DEAN WITTER INTERNATIONAL SMALLCAP FUND
DEFS14A, 1997-09-30
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<PAGE>
                            SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
 
                  Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of
            the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No.    )
 
    Filed by the Registrant /X/
    Filed by a Party other than the Registrant / /
 
    Check the appropriate box:
    / /  Preliminary Proxy Statement
    / /  Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule
         14a-6(e)(2))
    /X/  Definitive Proxy Statement
    / /  Definitive Additional Materials
    / /  Soliciting Material Pursuant to Section240.14a-11(c) or
         Section240.14a-12
 
                        DEAN WITTER INTERNATIONAL SMALLCAP FUND
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                (Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
 
                                                TODD LEBO
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    (Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)
 
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
 
/X/  No fee required.
/ /  Fee   computed  on   table  below   per  Exchange   Act  Rules  14a-6(i)(1)
     and 0-11.
     (1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:
         -----------------------------------------------------------------------
     (2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:
         -----------------------------------------------------------------------
     (3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed
         pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the
         filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):
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     (4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
         -----------------------------------------------------------------------
     (5) Total fee paid:
         -----------------------------------------------------------------------
/ /  Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.
/ /  Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule
     0-11(a)(2) and identify the  filing for which the  offsetting fee was  paid
     previously.  Identify the previous filing by registration statement number,
     or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.
     (1) Amount Previously Paid:
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     (2) Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
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     (3) Filing Party:
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     (4) Date Filed:
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<PAGE>
   
                    DEAN WITTER INTERNATIONAL SMALLCAP FUND
    
 
                            ------------------------
 
                   NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
                          TO BE HELD NOVEMBER 25, 1997
 
                            ------------------------
 
   
    A Special Meeting of Shareholders of DEAN WITTER INTERNATIONAL SMALLCAP FUND
(the  "Fund"), an unincorporated business trust  organized under the laws of the
Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts,  will  be   held  in  the  Conference   Center,
Forty-Fourth  Floor,  Two  World Trade  Center,  New  York, New  York  10048, on
November 25, 1997, at 9:00 a.m., New York City time, for the following purposes:
    
 
        1.   To approve  or  disapprove a  sub-advisory agreement  between  Dean
    Witter   InterCapital  Inc.   ("InterCapital")  and   Morgan  Stanley  Asset
    Management Inc. ("MSAM"); and
 
        2.  To  transact such  other business as  may properly  come before  the
    meeting or any adjournments thereof.
 
    Shareholders of record as of the close of business on September 16, 1997 are
entitled  to notice of and to  vote at the meeting. If  you cannot be present in
person, your management would  greatly appreciate your  filling in, signing  and
returning the enclosed proxy promptly in the envelope provided for that purpose.
 
   
    In  the event that the necessary quorum  to transact business at the meeting
or the vote  required to approve  or reject  any proposal is  not obtained,  the
persons named as proxies may propose one or more adjournments of the meeting for
a total of not more than 60 days in the aggregate to permit further solicitation
of  proxies.  Any such  adjournment  will require  the  affirmative vote  of the
holders of a majority of the Fund's shares present in person or by proxy at  the
meeting.  The persons named  as proxies will  vote in favor  of such adjournment
those proxies which they are entitled to vote in favor of the proposal set forth
herein and will  vote against  any such adjournment  those proxies  to be  voted
against such proposal.
    
 
                                          BARRY FINK,
                                          SECRETARY
 
   
September 23, 1997
New York, New York
    
 
                                    IMPORTANT
      YOU  CAN  HELP  AVOID THE  NECESSITY  AND EXPENSE  OF  SENDING FOLLOW-UP
  LETTERS TO ENSURE A QUORUM BY PROMPTLY RETURNING THE ENCLOSED PROXY. IF  YOU
  ARE  UNABLE TO  BE PRESENT IN  PERSON, PLEASE  FILL IN, SIGN  AND RETURN THE
  ENCLOSED PROXY IN ORDER THAT A QUORUM MAY BE REPRESENTED AT THE MEETING. THE
  ENCLOSED ENVELOPE REQUIRES NO POSTAGE IF MAILED IN THE UNITED STATES.
 
    THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE FUND RECOMMENDS THAT YOU CAST YOUR VOTE FOR
     APPROVAL OF THE SUB-ADVISORY AGREEMENT BETWEEN INTERCAPITAL AND MSAM.
 
                             YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT
<PAGE>
 
   
                    DEAN WITTER INTERNATIONAL SMALLCAP FUND
                TWO WORLD TRADE CENTER, NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10048
    
 
                             ---------------------
 
                                PROXY STATEMENT
                             ---------------------
 
                        SPECIAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
 
                               NOVEMBER 25, 1997
 
    This  statement is furnished in connection  with the solicitation of proxies
by the Board  of Trustees (the  "Board") of DEAN  WITTER INTERNATIONAL  SMALLCAP
FUND (the "Fund"), for use at the Special Meeting of shareholders of the Fund to
be held on November 25, 1997 (the "Meeting"), and at any adjournments thereof.
 
   
    If  the enclosed form of proxy is  properly executed and returned in time to
be voted  at  the  Meeting, the  proxies  named  therein will  vote  the  shares
represented  by the  proxy in accordance  with the  instructions marked thereon.
Unmarked proxies will  be voted in  favor of the  proposal as set  forth in  the
attached  Notice of Special Meeting  of Shareholders. A proxy  may be revoked at
any time  prior to  its exercise  by any  of the  following: written  notice  of
revocation to the Secretary of the Fund, execution and delivery of a later dated
proxy to the Secretary of the Fund, or attendance and voting at the Meeting.
    
 
   
    Shareholders  of record as of  the close of business  on September 16, 1997,
the record date for the determination of shareholders entitled to notice of  and
to  vote at  the Meeting, are  entitled to  one vote for  each share  held and a
fractional vote for a fractional share. No person was known to own as much as 5%
of the outstanding shares of the Fund on that date. The Trustees and officers of
the Fund, together, owned less than 1% of the Fund's outstanding shares on  that
date.  The percentage ownership of shares of  the Fund changes from time to time
depending on purchases and sales by shareholders and the total number of  shares
outstanding.
    
 
   
    The  cost of soliciting proxies for  the Meeting, which consists principally
of printing  and mailing  expenses and  which is  expected to  be  approximately
$20,000, will be borne by the Fund. The solicitation of proxies will be by mail,
which  may  be  supplemented by  solicitation  by mail,  telephone  or otherwise
through Trustees and officers of the Fund and officers and regular employees  of
Dean Witter InterCapital Inc. ("InterCapital" or the "Investment Manager"), Dean
Witter  Trust FSB, Dean Witter Services Company Inc. and/or Dean Witter Reynolds
Inc., without special compensation. The first mailing of this Proxy Statement is
expected to be made on or about September 23, 1997.
    
 
    Dean Witter Trust FSB may call shareholders to ask if they would be  willing
to  have their  votes recorded by  telephone. The telephone  voting procedure is
designed to  authenticate shareholders'  identities,  to allow  shareholders  to
authorize  the voting of their shares  in accordance with their instructions and
to  confirm   that  their   instructions  have   been  recorded   properly.   No
recommendation  will be made as  to how a shareholder  should vote on a Proposal
other than  to refer  to the  recommendation of  the Board.  The Fund  has  been
advised by counsel that these procedures are consistent with the requirements of
applicable  law. Shareholders voting by telephone will be asked for their social
security  number  or  other  identifying  information  and  will  be  given   an
opportunity  to authorize proxies to vote  their shares in accordance with their
instructions. To ensure that the  shareholders' instructions have been  recorded
correctly  they will receive a confirmation of their instructions in the mail. A
 
                                       2
<PAGE>
special toll-free number will be available in case the information contained  in
the  confirmation is  incorrect. Although a  shareholder's vote may  be taken by
telephone, each shareholder will receive a copy of this Proxy Statement and  may
vote by mail using the enclosed proxy card.
 
   
   APPROVAL OR DISAPPROVAL OF A SUB-ADVISORY AGREEMENT BETWEEN INTERCAPITAL
                   AND MORGAN STANLEY ASSET MANAGEMENT INC.
    
 
THE PROPOSAL
 
    The  Fund has,  since the  commencement of  its operations,  been managed by
InterCapital pursuant to an investment management agreement between the Fund and
InterCapital (the  "Investment Management  Agreement"). In  accordance with  the
Investment  Management  Agreement,  InterCapital  entered  into  a  sub-advisory
agreement with Morgan Grenfell  Investment Services Limited ("Morgan  Grenfell")
(the  "Current Sub-Advisory  Agreement") pursuant  to which  Morgan Grenfell has
provided the Fund with  investment advice and  portfolio management relating  to
the  Fund's  investments, subject  to the  overall supervision  of InterCapital.
Morgan Grenfell has advised the Board  of Trustees of the Fund and  InterCapital
of its intention to resign as sub-adviser. Morgan Grenfell has advised the Board
and  InterCapital that in  order to ensure  an orderly transition  to a new sub-
adviser, it would continue serving as sub-adviser to the Fund until such time as
shareholders of  the  Fund approve  a  new  sub-advisory agreement  with  a  new
sub-adviser.
 
   
    On  August 7, 1997,  InterCapital recommended to the  Board the selection of
Morgan Stanley Asset Management Inc. ("MSAM"), an affiliate of InterCapital,  to
act  as the new  sub-adviser to the  Fund (see "Morgan  Stanley Asset Management
Inc." below). MSAM would perform the same responsibilities previously  performed
by  Morgan Grenfell.  InterCapital's recommendation  was based  primarily on its
favorable view of the organizational depth, reputation, historical  performance,
expertise  and  experience of  MSAM. InterCapital  also  proposed that  upon the
approval and  execution of  a new  sub-advisory agreement  with MSAM  (the  "New
Sub-Advisory  Agreement"), the Trustees  approve an amendment  to the Management
Agreement that  would  reduce the  overall  annual management  fee  InterCapital
receives from the Fund from 1.25% of the Fund's daily net assets to 1.15% of the
Fund's  daily net assets. This would have the concomitant effect of lowering the
fee payable under  the New Sub-Advisory  Agreement which, identical  to the  fee
under  the Current Sub-Advisory Agreement,  is proposed to amount  to 40% of the
fee payable to InterCapital pursuant to the Investment Management Agreement (see
"The Current Sub-Advisory Agreement" below).
    
 
THE BOARD'S CONSIDERATION
 
   
    The Board of the Fund  met in person on August  14, 1997 for the purpose  of
considering  the  selection  of  a  new  sub-adviser  and  adoption  of  the New
Sub-Advisory Agreement (the "New Sub-Advisory  Agreement"). At their meeting  in
person   on   August   14,   1997,   the   Trustees   considered  InterCapital's
recommendation. In  particular,  the  Trustees  considered  the  performance  of
certain  similar funds and accounts currently advised by MSAM. The Trustees also
considered the quality  and extent of  the services proposed  to be provided  by
MSAM,  and  the  organizational  depth, reputation  and  experience  of  MSAM in
investing internationally. In addition, the Trustees reviewed material furnished
by MSAM  regarding  MSAM's  personnel  and operations.  Prior  to  the  meeting,
representatives  of MSAM  reviewed with the  Independent Trustees  (that is, the
Trustees who are not "interested persons" of  the Fund, as that term is  defined
in  the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "Act")) their respective
philosophies of management, performance  expectations and methods of  operation.
The  Board  considered the  confluence  of all  the  factors mentioned  above in
arriving at its decision to approve  the appointment of MSAM as sub-adviser  and
no one factor was given any greater weight than any of the others.
    
 
                                       3
<PAGE>
    The Board of Trustees found MSAM's experience in international investing and
historical performance to be well suited for the Fund. In addition, the Board of
Trustees reviewed and discussed the terms and provisions of the New Sub-Advisory
Agreement.  The terms  of the New  Sub-Advisory Agreement are  identical, in all
material respects, to the Current  Sub-Advisory Agreement, except for the  dates
of  effectiveness and  termination and the  deletion of a  provision pursuant to
which Morgan  Grenfell  and  its  affiliates  were  prohibited  from  acting  as
investment  adviser or sub-adviser  to funds that  are similar to  the Fund. The
terms of the  Current Sub-Advisory  Agreement are described  under "The  Current
Sub-Advisory  Agreement"  below. A  form of  the  New Sub-Advisory  Agreement is
attached hereto as Exhibit A. Based on their consideration of the foregoing  and
such  other factors  as they  deemed relevant,  the Trustees  determined that it
would be in the best interests of  the Fund and its shareholders to select  MSAM
to serve as sub-adviser to the Fund pursuant to the New Sub-Advisory Agreement.
 
    Based  upon the  Board's review and  evaluations of these  materials and its
consideration of all factors deemed relevant, the Board determined that the  New
Sub-Advisory Agreement is reasonable, fair and in the best interests of the Fund
and  its shareholders. Accordingly, the Board,  including all of the Independent
Trustees, approved the  New Sub-Advisory  Agreement and voted  to recommend  its
approval to the Fund's shareholders.
 
THE CURRENT SUB-ADVISORY AGREEMENT
 
    The Current Sub-Advisory Agreement requires that the sub-adviser provide the
Fund  with  investment advisory  services  for its  investments.  The investment
advisory services that  the sub-adviser  is required to  provide include,  among
other  things: obtaining and evaluating such  information and advice relating to
the economy, securities markets and securities  as it deems necessary or  useful
to  discharge its  duties; continuously  managing the  assets of  the Fund  in a
manner consistent with the investment objective and policies of the Fund; making
decisions as to foreign currency matters and making determinations as to forward
foreign  exchange  contracts  and  options  and  futures  contracts  in  foreign
currencies;  determining  the  securities  to be  purchased,  sold  or otherwise
disposed  of  by  the  Fund  and  the  timing  of  such  purchases,  sales   and
dispositions;  taking such further action, including the placing of purchase and
sale orders on behalf of the Fund, furnishing or placing at the disposal of  the
Fund  and  InterCapital  such  of  the  information,  evaluations,  analyses and
opinions formulated or obtained by it in the discharge of its duties as the Fund
and InterCapital may, from time to time, reasonably request.
 
    The Current Sub-Advisory Agreement provides  that the sub-adviser shall,  at
its  own expense, maintain  such staff and  employ or retain  such personnel and
consult with such other persons as it shall, from time to time, determine to  be
necessary  or useful  to the  performance of  its obligations  under the Current
Sub-Advisory Agreement. The sub-adviser also bears other costs of rendering  the
investment   advisory  services  performed   by  it  pursuant   to  the  Current
Sub-Advisory Agreement, including such clerical help and bookkeeping services as
it may require.
 
   
    In return  for  the  services  it renders  under  the  Current  Sub-Advisory
Agreement,   the  sub-adviser  is   paid  by  the   Investment  Manager  monthly
compensation equal to  40% of the  Investment Manager's compensation  receivable
pursuant  to the Investment  Management Agreement. Any  change in the Investment
Management  Agreement  which  has  the   effect  of  raising  or  lowering   the
compensation  of the Investment Manager has the concomitant effect of raising or
lowering the fee payable  to the sub-adviser. During  the fiscal year ended  May
31, 1997, InterCapital accrued to Morgan Grenfell compensation under the Current
Sub-Advisory  Agreement of $633,634. As  stated above, InterCapital has proposed
to the  Trustees  that the  Trustees  approve  an amendment  to  the  Management
Agreement,  to take  effect upon  approval by  shareholders of  the proposed New
Sub-Advisory  Agreement,  pursuant  to   which  InterCapital  would  lower   its
compensation  under the Investment Management Agreement from 1.25% of the Fund's
daily net assets to 1.15% of the Fund's  daily net assets. Set forth below is  a
    
 
                                       4
<PAGE>
tabular  comparison of the fees  paid to Morgan Grenfell  during the Fund's most
recent fiscal  year  under  the  Current  Sub-Advisory  Agreement  (40%  of  the
compensation  payable to InterCapital under  the Investment Management Agreement
at a rate of 1.25% of the Fund's  net assets) and the fees that would have  been
paid  to MSAM during the same period  if the New Sub-Advisory Agreement had been
in effect (40% of the compensation payable to InterCapital under the  Investment
Management Agreement at a lower rate of 1.15% of the Fund's daily net assets).
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                            COMPENSATION UNDER          PRO FORMA COMPENSATION UNDER
                      CURRENT SUB-ADVISORY AGREEMENT     NEW SUB-ADVISORY AGREEMENT
                           (40% OF 1.25% OF THE             (40% OF 1.15% OF THE
                            FUND'S NET ASSETS)               FUND'S NET ASSETS)
                         DURING FISCAL YEAR ENDED         DURING FISCAL YEAR ENDED
SUB-ADVISER                    MAY 31, 1997                     MAY 31, 1997
- --------------------  ------------------------------  ---------------------------------
<S>                   <C>                             <C>
Morgan Grenfell.....           $633,634(1)                           --
 
MSAM................                --                           $582,943(2)
</TABLE>
    
 
- ------------------------
   
(1) Dollar amounts reflect the actual effective rate paid during the fiscal year
    ended May 31, 1997.
    
 
   
(2) Dollar  amounts  under  New  Sub-Advisory  Agreement  are  hypothetical  and
    represent amounts  that  would  have  been paid  had  the  New  Sub-Advisory
    Agreement been in effect during the Fund's fiscal year ended May 31, 1997.
    
 
   
    Note: None  of  the other  expenses of  the  Fund is  expected to  change in
          connection with the actions recommended in this Proxy Statement.
    
 
   
    As demonstrated above, the fee that would have been paid to MSAM if the  New
Sub-Advisory Agreement had been in effect would have been approximately 8% lower
than  the fee  actually paid to  Morgan Grenfell under  the Current Sub-Advisory
Agreement during the period.
    
 
    The Current  Sub-Advisory  Agreement  was  last approved  by  the  Board  of
Trustees  on February 21, 1997 and by the  shareholders of the Fund at a Special
Meeting of Shareholders on May  21, 1997 in connection  with the merger of  Dean
Witter Discover & Co. ("DWDC") and Morgan Stanley Group Inc. ("Morgan Stanley"),
which  resulted in the formation of Morgan  Stanley, Dean Witter, Discover & Co.
("MSDWD").
 
    The Current Sub-Advisory Agreement provides  that, after its initial  period
of effectiveness, it may be continued in effect from year to year, provided that
such continuance is approved by the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting
securities  (as defined below) of the Fund or  by the Trustees of the Fund, and,
in either event, by  the vote cast  in person by a  majority of the  Independent
Trustees  at a meeting  called for the  purpose of voting  on such approval. The
Current Sub-Advisory Agreement had been continued in effect from year to year by
the action  of the  Board,  including the  Independent  Trustees. Prior  to  the
Board's  February  21, 1997  meeting,  the most  recent  approval occurred  at a
meeting of the Board held on April 17, 1996.
 
    The Current Sub-Advisory Agreement also  provides that it may be  terminated
at any time by the sub-adviser, InterCapital, the Board (including a majority of
the Independent Trustees) or by a vote of the majority of the outstanding voting
securities  of the Fund (as defined below), in each instance without the payment
of any penalty, on thirty days' notice. The Current Sub-Advisory Agreement  also
terminates  in  the  event  of  the  termination  of  the  Investment Management
Agreement or in the event of its assignment.
 
                                       5
<PAGE>
MORGAN STANLEY ASSET MANAGEMENT INC.
 
   
    MSAM, like InterCapital, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of MSDWD, a preeminent
global financial services firm that  maintains leading market positions in  each
of  its  three  primary  businesses--securities,  asset  management  and  credit
services. As  noted above,  MSDWD, whose  principal office  is located  at  1585
Broadway, New York, New York 10036, was formed as a result of the merger of DWDC
and Morgan Stanley which was consummated on May 31, 1997. MSAM has its principal
offices  at 1221 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York 10020 and conducts a
worldwide portfolio management business. It provides a broad range of  portfolio
management services to customers in the United States and abroad.
    
 
    Set  forth  below is  the  name and  principal  occupation of  the principal
executive officer and each director of MSAM. The address for each is 1221 Avenue
of the Americas, New York, New York 10020:
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                          <C>
NAME AND ADDRESS                                                         PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION
- -------------------------------------------  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Barton M. Biggs,                             Chairman and Managing Director, MSAM; Managing Director of Morgan Stanley &
  CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS           Co. Incorporated ("MS & Co."); Chairman of Morgan Stanley Asset Management
                                               Limited; Director of Van Kampen/American Capital Holdings, Inc. ("VK/AC
                                               Holdings, Inc.")
Peter A. Nadosy,                             Vice Chairman, Director and Managing Director, MSAM; Managing Director of MS
  VICE-CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS      & Co.; Director of Morgan Stanley Asset Management Limited
James M. Allwin,                             President, Director and Managing Director, MSAM; Managing Director of MS &
  DIRECTOR AND PRESIDENT                       Co.; President of Morgan Stanley Realty Inc.; Director of VK/AC Holdings,
                                               Inc.
Gordon S. Gray                               Director and Managing Director, MSAM; Managing Director of MS & Co.
  DIRECTOR
Dennis G. Sherva,                            Director and Managing Director, MSAM; Managing Director of MS & Co.
  DIRECTOR
</TABLE>
 
   
    MSAM serves  in  various  portfolio management  and  similar  capacities  to
investment  companies and pension  plans and other  institutional and individual
investors. Appendix I  lists the  investment companies for  which MSAM  provides
investment  management or  investment advisory  services and  which have similar
investment objectives to those of  the Fund and sets  forth the fees payable  to
MSAM by such companies and their net assets as of September 16, 1997.
    
 
    Dean  Witter  Distributors  Inc.  (the  "Distributor")  acts  as  the Fund's
distributor. Like  MSAM  and InterCapital,  the  Distributor is  a  wholly-owned
subsidiary  of MSDWD. Pursuant to the Fund's  Rule 12b-1 plan, the Fund pays the
Distributor 12b-1 fees for distribution related services. Dean Witter Trust  FSB
("DWT"), also an affiliate of MSAM and InterCapital, serves as transfer agent of
the  Fund.  During the  Fund's fiscal  year ended  May 31,  1997, the  Fund paid
$1,267,269 in  distribution fees  to the  Distributor and  $233,996 in  transfer
agency fees to DWT.
 
    Once  the New  Sub-Advisory Agreement is  approved, the  Distributor and DWT
fully intend to continue to provide, respectively, the same services to the Fund
as are currently being provided.
 
                                       6
<PAGE>
    MS &  Co. became  an affiliated  broker  of the  Fund (MS  & Co.,  MSAM  and
InterCapital  are under the  common control of  MSDWD) on May  31, 1997 upon the
consummation of the merger  of DWDC and Morgan  Stanley. During the fiscal  year
ended  May 31, 1997,  the Fund paid  $10,153 (2.1% of  all brokerage commissions
paid during the fiscal year) to MS & Co.
 
   
INTEREST OF CERTAIN PERSONS
    
 
   
    MSDWD, InterCapital, MSAM, MS  & Co., DWSC, the  Distributor and certain  of
their  respective Directors, officers, and  employees, including persons who are
Trustees or officers  of the  Fund, may  be deemed to  have an  interest in  the
proposal  described in this Proxy  Statement to the extent  that certain of such
companies  and  their  affiliates  have  contractual  and  other   arrangements,
described  elsewhere in  this proxy statement,  pursuant to which  they are paid
fees by  the  Fund,  and  certain  of  those  individuals  are  compensated  for
performing  services relating to the Fund and may also own shares of MSDWD. Such
companies and persons may thus be deemed to derive benefits from the approval by
shareholders of such proposal.
    
 
VOTE REQUIRED
 
    The New Sub-Advisory Agreement cannot be implemented unless approved at  the
Meeting  by a majority of the outstanding  voting securities of the Fund. Such a
majority means the affirmative  vote of the  holders of (a) 67%  or more of  the
shares  of the Fund present in person or by proxy at the Meeting, if the holders
of more than 50% of the outstanding shares are so present, or (b) more than  50%
of  the outstanding  shares of  the Fund,  whichever is  less. In  the event the
shareholders do  not approve  the  New Sub-Advisory  Agreement by  the  required
majority  vote, the Board  will take such action  as it deems to  be in the best
interests of the Fund and its shareholders, which may include calling a  special
meeting of shareholders to vote on another sub-advisory agreement.
 
    THE  TRUSTEES,  INCLUDING  ALL  OF  THE  INDEPENDENT  TRUSTEES,  UNANIMOUSLY
RECOMMEND THAT THE SHAREHOLDERS APPROVE THE NEW SUB-ADVISORY AGREEMENT.
 
                             ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
 
   
    In the event  that the  necessary quorum to  transact business  or the  vote
required  to approve or reject any proposal  is not obtained at the Meeting, the
persons named as proxies may propose one or more adjournments of the Meeting for
a total of not more than 60 days in the aggregate to permit further solicitation
of proxies.  Any such  adjournment  will require  the  affirmative vote  of  the
holders  of a majority of the Fund's shares present in person or by proxy at the
Meeting. The persons  named as proxies  will vote in  favor of such  adjournment
those  proxies which they are entitled to vote in favor of the Proposal and will
vote against any such adjournment those proxies required to be voted against the
Proposal.
    
 
    Abstentions and, if applicable, broker  "non-votes" will not count as  votes
in  favor  of any  proposal, and  broker "non-votes"  will not  be deemed  to be
present at the  meeting for  purposes of determining  whether a  proposal to  be
voted  upon has been approved. Broker "non-votes" are shares held in street name
for which the broker indicates that instructions have not been received from the
beneficial owners or  other persons entitled  to vote and  for which the  broker
does not have discretionary voting authority.
 
                             SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS
 
    The  Fund  does  not  hold  regular  shareholders'  meetings.  Proposals  of
shareholders intended to be presented at  the next meeting of shareholders  must
be  received a reasonable time prior to  the mailing of the proxy materials sent
in connection with the  meeting, for inclusion in  the proxy statement for  that
meeting.
 
                                       7
<PAGE>
                            REPORTS TO SHAREHOLDERS
 
   
    THE  FUND'S MOST  RECENT ANNUAL  REPORT, FOR THE  FISCAL YEAR  ENDED MAY 31,
1997, IS AVAILABLE WITHOUT CHARGE UPON  REQUEST FROM NINA MACEDA AT DEAN  WITTER
TRUST FSB, HARBORSIDE FINANCIAL CENTER, PLAZA TWO, JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY 07311
(TELEPHONE 1-800-869-NEWS (TOLL-FREE)).
    
 
                                 OTHER BUSINESS
 
    The  management knows  of no  other matters  which may  be presented  at the
Meeting. However, if any matters not now known properly come before the Meeting,
it is the intention of the persons named in the enclosed form of proxy, or their
substitutes, to vote  all shares  that they  are entitled  to vote  on any  such
matter,  utilizing such  proxy in  accordance with  their best  judgment on such
matters.
 
                       By Order of the Board of Trustees
 
                                   BARRY FINK
                                   SECRETARY
 
                                       8
<PAGE>
                                                                       EXHIBIT A
 
                         FORM OF SUB-ADVISORY AGREEMENT
 
   
    AGREEMENT  made as  of the               ,  1997 by and  between Dean Witter
InterCapital Inc., a Delaware corporation (herein referred to as the "Investment
Manager"), and Morgan  Stanley Asset  Management Inc.,  a Delaware  Corporation,
(herein referred to as the "Sub-Adviser").
    
 
    WHEREAS,  Dean Witter International SmallCap Fund (herein referred to as the
"Fund") is engaged in business as an open-end management investment company  and
is  registered as such under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the
"Act"); and
 
    WHEREAS, the Investment  Manager has entered  into an Investment  Management
Agreement  with  the Fund  (the "Investment  Management Agreement")  wherein the
Investment Manager has agreed to  provide investment management services to  the
Fund; and
 
    WHEREAS,  the Sub-Adviser is  registered as an  investment adviser under the
Investment Advisers Act of  1940, and engages  in the business  of acting as  an
investment adviser; and
 
    WHEREAS,  the  Investment  Manager desires  to  retain the  services  of the
Sub-Adviser to render investment  advisory services for the  Fund in the  manner
and on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth; and
 
    WHEREAS, the Sub-Adviser desires to be retained by the Investment Manager to
perform services on said terms and conditions:
 
    NOW,  THEREFORE, in consideration of the  mutual covenants and agreements of
the parties  hereto as  herein set  forth,  the parties  covenant and  agree  as
follows:
 
     1.  Subject to the supervision of the  Fund, its officers and Trustees, and
the Investment  Manager,  and  in accordance  with  the  investment  objectives,
policies  and restrictions set forth  in the then-current Registration Statement
relating to the Fund, and such investment objectives, policies and  restrictions
from time to time prescribed by the Trustees of the Fund and communicated by the
Investment  Manager to  the Sub-Adviser, the  Sub-Adviser agrees  to provide the
Fund with investment advisory services with respect to the Fund's investments to
obtain and  evaluate  such  information  and advice  relating  to  the  economy,
securities  markets and securities as it  deems necessary or useful to discharge
its duties hereunder; to continuously manage the assets of the Fund in a  manner
consistent  with  the investment  objective and  policies of  the Fund;  to make
decisions as to foreign currency matters  and make determinations as to  forward
foreign  exchange  contracts  and  options  and  futures  contracts  in  foreign
currencies; shall determine the  securities to be  purchased, sold or  otherwise
disposed   of  by  the  Fund  and  the  timing  of  such  purchases,  sales  and
dispositions; to take such further action, including the placing of purchase and
sale orders on behalf of the Fund, as it shall deem necessary or appropriate; to
furnish to or place at the disposal of the Fund and the Investment Manager  such
of the information, evaluations, analyses and opinions formulated or obtained by
it  in the discharge of  its duties as the Fund  and the Investment Manager may,
from  time  to  time,  reasonably  request.  The  Investment  Manager  and   the
Sub-Adviser  shall each make  its officers and employees  available to the other
from time to time at reasonable times to review investment policies of the  Fund
and to consult with each other.
 
     2.  The  Sub-Adviser shall,  at its  own expense,  maintain such  staff and
employ or retain such personnel and consult with such other persons as it  shall
from  time to time determine to be necessary or useful to the performance of its
obligations under  this  Agreement.  Without  limiting  the  generality  of  the
foregoing, the staff
 
                                      A-1
<PAGE>
and  personnel of the Sub-Adviser shall be deemed to include persons employed or
otherwise retained by the Sub-Adviser  to furnish statistical and other  factual
data,  advice regarding economic factors and trends, information with respect to
technical and scientific  developments, and such  other information, advice  and
assistance  as the Investment Manager may desire. The Sub-Adviser shall maintain
whatever records as may be  required to be maintained by  it under the Act.  All
such records so maintained shall be made available to the Fund, upon the request
of the Investment Manager or the Fund.
 
     3. The Fund will, from time to time, furnish or otherwise make available to
the  Sub-Adviser such financial reports,  proxy statements and other information
relating to  the  business  and affairs  of  the  Fund as  the  Sub-Adviser  may
reasonably require in order to discharge its duties and obligations hereunder or
to comply with any applicable law and regulations and the investment objectives,
policies  and restrictions from time  to time prescribed by  the Trustees of the
Fund.
 
     4. The Sub-Adviser shall bear the cost of rendering the investment advisory
services to be  performed by  it under  this Agreement,  and shall,  at its  own
expense,  pay the  compensation of  the officers and  employees, if  any, of the
Fund, employed  by  the Sub-Adviser,  and  such clerical  help  and  bookkeeping
services  as the Sub-Adviser  shall reasonably require  in performing its duties
hereunder.
 
     5. The Fund assumes and shall pay or cause to be paid all other expenses of
the Fund,  including,  without  limitation:  any fees  paid  to  the  Investment
Manager;  fees pursuant to any plan of distribution that the Fund may adopt; the
charges  and  expenses  of  any  registrar,  any  custodian,  sub-custodian   or
depository  appointed by  the Fund  for the  safekeeping of  its cash, portfolio
securities and  other property,  and any  stock transfer  or dividend  agent  or
agents  appointed by  the Fund; brokers'  commissions chargeable to  the Fund in
connection with portfolio securities transactions to which the Fund is a  party;
all taxes, including securities issuance and transfer taxes, and fees payable by
the  Fund to federal,  state or other  governmental agencies or  pursuant to any
foreign laws;  the  cost  and  expense of  engraving  or  printing  certificates
representing  shares of the Fund; all costs  and expenses in connection with the
registration and maintenance of registration of the Fund and its shares with the
Securities and Exchange Commission and various states and other jurisdictions or
pursuant to  any  foreign  laws  (including  filing  fees  and  legal  fees  and
disbursements   of  counsel);  the  cost  and  expense  of  printing  (including
typesetting) and distributing prospectuses of  the Fund and supplements  thereto
to the Fund's shareholders; all expenses of shareholders' and Trustees' meetings
and  of  preparing,  printing  and  mailing  proxy  statements  and  reports  to
shareholders; fees and travel  expenses of Trustees or  members of any  advisory
board  or  committee  who  are  not  employees  of  the  Investment  Manager  or
Sub-Adviser; all expenses incident to the payment of any dividend, distribution,
withdrawal or redemption whether in shares  or in cash; charges and expenses  of
any  outside service used for pricing of the Fund's shares; charges and expenses
of legal counsel,  including counsel to  the Trustees  of the Fund  who are  not
interested  persons (as defined in the Act)  of the Fund, the Investment Manager
or the  Sub-Adviser, and  of  independent accountants,  in connection  with  any
matter  relating to the Fund; membership dues of industry associations; interest
payable on Fund borrowings; postage; insurance premiums on property or personnel
(including officers  and Trustees)  of  the Fund  which  inure to  its  benefit;
extraordinary   expenses  (including  but  not   limited  to  legal  claims  and
liabilities and litigation costs and  any indemnification related thereto);  and
all  other charges and costs of the Fund's operation unless otherwise explicitly
provided herein.
 
     6. For  the services  to be  rendered, the  facilities furnished,  and  the
expenses  assumed by  the Sub-Adviser, the  Investment Manager shall  pay to the
Sub-Adviser monthly  compensation  equal  to 40%  of  its  monthly  compensation
receivable  pursuant  to  the Investment  Management  Agreement.  Any subsequent
change in the Investment Management Agreement which has the effect of raising or
lowering the compensation of  the Investment Manager  will have the  concomitant
effect  of raising  or lowering  the fee payable  to the  Sub-Adviser under this
 
                                      A-2
<PAGE>
Agreement. In addition, if the Investment  Manager has undertaken in the  Fund's
Registration  Statement as filed under the Act (the "Registration Statement") or
elsewhere to  waive all  or part  of  its fee  under the  Investment  Management
Agreement,   the  Sub-Adviser's  fee  payable   under  this  Agreement  will  be
proportionately waived in whole or in  part. The calculation of the fee  payable
to  the Sub-Adviser pursuant to this Agreement  will be made, each month, at the
time designated for the monthly calculation of the fee payable to the Investment
Manager pursuant  to  the Investment  Management  Agreement. If  this  Agreement
becomes  effective subsequent  to the  first day of  a month  or shall terminate
before the last  day of a  month, compensation for  the part of  the month  this
Agreement  is  in effect  shall  be prorated  in  a manner  consistent  with the
calculation of  the  fee  as set  forth  above.  Subject to  the  provisions  of
paragraph  7 hereof, payment of the Sub-Adviser's compensation for the preceding
month shall be made as promptly as possible after completion of the computations
contemplated by paragraph 7 hereof.
 
     7. In  the event  the operating  expenses of  the Fund,  including  amounts
payable  to  the  Investment  Manager  pursuant  to  the  Investment  Management
Agreement, for any fiscal year  ending on a date on  which this Agreement is  in
effect,  exceed the expense limitations applicable  to the Fund imposed by state
securities laws or regulations thereunder, as such limitations may be raised  or
lowered  from time to time, the Sub-Adviser shall reduce its advisory fee to the
extent of 40%  of such excess  and, if required,  pursuant to any  such laws  or
regulations, will reimburse the Investment Manager for annual operating expenses
in  the amount  of 40%  of such  excess of  any expense  limitation that  may be
applicable, it being understood that the Investment Manager has agreed to effect
a reduction and  reimbursement of  100% of such  excess in  accordance with  the
terms  of the Investment Management Agreement; provided, however, there shall be
excluded from  such  expenses  the  amount of  any  interest,  taxes,  brokerage
commissions,  distribution fees  and extraordinary  expenses (including  but not
limited  to  legal  claims  and   liabilities  and  litigation  costs  and   any
indemnification related thereto) paid or payable by the Fund. Such reduction, if
any,  shall be computed and accrued daily,  shall be settled on a monthly basis,
and shall be based upon the expense limitation applicable to the Fund as at  the
end  of the  last business  day of the  month. Should  two or  more such expense
limitations be applicable as at the end  of the last business day of the  month,
that expense limitation which results in the largest reduction in the Investment
Manager's fee or the largest expense reimbursement shall be applicable.
 
    For  purposes of this provision, should any applicable expense limitation be
based upon the gross income  of the Fund, such  gross income shall include,  but
not  be limited to, interest on debt  securities in the Fund's portfolio accrued
to and including the last day of the Fund's fiscal year, and dividends  declared
on equity securities in the Fund's portfolio, the record dates for which fall on
or  prior to the last day of such  fiscal year, but shall not include gains from
the sale of securities.
 
     8. The  Sub-Adviser  will  use  its best  efforts  in  the  performance  of
investment  activities on  behalf of  the Fund,  but in  the absence  of willful
misfeasance,  bad  faith,  gross  negligence   or  reckless  disregard  of   its
obligations  hereunder, the  Sub-Adviser shall not  be liable  to the Investment
Manager or the Fund or any of its investors for any error of judgment or mistake
of law or for any act or omission by the Sub-Adviser or for any losses sustained
by the Fund or its investors.
 
     9. It is understood  that any of the  shareholders, Trustees, officers  and
employees of the Fund may be a shareholder, director, officer or employee of, or
be  otherwise interested in, the Sub-Adviser, and in any person controlled by or
under common control  with the  Sub-Adviser, and  that the  Sub-Adviser and  any
person  controlled by or under  common control with the  Sub-Adviser may have an
interest in  the  Fund. It  is  also understood  that  the Sub-Adviser  and  any
affiliated  persons thereof or any persons controlled by or under common control
with the
 
                                      A-3
<PAGE>
Sub-Adviser have and may  have advisory, management  service or other  contracts
with  other  organizations  and  persons,  and  may  have  other  interests  and
businesses,  and  further  may  purchase,  sell  or  trade  any  securities   or
commodities  for their own accounts  or for the account  of others for whom they
may be acting.
 
    10. This Agreement shall remain in effect until April 30, 1999 and from year
to year thereafter provided  such continuance is approved  at least annually  by
the  vote of holders  of a majority, as  defined in the  Act, of the outstanding
voting securities of the Fund or by the Trustees of the Fund; provided, that  in
either  event  such continuance  is  also approved  annually  by the  vote  of a
majority of the Trustees of  the Fund who are not  parties to this Agreement  or
"interested  persons" (as defined in the Act) of any such party, which vote must
be cast  in person  at  a meeting  called  for the  purpose  of voting  on  such
approval;  provided, however, that (a) the Fund may, at any time and without the
payment of  any penalty,  terminate  this Agreement  upon thirty  days'  written
notice to the Investment Manager and the Sub-Adviser, either by majority vote of
the  Trustees of the Fund or by the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting
securities of the Fund;  (b) this Agreement shall  immediately terminate in  the
event  of its assignment (within  the meaning of the  Act) unless such automatic
termination shall  be prevented  by an  exemptive order  of the  Securities  and
Exchange Commission; (c) this Agreement shall immediately terminate in the event
of  the termination of  the Investment Management  Agreement; (d) the Investment
Manager may terminate this Agreement without payment of penalty on thirty  days'
written  notice to  the Fund  and the Sub-Adviser  and; (e)  the Sub-Adviser may
terminate this Agreement without the payment of penalty on thirty days'  written
notice  to the Fund and the Investment  Manager. Any notice under this Agreement
shall be given in writing, addressed and delivered, or mailed post-paid, to  the
other party at the principal office of such party.
 
    11. This Agreement may be amended by the parties without the vote or consent
of  the shareholders  of the Fund  to supply  any omission, to  cure, correct or
supplement any ambiguous, defective or inconsistent provision hereof, or if they
deem it necessary to  conform this Agreement to  the requirements of  applicable
federal  laws or regulations,  but neither the Fund,  the Investment Manager nor
the Sub-Adviser shall be liable for failing to do so.
 
    12. This Agreement  shall be  construed in accordance  with the  law of  the
State  of New York and  the applicable provisions of the  Act. To the extent the
applicable law  of the  State of  New York,  or any  of the  provisions  herein,
conflict with the applicable provisions of the Act, the latter shall control.
 
                                      A-4
<PAGE>
    IN  WITNESS WHEREOF,  the parties  hereto have  executed and  delivered this
Agreement on the day and year first above written in New York, New York.
 
                                          DEAN WITTER INTERCAPITAL INC.
 
                                          By: ..................................
 
                                          Attest: ..............................
 
                                          MORGAN STANLEY
                                          ASSET MANAGEMENT INC.
 
                                          By: ..................................
 
                                          Attest: ..............................
 
Accepted and agreed to as of
the day and year first above written:
 
DEAN WITTER INTERNATIONAL
SMALLCAP FUND
 
By: ..................................
 
Attest: ..............................
 
                                      A-5
<PAGE>
   
                                                                      APPENDIX I
    
 
    Morgan  Stanley  Asset  Management  Inc.  serves  as  investment  adviser or
sub-adviser to the open-end investment companies listed below which have similar
investment objectives to  that of  the Fund,  with the  net assets  shown as  of
September 16, 1997.
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                   NET ASSETS
                                                     AS OF
                  OTHER FUND                        9/16/97                         ANNUAL FEE RATE
- ----------------------------------------------  ----------------  ----------------------------------------------------
<S>                                             <C>               <C>
Morgan Stanley Institutional Fund, Inc.--
 International Magnum Portfolio...............  $    173,036,233  0.80% of average daily net assets (1)
Morgan Stanley Fund, Inc.--
 International Magnum Fund*...................        70,884,807  Van Kampen/American Capital Investment Advisory
                                                                  Corp. ("VKAC") is the fund's investment adviser and
                                                                  administrator. VKAC receives a fee from the fund of
                                                                  0.80% of the fund's average daily net assets. MSAM
                                                                  serves as sub-adviser to the fund. If the fund's
                                                                  average daily net assets for a monthly period are
                                                                  less than or equal to $500 million, VKAC pays MSAM a
                                                                  fee of one-half of the total investment advisory fee
                                                                  payable to it by the fund (after the application of
                                                                  any of any fee waivers in effect) for the monthly
                                                                  period. If the fund's average daily net assets for a
                                                                  monthly period are greater than $500 million, VKAC
                                                                  pays MSAM a fee equal to the greater of (a) one-half
                                                                  of what the total advisory fee paid to VKAC the fund
                                                                  (after the application of any fee waivers in effect)
                                                                  for such monthly would have been had the average
                                                                  daily net assets during the period been $500
                                                                  million, or (b) forty-five percent of the total
                                                                  investment advisory fee payable to VKAC by the fund
                                                                  (after the application of any fee waivers in effect)
                                                                  for such monthly period. (2)
Morgan Stanley Universal Funds, Inc.--
 International Magnum Portfolio...............        17,633,808  0.80% of average daily net assets on first $500
                                                                  million, 0.75% of average daily net assets from $500
                                                                  million to $1 billion, and 0.70% of average daily
                                                                  net assets over $1 billion (3)
Morgan Stanley Institutional Fund, Inc.--
 Active Country Allocation Portfolio..........       134,982,396  0.65% of average daily net assets (4)
Morgan Stanley Institutional Fund, Inc.--
 International Equity Portfolio...............     2,888,126,620  0.80% of average daily net assets (5)
</TABLE>
    
<PAGE>
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                   NET ASSETS
                                                     AS OF
                  OTHER FUND                        9/16/97                         ANNUAL FEE RATE
- ----------------------------------------------  ----------------  ----------------------------------------------------
<S>                                             <C>               <C>
American AAdvantage--International Equity
 Fund*........................................  $    245,674,254  0.80% of average daily net assets on the first $25
                                                                  million, 0.60% of average daily net assets on the
                                                                  next $25 million, 0.50% of average daily net assets
                                                                  on the next $25 million, and 0.40% of average daily
                                                                  net assets in excess of $75 million
Fountain Square--International Equity Fund*...       143,628,488  0.50% of average daily net assets
Sun America Series Trust--
 International Diversified Equities
 Portfolio*...................................       244,042,538  0.65% of average daily net assets on the first $350
                                                                  million, and 0.60% of average daily net assets in
                                                                  excess of $350 million
New England Zenith Fund--Morgan Stanley
 International Magnum Equity Series* (6)......        52,411,063  0.75% of average daily net assets on the first $30
                                                                  million, 0.60% of average daily net assets on the
                                                                  next $40 million, 0.45% of average daily net assets
                                                                  on the next $30 million, and 0.40% of average daily
                                                                  net assets in excess of $100 million
Pacific Select Fund--
 International Portfolio*.....................       718,847,255  0.35% of average daily net assets
Morgan Stanley Institutional Fund, Inc.--
 Global Equity Portfolio......................       104,849,541  0.80% of average daily net assets (7)
</TABLE>
    
<PAGE>
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                   NET ASSETS
                                                     AS OF
                  OTHER FUND                        9/16/97                         ANNUAL FEE RATE
- ----------------------------------------------  ----------------  ----------------------------------------------------
<S>                                             <C>               <C>
Morgan Stanley Fund, Inc.--
 Global Equity Fund*..........................  $      0          VKAC is the fund's investment adviser and
                                                                  administrator. VKAC receives a fee from the fund of
                                                                  1.00% of the fund's average daily net assets. MSAM
                                                                  serves as sub-adviser to the fund. If the fund's
                                                                  average daily net assets for a monthly period are
                                                                  less than or equal to $500 million, VKAC pays MSAM a
                                                                  fee of one-half of the total investment advisory fee
                                                                  payable to it by the fund (after the application of
                                                                  any of any fee waivers in effect) for the monthly
                                                                  period. If the fund's average daily net assets for a
                                                                  monthly period are greater than $500 million, VKAC
                                                                  pays MSAM a fee equal to the greater of (a) one-half
                                                                  of what the total advisory fee paid to VKAC the Fund
                                                                  (after the application of any fee waivers in effect)
                                                                  for such monthly would have been had the average
                                                                  daily net assets during the period been $500
                                                                  million, or (b) forty-five percent of the total
                                                                  investment advisory fee payable to VKAC by the fund
                                                                  (after the application of any fee waivers in effect)
                                                                  for such monthly period. (8)
Morgan Stanley Fund, Inc.--
 Global Equity Allocation*....................       124,150,085  VKAC is the fund's investment adviser and
                                                                  administrator. VKAC receives a fee from the fund of
                                                                  1.00% of the fund's average daily net assets. MSAM
                                                                  serves as sub-adviser to the fund. If the fund's
                                                                  average daily net assets for a monthly period are
                                                                  less than or equal to $500 million, VKAC pays MSAM a
                                                                  fee of one-half of the total investment advisory fee
                                                                  payable to it by the fund (after the application of
                                                                  any of any fee waivers in effect) for the monthly
                                                                  period. If the fund's average daily net assets for a
                                                                  monthly period are greater than $500 million, VKAC
                                                                  pays MSAM a fee equal to the greater of (a) one-half
                                                                  of what the total advisory fee paid to VKAC the Fund
                                                                  (after the application of any fee waivers in effect)
                                                                  for such monthly would have been had the average
                                                                  daily net assets during the period been $500
                                                                  million, or (b) forty-five percent of the total
                                                                  investment advisory fee payable to VKAC by the fund
                                                                  (after the application of any fee waivers in effect)
                                                                  for such monthly period. (9)
</TABLE>
    
<PAGE>
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                   NET ASSETS
                                                     AS OF
                  OTHER FUND                        9/16/97                         ANNUAL FEE RATE
- ----------------------------------------------  ----------------  ----------------------------------------------------
<S>                                             <C>               <C>
Morgan Stanley Universal Funds, Inc.--
 Global Equity Portfolio......................  $      8,983,990  0.80% of first $500 million, 0.75% from $500 million
                                                                  to $1 billion, 0.70% on excess over $1 billion as a
                                                                  percentage of average daily net assets (10)
NASL Series Trust--
 Global Equity Trust*.........................       845,683,584  0.500% of first $50,000,000, 0.450% between
                                                                  $50,000,000 and $200,000,000, 0.375% between
                                                                  $200,000,000 and $500,000,000, 0.325% on excess over
                                                                  $500,000,000 of the current value of net assets of
                                                                  the Portfolio
Van Kampen American Capital--
 Global Equity Fund*..........................       298,949,685  50% of compensation actually received by VKAC. VKAC
                                                                  charges an advisory fee of 1.00% of average daily
                                                                  net assets (12)
Van Kampen American Capital Life
 Investment Trust--Global Equity Fund*........         3,095,860  50% of compensation actually received by VKAC. VKAC
                                                                  charges an advisory fee of 1.00% of average daily
                                                                  net assets (13)
</TABLE>
    
 
- ------------------------
 
*   MSAM acts as sub-adviser to this fund.
 
(1) MSAM has agreed to waive its advisory fees and/or to reimburse this fund, if
    necessary,  if  such  fees would  cause  the fund's  total  annual operating
    expenses, as a percentage  of average daily net  assets, to exceed 1.00%  of
    Class A shares and 1.25% of Class B shares.
 
(2) VKAC has agreed to waive its advisory fees and/or to reimburse this fund, if
    necessary,  if  such  fees would  cause  the fund's  total  annual operating
    expenses, as a percentage  of average daily net  assets, to exceed 1.65%  of
    Class A shares, 2.40% of Class B shares and 2.40% of Class C shares.
 
(3) MSAM has agreed to waive its advisory fees and/or to reimburse this fund, if
    necessary,  if  such  fees would  cause  the fund's  total  annual operating
    expenses, as a percentage of average daily net assets, to exceed 1.15%.
 
(4) MSAM has agreed to waive its advisory fees and/or to reimburse this fund, if
    necessary, if  such  fees would  cause  the fund's  total  annual  operating
    expenses,  as a percentage of  average daily net assets,  to exceed 0.80% of
    Class A shares and 1.05% of Class B shares.
 
(5) MSAM has agreed to waive its advisory fees and/or to reimburse this fund, if
    necessary, if  such  fees would  cause  the fund's  total  annual  operating
    expenses,  as a percentage of  average daily net assets,  to exceed 1.00% of
    Class A shares and 1.25% of Class B shares.
 
(6) MSAM began acting as sub-adviser to this fund as of May 1, 1997.
 
(7) MSAM has agreed to waive its advisory fees and/or to reimburse this fund, if
    necessary, if  such  fees would  cause  the fund's  total  annual  operating
    expenses,  as a percentage of  average daily net assets,  to exceed 1.00% of
    Class A shares and 1.25% of Class B shares.
<PAGE>
(8) Fund has not yet commenced operations. VKAC has agreed to waive its advisory
    fees and/or to reimburse this fund,  if necessary, if such fees would  cause
    the fund's total annual operating expenses, as a percentage of average daily
    net  assets, to exceed 1.80% of Class A  shares, 2.55% of Class B shares and
    2.55% of Class C shares.
 
(9) VKAC has agreed to waive its advisory fees and/or to reimburse this fund, if
    necessary, if  such  fees would  cause  the fund's  total  annual  operating
    expenses,  as a percentage of  average daily net assets,  to exceed 1.70% of
    Class A shares, 2.45% of Class B shares and 2.45% of Class C shares.
 
(10) MSAM has agreed to waive its  advisory fees and/or to reimburse this  fund,
    if  necessary, if  such fees would  cause the fund's  total annual operating
    expenses, as a percentage  of average daily net  assets, to exceed 2.06%  of
    Class A shares, 2.81% of Class B shares and 2.81% of Class C shares.
 
(11)  MSAM has  agreed to waive  its advisory  fees and agreed  to reimburse the
    Portfolio, if necessary, if such fees would cause the total annual operating
    expenses of the Portfolio, as a  percentage of average daily net assets,  to
    exceed 1.15%.
 
(12)  VKAC may voluntarily undertake to  reduce this fund's expenses by reducing
    the fees payable to it to the  extent of, or bearing expenses in excess  of,
    such limitations as it may establish.
 
(13)  VKAC may, from time to time, agree to waive its fee or any portion thereof
    or elect to reimburse this fund for ordinary business expenses in excess  of
    an agreed upon amount.
<PAGE>
                     DEAN WITTER INTERNATONAL SMALLCAP FUND
                                     PROXY
           THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
 
       The undersigned hereby appoints Robert M. Scanlan, Barry Fink, and
       Joseph J. McAlinden, or any of them, proxies, each with the power
       of substitution, to vote on behalf of the undersigned at the
       Special Meeting of Shareholders of Dean Witter International
       SmallCap Fund on November 25, 1997, at 9:00 a.m., New York City
       time, and at any adjournment thereof, on the proposals set forth
       in the Notice of Meeting dated September 23, 1997 as follows:
 
                          (CONTINUED ON REVERSE SIDE)
 
       THIS PROXY WHEN PROPERLY EXECUTED WILL BE VOTED IN THE MANNER
       DIRECTED HEREIN BY THE UNDERSIGNED SHAREHOLDER. IF NO DIRECTION IS
       MADE, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED "FOR" THE PROPOSAL SET FORTH ON THE
       REVERSE HEREOF AND AS RECOMMENDED BY THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES.
 
        IMPORTANT -- THIS PROXY MUST BE SIGNED AND DATED ON THE REVERSE
                                     SIDE.
<PAGE>
   /x/ PLEASE MARK VOTES AS IN THE EXAMPLE USING
   BLACK OR BLUE INK
 
                             FOR   AGAINST ABSTAIN
  Approval or Disapproval of a
  Sub-Advisory Agreement
  between InterCapital and
  Morgan
  Stanley Asset Management Inc.
                            / / / / / /
                                          Date
 
      ------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                                          Please make sure to sign and date
                                          this Proxy using black or blue ink.
                                          If
                                          the shares are registered in more
                                          than one name, each joint owner or
                                          each fiduciary should sign
                                          personally. Only authorized
                                          officers should sign for
                                          corporations.
                                          -----------------------
                                                          Shareholder sign in
                                          the box above
                                          -----------------------
                                                        Co-Owner (if any) sign
                                          in the box above
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
PRX 00409           --    PLEASE DETACH AT PERFORATION   - -
 
                    DEAN WITTER INTERNATIONAL SMALLCAP FUND
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                                    IMPORTANT
                      PLEASE SEND IN YOUR PROXY......TODAY!
        YOU ARE URGED TO DATE AND SIGN THE ATTACHED PROXY AND RETURN IT
        PROMPTLY IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE. THIS WILL HELP SAVE THE
        EXPENSE OF FOLLOW-UP LETTERS TO SHAREHOLDERS WHO HAVE NOT
        RESPONDED.


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