<PAGE>
AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON APRIL 30, 1997
REGISTRATION NO.: 33-57789
811-7249
==============================================================================
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
----------------
FORM N-1A
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 [X]
PRE-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. [ ]
POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. 2 [X]
AND/OR
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY
ACT OF 1940 [X]
AMENDMENT NO. 3 [X]
----------------
DEAN WITTER INTERMEDIATE TERM U.S. TREASURY TRUST
(A MASSACHUSETTS BUSINESS TRUST)
(EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN CHARTER)
TWO WORLD TRADE CENTER
NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10048
(ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICE)
REGISTRANT'S TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING AREA CODE: (212) 392-1600
BARRY FINK, ESQ.
TWO WORLD TRADE CENTER
NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10048
----------------
(NAME AND ADDRESS OF AGENT FOR SERVICE)
COPY TO:
DAVID M. BUTOWSKY, ESQ.
GORDON ALTMAN BUTOWSKY
WEITZEN SHALOV & WEIN
114 WEST 47TH STREET
NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10036
----------------
APPROXIMATE DATE OF PROPOSED PUBLIC OFFERING:
As soon as practicable after this Post-Effective Amendment become effective.
IT IS PROPOSED THAT THIS FILING WILL BECOME EFFECTIVE (CHECK APPROPRIATE BOX)
X immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b)
___
___ on (date) pursuant to paragraph (b)
___ 60 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)
___ on (date) pursuant to paragraph (a) of rule 485
THE REGISTRANT HAS REGISTERED AN INDEFINITE NUMBER OF ITS SHARES UNDER THE
SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 PURSUANT TO SECTION (A)(1) OF RULE 24F-2 UNDER THE
INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940. THE REGISTRANT FILED THE RULE 24F-2 NOTICE
FOR ITS FISCAL YEAR ENDING FEBRUARY 28, 1997 WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION ON MARCH 26, 1997.
AMENDING THE PROSPECTUS AND UPDATING FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
==============================================================================
<PAGE>
DEAN WITTER INTERMEDIATE TERM U.S. TREASURY TRUST
CROSS-REFERENCE SHEET
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
FORM N-1A
ITEM CAPTION
- ---- -------
PART A PROSPECTUS
- ------ ----------
<S> <C>
1. Cover Page
2. Prospectus Summary; Summary of Fund Expenses
3. Financial Highlights; Performance Information
4. Investment Objective and Policies; The Fund and its
Management; Cover Page; Investment Restrictions;
Prospectus Summary
5. The Fund and Its Management; Back Cover; Investment
Objective and Policies
6. Dividends, Distributions and Taxes; Additional
Information
7. Purchase of Fund Shares; Shareholder Services
8. Redemptions and Repurchases; Shareholder
Services
9. Not Applicable
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PART B STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
- ------- -----------------------------------
<S> <C>
10. Cover Page
11. Table of Contents
12. The Fund and Its Management
13. Investment Practices and Policies; Investment Restrictions;
Portfolio Transactions and Brokerage
14. The Fund and Its Management; Trustees and
Officers
15. Trustees and Officers
16. The Fund and Its Management; The Distributor; Shareholder
Services; Custodian and
Transfer Agent; Independent Accountants
17. Portfolio Transactions and Brokerage
18. Description of Shares
19. The Distributor; Redemptions and Repurchases; Financial
Statements; Shareholder Services
20. Dividends, Distributions and Taxes
21. Purchase of Fund Shares
22. Performance Information
23. Experts; Financial Statements
</TABLE>
PART C
Information required to be included in Part C is set forth under the
appropriate item, so numbered, in Part C of this Registration Statement.
<PAGE>
PROSPECTUS -- APRIL 30, 1997
Dean Witter Intermediate Term U.S. Treasury Trust (the "Fund") is an open-end
diversified management investment company whose investment objective is
current income and preservation of principal. The Fund seeks to achieve its
objective by investing substantially all of its assets in U.S. Treasury
securities backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government. (See
"Investment Objective and Policies.") Shares of the Fund are not issued,
insured or guaranteed, as to value or yield, by the U.S. Government or its
agencies or instrumentalities.
Shares of the Fund are sold and redeemed at net asset value without the
imposition of a sales charge. The Fund is authorized to reimburse specific
expenses incurred in promoting the distribution of the Fund's shares,
including personal services to shareholders and maintenance of shareholder
accounts, in accordance with a Plan of Distribution pursuant to Rule 12b-1
under the Investment Company Act of 1940. Reimbursement may in no event
exceed an amount equal to payments at the annual rate of 0.35% of the average
daily net assets of the Fund.
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 April 30, 1997, which has been filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, and which is available at no charge upon
request of the Fund at the address or telephone numbers listed on this page.
The Statement of Additional Information is incorporated herein by reference.
Dean Witter
Intermediate Term
U.S. Treasury Trust
Two World Trade Center
New York, New York 10048
(212) 392-2550 OR
(800) 869-NEWS (toll-free)
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Prospectus Summary .................................................... 2
Summary of Fund Expenses .............................................. 3
Financial Highlights .................................................. 4
The Fund and its Management ........................................... 5
Investment Objective and Policies ..................................... 6
Purchase of Fund Shares ............................................... 8
Shareholder Services .................................................. 10
Redemptions and Repurchases ........................................... 13
Dividends, Distributions and Taxes .................................... 14
Performance Information ............................................... 15
Additional Information ................................................ 16
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 DISTRIBUTORS INC.,
DISTRIBUTOR
<PAGE>
PROSPECTUS SUMMARY
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C>
--------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Fund The Fund is organized as a Trust, commonly known as a Massachusetts
business trust, and is an open-end diversified management investment
company investing in U.S. Treasury securities backed by the full faith and
credit of the U.S. Government.
- --------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shares Offered Shares of beneficial interest with $0.01 par value (see page 16).
- --------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Offering The price of the shares offered by this Prospectus is determined once daily
Price as of 4:00 p.m., New York time, on each day that the New York Stock
Exchange is open, and is equal to the net asset value per share without a
sales charge (see page 8).
- --------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Minimum The minimum initial purchase is $1,000 ($100 if the account is opened
Purchase through EasyInvest (Service Mark) ); minimum subsequent investment is $100
(see page 8).
- --------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Investment The investment objective of the Fund is current income and preservation of
Objective principal.
- --------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Investment In order to maximize the amount of the Fund's dividends which are exempt
Policies from state and local income taxation, the Fund will invest substantially
all of its assets in U.S. Treasury securities which are direct obligations
of the U.S. Government (see page 5).
- --------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Investment Dean Witter InterCapital Inc. ("InterCapital"), the Investment Manager of
Manager the Fund, and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Dean Witter Services Company
Inc. serve in various investment management, advisory, management and
administrative capacities to 102 investment companies and other portfolios
with assets of approximately $91.4 billion at March 31, 1997 (see page 5).
- --------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Management Fee The Investment Manager receives a monthly fee at the annual rate of 0.35%
of daily net assets (see page 5).
- --------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dividends and Dividends are declared daily and paid monthly. Capital gains distributions,
Capital Gains if any, are paid at least once a year or are retained for reinvestment by
Distributions the Fund. Dividends and capital gains distributions are automatically
invested in additional shares at net asset value unless the shareholder
elects to receive cash (see page 14).
- --------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Distributor Dean Witter Distributors Inc. (the "Distributor") is the distributor of the
and Plan of Fund's shares (see page 9). The Fund is authorized to reimburse specific
Distribution expenses incurred in promoting the distribution of the Fund's shares,
including personal services to shareholders and maintenance of shareholders
accounts, in accordance with a Plan of Distribution with the Distributor
pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940.
Reimbursement may in no event exceed an amount equal to payments at an
annual rate of 0.35% of average daily net assets of the Fund (see page 9).
- --------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Redemption At net asset value; account may be involuntarily redeemed if total value of
the account is less than $100 or, if the account was opened through
EasyInvest (Service Mark), if after twelve months the shareholder has
invested less than $1,000 in the account (see pages 13-14).
- --------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Risks The Fund invests substantially all of its assets in U.S. Treasury
securities which are subject to minimal risk of default but which may be
subject to risk of loss of investment value due to interest rate
fluctuations. It may engage in the purchase of such securities on a
when-issued basis. The value of the Fund's portfolio securities, and
therefore the Fund's net asset value per share, may increase or decrease
due to various factors, principally changes in prevailing interest rates.
Generally, a rise in interest rates will result in a decrease in the Fund's
net asset value per share, while a drop in interest rates will result in an
increase in the Fund's net asset value per share. A portion of the U.S.
Treasury securities in which the Fund invests may be zero coupon Treasury
securities. Such securities are subject to greater market price
fluctuations during periods of changing prevailing interest rates (see
pages 5-6).
- --------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
The above is qualified in its entirety by the detailed information appearing
elsewhere in this Prospectus
and in the Statement of Additional Information.
2
<PAGE>
SUMMARY OF FUND EXPENSES
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
The following table illustrates all expenses and fees that a shareholder of
the Fund will incur. The expenses and fees set forth in the table are for the
fiscal year ended February 28, 1997.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C>
Shareholder Transaction Expenses
Maximum Sales Charge Imposed on Purchases................................. None
Maximum Sales Charge Imposed on Reinvested Dividends ..................... None
Deferred Sales Charge..................................................... None
Redemption Fees .......................................................... None
Exchange Fee ............................................................. None
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (as a Percentage of Average Net Assets)
Management Fees*.......................................................... 0.00%
12b-1 Fees** ............................................................. 0.33%
Other Expenses*........................................................... 0.00%
Total Fund Operating Expenses*............................................ 0.33%
</TABLE>
"Total Fund Operating Expenses," as shown above, is based upon the sum of the
12b-1 Fees, Management Fees and "Other Expenses," incurred by the Fund for
the fiscal year ending February 28, 1997.
- ------------
* The Investment Manager had undertaken to assume all expenses (except for
the brokerage and 12b-1 fees) and waive the compensation provided for in
its Management Agreement until March 27, 1997 and has undertaken such
expense assumption and compensation waiver through February 28, 1998.
Assuming no waiver of management fees and no assumption of other
expenses, it is estimated that, for the fiscal year ending February 28,
1997, the "Management Fees" would have been 0.35%, "Other Expenses"
would have been 6.39% and "Total Fund Operating Expenses" would have
been 7.07%. For the fiscal year ended February 28, 1997, the Fund's
total operating expenses, consisting only of 12b-1 fees, amounted to
0.33% of the Fund's daily net assets.
** A portion of the 12b-1 fee, which may not exceed 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 and is a payment made for personal service and/or maintenance
of shareholder accounts provided by account executives (See, "Purchase
of Fund Shares").
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Example 1 Year 3 Years 5 Years 10 Years
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------- -------- --------- --------- ----------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
You would pay the following expenses on a $1,000 investment, assuming
(1) 5% annual return and (2) redemption at the end of each time
period:............................................................... $3 $11 $19 $ 42
</TABLE>
THE ABOVE EXAMPLE SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED A REPRESENTATION OF PAST OR
FUTURE EXPENSES OR PERFORMANCE. ACTUAL EXPENSES OF THE FUND MAY BE MORE OR
LESS THAN THOSE SHOWN.
The purpose of this table is to assist the investor in understanding the
various costs and expenses that an investor in the Fund will bear directly or
indirectly. For a more complete description of these costs and expenses, see
"The Fund and its Management" and "Purchase of Fund Shares--Plan of
Distribution" in this Prospectus.
Long-term shareholders of the Fund may pay more in distribution fees than
the economic equivalent of the maximum front-end sales charges permitted by
the NASD.
3
<PAGE>
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
The following ratios and per share data for a share of beneficial interest
outstanding throughout each period have been audited by Price Waterhouse LLP,
independent accountants. The financial highlights should be read in
conjunction with the financial statements and notes thereto and the
unqualified report of independent accountants which are contained in the
Statement of Additional Information. Further information about the
performance of the Fund is contained in the Fund's Annual Report to
Shareholders, which may be obtained without charge upon request to the Fund.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
For the Period
For the Year September 27, 1995*
Ended Through
February 28, 1997 February 29, 1996
----------------- -------------------
<S> <C> <C>
PER SHARE OPERATING PERFORMANCE:
Net asset value, beginning of period .... $ 9.92 $10.00
----------------- -------------------
Net investment income .................... 0.53 0.21
Net realized and unrealized loss ........ (0.21) (0.08)
----------------- -------------------
Total from investment operations ........ 0.32 0.13
----------------- -------------------
Less dividends from net investment income (0.53)++ (0.21)
----------------- -------------------
Net asset value, end of period ........... $ 9.71 $ 9.92
================= ===================
TOTAL INVESTMENT RETURN+ ................. 3.42% 1.23%(1)
RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET ASSETS:
Expenses ................................. 0.33%(3) 0.32%(2)(3)
Net investment income .................... 5.41%(3) 5.05%(2)(3)
SUPPLEMENTAL DATA:
Net assets, end of period, in thousands .. $1,992 $4,437
Portfolio turnover rate .................. 42% 20%(1)
</TABLE>
- ------------
* Commencement of operations.
+ Calculated based on the net asset value as of the last business day of
the period.
++ Includes distributions from capital gains of $.003.
(1) Not annualized.
(2) Annualized.
(3) If the Fund had borne all of its expenses that were reimbursed or
waived by the Investment Manager, the annualized expense and net
investment income (loss) ratios would have been 7.07% and (1.33)%,
respectively, for the year ended February 28, 1997 and 2.82% and 2.55%,
respectively, after application of the Fund's state expense limitation,
for the period ended February 29, 1996.
4
<PAGE>
THE FUND AND ITS MANAGEMENT
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dean Witter Intermediate Term U.S. Treasury Trust (the "Fund") is an
open-end diversified management investment company. The Fund is a trust of
the type commonly known as a "Massachusetts business trust" and was organized
under the laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts on February 9, 1995.
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, serve in various investment management, advisory, management and
administrative capacities to a total of 102 investment companies, thirty of
which are listed on the New York Stock Exchange, with combined total assets
of approximately $88.3 billion as of March 31, 1997. The Investment Manager
also manages portfolios of pension plans, other institutions and individuals
which aggregated approximately $3.1 billion at such date.
On February 5, 1997, DWDC and Morgan Stanley Group Inc. announced that
they had entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger, with the combined
company to be named Morgan Stanley, Dean Witter, Discover & Co. The business
of Morgan Stanley Group Inc. and its affiliated companies is providing a wide
range of financial services for sovereign governments, corporations,
institutions and individuals throughout the world. DWDC is the direct parent
of InterCapital and Dean Witter Distributors Inc., the Fund's distributor. It
is currently anticipated that the transaction will close in mid-1997.
Thereafter, InterCapital and Dean Witter Distributors Inc. will be direct
subsidiaries of Morgan Stanley, Dean Witter, Discover & Co.
The Fund has retained the Investment Manager to provide administrative
services, manage its business affairs and manage the investment of the Fund's
assets, including the placing of orders for the purchase and sale of
portfolio securities. InterCapital has retained Dean Witter Services Company
Inc. to perform the aforementioned administrative services for the Fund. The
Fund's Board of Trustees reviews the various services provided by or under
the direction of the Investment Manager to ensure that the Fund's general
investment policies and programs are being properly carried out and that
administrative services are being provided to the Fund in a satisfactory
manner.
As full compensation for the services and facilities furnished to the Fund
and for expenses of the Fund assumed by the Investment Manager, the Fund pays
the Investment Manager monthly compensation calculated daily by applying an
annual rate of 0.35% to the Fund's net assets determined as of the close of
each business day.
The Fund's expenses include: the fee of the Investment Manager; 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. The Investment Manager had undertaken to assume all expenses
(except for brokerage and 12b-1 fees) and waive the compensation provided for
in its Investment Management Agreement until such time as the Fund had $50
million of net assets or until six months from the date of commencement of
the Fund's operations, whichever occurred first. The Investment Manager had
undertaken to continue to assume all expenses (except for brokerage and 12b-1
fees) and waive the compensation provided for in its Management Agreement
until March 27, 1997 and has undertaken to continue such expense assumption
and compensation waiver through February 28, 1998.
5
<PAGE>
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE AND POLICIES
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
The investment objective of the Fund is current income and preservation of
principal. The Fund will seek to achieve its investment objective by
investing, under normal circumstances, at least 95% of its total assets in
U.S. Treasury securities. U.S. Treasury securities, which presently consist
of U.S. Treasury bills, U.S. Treasury notes and U.S. Treasury bonds, are
direct obligations of the U.S. Treasury and are backed by the "full faith and
credit" of the U.S. Government. The investment objective is a fundamental
policy of the Fund and may not be changed without the approval of the holders
of a majority of the Fund's shares. There is no assurance that the Fund's
investment objective will be achieved.
Neither the value nor the yield of the U.S. Treasury securities in which
the Fund invests (or the value or yield of shares of the Fund) are guaranteed
by the U.S. Government. The value of the Fund's portfolio securities and
therefore the net asset value of the Fund's shares may increase or decrease
due to changes in prevailing interest rates and other factors as well as on
the yield of the Fund's portfolio securities. Generally, as prevailing
interest rates rise, the value of the securities held by the Fund, and
concomitantly, the net asset value of the Fund's shares, will fall.
Intermediate term debt securities are generally subject to a lesser degree of
market fluctuation as a result of changes in interest rates than debt
securities with longer maturities. Conversely, the yield available on
intermediate term securities has also historically been lower than those
available from long term securities. Under normal circumstances, the Fund
will maintain a portfolio with a dollar-weighted average maturity of between
3 and 8 years. There may be periods during which, in the opinion of the
Investment Manager, market conditions warrant the Fund retaining cash or
investing a substantial portion of its assets in short-term U.S. Treasury
securities. During such periods in which the Fund has adopted a temporary
"defensive" posture, the Fund's average dollar-weighted maturity may be less
than three years.
Zero Coupon Treasury Securities. A portion of the U.S. Treasury securities
purchased by the Fund may be "zero coupon" Treasury securities. These are
U.S. Treasury notes and bonds which have been stripped of their unmatured
interest coupons and receipts or which are certificates representing
interests in such stripped debt obligations and coupons. Such securities are
purchased at a discount from their face amount, giving the purchaser the
right to receive their full value at maturity. A zero coupon security pays no
interest to its holder during its life. Its value to an investor consists of
the difference between its face value at the time of maturity and the price
for which it was acquired, which is generally an amount significantly less
than its face value (sometimes referred to as a "deep discount" price).
The interest earned on such securities is, implicitly, automatically
compounded and paid out at maturity. While such compounding at a constant
rate eliminates the risk of receiving lower yields upon reinvestment of
interest if prevailing interest rates decline, the owner of a zero coupon
security will be unable to participate in higher yields upon reinvestment of
interest received if prevailing interest rates rise. For this reason, zero
coupon securities are subject to substantially greater market price
fluctuations during periods of changing prevailing interest rates than are
comparable debt securities which make current distributions of interest.
Current federal tax law requires that a holder (such as the Fund) of a zero
coupon security accrue a portion of the discount at which the security was
purchased as income each year even though the Fund receives no interest
payments in cash on the security during the year. See "Dividends,
Distributions and Taxes."
Certain banks and brokerage firms have separated ("stripped") the
principal portions ("corpus") from the coupon portions of the U.S. Treasury
bonds and notes and sell them separately in the form of receipts or
certificates representing undivided interests in these instruments (which
instruments are generally held by a bank in a custodial or trust account).
The Fund will not purchase any such receipts or certificates representing
stripped corpus
6
<PAGE>
or coupon interests in U.S. Treasury securities sold by banks and brokerage
firms. The Fund will only purchase zero coupon Treasury securities which have
been stripped by the Federal Reserve Bank.
When-Issued and Delayed Delivery Securities and Firm Commitments. From
time to time, in the ordinary course of business, the Fund may purchase U.S.
Treasury securities on a when-issued or delayed delivery basis or may
purchase or sell U.S. Treasury securities on a firm commitment basis. For
example, the Fund may wish to purchase U.S. Treasury notes and bonds sold at
periodic U.S. Treasury auctions prior to a month or more of their issuance
("when-issued"). 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. While the Fund will only purchase
securities on a when-issued, delayed delivery or firm 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 accrues
to the purchaser during this period. At the time the Fund makes the
commitment to purchase or sell securities on a when-issued, delayed delivery
or firm 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, their 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 liquid portfolio (U.S. Treasury) securities equal in value to
commitments to purchase securities on a when-issued, delayed delivery or firm
commitment basis.
Repurchase Agreements. The Fund may enter into repurchase agreements in an
amount up to 5% of its net assets. Repurchase agreements 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 ("collateral")
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, 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
Adviser subject to procedures established by the Board of Trustees of the
Fund. In addition, 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.
The Fund will not invest in repurchase agreements that do not mature within
seven days and in other illiquid securities if, in the aggregate, such
investments amount to more than 15% of its net assets.
PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT
The Fund's portfolio is actively managed by its Investment Manager with a
view to achieving the Fund's investment objective. In determining which
securities to purchase for the Fund or hold in the Fund's portfolio, the
Investment Manager will rely on information from various sources, including
research, analysis and appraisals of brokers and dealers, including Dean
Witter Reynolds Inc. ("DWR"), a broker-dealer affiliate of the Investment
Manager; the views of the Trustees of the Fund and others regarding economic
developments and inter-
7
<PAGE>
est rate trends; and the Investment Manager's own analysis of factors it
deems relevant. The Fund's portfolio is managed within InterCapital's Taxable
Fixed Income Group, which manages 25 funds and fund portfolios, with
approximately $12.7 billion in assets as of March 31, 1997. Rajesh K. Gupta,
Senior Vice President of InterCapital and a member of InterCapital's Taxable
Fixed-Income Group, is the primary portfolio manager of the Fund. Mr. Gupta
has been a portfolio manager at InterCapital for over five years.
Brokerage commissions are not normally charged on the purchase or sale of
U.S. Government obligations, but such transactions may involve costs in the
form of spreads between bid and asked prices. Pursuant to an order of the
Securities and Exchange Commission, the Fund may effect principal
transactions in certain money market instruments with DWR. In addition, the
Fund may incur brokerage commissions on transactions conducted through DWR.
Although the Fund does not intend to engage in short-term trading of
portfolio securities as a means of achieving its investment objective, it may
sell portfolio securities without regard to the length of time they have been
held whenever such sale will, in the opinion of the Investment Manager,
strengthen the Fund's position and contribute to its investment objective. It
is not anticipated that the portfolio trading engaged in by the Fund will
result in its portfolio turnover rate exceeding 100%.
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 others 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 and subsequent purchases of $100 or
more may be made by sending a check, payable to Dean Witter Intermediate Term
U.S. Treasury Trust, directly to Dean Witter Trust Company (the "Transfer
Agent") at P.O. Box 1040, Jersey City, NJ 07303 or by contacting an account
executive of DWR or another Selected Broker-Dealer. The minimum initial
purchase in the case of investments through EasyInvest (Service Mark), an
automatic purchase plan (see "Shareholder Services"), is $100, provided that
the schedule of automatic investments will result in investments totalling at
least $1,000 within the first twelve months. In the case of investments
pursuant to systematic payroll deduction plans (including Individual
Retirement Plans), the Fund, in its discretion, may accept investments
without regard to any minimum amounts which would otherwise be required if
the Fund has reason to believe that additional investments will increase the
investment in all accounts under such plans to at least $1,000. Certificates
for shares purchased will not be issued unless requested by the shareholder
in writing to the Transfer Agent. The offering price will be the net asset
value per share next determined (see "Determination of Net Asset Value"
below) following receipt of an order.
Shares of the Fund are sold through the Distributor on a normal three
business day settlement basis; that is, payment generally is due on or before
the third business day (settlement date) after the order is placed with the
Distributor. Shares of the Fund purchased through the Distributor are
entitled to dividends beginning on the next business day following settlement
date. Since DWR and other Selected Broker-Dealers forward investor's funds on
settlement date, they will benefit from the temporary use of the funds where
payment is made prior thereto. Shares purchased through the Transfer Agent
are entitled to dividends beginning on the next business day following
receipt of an order. As noted above, orders placed directly with the Transfer
Agent must be accompanied by payment. Inves-
8
<PAGE>
tors will be entitled to receive capital gains distributions if their order
is received by the close of business on the day prior to the record date for
such distributions.
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 compensation as special sales incentives including trips,
educational and/or business seminars and merchandise. The Fund and the
Distributor reserve the right to reject any purchase orders.
DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE
The net asset value per share of the Fund is determined by taking the
value of all the assets of the Fund, subtracting all liabilities, dividing by
the number of shares outstanding and adjusting the result to the nearest
cent. The net asset value per share is determined by the Investment Manager
as of 4:00 P.M. New York time (or, on days when the New York Stock Exchange
closes prior to 4:00 p.m., at such earlier time), on each day that the New
York Stock Exchange is open. The 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) all 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;
(2) when market quotations are not readily available, including circumstances
under which it is determined by the Investment Manager that sale or bid
prices are not reflective of a security's market value, portfolio securities
are valued at their fair value as determined in good faith under procedures
established by and under the general supervision of the Fund's Board of
Trustees (valuation of securities for which market quotations are not readily
available may be based upon current market prices of securities which are
comparable in coupon, rating and maturity or an appropriate matrix utilizing
similar factors); and (3) short-term debt instruments having a maturity date
of more than 60 days are valued on a "mark-to-market" basis, that is, at
prices based on market quotations for securities of similar type, yield,
quality and maturity, until 60 days prior to maturity and thereafter at
amortized cost. Short-term instruments having a maturity date of 60 days or
less at the time of purchase are valued at amortized cost unless the Board of
Trustees determines this does not represent fair market value.
Certain of the Fund's portfolio securities may be valued by an outside
pricing service approved by the Fund's Trustees. The pricing service may
utilize a matrix system incorporating security quality, maturity and coupon
as the evaluation model parameters, and/or research and evaluations by its
staff, including review of broker-dealer market price quotations, in
determining what it believes is the fair valuation of the portfolio
securities valued by such pricing service.
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
The Fund has entered into a Plan of Distribution pursuant to Rule 12b-1
under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "Act"), with the
Distributor whereby the expenses of certain activities and services,
including personal services to shareholders and maintenance of shareholder
accounts, in connection with the distribution of the Fund's shares are
reimbursed. The principal activities and services which may be provided by
the Distributor and its affiliates, or any other Selected Broker-Dealer under
the Plan include: (1) compensation to, and expenses of, DWR account
executives and others, including overhead and telephone expenses; (2) sales
incentives and bonuses to sales representatives and to marketing personnel in
connection with promoting sales of the Fund's shares; (3) expenses incurred
in connection with promoting sales of the Fund's shares; (4) preparing and
distributing sales literature; and (5) providing advertising and promotional
activities, including direct mail solicitation and television, radio,
newspaper, magazine and other media advertisements. Reimbursements for these
services will be made in monthly payments by the Fund, which will in no event
9
<PAGE>
exceed an amount equal to a payment at the annual rate of 0.35% of the Fund's
average daily net assets. A portion of the amount payable pursuant to the
Plan, which may not exceed 0.25% of the Fund's average daily net assets, is
characterized as a service fee within the meaning of the NASD guidelines.
Expenses incurred pursuant to the Plan in any fiscal year will not be
reimbursed by the Fund through payments accrued in any subsequent fiscal
year. The Fund accrued $8,936 to the Distributor pursuant to the Plan for the
fiscal year ended February 28, 1997. This is an accrual at the annual rate of
0.33% of the Fund's average daily net assets.
SHAREHOLDER SERVICES
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Automatic Investment of Dividends and Distributions. All income dividends
and capital gains distributions are automatically paid in full and fractional
shares of the Fund (or, if specified by the shareholder, any other open-end
investment company for which InterCapital serves as investment manager
(collectively, with the Fund, the "Dean Witter Funds")), unless the
shareholder requests that they be paid in cash. Such dividends and
distributions will be paid, at the net asset value per share, in shares of
the Fund (or in cash if the shareholder so requests) on the monthly payment
date, which will be no later than the last business day of the month for
which the dividend or distribution is payable. Processing of dividend checks
begins immediately following the monthly payment date. Shareholders who have
requested to receive dividends in cash will normally receive their monthly
dividend check during the first ten days of the following month.
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 next determined after receipt by the Transfer Agent by returning the
check or the proceeds to the Transfer Agent within 30 days after the payment
date.
EasyInvest (Service Mark) Shareholders may subscribe to EasyInvest, an
automatic purchase plan which provides for any amount from $100 to $5,000 to
be transferred automatically from a checking or savings account, on a
semi-monthly, monthly or quarterly basis, to the Fund's Transfer Agent for
investment in shares of the Fund (see "Purchase of Fund Shares" and
"Repurchases and Redemptions--Involuntary Redemption").
Systematic Withdrawal Plan. A systematic withdrawal plan (the "Withdrawal
Plan") is available for shareholders who own or purchase shares of the Fund
having a minimum value of $10,000 based upon the then current net asset
value. The Withdrawal Plan provides for monthly or quarterly (March, June,
September and December) checks in any dollar amount, not less than $25, or in
any whole percentage of the account balance, on an annualized basis. Only
shareholders having accounts in which no share certificates have been issued
will be permitted to enroll in the Withdrawal Plan.
Shareholders wishing to enroll in the Withdrawal Plan should make this
election on the Investment Application or contact their DWR or other Selected
Broker-Dealer account executive or the Transfer Agent.
Tax Sheltered Retirement Plans. Retirement plans are available through the
Investment Manager for use by the self-employed, eligible Individual
Retirement Accounts and Custodial Accounts under Section 403(b)(7) of the
Internal Revenue Code. Adoption of such plans should be on advice of legal
counsel or tax adviser.
For further information regarding plan adminis tration, custodial fees and
other details, investors should contact their DWR or other Selected
Broker-Dealer account executive or the Transfer Agent.
EXCHANGE PRIVILEGE
An "Exchange Privilege", that is, the privilege of exchanging shares of
certain Dean Witter Funds for shares of the Fund, exists whereby shares of
various Dean Witter Funds which are open-end investment companies sold with
either a front-end (at time
10
<PAGE>
of purchase) sales charge ("FESC funds") or a contingent deferred (at time of
redemption) sales charge ("CDSC funds"), may be exchanged for shares of the
Fund, Dean Witter Short-Term U.S. Treasury Trust, Dean Witter Limited Term
Municipal Trust, Dean Witter Short-Term Bond Fund, Dean Witter Balanced
Growth Fund and Dean Witter Balanced Income Fund and for shares of five Dean
Witter Funds which are money market funds: Dean Witter Liquid Asset Fund
Inc., Dean Witter U.S. Government Money Market Trust, Dean Witter Tax-Free
Daily Income Trust, Dean Witter California Tax Free Daily Income Trust and
Dean Witter New York Municipal Money Market Trust (which eleven funds,
including the Fund, are hereinafter collectively referred to as the "Exchange
Funds"). An exchange from an FESC fund or a CDSC fund to an Exchange Fund
that is not a money market fund is on the basis of the next calculated net
asset value per share of each fund after the exchange order is received. When
exchanging into a money market fund from an FESC fund or a CDSC fund, shares
of the FESC fund or the CDSC fund are redeemed at their next calculated net
asset value and exchanged for shares of the money market fund at their net
asset value determined the following business day. Subsequently, shares of
the Exchange Fund received in an exchange for shares of an FESC fund
(regardless of the type of fund originally purchased) may be redeemed and
exchanged for shares of Exchange Funds, FESC funds or CDSC funds (however,
shares of CDSC funds, including shares acquired in exchange for (i) shares of
FESC funds or (ii) shares of Exchange Funds which were acquired in exchange
for shares of FESC funds, may not be exchanged for shares of FESC funds).
Additionally, shares of Exchange Funds received in an exchange for shares of
a CDSC fund (regardless of the type of fund originally purchased) may be
redeemed and exchanged for shares of Exchange Funds or CDSC funds.
Ultimately, any applicable contingent deferred sales charge ("CDSC") will
have to be paid upon redemption of shares originally purchased from a CDSC
fund. (If shares of an Exchange Fund received in exchange for shares
originally purchased from a CDSC fund are exchanged for shares of another
CDSC fund having a different CDSC schedule than that of the CDSC fund from
which the Exchange Fund shares were acquired, the shares will be subject to
the higher CDSC schedule.) During the period of time the shares originally
purchased from a CDSC fund remain in the Exchange Fund, the holding period
(for the purpose of determining the rate of CDSC) is frozen so that the
charge is based upon the period of time the shareholder actually held shares
of 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 fees, if any, incurred on
or after that date which are attributable to those shares (see "Purchase of
Fund Shares--Plan of Distribution" in the respective Exchange Fund Prospectus
for a description of Exchange Fund distribution fees). Exchanges involving
FESC funds or CDSC funds may be made after the shares of the FESC fund or
CDSC fund acquired by purchase (not by exchange or dividend reinvestment)
have been held for thirty days. There is no waiting period for exchanges of
shares acquired by exchange or dividend reinvestment.
Purchases and exchanges should be made for investment purposes only. A
pattern of frequent exchanges may be deemed by the Distributor to be abusive
and contrary to the best interests of the Fund's other shareholders and, at
the Distributor'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
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<PAGE>
prospective basis only, upon notice to the shareholder not later than ten
days following such shareholder's most recent exchange.
The Exchange Privilege may be terminated or revised at any time by the
Fund and/or any of such Dean Witter Funds for which shares of the Fund may be
exchanged, upon such notice as may be required by applicable regulatory
agencies (presently sixty days' prior written notice for termination or
material revision), provided that six months' prior written notice of
termination will be given to the shareholders who hold shares of the Exchange
Funds pursuant to this Exchange Privilege, and provided further that the
Exchange Privilege may be terminated or materially revised without notice
under certain unusual circumstances. 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
their margin account.
The current prospectus for each fund describes its investment objective(s)
and policies, and shareholders should obtain one and read it carefully before
investing. Exchanges are subject to the minimum investment requirement and
any other conditions imposed by each fund. 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 broker-dealer of
record and its account numbers are part of the account information,
shareholders may initiate an exchange of shares of the Fund for shares of any
of the above Dean Witter Funds pursuant to this Exchange Privilege by
contacting their DWR or other Selected Broker-Dealer account executive (no
Exchange Privilege Authorization Form is required). Other shareholders (and
those shareholders who are clients of DWR or another Selected Broker-Dealer
but who wish to make exchanges directly by writing or telephoning the
Transfer Agent) must complete and forward to the Transfer Agent an Exchange
Privilege Authorization Form, copies of which may be obtained from the
Transfer Agent, to initiate an exchange. If the Authorization Form is used,
exchanges may be made by contacting the Transfer Agent at (800) 869-NEWS
(toll-free). The Fund will employ reasonable procedures to confirm that
exchange instructions communicated over the telephone are genuine. Such
procedures include requiring various forms of personal identification such as
name, mailing address, social security or other tax identification number and
DWR or other Selected Broker-Dealer account number (if any). Telephone
instructions will also be recorded. If such procedures are not employed, the
Fund may be liable for any losses due to unauthorized or fraudulent
instructions.
Telephone exchange instructions will be accepted if received by the
Transfer Agent between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. New York time, on any day the
New York Stock Exchange is open. Any shareholder wishing to make an exchange
who has previously filed an Exchange Privilege Authorization Form and who is
unable to reach the Fund by telephone should contact his or her DWR or other
Selected Broker-Dealer account executive, if appropriate, or make a written
exchange request. Shareholders are advised that during periods of drastic
economic or market changes it is possible that the telephone exchange
procedures may be difficult to implement, although this has not been the
experience of the Dean Witter Funds in the past.
For further information regarding the Exchange Privilege, shareholders
should contact their DWR or other Selected Broker-Dealer account executive or
the Transfer Agent.
12
<PAGE>
REDEMPTIONS AND REPURCHASES
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Redemptions. Shares of the Fund may be redeemed for cash at any time at
the net asset value per share next determined. If shares are held in a
shareholder's account at the Transfer Agent without a share certificate, a
written request for redemption must be sent to the Fund's Transfer Agent at
P.O. Box 983, Jersey City, NJ 07303. The share certificate, or an
accompanying stock power, and the request for redemption, must be signed by
the shareholder or shareholders exactly as the shares are registered. Each
request for redemption, whether or not accompanied by a share certificate,
must be sent to the Fund's Transfer Agent, which will redeem the shares at
their net asset value next determined as described under "Purchase of Fund
Shares--Determination of Net Asset Value" after it receives the request, and
certificate, if any, in good order. Any redemption request received after
such determination will be redeemed at the next determined net asset value.
The term "good order" means that the share certificate, if any, and request
for redemption are properly signed, accompanied by any documentation required
by the Transfer Agent, and bear signature guarantees when required by the
Fund or the Transfer Agent. If redemption is requested by a corporation,
partnership, trust or fiduciary, the Transfer Agent may require that written
evidence of authority acceptable to the Transfer Agent be submitted before
such request is accepted. With regard to shares of the Fund acquired pursuant
to the Exchange Privilege, any applicable contingent deferred sales charge
will be imposed upon the redemption of such shares (see "Purchase of Fund
Shares--Exchange Privilege").
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 DWR or any other 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, signature(s) 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 stock power may be
obtained from any dealer or commercial bank. The Fund may change the
signature guarantee requirements from time to time upon notice to
shareholders, which may be by means of a revised prospectus.
Repurchases. DWR and other Selected Broker-Dealers are authorized to
repurchase shares represented by a share certificate which is delivered to
any of their offices. Shares held in a shareholder's account without a share
certificate may also be repurchased by DWR and other Selected Broker-Dealers
upon the telephonic request of the shareholder. The repurchase price is the
net asset value next determined (see "Purchase of Fund Shares--Determination
of Net Asset Value") after such repurchase order is received by DWR or the
other Selected Broker-Dealer. The offers by DWR and other Selected
Broker-Dealers to repurchase shares from shareholders may be suspended by
them at any time. In that event, shareholders may redeem their shares through
the Fund's Transfer Agent as set forth above under "Redemption."
Payment for Shares Redeemed or Repurchased. Payment for shares presented
for repurchase or redemption will be made by check within seven days after
receipt by the Transfer Agent of the certificate and/or written request in
good order. Such payment may be postponed or the right of redemption
suspended under unusual circumstances. 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 other Selected Broker-Dealers are referred to their
account executive regarding restrictions on redemption of shares of the Fund
pledged in the margin account.
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<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 30 days after the date of the redemption or repurchase,
reinstate any portion or all of the proceeds of such redemption or repurchase
in shares of the Fund at net asset value next determined after a
reinstatement request, together with the proceeds, is received by the
Transfer Agent.
Involuntary Redemption. The Fund reserves the right to redeem, on 60 days'
notice and at net asset value, the shares of any shareholder whose shares
have a value of less than $100 as a result of redemptions or repurchases, or
such lesser amount as may be fixed by the Trustees or, in the case of an
account offered through EasyInvest (Service Mark), if after twelve months the
shareholder has invested less than $1,000 in the account. However, before the
Fund redeems such shares and sends the proceeds to the shareholder, it will
notify the shareholder that the value of the shares is less than the
applicable amount and allow him or her 60 days to make an additional
investment in an amount which will increase the value of his or her account
to the applicable amount or more before the redemption is processed.
DIVIDENDS, DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dividends and Distributions. The Fund declares dividends from net
investment income on each day the New York Stock Exchange is open for
business. Such dividends are payable monthly. The Fund intends to distribute
dividends from net short-term or long-term capital gains, if any, at least
once each year. The Fund may, however, elect to retain all or a portion of
any such net long-term capital gains in any year.
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 or all dividends and distributions be
paid in cash. (See "Shareholder Services--Automatic Investment of Dividends
and Distributions".)
TAXATION
Federal Taxes. Because the Fund intends to distribute subtantially all of
its net investment income and net short-term capital gains to shareholders
and otherwise remain qualified as a regulated investment company under
Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code, it is not expected that the Fund
will be required to pay any federal income tax on such income and capital
gains. Shareholders will normally have to pay federal income taxes on the
dividends and capital gains distributions they receive from the Fund.
Distributions of net investment income and net short-term capital gains are
taxable to the shareholder as ordinary dividend income regardless of whether
the shareholder receives such distributions in additional shares or in cash.
Any dividends declared in the last quarter of any calendar year which are
paid in the following year prior to February 1 will be deemed received by the
shareholder in the prior year.
Long-term and short-term capital gains may be generated by the sale of
portfolio securities by the Fund. Distributions of long-term capital gains,
if any, are taxable to shareholders as long-term capital gains regardless of
how long a shareholder has held the Fund's shares and regardless of whether
the distribution is received in additional shares or in cash.
The Fund may at times make payments from sources other than income or net
capital gains. Payments from such sources will, in effect, represent a return
of a portion of each shareholder's investment. All, or a portion, of such
payments will not be taxable to shareholders.
No portion of such distributions will be eligible for the dividends
received deduction for corporations. To avoid being subject to a 31% federal
backup withholding tax on taxable dividends, capital gains distributions and
the proceeds of redemptions
14
<PAGE>
and repurchases, shareholders' taxpayer identification numbers must be
furnished and certified as to accuracy.
Current federal law requires that a holder (such as the Fund) of a zero
coupon security accrue a portion of the discount at which the security was
purchased as income each year even though the Fund receives no interest
payments in cash on the security during the year. Accordingly, the Fund may
be required to pay out as an income distribution each year an amount which is
greater than the total amount of cash receipts of interest the Fund actually
received. Such distributions will be made from the available cash of the Fund
or by liquidation of portfolio securities, if necessary.
After the end of the year, shareholders will receive full information on
their dividends and capital gains distributions for tax purposes, including
information as to the Federal tax status of dividends and distributions paid
or retained by the Fund.
The foregoing discussion relates solely to the Federal income tax
consequences of an investment in the Fund and dividends (where applicable)
and distributions may also be subject to state and local taxes (see "State
and Local Taxes" below); there fore, each shareholder is advised to consult
his or her own tax adviser.
State and Local Taxes. The Fund intends to invest substantially all of its
assets in U.S. Treasury obligations that provide interest income exempt from
state and local taxes. Because all States presently allow the pass-through of
federal obligation interest derived from specific federal obligations, it is
anticipated that substantially all of the interest income generated by the
Fund and paid out to shareholders as net investment income will be exempt
from state and local taxation. Such investment income, however, will not be
exempt from federal tax. Furthermore, any capital gains realized by the Fund
will not be exempt from federal, and generally, state and local taxes. It
should be noted that although the Fund intends to invest only in securities
the pass-through income from which is believed exempt from state and local
income taxes, it is possible that a state or local taxing authority may seek
to tax an investor on a portion of the interest income of a particular
government obligation held by the Fund. Shareholders are urged to consult
their tax advisers regarding specific questions regarding federal, state and
local taxes.
PERFORMANCE INFORMATION
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
From time to time the Fund may quote its "yield" and/or its "total return"
in advertisements and sales literature. Both the yield and the total return
of the Fund are based on historical earnings and are not intended to indicate
future performance. The yield of the Fund is computed by dividing the net
investment income of the Fund over a 30-day period by an average value (using
the average number of shares entitled to receive dividends and the net asset
value per share at the end of the period), all in accordance with applicable
regulatory requirements. Such amount is compounded for six months and then
annualized for a twelve-month period to derive the yield of the Fund. The
Fund may also quote its tax-equivalent yield, which is calculated by
determining the pre-tax yield which after being taxed at a stated rate, would
be equivalent to the yield determined as described above.
The "average annual total return" of the Fund refers to a figure
reflecting the average annualized percentage increase (or decrease) in the
value of an initial investment in the Fund of $1,000 over periods of one,
five and ten years, or over the life of the Fund, if less than any of the
foregoing. Average annual total return reflects all income earned by the
Fund, any appreciation or depreciation of the assets of the Fund, and all
expenses incurred by the Fund, for the stated periods. It also assumes
reinvestment of all dividends and distributions paid by the Fund.
In addition to the foregoing, the Fund may advertise its total return over
different periods of time by means of aggregate, average, year-by-year
15
<PAGE>
or other types of total return figures. The Fund may also advertise the
growth of hypothetical investments of $10,000, $50,000 and $100,000 in shares
of the Fund.
The Fund from time to time may also advertise its performance relative to
certain performance rankings and indexes compiled by independent
organizations (such as Lipper Analytical Services Inc.).
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Voting Rights. All shares of beneficial interest of the Fund are of $0.01
par value and are equal as to earnings, assets and voting privileges.
The Fund is not required to hold Annual Meetings of Shareholders and in
ordinary circumstances the Fund does not intend to hold such meetings. The
Trustees may call Special Meetings of Shareholders for action by shareholder
vote as may be required by the Act or the Declaration of Trust. Under certain
circumstances the Trustees may be removed by action of the Trustees. The
shareholders also have the right under certain circumstances to remove the
Trustees.
Under Massachusetts law, shareholders of a business trust may, under
certain circumstances, be held personally liable as partners for the
obligations of the Fund. The Declaration of Trust contains an express
disclaimer of shareholder liability for acts or obligations of the Fund and
requires that notice of such disclaimer be given in each instrument entered
into or executed by the Fund. Under the Declaration of Trust, indemnification
shall be made out of the Fund's property for any shareholder held personally
liable for the obligations of the Fund. Thus, the risk of a shareholder
incurring financial loss on account of shareholder liability is limited to
circumstances in which the Fund itself would be unable to meet its
obligations. Given the above limitations on shareholder personal liability
and the nature of the Fund's assets and operations, the possibility of the
Fund being unable to meet its obligations is remote and thus, in the opinion
of Massachusetts counsel to the Fund, the risk to Fund shareholders is
remote.
Code of Ethics. Directors, officers and employees of InterCapital, Dean
Witter Services Company Inc. and the Distributor are subject to a strict Code
of Ethics adopted by those companies. The Code of Ethics is intended to
ensure that the interests of shareholders and other clients are placed ahead
of any personal interest, that no undue personal benefit is obtained from a
person's employment activities and that actual and potential conflicts of
interest are avoided. To achieve these goals and comply with regulatory
requirements, the Code of Ethics requires, among other things, that personal
securities transactions by employees of the companies be subject to an
advance clearance process to monitor that no Dean Witter Fund is engaged at
the same time in a purchase or sale of the same security. The Code of Ethics
bans the purchase of securities in an initial public offering, and also
prohibits engaging in futures and options transactions and profiting on
short-term trading (that is, a purchase within sixty days of a sale or a sale
within sixty days of a purchase) of a security. In addition, investment
personnel may not purchase or sell a security for their personal account
within thirty days before or after any transaction in any Dean Witter Fund
managed by them. Any violations of the Code of Ethics are subject to
sanctions, including reprimand, demotion or suspension or termination of
employment. The Code of Ethics comports with regulatory requirements and the
recommendations in the 1994 report by the Investment Company Institute
Advisory Group on Personal Investing.
Shareholder Inquiries. All inquiries regarding the Fund should be directed
to the Fund at the telephone numbers or address set forth on the front cover
of this Prospectus.
16
<PAGE>
THE DEAN WITTER FAMILY OF FUNDS
MONEY MARKET FUNDS
Dean Witter Liquid Asset Fund Inc.
Dean Witter U.S. Government Money
Market Trust
Dean Witter Tax-Free Daily Income Trust
Dean Witter California Tax-Free Daily
Income Trust
Dean Witter New York Municipal Money
Market Trust
EQUITY FUNDS
Dean Witter American Value Fund
Dean Witter Natural Resource Development
Securities Inc.
Dean Witter Dividend Growth Securities Inc.
Dean Witter Developing Growth Securities Trust
Dean Witter World Wide Investment Trust
Dean Witter Value-Added Market Series
Dean Witter Utilities Fund
Dean Witter Capital Growth Securities
Dean Witter European Growth Fund Inc.
Dean Witter Precious Metals and Minerals Trust
Dean Witter Pacific Growth Fund Inc.
Dean Witter Health Sciences Trust
Dean Witter Global Dividend Growth Securities
Dean Witter Global Utilities Fund
Dean Witter International Small Cap Fund
Dean Witter Mid-Cap Growth Fund
Dean Witter Balanced Growth Fund
Dean Witter Capital Appreciation Fund
Dean Witter Information Fund
Dean Witter Japan Fund
Dean Witter Special Value Fund
Dean Witter Financial Services Trust
Dean Witter Market Leader Trust
FIXED-INCOME FUNDS
Dean Witter High Yield Securities Inc.
Dean Witter Tax-Exempt Securities Trust
Dean Witter U.S. Government Securities Trust
Dean Witter Federal Securities Trust
Dean Witter Convertible Securities Trust
Dean Witter California Tax-Free Income Fund
Dean Witter New York Tax-Free Income Fund
Dean Witter World Wide Income Trust
Dean Witter Intermediate Income Securities
Dean Witter Global Short-Term Income Fund Inc.
Dean Witter Multi-State Municipal Series Trust
Dean Witter Premier Income Trust
Dean Witter Short-Term U.S. Treasury Trust
Dean Witter Diversified Income Trust
Dean Witter Limited Term Municipal Trust
Dean Witter Short-Term Bond Fund
Dean Witter National Municipal Trust
Dean Witter High Income Securities
Dean Witter Balanced Income Fund
Dean Witter Hawaii Municipal Trust
Dean Witter Intermediate Term U.S. Treasury Trust
DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES
Liquid Asset Series
U.S. Government Money Market Series
U.S. Government Securities Series
Intermediate Income Securities Series
American Value Series
Capital Growth Series
Dividend Growth Series
Strategist Series
Utilities Series
Value-Added Market Series
Global Equity Series
ASSET ALLOCATION FUNDS
Dean Witter Strategist Fund
Dean Witter Global Asset Allocation Fund
ACTIVE ASSETS ACCOUNT PROGRAM
Active Assets Money Trust
Active Assets Tax-Free Trust
Active Assets California Tax-Free Trust
Active Assets Government Securities Trust
<PAGE>
Dean Witter
Intermediate Term
U.S. Treasury Trust
Two World Trade Center
New York, New York 10048
TRUSTEES
Michael Bozic
Charles A. Fiumefreddo
Edwin J. Garn
John R. Haire
Manuel H. Johnson
Michael E. Nugent
Philip J. Purcell
John L. Schroeder
OFFICERS
Charles A. Fiumefreddo
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Barry Fink
Vice President, Secretary and
General Counsel
Rajesh K. Gupta
Vice President
Thomas F. Caloia
Treasurer
CUSTODIAN
The Bank of New York
90 Washington Street
New York, New York 10286
TRANSFER AGENT AND
DIVIDEND DISBURSING AGENT
Dean Witter Trust Company
Harborside Financial Center
Plaza Two
Jersey City, New Jersey 07311
INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
Price Waterhouse LLP
1177 Avenue of the Americas
New York, New York 10036
INVESTMENT MANAGER
Dean Witter InterCapital Inc.
DEAN WITTER
INTERMEDIATE TERM
U.S. TREASURY TRUST
PROSPECTUS--APRIL 30, 1997
<PAGE>
DEAN WITTER
INTERMEDIATE
TERM
U.S. TREASURY
TRUST
STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
APRIL 30, 1997
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dean Witter Intermediate Term U.S. Treasury Trust (the "Fund") is an
open-end, diversified management investment company whose investment
objective is current income and preservation of principal. The Fund seeks to
achieve its investment objective by investing substantially all of its assets
in U.S. Treasury securities backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S.
Government.
Shares of the Fund are sold and redeemed at net asset value without the
imposition of a sales charge. The Fund is authorized to reimburse specific
expenses incurred in promoting the distribution of the Fund's shares,
including personal services to shareholders and maintenance of shareholder
accounts, in accordance with a Plan of Distribution pursuant to Rule 12b-1
under the Investment Company Act of 1940. Reimbursement may in no event
exceed an amount equal to payments at the annual rate of 0.35% of the average
daily net assets of the Fund.
A Prospectus for the Fund dated April 30, 1997, which provides the basic
information you should know before investing in the Fund, may be obtained
without charge from the Fund at the address or telephone numbers listed below
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
Intermediate Term U.S. Treasury Trust
Two World Trade Center
New York, New York 10048
(212) 392-2550 or
(800) 869-NEWS
<PAGE>
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C>
The Fund and its Management............ 3
Trustees and Officers.................. 6
Investment Practices and Policies ..... 12
Investment Restrictions................ 13
Portfolio Transactions and Brokerage .. 14
The Distributor........................ 15
Shareholder Services................... 18
Redemptions and Repurchases............ 22
Dividends, Distributions and Taxes .... 23
Performance Information................ 24
Description of Shares of the Fund ..... 24
Custodian and Transfer Agent........... 25
Independent Accountants................ 25
Reports to Shareholders................ 25
Legal Counsel.......................... 26
Experts................................ 26
Registration Statement ................ 26
Financial Statements--February 28,
1997.................................. 27
Report of Independent Accountants ..... 35
</TABLE>
2
<PAGE>
THE FUND AND ITS MANAGEMENT
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
THE FUND
The Fund is a trust of the type commonly known as a "Massachusetts
business trust" and was organized under the laws of the Commonwealth of
Massachusetts on February 9, 1995.
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. The daily management of the Fund and
research relating to the Fund's portfolio is conducted by or under the
direction of officers of the Fund and of the Investment Manager, subject to
review by the Fund's Board of Trustees. Information as to these Trustees and
Officers is contained under the caption "Trustees and Officers".
InterCapital is also the investment manager (or investment adviser and
administrator) of the following investment companies: Dean Witter Liquid
Asset Fund Inc., InterCapital Income Securities Inc., InterCapital Insured
Municipal Bond Trust, InterCapital Insured Municipal Trust, Dean Witter High
Yield Securities Inc., Dean Witter Tax-Free Daily Income Trust, Dean Witter
Developing Growth Securities Trust, Dean Witter Tax-Exempt Securities Trust,
Dean Witter Natural Resource Development Securities Inc., Dean Witter
Dividend Growth Securities Inc., Dean Witter American Value Fund, Dean Witter
U.S. Government Money Market Trust, Dean Witter Variable Investment Series,
Dean Witter World Wide Investment Trust, Dean Witter Select Municipal
Reinvestment Fund, Dean Witter U.S. Government Securities Trust, Dean Witter
California Tax-Free Income Fund, Dean Witter New York Tax-Free Income Fund,
Dean Witter Convertible Securities Trust, Dean Witter Federal Securities
Trust, Dean Witter Value-Added Market Series, High Income Advantage Trust,
High Income Advantage Trust II, High Income Advantage Trust III, Dean Witter
Government Income Trust, Dean Witter Utilities Fund, Dean Witter California
Tax-Free Daily Income Trust, Dean Witter Strategist Fund, Dean Witter World
Wide Income Trust, Dean Witter Intermediate Income Securities, Dean Witter
New York Municipal Money Market Trust, Dean Witter Capital Growth Securities,
Dean Witter European Growth Fund Inc., Dean Witter Precious Metals and
Minerals Trust, Dean Witter Global Short-Term Income Fund Inc., Dean Witter
Pacific Growth Fund Inc., Dean Witter Multi-State Municipal Series Trust,
Dean Witter Diversified Income Trust, Dean Witter Premier Income Trust,
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, Dean Witter Retirement Series, Dean Witter
Health Sciences Trust, InterCapital Insured Municipal Income Trust,
InterCapital California Insured Municipal Income Trust, InterCapital Insured
Municipal Securities, InterCapital Insured California Municipal Securities,
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 National Municipal Trust, Dean Witter High Income
Securities, Dean Witter International Small Cap Fund, Dean Witter Mid-Cap
Growth Fund, Dean Witter Select Dimensions Investment Series, Dean Witter
Global Asset Allocation Fund, Active Assets Money Trust, Active Assets
Tax-Free Trust, Dean Witter Balanced Growth Fund, Dean Witter Balanced Income
Fund, Dean Witter Hawaii Municipal Trust, Dean Witter Capital Appreciation
Fund, Dean Witter Information Fund, Dean Witter Japan Fund, Dean Witter
Special Value Fund, Dean Witter Financial Services Trust, Dean Witter Market
Leader Trust, Active Assets California Tax-Free Trust and Active Assets
Government Securities Trust. Also, the Investment Manager serves as
investment adviser and administrator to Municipal Income Trust, Municipal
Income Trust II, Municipal Income Trust III, Municipal Income Opportunities
Trust, Municipal Income Opportunities Trust II, Municipal Income
Opportunities Trust III, Prime Income Trust and Municipal Premium Income
Trust. The foregoing investment companies, together with the Fund, are
collectively referred to as the Dean Witter Funds. In addition, Dean Witter
Services Company Inc., ("DWSC"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of InterCapital,
serves as manager for the following investment companies, for which TCW Funds
Management, Inc. is the investment adviser: TCW/DW Core Equity Trust, TCW/DW
North American Government Income Trust, TCW/DW Latin American Growth Fund,
3
<PAGE>
TCW/DW Income and Growth Fund, TCW/DW Small Cap Growth Fund, TCW/DW Balanced
Fund, TCW/DW Total Return Trust, TCW/DW Mid-Cap Equity Trust, TCW/DW Global
Telecom Trust, TCW/DW Strategic Income Trust, TCW/DW Term Trust 2000, TCW/DW
Term Trust 2002, TCW/DW Term Trust 2003 and TCW/DW Emerging Markets
Opportunities Trust (the "TCW/DW Funds"). InterCapital also serves as: (i)
sub-adviser to Templeton Global Opportunities Trust, an open-end investment
company; (ii) administrator of The BlackRock Strategic Term Trust Inc., a
closed-end investment company; and (iii) sub-administrator of MassMutual
Participation Investors and Templeton Global Governments Income Trust,
closed-end investment companies.
Pursuant to an Investment Management Agreement (the "Agreement") with the
Investment Manager, the Fund has retained the Investment Manager to manage
the investment of the Fund's assets, including the placing of orders for the
purchase and sale of portfolio securities. The Investment Manager obtains and
evaluates such information and advice relating to the economy, securities
markets and specific securities as it considers necessary or useful to
continuously manage the assets of the Fund in a manner consistent with its
investment objective.
Under the terms of the Agreement, in addition to managing the Fund's
investments, the Investment Manager maintains certain of the Fund's books and
records and furnishes, at its own expense, such office space, facilities,
equipment, clerical help, bookkeeping and certain legal services as the Fund
may reasonably require in the conduct of its business, including the
preparation of prospectuses, 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.
Pursuant to a Services Agreement between InterCapital and DWSC,
InterCapital has retained DWSC to provide administrative services to the
Fund.
Expenses not expressly assumed by the Investment Manager under the
Agreement or by Dean Witter Distributors Inc. ("Distributors" or the
"Distributor"), the Distributor of the Fund's shares (see "The Distributor"),
will be paid by the Fund. The expenses borne by the Fund include, but are not
limited to: fees pursuant to the Fund's Plan of Distribution; charges and
expenses of any registrar, custodian, stock transfer and dividend disbursing
agent; brokerage commissions; taxes; engraving and printing share
certificates; registration costs of the Fund and its shares under federal and
state securities laws; the cost and expense of printing, including
typesetting, and distributing Prospectuses and Statements of Additional
Information of the Fund and supplements thereto to the Fund's shareholders;
all expenses of shareholders' and Trustees' meetings and of preparing,
printing and mailing of proxy statements and reports to shareholders; fees
and travel expenses of Trustees or members of any advisory board or committee
who are not employees of the Investment Manager or any corporate affiliate of
the Investment Manager; all expenses incident to any dividend, withdrawal or
redemption options; charges and expenses of any outside service used for
pricing of the Fund's shares; fees and expenses of legal counsel, including
counsel to the Trustees who are not interested persons of the Fund or of the
Investment Manager (not including compensation or expenses of attorneys who
are employees of the Investment Manager) and independent accountants;
membership dues of industry associations; interest on Fund borrowings;
postage; insurance premiums on property or personnel (including officers and
Trustees) of the Fund which inure to its benefit; extraordinary expenses
(including, but not limited to, legal claims and liabilities and litigation
costs and any indemnification relating thereto); and all other costs of the
Fund's operation.
As full compensation for the services and facilities furnished to the Fund
and expenses of the Fund assumed by the Investment Manager, the Fund pays the
Investment Manager monthly compensation calculated daily by applying the
annual rate of 0.35% to the net assets of the Fund, determined as of the
close of each business day. The Investment Manager had undertaken from
commencement of operations to assume all expenses (except for brokerage and
12b-1 fees) and waive the compensation
4
<PAGE>
provided for in its Investment Management Agreement until March 27, 1997. The
Investment Manager has undertaken to continue such expense assumption and
compensation waiver through February 28, 1998. For the fiscal period
September 27, 1995 (commencement of operations) through February 29, 1996 and
for the fiscal year ended February 28, 1997, the fees payable under the
Investment Management Agreement ($5,586 and $9,458, respectively) were waived
by the Investment Manager pursuant to undertakings described above.
The Agreement provides that in the absence of willful misfeasance, bad
faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of its obligations thereunder,
the Investment Manager is not liable to the Fund or any of its investors for
any act or omission by the Investment Manager or for any losses sustained by
the Fund or its investors. The Agreement in no way restricts the Investment
Manager from acting as investment manager or adviser to others.
The Investment Manager has paid the organizational expenses of the Fund
incurred prior to the offering of the Fund's shares. The Fund has agreed to
reimburse the Investment Manager for such expenses of approximately $180,000.
The Fund has deferred and is amortizing the reimbursed expenses on the
straight line method over a period not to exceed five years from the date of
commencement of the Fund's operations.
The Agreement was initially approved by the Board of Trustees on April 20,
1995. The Agreement may be terminated at any time, without penalty, on thirty
days' notice by the Board of Trustees of the Fund or by the Investment
Manager. The Agreement will automatically terminate in the event of its
assignment (as defined in the Act). Under its terms, the Agreement will
continue in effect until April 30, 1996 and will continue from year to year
thereafter, provided such continuance of the Agreement is approved at least
annually by the vote of the holders of a majority, as defined in the Act, of
the outstanding shares of the Fund, or by the Board of 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,
which vote must be cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of
voting on such approval.
At their meeting held on February 21, 1997, the Board of Trustees approved
a new investment Management Agreement, to take effect upon the proposed
merger of DWDC with Morgan Stanley Group Inc. (see "The Fund and its
Management" in the Prospectus), subject to approval of the Agreement by the
shareholders of the Fund, and called a Special Meeting of Shareholders to be
held on May 21, 1997 at which the shareholders will vote on approval or
disapproval of such Agreement. The new Agreement is substantially identical
to the present Agreement except for their dates of effectiveness and
termination. At their meeting held on April 24, 1997, the Board of Trustees,
including all of the Independent Trustees, approved continuation of the
present Management Agreement until the earlier of April 30, 1998 or
consummation of the proposed merger.
The Fund has acknowledged that the name "Dean Witter" is a property right
of DWR. The Fund has agreed that DWR or its parent company may use or, at any
time, permit others to use, the name "Dean Witter". The Fund has also agreed
that in the event the investment management contract between InterCapital and
the Fund 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.
5
<PAGE>
TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Trustees and Executive Officers of the Fund, their principal business
occupations during the last five years and their affiliations, if any, with
InterCapital and with the 83 Dean Witter Funds and the 14 TCW/DW Funds are
shown below:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NAME, AGE, POSITION WITH FUND AND ADDRESS PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION DURING LAST FIVE YEARS
- -------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C>
Michael Bozic (56) Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Levitz Furniture
Trustee Corporation (since November, 1995); Director or Trustee of
c/o Levitz Furniture Corporation the Dean Witter Funds; formerly President and Chief Executive
6111 Broken Sound Parkway, N.W. Officer of Hills Department Stores (May, 1991-July, 1995);
Boca Raton, Florida formerly variously Chairman, Chief Executive Officer,
President and Chief Operating Officer (1987-1991) of the Sears
Merchandise Group of Sears, Roebuck and Co.; Director of
Eaglemark Financial Services, Inc., the United Negro College
Fund and Weirton Steel Corporation and Domain Inc.
Charles A. Fiumefreddo* (63) Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and Director of InterCapital,
Chairman of the Board, President and Distributors and DWSC; Executive Vice President and Director
Chief Executive Officer and Trustee, of DWR; Chairman, Trustee or Director, President and Chief
Two World Trade Center Executive Officer of the Dean Witter Funds; Chairman, Chief
New York, New York Executive Officer and Trustee of the TCW/DW Funds; formerly
Executive Vice President and Director of DWDC; Chairman and
Director of Dean Witter Trust Company ("DWTC")(since October,
1989); Director of various DWDC subsidiaries and affiliates;
formerly Executive Vice President and Director of DWDC (until
February 1993).
Edwin J. Garn (64) Director or Trustee of the Dean Witter Funds; formerly United
Trustee States Senator (R-Utah)(1974-1992) and Chairman, Senate
c/o Huntsman Corporation Banking Committee (1980-1986); formerly Mayor of Salt Lake
500 Huntsman Way City, Utah (1971-1974); formerly Astronaut, Space Shuttle
Salt Lake City, Utah Discovery (April 12-19, 1985); Vice Chairman, Huntsman Chemical
Corporation (since January, 1993); Director of Franklin Quest
(time management systems) and John Alden Financial Corp. (health
insurance); Member of the board of various civic and charitable
organizations.
6
<PAGE>
NAME, AGE, POSITION WITH FUND AND ADDRESS PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION DURING LAST FIVE YEARS
- -------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------
John R. Haire (72) Chairman of the Audit Committee and Chairman of the Committee
Trustee of the Independent Directors or Trustees and Director or Trustee
Two World Trade Center of the Dean Witter Funds; Chairman of the Audit Committee
New York, New York and Chairman of the Committee of the Independent Trustees
and Trustee of the TCW/DW Funds; formerly President, Council
for Aid to Education (1978-1989), and Chairman and Chief
Executive Officer of Anchor Corporation, an Investment Adviser
(1964-1978); Director of Washington National Corporation
(insurance).
Dr. Manuel H. Johnson (48) Senior Partner, Johnson Smick International, Inc., a consulting
Trustee firm; Co-Chairman and a founder of the Group of Seven Council
c/o Johnson Smick International, Inc. (G7C), an international economic commission (since September,
1133 Connecticut Avenue, N.W. 1990); Director or Trustee of the Dean Witter Funds; Trustee
Washington, D.C. of the TCW/DW Funds; Director of NASDAQ (since June, 1995);
Director of Greenwich Capital Markets Inc. (broker-dealer);
Trustee of the Financial Accounting Foundation (oversight
organization for the FASB); formerly Vice Chairman of the
Board of Governors at the Federal Reserve System (February,
1986-August, 1990) and Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Treasury
(1982-1986).
Michael E. Nugent (60) General Partner, Triumph Capital, L.P., a private investment
Trustee partnership (since 1988); Director or Trustee of the Dean
c/o Triumph Capital, L.P. Witter Funds; Trustee of the TCW/DW Funds; formerly Vice
237 Park Avenue President, Bankers Trust Company and BT Capital Corporation
New York, New York (1984-1988); Director of various business organizations.
Philip J. Purcell* (53) Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer
Trustee of DWDC, Dean Witter and Novus Credit Services Inc.; Director
Two World Trade Center of InterCapital, DWSC and Distributors; Director or Trustee
New York, New York of the Dean Witter Funds; Director and/or officer of various
DWDC subsidiaries.
John L. Schroeder (66) Retired; Director or Trustee of the Dean Witter Funds; Trustee
Trustee of the TCW/DW Funds; Director of Citizens Utilities Company;
c/o Gordon Altman Butowsky formerly Executive Vice President and Chief Investment Officer
Weitzen Shalov & Wein of the Home Insurance Company (August, 1991 September, 1995)
Counsel to the Independent Trustees and formerly Chairman and Chief Investment Officer of
114 West 47th Street Axe-Houghton Manage ment and the Axe-Houghton Funds
New York, New York (1983-1991).
7
<PAGE>
NAME, AGE, POSITION WITH FUND AND ADDRESS PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION DURING LAST FIVE YEARS
- -------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------
Barry Fink (42) Senior Vice President (since March, 1997) and Secretary and
Vice President, Secretary General Counsel (since February, 1997) of InterCapital and
and General Counsel DWSC; Senior Vice President (since March, 1997) and Assistant
Two World Trade Center Secretary and Assistant General Counsel (since February, 1997)
New York, New York of Distributors; Assistant Secretary of DWR (since August,
1996); Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel of the
Dean Witter Funds and the TCW/DW Funds (since February, 1997);
previously First Vice President (June, 1993-February, 1997),
Vice President (until June, 1993) and Assistant Secretary
and Assistant General Counsel of InterCapital and DWSC and
Assistant Secretary of the Dean Witter Funds and the TCW/DW
Funds.
Rajesh K. Gupta (36) Senior Vice President of InterCapital; Vice President of various
Vice President Dean Witter Funds.
Two World Trade Center
New York, New York
Thomas F. Caloia (51) First Vice President and Assistant Treasurer (since January,
Treasurer 1993) of InterCapital and DWSC; Treasurer of the Dean Witter
Two World Trade Center Funds and the TCW/DW Funds.
</TABLE>
New York, New York [FN]
- ------------
* Denotes Trustees who are "interested persons" of the Fund, as defined in
the Act.
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, Joseph J. McAlinden, Executive Vice President and Chief
Investment Officer of InterCapital and Director of DWTC, Robert S. Giambrone,
Senior Vice President of InterCapital, DWSC, Distributors and DWTC and
Director of DWTC and Peter Avelar, Jonathan R. Page, and James F. Willison
Senior Vice Presidents of InterCapital, are Vice Presidents of the Fund and
Marilyn K. Cranney, First Vice President and Assistant General Counsel of
InterCapital and DWSC, and Lou Anne D. McInnis and Ruth Rossi, Vice
Presidents and Assistant General Counsels of InterCapital and DWSC, and Frank
Bruttomesso and Carsten Otto, Staff Attorneys with InterCapital, are
Assistant Secretaries of the Fund.
THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES, THE INDEPENDENT TRUSTEES, AND THE COMMITTEES
The Board of Trustees consists of eight (8) trustees. These same
individuals also serve as directors or trustees for all of the Dean Witter
Funds, and are referred to in this section as Trustees. As of the date of
this Statement of Additional Information, there are a total of 83 Dean Witter
Funds, comprised of 126 portfolios. As of March 31, 1997, the Dean Witter
Funds had total net assets of approximately $82.8 billion and more than five
million shareholders.
Six Trustees (75% of the total number) have no affiliation or business
connection with InterCapital or any of its affiliated persons and do not own
any stock or other securities issued by InterCapital's parent company, DWDC.
These are the "disinterested" or "independent" Trustees. The other two
Trustees (the "management Trustees") are affiliated with InterCapital. Four
of the six independent Trustees are also Independent Trustees of the TCW/DW
Funds.
Law and regulation establish both general guidelines and specific duties
for the Independent Trustees. The Dean Witter Funds seek as Independent
Trustees individuals of distinction and experience in business and finance,
government service or academia; these are people whose advice and counsel
8
<PAGE>
are in demand by others and for whom there is often competition. To accept a
position on the Funds' Boards, such individuals may reject other attractive
assignments because the Funds make substantial demands on their time. Indeed,
by serving on the Funds' Boards, certain Trustees who would otherwise be
qualified and in demand to serve on bank boards would be prohibited by law
from doing so.
All of the Independent Trustees serve as members of the Audit Committee
and the Committee of the Independent Trustees. Three of them also serve as
members of the Derivatives Committee. During the calendar year ended December
31, 1996, the three Committees held a combined total of sixteen meetings. The
Committees hold some meetings at InterCapital's offices and some outside
InterCapital. Management Trustees or officers do not attend these meetings
unless they are invited for purposes of furnishing information or making a
report.
The Committee of the Independent Trustees is charged with recommending to
the full Board approval of management, advisory and administration contracts,
Rule 12b-1 plans and distribution and underwriting agreements; continually
reviewing Fund performance; checking on the pricing of portfolio securities,
brokerage commissions, transfer agent costs and performance, and trading
among Funds in the same complex; and approving fidelity bond and related
insurance coverage and allocations, as well as other matters that arise from
time to time. The Independent Trustees are required to select and nominate
individuals to fill any Independent Trustee vacancy on the Board of any Fund
that has a Rule 12b-1 plan of distribution. Most of the Dean Witter Funds
have such a plan.
The Audit Committee is charged with recommending to the full Board the
engagement or discharge of the Fund's independent accountants; directing
investigations into matters within the scope of the independent accountants'
duties, including the power to retain outside specialists; reviewing with the
independent accountants the audit plan and results of the auditing
engagement; approving professional services provided by the independent
accountants and other accounting firms prior to the performance of such
services; reviewing the independence of the independent accountants;
considering the range of audit and non-audit fees; reviewing the adequacy of
the Fund's system of internal controls; and preparing and submitting
Committee meeting minutes to the full Board.
Finally, the Board of each Fund has formed a Derivatives Committee to
establish parameters for and oversee the activities of the Fund with respect
to derivative investments, if any, made by the Fund.
DUTIES OF CHAIRMAN OF COMMITTEE OF THE INDEPENDENT TRUSTEES AND AUDIT
COMMITTEE
The Chairman of the Committee of the Independent Trustees and the Audit
Committee maintains an office at the Funds' headquarters in New York. He is
responsible for keeping abreast of regulatory and industry developments and
the Funds' operations and management. He screens and/or prepares written
materials and identifies critical issues for the Independent Trustees to
consider, develops agendas for Committee meetings, determines the type and
amount of information that the Committees will need to form a judgment on
various issues, and arranges to have that information furnished to Committee
members. He also arranges for the services of independent experts and
consults with them in advance of meetings to help refine reports and to focus
on critical issues. Members of the Committees believe that the person who
serves as Chairman of both Committees and guides their efforts is pivotal to
the effective functioning of the Committees.
The Chairman of the Committees also maintains continuous contact with the
Funds' management, with independent counsel to the Independent Trustees and
with the Funds' independent auditors. He arranges for a series of special
meetings involving the annual review of investment advisory, management and
other operating contracts of the Funds and, on behalf of the Committees,
conducts negotiations with the Investment Manager and other service
providers. In effect, the Chairman of the Committees serves as a combination
of chief executive and support staff of the Independent Trustees.
The Chairman of the Committee of the Independent Trustees and the Audit
Committee is not employed by any other organization and devotes his time
primarily to the services he performs as Committee Chairman and Independent
Trustee of the Dean Witter Funds and as an Independent Trustee
9
<PAGE>
and, since July 1, 1996, as Chairman of the Committee of the Independent
Trustees and the Audit Committee of the TCW/DW Funds. The current Committee
Chairman has had more than 35 years experience as a senior executive in the
investment company industry.
ADVANTAGES OF HAVING SAME INDIVIDUALS AS INDEPENDENT TRUSTEES FOR ALL DEAN
WITTER FUNDS
The Independent Trustees and the Funds' management believe that having the
same Independent Trustees for each of the Dean Witter Funds avoids the
duplication of effort that would arise from having different groups of
individuals serving as Independent Trustees for each of the Funds or even of
sub-groups of Funds. They believe that having the same individuals serve as
Independent Trustees of all the Funds tends to increase their knowledge and
expertise regarding matters which affect the Fund complex generally and
enhances their ability to negotiate on behalf of each Fund with the Fund's
service providers. This arrangement also precludes the possibility of
separate groups of Independent Trustees arriving at conflicting decisions
regarding operations and management of the Funds and avoids the cost and
confusion that would likely ensue. Finally, having the same Independent
Trustees serve on all Fund Boards enhances the ability of each Fund to
obtain, at modest cost to each separate Fund, the services of Independent
Trustees, and a Chairman of their Committees, of the caliber, experience and
business acumen of the individuals who serve as Independent Trustees of the
Dean Witter Funds.
COMPENSATION OF INDEPENDENT TRUSTEES
The Fund intends to pay each Independent Trustee an annual fee of $1,000
plus a per meeting fee of $50 for meetings of the Board of Trustees or
committees of the Board of Trustees attended by the Trustee (the Fund intends
to pay the Chairman of the Audit Committee an annual fee of $750 and the
Chairman of the Committee of the Independent Trustees an additional annual
fee of $1,200). The Fund will also reimburse 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 will receive no
compensation or expense reimbursement from the Fund. The Fund commenced
operations on September 27, 1995 and paid no compensation to the Independent
Trustees for the fiscal period ended February 29, 1996 and for the fiscal
year ended February 28, 1997. Payments will commence as of the time the Fund
begins paying management fees, which, pursuant to an undertaking by the
Investment Manager, will commence on March 1, 1998.
At such time as the Fund has paid fees to the Independent Trustees for a
full fiscal year, and assuming that during such fiscal year the Fund holds
the same number of Board and committee meetings as were held by the other
Dean Witter Funds during the calendar year ended December 31, 1996, it is
estimated that the compensation paid to each Independent Trustee during such
fiscal year will be the amount shown in the following table:
FUND COMPENSATION (ESTIMATED)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
AGGREGATE
COMPENSATION
NAME OF INDEPENDENT TRUSTEE FROM THE FUND
- --------------------------- -------------
<S> <C>
Michael Bozic ............. $1,900
Edwin J. Garn ............. 1,900
John R. Haire ............. 3,850
Dr. Manuel H. Johnson .... 1,900
Michael E. Nugent.......... 1,900
John L. Schroeder.......... 1,900
</TABLE>
The following table illustrates the compensation paid to the Fund's
Independent Trustees for the calendar year ended December 31, 1996 for
services to the 82 Dean Witter Funds and, in the case of Messrs. Haire,
Johnson, Nugent and Schroeder, the 14 TCW/DW Funds that were in operation at
December 31, 1996. With respect to Messrs. Haire, Johnson, Nugent and
Schroeder, the TCW/DW Funds are included solely because of a limited exchange
privilege between those Funds and five Dean Witter Money Market Funds.
10
<PAGE>
CASH COMPENSATION FROM DEAN WITTER FUNDS AND TCW/DW FUNDS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
FOR SERVICE AS
CHAIRMAN OF
COMMITTEES OF FOR SERVICE AS
INDEPENDENT CHAIRMAN OF
FOR SERVICE DIRECTORS/ COMMITTEES OF TOTAL CASH
AS DIRECTOR OR FOR SERVICE AS TRUSTEES AND INDEPENDENT COMPENSATION
TRUSTEE AND TRUSTEE AND AUDIT TRUSTEES FOR SERVICES TO
COMMITTEE MEMBER COMMITTEE MEMBER COMMITTEES OF 82 AND AUDIT 82 DEAN WITTER
NAME OF OF 82 DEAN WITTER OF 14 TCW/DW DEAN WITTER COMMITTEES OF 14 FUNDS AND 14
INDEPENDENT TRUSTEE FUNDS FUNDS FUNDS TCW/DW FUNDS TCW/DW FUNDS
- ---------------------- ----------------- ---------------- ---------------- ---------------- ---------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Michael Bozic ......... $138,850 -- -- -- $138,850
Edwin J. Garn ......... 140,900 -- -- -- 140,900
John R. Haire ......... 106,400 $64,283 $195,450 $12,187 378,320
Dr. Manuel H. Johnson 137,100 66,483 -- -- 203,583
Michael E. Nugent .... 138,850 64,283 -- -- 203,133
John L. Schroeder...... 137,150 69,083 -- -- 206,233
</TABLE>
As of the date of this Statement of Additional Information, 57 of the Dean
Witter Funds, not including the Fund, have adopted a retirement program under
which an Independent Trustee who retires after serving for at least five
years (or such lesser period as may be determined by the Board) as an
Independent Director or Trustee of any Dean Witter Fund that has adopted the
retirement program (each such Fund referred to as an "Adopting Fund" and each
such Trustee referred to as an "Eligible Trustee") is entitled to retirement
payments upon reaching the eligible retirement age (normally, after attaining
age 72). Annual payments are based upon length of service. Currently, upon
retirement, each Eligible Trustee is entitled to receive from the Adopting
Fund, commencing as of his or her retirement date and continuing for the
remainder of his or her life, an annual retirement benefit (the "Regular
Benefit") equal to 25.0% of his or her Eligible Compensation plus 0.4166666%
of such Eligible Compensation for each full month of service as an
Independent Director or Trustee of any Adopting Fund in excess of five years
up to a maximum of 50.0% after ten years of service. The foregoing
percentages may be changed by the Board.(1) "Eligible Compensation" is
one-fifth of the total compensation earned by such Eligible Trustee for
service to the Adopting Fund in the five year period prior to the date of the
Eligible Trustee's retirement. Benefits under the retirement program are not
secured or funded by the Adopting Funds.
The following table illustrates the retirement benefits accrued to the
Fund's Independent Trustees by the 57 Dean Witter Funds (not including the
Fund) for the year ended December 31, 1996, and the estimated retirement
benefits for the Fund's Independent Trustees, to commence upon their
retirement, from the 57 Dean Witter Funds as of December 31, 1996.
<PAGE>
RETIREMENT BENEFITS FROM ALL DEAN WITTER FUNDS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
ESTIMATED
RETIREMENT ANNUAL
ESTIMATED BENEFITS BENEFITS
CREDITED ACCRUED AS UPON
YEARS ESTIMATED EXPENSES RETIREMENT
OF SERVICE AT PERCENTAGE OF BY ALL FROM ALL
RETIREMENT ELIGIBLE ADOPTING ADOPTING
NAME OF INDEPENDENT TRUSTEE (MAXIMUM 10) COMPENSATION FUNDS FUNDS (2)
- -------------------------- ------------- --------------- ------------ ------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Michael Bozic ............. 10 50.0% $20,147 $ 51,325
Edwin J. Garn ............. 10 50.0 27,772 51,325
John R. Haire ............. 10 50.0 46,952 129,550
Dr. Manuel H. Johnson .... 10 50.0 10,926 51,325
Michael E. Nugent ......... 10 50.0 19,217 51,325
John L. Schroeder.......... 8 41.7 38,700 42,771
</TABLE>
- ----------
(1) An Eligible Trustee may elect alternate payments of his or her
retirement benefits based upon the combined life expectancy of such
Eligible Trustee and his or her spouse on the date of such Eligible
Trustee's retirement. The amount estimated to be payable under this
method, through the remainder of the later of the lives of such
Eligible Trustee and spouse, will be the actuarial equivalent of the
Regular Benefit. In addition, the Eligible Trustee may elect that the
surviving spouse's periodic payment of benefits will be equal to either
50% or 100% of the previous periodic amount, an election that,
respectively, increases or decreases the previous periodic amount so
that the resulting payments will be the actuarial equivalent of the
Regular Benefit.
(2) Based on current levels of compensation. Amount of annual benefits also
varies depending on the Trustee's elections described in Footnote (1)
above.
11
<PAGE>
As of the date of this Statement of Additional Information, the aggregate
number of shares of beneficial interest of the Fund owned by the Fund's
officers and Trustees as a group was less than 1 percent of the Fund's shares
of beneficial interest outstanding.
INVESTMENT PRACTICES AND POLICIES
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
As stated in the Prospectus, the Fund will invest substantially all of its
assets in U.S. Treasury securities backed by the full faith and credit of the
U.S. Government.
U.S. Treasury securities presently consist of U.S. Treasury bills
(maturities of one year or less), U.S. Treasury notes (maturities of one to
ten years) and U.S. Treasury bonds (generally maturities of greater than ten
years), all of which are direct obligations of the U.S. Government and, as
such, are backed by the "full faith and credit" of the United States.
Zero Coupon Treasury Securities. A portion of the U.S. Treasury securities
purchased by the Fund may be "zero coupon" Treasury securities. These are
U.S. Treasury notes and bonds which have been stripped of their unmatured
interest coupons and receipts or which are certificates representing
interests in such stripped debt obligations and coupons. Such securities are
purchased at a discount from their face amount, giving the purchaser the
right to receive their full value at maturity. A zero coupon security pays no
interest to its holder during its life. Its value to an investor consists of
the difference between its face value at the time of maturity and the price
for which it was acquired, which is generally an amount significantly less
than its face value (sometimes referred to as a "deep discount" price).
The interest earned on such securities is, implicitly, automatically
compounded and paid out at maturity. While such compounding at a constant
rate eliminates the risk of receiving lower yields upon reinvestment of
interest if prevailing interest rates decline, the owner of a zero coupon
security will be unable to participate in higher yields upon reinvestment of
interest received if prevailing interest rates rise. For this reason, zero
coupon securities are subject to substantially greater market price
fluctuations during periods of changing prevailing interest rates than are
comparable debt securities which make current distributions of interest.
Current federal tax law requires that a holder (such as the Fund) of a zero
coupon security accrue a portion of the discount at which the security was
purchased as income each year even though the Fund receives no interest
payments in cash on the security during the year. For a discussion of the tax
treatment of zero coupon Treasury securities. See "Dividends, Distributions
and Taxes."
In the last few years a number of banks and brokerage firms have separated
("stripped") the principal portions ("corpus") from the coupon portions of
the U.S. Treasury bonds and notes and sold them separately in the form of
receipts or certificates representing undivided interests in these
instruments (which instruments are generally held by a bank in a custodial or
trust account). The Fund will not purchase any such receipts or certificates
representing stripped corpus interests in U.S. Treasury securities sold by
banks and brokerage firms. The Fund will only purchase zero coupon Treasury
Securities which have been stripped by the Federal Reserve Bank.
When-Issued and Delayed Delivery Securities and Firm Commitments. From
time to time, in the ordinary course of business, the Fund may purchase U.S.
Treasury securities on a when-issued or delayed delivery basis or may
purchase or sell U.S. Treasury securities on a firm commitment basis. For
example, the Fund may wish to purchase U.S. Treasury notes and bonds sold at
periodic U.S. Treasury auctions prior to their issuance ("when-issued"). 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. While the Fund will only purchase securities on a
when-issued, delayed delivery or firm 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 accrues to the
purchaser during this period. At the time the Fund makes the commitment to
purchase or sell securities on a when-issued, delayed delivery or firm
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, their value may be more or less than the purchase or sale price.
The
12
<PAGE>
Fund will also establish a segregated account with its custodian bank in
which it will continually maintain cash or cash equivalents or other liquid
portfolio (U.S. Treasury) securities equal in value to commitments to
purchase securities on a when-issued, delayed delivery or firm commitment
basis.
Repurchase Agreements. As stated in the Prospectus, the Fund may enter
into repurchase agreements in an amount up to 5% of its net assets.
Repurchase agreements 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 ("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
Adviser 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.
The Fund will not invest in repurchase agreements that do not mature within
seven days and in other illiquid securities if, in the aggregate, such
investments amount to more than 15% of its net assets. During the fiscal year
ended February 28, 1997, the Fund did not enter into repurchase agreements in
an amount which exceeded 5% of its net assets.
INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Fund has adopted certain investment restrictions as fundamental
policies which cannot be changed without the approval of the holders of a
"majority" of the outstanding shares of the Fund, as defined in the Act.
Majority is defined in the Act as the lesser of (a) 67% or more of the shares
present at a meeting of shareholders, if the holders of more than 50% of the
outstanding shares of the Fund are present or represented by proxy, or (b)
more than 50% of the outstanding shares. It is the Trust's fundamental policy
not to concentrate in any one industry and for the purposes of this policy,
U.S. Government securities are not considered to be an industry.
These restrictions provide that the Fund may not:
1. Invest more than 5% of the value of its total assets in the securities
of any one issuer (other than obligations issued or guaranteed by the
United States Government, its agencies or instrumentalities).
2. Purchase common stocks, preferred stocks, warrants, other equity
securities, corporate bonds, municipal bonds or industrial revenue bonds;
3. Borrow money, except from banks for temporary or emergency purposes,
including the meeting of redemption requests which might otherwise require
the untimely disposition of securities. Borrowing in the aggregate may not
exceed 20%, and borrowing for purposes other than meeting redemptions may
not exceed 5% of the value of the Fund's total assets (including the
amount borrowed), less liabilities (not including the amount borrowed) at
the time the borrowing is made. Borrowings in excess of 5% will be repaid
before additional investments are made;
13
<PAGE>
4. Pledge, hypothecate, mortgage or otherwise encumber its assets, except
in an amount up to 10% of the value of its net assets, but only to secure
borrowings for temporary or emergency purposes;
5. Sell securities short or purchase securities on margin;
6. Write or purchase put or call options;
7. Underwrite the securities of other issuers or purchase restricted
securities;
8. Purchase or sell real estate, real estate investment trust securities,
commodities or commodity futures contracts or oil and gas interests;
9. Make loans to others except through the purchase of qualified debt
obligations in accordance with the Fund's investment objectives and
policies;
10. Issue senior securities as defined in the Act except insofar as the
Fund may be deemed to have issued a senior security by reason of: (a)
borrowing money in accordance with restrictions described above or (b) by
purchasing securities on a when-issued or delayed delivery basis or
purchasing or selling securities on a forward commitment basis;
11. Invest in securities of other investment companies, except as they
may be acquired as part of a merger, consolidation, acquisition of assets
or plan of reorganization.
If a percentage restriction is adhered to at the time of an 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 constitute a
violation of any of the foregoing restrictions.
PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS AND BROKERAGE
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subject to the general supervision by the Trustees of the Fund, the
Investment Manager is responsible for decisions to buy and sell securities
for the Fund, the selection of brokers and dealers to effect the
transactions, and the negotiation of brokerage commissions, if any. Purchases
and sales of portfolio securities are normally transacted through issuers,
underwriters or major dealers in U.S. Government securities acting as
principals. Such transactions are made on a net basis and do not involve
payment of brokerage commissions. The cost of securities purchased from an
underwriter usually includes a commission paid by the issuer to the
underwriters; transactions with dealers normally reflect the spread between
bid and asked prices. During the fiscal period ended February 29, 1996 and
during the fiscal year ended February 28, 1997, the Fund paid no brokerage
commissions.
The Investment Manager currently serves as investment manager to a number
of clients, including other investment companies, and may in the future act
as investment manager or adviser to others. It is the practice of the
Investment Manager to cause purchase and sale transactions to be allocated
among the Fund and others whose assets it manages in such a manner as it
deems equitable. In making such allocations among the Fund and other client
accounts, various factors may be considered, including the respective
investment objectives, the relative size of portfolio holdings of the same or
comparable securities, the availability of cash for investment, the size of
investment commitments generally held and the opinions of the persons
responsible for managing the portfolios of the Fund and other client
accounts. In the case of certain initial and secondary offerings, the
Investment Manager may utilize a pro-rata allocation process based on the
size of the Dean Witter Funds involved and the number of shares available
from the public offering.
The policy of the Fund regarding purchases and sales of securities for its
portfolio is that primary consideration will be given to obtaining the most
favorable prices and efficient executions of transactions. In seeking to
implement the Fund's policies, the Investment Manager effects transactions
with those brokers and dealers who the Investment Manager believes provide
the most favorable prices and are capable of providing efficient executions.
If the Investment Manager believes such 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
14
<PAGE>
the Investment Manager. Such services may include, but are not limited to,
any one or more of the following: information as to the availability of
securities for purchase or sale; statistical or factual information or
opinions pertaining to investment; wire services; and appraisals or
evaluations of portfolio securities.
The information and services received by the Investment Manager from
brokers and dealers may be of benefit to the Investment Manager in the
management of accounts of some of its other clients and may not in all cases
benefit the Fund directly. While the receipt of such information and services
is useful in varying degrees and would generally reduce the amount of
research or services otherwise performed by the Investment Manager and
thereby reduce its expenses, it is of indeterminable value and the management
fee paid to the Investment Manager is not reduced by any amount that may be
attributable to the value of such services.
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. Treasury
securities. Such transactions will be effected with DWR only when the price
available from DWR is better than that available from other dealers.
Consistent with the policy described above, brokerage transactions in
securities listed on exchanges or admitted to unlisted trading privileges may
be effected through DWR. In order for DWR to effect any portfolio
transactions for the Fund, the commissions, fees or other remuneration
received by DWR must be reasonable and fair compared to the commissions, fees
or other remuneration paid to other brokers in connection with comparable
transactions involving similar securities being purchased or sold on an
exchange during a comparable period of time. This standard would allow DWR to
receive no more than the remuneration which would be expected to be received
by an unaffiliated broker in a commensurate arm's length transaction.
Furthermore, the Trustees of the Fund, including a majority of the Trustees
who are not "interested" Trustees, have adopted procedures which are
reasonably designed to provide that any commissions, fees or other
remuneration paid to DWR are consistent with the foregoing standard. During
the fiscal period ended February 29, 1996 and during the fiscal year ended
February 28, 1997, the Fund paid no brokerage commissions to DWR.
Portfolio turnover rate is defined as the lesser of the value of the
securities purchased or securities sold, excluding all securities whose
maturities at time of acquisition were one year or less, divided by the
average monthly value of such securities owned during the year. However,
because of the short-term nature of the Fund's portfolio securities, it is
anticipated that the number of purchases and sales or maturities of such
securities will be substantial. Nevertheless, as brokerage commissions are
not normally charged on purchases and sales of such securities, the large
number of these transactions does not have an adverse effect upon the net
yield and net asset value of the shares of the Fund.
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 Selected Dealer Agreement with DWR, which through its own sales
organization sells shares of the Fund, and may enter into selected
broker-dealer agreements with others. The Distributor, a Delaware
corporation, is an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of DWDC. The Trustees of
the Fund, including a majority of the Independent Trustees, approved, at
their meeting on April 20, 1995, a 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, 1996, and
provides that it will remain in effect from year to year thereafter if
approved by the Board. At their meeting held on April 24, 1997, the Trustees,
including all of the Independent Trustees, approved a new Distribution
Agreement, to take effect upon the proposed merger of DWDC with Morgan
Stanley Group Inc. (see "The Fund and its Management" in the Prospectus), and
approved continuation of the present Distribution Agreement until the earlier
of April 30, 1998 or consummation of the proposed merger. The new
Distribution Agreement is substantially identical to the present Agreement
except for its dates of effectiveness and termination.
15
<PAGE>
The Distributor bears all expenses it may incur in providing services
under the Distribution Agreement. Such expenses include the payment of
commissions for sales of the Fund's shares and incentive compensation to
account executives. The Distributor also pays certain expenses in connection
with the distribution of the Fund's shares, including the costs of preparing,
printing and distributing advertising or promotional materials, and the costs
of printing and distributing prospectuses and supplements thereto used in
connection with the offering and sale of the Fund's shares. The Fund bears
the costs of initial typesetting, printing and distribution or 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 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
As discussed in the Prospectus, the Fund has entered into a Plan of
Distribution pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Act with the Distributor
whereby the expenses of certain activities in connection with the
distribution of shares of the Fund are reimbursed. The Plan was initially
approved by the Trustees of the Fund on April 20, 1995, and by InterCapital,
the then sole shareholder of the Fund on May 3, 1995. The vote of the
Trustees included a majority of the Trustees who are not and were not at the
time of their votes interested persons of the Fund and who have and had at
the time of their votes no direct or indirect financial interest in the
operation of the Plan (the "Independent 12b-1 Trustees"), cast in person at a
meeting called for the purpose of voting on such Plan. In determining to
approve the Plan, the Trustees, including the Independent Trustees, concluded
that, in their judgment, there is a reasonable likelihood that the Plan will
benefit the Fund and its shareholders.
The Plan provides that the Distributor will bear the expense of all
promotional and distribution related activities on behalf of the Fund,
including personal services to shareholders and maintenance of shareholder
accounts, except for expenses that the Trustees determine to reimburse, as
described below. The following activities and services may be provided by the
Distributor, DWR, its affiliates and any other selected broker-dealer may be
reimbursed for the following expenses and services under the Plan: (1)
compensation to and expenses of account executives and other employees of
DWR, its affiliates and other selected broker-dealers, including overhead and
telephone expenses; (2) sales incentives and bonuses to sales representatives
and to marketing personnel in connection with promoting sales of the Fund's
shares; (3) expenses incurred in connection with promoting sales of the
Fund's shares; (4) preparing and distributing sales literature; and (5)
providing advertising and promotional activities, including direct mail
solicitation and television, radio, newspaper, magazine and other media
advertisements.
The Fund is authorized to reimburse specific expenses incurred or to be
incurred in promoting the distribution of the Fund's shares and in servicing
shareholder accounts. Reimbursement is made through monthly payments in
amounts determined in advance of each fiscal quarter by the Trustees,
including a majority of the Independent 12b-1 Trustees. The amount of each
monthly payment may in no event exceed an amount equal to a payment at the
annual rate of 0.35 of 1% of the Fund's average daily net assets during the
month. No interest or other financing charges, if any, incurred on any
distribution expenses will be reimbursable under the Plan. In making
quarterly determinations of the amounts that may be expended by the Fund, the
Distributor will provide and the Trustees will review a quarterly budget of
projected distribution expenses to be incurred on behalf of the Fund,
together with a report explaining the purposes and anticipated benefits of
incurring such expenses. The Trustees will determine which particular
expenses, and the portions thereof, that may be borne by the Fund, and in
making such a determination shall consider the scope of the Distributor's
commitment to promoting the distribution of the Fund's shares.
16
<PAGE>
The Distributor has informed the Fund that a portion of the fees payable
by the Fund each year pursuant to the Plan 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 (of which
the Distributor is a member). Such portion of the fee is a payment made for
personal service and/or maintenance of shareholder accounts. The remaining
portion of the Plan fees payable by the Fund is characterized as an
"asset-based sales charge" as defined by the aforementioned Rules of Fair
Practice.
DWR's account executives are credited with an annual gross residual
commission, currently a gross residual of up to 0.35% of the current value of
the respective accounts for which they are the account executives of record.
The "gross residual" is a charge which reflects residual commissions paid by
DWR to its account executives and expenses of DWR associated with the sale
and promotion of Fund shares and the servicing of shareholders' accounts,
including the expenses of operating branch offices in connection with the
servicing of shareholders' accounts, which expenses include lease costs, the
salaries and employee benefits of operations and sales support personnel,
utility costs, communications costs and the costs of stationery and supplies
and other expenses relating to branch office servicing of shareholder
accounts. The portion of the annual gross residual commission allocated to
servicing of shareholders' accounts does not exceed 0.25% of the average
annual net asset value of shares sold by the account executive.
Under the Plan, the Distributor uses its best efforts in rendering
services to the Fund, but in the absence of willful misfeasance, bad faith,
gross negligence or reckless disregard of its obligations, the Distributor is
not liable to the Fund or any of its shareholders for any error of judgment
or mistake of law or for any act or omission or for any losses sustained by
the Fund or its shareholders.
The Fund accrued $8,936 to DWR and the Distributor pursuant to the Plan
for the fiscal year ended February 28, 1997, amounting to an annual rate of
0.33 of 1% of the Fund's average daily net assets for the fiscal period.
Based upon the total amounts spent by the Distributor during the period, it
is estimated that the amount paid by the Fund to the Distributor for
distribution was spent in approximately the following ways: (i)
advertising--$-0-; (ii) printing and mailing prospectuses to other than
current shareholders--$-0-; (iii) compensation to underwriters--$-0-; (iv)
compensation to dealers--$-0-; (v) compensation to sales personnel--$-0-; and
(vi) other, which includes payments to DWR for expenses substantially all of
which relate to compensation of sales personnel (including compensation for
servicing shareholder accounts) and associated overhead expenses--$8,936.
The Plan had an initial term ending April 30, 1996, and provides that it
will continue from year to year thereafter, provided such continuance is
approved annually by a vote of the Trustees, including a majority of the
Independent 12b-1 Trustees. At their meeting held on April 24, 1997, the
Trustees, including a majority of the Independent 12b-1 Trustees, approved
the continuation of the Plan until April 30, 1998. Any amendment to increase
materially the maximum amount authorized to be spent under the Plan must be
approved by the shareholders of the Fund, and all material amendments to the
Plan must be approved by the Trustees in the manner described above. The Plan
may be terminated at any time, without payment of any penalty, by vote of a
majority of the Independent 12b-1 Trustees or by a vote of the holders of a
majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Trust (as defined in the
Act) on not more than 30 days written notice to any other party to the Plan.
So long as the Plan is in effect, the selection or nomination of the
Independent Trustees is committed to the discretion of the Independent
Trustees.
Under the Plan the Distributor provides the Fund, for review by the
Trustees, and the Trustees review, promptly after the end of each calendar
quarter, a written report regarding the distribution expenses incurred on
behalf of the Fund during such calendar quarter, which report includes (1) an
itemization of the types of expenses and the purposes therefor; (2) the
amounts of such expenses; and (3) a description of the benefits derived by
the Fund. In the Trustees' quarterly review of the Plan they consider its
continued appropriateness and the level of compensation provided therein.
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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, DWR or certain of its employees may
be deemed to have such an interest as a result of benefits derived from the
successful operation of the Plan or as a result of receiving a portion of the
amounts expended thereunder by the Fund.
DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE
As discussed in the Prospectus, the net asset value per share of the Fund
is determined at 4:00 p.m., New York time (or, on days when the New York
Stock Exchange closes prior to 4:00 p.m., at such earlier time), on each day
the New York Stock Exchange is open, by taking the value of all the assets of
the Fund, subtracting all liabilities, dividing by the number of shares
outstanding and adjusting the result to the nearest cent. The New York Stock
Exchange currently observes the following holidays: New Year's Day,
Presidents' Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day,
Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.
SHAREHOLDER SERVICES
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shareholder Investment Account. Upon purchase of shares of the Fund, a
Shareholder Investment Account is opened for the investor on the books of the
Fund, maintained by Dean Witter Trust Company (the "Transfer Agent"), in full
and fractional shares of the Fund (rounded to the nearest 1/100 of a share).
This is an open account in which shares owned by the investor are credited by
the Transfer Agent in lieu of issuance of a share certificate. If a share
certificate is desired, it must be requested in writing for each transaction.
Certificates are issued only for full shares and may be redeposited in the
account at any time. There is no charge to the investor for issuance of a
certificate. No certificates will be issued for fractional shares or to
shareholders who have elected the pre-designated bank account method,
Systematic Withdrawal Plan or check writing privilege of withdrawing cash
from their accounts. Whenever a shareholder instituted transaction takes
place in the Shareholder Investment Account, the shareholder will be mailed a
written confirmation of the transaction from the Fund or from DWR or other
selected broker-dealer.
Automatic Investment of Dividends and Distributions. All 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 in shares of the Fund
at the net asset value per share as of the close of business on the record
date. An investor may terminate such agency at any time and may request the
Transfer Agent in writing to have subsequent dividends and/or capital gains
distributions paid in cash rather than shares. To assure sufficient time to
process the change, such request must be received by the Transfer Agent at
least five (5) business days prior to the record date for which it commences
to take effect. In case of recently purchased shares for which registration
instructions have not been received on the record date, cash payments will be
made to DWR or other selected broker-dealer.
Investment of Distributions Received in Cash. As discussed in the
Prospectus, any shareholder who receives a cash payment representing a
dividend or capital gains distribution may invest such dividend or
distribution at net asset value (without sales charge) by returning the check
or the proceeds to the Transfer Agent within 30 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 the proceeds by the Transfer Agent.
Direct Investments through Transfer Agent. As discussed in the Prospectus,
a shareholder may make additional investments in Fund shares at any time by
sending a check in any amount, not less than $100, payable to Dean Witter
Intermediate Term U.S. Treasury Trust, directly to the 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.
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<PAGE>
EasyInvest (Service Mark). Shareholders may subscribe to EasyInvest, an
automatic purchase plan which provides for any amount from $100 to $5,000 to
be transferred automatically from a checking or savings account, on a
semi-monthly, monthly or quarterly basis, to the Transfer Agent for
investment in shares of the Fund. Shares purchased through EasyInvest will be
added to the shareholder's existing account at the net asset value calculated
the same business day the transfer of funds is effected. For further
information or to subscribe to EasyInvest, shareholders should contact their
DWR or other selected broker-dealer account executive or the Transfer Agent.
Targeted Dividends (Service Mark) . In states where it is legally
permissible to do so, shareholders may also have all income dividends and
capital gains distributions automatically invested in shares of an open-end
Dean Witter Fund other than Dean Witter Intermediate Term U.S. Treasury
Trust. Such investment will be made as described above for automatic
investment in shares of the Fund, at the net asset value per share of the
selected Dean Witter Fund as of the close of business on the payment date of
the dividend or distribution, and will begin to earn dividends, if any, in
the selected Dean Witter Fund the next business day. To participate in the
Targeted Dividends program, shareholders should contact their DWR or other
selected broker-dealer account executive or the Transfer Agent. Shareholders
of the Fund must be shareholders of the Dean Witter Fund targeted to receive
investments from dividends at the time they enter the Targeted Dividends
program. Investors should review the prospectus of the targeted Dean Witter
Fund before entering the program.
Systematic Withdrawal Plan. As discussed in the Prospectus, a withdrawal
plan is available for shareholders who own or purchase shares of the Fund
having a minimum value of $10,000 based upon the then current net asset
value. The plan provides for monthly or quarterly (March, June, September and
December) checks in any dollar amount, not less than $25, or in any whole
percentage of the account balance, on an annualized basis.
Dividends and capital gains distributions on shares held under the
Systematic Withdrawal Plan will be invested in additional full and fractional
shares at net asset value (without a sales charge). Shares will be credited
to an open account for the investor by the Transfer Agent; no share
certificates will be issued. A shareholder is entitled to a share certificate
upon written request to the Transfer Agent, although in that event the
shareholder's Systematic Withdrawal Plan will be terminated.
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.
The Transfer Agent acts as agent for the shareholder in tendering to the
Fund for redemption sufficient full and fractional shares to provide the
amount of the periodic withdrawal payment designated in the application. The
shares will be redeemed at their net asset value determined, at the
shareholder's option, on the tenth or twenty-fifth day (or next following
business day) of the relevant month or quarter and normally a check for the
proceeds will be mailed by the Transfer Agent, or amounts credited to a
shareholder's DWR or other Selected Broker-Dealer brokerage account, within
five business days after the date of redemption. The Withdrawal Plan may be
terminated at any time by the Fund.
A shareholder may, at any time, change the amount and interval of
withdrawal payments and the address to which checks are mailed by written
notification to the Transfer Agent. 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). The shareholder's signature on such notification must be
guaranteed in the manner described above. The shareholder may also terminate
the Systematic Withdrawal Plan at any time by written notice to the Transfer
Agent. In the event of such termination, the account will be continued as a
Shareholder Investment Account. The shareholder may also redeem all or part
of the shares held in the Systematic Withdrawal Plan account (see
"Redemptions and Repurchases" in the Prospectus) at any time. The Systematic
Withdrawal Plan is not available for shares held in an Exchange Privilege
Account.
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<PAGE>
EXCHANGE PRIVILEGE
As discussed in the Prospectus under the caption "Exchange Privilege," an
Exchange Privilege exists whereby investors who have purchased shares of any
of the Dean Witter Funds sold with either a front-end sales charge ("FESC
funds") or a contingent deferred sales charge ("CDSC funds") will be
permitted, after the shares of the fund acquired by purchase (not by exchange
or dividend reinvestment) have been held for thirty days, to redeem all or
part of their shares in that fund, have the proceeds invested in shares of
the Fund, Dean Witter Short-Term U.S. Treasury Trust, Dean Witter Limited
Term Municipal Trust, Dean Witter Short-Term Bond Fund, Dean Witter Balanced
Growth Fund and Dean Witter Balanced Income Fund and in shares of five money
market funds: Dean Witter Liquid Asset Fund Inc., Dean Witter Tax-Free Daily
Income Trust, Dean Witter California Tax-Free Daily Income Trust, Dean Witter
New York Municipal Money Market Trust, or Dean Witter U.S. Government Money
Market Trust (these eleven funds, including the Fund, are hereinafter
collectively referred to as "Exchange Funds"). There is no waiting period for
exchanges of shares acquired by exchange or dividend reinvestment.
Subsequently, shares of Exchange Funds received in an exchange for shares of
an FESC fund (regardless of the type of fund originally purchased) may be
redeemed and exchanged for shares of other Exchange Funds, FESC funds or CDSC
funds (however, shares of CDSC funds, including shares acquired in exchange
of (i) shares of FESC funds or (ii) shares of Exchange Funds which were
acquired in exchange for shares of FESC funds, may not be exchanged for
shares of FESC funds). Additionally, shares of Exchange Funds received in an
exchange for shares of a CDSC fund (regardless of the type of fund originally
purchased) may be redeemed and exchanged for shares of Exchange Funds or CDSC
funds. Ultimately, any applicable contingent deferred sales charge ("CDSC")
will have to be paid upon redemption of shares originally purchased from a
CDSC fund. An exchange will be treated for federal income tax purposes 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.)
When shares of any CDSC fund are exchanged for shares of any 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 of a CDSC fund exchanged into the Exchange
Fund on or after April 23, 1990, upon 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. Thus, a CDSC is imposed only upon an ultimate redemption, based
upon the time (calculated as described above) the shareholder was invested in
a CDSC fund. Shares of a CDSC fund acquired in exchange for shares of an FESC
fund (or in exchange for shares of other Dean Witter Funds for which shares
of an FESC fund have been exchanged) are not subject to any CDSC upon their
redemption.
When shares initially purchased in a CDSC fund are exchanged for shares of
another CDSC fund or for shares of an Exchange Fund, the date of purchase of
the shares of the fund exchanged into, for
20
<PAGE>
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 FESC funds, or for shares of other Dean
Witter Funds for which shares of FESC funds have been exchanged (all such
shares called "Free Shares"), will be exchanged first. Shares of Dean Witter
American Value Fund acquired prior to April 30, 1984, shares of Dean Witter
Dividend Growth Securities Inc. and Dean Witter Natural Resource Development
Securities Inc. acquired prior to July 2, 1984, and shares of Dean Witter
Strategist Fund acquired prior to November 8, 1989 are also considered Free
Shares and will be the first Free Shares to be exchanged. After an exchange,
all dividends earned on shares in the Exchange Fund will be considered Free
Shares. If the exchanged amount exceeds the value of such Free Shares, an
exchange is made, on a block-by-block basis, of non-Free Shares held for the
longest period of time (except that if shares held for identical periods of
time but subject to different CDSC schedules are held in the same Exchange
Privilege Account, the shares of that block that are subject to a lower CDSC
rate will be exchanged prior to the shares of that block that are subject to
a higher CDSC rate). Shares equal to any appreciation in the value of
non-Free Shares exchanged will be treated as Free Shares, and the amount of
the purchase payments for the non-Free Shares of the fund exchanged into will
be equal to the lesser of (a) the purchase payments for, or (b) the current
net asset value of, the exchanged non-Free Shares. If an exchange between
funds would result in exchange of only part of a particular block of non-Free
Shares, then shares equal to any appreciation in the value of the block (up
to the amount of the exchange) will be treated as Free Shares and exchanged
first, and the purchase payment for that block will be allocated on a pro
rata basis between the non-Free Shares of that block to be retained and the
non-Free Shares to be exchanged. The prorated amount of such purchase payment
attributable to the retained non-Free Shares will remain as the purchase
payment for such shares, and the amount of purchase payment for the exchanged
non-Free Shares will be equal to the lesser of (a) the prorated amount of the
purchase payment for, or (b) the current net asset value of, those exchanged
non-Free Shares. Based upon the procedures described in the CDSC fund
Prospectus under the caption "Contingent Deferred Sales Charge", any
applicable CDSC will be imposed upon the ultimate redemption of shares of any
fund, regardless of the number of exchanges since those shares were
originally purchased.
With respect to 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 any selected
broker-dealer 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
the 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.
Shares of the Fund acquired from a CDSC Fund or an FESC Fund pursuant to
the Exchange Privilege will be held by the Fund's Transfer Agent in an
Exchange Privilege Account distinct from any account of the same shareholder
who may have acquired shares of the Fund directly. A shareholder of the Fund
will not be permitted to make additional investments in such Exchange
Privilege Account, except through the exchange of additional shares of the
fund in which the shareholder had initially invested, and the proceeds of any
shares redeemed from such Account may not thereafter be placed
21
<PAGE>
back into that Account. If such a shareholder desires to make any additional
investments in the Fund, a separate account will be maintained for receipt of
such investments. The Fund will have additional costs for account maintenance
if a shareholder has more than one account with the Fund.
Exchanges are subject to the minimum investment requirement and any other
conditions imposed by each fund. (The minimum initial investment is $10,000
for Dean Witter Short-Term U.S. Treasury Trust and $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 initial investment for
Dean Witter Special Value is $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 the Fund or
of money market funds, including the check writing feature, will not be
available for funds held in that account.
The Fund and each of the other Dean Witter Funds may limit the number of
times this Exchange Privilege may be exercised by any investor within a
specified period of time. Also, the Exchange Privilege may be terminated or
revised at any time by any of the Dean Witter Funds, upon such notice as may
be required by applicable regulatory agencies (presently sixty days prior
written notice for termination or material revision), provided that six
months' prior written notice of termination will be given to the shareholders
who hold shares of Exchange Funds, pursuant to this Exchange Privilege, and
provided further that the Exchange Privilege may be terminated or materially
revised 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(s), policies and restrictions.
For further information regarding the Exchange Privilege, shareholders
should contact their DWR or other selected broker-dealer account executive or
the Transfer Agent.
REDEMPTIONS AND REPURCHASES
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Payment for Shares Redeemed or Repurchased. As discussed in the
Prospectus, payment for shares presented for repurchase or redemption will be
ordinarily 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 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 to fairly determine the value of its net assets, or (d) during
any other period when the Securities and Exchange Commission by order so
permits; provided that applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and
Exchange Commission shall govern as to whether the conditions prescribed in
(b) or (c) exist. If the shares to be redeemed have recently been purchased
by check (including a certified or bank cashier's check) and the check has
not yet cleared, payment of redemption proceeds may be delayed until the
check has cleared (not more than fifteen days from the time of receipt of the
check by the Transfer Agent).
Involuntary Redemption. As discussed in the Prospectus, due to the
relatively high cost of handling small investments, the Fund reserves the
right to redeem, at net asset value, the shares of any shareholders whose
shares have a value of less than $100 or such lesser amounts as may be fixed
by the Trustees. However, before the Trust redeems such shares and sends the
proceeds to the shareholder, it will notify the shareholder that the value of
its shares is less than $100 and allow the
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<PAGE>
shareholder 60 days to make an additional investment in an amount which will
increase the value of the account to $100 or more before the redemption is
processed.
DIVIDENDS, DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Because the Fund intends to distribute all of its net investment income
and capital gains to shareholders and intends to otherwise comply with all
the provisions of Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, it is
not expected that the Fund will be required to pay any federal income tax on
such income and capital gains. If however, any such capital gains are
retained, the Fund will pay federal income tax thereon. In such a case,
shareholders will have to include such retained gains in their income but
will be able to claim their share of the tax paid by the Fund as a credit
against their individual federal income tax.
Shareholders will normally have to pay federal income taxes on the
dividends and capital gains distributions they receive from the Fund. Such
dividends and distributions derived from net investment income or short-term
capital gains are taxable to the shareholder as ordinary dividend income
regardless of how long a shareholder has held the Fund's shares and whether
the shareholder receives such dividends or distributions in additional shares
or in cash. Distributions of long-term capital gains, if any, are taxable to
shareholders as long-term capital gains regardless of how long a shareholder
has held the Fund's shares and regardless of whether the distribution is
received in additional shares or in cash.
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 long-term
capital gains, such payment or distribution would be in part a return of the
shareholder's investment to the extent of such reduction below the
shareholder's cost, but nonetheless would be fully taxable at either ordinary
or capital gain rates. Therefore, an investor should consider the tax
implications of purchasing Fund shares immediately prior to a dividend or
distribution record date.
Under current federal tax law, the Fund will receive net investment income
in the form of interest by virtue of holding Treasury bills, notes and bonds,
and will recognize income attributable to it from holding zero coupon
Treasury securities. Current federal tax law requires that a holder (such as
the Fund) of a zero coupon security accrue a portion of the discount at which
the security was purchased as income each year even though the Fund receives
no interest payment in cash on the security during the year. As an investment
company, the Fund must pay out substantially all of its net investment income
each year. Accordingly, the Fund may be required to pay out as an income
distribution each year an amount which is greater than the total amount of
cash receipts of interest the Fund actually received. Such distributions will
be made from the available cash of the Fund or by liquidation of portfolio
securities, if necessary. If a distribution of cash necessitates the
liquidation of portfolio securities, the Investment Manager will select which
securities to sell. The Fund may realize a gain or loss from such sales. In
the event the Trust realizes net capital gains from such transactions, its
shareholders may receive a larger capital gain distribution, if any, than
they would in the absence of such transactions.
State and Local Taxes. The Fund intends to invest only in the obligations
of the U.S. Government that provide interest income exempt from most state
and local taxes. Because all States presently allow the pass-through of
federal obligation interest derived from specific federal obligations, it is
anticipated that substantially all of the interest income generated by the
Fund and paid out to shareholders as net investment income will be exempt
from the taxation of most state and local jurisdictions. Such investment
income, however, will not be exempt from federal tax. Furthermore, any
capital gains realized by the Fund will not be exempt from federal, and
generally, state and local taxes. It should be noted that although the Fund
intends to invest only in securities the pass-through income from which is
believed exempt from state and local income taxes, except as noted above, it
is possible that a state or local taxing authority may seek to tax an
investor on a portion of the interest income of a particular government
obligation held by the Fund.
Shareholders are urged to consult their own tax advisers regarding
specific questions as to federal, state or local taxes.
23
<PAGE>
PERFORMANCE INFORMATION
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
As discussed in the Prospectus, from time to time the Fund may quote its
"yield" and/or its "total return" in advertisements and sales literature.
Yield is calculated for any 30-day period as follows: the amount of interest
and/or dividend income for each security in the Fund's portfolio is
determined in accordance with regulatory requirements; the total for the
entire portfolio constitutes the Fund's gross income for the period. Expenses
accrued during the period are subtracted to arrive at "net investment
income". The resulting amount is divided by the product of the net asset
value per share on the last day of the period multiplied by the average
number of Fund shares outstanding during the period that were entitled to
dividends. This amount is added to 1 and raised to the sixth power. 1 is then
subtracted from the result and the difference is multiplied by 2 to arrive at
the annualized yield. The Fund's yield for the 30-day period ended February
28, 1997 was 6.03%. During this period, the Investment Manager assumed
certain expenses and waived its management fees. Had the Fund borne these
expenses and paid these fees for the period, the yield for the 30-day period
ended February 28, 1997 would have been -3.01%.
The Fund's "average annual total return" represents an annualization of
the Fund's total return over a particular period and is computed by finding
the annual percentage rate which will result in the ending redeemable value
of a hypothetical $1,000 investment made at the beginning of a one, five or
ten year period, or for the period from the date of commencement of the
Fund's operations, if shorter than any of the foregoing. For the purpose of
this calculation, it is assumed that all dividends and distributions are
reinvested. The formula for computing the average annual total return
involves a percentage obtained by dividing the ending redeemable value by the
amount of the initial investment, taking a root of the quotient (where the
root is equivalent to the number of years in the period) and subtracting 1
from the result.
The average annual total return of the Fund for the period from September
27, 1995 (commencement of operations) through February 28, 1997 and for the
fiscal year ended February 28, 1997 was 3.28% and 3.42%, respectively. During
this period, the Investment Manager assumed certain expenses of the Fund and
waived its management fees. Had the Fund borne these expenses and paid these
fees during the stated period, the average total return for the periods would
have been -0.57% and 0.22%, respectively.
In addition to the foregoing, the Fund may advertise its total return over
different periods of time by means of aggregate, average, year-by-year or
other types of total return figures. 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 by the initial $1,000 investment and subtracting 1
from the result. Based on the foregoing calculation, the Fund's total return
for the period September 27, 1995 through February 28, 1997 and for the
fiscal year ended February 28, 1997 was 4.69% and 3.42%, respectively.
The Fund may also advertise the growth of a hypothetical investment of
$10,000, $50,000 or $100,000 in shares of the Fund by adding 1 to the Fund's
aggregate total return 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 $10,469, $52,345 and $104,690, respectively at
February 28, 1997.
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 OF THE FUND
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
The shareholders of the Fund are entitled to a full vote for each full
share held. The Trustees were elected by InterCapital as the then sole
shareholder of the Fund prior to the public offering of the Fund's shares.
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
24
<PAGE>
and appoint their own successors, provided that always at least a majority of
the Trustees has been elected by the shareholders of the Fund. Under certain
circumstances the Trustees may be removed by action of the Trustees. The
shareholders also have the right under certain circumstances to remove the
Trustees. The voting rights of shareholders are not cumulative, so that
holders of more than 50 percent of the shares voting can, if they choose,
elect all Trustees being selected, while the holders of the remaining shares
would be unable to elect any Trustees.
The Declaration of Trust permits the Trustees to authorize the creation of
additional series of shares (the proceeds of which would be invested in
separate, independently managed portfolios) and additional classes of shares
within any series (which would be used to distinguish among the rights of
different categories of shareholders, as might be required by future
regulations or other unforeseen circumstances). The Trustees presently have
not authorized any such additional series or classes of shares.
The Declaration of Trust further provides that no Trustee, officer,
employee or agent of the Fund is liable to the Fund or to a shareholder, nor
is any Trustee, officer, employee or agent liable to any third persons in
connection with the affairs of the Fund, except as such liability may arise
from his or its own bad faith, willful misfeasance, gross negligence, or
reckless disregard of his duties. It also provides that all third persons
shall look solely to the Fund's property for satisfaction of claims arising
in connection with the affairs of the Fund. With the exceptions stated, the
Declaration of Trust provides that a Trustee, officer, employee or agent is
entitled to be indemnified against all liability in connection with the
affairs of the Fund.
The Fund is authorized to issue an unlimited number of shares of
beneficial interest. The Fund shall be of unlimited duration, subject to the
provisions in the Declaration of Trust concerning termination by action of
the shareholders.
CUSTODIAN AND TRANSFER AGENT
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Bank of New York, 90 Washington Street, New York, New York 10286 is
the Custodian of the Fund's assets. Any Fund cash balances with the Custodian
in excess of $100,000 are unprotected by Federal deposit insurance. Such
amounts 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 Trust's shares and
Dividend Disbursing Agent for payment of dividends and distributions on Trust
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 from the Fund.
INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Price Waterhouse LLP serves as the independent accountants of the Fund.
The independent accountants are responsible for auditing the annual financial
statements of the Fund.
REPORTS TO SHAREHOLDERS
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Fund will send to shareholders, at least semi-annually, reports
showing the Fund's portfolio and other information. An annual report,
containing financial statements audited by independent account-ants, will be
sent to shareholders each year.
The Fund's fiscal year ends on the last day of February. 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.
25
<PAGE>
LEGAL COUNSEL
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Barry Fink, Esq., who is an officer and the General Counsel of the
Investment Manager, is an officer and the General Counsel of the Fund.
EXPERTS
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
The financial statements of the Fund for the fiscal year ended February
28, 1997 included in this Statement of Additional Information and
incorporated by reference in the Prospectus have been so included and
incorporated in reliance on the report of Price Waterhouse LLP, independent
accountants, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and
accounting.
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
This Statement of Additional Information and the Prospectus do not contain
all of the Information set forth in the Registration Statement the Fund has
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The complete Registration
Statement may be obtained from the Securities and Exchange Commission upon
payment of the fee prescribed by the rules and regulations of the Commission.
26
<PAGE>
DEAN WITTER INTERMEDIATE TERM U.S. TREASURY TRUST
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS February 28, 1997
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PRINCIPAL DESCRIPTION
AMOUNT IN AND COUPON
THOUSANDS MATURITY DATE RATE VALUE
- ----------- ---------------------------------------------------------------- -------- -----------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
U.S. GOVERNMENT OBLIGATIONS (95.1%)
U.S. Treasury Notes (81.8%)
$595 10/31/00 ........................................................ 5.75% $ 584,409
120 11/30/01 ........................................................ 5.875 117,494
560 08/15/03 ........................................................ 5.75 539,459
5 02/15/04 ........................................................ 5.875 4,832
370 11/15/05 ........................................................ 5.875 353,317
30 02/15/07 ........................................................ 6.25 29,352
-----------
1,628,863
-----------
U.S. Treasury Strips (13.3%)
265 11/15/02 ........................................................ 0.00 184,639
135 02/15/05 ........................................................ 0.00 80,401
-----------
265,040
-----------
TOTAL U.S. GOVERNMENT OBLIGATIONS
(Identified Cost $1,941,893) ............................................. 1,893,903
-----------
SHORT-TERM INVESTMENT (a)(1.5%)
U.S. GOVERNMENT OBLIGATION
30 U.S. Treasury Bill
03/06/97 (Amortized Cost $29,980) ............................... 4.85 29,980
-----------
TOTAL INVESTMENTS
(Identified Cost $1,971,873)(b) ................................. 96.6% 1,923,883
CASH AND OTHER ASSETS IN EXCESS OF LIABILITIES .................. 3.4 67,687
-------- -----------
NET ASSETS ......................................................100.0% $1,991,570
======== ===========
<FN>
- ------------
(a) Security was purchased on a discount basis. The interest rate shown
has been adjusted to reflect a money market equivalent yield.
(b) The aggregate cost for federal income tax purposes approximates
identified cost. The aggregate gross and net unrealized depreciation
is $47,990.
</TABLE>
SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
27
<PAGE>
DEAN WITTER INTERMEDIATE TERM U.S. TREASURY TRUST
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
February 28, 1997
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C>
ASSETS:
Investments in securities, at value
(identified cost $1,971,873) ......... $1,923,883
Cash................................... 8,016
Receivable for:
Shares of beneficial interest sold . 35,000
Interest............................. 20,854
Receivable from affiliate ............. 31,815
Deferred organizational expenses ..... 128,853
Prepaid expenses ...................... 16,780
------------
TOTAL ASSETS ........................ 2,165,201
------------
LIABILITIES:
Payable for:
Shares of beneficial interest
repurchased.......................... 12,878
Dividends to shareholders............ 641
Plan of distribution fee............. 536
Accrued expenses ...................... 30,723
Organizational expenses ............... 128,853
------------
TOTAL LIABILITIES.................... 173,631
------------
NET ASSETS:
Paid-in-capital........................ 2,128,635
Net unrealized depreciation ........... (47,990)
Accumulated net realized loss ......... (89,075)
------------
NET ASSETS........................... $1,991,570
============
NET ASSET VALUE PER SHARE,
205,020 shares outstanding (unlimited
shares authorized of $.01 par value) . $ 9.71
============
</TABLE>
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
For the year ended February 28, 1997
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C>
NET INVESTMENT INCOME:
INTEREST INCOME ....................... $ 155,099
-----------
EXPENSES
Professional fees ..................... 62,077
Organizational expenses ............... 36,000
Shareholder reports and notices ...... 31,041
Registration fees ..................... 23,770
Trustees' fees and expenses............ 13,374
Investment management fee.............. 9,458
Plan of distribution fee............... 8,936
Custodian fees......................... 2,965
Transfer agent fees and expenses ...... 1,848
Other.................................. 1,525
-----------
TOTAL EXPENSES ...................... 190,994
LESS: AMOUNTS WAIVED/REIMBURSED .... (182,058)
-----------
NET EXPENSES ........................ 8,936
-----------
NET INVESTMENT INCOME................ 146,163
-----------
NET REALIZED AND UNREALIZED LOSS:
Net realized loss...................... (89,075)
Net change in unrealized depreciation (6,941)
-----------
NET LOSS............................. (96,016)
-----------
NET INCREASE........................... $ 50,147
===========
</TABLE>
SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
28
<PAGE>
DEAN WITTER INTERMEDIATE TERM U.S. TREASURY TRUST
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, continued
STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
FOR THE PERIOD
FOR THE YEAR SEPTEMBER 27, 1995*
ENDED THROUGH
FEBRUARY 28, 1997 FEBRUARY 29, 1996
- ------------------------------------------------------ ----------------- -------------------
<S> <C> <C>
INCREASE (DECREASE) IN NET ASSETS:
OPERATIONS:
Net investment income ................................. $ 146,163 $ 80,604
Net realized gain (loss)............................... (89,075) 759
Net change in unrealized depreciation ................. (6,941) (41,049)
----------------- -------------------
NET INCREASE......................................... 50,147 40,314
----------------- -------------------
DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS FROM:
Net investment income ................................. (146,163) (80,604)
Net realized gain...................................... (759) --
----------------- -------------------
TOTAL................................................ (146,922) (80,604)
----------------- -------------------
Net increase (decrease) from transactions in shares of
beneficial interest................................... (2,348,227) 4,376,862
----------------- -------------------
NET INCREASE (DECREASE).............................. (2,445,002) 4,336,572
NET ASSETS:
Beginning of period.................................... 4,436,572 100,000
----------------- -------------------
END OF PERIOD........................................ $ 1,991,570 $4,436,572
================= ===================
</TABLE>
* Commencement of operations.
SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
29
<PAGE>
DEAN WITTER INTERMEDIATE TERM U.S. TREASURY TRUST
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS February 28, 1997
1. Organization and Accounting Policies
Dean Witter Intermediate Term U.S. Treasury Trust (the "Fund") is registered
under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "Act"), as a
diversified, open-end management investment company. The Fund's investment
objective is current income and preservation of principal. The Fund seeks to
achieve its objective by investing in U.S. Treasury securities backed by the
full faith and credit of the U.S. Government. The Fund was organized as a
Massachusetts business trust on February 9, 1995 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") to effect the Fund's initial capitalization. The
Fund commenced operations on September 27, 1995.
The preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted
accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions
that affect the reported amounts and disclosures. Actual results could differ
from those estimates.
The following is a summary of significant accounting policies:
A. VALUATION OF INVESTMENTS -- (1) all 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; (2) when market
quotations are not readily available, including circumstances under which it
is determined by the Investment Manager that sale or bid prices are not
reflective of a security's market value, portfolio securities are valued at
their fair value as determined in good faith under procedures established by
and under the general supervision of the Trustees (valuation of debt
securities for which market quotations are not readily available may be based
upon current market prices of securities which are comparable in coupon,
rating and maturity or an appropriate matrix utilizing similar factors); and
(3) short-term debt securities having a maturity date of more than sixty days
at time of purchase are valued on a mark-to-market basis until sixty days
prior to maturity and thereafter at amortized cost based on their value on
the 61st day. Short-term debt securities having a maturity date of sixty days
or less at the time of purchase are valued at amortized cost.
B. ACCOUNTING FOR INVESTMENTS -- Security transactions are accounted for on
the trade date (date the order to buy or sell is executed). Realized gains
and losses on security transactions are determined by the identified cost
method. Discounts are accreted over the life of the respective securities.
Interest income is accrued daily.
30
<PAGE>
DEAN WITTER INTERMEDIATE TERM U.S. TREASURY TRUST
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS February 28, 1997, continued
C. FEDERAL INCOME TAX STATUS -- It is the Fund's policy to comply with the
requirements of the Internal Revenue Code applicable to regulated investment
companies and to distribute all of its taxable income to its shareholders.
Accordingly, no federal income tax provision is required.
D. DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS -- The Fund records dividends
and distributions to its shareholders on the record date. The amount of
dividends and distributions from net investment income and net realized
capital gains are determined in accordance with federal income tax
regulations which may differ from generally accepted accounting principles.
These "book/tax" differences are either considered temporary or permanent in
nature. To the extent these differences are permanent in nature, such amounts
are reclassified within the capital accounts based on their federal tax-basis
treatment; temporary differences do not require reclassification. Dividends
and distributions which exceed net investment income and net realized capital
gains for financial reporting purposes but not for tax purposes are reported
as dividends in excess of net investment income or distributions in excess of
net realized capital gains. To the extent they exceed net investment income
and net realized capital gains for tax purposes, they are reported as
distributions of paid-in-capital.
E. ORGANIZATIONAL EXPENSES -- The Investment Manager paid the organizational
expenses of the Fund in the amount of approximately $180,000, of which
approximately $129,000 will be reimbursed. The balance will be absorbed by
the Investment Manager. Such expenses have been deferred and are being
amortized on the straight-line method over a period not to exceed five years
from the commencement of operations.
2. INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT
Pursuant to an Investment Management Agreement, the Fund pays the Investment
Manager a management fee, accrued daily and payable monthly, by applying the
annual rate of 0.35% to the Fund's net assets determined at 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.
The Investment Manager had undertaken to reimburse all operating expenses
(except plan of distribution fees) and waive the compensation provided for in
its Investment Management Agreement until such time as the Fund had $50
million of net assets or until March 27, 1997, whichever occurred first. The
31
<PAGE>
DEAN WITTER INTERMEDIATE TERM U.S. TREASURY TRUST
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS February 28, 1997, continued
Investment Manager has agreed to extend this period until February 28, 1998.
At February 28, 1997, included in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities was
a receivable from an affiliate which represents expense reimbursements due to
the Fund.
3. PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
Dean Witter Distributors Inc. (the "Distributor"), an affiliate of the
Investment Manager, is the distributor of the Fund's shares and, in
accordance with a Plan of Distribution (the "Plan") pursuant to Rule 12b-1
under the Act, finances certain expenses in connection therewith.
Under the Plan, the Distributor bears the expense of all promotional and
distribution related activities on behalf of the Fund, except for expenses
that the Trustees determine to reimburse, as described below. The following
activities and services may be provided by the Distributor, account
executives of Dean Witter Reynolds Inc. ("DWR"), an affiliate of the
Investment Manager and Distributor, its affiliates and other selected
broker-dealers under the Plan: (1) compensation to, and expenses of, account
executives of DWR and other employees, including overhead and telephone
expenses; (2) sales incentives and bonuses to sales representatives and to
marketing personnel in connection with promoting sales of the Fund's shares;
(3) expenses incurred in connection with promoting sales of the Fund's
shares; (4) preparing and distributing sales literature; and (5) providing
advertising and promotional activities, including direct mail solicitation
and television, radio, newspaper, magazine and other media advertisements.
The Fund is authorized to reimburse the Distributor for specific expenses the
Distributor incurs or plans to incur in promoting the distribution of the
Fund's shares. The amount of each monthly reimbursement payment may in no
event exceed an amount equal to a payment at the annual rate of 0.35% of the
Fund's average daily net assets. Expenses incurred by the Distributor
pursuant to the Plan in any fiscal year will not be reimbursed by the Fund
through payments accrued in any subsequent fiscal year. For the year ended
February 28, 1997, the distribution fee was accrued at the annual rate of
0.33%.
4. SECURITY TRANSACTIONS AND TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES
The costs of purchases and proceeds from sales of portfolio securities,
excluding short-term investments, for the year ended February 28, 1997 were
$1,087,644 and $3,459,887, respectively.
Dean Witter Trust Company, an affiliate of the Investment Manager and
Distributor, is the Fund's
transfer agent. At February 28, 1997, the Fund had transfer agent fees and
expenses payable of approximately $1,800.
32
<PAGE>
DEAN WITTER INTERMEDIATE TERM U.S. TREASURY TRUST
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS February 28, 1997, continued
5. SHARES OF BENEFICIAL INTEREST
Transactions in shares of beneficial interest were as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
FOR THE PERIOD
FOR THE YEAR SEPTEMBER 27, 1995*
ENDED THROUGH
FEBRUARY 28, 1997 FEBRUARY 29, 1996
-------------------------- -------------------------
SHARES AMOUNT SHARES AMOUNT
----------- -------------- ----------- -------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Sold 145,947 $ 1,418,741 659,183 $ 6,612,088
Reinvestment of dividends and distributions 7,200 69,866 4,161 41,820
----------- -------------- ----------- -------------
153,147 1,488,607 663,344 6,653,908
Repurchased (395,509) (3,836,834) (225,962) (2,277,046)
----------- -------------- ----------- -------------
Net increase (decrease) (242,362) $(2,348,227) 437,382 $ 4,376,862
=========== ============== =========== =============
</TABLE>
- ------------
* Commencement of operations.
6. FEDERAL INCOME TAX STATUS
At February 28, 1997, the Fund had a net capital loss carryover of
approximately $87,000 which will be available through February 28, 2005.
Capital losses incurred after October 31 ("post-October losses") within the
taxable year are deemed to arise on the first business day of the Fund's next
taxable year. The Fund incurred and will elect to defer net capital losses of
approximately $2,000 during fiscal 1997.
As of February 28, 1997, the Fund had temporary book/tax differences
primarily attributable to post-October losses.
33
<PAGE>
Dean Witter Intermediate Term U.S. Treasury Trust
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
Selected ratios and per share data for a share of beneficial interest
outstanding throughout each period:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
FOR THE PERIOD
FOR THE YEAR SEPTEMBER 27, 1995*
ENDED THROUGH
FEBRUARY 28, 1997 FEBRUARY 29, 1996
- ------------------------------------------ ----------------- -------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
PER SHARE OPERATING PERFORMANCE:
Net asset value, beginning of period ..... $ 9.92 $10.00
------ -------
Net investment income ..................... 0.53 0.21
Net realized and unrealized loss .......... (0.21) (0.08)
------ -------
Total from investment operations .......... 0.32 0.13
------ -------
Less dividends from net investment income (0.53)++ (0.21)
----- -------
Net asset value, end of period ............ $ 9.71 $ 9.92
====== =======
TOTAL INVESTMENT RETURN+ .................. 3.42% 1.23%(1)
RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET ASSETS:
Expenses .................................. 0.33%(3) 0.32%(2)(3)
Net investment income ..................... 5.41%(3) 5.05%(2)(3)
SUPPLEMENTAL DATA:
Net assets, end of period, in thousands ... $1,992 $4,437
Portfolio turnover rate ................... 42% 20%(1)
- ------------
* Commencement of operations.
+ Calculated based on the net asset value as of the last business day of
the period.
++ Includes distributions from capital gains of $.003.
(1) Not annualized.
(2) Annualized.
(3) If the Fund had borne all of its expenses that were reimbursed or
waived by the Investment Manager, the annualized expense and net
investment income (loss) ratios would have been 7.07% and (1.33)%,
respectively, for the year ended February 28, 1997 and 2.82% and 2.55%,
respectively, after application of the Fund's state expense limitation,
for the period ended February 29, 1996.
</TABLE>
SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
34
<PAGE>
DEAN WITTER INTERMEDIATE TERM U.S. TREASURY TRUST
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
TO THE SHAREHOLDERS AND TRUSTEES
OF DEAN WITTER INTERMEDIATE TERM U.S. TREASURY TRUST
In our opinion, the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities,
including the portfolio of investments, and the related statements of
operations and of changes in net assets and the financial highlights present
fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Dean Witter
Intermediate Term U.S. Treasury Trust (the "Fund") at February 28, 1997, the
results of its operations for the year then ended, and the changes in its net
assets and the financial highlights for the year then ended and for the
period September 27, 1995 (commencement of operations) through February 29,
1996, in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles. These
financial statements and financial highlights (hereafter referred to as
"financial statements") are the responsibility of the Fund's management; our
responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based
on our audits. We conducted our audits of these financial statements in
accordance with generally accepted auditing standards which require that we
plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the
financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes
examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures
in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and
significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall
financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits, which included
confirmation of securities at February 28, 1997 by correspondence with the
custodian, provide a reasonable basis for the opinion expressed above.
PRICE WATERHOUSE LLP
1177 Avenue of the Americas
New York, New York 10036
April 11, 1997
<PAGE>
DEAN WITTER INTERMEDIATE TERM U.S. TREASURY TRUST
PART C OTHER INFORMATION
Item 24. Financial Statements and Exhibits
(a) Financial Statements
(1) Financial statements and schedules, included
in Prospectus (Part A):
Page in
-------
Prospectus
----------
Financial highlights for the fiscal period
September 27, 1995 through February 29, 1996
and for the fiscal year ended February 28, 1997. 4
(2) Financial statements included in the Statement of
Additional Information (Part B): Page in
-------
SAI
---
Portfolio of Investments at February 28, 1997... 27
Statement of assets and liabilities at
February 28, 1997............................... 28
Statement of operations for the fiscal period ended
February 29, 1996 and for the fiscal year ended
February 28, 1997............................... 28
Statement of changes in net assets for the fiscal
period September 27, 1995 through February 29,
1996 and for the fiscal year ended February 28,
1997............................................ 29
Notes to Financial Statements................... 30
Financial highlights for the fiscal period
September 27, 1995 through February 29, 1996
and for the fiscal year ended February 28, 1997. 34
(3) Financial statements included in Part C:
None
(b) Exhibits:
2. -- By-Laws of the Registrant, Amended and Restated
as of October 25, 1996
8. -- Amendment to Custody Agreement
11. -- Consent of Independent Accountants
16. -- Schedule for Computation of Performance Quotations
1
<PAGE>
27. -- Financial Data Schedule
- -------------------
All other exhibits previously filed and incorporated by
reference.
Item 25. Persons Controlled by or Under Common Control With
Registrant
None
Item 26. Number of Holders of Securities.
(1) (2)
Number of Record Holders
Title of Class at March 31, 1997
-------------- ------------------------
Shares of Beneficial Interest 110
Item 27. Indemnification
Pursuant to Section 5.3 of the Registrant's Declaration of Trust and under
Section 4.8 of the Registrant's By-Laws, the indemnification of the
Registrant's trustees, officers, employees and agents is permitted if it is
determined that they acted under the belief that their actions were in or not
opposed to the best interest of the Registrant, and, with respect to any
criminal proceeding, they had reasonable cause to believe their conduct was not
unlawful. In addition, indemnification is permitted only if it is determined
that the actions in question did not render them liable by reason of willful
misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence in the performance of their duties
or by reason of reckless disregard of their obligations and duties to the
Registrant. Trustees, officers, employees and agents will be indemnified for
the expense of litigation if it is determined that they are entitled to
indemnification against any liability established in such litigation. The
Registrant may also advance money for these expenses provided that they give
their undertakings to repay the Registrant unless their conduct is later
determined to permit indemnification.
Pursuant to Section 5.2 of the Registrant's Declaration of Trust and
paragraph 8 of the Registrant's Investment Management Agreement, neither the
Investment Manager nor any trustee, officer, employee or agent of the
Registrant shall be liable for any action or failure to act, except in the case
of bad faith, willful misfeasance, gross negligence or reckless disregard of
duties to the Registrant.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under
the Securities Act of 1933 (the "Act") may be permitted to
2
<PAGE>
trustees, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the
foregoing provisions or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the
opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is
against public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable.
In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other
than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a trustee,
officer, or controlling person of the Registrant in connection with the
successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted against the
Registrant by such trustee, officer or controlling person in connection with
the shares being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its
counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court
of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is
against public policy as expressed in the Act, and will be governed by the
final adjudication of such issue.
The Registrant hereby undertakes that it will apply the
indemnification provision of its by-laws in a manner consistent with Release
11330 of the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Investment Company
Act of 1940, so long as the interpretation of Sections 17(h) and 17(i) of such
Act remains in effect.
Registrant, in conjunction with the Investment Manager, Registrant's
Trustees, and other registered investment management companies managed by the
Investment Manager, maintains insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a
Trustee, officer, employee, or agent of Registrant, or who is or was serving at
the request of Registrant as a trustee, director, officer, employee or agent of
another trust or corporation, against any liability asserted against him and
incurred by him or arising out of his position. However, in no event will
Registrant maintain insurance to indemnify any such person for any act for
which Registrant itself is not permitted to indemnify him.
Item 28. Business and Other Connections of Investment Adviser.
See "The Fund and Its Management" in the Prospectus regarding the
business of the investment adviser. The following information is given
regarding officers of Dean Witter InterCapital Inc. InterCapital is a
wholly-owned subsidiary of Dean Witter, Discover & Co. The principal address of
the Dean Witter Funds is Two World Trade Center, New York, New York 10048.
The term "Dean Witter Funds" used below refers to the following
registered investment companies:
Closed-End Investment Companies
- -------------------------------
(1) InterCapital Income Securities Inc.
(2) High Income Advantage Trust
3
<PAGE>
(3) High Income Advantage Trust II
(4) High Income Advantage Trust III
(5) Municipal Income Trust
(6) Municipal Income Trust II
(7) Municipal Income Trust III
(8) Dean Witter Government Income Trust
(9) Municipal Premium Income Trust
(10) Municipal Income Opportunities Trust
(11) Municipal Income Opportunities Trust II
(12) Municipal Income Opportunities Trust III
(13) Prime Income Trust
(14) InterCapital Insured Municipal Bond Trust
(15) InterCapital Quality Municipal Income Trust
(16) InterCapital Quality Municipal Investment Trust
(17) InterCapital Insured Municipal Income Trust
(18) InterCapital California Insured Municipal Income Trust
(19) InterCapital Insured Municipal Trust
(20) InterCapital Quality Municipal Securities
(21) InterCapital New York Quality Municipal Securities
(22) InterCapital California Quality Municipal Securities
(23) InterCapital Insured California Municipal Securities
(24) InterCapital Insured Municipal Securities
Open-end Investment Companies:
- ------------------------------
(1) Dean Witter Short-Term Bond Fund
(2) Dean Witter Tax-Exempt Securities Trust
(3) Dean Witter Tax-Free Daily Income Trust
(4) Dean Witter Dividend Growth Securities Inc.
(5) Dean Witter Convertible Securities Trust
(6) Dean Witter Liquid Asset Fund Inc.
(7) Dean Witter Developing Growth Securities Trust
(8) Dean Witter Retirement Series
(9) Dean Witter Federal Securities Trust
(10) Dean Witter World Wide Investment Trust
(11) Dean Witter U.S. Government Securities Trust
(12) Dean Witter Select Municipal Reinvestment Fund
(13) Dean Witter High Yield Securities Inc.
(14) Dean Witter Intermediate Income Securities
(15) Dean Witter New York Tax-Free Income Fund
(16) Dean Witter California Tax-Free Income Fund
(17) Dean Witter Health Sciences Trust
(18) Dean Witter California Tax-Free Daily Income Trust
(19) Dean Witter Global Asset Allocation Fund
(20) Dean Witter American Value Fund
(21) Dean Witter Strategist Fund
(22) Dean Witter Utilities Fund
(23) Dean Witter World Wide Income Trust
(24) Dean Witter New York Municipal Money Market Trust
(25) Dean Witter Capital Growth Securities
(26) Dean Witter Precious Metals and Minerals Trust
(27) Dean Witter European Growth Fund Inc.
(28) Dean Witter Global Short-Term Income Fund Inc.
4
<PAGE>
(29) Dean Witter Pacific Growth Fund Inc.
(30) Dean Witter Multi-State Municipal Series Trust
(31) Dean Witter Premier Income Trust
(32) Dean Witter Short-Term U.S. Treasury Trust
(33) Dean Witter Diversified Income Trust
(34) Dean Witter U.S. Government Money Market Trust
(35) Dean Witter Global Dividend Growth Securities
(36) Active Assets California Tax-Free Trust
(37) Dean Witter Natural Resource Development Securities Inc.
(38) Active Assets Government Securities Trust
(39) Active Assets Money Trust
(40) Active Assets Tax-Free Trust
(41) Dean Witter Limited Term Municipal Trust
(42) Dean Witter Variable Investment Series
(43) Dean Witter Value-Added Market Series
(44) Dean Witter Global Utilities Fund
(45) Dean Witter High Income Securities
(46) Dean Witter National Municipal Trust
(47) Dean Witter International SmallCap Fund
(48) Dean Witter Mid-Cap Growth Fund
(49) Dean Witter Select Dimensions Investment Series
(50) Dean Witter Balanced Growth Fund
(51) Dean Witter Balanced Income Fund
(52) Dean Witter Hawaii Municipal Trust
(53) Dean Witter Capital Appreciation Fund
(54) Dean Witter Intermediate Term U.S. Treasury Trust
(55) Dean Witter Information Fund
(56) Dean Witter Japan Fund
(57) Dean Witter Income Builder Fund
(58) Dean Witter Special Value Fund
(59) Dean Witter Financial Services Trust
(60) Dean Witter Market Leader Trust
The term "TCW/DW Funds" refers to the following registered
investment companies:
Open-End Investment Companies
- -----------------------------
(1) TCW/DW Core Equity Trust
(2) TCW/DW North American Government Income Trust
(3) TCW/DW Latin American Growth Fund
(4) TCW/DW Income and Growth Fund
(5) TCW/DW Small Cap Growth Fund
(6) TCW/DW Balanced Fund
(7) TCW/DW Total Return Trust
(8) TCW/DW Mid-Cap Equity Trust
(9) TCW/DW Global Telecom Trust
(10) TCW/DW Strategic Income Trust
Closed-End Investment Companies
- -------------------------------
(1) TCW/DW Term Trust 2000
(2) TCW/DW Term Trust 2002
(3) TCW/DW Term Trust 2003
(4) TCW/DW Emerging Markets Opportunities Trust
5
<PAGE>
NAME AND POSITION OTHER SUBSTANTIAL BUSINESS, PROFESSION, VOCATION
WITH DEAN WITTER OR EMPLOYMENT, INCLUDING NAME, PRINCIPAL ADDRESS
INTERCAPITAL INC. AND NATURE OF CONNECTION
- ----------------- --------------------------------------------------
Charles A. Fiumefreddo Executive Vice President and Director of Dean
Chairman, Chief Witter Reynolds Inc. ("DWR"); Chairman, Chief
Executive Officer and Executive Officer and Director of Dean Witter
Director Distributors Inc. ("Distributors") and Dean
Witter Services Company Inc. ("DWSC"); Chairman
and Director of Dean Witter Trust Company
("DWTC"); Chairman, Director or Trustee, President
and Chief Executive Officer of the Dean Witter
Funds and Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and
Trustee of the TCW/DW Funds; Formerly Executive
Vice President and Director of Dean Witter,
Discover & Co. ("DWDC"); Director and/or officer
of various DWDC subsidiaries.
Philip J. Purcell Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and Director of
Director of DWDC and DWR; Director of DWSC and
Distributors; Director or Trustee
of the Dean Witter Funds; Director
and/or officer of various DWDC
subsidiaries.
Richard M. DeMartini Executive Vice President of DWDC; President and
Director Chief Operating Officer of Dean Witter Capital,
a division of DWR; Member of the DWDC Management
Committee; Director of DWR, DWSC, Distributors
and DWTC; Trustee of the TCW/DW Funds.
James F. Higgins Executive Vice President of DWDC; President and
Director Chief Operating Officer of Dean Witter Financial;
Director of DWR, DWSC, Distributors
and DWTC.
Thomas C. Schneider Executive Vice President and Chief Financial
Executive Vice Officer of DWDC, DWR, DWSC and Distributors;
President, Chief Director of DWR, DWSC and Distributors.
Financial Officer and
Director
Christine A. Edwards Executive Vice President, Secretary and General
Director Counsel of DWDC and DWR; Executive Vice President,
Secretary and Chief Legal Officer of Distributors;
Director of DWR, DWSC and Distributors.
6
<PAGE>
NAME AND POSITION OTHER SUBSTANTIAL BUSINESS, PROFESSION, VOCATION
WITH DEAN WITTER OR EMPLOYMENT, INCLUDING NAME, PRINCIPAL ADDRESS
INTERCAPITAL INC. AND NATURE OF CONNECTION
- ----------------- --------------------------------------------------
Robert M. Scanlan President and Chief Operating Officer of DWSC,
President and Chief Executive Vice President of Distributors;
Operating Officer Executive Vice President and Director of DWTC;
Vice President of the Dean Witter Funds and the
TCW/DW Funds.
John Van Heuvelen President, Chief Operating Officer and Director
Executive Vice of DWTC.
President
Joseph J. McAlinden
Executive Vice President
and Chief Investment Vice President of the Dean Witter Funds and
Officer Director of DWTC.
Peter M. Avelar
Senior Vice President Vice President of various Dean Witter Funds.
Mark Bavoso
Senior Vice President Vice President of various Dean Witter Funds.
Richard Felegy
Senior Vice President
Barry Fink Assistant Secretary of DWR; Senior Vice President,
Senior Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel of DWSC; Senior Vice
Secretary and General President, Assistant Secretary and Assistant
Counsel General Counsel of Distributors; Vice President,
Secretary and General Counsel of the Dean Witter
Funds and the TCW/DW Funds.
Edward Gaylor
Senior Vice President Vice President of various Dean Witter Funds.
Robert S. Giambrone
Senior Vice President Senior Vice President of DWSC, Distributors and
DWTC and Director of DWTC; Vice President of the
Dean Witter Funds and the TCW/DW Funds.
Rajesh K. Gupta
Senior Vice President Vice President of various Dean Witter Funds.
Kenton J. Hinchcliffe
Senior Vice President Vice President of various Dean Witter Funds.
Kevin Hurley
Senior Vice President Vice President of various Dean Witter Funds.
Jenny B. Jones
Senior Vice President Vice President of Dean Witter Special Value Fund.
7
<PAGE>
NAME AND POSITION OTHER SUBSTANTIAL BUSINESS, PROFESSION, VOCATION
WITH DEAN WITTER OR EMPLOYMENT, INCLUDING NAME, PRINCIPAL ADDRESS
INTERCAPITAL INC. AND NATURE OF CONNECTION
- ----------------- --------------------------------------------------
John B. Kemp, III Director of the Provident Savings Bank, Jersey
Senior Vice President City, New Jersey.
Anita Kolleeny
Senior Vice President Vice President of various Dean Witter Funds.
Jonathan R. Page
Senior Vice President Vice President of various Dean Witter Funds.
Ira N. Ross
Senior Vice President Vice President of various Dean Witter Funds.
Guy G. Rutherfurd, Jr.
Senior Vice President Vice President of Dean Witter Market Leader Trust.
Rochelle G. Siegel
Senior Vice President Vice President of various Dean Witter Funds.
Paul D. Vance
Senior Vice President Vice President of various Dean Witter Funds.
Elizabeth A. Vetell
Senior Vice President
James F. Willison
Senior Vice President Vice President of various Dean Witter Funds.
Ronald J. Worobel
Senior Vice President Vice President of various Dean Witter Funds.
Thomas F. Caloia First Vice President and Assistant Treasurer of
First Vice President DWSC, Assistant Treasurer of Distributors;
and Assistant Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer of the
Treasurer Dean Witter Funds and the TCW/DW Funds.
Marilyn K. Cranney Assistant Secretary of DWR; First Vice President
First Vice President and Assistant Secretary of DWSC; Assistant
and Assistant Secretary Secretary of the Dean Witter Funds and the TCW/DW
Funds.
Michael Interrante First Vice President and Controller of DWSC;
First Vice President Assistant Treasurer of Distributors;First Vice
and Controller President and Treasurer of DWTC.
Robert Zimmerman
First Vice President
Joan Allman
Vice President
8
<PAGE>
NAME AND POSITION OTHER SUBSTANTIAL BUSINESS, PROFESSION, VOCATION
WITH DEAN WITTER OR EMPLOYMENT, INCLUDING NAME, PRINCIPAL ADDRESS
INTERCAPITAL INC. AND NATURE OF CONNECTION
- ----------------- --------------------------------------------------
Joseph Arcieri
Vice President Vice President of various Dean Witter Funds.
Kirk Balzer
Vice President Vice President of various Dean Witter Funds.
Douglas Brown
Vice President
Philip Casparius
Vice President
Thomas Chronert
Vice President
Rosalie Clough
Vice President
Patricia A. Cuddy
Vice President Vice President of various Dean Witter Funds.
B. Catherine Connelly
Vice President
Salvatore DeSteno
Vice President Vice President of DWSC.
Frank J. DeVito
Vice President Vice President of DWSC.
Bruce Dunn
Vice President
Jeffrey D. Geffen
Vice President
Deborah Genovese
Vice President
Peter W. Gurman
Vice President
John Hechtlinger
Vice President
Peter Hermann
Vice President Vice President of various Dean Witter Funds.
9
<PAGE>
NAME AND POSITION OTHER SUBSTANTIAL BUSINESS, PROFESSION, VOCATION
WITH DEAN WITTER OR EMPLOYMENT, INCLUDING NAME, PRINCIPAL ADDRESS
INTERCAPITAL INC. AND NATURE OF CONNECTION
- ----------------- --------------------------------------------------
Elizabeth Hinchman
Vice President
David Hoffman
Vice President
David Johnson
Vice President
Christopher Jones
Vice President
James Kastberg
Vice President
Stanley Kapica
Vice President
Michael Knox
Vice President Vice President of various Dean Witter Funds.
Konrad J. Krill
Vice President Vice President of various Dean Witter Funds.
Paula LaCosta
Vice President Vice President of various Dean Witter Funds.
Thomas Lawlor
Vice President
Gerard Lian
Vice President Vice President of various Dean Witter Funds.
LouAnne D. McInnis Vice President and Assistant Secretary of DWSC;
Vice President and Assistant Secretary of the Dean Witter Funds and
Assistant Secretary the TCW/DW Funds.
Sharon K. Milligan
Vice President
Julie Morrone
Vice President
David Myers
Vice President
James Nash
Vice President
10
<PAGE>
NAME AND POSITION OTHER SUBSTANTIAL BUSINESS, PROFESSION, VOCATION
WITH DEAN WITTER OR EMPLOYMENT, INCLUDING NAME, PRINCIPAL ADDRESS
INTERCAPITAL INC. AND NATURE OF CONNECTION
- ----------------- --------------------------------------------------
Richard Norris
Vice President
Anne Pickrell
Vice President Vice President of Dean Witter Global Short-
Term Income Fund Inc.
Hugh Rose
Vice President
Robert Rossetti Vice President of Dean Witter Precious Metals and
Vice President Minerals Trust.
Ruth Rossi Vice President and Assistant Secretary of DWSC;
Vice President and Assistant Secretary of the Dean Witter Funds and
Assistant Secretary the TCW/DW Funds.
Carl F. Sadler
Vice President
Rafael Scolari
Vice President Vice President of Prime Income Trust.
Peter Seeley Vice President of Dean Witter World
Vice President Wide Income Trust.
Jayne M. Stevlingson
Vice President Vice President of various Dean Witter Funds.
Kathleen Stromberg
Vice President Vice President of various Dean Witter Funds.
Vinh Q. Tran
Vice President Vice President of various Dean Witter Funds.
Alice Weiss
Vice President Vice President of various Dean Witter Funds.
Katherine C. Wickham
Vice President
11
<PAGE>
Item 29. Principal Underwriters
(a) Dean Witter Distributors Inc. ("Distributors"), a Delaware
corporation, is the principal underwriter of the Registrant.
Distributors is also the principal underwriter of the following
investment companies:
(1) Dean Witter Liquid Asset Fund Inc.
(2) Dean Witter Tax-Free Daily Income Trust
(3) Dean Witter California Tax-Free Daily Income Trust
(4) Dean Witter Retirement Series
(5) Dean Witter Dividend Growth Securities Inc.
(6) Dean Witter Global Asset Allocation
(7) Dean Witter World Wide Investment Trust
(8) Dean Witter Capital Growth Securities
(9) Dean Witter Convertible Securities Trust
(10) Active Assets Tax-Free Trust
(11) Active Assets Money Trust
(12) Active Assets California Tax-Free Trust
(13) Active Assets Government Securities Trust
(14) Dean Witter Short-Term Bond Fund
(15) Dean Witter Mid-Cap Growth Fund
(16) Dean Witter U.S. Government Securities Trust
(17) Dean Witter High Yield Securities Inc.
(18) Dean Witter New York Tax-Free Income Fund
(19) Dean Witter Tax-Exempt Securities Trust
(20) Dean Witter California Tax-Free Income Fund
(21) Dean Witter Limited Term Municipal Trust
(22) Dean Witter Natural Resource Development Securities Inc.
(23) Dean Witter World Wide Income Trust
(24) Dean Witter Utilities Fund
(25) Dean Witter Strategist Fund
(26) Dean Witter New York Municipal Money Market Trust
(27) Dean Witter Intermediate Income Securities
(28) Prime Income Trust
(29) Dean Witter European Growth Fund Inc.
(30) Dean Witter Developing Growth Securities Trust
(31) Dean Witter Precious Metals and Minerals Trust
(32) Dean Witter Pacific Growth Fund Inc.
(33) Dean Witter Multi-State Municipal Series Trust
(34) Dean Witter Federal Securities Trust
(35) Dean Witter Short-Term U.S. Treasury Trust
(36) Dean Witter Diversified Income Trust
(37) Dean Witter Health Sciences Trust
(38) Dean Witter Global Dividend Growth Securities
(39) Dean Witter American Value Fund
(40) Dean Witter U.S. Government Money Market Trust
(41) Dean Witter Global Short-Term Income Fund Inc.
(42) Dean Witter Premier Income Trust
(43) Dean Witter Value-Added Market Series
(44) Dean Witter Global Utilities Fund
(45) Dean Witter High Income Securities
(46) Dean Witter National Municipal Trust
(47) Dean Witter International SmallCap Fund
12
<PAGE>
(48) Dean Witter Balanced Growth Fund
(49) Dean Witter Balanced Income Fund
(50) Dean Witter Hawaii Municipal Trust
(51) Dean Witter Variable Investment Series
(52) Dean Witter Capital Appreciation Fund
(53) Dean Witter Intermediate Term U.S. Treasury Trust
(54) Dean Witter Information Fund
(55) Dean Witter Japan Fund
(56) Dean Witter Income Builder Fund
(57) Dean Witter Special Value Fund
(58) Dean Witter Financial Services Trust
(60) Dean Witter Market Leader Trust
(1) TCW/DW Core Equity Trust
(2) TCW/DW North American Government Income Trust
(3) TCW/DW Latin American Growth Fund
(4) TCW/DW Income and Growth Fund
(5) TCW/DW Small Cap Growth Fund
(6) TCW/DW Balanced Fund
(7) TCW/DW Total Return Trust
(8) TCW/DW Mid-Cap Equity Trust
(9) TCW/DW Global Telecom Trust
(10) TCW/DW Strategic Income Trust
(b) The following information is given regarding directors and officers of
Distributors not listed in Item 28 above. The principal address of
Distributors is Two World Trade Center, New York, New York 10048. None of
the following persons has any position or office with the Registrant.
Positions and
Office with
Name Distributors
---- -------------
Fredrick K. Kubler Senior Vice President, Assistant
Secretary and Chief Compliance
Officer.
Michael T. Gregg Vice President and Assistant
Secretary.
Item 30. Location of Accounts and Records
All accounts, books and other documents required to be maintained by
Section 31(a) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 and the Rules thereunder
are maintained by the Investment Manager at its offices, except records
relating to holders of shares issued by the Registrant, which are maintained by
the Registrant's Transfer Agent, at its place of business as shown in the
prospectus.
Item 31. Management Services
Registrant is not a party to any such management-related service
contract.
13
<PAGE>
Item 32. Undertakings
Registrant hereby undertakes to furnish each person to whom a
prospectus is delivered with a copy of the Registrant's latest annual report to
shareholders, upon request and without charge.
14
<PAGE>
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 and the
Investment Company Act of 1940, the Registrant certifies that it meets all
of the requirements for effectiveness of this Registration Statement pursuant
to Rule 485(b) under the Securities Act of 1933 and has duly caused this
Post-Effective Amendment to the Registration Statement to be signed on its
behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of New York
and State of New York on the 30th day of April, 1997.
DEAN WITTER INTERMEDIATE TERM US TREASURY TRUST
By /s/ Barry Fink
------------------------------
Barry Fink
Vice President and Secretary
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Post-Effective Amendment No. 2 has been signed below by the following persons
in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Signatures Title Date
---------- ----- ----
<S> <C> <C>
(1) Principal Executive Officer President, Chief
Executive Officer,
Trustee and Chairman
By /s/ Charles A. Fiumefreddo
-------------------------- 04/30/97
Charles A. Fiumefreddo
(2) Principal Financial Officer Treasurer and Principal
Accounting Officer
By /s/ Thomas F. Caloia
-------------------------- 04/30/97
Thomas F. Caloia
(3) Majority of the Trustees
Charles A. Fiumefreddo (Chairman)
Philip J. Purcell
By /s/ Barry Fink
-------------------------- 04/30/97
Barry Fink
Attorney-in-Fact
Michael Bozic Manuel H. Johnson
Edwin J. Garn Michael E. Nugent
John R. Haire John L. Schroeder
By /s/ David M. Butowsky
-------------------------- 04/30/97
David M. Butowsky
Attorney-in-Fact
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT INDEX
-------------
Exhibit No. Description
- ----------- -----------
2. -- By-Laws of the Registrant, Amended and Restated
as of October 25, 1996
8. -- Amendment to Custody Agreement
11. -- Consent of Independent Accountants
16. -- Schedules for Computation of Performance Quotations
27. -- Financial Data Schedule
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
BY-LAWS
OF
DEAN WITTER INTERMEDIATE TERM U.S. TREASURY TRUST
AMENDED AND RESTATED AS OF OCTOBER 25, 1996
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
The terms "Commission", "Declaration", "Distributor", "Investment
Adviser", "Majority Shareholder Vote", "1940 Act", "Shareholder", "Shares",
"Transfer Agent", "Trust", "Trust Property", and "Trustees" have the
respective meanings given them in the Declaration of Trust of Dean Witter
Intermediate Term U.S. Treasury Trust dated February 9, 1995.
ARTICLE II
OFFICES
SECTION 2.1. Principal Office. Until changed by the Trustees, the
principal office of the Trust in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts shall be
in the City of Boston, County of Suffolk.
SECTION 2.2. Other Offices. In addition to its principal office in the
Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the Trust may have an office or offices in the
City of New York, State of New York, and at such other places within and
without the Commonwealth as the Trustees may from time to time designate or
the business of the Trust may require.
ARTICLE III
SHAREHOLDERS' MEETINGS
SECTION 3.1. Place of Meetings. Meetings of Shareholders shall be held at
such place, within or without the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as may be
designated from time to time by the Trustees.
SECTION 3.2. Meetings. Meetings of Shareholders of the Trust shall be held
whenever called by the Trustees or the President of the Trust and whenever
election of a Trustee or Trustees by Shareholders is required by the
provisions of Section 16(a) of the 1940 Act, for that purpose. Meetings of
Shareholders shall also be called by the Secretary upon the written request
of the holders of Shares entitled to vote as otherwise required by Section
16(c) of the 1940 Act and to the extent required by the corporate or business
statute of any state in which the Shares of the Trust are sold, as made
applicable to the Trust by the provisions of Section 2.3 of the Declaration.
Such request shall state the purpose or purposes of such meeting and the
matters proposed to be acted on thereat. Except to the extent otherwise
required by Section 16(c) of the 1940 Act, as made applicable to the Trust by
the provisions of Section 2.3 of the Declaration, the Secretary shall inform
such Shareholders of the reasonable estimated cost of preparing and mailing
such notice of the meeting, and upon payment to the Trust of such costs, the
Secretary shall give notice stating the purpose or purposes of the meeting to
all entitled to vote at such meeting. No meeting need be called upon the
request of the holders of Shares entitled to cast less than a majority of all
votes entitled to be cast at such meeting, to consider any matter which is
substantially the same as a matter voted upon at any meeting of Shareholders
held during the preceding twelve months.
SECTION 3.3. Notice of Meetings. Written or printed notice of every
Shareholders' meeting stating the place, date, and purpose or purposes
thereof, shall be given by the Secretary not less than ten (10) nor more than
ninety (90) days before such meeting to each Shareholder entitled to vote at
such meeting. Such notice shall be deemed to be given when deposited in the
United States mail, postage prepaid, directed to the Shareholder at his
address as it appears on the records of the Trust.
<PAGE>
SECTION 3.4. Quorum and Adjournment of Meetings. Except as otherwise
provided by law, by the Declaration or by these By-Laws, at all meetings of
Shareholders the holders of a majority of the Shares issued and outstanding
and entitled to vote thereat, present in person or represented by proxy,
shall be requisite and shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of
business. In the absence of a quorum, the Shareholders present or represented
by proxy and entitled to vote thereat shall have power to adjourn the meeting
from time to time. Any adjourned meeting may be held as adjourned without
further notice. At any adjourned meeting at which a quorum shall be present,
any business may be transacted as if the meeting had been held as originally
called.
SECTION 3.5. Voting Rights, Proxies. At each meeting of Shareholders, each
holder of record of Shares entitled to vote thereat shall be entitled to one
vote in person or by proxy, executed in writing by the Shareholder or his
duly authorized attorney-in-fact, for each Share of beneficial interest of
the Trust and for the fractional portion of one vote for each fractional
Share entitled to vote so registered in his name on the records of the Trust
on the date fixed as the record date for the determination of Shareholders
entitled to vote at such meeting. No proxy shall be valid after eleven months
from its date, unless otherwise provided in the proxy. At all meetings of
Shareholders, unless the voting is conducted by inspectors, all questions
relating to the qualification of voters and the validity of proxies and the
acceptance or rejection of votes shall be decided by the chairman of the
meeting. Pursuant to a resolution of a majority of the Trustees, proxies may
be solicited in the name of one or more Trustees or Officers of the Trust.
SECTION 3.6. Vote Required. Except as otherwise provided by law, by the
Declaration of Trust, or by these By-Laws, at each meeting of Shareholders at
which a quorum is present, all matters shall be decided by Majority
Shareholder Vote.
SECTION 3.7. Inspectors of Election. In advance of any meeting of
Shareholders, the Trustees may appoint Inspectors of Election to act at the
meeting or any adjournment thereof. If Inspectors of Election are not so
appointed, the chairman of any meeting of Shareholders may, and on the
request of any Shareholder or his proxy shall, appoint Inspectors of Election
of the meeting. In case any person appointed as Inspector fails to appear or
fails or refuses to act, the vacancy may be filled by appointment made by the
Trustees in advance of the convening of the meeting or at the meeting by the
person acting as chairman. The Inspectors of Election shall determine the
number of Shares outstanding, the Shares represented at the meeting, the
existence of a quorum, the authenticity, validity and effect of proxies,
shall receive votes, ballots or consents, shall hear and determine all
challenges and questions in any way arising in connection with the right to
vote, shall count and tabulate all votes or consents, determine the results,
and do such other acts as may be proper to conduct the election or vote with
fairness to all Shareholders. On request of the chairman of the meeting, or
of any Shareholder or his proxy, the Inspectors of Election shall make a
report in writing of any challenge or question or matter determined by them
and shall execute a certificate of any facts found by them.
SECTION 3.8. Inspection of Books and Records. Shareholders shall have such
rights and procedures of inspection of the books and records of the Trust as
are granted to Shareholders under Section 32 of the Corporations Law of the
State of Massachusetts.
SECTION 3.9. Action by Shareholders Without Meeting. Except as otherwise
provided by law, the provisions of these By-Laws relating to notices and
meetings to the contrary notwithstanding, any action required or permitted to
be taken at any meeting of Shareholders may be taken without a meeting if a
majority of the Shareholders entitled to vote upon the action consent to the
action in writing and such consents are filed with the records of the Trust.
Such consent shall be treated for all purposes as a vote taken at a meeting
of Shareholders.
SECTION 3.10. Presence at Meetings. Presence at meetings of shareholders
requires physical attendance by the shareholder or his or her proxy at the
meeting site and does not encompass attendance by telephonic or other
electronic means.
2
<PAGE>
ARTICLE IV
TRUSTEES
SECTION 4.1. Meetings of the Trustees. The Trustees may in their
discretion provide for regular or special meetings of the Trustees. Regular
meetings of the Trustees may be held at such time and place as shall be
determined from time to time by the Trustees without further notice. Special
meetings of the Trustees may be called at any time by the Chairman and shall
be called by the Chairman or the Secretary upon the written request of any
two (2) Trustees.
SECTION 4.2. Notice of Special Meetings. Written notice of special
meetings of the Trustees, stating the place, date and time thereof, shall be
given not less than two (2) days before such meeting to each Trustee,
personally, by telegram, by mail, or by leaving such notice at his place of
residence or usual place of business. If mailed, such notice shall be deemed
to be given when deposited in the United States mail, postage prepaid,
directed to the Trustee at his address as it appears on the records of the
Trust. Subject to the provisions of the 1940 Act, notice or waiver of notice
need not specify the purpose of any special meeting.
SECTION 4.3. Telephone Meetings. Subject to the provisions of the 1940
Act, any Trustee, or any member or members of any committee designated by the
Trustees, may participate in a meeting of the Trustees, or any such
committee, as the case may be, by means of a conference telephone or similar
communications equipment if all persons participating in the meeting can hear
each other at the same time. Participation in a meeting by these means
constitutes presence in person at the meeting.
SECTION 4.4. Quorum, Voting and Adjournment of Meetings. At all meetings
of the Trustees, a majority of the Trustees shall be requisite to and shall
constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. If a quorum is present,
the affirmative vote of a majority of the Trustees present shall be the act
of the Trustees, unless the concurrence of a greater proportion is expressly
required for such action by law, the Declaration or these By-Laws. If at any
meeting of the Trustees there be less than a quorum present, the Trustees
present thereat may adjourn the meeting from time to time, without notice
other than announcement at the meeting, until a quorum shall have been
obtained.
SECTION 4.5. Action by Trustees Without Meeting. The provisions of these
By-Laws covering notices and meetings to the contrary notwithstanding, and
except as required by law, any action required or permitted to be taken at
any meeting of the Trustees may be taken without a meeting if a consent in
writing setting forth the action shall be signed by all of the Trustees
entitled to vote upon the action and such written consent is filed with the
minutes of proceedings of the Trustees.
SECTION 4.6. Expenses and Fees. Each Trustee may be allowed expenses, if
any, for attendance at each regular or special meeting of the Trustees, and
each Trustee who is not an officer or employee of the Trust or of its
investment manager or underwriter or of any corporate affiliate of any of
said persons shall receive for services rendered as a Trustee of the Trust
such compensation as may be fixed by the Trustees. Nothing herein contained
shall be construed to preclude any Trustee from serving the Trust in any
other capacity and receiving compensation therefor.
SECTION 4.7. Execution of Instruments and Documents and Signing of Checks
and Other Obligations and Transfers. All instruments, documents and other
papers shall be executed in the name and on behalf of the Trust and all
checks, notes, drafts and other obligations for the payment of money by the
Trust shall be signed, and all transfer of securities standing in the name of
the Trust shall be executed, by the Chairman, the President, any Vice
President or the Treasurer or by any one or more officers or agents of the
Trust as shall be designated for that purpose by vote of the Trustees;
notwithstanding the above, nothing in this Section 4.7 shall be deemed to
preclude the electronic authorization, by designated persons, of the Trust's
Custodian (as described herein in Section 9.1) to transfer assets of the
Trust, as provided for herein in Section 9.1.
SECTION 4.8. Indemnification of Trustees, Officers, Employees and
Agents. (a) The Trust shall indemnify any person who was or is a party or is
threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending, or completed
action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or
investigative
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(other than an action by or in the right of the Trust) by reason of the fact
that he is or was a Trustee, officer, employee, or agent of the Trust. The
indemnification shall be against expenses, including attorneys' fees,
judgments, fines, and amounts paid in settlement, actually and reasonably
incurred by him in connection with the action, suit, or proceeding, if he
acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not
opposed to the best interests of the Trust, and, with respect to any criminal
action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was
unlawful. The termination of any action, suit or proceeding by judgment,
order, settlement, conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its
equivalent, shall not, of itself, create a presumption that the person did
not act in good faith and in a manner which he reasonably believed to be in
or not opposed to the best interests of the Trust, and, with respect to any
criminal action or proceeding, had reasonable cause to believe that his
conduct was unlawful.
(b) The Trust shall indemnify any person who was or is a party or is
threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action
or suit by or on behalf of the Trust to obtain a judgment or decree in its
favor by reason of the fact that he is or was a Trustee, officer, employee,
or agent of the Trust. The indemnification shall be against expenses,
including attorneys' fees actually and reasonably incurred by him in
connection with the defense or settlement of the action or suit, if he acted
in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed
to the best interests of the Trust; except that no indemnification shall be
made in respect of any claim, issue, or matter as to which the person has
been adjudged to be liable for negligence or misconduct in the performance of
his duty to the Trust, except to the extent that the court in which the
action or suit was brought, or a court of equity in the county in which the
Trust has its principal office, determines upon application that, despite the
adjudication of liability but in view of all circumstances of the case, the
person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for those expenses
which the court shall deem proper, provided such Trustee, officer, employee
or agent is not adjudged to be liable by reason of his willful misfeasance,
bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in
the conduct of his office.
(c) To the extent that a Trustee, officer, employee, or agent of the Trust
has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any action, suit
or proceeding referred to in subsection (a) or (b) or in defense of any
claim, issue or matter therein, he shall be indemnified against expenses,
including attorneys' fees, actually and reasonably incurred by him in
connection therewith.
(d) (1) Unless a court orders otherwise, any indemnification under
subsections (a) or (b) of this section may be made by the Trust only as
authorized in the specific case after a determination that indemnification of
the Trustee, officer, employee, or agent is proper in the circumstances
because he has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in
subsections (a) or (b).
(2) The determination shall be made:
(i) By the Trustees, by a majority vote of a quorum which consists of
Trustees who were not parties to the action, suit or proceeding; or
(ii) If the required quorum is not obtainable, or if a quorum of
disinterested Trustees so directs, by independent legal counsel in a
written opinion; or
(iii) By the Shareholders.
(3) Notwithstanding any provision of this Section 4.8, no person shall
be entitled to indemnification for any liability, whether or not there is
an adjudication of liability, arising by reason of willful misfeasance,
bad faith, gross negligence, or reckless disregard of duties as described
in Section 17(h) and (i) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
("disabling conduct"). A person shall be deemed not liable by reason of
disabling conduct if, either:
(i) a final decision on the merits is made by a court or other body
before whom the proceeding was brought that the person to be indemnified
("indemnitee") was not liable by reason of disabling conduct; or
(ii) in the absence of such a decision, a reasonable determination,
based upon a review of the facts, that the indemnitee was not liable by
reason of disabling conduct, is made by either--
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(A) a majority of a quorum of Trustees who are neither "interested
persons" of the Trust, as defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the
Investment Company Act of 1940, nor parties to the action, suit or
proceeding, or
(B) an independent legal counsel in a written opinion.
(e) Expenses, including attorneys' fees, incurred by a Trustee, officer,
employee or agent of the Trust in defending a civil or criminal action, suit
or proceeding may be paid by the Trust in advance of the final disposition
thereof if:
(1) authorized in the specific case by the Trustees; and
(2) the Trust receives an undertaking by or on behalf of the Trustee,
officer, employee or agent of the Trust to repay the advance if it is not
ultimately determined that such person is entitled to be indemnified by
the Trust; and
(3) either, (i) such person provides a security for his undertaking,
or
(ii) the Trust is insured against losses by reason of any lawful
advances, or
(iii) a determination, based on a review of readily available
facts, that there is reason to believe that such person ultimately
will be found entitled to indemnification, is made by either--
(A) a majority of a quorum which consists of Trustees who are
neither "interested persons" of the Trust, as defined in Section
2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act, nor parties to the action, suit or
proceeding, or
(B) an independent legal counsel in a written opinion.
(f) The indemnification provided by this Section shall not be deemed
exclusive of any other rights to which a person may be entitled under any
by-law, agreement, vote of Shareholders or disinterested Trustees or
otherwise, both as to action in his official capacity and as to action in
another capacity while holding the office, and shall continue as to a person
who has ceased to be a Trustee, officer, employee, or agent and inure to the
benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such person; provided
that no person may satisfy any right of indemnity or reimbursement granted
herein or to which he may be otherwise entitled except out of the property of
the Trust, and no Shareholder shall be personally liable with respect to any
claim for indemnity or reimbursement or otherwise.
(g) The Trust may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person
who is or was a Trustee, officer, employee, or agent of the Trust, against
any liability asserted against him and incurred by him in any such capacity,
or arising out of his status as such. However, in no event will the Trust
purchase insurance to indemnify any officer or Trustee against liability for
any act for which the Trust itself is not permitted to indemnify him.
(h) Nothing contained in this Section shall be construed to protect any
Trustee or officer of the Trust against any liability to the Trust or to its
security holders to which he would otherwise be subject by reason of willful
misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties
involved in the conduct of his office.
ARTICLE V
COMMITTEES
SECTION 5.1. Executive and Other Committees. The Trustees, by resolution
adopted by a majority of the Trustees, may designate an Executive Committee
and/or committees, each committee to consist of two (2) or more of the
Trustees of the Trust and may delegate to such committees, in the intervals
between meetings of the Trustees, any or all of the powers of the Trustees in
the management of the business and affairs of the Trust. In the absence of
any member of any such committee, the members thereof present at any meeting,
whether or not they constitute a quorum, may appoint a Trustee to act in
place of such absent member. Each such committee shall keep a record of its
proceedings.
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The Executive Committee and any other committee shall fix its own rules or
procedure, but the presence of at least fifty percent (50%) of the members of
the whole committee shall in each case be necessary to constitute a quorum of
the committee and the affirmative vote of the majority of the members of the
committee present at the meeting shall be necessary to take action.
All actions of the Executive Committee shall be reported to the Trustees
at the meeting thereof next succeeding to the taking of such action.
SECTION 5.2. Advisory Committee. The Trustees may appoint an advisory
committee which shall be composed of persons who do not serve the Trust in
any other capacity and which shall have advisory functions with respect to
the investments of the Trust but which shall have no power to determine that
any security or other investment shall be purchased, sold or otherwise
disposed of by the Trust. The number of persons constituting any such
advisory committee shall be determined from time to time by the Trustees. The
members of any such advisory committee may receive compensation for their
services and may be allowed such fees and expenses for the attendance at
meetings as the Trustees may from time to time determine to be appropriate.
SECTION 5.3. Committee Action Without Meeting. The provisions of these
By-Laws covering notices and meetings to the contrary notwithstanding, and
except as required by law, any action required or permitted to be taken at
any meeting of any Committee of the Trustees appointed pursuant to Section
5.1 of these By-Laws may be taken without a meeting if a consent in writing
setting forth the action shall be signed by all members of the Committee
entitled to vote upon the action and such written consent is filed with the
records of the proceedings of the Committee.
ARTICLE VI
OFFICERS
SECTION 6.1. Executive Officers. The executive officers of the Trust shall
be a Chairman, a President, one or more Vice Presidents, a Secretary and a
Treasurer. The Chairman shall be selected from among the Trustees but none of
the other executive officers need be a Trustee. Two or more offices, except
those of President and any Vice President, may be held by the same person,
but no officer shall execute, acknowledge or verify any instrument in more
than one capacity. The executive officers of the Trust shall be elected
annually by the Trustees and each executive officer so elected shall hold
office until his successor is elected and has qualified.
SECTION 6.2. Other Officers and Agents. The Trustees may also elect one or
more Assistant Vice Presidents, Assistant Secretaries and Assistant
Treasurers and may elect, or may delegate to the Chairman the power to
appoint, such other officers and agents as the Trustees shall at any time or
from time to time deem advisable.
SECTION 6.3. Term and Removal and Vacancies. Each officer of the Trust
shall hold office until his successor is elected and has qualified. Any
officer or agent of the Trust may be removed by the Trustees whenever, in
their judgment, the best interests of the Trust will be served thereby, but
such removal shall be without prejudice to the contractual rights, if any, of
the person so removed.
SECTION 6.4. Compensation of Officers. The compensation of officers and
agents of the Trust shall be fixed by the Trustees, or by the Chairman to the
extent provided by the Trustees with respect to officers appointed by the
Chairman.
SECTION 6.5. Power and Duties. All officers and agents of the Trust, as
between themselves and the Trust, shall have such authority and perform such
duties in the management of the Trust as may be provided in or pursuant to
these By-Laws, or to the extent not so provided, as may be prescribed by the
Trustees; provided, that no rights of any third party shall be affected or
impaired by any such By-Law or resolution of the Trustees unless he has
knowledge thereof.
SECTION 6.6. The Chairman. (a) The Chairman shall be the chief executive
officer of the Trust; he shall preside at all meetings of the Shareholders
and of the Trustees; he shall have general and active management of the
business of the Trust, shall see that all orders and resolutions of the
Trustees are
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carried into effect, and, in connection therewith, shall be authorized to
delegate to the President or to one or more Vice Presidents such of his
powers and duties at such times and in such manner as he may deem advisable;
he shall be a signatory on all Annual and Semi-Annual Reports as may be sent
to shareholders, and he shall perform such other duties as the Trustees may
from time to time prescribe.
(b) In the absence of the Chairman, the Board shall determine who shall
preside at all meetings of the shareholders and the Board of Trustees.
SECTION 6.7. The President. The President shall perform such duties as the
Board of Trustees and the Chairman may from time to time prescribe.
SECTION 6.8. The Vice Presidents. The Vice Presidents shall be of such
number and shall have such titles as may be determined from time to time by
the Trustees. The Vice President, or, if there be more than one, the Vice
Presidents in the order of their seniority as may be determined from time to
time by the Trustees or the Chairman, shall, in the absence or disability of
the President, exercise the powers and perform the duties of the President,
and he or they shall perform such other duties as the Trustees or the
Chairman may from time to time prescribe.
SECTION 6.9. The Assistant Vice Presidents. The Assistant Vice President,
or, if there be more than one, the Assistant Vice Presidents, shall perform
such duties and have such powers as may be assigned them from time to time by
the Trustees or the Chairman.
SECTION 6.10. The Secretary. The Secretary shall attend all meetings of
the Trustees and all meetings of the Shareholders and record all the
proceedings of the meetings of the Shareholders and of the Trustees in a book
to be kept for that purpose, and shall perform like duties for the standing
committees when required. He shall give, or cause to be given, notice of all
meetings of the Shareholders and special meetings of the Trustees, and shall
perform such other duties and have such powers as the Trustees, or the
Chairman, may from time to time prescribe. He shall keep in safe custody the
seal of the Trust and affix or cause the same to be affixed to any instrument
requiring it, and, when so affixed, it shall be attested by his signature or
by the signature of an Assistant Secretary.
SECTION 6.11. The Assistant Secretaries. The Assistant Secretary, or, if
there be more than one, the Assistant Secretaries in the order determined by
the Trustees or the Chairman, shall, in the absence or disability of the
Secretary, perform the duties and exercise the powers of the Secretary and
shall perform such duties and have such other powers as the Trustees or the
Chairman may from time to time prescribe.
SECTION 6.12. The Treasurer. The Treasurer shall be the chief financial
officer of the Trust. He shall keep or cause to be kept full and accurate
accounts of receipts and disbursements in books belonging to the Trust, and
he shall render to the Trustees and the Chairman, whenever any of them
require it, an account of his transactions as Treasurer and of the financial
condition of the Trust; and he shall perform such other duties as the
Trustees, or the Chairman, may from time to time prescribe.
SECTION 6.13. The Assistant Treasurers. The Assistant Treasurer, or, if
there shall be more than one, the Assistant Treasurers in the order
determined by the Trustees or the Chairman, shall, in the absence or
disability of the Treasurer, perform the duties and exercise the powers of
the Treasurer and shall perform such other duties and have such other powers
as the Trustees, or the Chairman, may from time to time prescribe.
SECTION 6.14. Delegation of Duties. Whenever an officer is absent or
disabled, or whenever for any reason the Trustees may deem it desirable, the
Trustees may delegate the powers and duties of an officer or officers to any
other officer or officers or to any Trustee or Trustees.
ARTICLE VII
DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS
Subject to any applicable provisions of law and the Declaration, dividends
and distributions upon the Shares may be declared at such intervals as the
Trustees may determine, in cash, in securities or other property, or in
Shares, from any sources permitted by law, all as the Trustees shall from
time to time determine.
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Inasmuch as the computation of net income and net profits from the sales
of securities or other properties for federal income tax purposes may vary
from the computation thereof on the records of the Trust, the Trustees shall
have power, in their discretion, to distribute as income dividends and as
capital gain distributions, respectively, amounts sufficient to enable the
Trust to avoid or reduce liability for federal income taxes.
ARTICLE VIII
CERTIFICATES OF SHARES
SECTION 8.1. Certificates of Shares. Certificates for Shares of each
series or class of Shares shall be in such form and of such design as the
Trustees shall approve, subject to the right of the Trustees to change such
form and design at any time or from time to time, and shall be entered in the
records of the Trust as they are issued. Each such certificate shall bear a
distinguishing number; shall exhibit the holder's name and certify the number
of full Shares owned by such holder; shall be signed by or in the name of the
Trust by the Chairman, the President, or a Vice President, and countersigned
by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary or the Treasurer and an Assistant
Treasurer of the Trust; shall be sealed with the seal; and shall contain such
recitals as may be required by law. Where any certificate is signed by a
Transfer Agent or by a Registrar, the signature of such officers and the seal
may be facsimile, printed or engraved. The Trust may, at its option,
determine not to issue a certificate or certificates to evidence Shares owned
of record by any Shareholder.
In case any officer or officers who shall have signed, or whose facsimile
signature or signatures shall appear on, any such certificate or certificates
shall cease to be such officer or officers of the Trust, whether because of
death, resignation or otherwise, before such certificate or certificates
shall have been delivered by the Trust, such certificate or certificates
shall, nevertheless, be adopted by the Trust and be issued and delivered as
though the person or persons who signed such certificate or certificates or
whose facsimile signature or signatures shall appear therein had not ceased
to be such officer or officers of the Trust.
No certificate shall be issued for any share until such share is fully
paid.
SECTION 8.2. Lost, Stolen, Destroyed and Mutilated Certificates. The
Trustees may direct a new certificate or certificates to be issued in place
of any certificate or certificates theretofore issued by the Trust alleged to
have been lost, stolen or destroyed, upon satisfactory proof of such loss,
theft, or destruction; and the Trustees may, in their discretion, require the
owner of the lost, stolen or destroyed certificate, or his legal
representative, to give to the Trust and to such Registrar, Transfer Agent
and/or Transfer Clerk as may be authorized or required to countersign such
new certificate or certificates, a bond in such sum and of such type as they
may direct, and with such surety or sureties, as they may direct, as
indemnity against any claim that may be against them or any of them on
account of or in connection with the alleged loss, theft or destruction of
any such certificate.
ARTICLE IX
CUSTODIAN
SECTION 9.1. Appointment and Duties. The Trust shall at times employ a
bank or trust company having capital, surplus and undivided profits of at
least five million dollars ($5,000,000) as custodian with authority as its
agent, but subject to such restrictions, limitations and other requirements,
if any, as may be contained in these By-Laws and the 1940 Act:
(1) to receive and hold the securities owned by the Trust and deliver
the same upon written or electronically transmitted order;
(2) to receive and receipt for any moneys due to the Trust and deposit
the same in its own banking department or elsewhere as the Trustees may
direct;
(3) to disburse such funds upon orders or vouchers;
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all upon such basis of compensation as may be agreed upon between the
Trustees and the custodian. If so directed by a Majority Shareholder Vote,
the custodian shall deliver and pay over all property of the Trust held by it
as specified in such vote.
The Trustees may also authorize the custodian to employ one or more
sub-custodians from time to time to perform such of the acts and services of
the custodian and upon such terms and conditions as may be agreed upon
between the custodian and such sub-custodian and approved by the Trustees.
SECTION 9.2. Central Certificate System. Subject to such rules,
regulations and orders as the Commission may adopt, the Trustees may direct
the custodian to deposit all or any part of the securities owned by the Trust
in a system for the central handling of securities established by a national
securities exchange or a national securities association registered with the
Commission under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or such other person as
may be permitted by the Commission, or otherwise in accordance with the 1940
Act, pursuant to which system all securities of any particular class or
series of any issuer deposited within the system are treated as fungible and
may be transferred or pledged by bookkeeping entry without physical delivery
of such securities, provided that all such deposits shall be subject to
withdrawal only upon the order of the Trust.
ARTICLE X
WAIVER OF NOTICE
Whenever any notice of the time, place or purpose of any meeting of
Shareholders, Trustees, or of any committee is required to be given in
accordance with law or under the provisions of the Declaration or these
By-Laws, a waiver thereof in writing, signed by the person or persons
entitled to such notice and filed with the records of the meeting, whether
before or after the holding thereof, or actual attendance at the meeting of
shareholders, Trustees or committee, as the case may be, in person, shall be
deemed equivalent to the giving of such notice to such person.
ARTICLE XI
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 11.1. Location of Books and Records. The books and records of the
Trust may be kept outside the Commonwealth of Massachusetts at such place or
places as the Trustees may from time to time determine, except as otherwise
required by law.
SECTION 11.2. Record Date. The Trustees may fix in advance a date as the
record date for the purpose of determining Shareholders entitled to notice
of, or to vote at, any meeting of Shareholders, or Shareholders entitled to
receive payment of any dividend or the allotment of any rights, or in order
to make a determination of Shareholders for any other proper purpose. Such
date, in any case, shall be not more than ninety (90) days, and in case of a
meeting of Shareholders not less than ten (10) days, prior to the date on
which particular action requiring such determination of Shareholders is to be
taken. In lieu of fixing a record date the Trustees may provide that the
transfer books shall be closed for a stated period but not to exceed, in any
case, twenty (20) days. If the transfer books are closed for the purpose of
determining Shareholders entitled to notice of a vote at a meeting of
Shareholders, such books shall be closed for at least ten (10) days
immediately preceding such meeting.
SECTION 11.3. Seal. The Trustees shall adopt a seal, which shall be in
such form and shall have such inscription thereon as the Trustees may from
time to time provide. The seal of the Trust may be affixed to any document,
and the seal and its attestation may be lithographed, engraved or otherwise
printed on any document with the same force and effect as if it had been
imprinted and attested manually in the same manner and with the same effect
as if done by a Massachusetts business corporation under Massachusetts law.
SECTION 11.4. Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the Trust shall end on such
date as the Trustees may by resolution specify, and the Trustees may by
resolution change such date for future fiscal years at any time and from time
to time.
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SECTION 11.5. Orders for Payment of Money. All orders or instructions for
the payment of money of the Trust, and all notes or other evidences of
indebtedness issued in the name of the Trust, shall be signed by such officer
or officers or such other person or persons as the Trustees may from time to
time designate, or as may be specified in or pursuant to the agreement
between the Trust and the bank or trust company appointed as Custodian of the
securities and funds of the Trust.
ARTICLE XII
COMPLIANCE WITH FEDERAL REGULATIONS
The Trustees are hereby empowered to take such action as they may deem to
be necessary, desirable or appropriate so that the Trust is or shall be in
compliance with any federal or state statute, rule or regulation with which
compliance by the Trust is required.
ARTICLE XIII
AMENDMENTS
These By-Laws may be amended, altered, or repealed, or new By-Laws may be
adopted, (a) by a Majority Shareholder Vote, or (b) by the Trustees;
provided, however, that no By-Law may be amended, adopted or repealed by the
Trustees if such amendment, adoption or repeal requires, pursuant to law, the
Declaration, or these By-Laws, a vote of the Shareholders. The Trustees shall
in no event adopt By-Laws which are in conflict with the Declaration, and any
apparent inconsistency shall be construed in favor of the related provisions
in the Declaration.
ARTICLE XIV
DECLARATION OF TRUST
The Declaration of Trust establishing Dean Witter Intermediate Term U.S.
Treasury Trust, dated February 9, 1995, a copy of which is on file in the
office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, provides that
the name Dean Witter Intermediate Term U.S. Treasury Trust refers to the
Trustees under the Declaration collectively as Trustees, but not as
individuals or personally; and no Trustee, Shareholder, officer, employee or
agent of Dean Witter Intermediate Term U.S. Treasury Trust shall be held to
any personal liability, nor shall resort be had to their private property for
the satisfaction of any obligation or claim or otherwise, in connection with
the affairs of said Dean Witter Intermediate Term U.S. Treasury Trust, but
the Trust Estate only shall be liable.
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AMENDMENT TO CUSTODY AGREEMENT
Amendment made as of this 17th day of April, 1996 by and between Dean
Witter Intermediate Term US Treasury Trust (the "Fund") and The Bank of New
York (the "Custodian") to the Custody Agreement between the Fund and the
Custodian dated September 18, 1995 (the "Custody Agreement"). The Custody
Agreement is hereby amended as follows:
Article XV Section 8 of the Custody Agreement shall be deleted and be
replaced by Sections 8.(a), 8.(b) and 8.(c) as set forth below:
"8. (a) The Custodian will use reasonable care with respect to its
obligations under this Agreement and the safekeeping of Securities and moneys
owned by the Fund. The Custodian shall indemnify the Fund against and save the
Fund harmless from all liability, claims, losses and demands whatsoever,
including attorneys' fees, howsoever arising or incurred as the result of the
failure of a subcustodian which is a banking institution located in a foreign
country and identified on Schedule A attached hereto (each, a "Subcustodian")
to exercise reasonable care with respect to the safekeeping of such Securities
and moneys to the same extent that the Custodian would be liable to the Fund if
the Custodian were holding such securities and moneys in New York. In the event
of any loss to the Fund by reason of the failure of the Custodian or a
Subcustodian to utilize reasonable care, the Custodian shall be liable to the
Fund only to the extent of the Fund's direct damages, to be determined based on
the market value of the Securities and moneys which are the subject of the loss
at the date of discovery of such loss and without reference to any special
conditions or circumstances.
8. (b) The Custodian shall not be liable for any loss which results
from (i) the general risk of investing, or (ii) investing or holding Securities
and moneys in a particular country including, but not limited to, losses
resulting from nationalization, expropriation or other governmental actions;
regulation of the banking or securities industry; currency restrictions,
devaluations or fluctuations; or market conditions which prevent the orderly
execution of securities transactions or affect the value of Securities or
moneys.
8. (c) Neither party shall be liable to the other for any loss due to
forces beyond its control including, but not limited to, strikes or work
stoppages, acts of war or terrorism, insurrection, revolution, nuclear fusion,
fission or radiation, or acts of God."
<PAGE>
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Amendment to
be executed by their respective Officers, thereunto duly authorized and their
respective seals to be hereunto affixed, as of the day and year first above
written.
DEAN WITTER INTERMEDIATE U.S. TREASURY TRUST
[SEAL] By: /s/ David A. Hughey
--------------------
Attest:
/s/ Robert M. Scanlan
- ---------------------
THE BANK OF NEW YORK
[SEAL] By: /s/ Steve Grunston
-------------------
Attest:
/s/ Vincent M. Bkizewicz
- ------------------------
<PAGE>
SCHEDULE A
COUNTRY/MARKET SUBCUSTODIAN
- -------------- ------------
Argentina The Bank of Boston
Australia ANZ Banking Group Limited
Austria Girocredit Bank AG
Bangladesh* Standard Chartered Bank
Belgium Banque Bruxelles Lambert
Botswana* Stanbic Bank Botswana Ltd.
Brazil The Bank of Boston
Canada Royal Trust/Royal Bank of Canada
Chile The Bank of Boston/Banco de Chile
China Standard Chartered Bank
Colombia Citibank, N.A.
Denmark Den Danske Bank
Euromarket CEDEL
Euroclear
First Chicago Clearing Centre
Finland Union Bank of Finland
France Banque Paribas/Credit Commercial de France
Germany Dresdner Bank A.G.
Ghana* Merchant Bank Ghana Ltd.
Greece Alpha Credit Bank
Hong Kong Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corp.
Indonesia Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corp.
Ireland Allied Irish Bank
Israel Israel Discount Bank
Italy Banca Commerciale Italiana
Japan Yasuda Trust & Banking Co., Lt.
Korea Bank of Seoul
Luxembourg Kredietbank S.A.
Malaysia Hong Kong Bank Malaysia Berhad
Mexico Banco Nacional de Mexico (Banamex)
Netherlands Mees Pierson
New Zealnad ANZ Banking Group Limited
Norway Den Norske Bank
Pakistan Standard Chartered Bank
Peru Citibank, N.A.
Philippines Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corp.
Poland Bank Handlowy w Warsawie
Portugal Banco Comercial Portugues
Singapore United Overseas Bank
South Africa Standard Bank of South Africa Limited
Spain Banco Bilbao Vizcaya
Sri Lanka Standard Chartered Bank
<PAGE>
SCHEDULE A
COUNTRY/MARKET SUBCUSTODIAN
- -------------- ------------
Sweden Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken
Switzerland Union Bank of Switerzland
Taiwan Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corp.
Thailand Siam Commercial Bank
Turkey Citibank, N.A.
United Kingdom The Bank of New York
United States The Bank of New York
Uruguay The Bank of Boston
Venezuela Citibank N.A.
Zimbabwe* Stanbic Bank Zimbabwe Ltd.
* Not yet 17(f) compliant
<PAGE>
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
We hereby consent to the use in the Statement of Additional Information
constituting part of this Post-Effective Amendment No. 2 to the registration
statement on Form N-1A (the "Registration Statement") of our report dated
April 11, 1997, relating to the financial statements and financial highlights
of Dean Witter Intermediate Term U.S. Treasury Trust, which appears in such
Statement of Additional Information, and to the incorporation by reference
of our report into the Prospectus which constitutes part of this Registration
Statement. We also consent to the references to us under the headings
"Independent Accountants" and "Experts" in such Statement of Additional
Information and to the reference to us under the heading "Financial Highlights"
in such prospectus.
PRICE WATERHOUSE LLP
1177 Avenue of the Americas
New York, New York 10036
April 28, 1997
<PAGE>
DW INTERMEDIATE TERM US TREASURY TRUST
SCHEDULE OF COMPUTATION OF YIELD QUOTATION
WITHOUT WAIVED EXPENSES
02/28/97
6
YIELD = 2 { [ ((a-b) /cd) +1] -1}
WHERE: a = Dividends and interest earned during the period
b = Expenses accrued for the period
c = The average daily number of shares outstanding
during the period that were entitled to receive
dividends
d = The maximum offering price per share on the last
day of the period
6
YIELD = 2 { [ ((10,356.72 - 574.38) /202,866.797 X 9.71) +1] -1}
= 6.03%
<PAGE>
DW INTERMEDIATE TERM US TREASURY TRUST
SCHEDULE OF COMPUTATION OF YIELD QUOTATION
WITH WAIVED EXPENSES
02/28/97
6
YIELD = 2 { [ ((a-b) /cd) +1] -1}
WHERE: a = Dividends and interest earned during the period
b = Expenses accrued for the period
c = The average daily number of shares outstanding
during the period that were entitled to receive
dividends
d = The maximum offering price per share on the last
day of the period
6
YIELD = 2 { [ ((10,356.72 - 15,335.06) /202,866.797 X 9.71) +1] -1}
= -3.01%
<PAGE>
SCHEDULE FOR COMPUTATIONS OF PERFORMANCE QUOTATIONS
DEAN WITTER INTERMEDIATE-TERM US TREASURY TRUST
(A) AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS (NO LOAD FUND)
(B) TOTAL RETURN (NO LOAD FUND)
_ _
| ______________________ |
FORMULA: | | |
| /\ n | EV |
t = | \ | ------------ | - 1
| \ | P |
| \| |
|_ _|
EV
TR = ---------- - 1
P
t = AVERAGE ANNUAL COMPOUND RETURN
n = NUMBER OF YEARS
EV = ENDING VALUE
P = INITIAL INVESTMENT
TR = TOTAL RETURN
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
(B) (A)
$1,000 EV AS OF TOTAL NUMBER OF AVERAGE ANNUAL
INVESTED - P 28-Feb-97 RETURN - TR YEARS - n COMPOUND RETURN - t
- -------------- ----------- ----------- ----------------- ----------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
29-Feb-96 $1,034.20 3.42% 1.0000 3.42%
28-Sep-95 $1,046.90 4.69% 1.4209 3.28%
</TABLE>
(C) AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS (STANDARIZED COMPUTATIONS) WITHOUT WAIVER OF
FEES AND ASSUMPTION OF EXPENSES.
_ _
| ______________________ |
FORMULA: | | |
| /\ n | EVb |
tb = | \ | ------------- | - 1
| \ | P |
| \| |
|_ _|
tb = AVERAGE ANNUAL COMPOUND RETURN
(DEDUCTION FOR EXPENSES ASSUMED BY FUND MANAGER)
n = NUMBER OF YEARS
EVb = ENDING VALUE (DEDUCTION FOR EXPENSES
ASSUMED BY FUND MANAGER)
P = INITIAL INVESTMENT
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
(C)
$1,000 EVb AS OF NUMBER OF AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL
INVESTED - P 28-Feb-97 YEARS - n COMPOUND RETURN - tb RETURN - TR
- ------------ ----------- ----------- -------------------- ------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
29-Feb-96 $1,002.20 1.0000 0.22% 0.22%
28-Sep-95 $991.90 1.4209 -0.57% -0.81%
</TABLE>
(D) GROWTH OF $10,000
(E) GROWTH OF $50,000
(F) GROWTH OF $100,000
FORMULA: G = (TR+1)*P
G = GROWTH OF INITIAL INVESTMENT
P = INITIAL INVESTMENT
TR = TOTAL RETURN SINCE INCEPTION
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
$10,000 TOTAL (D) GROWTH OF (E) GROWTH OF (F) GROWTH OF
INVESTED - P RETURN - TR $10,000 INVESTMENT- G $50,000 INVESTMENT- G $100,000 INVESTMENT- G
- ------------ ----------- --------------------- --------------------- ----------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
28-Sep-95 4.69 $10,469 $52,345 $104,690
</TABLE>
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<PAGE>
<ARTICLE> 6
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> FEB-28-1997
<PERIOD-END> FEB-28-1997
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 1,971,873
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 1,923,883
<RECEIVABLES> 87,669
<ASSETS-OTHER> 153,649
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 2,165,201
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 173,631
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 173,631
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 2,128,635
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 205,020
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 447,382
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> (89,075)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> (47,990)
<NET-ASSETS> 1,991,570
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 0
<INTEREST-INCOME> 155,099
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 8,936
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 146,163
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> (89,075)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> (6,941)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 50,147
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (146,163)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> (759)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 145,947
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (395,509)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 7,200
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> (2,445,002)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 759
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 9,458
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 204,510
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 2,702,305
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 9.92
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.53
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> (0.21)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (0.53)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 9.71
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 0.33
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING> 0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0
</TABLE>