867
-------------
AUTO PARTS-ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT
32,000 BBA Group........................... 100,481
16,000 Laird Group PLC..................... 84,984
-------------
185,465
-------------
AUTOMOTIVE
71,713 T&N PLC............................. 184,850
-------------
BIOTECHNOLOGY
3,000 Amersham International.............. 41,008
-------------
BUILDING & CONSTRUCTION
75,000 Barratt Developments................ 201,524
100,000 Havelock Europa PLC................. 270,261
115,000 Taylor Woodrow PLC.................. 208,397
-------------
680,182
-------------
BUILDING MATERIALS
25,000 Hepworth PLC........................ 120,289
65,000 Ibstock PLC......................... 78,188
65,000 Lilleshall.......................... 142,160
40,000 Rugby Group PLC..................... 74,986
61,500 Sheffield Insulations Group......... 251,717
-------------
667,340
-------------
CHEMICALS
40,000 Wardle Storeys PLC.................. 210,585
-------------
COMPUTER SERVICES
170,000 ISA International PLC............... 286,820
-------------
</TABLE>
48
<PAGE>
DEAN WITTER INTERNATIONAL SMALLCAP FUND
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS NOVEMBER 30, 1994 (UNAUDITED) (CONTINUED)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
SHARES VALUE
- ------------- -------------
<C> <S> <C>
CONTAINERS
100,000 Parkside International.............. $ 146,847
-------------
CONTAINERS-PAPER
7,200 Smith (David) Holdings PLC.......... 59,389
-------------
ELECTRONICS
16,000 Diploma PLC......................... 104,980
-------------
FOOD PROCESSING
35,000 Booker PLC.......................... 224,176
15,000 Devro International PLC............. 52,724
89,000 Hillsdown Holdings PLC.............. 226,628
-------------
503,528
-------------
FOOD, BEVERAGE, TOBACCO & HOUSEHOLD PRODUCTS
60,000 Boddington Group.................... 239,954
16,000 Dalgety PLC......................... 105,480
-------------
345,434
-------------
HEALTH & PERSONAL CARE
35,000 Community Hospitals Group........... 132,318
-------------
HOUSEHOLD FURNISHINGS & APPLIANCES
55,000 MFI Furniture PLC................... 115,993
157,000 Walker Breenbank PLC................ 252,623
-------------
368,616
-------------
INSURANCE
10,000 Domestic & General Group............ 255,420
-------------
LEISURE
100,000 David Lloyd Leisure PLC............. 406,172
-------------
MACHINERY-DIVERSIFIED
50,000 Crabtree PLC........................ 214,803
155,000 Metalrax Group PLC.................. 249,405
15,000 Spirax-Sarco Engineering............ 107,792
-------------
572,000
-------------
MANUFACTURING
75,000 Bluebird Toys PLC................... 275,338
49,000 IMI PLC............................. 243,422
83,000 Protean PLC......................... 269,698
-------------
788,458
-------------
MANUFACTURING-DIVERSIFIED INDUSTRIES
87,000 FKI Babcock PLC..................... 217,458
-------------
METALS & MINING
22,000 Glynwed International PLC........... 118,227
-------------
MISCELLANEOUS
80,000 Christies International............. 203,711
-------------
MULTI-INDUSTRY
125,000 Trafalgar House PLC................. 154,267
-------------
OIL RELATED
20,000 Charter PLC......................... 235,892
-------------
PUBLISHING
4,800 Daily Mail & General................ 72,736
-------------
<CAPTION>
SHARES VALUE
- ------------- -------------
<C> <S> <C>
REAL ESTATE
70,000 Bradford Properties Trust........... $ 205,586
18,000 Great Portland Estates.............. 47,803
40,000 Helical Bar PLC..................... 198,712
-------------
452,101
-------------
RESTAURANTS
250,000 City Centre Restaurants............. 304,629
11,000 Compass Group PLC................... 57,567
-------------
362,196
-------------
RETAIL
100,000 Goldsmiths Group.................... 207,773
22,000 Morrison Supermarkets............... 45,710
20,000 Pendragon........................... 80,610
30,000 Smith (W.H.) & Son (Class A)........ 209,491
-------------
543,584
-------------
RETAIL-MAIL ORDER / GENERAL MERCHANDISING
22,000 Argos PLC........................... 118,227
-------------
TELECOMMUNICATIONS
7,500 Security Services PLC............... 89,045
-------------
TEXTILES
37,500 Courtaulds Textiles................. 260,690
-------------
TRANSPORTATION
30,000 Associated British Ports............ 130,756
90,000 GRT Business Group PLC.............. 326,187
-------------
456,943
-------------
TRANSPORTATION-MISCELLANEOUS
8,000 Tibbett & Britten Group............. 88,480
-------------
TOTAL UNITED KINGDOM................ 9,516,836
-------------
TOTAL COMMON AND PREFERRED STOCKS
AND RIGHTS (IDENTIFIED COST
$98,726,376)...................... 89,310,780
-------------
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PRINCIPAL
AMOUNT
(IN
THOUSANDS)
- -------------
<C> <S> <C>
SHORT-TERM INVESTMENT(A) (6.3%)
U.S. GOVERNMENT AGENCY
US$ 6,050 Federal Home Loan Bank (Amortized
Cost $6,050,000) 6,050,000
-------------
<CAPTION>
CURRENCY
AMOUNT EXPIRATION
(IN DATE/EXERCISE
THOUSANDS) PRICE
- ------------- ------------------------------------
<C> <S> <C>
PURCHASED CALL OPTIONS ON FOREIGN CURRENCY (0.8%)
Y2,923,500 May 4, 1995/Y97.45.................. 753,000
Y298,200 December 9, 1994/Y99.40............. 6,600
-------------
TOTAL PURCHASED CALL OPTIONS ON
FOREIGN CURRENCY (IDENTIFIED COST
$686,250)......................... 759,600
-------------
</TABLE>
49
<PAGE>
DEAN WITTER INTERNATIONAL SMALLCAP FUND
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS NOVEMBER 30, 1994 (UNAUDITED) (CONTINUED)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
VALUE
-------------
<S> <C> <C>
TOTAL INVESTMENTS (IDENTIFIED COST
$105,462,626) (B)................. 100.9% $ 96,120,380
LIABILITIES IN EXCESS OF CASH AND
OTHER ASSETS...................... (0.9) (829,191)
---------- ------------
NET ASSETS.......................... 100.0% $ 95,291,189
---------- ------------
---------- ------------
<FN>
- ------------------
* NON-INCOME PRODUCING SECURITY.
ADR AMERICAN DEPOSITORY RECEIPT.
GDS GLOBAL DEPOSITORY SHARES.
(A) THE U.S. GOVERNMENT AGENCY WAS PURCHASED ON A DISCOUNT BASIS. THE INTEREST
RATE SHOWN HAS BEEN ADJUSTED TO REFLECT A BOND EQUIVALENT YIELD.
(B) THE AGGREGATE COST FOR FEDERAL INCOME TAX PURPOSES IS $105,462,626; THE
AGGREGATE GROSS UNREALIZED APPRECIATION IS $1,707,152 AND THE AGGREGATE
GROSS UNREALIZED DEPRECIATION IS $11,049,398, RESULTING IN NET UNREALIZED
DEPRECIATION OF $9,342,246.
</TABLE>
FORWARD FOREIGN CURRENCY CONTRACTS OPEN AT NOVEMBER 30, 1994:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
UNREALIZED
CONTRACTS IN EXCHANGE DELIVERY APPRECIATION/
TO RECEIVE FOR DATE (DEPRECIATION)
- ------------ ------------- --------- -------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
L459,459 US$720,845 12/1/94 $ (3,078)
L123,412 US$193,849 12/1/94 (1,055)
L373,286 US$583,297 12/2/94 (150)
L82,663 US$129,418 12/6/94 (281)
L102,480 US$160,171 12/9/94 (77)
US$312,064 DEM488,130 12/2/94 1,068
-------------
Net unrealized
depreciation*........... $ (3,573)
-------------
-------------
</TABLE>
- ------------------
*Includes aggregate gross unrealized appreciation of $1,068 and aggregate gross
unrealized depreciation of $4,641, resulting in net unrealized depreciation of
$3,573.
SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
50
<PAGE>
DEAN WITTER INTERNATIONAL SMALLCAP FUND
SUMMARY OF INVESTMENTS BY INDUSTRY CLASSIFICATION NOVEMBER 30, 1994 (UNAUDITED)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PERCENT OF
INDUSTRY VALUE NET ASSETS
- ------------------------------ -------------- ------------
<S> <C> <C>
Advertising................... $ 203,867 0.2%
Aerospace & Defense........... 1,032,808 1.1
Automotive.................... 879,655 0.9
Auto Parts - Original
Equipment.................... 185,465 0.2
Banks - Commercial............ 754,676 0.8
Biotechnology................. 41,008 0.0
Building & Construction....... 5,468,685 5.7
Building Materials............ 3,290,308 3.5
Business Services............. 3,592,717 3.8
Chemicals..................... 1,724,509 1.8
Commercial Services........... 15,308 0.0
Computer Services............. 2,222,548 2.3
Computer Software............. 446,625 0.5
Computers - Systems........... 534,759 0.6
Containers.................... 146,847 0.2
Containers - Paper............ 59,389 0.1
Currency Options.............. 759,600 0.8
Distribution.................. 1,438,692 1.5
Electric Equipment............ 1,006,085 1.0
Electronics................... 3,480,063 3.7
Energy Technology &
Equipment.................... 344,223 0.4
Engineering & Construction.... 316,315 0.3
Financial Services............ 2,698,801 2.8
Food, Beverage, Tobacco &
Household Products........... 5,177,206 5.4
Food Processing............... 503,528 0.5
Health & Personal Care........ 1,166,522 1.2
Hotels/Motels................. 74,999 0.1
<CAPTION>
PERCENT OF
INDUSTRY VALUE NET ASSETS
- ------------------------------ -------------- ------------
<S> <C> <C>
Household Furnishings &
Appliances................... $ 1,439,376 1.5%
Industrials................... 468,333 0.5
Insurance..................... 1,523,497 1.6
Leisure....................... 630,200 0.7
Machinery..................... 3,043,912 3.2
Machinery - Diversified....... 2,448,438 2.6
Manufacturing................. 6,895,226 7.2
Metals & Mining............... 909,174 0.9
Miscellaneous................. 894,349 0.9
Multi-Industry................ 1,888,467 2.0
Oil Related................... 782,084 0.8
Paper & Forest Products....... 510,630 0.5
Pharmaceuticals............... 3,577,672 3.8
Photography................... 1,424,322 1.6
Publishing.................... 610,268 0.6
Real Estate................... 1,982,817 2.2
Restaurants................... 1,882,023 2.0
Retail........................ 5,089,695 5.3
Retail Drug Stores............ 487,337 0.5
Retail Stores................. 5,470,185 5.7
Shipbuilding.................. 326,317 0.3
Steel......................... 581,055 0.6
Telecommunications............ 1,142,531 1.2
Textiles...................... 3,873,463 4.1
Transportation................ 4,623,801 4.9
U.S. Government Agency........ 6,050,000 6.3
-------------- ------
$ 96,120,380 100.9%
-------------- ------
-------------- ------
</TABLE>
SUMMARY OF INVESTMENTS BY TYPE NOVEMBER 30, 1994 (UNAUDITED)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
TYPE OF INVESTMENT
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Common Stocks.............................................................................. $ 83,542,761 87.7%
Call Options............................................................................... 759,600 0.8
Preferred Stocks........................................................................... 5,663,507 6.0
Rights..................................................................................... 104,512 0.1
U.S. Government Agency..................................................................... 6,050,000 6.3
-------------- ------
$ 96,120,380 100.9%
-------------- ------
-------------- ------
</TABLE>
51
<PAGE>
DEAN WITTER INTERNATIONAL SMALLCAP FUND
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
NOVEMBER 30, 1994 (UNAUDITED)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
ASSETS:
Investments in securities, at value
(identified cost $105,462,626) (Note 1).... $ 96,120,380
Cash (including $259,159 in foreign
currency).................................. 303,456
Receivable for:
Investments sold (Note 4).................. 926,680
Shares of beneficial interest sold......... 608,335
Dividends.................................. 59,408
Foreign withholding taxes reclaimed........ 5,161
Interest................................... 572
Deferred organizational expenses (Note 1).... 149,135
-------------
TOTAL ASSETS......................... 98,173,127
-------------
LIABILITIES:
Payable for:
Investments purchased...................... 2,382,258
Investment management fees (Note 2)........ 100,589
Plan of distribution fee (Note 3).......... 80,564
Shares of beneficial interest
repurchased.............................. 56,178
Accrued expenses (Note 4).................... 102,349
Organizational expenses (Note 1)............. 160,000
-------------
TOTAL LIABILITIES.................... 2,881,938
-------------
NET ASSETS:
Paid-in-capital.............................. 106,331,854
Net unrealized depreciation.................. (9,340,537)
Net investment loss.......................... (378,470)
Net realized loss............................ (1,321,658)
-------------
NET ASSETS........................... $ 95,291,189
-------------
-------------
NET ASSET VALUE PER SHARE, 10,682,694 shares
outstanding (unlimited shares authorized of
$.01 par value)............................
$8.92
-------------
-------------
</TABLE>
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS FOR THE PERIOD JULY 29,
1994 THROUGH NOVEMBER 30, 1994 (UNAUDITED) (NOTE 1)
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
INVESTMENT INCOME:
INCOME
Interest................................. $ 286,718
Dividends (net of $25,810 foreign
withholding tax)....................... 219,448
-------------
TOTAL INCOME......................... 506,166
-------------
EXPENSES
Investment management fees (Note 2)...... 393,915
Plan of distribution fee (Note 3)........ 315,225
Transfer agent fees and expenses (Note
4)..................................... 43,400
Custodian fees........................... 35,598
Professional fees........................ 32,860
Registration fees........................ 31,243
Shareholder reports and notices.......... 13,640
Organizational expenses (Note 1)......... 10,865
Trustees' fees and expenses.............. 7,068
Other.................................... 822
-------------
TOTAL EXPENSES....................... 884,636
-------------
NET INVESTMENT LOSS................ (378,470)
-------------
NET REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAIN (LOSS) (Note
1):
Net realized loss on:
Investments............................ (1,245,089)
Foreign exchange transactions.......... (76,569)
-------------
(1,321,658)
-------------
Net unrealized appreciation/depreciation
on:
Investments............................ (9,342,246)
Translation of other assets and
liabilities denominated in foreign
currencies........................... 1,709
-------------
(9,340,537)
-------------
NET LOSS............................. (10,662,195)
-------------
NET DECREASE IN NET ASSETS
RESULTING FROM OPERATIONS........ $ (11,040,665)
-------------
-------------
</TABLE>
STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
FOR THE PERIOD
JULY 29,1994 THROUGH
NOVEMBER 30, 1994
(UNAUDITED) (NOTE 1)
--------------------
<S> <C>
INCREASE (DECREASE) IN NET ASSETS:
Operations:
Net investment loss........................................................................... $ (378,470)
Net realized loss............................................................................. (1,321,658)
Net unrealized depreciation................................................................... (9,340,537)
--------------------
Net decrease in net assets resulting from operations...................................... (11,040,665)
Net increase from transactions in shares of beneficial interest (Note 5)........................ 106,231,854
--------------------
Total increase............................................................................ 95,191,189
NET ASSETS:
Beginning of period............................................................................. 100,000
--------------------
END OF PERIOD (including net investment loss of $378,470)....................................... $ 95,291,189
--------------------
--------------------
</TABLE>
SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
52
<PAGE>
DEAN WITTER INTERNATIONAL SMALLCAP FUND
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1._ORGANIZATION AND ACCOUNTING POLICIES --_Dean Witter International SmallCap
Fund (the "Fund") is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as
amended (the "Act"), as a non-diversified, open-end management investment
company. The Fund was organized as a Massachusetts business trust on April 21,
1994 and had no operations other than those relating to organizational matters
and the issuance of 10,000 shares of beneficial interest for $100,000 to Dean
Witter InterCapital Inc. (the "Investment Manager"). The Fund commenced
operations on July 29, 1994.
____The following is a summary of significant accounting policies:
____ A.__VALUATION OF INVESTMENTS_--_(1) an equity security listed or traded on
the New York or American Stock Exchange or other domestic or foreign stock
exchanges is valued at its latest sale price on that exchange prior to the
time when assets are valued; if there were no sales that day, the security
is valued at the latest bid price (in cases where securities are traded on
more than one exchange; the securities are valued on the exchange
designated as the primary market by the Trustees); (2) all other portfolio
securities for which over-the-counter market quotations are readily
available are valued at the latest available bid price prior to the time of
valuation; (3) when market quotations are not readily available, including
circumstances under which it is determined by the Investment Manager that
sale and bid prices are not reflective of a security's market value,
portfolio securities are valued at their fair value as determined in good
faith under procedures established by and under the general supervision of
the Trustees; (4) certain of the Fund's portfolio securities may be valued
by an outside pricing service approved by the Trustees. The pricing service
utilizes a matrix system incorporating security quality, maturity and
coupon as the evaluation model parameters, and/or research and evaluations
by its staff, including review of broker-dealer market price quotations, in
determining what it believes is the fair valuation of the portfolio
securities valued by such pricing service; and (5) 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 on the identified
cost method. Dividend income and other distributions are recorded on the
ex-dividend date except certain dividends from foreign securities which are
recorded as soon as the Fund is informed after the ex-dividend date.
Interest income is accrued daily and includes amortization of discounts of
certain short-term securities.
____ C.__FOREIGN CURRENCY TRANSLATION_--_The books and records of the Fund are
maintained in U.S. dollars as follows: (1) the foreign currency market
value of investment securities, other assets and liabilities and forward
contracts are translated at the exchange rates prevailing at the end of the
period; and (2) purchases, sales, income and expenses are translated at the
exchange rates prevailing on the respective dates of such transactions. The
resultant exchange gains and losses are included in the Statement of
Operations as realized and unrealized gain/loss on foreign exchange
transactions. Pursuant to U.S. Federal income tax regulations, certain
foreign exchange gains/losses included in realized and unrealized gain/loss
are included in or are a reduction of ordinary income for federal income
tax purposes. The Fund does not isolate that portion of the results of
operations arising as a result of changes in the foreign exchange rates
from the changes in the market prices of the securities.
53
<PAGE>
DEAN WITTER INTERNATIONAL SMALLCAP FUND
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) (CONTINUED)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
____ D.__FORWARD FOREIGN CURRENCY CONTRACTS_--_The Fund may enter into forward
foreign currency contracts as a hedge against fluctuations in foreign
exchange rates. Forward contracts are valued daily at the appropriate
exchange rates. The resultant exchange gains and losses are included in the
Statement of Operations as unrealized gain/loss on foreign exchange
transactions. The Fund records realized gains or losses on delivery of the
currency or at the time the contract is extinguished (compensated) by
entering into a closing transaction prior to delivery.
____ E.__FEDERAL INCOME TAX STATUS_--_It is the Fund's policy to comply with the
requirements of the Internal Revenue Code applicable to regulated
investment companies and to distribute all of its taxable income to its
shareholders. Accordingly, no federal income tax provision is required.
____ F.__DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS_--_The Fund records
dividends and distributions to its shareholders on the record date. The
amount of dividends and distributions from net investment income and net
realized capital gains are determined in accordance with federal income tax
regulations which may differ from generally accepted accounting principles.
These "book/tax" differences are either considered temporary or permanent
in nature. To the extent these differences are permanent in nature, such
amounts are reclassified within the capital accounts based on their federal
tax-basis treatment; temporary differences do not require reclassification.
Dividends and distributions which exceed net investment income and net
realized capital gains for financial reporting purposes but not for tax
purposes are reported as dividends in excess of net investment income or
distributions in excess of net realized capital gains. To the extent they
exceed net investment income and net realized capital gains for tax
purposes, they are reported as distributions of paid-in-capital.
____ G.__ORGANIZATIONAL EXPENSES_--_The Investment Manager paid the
organizational expenses of the Fund in the amount of approximately
$160,000. The Fund will reimburse the Investment Manager for the full
amount thereof. Such expenses have been deferred and are being amortized by
the Fund on the straight-line method over a period not to exceed five years
from the commencement of operations.
2._INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT AND ADVISORY AGREEMENTS --_Pursuant to an Investment
Management Agreement, the Fund pays its Investment Manager a management fee,
calculated daily and payable monthly, by applying the annual rate of 1.25% to
the net assets of the Fund 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.
____Under a Sub-Advisory Agreement between Morgan Grenfell Investment Services
Limited (the "Sub-Advisor") and the Investment Manager, the Sub-Advisor provides
the Fund with investment advice and portfolio management relating to the Fund's
investments in securities, subject to the overall supervision of the Investment
Manager. As compensation for its services provided pursuant to the Sub-Advisory
Agreement, the Investment Manager pays the Sub-Advisor monthly compensation
equal to 40% of its monthly compensation.
54
<PAGE>
DEAN WITTER INTERNATIONAL SMALLCAP FUND
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) (CONTINUED)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3._PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION --_Shares of the Fund are distributed by Dean Witter
Distributors Inc. (the "Distributor"), an affiliate of the Investment Manager.
The Fund has adopted a Plan of Distribution (the "Plan") pursuant to Rule 12b-1
under the Act, pursuant to which the Fund pays the Distributor compensation,
accrued daily and payable monthly, at an annual rate of 1.0% of the lesser of:
(a) the average daily aggregate gross sales of the Fund's shares since the
Fund's inception (not including reinvestment of dividend or capital gain
distributions) less the average daily aggregate net asset value of the Fund's
shares redeemed since the Fund's inception upon which a contingent deferred
sales charge has been imposed or upon which such charge has been waived; or (b)
the Fund's average daily net assets. Amounts paid under the Plan are paid to the
Distributor to compensate it for the services provided and the expenses borne by
it and others in the distribution of the Fund's shares, including the payment of
commissions for sales of the Fund's shares and incentive compensation to, and
expenses of, the account executives of Dean Witter Reynolds Inc., an affiliate
of the Investment Manager and Distributor, and other employees or selected
dealers who engage in or support distribution of the Fund's shares or who
service shareholder accounts, including overhead and telephone expenses,
printing and distribution of prospectuses and reports used in connection with
the offering of the Fund's shares to other than current shareholders and
preparation, printing and distribution of sales literature and advertising
materials. In addition, the Distributor may be compensated under the Plan for
its opportunity costs in advancing such amounts which compensation would be in
the form of a carrying charge on any unreimbursed expenses incurred by the
Distributor.
____Provided that the Plan continues in effect, any cumulative expenses incurred
but not yet recovered by the Distributor, may be recovered through future
distribution fees from the Fund and contingent deferred sales charges from the
Fund's shareholders.
____The Distributor has informed the Fund that for the period ended November 30,
1994, it received approximately $44,000 in contingent deferred sales charges
from redemptions of the Fund's shares. The Fund's shareholders pay such charges
which are not an expense of the Fund.
4._SECURITY TRANSACTIONS AND TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES --_The cost of
purchases and proceeds from sales of portfolio securities, excluding short-term
investments, for the period ended November 30, 1994 aggregated $104,205,258 and
$4,785,709, respectively.
____For the period ended November 30, 1994, the Fund incurred brokerage
commissions of $24,794 with affiliates of Morgan Grenfell Investment Services
Limited for portfolio transactions executed on behalf of the Fund. At November
30, 1994, the Fund's receivable for investments purchased included unsettled
trades with affiliates of Morgan Grenfell Investment Services Limited of
$46,357.
____Dean Witter Trust Company, an affiliate of the Investment Manager and
Distributor, is the Fund's transfer agent. At September 30, 1994, the Fund had
transfer agent fees and expenses payable of approximately $14,000.
55
<PAGE>
DEAN WITTER INTERNATIONAL SMALLCAP FUND
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) (CONTINUED)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5._SHARES OF BENEFICIAL INTEREST --_Transactions in shares of beneficial
interest were as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
FOR THE PERIOD
JULY 29, 1994*
THROUGH NOVEMBER 30, 1994
-------------------------------
SHARES AMOUNT
------------- ----------------
<S> <C> <C>
Sold................................................................................... 11,028,586 $ 109,641,332
Repurchased............................................................................ (355,892) (3,409,478)
------------- ----------------
Net increase........................................................................... 10,672,694 $ 106,231,854
------------- ----------------
------------- ----------------
</TABLE>
- ------------
* COMMENCEMENT OF OPERATIONS.
6. FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS WITH OFF-BALANCE SHEET RISK --_As of November 30, 1994,
the Fund had outstanding forward foreign currency contracts ("forward
contracts") as a hedge against changes in foreign exchange rates. Forward
contracts involve elements of market risk in excess of the amount reflected in
the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. The Fund bears the risk of an
unfavorable change in the foreign exchange rates underlying the forward
contracts. Risks may also arise upon entering into these contracts from the
potential inability of the counterparties to meet the terms of their contracts.
56
<PAGE>
DEAN WITTER INTERNATIONAL SMALLCAP FUND
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Selected ratios and per share data for a share of beneficial interest
outstanding through the period:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
FOR THE PERIOD
JULY 29, 1994*
THROUGH
NOVEMBER 30, 1994
(UNAUDITED)
------------------
<S> <C>
PER SHARE OPERATING PERFORMANCE:
Net asset value, beginning of period......... $10.00
-------
Net investment loss.......................... (0.04)
Net realized and unrealized loss on
investments................................. (1.04)
-------
Total from investment operations............. (1.08)
-------
Net asset value, end of period............... $8.92
-------
-------
TOTAL INVESTMENT RETURN+..................... (10.80)%(1)
RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA:
Net assets, end of period (in thousands)..... 95,291
Ratios to average net assets:
Expenses................................... 2.81%(2)
Net investment loss........................ (1.20)%(2)
Portfolio turnover rate...................... 7%(1)
<FN>
- ------------------------
+ DOES NOT REFLECT THE DEDUCTION OF SALES LOAD.
* COMMENCEMENT OF OPERATIONS.
(1) NOT ANNUALIZED.
(2) ANNUALIZED.
</TABLE>
SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
57