As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 24, 2012
Registration Nos.: 2-74980
811-3326
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM N-1A
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
x
Pre-Effective Amendment No. o
Post-Effective Amendment No. 37 x
and/or
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY
ACT OF 1940
x
Amendment No. 38 x
Morgan Stanley
U.S. Government Money Market Trust
(A Massachusetts business trust)
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)
522 Fifth Avenue
New York, New York 10036
(Address of Principal Executive Office)
Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area Code: (212) 296-6970
Stefanie V. Chang Yu, Esq.
522 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10036
(Name and Address of Agent for Service)
Copy to:
Carl Frischling, Esq.
Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP 1177 Avenue of the Americas New York, NY 10036 |
Stuart M. Strauss, Esq.
Dechert LLP 1095 Avenue of the Americas New York, NY 10036 |
||||||
Approximate Date of Proposed Public Offering:
As soon as practicable after this Post-Effective Amendment becomes effective.
It is proposed that this filing will become effective (check appropriate box):
Immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b) | |||||||||||
X | On May 31, 2012 pursuant to paragraph (b) | ||||||||||
60 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(1) | |||||||||||
On (date) pursuant to paragraph (a)(1) | |||||||||||
75 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(2) | |||||||||||
On (date) pursuant to paragraph (a)(2) of Rule 485. | |||||||||||
Amending the Prospectus and Updating Financial Statements
If appropriate, check the following box:
This post-effective amendment designates a new effective date for a previously | |||||||||||
filed post-effective amendment. | |||||||||||
INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT
Morgan Stanley
U.S. Government
Money Market Trust
A money market fund that seeks to provide security of principal, high current income and liquidity
Ticker Symbol | |||
DWGXX | |||
Prospectus
May 31, 2012
The Securities and Exchange Commission has not approved or disapproved these securities or passed upon the adequacy of this Prospectus . Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
Contents
Fund Summary
Investment Objectives | 1 | ||||||
Fees and Expenses | 1 | ||||||
Principal Investment Strategies | 1 | ||||||
Principal Risks | 2 | ||||||
Past Performance | 2 | ||||||
Adviser | 2 | ||||||
Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares | 2 | ||||||
Tax Information | 3 | ||||||
Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries | 3 | ||||||
Fund Details
Additional Information about the Fund's Investment Objectives, Strategies and Risks | 4 | ||||||
Portfolio Holdings | 6 | ||||||
Fund Management | 6 | ||||||
Shareholder Information
Pricing Fund Shares | 7 | ||||||
How to Buy Shares | 7 | ||||||
How to Exchange Shares | 9 | ||||||
How to Sell Shares | 11 | ||||||
Distributions | 14 | ||||||
Frequent Purchases and Redemptions of Fund Shares | 14 | ||||||
Tax Consequences | 14 | ||||||
Additional Information | 15 | ||||||
Financial Highlights | 16 | ||||||
This Prospectus contains important information about the Fund. Please read it carefully and keep it for future reference.
Fund Summary
Investment Objectives
Morgan Stanley U.S. Government Money Market Trust is a money market fund that seeks to provide security of principal, high current income and liquidity.
Fees and Expenses
The table below describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund. The Fund is a no-load fund. The Fund does not impose any sales charges and does not impose account or exchange fees.
Annual Fund Operating Expenses
(expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
Advisory fee | 0.36 | % | |||||
Shareholder servicing fees | 0.10 | % | |||||
Other expenses | 0.10 | % | |||||
Total annual Fund operating expenses 1 | 0.56 | % | |||||
Fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement 1 | 0.47 | % | |||||
Total annual Fund operating expenses after fee
waiver and/or expense reimbursement 1 |
0.09 | % |
Example
The example below is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.
The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund, your investment has a 5% return each year, and the Fund's operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
1 Year | 3 Years | 5 Years | 10 Years | ||||||||||||
$ | 9 | $ | 29 | $ | 51 | $ | 115 |
(1) The Fund's "Adviser," Morgan Stanley Investment Management Inc., and the Fund's "Administrator," Morgan Stanley Services Company Inc., have agreed to assume all operating expenses of the Fund (except for brokerage fees) and to waive the advisory fee and administration fee, as applicable, to the extent that such expenses and fees on an annualized basis exceeds 0.75% of the average daily net assets of the Fund. In addition, the Fund's "Distributor," Morgan Stanley Distribution, Inc., its Adviser and its Administrator have agreed to waive and/or reimburse all or a portion of the Fund's distribution fee, advisory fee and administration fee, respectively, to the extent that total expenses exceed total income on a daily basis. These fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements will continue for at least one year or until such time as the Fund's Board of Trustees acts to discontinue all or a portion of such waivers and/or reimbursements when it deems such action is appropriate.
Principal Investment Strategies
The Fund invests in high quality, short-term U.S. government securities. In selecting investments, the Adviser seeks to maintain the Fund's share price at $1.00.
The U.S. government securities that the Fund may purchase include U.S. Treasury bills, notes and bonds, all of which are direct obligations of the U.S. Government. In addition, the Fund may purchase securities issued by agencies and instrumentalities of the U.S. Government which are backed by the full faith and credit of the United States. Among the agencies and instrumentalities issuing these obligations are the Government National Mortgage Association ("Ginnie Mae") and the Federal Housing Administration. The Fund may also purchase securities issued by agencies and instrumentalities which are not backed by the full faith and credit of the United States, but whose issuing agency or instrumentality has the right to borrow, to meet its obligations, from the U.S. Treasury. Among these agencies and instrumentalities are the Federal National Mortgage Association ("Fannie Mae"), the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation ("Freddie Mac") and the Federal Home Loan Banks. Further, the Fund may purchase securities issued by agencies and instrumentalities which are backed solely by the credit of the issuing agency or instrumentality. Among these agencies and instrumentalities is
morganstanley.com/im
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the Federal Farm Credit System. Finally, the Fund may purchase U.S. government securities guaranteed under the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation ("FDIC") Temporary Liquidity Guarantee Program. The Fund may also invest in repurchase agreements.
Principal Risks
There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objectives. Although the Fund seeks to preserve the value of your investment at $1.00 per share, if it is unable to do so, it is possible to lose money by investing in the Fund. The principal risks of investing in this Fund include:
• U.S. Government Securities. The U.S. government securities in which the Fund invests can be subject to two types of risk: credit risk and interest rate risk. When the general level of interest rates goes up, the prices of most fixed-income securities go down. When the general level of interest rates goes down, the prices of most fixed-income securities go up. With respect to U.S. government securities that are not backed by the full faith and credit of the United States, there is the risk that the U.S. Government will not provide financial support to such U.S. government agencies, instrumentalities or sponsored enterprises if it is not obligated to do so by law.
• Repurchase Agreements. Repurchase agreements are subject to risks associated with the possibility of default by the seller at a time when the collateral has declined in value, or insolvency of the seller, which may affect the Fund's right to control the collateral and result in certain costs and delays.
Shares of the Fund are not bank deposits and are not guaranteed or insured by the FDIC or any other government agency.
Past Performance
The bar chart and table below provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund's performance from year to year and by showing the Fund's average annual returns for the one, five and 10 year periods. The Fund's past performance does not indicate how the Fund will perform in the future.
Annual Total ReturnsCalendar Years
The year-to-date total return as of March 31, 2012 was 0.00%.
High Quarter 9/30/06 1.16%
Low Quarter 3/31/10 0.00%
Average Annual Total Returns For Periods Ended
December 31, 2011
Past 1
Year |
Past 5
Years |
Past 10
Years |
|||||||||||||
U.S. Government Money Market Trust | 0.01 | % | 1.28 | % | 1.55 | % |
For the Fund's most recent 7-day annualized yield, you may call toll-free (800) 869-NEWS.
Adviser
Morgan Stanley Investment Management Inc.
Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares
Minimum Investment Amounts
Minimum Investment | |||||||||||
Investment Options | Initial | Additional | |||||||||
Regular Account | $ | 1,000 | $ | 50 | |||||||
Individual Retirement Account | $ | 1,000 | $ | 50 | |||||||
Coverdell Education Savings Account | $ | 500 | $ | 50 | |||||||
EasyInvest
®
(Automatically from your checking or savings account or Morgan Stanley Money Market Fund) |
not available |
$ | 100 |
You may not be subject to the minimum investment requirements under certain circumstances. For more information, please refer to the "How to Buy SharesMinimum Investment Amounts" section beginning on page 8 of this Prospectus .
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You can purchase or sell Fund shares by contacting your Morgan Stanley Smith Barney Financial Advisor or other authorized financial representative. You can also sell Fund shares at any time by telephonic request to the Fund or by wire, through the check-writing option or by enrolling in a systematic withdrawal plan. In addition, you can purchase additional Fund shares or sell Fund shares by written request to the Fund. If you have an eligible account ("Account") with Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC ("Morgan Stanley & Co."), certain restrictions may apply. Any Account holder wishing to own shares of the Fund may open an individual account directly with the Fund. Contact your Morgan Stanley Smith Barney Financial Adviser for more information.
Your shares will be sold at the next price calculated after we receive your order to redeem.
To contact a Morgan Stanley Smith Barney Financial Advisor, call toll-free 1-866-MORGAN8 for the telephone number of the Morgan Stanley Smith Barney office nearest you or access our office locator at www.morganstanley.com. To sell shares by telephone, call (800) 869-NEWS. To purchase additional Fund shares or sell Fund shares by mail, contact the Fund's transfer agent, Morgan Stanley Services Company Inc. (the "Transfer Agent") at: Morgan Stanley Services Company Inc., P.O. Box 219885, Kansas City, MO 64121-9885 (for purchases) or Morgan Stanley Services Company Inc., P.O. Box 219886, Kansas City, MO 64121-9886 (for sales). For more information, please refer to the "How to Buy Shares" and "How to Sell Shares" sections, beginning on page 7 and page 11, respectively, of this Prospectus .
Tax Information
The Fund intends to make distributions that may be taxed as ordinary income or capital gains, unless you are investing through a tax-deferred arrangement, such as a 401(k) plan or an individual retirement account.
Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries
If you purchase the Fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Adviser and/or the Distributor may pay the intermediary for the sale of Fund shares and related services. These payments, which may be significant in amount, may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary's web site for more information.
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Fund Details
Additional Information about the Fund's Investment Objectives, Strategies and Risks
Investment Objectives
Morgan Stanley U.S. Government Money Market Trust is a money market fund that seeks to provide security of principal, high current income and liquidity.
Principal Investment Strategies
Money Market
A mutual fund having the goal to select securities to provide current income while seeking to maintain a stable share price of $1.00.
Yield
The Fund's yield reflects the actual income the Fund pays to you expressed as a percentage of the Fund's share price. Because the Fund's income from its portfolio securities will fluctuate, the income it in turn distributes to you and the Fund's yield will vary.
The Fund will invest in high quality, short-term U.S. government securities. The Adviser seeks to maintain the Fund's share price at $1.00. The share price remaining stable at $1.00 means that the Fund would preserve the principal value of your investment.
The U.S. government securities that the Fund may purchase include:
n U.S. Treasury bills, notes and bonds, all of which are direct obligations of the U.S. Government.
n Securities issued by agencies and instrumentalities of the U.S. Government which are backed by the full faith and credit of the United States. Among the agencies and instrumentalities issuing these obligations are Ginnie Mae and the Federal Housing Administration.
n Securities issued by agencies and instrumentalities which are not backed by the full faith and credit of the United States, but whose issuing agency or instrumentality has the right to borrow, to meet its obligations, from the U.S. Treasury. Among these agencies and instrumentalities are Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and the Federal Home Loan Banks.
n Securities issued by agencies and instrumentalities which are backed solely by the credit of the issuing agency or instrumentality. Among these agencies and instrumentalities is the Federal Farm Credit System.
n Securities guaranteed under the FDIC Temporary Liquidity Guarantee Program. The FDIC guarantee of these securities is subject to the full faith and credit of the United States.
The Fund also may invest up to 10% of its net assets in FDIC insured certificates of deposit of banks and savings and loan institutions.
The Fund's policies discussed above are fundamental. These policies may not be changed without shareholder approval. In addition to the fundamental investment policies, the Fund may invest in repurchase agreements. Repurchase agreements are fixed-income securities in the form of agreements
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backed by collateral. These agreements typically involve the acquisition by the Fund of securities from the selling institution (such as a bank or a broker-dealer), coupled with the agreement that the selling institution will repurchase the underlying securities at a specified price and at a fixed time in the future (or on demand, if applicable). The underlying securities which serve as collateral for the repurchase agreements entered into by the Fund are marked-to-market daily in order to maintain full collateralization (typically purchase price plus accrued interest).
The Adviser actively manages the Fund's assets to reduce the risk of losing any principal investment as a result of credit or interest rate risks. In addition, federal regulations require money market funds, such as the Fund, to invest only in debt obligations of high quality and short maturities.
In pursuing the Fund's investment objectives, the Adviser has considerable leeway in deciding which investments it buys, holds or sells on a day-to-day basis and which trading strategies it uses. For example, the Adviser in its discretion may determine to use some permitted trading strategies while not using others.
Principal Risks
There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objectives. Although the Fund seeks to preserve the value of your investment at $1.00 per share, if it is unable to do so, it is possible to lose money by investing in the Fund.
U.S. Government Securities. The principal risk of investing in the Fund is associated with its U.S. government securities investments, which are subject to two types of risks: credit risk and interest rate risk.
Credit risk refers to the possibility that the issuer of a security will be unable to make interest payments and/or repay the principal on its debt. Interest rate risk refers to fluctuations in the value of a fixed-income security resulting from changes in the general level of interest rates. When the general level of interest rates goes up, the prices of most fixed-income securities go down. When the general level of interest rates goes down, the prices of most fixed-income securities go up.
With respect to the U.S. government securities which are not backed by the full faith and credit of the United States, there is the risk that the U.S. Government will not provide financial support to such U.S. government agencies, instrumentalities or sponsored enterprises if it is not obligated to do so by law. Certain U.S. government securities purchased by the Fund, such as those issued by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, are not backed by the full faith and credit of the United States. In September 2008, the U.S. Treasury Department announced that the government would be taking over Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae and placing the companies into a conservatorship. In addition, the U.S. Treasury announced additional steps that it intended to take with respect to the debt and mortgage-backed securities issued by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in order to support the conservatorship. No assurance can be given that these initiatives will be successful. It is possible that these issuers will not have the funds to meet their payment obligations in the future.
Under the FDIC Temporary Liquidity Guarantee Program, the FDIC guarantees the payment of principal and interest on the newly issued senior secured debt of banks, thrift institutions and certain holding companies. The FDIC guarantee of such debt is subject to the full faith and credit of the United States and expires no later than December 31,
5
2012. The interest from U.S. government securities generally is not subject to state and local taxation. However, the interest on securities guaranteed under the Temporary Liquidity Guarantee Program or other similar FDIC programs may be subject to state and local income taxes and therefore may cause additional state and local tax consequences for shareholders of any fund that purchases such securities.
Repurchase Agreements. The use of repurchase agreements involves certain risks. For example, if the selling institution defaults on its obligation to repurchase the underlying securities at a time when the value of the securities has declined, the Fund may incur a loss upon disposition of them. In the event of an insolvency or bankruptcy by the selling institution, the Fund's right to control the collateral could be affected and result in certain costs and delays. Additionally, if the proceeds from the liquidation of such collateral after an insolvency were less than the repurchase price, the Fund could suffer a loss. The Fund follows procedures that are designed to minimize such risks.
Portfolio Holdings
A description of the Fund's policies and procedures with respect to the disclosure of the Fund's portfolio securities is available in the Fund's Statement of Additional Information ("SAI") .
Fund Management
Morgan Stanley Investment Management Inc.
The Adviser, together with its affiliated asset management companies, had approximately $303.8 billion in assets under management or supervision as of March 31, 2012.
The Fund has retained the AdviserMorgan Stanley Investment Management Inc.to provide investment advisory services. The Adviser is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Morgan Stanley, a preeminent global financial services firm engaged in securities trading and brokerage activities, as well as providing investment banking, research and analysis, financing and financial advisory services. The Adviser's address is 522 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10036.
The Fund pays the Adviser a monthly advisory fee as full compensation for the services and facilities furnished to the Fund, and for Fund expenses assumed by the Adviser. The fee is based on the Fund's average daily net assets. Due to fee waivers during the fiscal year, for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2012, the Fund paid total investment advisory compensation amounting to 0.00% of the Fund's average daily net assets.
A discussion regarding the Board of Trustees' approval of the investment advisory agreement is available in the Fund's semiannual report to shareholders for the period ended July 31, 2011.
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Shareholder Information
Pricing Fund Shares
The price of Fund shares, called "net asset value," is based on the amortized cost of the Fund's portfolio securities. The amortized cost valuation method involves valuing a debt obligation in reference to its cost, rather than market forces.
The net asset value per share of the Fund is determined once daily at the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE") close (normally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) on each day that the NYSE is open. Shares will not be priced on days that the NYSE is closed.
To the extent the Fund invests in open-end management companies that are registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended ("Investment Company Act"), the Fund's net asset value is calculated based upon the net asset value of such funds. The prospectuses for such funds explain the circumstances under which they will use fair value pricing and its effects.
How to Buy Shares
Contacting a Financial Advisor
If you are new to the Morgan Stanley Funds and would like to contact a Morgan Stanley Smith Barney Financial Advisor, call toll-free 1-866-MORGAN8 for the telephone number of the Morgan Stanley Smith Barney office nearest you. You may also access our office locator on our Internet site at: www.morganstanley.com
You may open a new account to buy Fund shares or buy additional Fund shares for an existing account by contacting your Morgan Stanley Smith Barney Financial Adviser or other authorized financial representative. Your Financial Advisor will assist you, step-by-step, with the procedures to invest in the Fund. You may also purchase shares directly by calling the Transfer Agent at (800) 869-NEWS and requesting an application to open an individual account directly with the Fund (i.e., not through Morgan Stanley & Co. or its Financial Advisors).
If you have an eligible account with Morgan Stanley & Co. ("Account"), certain restrictions may apply and you may not, for example, be able to (i) purchase Fund shares directly for a new Account or an existing Account (either through your Morgan Stanley Financial Advisor or the Transfer Agent) or (ii) elect the Fund as a cash sweep investment option and instead will have cash swept into bank deposit accounts or other investments, as applicable. The interest rates paid with respect to the bank deposit accounts established may be higher or lower than the Fund's returns. Morgan Stanley & Co. has already provided you with additional information about the bank deposit accounts and your sweep options. Contact your Morgan Stanley Smith Barney Financial Advisor for more information.
Any Account holder wishing to own shares of the Fund may open an individual account directly with the Fund and not through Morgan Stanley & Co. or their Morgan Stanley Smith Barney Financial Adviser by contacting the Transfer Agent, as set forth above, and requesting an application; this
7
account will not be a part of any of the Account programs or tied to any of the Accounts referred to above.
To help the U.S. Government fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering activities, federal law requires all financial institutions to obtain, verify and record information that identifies each person who opens an account. What this means to you: when you open an account, we will ask your name, address, date of birth and other information that will allow us to identify you. If we are unable to verify your identity, we reserve the right to restrict additional transactions and/or liquidate your account at the next calculated net asset value after your account is closed (less any applicable sales/account charges and/or tax penalties) or take any other action required by law. In accordance with federal law requirements, the Fund has implemented an anti-money laundering compliance program, which includes the designation of an anti-money laundering compliance officer.
When you buy Fund shares, the shares are purchased at the next share price calculated after we receive your purchase order in proper form accompanied by federal or other immediately available funds. You begin earning dividends the business day after the shares are purchased. We reserve the right to reject any order for the purchase of Fund shares for any reason.
Minimum Investment Amounts
EasyInvest ®
A purchase plan that allows you to transfer money automatically from your checking or savings account or from a Morgan Stanley Money Market Fund on a semi-monthly, monthly or quarterly basis. Contact your Morgan Stanley Smith Barney Financial Advisor for further information about this service.
Minimum Investment | |||||||||||
Investment Options | Initial | Additional | |||||||||
Regular Account | $ | 1,000 | $ | 50 | |||||||
Individual Retirement Account | $ | 1,000 | $ | 50 | |||||||
Coverdell Education Savings Account | $ | 500 | $ | 50 | |||||||
EasyInvest
®
(Automatically from your checking or savings account or Morgan Stanley Money Market Fund) |
not available |
$ | 100 |
There is no minimum investment amount if you purchase Fund shares through: (1) the Adviser's mutual fund asset allocation program; (2) a program, approved by the Distributor, in which you pay an asset-based fee for advisory, administrative and/or brokerage services; (3) certain other investment programs approved by the Distributor that do not charge an asset-based fee; (4) employer-sponsored employee benefit plan accounts; (5) certain deferred compensation programs established by the Adviser or its affiliates for their employees or the Fund's Trustees; or (6) the reinvestment of dividends in additional Fund shares.
Subsequent Investments Sent Directly to the Fund. In addition to buying additional Fund shares for an existing account through your authorized financial representative, you also may send a
8
check directly to the Fund (customers of Morgan Stanley & Co. are referred to the information set forth above). To buy additional shares in this manner:
n Write a "letter of instruction" to the Fund specifying the name(s) on the account, the account number, the social security or tax identification number, and the investment amount. The letter must be signed by the account owner(s).
n Make out a check for the total amount payable to: Morgan Stanley U.S. Government Money Market Trust.
n Mail the letter and check to Morgan Stanley Services Company Inc. at P.O. Box 219885, Kansas City, MO 64121-9885.
Additional Purchase Information. If you are a customer of an authorized dealer of Fund shares other than Morgan Stanley & Co., you may upon request: (a) have the proceeds from the sale of listed securities invested in Fund shares the day after you receive the proceeds; and (b) pay for the purchase of certain listed securities by automatic sale of Fund shares that you own. If you are a customer of an authorized dealer of the Fund's shares, other than Morgan Stanley & Co., you may have cash balances in your securities account of $1,000 or more automatically invested in shares of the Fund on the next business day after the balance is accrued in your account. Cash balances of less than $1,000 may be automatically invested in Fund shares on a weekly basis.
Shareholder Services Plan. The Fund has adopted a Shareholder Services Plan. The Plan allows the Fund to pay shareholder servicing fees of up to an annual rate of 0.15% of its average daily net assets.
How to Exchange Shares
Permissible Fund Exchanges. You may only exchange shares of the Fund for shares of other continuously offered Morgan Stanley Funds if the Fund shares were acquired in an exchange of shares initially purchased in a Morgan Stanley Multi-Class Fund. In that case, the Fund shares may be subsequently re-exchanged for shares of the same Class of any Morgan Stanley Multi-Class Fund as the initially purchased shares or for shares of another Morgan Stanley Money Market Fund or the Morgan Stanley Limited Duration U.S. Government Trust, without the imposition of an exchange fee. Of course, if an exchange is not permitted, you may sell shares of the Fund and buy another fund's shares with the proceeds.
The current prospectus for each Morgan Stanley Fund describes its investment objective(s), policies and investment minimums, and should be read before investment. Since exchanges are available only into continuously offered Morgan Stanley Funds, exchanges are not available into Morgan Stanley Funds or classes of Morgan Stanley Funds that are not currently being offered for purchase.
Exchange Procedures. You can process an exchange by contacting your Morgan Stanley Smith Barney Financial Advisor or other authorized financial representative. You may also write the Transfer Agent or call toll-free (800) 869-NEWS, our automated telephone system (which is generally accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a week), to place an exchange order. You automatically have the telephone exchange privilege unless you indicate otherwise by checking the applicable box on the new account application form. If you hold share certificates, no exchanges may be processed until we have received all applicable share certificates.
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Exchange requests received on a business day prior to the time shares of the funds involved in the request are priced will be processed on the date of receipt. "Processing" a request means that shares of the fund which you are exchanging will be redeemed at the net asset value per share next determined on the date of receipt. Shares of the fund that you are purchasing will also normally be purchased at the net asset value per share, plus any applicable sales charge, next determined on the date of receipt. Exchange requests received on a business day after the time that shares of the funds involved in the request are priced will be processed on the next business day in the manner described herein.
The Fund may terminate or revise the exchange privilege upon required notice or in certain cases without notice. See "Limitations on Exchanges." The check writing privilege is not available for Morgan Stanley Money Market Fund shares you acquire in an exchange.
Telephone Exchanges. Morgan Stanley and its subsidiaries, including the Transfer Agent, and the Fund employ procedures considered by them to be reasonable to confirm that instructions communicated by telephone are genuine. Such procedures may include requiring certain personal identification information prior to acting upon telephone instructions, tape-recording telephone communications and providing written confirmation of instructions communicated by telephone. If reasonable procedures are employed, none of Morgan Stanley, the Transfer Agent or the Fund will be liable for following telephone instructions which it reasonably believes to be genuine. Telephone exchanges may not be available if you cannot reach the Transfer Agent by telephone, whether because all telephone lines are busy or for any other reason; in such case, a shareholder would have to use the Fund's other exchange procedures described in this section.
Telephone instructions will be accepted if received by the Transfer Agent between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Eastern time on any day the NYSE is open for business. 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 case with the Fund in the past.
Margin Accounts. If you have pledged your Fund shares in a margin account, contact your Morgan Stanley Smith Barney Financial Advisor or other authorized financial representative regarding restrictions on the exchange of such shares.
Tax Considerations of Exchanges. If you exchange shares of the Fund for shares of another Morgan Stanley Fund, there are important tax considerations. For tax purposes, the exchange out of the Fund is considered a sale of Fund shares and the exchange into the other fund is considered a purchase. As a result, you may realize a capital gain or loss.
You should review the "Tax Consequences" section and consult your own tax professional about the tax consequences of an exchange.
Limitations on Exchanges. Certain patterns of past exchanges and/or purchase or sale transactions involving the Fund or other Morgan Stanley Funds may result in the Fund rejecting, limiting or prohibiting, at its sole discretion, and without prior notice, additional purchases and/or exchanges and may result in a shareholder's account being closed. Determinations in this regard may be based on the frequency or dollar amount of previous exchanges or purchase or sale transactions. The Fund reserves the right to reject an exchange request for any reason.
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Exchanging Shares of Another Fund Subject to a Contingent Deferred Sales Charge ("CDSC"). There are special considerations when you exchange shares subject to a CDSC of another Morgan Stanley Fund for shares of the Fund. When determining the length of time you held the shares and the corresponding CDSC rate, any period (starting at the end of the month) during which you held shares of the Fund will not be counted . Thus, in effect the "holding period" for purposes of calculating the CDSC is frozen upon exchanging into the Fund. Nevertheless, if shares subject to a CDSC were exchanged for shares of the Fund prior to August 1, 2007, you will receive a credit when you sell the shares equal to the distribution (12b-1) fees, if any, you paid on those shares while in the Fund up to the amount of any applicable CDSC. See the prospectus of the fund that charges the CDSC for more details.
For further information regarding exchange privileges, you should contact your Morgan Stanley Smith Barney Financial Advisor or call toll-free (800) 869-NEWS.
How to Sell Shares
You can sell some or all of your Fund shares at any time. Your shares will be sold at the next share price calculated after we receive your order to sell as described below.
Options | Procedures | ||||||
Contact Your Financial Advisor | To sell your shares, simply call your Morgan Stanley Smith Barney Financial Advisor or other authorized financial representative. Payment will be sent to the address to which the account is registered or deposited in your brokerage account. | ||||||
Check-Writing Option |
You may order a supply of blank checks by requesting them by contacting your Morgan Stanley Smith Barney Financial Advisor or calling toll-free (800) 869-NEWS.
Checks may be written in any amount not less than $500. You must sign checks exactly as their shares are registered. If the account is a joint account, the check may contain one signature unless the joint owners have specified that all owners are required to sign checks. Only accounts in which no share certificates have been issued are eligible for the check-writing privilege. Payment of check proceeds normally will be made on the next business day after we receive your check in proper form. Shares purchased by check (including a certified or bank cashier's check) are not normally available to cover redemption checks until 15 days after the Transfer Agent receives the check used for investment. A check will not be honored in an amount exceeding the value of the account at the time the check is presented for payment. |
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Systematic Withdrawal Plan | If your investment in all of the Morgan Stanley Funds has a total market value of at least $10,000, you may elect to withdraw amounts of $25 or more, or in any whole percentage of a fund's balance (provided the amount is at least $25), on a monthly, quarterly, semi-annual or annual basis, from any fund with a balance of at least $1,000. Each time you add a fund to the plan, you must meet the plan requirements. | ||||||
11
Options | Procedures | ||||||
Systematic Withdrawal Plan
(continued) |
To sign up for the systematic withdrawal plan, contact your Morgan Stanley Smith Barney Financial Advisor or call toll-free (800) 869-NEWS. You may terminate or suspend your plan at any time. Please remember that withdrawals from the plan are sales of shares, not Fund "distributions," and ultimately may exhaust your account balance. The Fund may terminate or revise the plan at any time.
When you sell Fund shares through the systematic withdrawal plan, the shares may be subject to a CDSC if they were obtained in exchange for shares subject to a CDSC of another Morgan Stanley Fund. The CDSC, however, will be waived in an amount up to 12% annually of the Fund's value, although Fund shares with no CDSC will be sold first, followed by those with the lowest CDSC. As such, the waiver benefit will be reduced by the amount of your shares that are not subject to a CDSC. See the prospectus of the fund that charges the CDSC for more details. |
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By Letter |
You may also sell your shares by writing a "letter of instruction" that includes:
n your account number; n the name of the Fund; n the dollar amount or the number of shares you wish to sell; and n the signature of each owner as it appears on the account. If you are requesting payment to anyone other than the registered owner(s) or that payment be sent to any address other than the address of the registered owner(s) or pre-designated bank account, you will need a signature guarantee. You can obtain a signature guarantee from an eligible guarantor acceptable to the Transfer Agent. (You should contact the Transfer Agent toll-free at (800) 869-NEWS for a determination as to whether a particular institution is an eligible guarantor.) A notary public cannot provide a signature guarantee. Additional documentation may be required for shares held by a corporation, partnership, trustee or executor. Mail the letter to Morgan Stanley Services Company Inc. at P.O. Box 219886, Kansas City, MO 64121-9886. A check will be mailed to the name(s) and address in which the account is registered, or otherwise according to your instructions. |
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By Telephone or Wire | To sell shares by telephone or wire, first complete a telephone redemption application designating a bank account. Redemptions for more than $1,000 will be wired to your bank account (your bank may charge a fee for this service). For redemptions for less than $1,000, a check will be mailed to your bank account. For more information or to request a telephone redemption application, call the Transfer Agent toll-free at (800) 869-NEWS. | ||||||
Payment for Sold Shares. After we receive your complete instructions to sell as described above, a check will be mailed to you within seven days, although we will attempt to make payment within one business day. Payment may also be sent to your brokerage account.
12
Payment may be postponed or the right to sell your shares suspended under unusual circumstances. If you request to sell shares that were recently purchased by check, the proceeds of the sale may not be sent to you until it has been verified that the check has cleared, which may take up to 15 calendar days from the date of purchase.
Payments-in-Kind. If we determine that it is in the best interest of the Fund not to pay redemption proceeds in cash, we may pay you partly or entirely by distributing to you securities held by the Fund. Such in-kind securities may be illiquid and difficult or impossible for a shareholder to sell at a time and at a price that a shareholder would like. Redemptions paid in such securities generally will give rise to income, gain or loss for income tax purposes in the same manner as redemptions paid in cash. In addition, you may incur brokerage costs and a further gain or loss for income tax purposes when you ultimately sell the securities.
Tax Considerations. Normally, your sale of Fund shares is subject to federal and state income tax. You should review the "Tax Consequences" section of this Prospectus and consult your own tax professional about the tax consequences of a sale.
Involuntary Sales. The Fund reserves the right, on 60 days' notice, to sell the shares of any shareholder whose shares, due to sales by the shareholder, have a value below $500. However, before the Fund sells your shares in this manner, we will notify you and allow you 60 days to make an additional investment in an amount that will increase the value of your account to at least the required amount before the sale is processed.
Money Market Fund Automatic Sale Procedures. If you maintain a brokerage account with Morgan Stanley Smith Barney, Morgan Stanley & Co. or another authorized dealer of Fund shares, you may elect to have your Fund shares automatically sold from your account to satisfy amounts you owe as a result of purchasing securities or other transactions in your brokerage account.
If you elect to participate by notifying Morgan Stanley & Co. or another authorized dealer of Fund shares, your brokerage account will be scanned each business day prior to the close of business (4:00 p.m. Eastern time). After any cash balances in the account are applied, a sufficient number of Fund shares may be sold to satisfy any amounts you are obligated to pay to Morgan Stanley & Co. or another authorized dealer of fund shares. Sales will be effected on the business day before the date you are obligated to make payment, and Morgan Stanley & Co. or another authorized dealer of Fund shares will receive the sale proceeds on the following day.
EasyInvest ® . You may invest in shares of certain other Morgan Stanley Funds by subscribing to EasyInvest ® , an automatic purchase plan that provides for the automatic investment of any amount from $100 to $5,000 in shares of the specified fund. Under EasyInvest ® , you may direct that a sufficient number of shares of the Fund be automatically sold and the proceeds transferred to the Transfer Agent, on a semi-monthly, monthly or quarterly basis, for investment in shares of the specified fund. Sales of your Fund shares will be made on the business day preceding the investment date and the Transfer Agent will receive the proceeds for investment on the day following the sale date.
Margin Accounts. If you have pledged your Fund shares in a margin account, contact your Morgan Stanley Smith Barney Financial Advisor or other authorized financial representative regarding restrictions on the sale of such shares.
13
Distributions
Targeted
Dividends
SM
You may select to have your Fund distributions automatically invested in another Morgan Stanley Fund that you own. Contact your Morgan Stanley Smith Barney Financial Advisor for further information about this service.
The Fund passes substantially all of its earnings from income and capital gains along to its investors as "distributions." The Fund earns interest from fixed-income investments. These amounts are passed along to Fund shareholders as "income dividend distributions." The Fund realizes capital gains whenever it sells securities for a higher price than it paid for them. These amounts may be passed along as "capital gain distributions." The Adviser does not anticipate that there will be significant capital gain distributions.
The Fund declares and reinvests income dividends on each day the NYSE is open for business to shareholders of record as of the close of business the preceding day. These distributions are paid (or credited to your account) no later than the last business day of each month. Capital gains, if any, are distributed periodically.
Distributions are reinvested automatically in additional shares of the Fund (rounded to the last 1/100 of a share) and automatically credited to your account unless you request in writing that distributions be paid in cash. If you elect the cash option, the Fund will mail a check to you no later than seven business days after the end of the month. No interest will accrue on uncashed checks. If you wish to change how your distributions are paid, your request should be received by the Transfer Agent at least five business days prior to the record date of the distributions.
Frequent Purchases and Redemptions of Fund Shares
Because, as a money market fund, the Fund's principal investment strategy is to maintain a stable share price, frequent purchases and redemptions of shares by Fund shareholders generally do not present risks for other shareholders of the Fund. Therefore, the policies and procedures regulating frequent purchases and redemptions adopted by the Fund's Board of Trustees applicable to other Morgan Stanley Funds are not applicable with respect to frequent purchases and redemptions of Fund shares. However, frequent trading by Fund shareholders can disrupt management of the Fund and raise its expenses. Therefore, we may not accept any request for a purchase when we believe that it is being used as a tool for market-timing and we may bar shareholders who trade excessively from making further purchases for an indefinite period.
Tax Consequences
As with any investment, you should consider how your Fund investment will be taxed. The tax information in this Prospectus is provided as general information. You should consult your own tax professional about the tax consequences of an investment in the Fund.
Unless your investment in the Fund is through a tax-deferred retirement account, such as a 401(k) plan or IRA, you need to be aware of the possible tax consequences when the Fund makes distributions.
14
Taxes on Distributions. Your distributions are normally subject to federal income tax when they are paid, whether you take them in cash or reinvest them in Fund shares. Any income dividend distributions and any short-term capital gain distributions are taxable to you as ordinary income. Any long-term capital gain distributions are taxable as long-term capital gains, no matter how long you have owned shares in the Fund. A distribution also may be subject to state and local income tax. Depending on your state's rules, however, any dividends attributable to interest earned on direct obligations of the U.S. Government may be exempt from state and local taxes.
You will be sent a statement (IRS Form 1099-DIV) by February of each year showing the taxable distributions paid to you in the previous year. The statement provides information on your dividends and capital gains for tax purposes.
Taxes on Sales. Your sale of Fund shares normally is subject to federal and state income tax and may result in a taxable gain or loss to you. A sale also may be subject to local income tax. Your exchange of Fund shares for shares of another Morgan Stanley Fund is treated for tax purposes like a sale of your original shares and a purchase of your new shares. Thus, the exchange may, like a sale, result in a taxable gain or loss to you and will give you a new tax basis for your new shares. However, you should not recognize any gain or loss on the sale or exchange of Fund shares so long as the Fund maintains a share price of $1.00.
When you open your Fund account, you should provide your social security or tax identification number on your investment application. By providing this information, you will avoid being subject to a federal backup withholding tax on taxable distributions and redemption proceeds (as of the date of this Prospectus this rate is 28% and is scheduled to increase to 31% after 2012). Any withheld amount would be sent to the IRS as an advance payment of your taxes due on your income.
Additional Information
The Adviser and/or the Distributor may pay compensation (out of their own funds and not as an expense of the Fund) to certain affiliated or unaffiliated broker-dealers or other financial intermediaries or service providers in connection with the sale, distribution, marketing or retention of Fund shares and/or shareholder servicing. Such compensation may be significant in amount and the prospect of receiving any such additional compensation may provide such affiliated or unaffiliated entities with an incentive to favor sales of shares of the Fund over other investment options. Any such payments will not change the net asset value or the price of the Fund's shares. For more information, please see the Fund's SAI .
15
Financial Highlights
The financial highlights table is intended to help you understand the Fund's financial performance for the periods indicated. Certain information reflects financial results for a single Fund share throughout each period. The total returns in the table represent the rate an investor would have earned or lost on an investment in the Fund (assuming reinvestment of all dividends and distributions). The ratio of expenses to average net assets listed in the table below is based on the average net assets of the Fund for each of the periods listed in the table. To the extent that the Fund's average net assets decrease over the Fund's next fiscal year, such expense ratios can be expected to increase, potentially significantly, because certain fixed costs will be spread over a smaller amount of assets.
The information for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2012 has been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, whose report, along with the Fund's financial statements, are incorporated by reference in the SAI from the Fund's annual report, which is available upon request. The financial highlights for each of the years in the four-year period ended January 31, 2011 have been audited by another independent registered public accounting firm.
For The Year Ended January 31, | 2012 | 2011^ | 2010^ | 2009^ | 2008^ | ||||||||||||||||||
Selected Per Share Data: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Net asset value, beginning of period | $ | 1.00 | $ | 1.00 | $ | 1.00 | $ | 1.00 | $ | 1.00 | |||||||||||||
Net Income from investment operations | 0.000 | (1) | 0.000 | (1) | 0.000 | (1) | 0.015 | 0.044 | |||||||||||||||
Less dividends and distributions from net investment income | (0.000 | ) (1)(2) | (0.000 | ) (1)(2) | (0.000 | ) (1)(2) | (0.015 | ) (2) | (0.044 | ) (2) | |||||||||||||
Net asset value, end of period | $ | 1.00 | $ | 1.00 | $ | 1.00 | $ | 1.00 | $ | 1.00 | |||||||||||||
Total Return | 0.01 | % | 0.01 | % | 0.02 | % | 1.54 | % | 4.50 | % | |||||||||||||
Ratios to Average Net Assets: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Total expenses | 0.09 | % (4) | 0.21 | % (4) | 0.34 | % (3)(4) | 0.61 | % (3)(4) | 0.75 | % | |||||||||||||
Net investment income | 0.01 | % (4) | 0.01 | % (4) | 0.01 | % (3)(4) | 1.37 | % (3)(4) | 4.36 | % | |||||||||||||
Supplemental Data: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Net assets, end of period, in millions | $ | 1,868 | $ | 514 | $ | 652 | $ | 1,647 | $ | 920 |
^ Beginning with the year ended January 31, 2012, the Fund was audited by Ernst & Young LLP. The previous years were audited by another independent registered public accounting firm.
(1) Amount is less than $0.001.
(2) Includes capital gain distribution of less than $0.001.
(3) Reflects fees paid in connection with the U.S. Treasury's Temporary Guarantee Program for Money Market Funds. This fee had an effect of 0.04% and 0.02% for the years ended 2010 and 2009, respectively.
(4) If the Fund had borne all of its expenses that were reimbursed or waived by the Distributor, Adviser, and Administrator, the annualized expense and net investment income (loss) ratios, would have been as follows:
PERIOD ENDED |
EXPENSE
RATIO |
NET INVESTMENT
INCOME (LOSS) RATIO |
|||||||||
January 31, 2012 | 0.56 | % | (0.46 | )% | |||||||
January 31, 2011 | 0.70 | (0.48 | ) | ||||||||
January 31, 2010 | 0.70 | (0.35 | ) | ||||||||
January 31, 2009 | 0.62 | 1.36 |
16
Additional information about the Fund's investments is available in the Fund's Annual and Semiannual Reports to Shareholders .
The Fund's Statement of Additional Information also provides additional information about the Fund. The Statement of Additional Information is incorporated herein by reference (legally is part of this Prospectus ). For a free copy of the Fund's Annual Report , Semiannual Report or Statement of Additional Information , to request other information about the Fund or to make shareholder inquiries, please call toll-free (800) 869-NEWS . Free copies of these documents are also available from our Internet site at: www.morganstanley.com/im .
You also may obtain information about the Fund by calling your Morgan Stanley Financial Advisor or by visiting our Internet site.
Information about the Fund (including the Statement of Additional Information ) can be reviewed and copied at the Securities and Exchange Commission's (the "SEC") Public Reference Room in Washington, DC. Information about the Reference Room's operations may be obtained by calling the SEC at (202) 551-8090. Reports and other information about the Fund are available on the EDGAR Database on the SEC's Internet site at: www.sec.gov and copies of this information may be obtained, after paying a duplicating fee, by electronic request at the following E-mail address: publicinfo@sec.gov, or by writing to the Public Reference Section of the SEC, Washington, DC 20549-1520.
(THE FUND'S INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT FILE NO. IS 811-3326)
Morgan Stanley Distribution, Inc., member FINRA.
© 2012 Morgan Stanley
INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT
Morgan Stanley
U.S. Government
Money Market Trust
Prospectus
May 31, 2012
DWGPRO-00
STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Morgan Stanley
U.S. Government
Money Market Trust
Ticker
Symbol |
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DWGXX | |||
May 31, 2012
This Statement of Additional Information ("SAI") is not a prospectus. The Prospectus (dated May 31, 2012) for Morgan Stanley U.S. Government Money Market Trust may be obtained without charge from the Fund at its address or telephone number listed below.
The Fund's audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2012, including notes thereto, and the report of Ernst & Young LLP, are herein incorporated by reference to the Fund's Annual Report to Shareholders . A copy of the Fund's Annual Report to Shareholders must accompany the delivery of this SAI.
Morgan Stanley
U.S. Government Money Market Trust
522 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10036
(800) 869-NEWS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
I. | Fund History | 4 | |||||||||
II. | Description of the Fund and Its Investments and Risks | 4 | |||||||||
A. Classification | 4 | ||||||||||
B. Investment Strategies and Risks | 4 | ||||||||||
C. Fund Policies/Investment Restrictions | 7 | ||||||||||
D. Disclosure of Portfolio Holdings | 8 | ||||||||||
III. | Management of the Fund | 10 | |||||||||
A. Board of Trustees | 10 | ||||||||||
B. Management Information | 11 | ||||||||||
C. Compensation | 20 | ||||||||||
IV. | Control Persons and Principal Holders of Securities | 22 | |||||||||
V. | Investment Advisory and Other Services | 22 | |||||||||
A. Adviser and Administrator | 22 | ||||||||||
B. Principal Underwriter | 23 | ||||||||||
C. Services Provided by the Adviser and Administrator | 23 | ||||||||||
D. Shareholder Services Plan | 24 | ||||||||||
E. Other Service Providers | 24 | ||||||||||
F. Codes of Ethics | 25 | ||||||||||
G. Proxy Voting Policy and Proxy Voting Record | 25 | ||||||||||
H. Revenue Sharing | 25 | ||||||||||
VI. | Brokerage Allocation and Other Practices | 26 | |||||||||
A. Brokerage Transactions | 26 | ||||||||||
B. Commissions | 26 | ||||||||||
C. Brokerage Selection | 27 | ||||||||||
D. Regular Broker-Dealers | 28 | ||||||||||
VII. | Capital Stock and Other Securities | 28 | |||||||||
VIII. | Purchase, Redemption and Pricing of Shares | 29 | |||||||||
A. Purchase/Redemption of Shares | 29 | ||||||||||
B. Offering Price | 30 | ||||||||||
IX. | Taxation of the Fund and Shareholders | 32 | |||||||||
X. | Underwriters | 34 | |||||||||
XI. | Performance Data | 34 | |||||||||
XII. | Financial Statements | 34 | |||||||||
XIII. | Fund Counsel | 34 | |||||||||
Appendix A. | Morgan Stanley Investment Management Proxy Voting Policy and Procedures | A-1 | |||||||||
2
Glossary of Selected Defined Terms
The terms defined in this glossary are frequently used in this SAI (other terms used occasionally are defined in the text of the document).
"Administrator" or "Morgan Stanley Services" Morgan Stanley Services Company Inc., a wholly-owned fund services subsidiary of the Adviser.
"Adviser" Morgan Stanley Investment Management Inc., a wholly-owned investment adviser subsidiary of Morgan Stanley.
"Custodian" State Street Bank and Trust Company.
"Distributor" Morgan Stanley Distribution, Inc., a wholly-owned broker-dealer subsidiary of Morgan Stanley.
"Financial Advisors" Morgan Stanley authorized financial services representatives.
"Fund" Morgan Stanley U.S. Government Money Market Trust, a registered open-end investment company.
"Independent Trustees" Trustees who are not "interested persons" (as defined by the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended ("Investment Company Act")) of the Fund.
"Morgan Stanley & Co." Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, a wholly-owned broker-dealer subsidiary of Morgan Stanley.
"Morgan Stanley Funds" Registered investment companies for which the Adviser serves as the investment adviser and that hold themselves out to investors as related companies for investment and investor services.
"Morgan Stanley Smith Barney" Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC, a majority-owned broker-dealer subsidiary of Morgan Stanley.
"Transfer Agent" Morgan Stanley Services Company Inc., a wholly-owned transfer agent subsidiary of Morgan Stanley.
"Trustees" The Board of Trustees of the Fund.
3
I. FUND HISTORY
The Fund was organized as a Massachusetts business trust, under a Declaration of Trust, on November 18, 1981, with the name Sears U.S. Government Money Market Trust. Effective March 21, 1983, the Fund's name was changed to Dean Witter/Sears U.S. Government Money Market Trust. On February 19, 1993, the Fund's name was changed to Dean Witter U.S. Government Money Market Trust. Effective June 22, 1998, the Fund's name was changed to Morgan Stanley Dean Witter U.S. Government Money Market Trust. Effective June 18, 2001 the Fund's name was changed to Morgan Stanley U.S. Government Money Market Trust.
II. DESCRIPTION OF THE FUND AND ITS INVESTMENTS AND RISKS
A. Classification
The Fund is an open-end, diversified management investment company whose investment objectives are security of principal, high current income and liquidity.
B. Investment Strategies and Risks
The following discussion of the Fund's investment strategies and risks should be read with the sections of the Fund's Prospectus titled "Principal Investment Strategies", "Principal Risks" and "Additional Information about the Fund's Investment Objectives, Strategies and Risks."
Repurchase Agreements. The Fund may invest in repurchase agreements. These agreements typically involve the acquisition by the Fund of debt securities from a selling financial institution (such as a bank or broker-dealer) coupled with an agreement that the institution will repurchase the underlying security at a specified price and at a fixed time in the future (or on demand, if applicable). The underlying securities, which serve as collateral for the agreement, 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 a decrease occurs, additional collateral will be requested and, when received, will be 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 this 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 approved by the Trustees that are 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. In addition, as described above, the value of the collateral underlying the repurchase agreement will be at least equal to the repurchase price which consists of the acquisition price paid to the seller of the securities plus the accrued resale premium, which is defined as the amount specified in the repurchase agreement or the daily amortization of the difference between the acquisition price and the resale price specified in the repurchase agreement. Such collateral will consist of obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government, its agencies or instrumentalities. Additionally, upon an Event of Insolvency (as defined under Rule 2a-7 of the Investment Company Act) with respect to the seller, the collateral must qualify the repurchase agreement for preferential treatment under a provision of applicable insolvency law providing an exclusion from any automatic stay of creditors' rights against the seller. In the event of a default or bankruptcy by a selling financial institution, the Fund will seek to liquidate such collateral. However, the exercise 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. Such collateral will consist entirely of securities that are direct obligations of, or that are fully guaranteed as to principal and interest by, the United States or any agency or instrumentality thereof. The Fund will not invest in repurchase agreements that do not mature within seven days if any such investment, together with any other illiquid assets held by the Fund, amounts to more than 5% of its net assets. The Fund's investments in repurchase agreements may at times be substantial when, in the view of the Fund's Adviser, liquidity or other conditions warrant.
4
Reverse Repurchase Agreements. The Fund may also use reverse repurchase agreements as part of its investment strategy. Reverse repurchase agreements involve sales by the Fund of portfolio assets concurrently with an agreement by the Fund to repurchase the same assets at a later date at a fixed price. Generally, the effect of such a transaction is that the Fund can recover all or most of the cash invested in the portfolio securities involved during the term of the reverse repurchase agreement, while it will be able to keep the interest income associated with those portfolio securities. Such transactions are only advantageous if the interest cost to the Fund of the reverse repurchase transaction is less than the cost of otherwise obtaining the cash. Opportunities to achieve this advantage may not always be available, and the Fund intends to use the reverse repurchase technique only when it will be to its advantage to do so. The Fund will establish a segregated account with its custodian bank in which it will maintain cash, cash equivalents or other portfolio securities equal in value to its obligations in respect of reverse repurchase agreements. Reverse repurchase agreements are considered borrowings by the Fund and, for purposes other than meeting redemptions, may not exceed 5% of the Fund's total assets.
Loans of Portfolio Securities. The Fund may lend its portfolio securities to brokers, dealers, banks and other institutional investors. By lending its portfolio securities, the Fund attempts to increase its net investment income through the receipt of interest on the cash collateral with respect to the loan or fees received from the borrower in connection with the loan. Any gain or loss in the market price of the securities loaned that might occur during the term of the loan would be for the account of the Fund. The Fund employs an agent to implement the securities lending program and the agent receives a fee from the Fund for its services. The Fund will not lend more than 10% of the value of its total assets.
The Fund may lend its portfolio securities so long as the terms, structure and the aggregate amount of such loans are not inconsistent with the Investment Company Act or the rules and regulations or interpretations of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") thereunder, which currently require that (i) the borrower pledge and maintain with the Fund collateral consisting of liquid, unencumbered assets having a value at all times not less than 100% of the value of the securities loaned; (ii) the borrower add to such collateral whenever the price of the securities loaned rises (i.e., the borrower "marks to market" on a daily basis); (iii) the loan be made subject to termination by the Fund at any time; and (iv) the Fund receives a reasonable return on the loan (which may include the Fund investing any cash collateral in interest bearing short-term investments), any distributions on the loaned securities and any increase in their market value. In addition, voting rights may pass with the loaned securities, but the Fund will retain the right to call any security in anticipation of a vote that the Adviser deems material to the security on loan.
There may be risks of delay and costs involved in recovery of securities or even loss of rights in the collateral should the borrower of the securities fail financially. These delays and costs could be greater for foreign securities. However, loans will be made only to borrowers deemed by the Adviser to be creditworthy and when, in the judgment of the Adviser, the income which can be earned from such securities loans justifies the attendant risk. All relevant facts and circumstances, including the creditworthiness of the broker, dealer, bank or institution, will be considered in making decisions with respect to the lending of securities, subject to review by the Fund's Board of Trustees. The Fund also bears the risk that the reinvestment of collateral will result in a principal loss. Finally, there is the risk that the price of the securities will increase while they are on loan and the collateral will not be adequate to cover their value.
Floating and Variable Rate Obligations. The Fund may purchase floating and variable rate obligations, including floating and variable rate municipal obligations. The value of these obligations is generally more stable than that of a fixed rate obligation in response to changes in interest rate levels. Subject to the conditions for using amortized cost valuation under the Investment Company Act the Fund may consider the maturity of a variable or floating rate obligation to be shorter than its ultimate stated maturity if the obligation is a U.S. Treasury obligation or U.S. government security, if the obligation has a remaining maturity of 397 calendar days or less, or if the obligation has a demand feature that permits the Fund to receive payment at any time or at specified intervals not exceeding 397 calendar days. The issuers or financial intermediaries providing demand features may support their ability to purchase the obligations by obtaining credit with liquidity supports. These may include lines of credit, which are conditional commitments to lend, and letters of credit, which will ordinarily be irrevocable, both of which may be issued by domestic banks or foreign banks which have a branch, agency or subsidiary in the United States. The Fund may purchase variable or floating rate obligations from the issuers or may purchase certificates of participation, a type of floating or variable rate obligation, which are interests in a pool of debt obligations held by a bank or other financial institution.
5
When-Issued and Delayed Delivery Securities. From time to time, the Fund may purchase securities on a when-issued or delayed delivery basis. When these transactions are negotiated, the price is fixed at the time of the commitment, but delivery and payment can take place a month or more after the date of commitment. While the Fund will only purchase securities on a when-issued or delayed delivery basis with the intention of acquiring the securities, the Fund may sell the securities before the settlement date, if it is deemed advisable. The securities so purchased or sold are subject to market fluctuation and no interest or dividends accrue to the purchaser prior to the settlement date.
At the time the Fund makes the commitment to purchase or sell securities on a when-issued or delayed delivery 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. An increase in the percentage of the Fund's assets committed to the purchase of securities on a when-issued or delayed delivery basis may increase the volatility of its net asset value. The Fund will also earmark cash or liquid assets or establish a segregated account on the Fund's books in which it will continually maintain cash or cash equivalents or other liquid portfolio securities equal in value to commitments to purchase securities on a when-issued or delayed delivery basis.
Borrowing. The Fund has an operating policy, which may be changed by the Fund's Board of Trustees, not to borrow except from a bank for temporary or emergency purposes in amounts not exceeding 5% (taken at the lower of cost or current value) of its total assets (not including the amount borrowed). Should the Board of Trustees remove this operating policy, the Fund would be permitted to borrow money from banks in accordance with the Investment Company Act or the rules and regulations promulgated by the SEC thereunder. Currently, the Investment Company Act permits a fund to borrow money from banks in an amount up to 33 1 / 3 % of its total assets (including the amount borrowed) less its liabilities (not including any borrowings but including the fair market value at the time of computation of any other senior securities then outstanding). The Fund may also borrow an additional 5% of its total assets without regard to the foregoing limitation for temporary purposes such as clearance of portfolio transactions. The Fund will only borrow when the Adviser believes that such borrowings will benefit the Fund after taking into account considerations such as interest income and possible gains or losses upon liquidation. The Fund will maintain asset coverage in accordance with the Investment Company Act.
Borrowing by the Fund creates an opportunity for increased net income but, at the same time, creates special risks. For example, leveraging may exaggerate changes in and increase the volatility of the net asset value of Fund shares. This is because leverage tends to exaggerate the effect of any increase or decrease in the value of the Fund's portfolio securities. The use of leverage also may cause the Fund to liquidate portfolio positions when it may not be advantageous to do so to satisfy its obligations or to maintain asset coverage.
In general, the Fund may not issue any class of senior security, except that the Fund may (i) borrow from banks, provided that immediately following any such borrowing there is an asset coverage of at least 300% for all Fund borrowings and in the event such asset coverage falls below 300% the Fund will within three days or such longer period as the SEC may prescribe by rules and regulations, reduce the amount of its borrowings to an extent that the asset coverage of such borrowings shall be at least 300%, and (ii) engage in trading practices which could be deemed to involve the issuance of a senior security, including but not limited to options, futures, forward contracts and reverse repurchase agreements, provided that the Fund earmarks or segregates liquid assets in accordance with applicable SEC regulations and interpretations.
Investment Company Securities. Investment company securities are securities of other open-end, closed-end and unregistered investment companies, including exchange-traded funds. The Fund may invest in investment company securities as may be permitted by (i) the Investment Company Act, as amended from time to time; (ii) the rules and regulations promulgated by the SEC under the Investment Company Act, as amended from time to time; or (iii) an exemption or other relief applicable to the Fund from provisions of the Investment Company Act, as amended from time to time. The Investment Company Act generally prohibits an investment company from acquiring more than 3% of the outstanding voting shares of an investment company and limits such investments to no more than 5% of a portfolio's total assets in any one investment company, and no more than 10% in any combination of investment companies. The Fund may invest in investment company securities of investment companies managed by the Adviser or its affiliates to the extent permitted under the Investment Company Act or as otherwise authorized by the SEC. To the extent the Fund invests a portion of its assets in investment company securities,
6
those assets will be subject to the risks of the purchased investment company's portfolio securities, and a shareholder in the Fund will bear not only his proportionate share of the expenses of the Fund, but also, indirectly the expenses of the purchased investment company.
To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Fund may invest all or some of its short term cash investments in any money market fund advised or managed by the Adviser or its affiliates. In connection with any such investments, the Fund, to the extent permitted by the Investment Company Act, will pay its share of all expenses (other than advisory and administrative fees) of a money market fund in which it invests which may result in the Fund bearing some additional expenses.
C. Fund Policies/Investment Restrictions
The investment objectives, policies and restrictions listed below have been adopted by the Fund as fundamental policies. Under the Investment Company Act, a fundamental policy may not be changed without the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund. The Investment Company Act defines a majority as the lesser of (a) 67% or more of the shares present at a meeting of shareholders, if the holders of 50% of the outstanding shares of the Fund are present or represented by proxy; or (b) more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Fund. For purposes of the following restrictions: (i) all percentage limitations apply immediately after a purchase or initial investment, except in the case of borrowing and investments in illiquid securities, and (ii) any subsequent change in any applicable percentage resulting from market fluctuations or other changes in total or net assets does not require elimination of any security from the portfolio, except in the case of borrowing and investments in illiquid securities.
The Fund will:
1. Seek to provide security of principal, high current income and liquidity.
The Fund will not:
1. Purchase corporate bonds, municipal bonds or industrial revenue bonds.
2. Borrow money, except the Fund may borrow money to the extent permitted by (i) the Investment Company Act, as amended from time to time, (ii) the rules and regulations promulgated by the SEC under the Investment Company Act, as amended from time to time, or (iii) an exemption or other relief applicable to the Fund from the provisions of the Investment Company Act, as amended from time to time.
3. Make loans of money or property to any person, except (a) to the extent that securities or interests in which the Fund may invest are considered to be loans, (b) through the loan of portfolio securities, (c) by engaging in repurchase agreements or (d) as may otherwise be permitted by (i) the Investment Company Act, as amended from time to time, (ii) the rules and regulations promulgated by the SEC under the Investment Company Act, as amended from time to time, or (iii) an exemption or other relief applicable to the Fund from the provision of the Investment Company Act, as amended from time to time.
4. Purchase or sell physical commodities unless acquired as a result of ownership of securities or other instruments; provided that this restriction shall not prohibit the Fund from purchasing or selling options, futures contracts and related options thereon, forward contracts, swaps, caps, floors, collars and any other financial instruments or from investing in securities or other instruments backed by physical commodities or as otherwise permitted by (i) the Investment Company Act, as amended from time to time, (ii) the rules and regulations promulgated by the SEC under the Investment Company Act, as amended from time to time, or (iii) an exemption or other relief applicable to the Fund from the provisions of the Investment Company Act, as amended from time to time.
5. Issue senior securities, except the Fund may issue senior securities to the extent permitted by (i) the Investment Company Act, as amended from time to time, (ii) the rules and regulations promulgated by the SEC under the Investment Company Act, as amended from time to time or (iii) an exemption or other relief applicable to the Fund from the provisions of the Investment Company Act, as amended from time to time.
6. Underwrite the securities of other issuers or purchase restricted securities except insofar as the Fund may enter into any repurchase or reverse repurchase agreements.
7. Purchase or sell real estate or real estate investment trust securities ("REITs").
In addition, as non-fundamental policies, which can be changed with Board approval and without shareholder vote, the Fund will not:
1. Make short sales of securities, except short sales against the box.
7
2. Invest its assets in the securities of any investment company except as may be permitted by (i) the Investment Company Act, as amended from time to time; (ii) the rules and regulations promulgated by the SEC under the Investment Company Act, as amended from time to time; or (iii) an exemption or other relief applicable to the Fund from the provisions of the Investment Company Act, as amended from time to time.
3. Write, purchase or sell puts, calls, or combinations thereof.
The Fund has an operating policy, which can be changed by the Fund's Board of Trustees, not to borrow except from a bank for temporary or emergency purposes in amounts not exceeding 5% (taken at the lower of cost or current value) of its total assets (not including the amount borrowed).
D. Disclosure of Portfolio Holdings
The Fund's Board of Trustees and the Adviser have adopted policies and procedures regarding disclosure of portfolio holdings (the "Policy"). Pursuant to the Policy, the Adviser may disclose information concerning Fund portfolio holdings only if such disclosure is consistent with the antifraud provisions of the federal securities laws and the Fund's and the Adviser's fiduciary duties to Fund shareholders. In no instance may the Adviser or the Fund receive compensation or any other consideration in connection with the disclosure of information about the portfolio securities of the Fund. Consideration includes any agreement to maintain assets in the Fund or in other investment companies or accounts managed by the Adviser or by any affiliated person of the Adviser. Non-public information concerning portfolio holdings may be divulged to third parties only when the Fund has a legitimate business purpose for doing so and the recipients of the information are subject to a duty of confidentiality. Under no circumstances shall current or prospective Fund shareholders receive non-public portfolio holdings information, except as described below.
In order to comply with amendments to Rule 2a-7, information concerning the Fund's portfolio holdings, as well as its daily weighted average portfolio maturity and weighted average life, is posted on its public website no less frequently than five business days after the end of each month. It is the current policy of the Fund to post this information on its website on a weekly basis. Also, the Fund files more detailed portfolio holdings information with the SEC on Form N-MFP within five business days after the end of each month. The SEC makes Form N-MFP filings publicly available on its website two months after the filing and a link to the SEC filing is posted on the Fund's website.
The Fund provides a complete schedule of portfolio holdings for the second and fourth fiscal quarters in its semiannual and annual reports, and for the first and third fiscal quarters in its filings with the SEC on Form N-Q.
All other portfolio holdings information that has not been disseminated in a manner making it available to investors generally as described above is non-public information for purposes of the Policy.
The Fund may make selective disclosure of non-public portfolio holdings information pursuant to certain exemptions set forth in the Policy. Third parties eligible for exemptions under the Policy and therefore eligible to receive such disclosures currently include fund rating agencies, information exchange subscribers, consultants and analysts, portfolio analytics providers and service providers, provided that the third party expressly agrees to maintain the disclosed information in confidence and not to trade portfolio securities or related derivative securities based on the non-public information. Non-public portfolio holdings information may not be disclosed to a third party pursuant to an exemption unless and until the third party recipient has entered into a non-disclosure agreement with the Fund and the arrangement has been reviewed and approved, as set forth in the Policy and discussed below. In addition, persons who owe a duty of trust or confidence to the Fund or the Adviser may receive non-public portfolio holdings information without entering into a non-disclosure agreement. Currently, these persons include (i) the Fund's independent registered public accounting firm (as of the Fund's fiscal year-end and on an as needed basis), (ii) counsel to the Fund (on an as needed basis), (iii) counsel to the independent Trustees (on an as needed basis) and (iv) members of the Board of Trustees (on an as needed basis). Subject to the terms and conditions of any agreement between the Adviser or the Fund and the third party recipient, if these conditions for disclosure are satisfied, there shall be no restriction on the frequency with which Fund non-public portfolio holdings information is released, and no lag period shall apply (unless otherwise indicated below).
The Adviser may provide interest lists to broker-dealers who execute securities transactions for the Fund without entering into a non-disclosure agreement with the broker-dealers, provided that the interest list satisfies all of the following criteria: (1) the interest list must contain only the CUSIP numbers and/or
8
ticker symbols of securities held in all registered management investment companies advised by the Adviser or any affiliate of the Adviser (the "MSIM Funds") on an aggregate, rather than a fund-by-fund basis; (2) the interest list must not contain information about the number or value of shares owned by a specified MSIM Fund; (3) the interest list may identify the investment strategy, but not the particular MSIM Funds, to which the list relates; and (4) the interest list may not identify the portfolio manager or team members responsible for managing the MSIM Funds.
Fund shareholders may elect in some circumstances to redeem their shares of the Fund in exchange for their pro rata share of the securities held by the Fund. Under such circumstances, Fund shareholders may receive a complete listing of the holdings of the Fund up to seven calendar days prior to making the redemption request provided that they represent in writing that they agree not to disclose or trade on the basis of the portfolio holdings information.
The Fund may discuss or otherwise disclose performance attribution analyses (i.e., mention the effects of having a particular security in the portfolio(s)) where such discussion is not contemporaneously made public, provided that the particular holding has been disclosed publicly. Additionally, any discussion of the analyses may not be more current than the date the holding was disclosed publicly.
The Fund may disclose portfolio holdings to transition managers, provided that the Fund has entered into a non-disclosure or confidentiality agreement with the party requesting that the information be provided to the transition manager and the party to the non-disclosure agreement has, in turn, entered into a non-disclosure or confidentiality agreement with the transition manager.
The Adviser and/or the Fund currently have entered into ongoing arrangements with the following parties:
(*) This entity has agreed to maintain Fund non-public portfolio holdings information in confidence and not to trade portfolio securities based on the non-public portfolio holdings information.
(1) Dissemination of portfolio holdings information to entities listed above may occur less frequently than indicated (or not at all).
(2) Information will typically be provided on a real time basis or as soon thereafter as possible.
(3) Complete portfolio holdings will also be provided upon request from time to time on a quarterly basis, with at least a 30 day lag.
(4) Top ten portfolio holdings will also be provided upon request from time to time, with at least a 15 day lag.
(5) This information will also be provided upon request from time to time.
(6) Complete portfolio holdings will also be provided upon request from time to time.
All disclosures of non-public portfolio holdings information made to third parties pursuant to the exemptions set forth in the Policy must be reviewed by Morgan Stanley Investment Management's ("MSIM")
9
Legal and Compliance Division and approved by the Head of the Liquidity Business of MSIM. Disclosures made to third parties in connection with (i) broker-dealer interest lists; (ii) shareholder in-kind distributions; (iii) attribution analyses; or (iv) transition managers are pre-approved for purposes of the Policy. In addition, the following categories of third parties that may receive non-public portfolio holdings information are also pre-approved provided that they enter into non-disclosure agreements (as discussed above): (i) fund rating agencies; (ii) information exchange subscribers; (iii) consultants and analysts (including defined benefit and defined contribution plan sponsors, and variable annuity providers); (iv) portfolio analytics providers; and (v) service providers.
The Adviser shall report quarterly to the Board of Trustees (or a designated committee thereof) at the next regularly scheduled meeting: (i) any material information concerning all parties receiving non-public portfolio holdings information pursuant to an exemption; and (ii) any new non-disclosure agreements entered into during the reporting period. Procedures to monitor the use of such non-public portfolio holdings information may include requiring annual certifications that the recipients have utilized such information only pursuant to the terms of the agreement between the recipient and the Adviser and, for those recipients receiving information electronically, acceptance of the information will constitute reaffirmation that the third party expressly agrees to maintain the disclosed information in confidence and not to trade portfolio securities based on the non-public information.
III. MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND
A. Board of Trustees
General. The Board of Trustees of the Fund oversees the management of the Fund, but does not itself manage the Fund. The Trustees review various services provided by or under the direction of the Adviser to ensure that the Fund's general investment policies and programs are properly carried out. The Trustees also conduct the ir review to ensure that administrative services are provided to the Fund in a satisfactory manner.
Under state law, the duties of the Trustees are generally characterized as a duty of loyalty and a duty of care. The duty of loyalty requires a Trustee to exercise his or her powers in the interest of the Fund and not the Trustee's own interest or the interest of another person or organization. A Trustee satisfies his or her duty of care by acting in good faith with the care of an ordinarily prudent person and in a manner the Trustee reasonably believes to be in the best interest of the Fund and its shareholders.
Trustees and Officers. The Board of the Fund consists of 10 Trustees. These same individuals also serve as directors or trustees for certain of the funds advised by the Adviser and Morgan Stanley AIP GP LP. Nine Trustees have no affiliation or business connection with the Adviser or any of its affiliated persons and do not own any stock or other securities issued by the Adviser's parent company, Morgan Stanley. These are the "non-interested" or "Independent" Trustees. The other Trustee (the "Interested Trustee") is affiliated with the Adviser.
Board Structure and Oversight Function. The Board's leadership structure features an Independent Trustee serving as Chairperson and the Board Committees described below. The Chairperson participates in the preparation of the agenda for meetings of the Board and the preparation of information to be presented to the Board with respect to matters to be acted upon by the Board. The Chairperson also presides at all meetings of the Board and is involved in discussions regarding matters pertaining to the oversight of the management of the Fund between meetings.
The Board of Trustees operates using a system of committees to facilitate the timely and efficient consideration of all matters of importance to the Trustees, the Fund and Fund shareholders, and to facilitate compliance with legal and regulatory requirements and oversight of the Fund's activities and associated risks. The Board of Trustees has established four standing committees: (1) Audit Committee, (2) Governance Committee, (3) Compliance and Insurance Committee and (4) Investment Committee. The Audit Committee and the Governance Committee are comprised exclusively of Independent Trustees. Each committee charter governs the scope of the committee's responsibilities with respect to the oversight of the Fund. The responsibilities of each committee, including their oversight responsibilities, are described further under the caption "Independent Trustees and the Committees."
10
The Fund is subject to a number of risks, including investment, compliance, operational and valuation risk, among others. The Board of Trustees oversees these risks as part of its broader oversight of the Fund's affairs through various Board and committee activities. The Board has adopted, and periodically reviews, policies and procedures designed to address various risks to the Fund. In addition, appropriate personnel, including but not limited to the Fund's Chief Compliance Officer, members of the Fund's administration and accounting teams, representatives from the Fund's independent registered public accounting firm, the Fund's Treasurer, portfolio management personnel and independent valuation and brokerage valuation service providers, make regular reports regarding the Fund's activities and related risks to the Board of Trustees and the committees, as appropriate. These reports include, among others, quarterly performance reports, quarterly derivatives activity and risk reports and discussions with members of the risk teams relating to each asset class. The Board's committee structure allows separate committees to focus on different aspects of risk and the potential impact it has on some or all of the funds in the complex and then report back to the full Board. In between regular meetings, Fund officers also communicate with the Trustees regarding material exceptions and items relevant to the Board's risk oversight function. The Board recognizes that it is not possible to identify all of the risks that may affect the Fund, and that it is not possible to develop processes and controls to eliminate all of the risks that may affect the Fund. Moreover, the Board recognizes that it may be necessary for the Fund to bear certain risks (such as investment risks) to achieve its investment objective.
As needed between meetings of the Board, the Board or a specific committee receives and reviews reports relating to the Fund and engages in discussions with appropriate parties relating to the Fund's operations and related risks.
B. Management Information
Independent Trustees. The Fund seeks as Trustees individuals of distinction and experience in business and finance, government service or academia. In determining that a particular Trustee was and continues to be qualified to serve as Trustee, the Board has considered a variety of criteria, none of which, in isolation, was controlling. Based on a review of the experience, qualifications, attributes or skills of each Trustee, including those enumerated in the table below, the Board has determined that each of the Trustees is qualified to serve as a Trustee of the Fund. In addition, the Board believes that, collectively, the Trustees have balanced and diverse experience, qualifications, attributes and skills that allow the Board to operate effectively in governing the Fund and protecting the interests of shareholders. Information about the Fund's Governance Committee and Board of Trustees nomination process is provided below under the caption "Independent Trustees and the Committees."
The Independent Trustees of the Fund, their age, address, term of office and length of time served, their principal business occupations during the past five years, the number of portfolios in the Fund Complex (defined below) overseen by each Independent Trustee (as of December 31, 2011) and other directorships, if any, held by the Trustees, are shown below. The Fund Complex includes all open-end and closed-end funds (including all of their portfolios) advised by the Adviser and any funds that have an adviser that is an affiliate of the Adviser (including, but not limited to, Morgan Stanley AIP GP LP) (the "Morgan Stanley Funds").
11
Independent Trustees:
Name, Age and Address of
Independent Trustee |
Position(s)
Held with Registrant |
Length of
Time Served* |
Principal Occupation(s) During
Past 5 Years |
Number of
Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Independent Trustee |
Other Directorships Held
by Independent Trustee** |
||||||||||||||||||
Frank L. Bowman (67)
c/o Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP Counsel to the Independent Trustees 1177 Avenue of the Americas New York, NY 10036 |
Trustee | Since August 2006 | President, Strategic Decisions, LLC (consulting) (since February 2009); Director or Trustee of various Morgan Stanley Funds (since August 2006); Chairperson of the Insurance Sub-Committee of the Compliance and Insurance Committee (since February 2007); served as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Nuclear Energy Institute (policy organization) (February 2005-November 2008); retired as Admiral, U.S. Navy after serving over 38 years on active duty including 8 years as Director of the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program in the Department of the Navy and the U.S. Department of Energy (1996-2004); served as Chief of Naval Personnel (July 1994-September 1996) and on the Joint Staff as Director of Political Military Affairs (June 1992-July 1994); Knighted as Honorary Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire; Awarded the Officer de l'Orde National du Mérite by the French Government; elected to the National Academy of Engineering (2009). | 102 | Director of BP p.l.c; Director of Naval and Nuclear Technoligies LLP; Director of the Armed Services YMCA of the USA and the Naval Submarine League; Director of the American Shipbuilding Suppliers Association; Member of the National Security Advisory Council of the Center for U.S. Global Engagement and a member of the CNA Military Advisory Board; Member of the American Lung Association's President's Council. | ||||||||||||||||||
Michael Bozic (71)
c/o Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP Counsel to the Independent Trustees 1177 Avenue of the Americas New York, NY 10036 |
Trustee | Since April 1994 | Private investor; Chairperson of the Compliance and Insurance Committee (since October 2006); Director or Trustee of various Morgan Stanley Funds (since April 1994); formerly, Chairperson of the Insurance Committee (July 2006-September 2006); Vice Chairman of Kmart Corporation (December 1998-October 2000), Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Levitz Furniture Corporation (November 1995-November 1998) and President and Chief Executive Officer of Hills Department Stores (May 1991-July 1995); variously Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, President and Chief Operating Officer (1987-1991) of the Sears Merchandise Group of Sears, Roebuck & Co. | 104 | Director of various business organizations. | ||||||||||||||||||
* Each Trustee serves an indefinite term, until his or her successor is elected.
** This includes any directorships at public companies and registered investment companies held by the Trustee at any time during the past five years.
12
Name, Age and Address of
Independent Trustee |
Position(s)
Held with Registrant |
Length of
Time Served* |
Principal Occupation(s) During
Past 5 Years |
Number of
Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Independent Trustee |
Other Directorships Held
by Independent Trustee** |
||||||||||||||||||
Kathleen A. Dennis (58)
c/o Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP Counsel to the Independent Trustees 1177 Avenue of the Americas New York, NY 10036 |
Trustee | Since August 2006 | President, Cedarwood Associates (mutual fund and investment management consulting) (since July 2006); Chairperson of the Money Market and Alternatives Sub-Committee of the Investment Committee (since October 2006) and Director or Trustee of various Morgan Stanley Funds (since August 2006); formerly, Senior Managing Director of Victory Capital Management (1993-2006). | 102 | Director of various non-profit organizations. | ||||||||||||||||||
Dr. Manuel H. Johnson (63)
c/o Johnson Smick Group, Inc. 888 16th Street, N.W. Suite 740 Washington, D.C. 20006 |
Trustee | Since July 1991 | Senior Partner, Johnson Smick International, Inc. (consulting firm); Chairperson of the Investment Committee (since October 2006) and Director or Trustee of various Morgan Stanley Funds (since July 1991); Co-Chairman and a founder of the Group of Seven Council (G7C) (international economic commission); formerly, Chairperson of the Audit Committee (July 1991-September 2006); Vice Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Treasury. | 104 | Director of NVR, Inc. (home construction). | ||||||||||||||||||
Joseph J. Kearns (69)
c/o Kearns & Associates LLC PMB754 22631 Pacific Coast Highway Malibu, CA 90265 |
Trustee | Since August 1994 | President, Kearns & Associates LLC (investment consulting); Chairperson of the Audit Committee (since October 2006) and Director or Trustee of various Morgan Stanley Funds (since August 1994); formerly, Deputy Chairperson of the Audit Committee (July 2003-September 2006) and Chairperson of the Audit Committee of various Morgan Stanley Funds (since August 1994); CFO of the J. Paul Getty Trust. | 105 | Director of Electro Rent Corporation (equipment leasing) and The Ford Family Foundation. | ||||||||||||||||||
* Each Trustee serves an indefinite term, until his or her successor is elected.
** This includes any directorships at public companies and registered investment companies held by the Trustee at any time during the past five years.
13
Name, Age and Address of
Independent Trustee |
Position(s)
Held with Registrant |
Length of
Time Served* |
Principal Occupation(s) During
Past 5 Years |
Number of
Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Independent Trustee |
Other Directorships Held
by Independent Trustee** |
||||||||||||||||||
Michael F. Klein (53)
c/o Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP Counsel to the Independent Trustees 1177 Avenue of the Americas New York, NY 10036 |
Trustee | Since August 2006 | Managing Director, Aetos Capital, LLC (since March 2000) and Co-President, Aetos Alternatives Management, LLC (since January 2004); Chairperson of the Fixed Income Sub-Committee of the Investment Committee (since October 2006) and Director or Trustee of various Morgan Stanley Funds (since August 2006); formerly, Managing Director, Morgan Stanley & Co. Inc. and Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Investment Management, President, various Morgan Stanley Funds (June 1998-March 2000) and Principal, Morgan Stanley & Co. Inc. and Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Investment Management (August 1997-December 1999). | 102 | Director of certain investment funds managed or sponsored by Aetos Capital, LLC; Director of Sanitized AG and Sanitized Marketing AG (specialty chemicals). | ||||||||||||||||||
Michael E. Nugent (76)
c/o Triumph Capital, L.P. 445 Park Avenue New York, NY 10022 |
Chair-person of the Board and Trustee | Chair-person of the Boards since July 2006 and Trustee since July 1991 | General Partner, Triumph Capital, L.P. (private investment partnership); Chairperson of the Boards of various Morgan Stanley Funds (since July 2006); Director or Trustee of various Morgan Stanley Funds (since July 1991); formerly, Chairperson of the Insurance Committee (until July 2006). | 104 | None. | ||||||||||||||||||
W. Allen Reed (65)
c/o Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP Counsel to the Independent Trustees 1177 Avenue of the Americas New York, NY 10036 |
Trustee | Since August 2006 | Chairperson of the Equity Sub-Committee of the Investment Committee (since October 2006) and Director or Trustee of various Morgan Stanley Funds (since August 2006); formerly, President and CEO of General Motors Asset Management; Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the GM Trust Bank and Corporate Vice President of General Motors Corporation (August 1994-December 2005). | 102 | Director of Temple-Inland Industries (packaging and forest products), Director of Legg Mason, Inc. and Director of the Auburn University Foundation. | ||||||||||||||||||
Fergus Reid (79)
c/o Joe Pietryka, Inc. 85 Charles Colman Blvd. Pawling, NY 12564 |
Trustee | Since June 1992 | Chairman, Joe Pietryka, Inc.; Chairperson of the Governance Committee and Director or Trustee of various Morgan Stanley Funds (since June 1992). | 105 | Trustee and Director of certain investment companies in the JPMorgan Funds complex managed by JP Morgan Investment Management Inc. | ||||||||||||||||||
* Each Trustee serves an indefinite term, until his or her successor is elected.
** This includes any directorships at public companies and registered investment companies held by the Trustee at any time during the past five years.
The Trustee who is affiliated with the Adviser or affiliates of the Adviser (as set forth below) and executive officers of the Fund, their age, address, term of office and length of time served, their principal business occupations during the past five years, the number of portfolios in the Fund Complex overseen
14
by the Interested Trustee (as of December 31, 2011) and the other directorships, if any, held by the Interested Trustee, are shown below.
Interested Trustee:
Name, Age and Address of
Interested Trustee |
Position(s)
Held with Registrant |
Length of
Time Served* |
Principal Occupation(s) During
Past 5 Years |
Number of
Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Interested Trustee |
Other Directorships Held
by Interested Trustee** |
||||||||||||||||||
James F. Higgins (64)
c/o Morgan Stanley Services Company Inc. Harborside Financial Center 201 Plaza Two Jersey City, NJ 07311 |
Trustee | Since June 2000 | Director or Trustee of various Morgan Stanley Funds (since June 2000); Senior Advisor of Morgan Stanley (since August 2000). | 103 | Director of AXA Financial, Inc. and The Equitable Life Assurance Society of the United States (financial services). | ||||||||||||||||||
* Each Trustee serves an indefinite term, until his or her successor is elected.
** This includes any directorships at public companies and registered investment companies held by the Trustee at any time during the past five years.
Executive Officers:
Name, Age and Address of
Executive Officer |
Position(s)
Held with Registrant |
Length of
Time Served* |
Principal Occupation(s) During
Past 5 Years |
||||||||||||
Kevin Klingert (49)
522 Fifth Avenue New York, NY 10036 |
President and Principal Executive Officer | Since September 2010 | President and Principal Executive Officer (since September 2010) of the Money Market and Liquidity Funds; Head of Morgan Stanley Investment Management Liquidity business (since July 2010); Managing Director of the Adviser and various entities affiliated with the Adviser (since December 2007). Formerly, Global Head, Chief Operating Officer and Acting Chief Investment Officer of the Fixed Income Group of the Adviser (April 2008-July 2010); Head of Global Liquidity Portfolio Management and co-head of Liquidity Credit Research of Morgan Stanley Investment Management (December 2007-July 2010) and Vice President of the funds in the Fund Complex (June 2008-July 2010). Previously, Managing Director on the Management Committee and head of Municipal Portfolio Management and Liquidity at BlackRock (October 1991-January 2007). | ||||||||||||
Mary Ann Picciotto (39)
c/o Morgan Stanley Services Company Inc. Harborside Financial Center 201 Plaza Two Jersey City, NJ 07311 |
Chief Compliance Officer | Since May 2010 | Managing Director of the Adviser and various entities affiliated with the Adviser; Chief Compliance Officer of various Morgan Stanley Funds (since May 2010); Chief Compliance Officer of the Adviser (since April 2007). | ||||||||||||
Stefanie V. Chang Yu (45)
522 Fifth Avenue New York, NY 10036 |
Vice President | Since December 1997 | Managing Director of the Adviser and various entities affiliated with the Adviser; Vice President of various Morgan Stanley Funds (since December 1997). | ||||||||||||
Francis J. Smith (46)
c/o Morgan Stanley Services Company Inc. Harborside Financial Center 201 Plaza Two Jersey City, NJ 07311 |
Treasurer and Principal Financial Officer | Treasurer since July 2003 and Principal Financial Officer since September 2002 | Executive Director of the Adviser and various entities affiliated with the Adviser; Treasurer and Principal Financial Officer of various Morgan Stanley Funds (since July 2003). | ||||||||||||
Mary E. Mullin (45)
522 Fifth Avenue New York, NY 10036 |
Secretary | Since June 1999 | Executive Director of the Adviser and various entities affiliated with the Adviser; Secretary of various Morgan Stanley Funds (since June 1999). | ||||||||||||
* Each Officer serves an indefinite term, until his or her successor is elected.
15
In addition, the following individuals who are officers of the Adviser or its affiliates serve as assistant secretaries of the Fund: Joanne Antico, Joseph C. Benedetti, Daniel E. Burton, Tara A. Farrelly and Edward J. Meehan.
For each Trustee, the dollar range of equity securities beneficially owned by the Trustee in the Fund and in the Family of Investment Companies (Family of Investment Companies includes all of the registered investment companies advised by the Adviser and Morgan Stanley AIP GP LP) for the calendar year ended December 31, 2011, is set forth in the table below.
Name of Trustee |
Dollar Range of Equity Securities in the Fund
(As of December 31, 2011) |
Aggregate Dollar Range of Equity Securities in
All Registered Investment Companies Overseen by Trustee in Family of Investment Companies (As of December 31, 2011) |
|||||||||
Independent: | |||||||||||
Frank L. Bowman (1) | None | over $100,000 | |||||||||
Michael Bozic | None | over $100,000 | |||||||||
Kathleen A. Dennis | None | over $100,000 | |||||||||
Manuel H. Johnson | None | over $100,000 | |||||||||
Joseph J. Kearns (1) | None | over $100,000 | |||||||||
Michael F. Klein | None | over $100,000 | |||||||||
Michael E. Nugent | over $100,000 | over $100,000 | |||||||||
W. Allen Reed (1) | None | over $100,000 | |||||||||
Fergus Reid (1) | None | over $100,000 | |||||||||
Interested: | |||||||||||
James F. Higgins | None | over $100,000 |
(1) Includes the total amount of compensation deferred by the Trustee at his election pursuant to a deferred compensation plan. Such deferred compensation is placed in a deferral account and deemed to be invested in one or more of the Morgan Stanley Funds (or portfolio thereof) that are offered as investment options under the plan.
As to each Independent Trustee and his or her immediate family members, no person owned beneficially or of record securities in an investment adviser or principal underwriter of the Fund, or a person (other than a registered investment company) directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by or under common control with an investment adviser or principal underwriter of the Fund.
Independent Trustees and the Committees. Law and regulation establish both general guidelines and specific duties for the Independent Trustees. The Board has four committees:(1) Audit Committee, (2) Governance Committee, (3) Compliance and Insurance Committee and (4) Investment Committee. Three of the Independent Trustees serve as members of the Audit Committee, three Independent Trustees serve as members of the Governance Committee, four Trustees, including three Independent Trustees, serve as members of the Compliance and Insurance Committee and all of the Trustees serve as members of the Investment Committee.
The Independent Trustees are 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 retail Morgan Stanley Funds have a Rule 12b-1 plan.
The Board of Trustees has a separately-designated standing Audit Committee established in accordance with Section 3(a)(58)(A) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"). The Audit Committee is charged with recommending to the full Board the engagement or discharge of the Fund's independent registered public accounting firm; directing investigations into matters within the scope of the independent registered public accounting firm's duties, including the power to retain outside specialists; reviewing with the independent registered public accounting firm the audit plan and results of the auditing engagement; approving professional services provided by the independent registered public
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accounting firm and other accounting firms prior to the performance of the services; reviewing the independence of the independent registered public accounting firm; considering the range of audit and non-audit fees; reviewing the adequacy of the Fund's system of internal controls; and reviewing the valuation process. The Fund has adopted a formal, written Audit Committee Charter.
The members of the Audit Committee of the Fund are Joseph J. Kearns, Michael E. Nugent and W. Allen Reed. None of the members of the Fund's Audit Committee is an "interested person," as defined under the Investment Company Act, of the Fund (with such disinterested Trustees being "Independent Trustees" or individually, "Independent Trustee"). Each Independent Trustee is also "independent" from the Fund under the listing standards of the New York Stock Exchange, Inc. ("NYSE"). The Chairperson of the Audit Committee of the Fund is Joseph J. Kearns.
The Board of Trustees of the Fund also has a Governance Committee. The Governance Committee identifies individuals qualified to serve as Independent Trustees on the Fund's Board and on committees of such Board and recommends such qualified individuals for nomination by the Fund's Independent Trustees as candidates for election as Independent Trustees, advises the Fund's Board with respect to Board composition, procedures and committees, develops and recommends to the Fund's Board a set of corporate governance principles applicable to the Fund, monitors and makes recommendations on corporate governance matters and policies and procedures of the Fund's Board of Trustees and any Board committees and oversees periodic evaluations of the Fund's Board and its committees. The members of the Governance Committee of the Fund are Kathleen A. Dennis, Michael F. Klein and Fergus Reid, each of whom is an Independent Trustee. The Chairperson of the Governance Committee is Fergus Reid.
The Fund does not have a separate nominating committee. While the Fund's Governance Committee recommends qualified candidates for nominations as Independent Trustees, the Board of Trustees of the Fund believes that the task of nominating prospective Independent Trustees is important enough to require the participation of all current Independent Trustees, rather than a separate committee consisting of only certain Independent Trustees. Accordingly, each Independent Trustee (Frank L. Bowman, Michael Bozic, Kathleen A. Dennis, Manuel H. Johnson, Joseph J. Kearns, Michael F. Klein, Michael E. Nugent, W. Allen Reed and Fergus Reid) participates in the election and nomination of candidates for election as Independent Trustees for the Fund. Persons recommended by the Fund's Governance Committee as candidates for nomination as Independent Trustees shall possess such experience, qualifications, attributes, skills and diversity so as to enhance the Board's ability to manage and direct the affairs and business of the Fund, including, when applicable, to enhance the ability of committees of the Board to fulfill their duties and/or to satisfy any independence requirements imposed by law, regulation or any listing requirements of the NYSE. While the Independent Trustees of the Fund expect to be able to continue to identify from their own resources an ample number of qualified candidates for the Fund's Board as they deem appropriate, they will consider nominations from shareholders to the Board. Nominations from shareholders should be in writing and sent to the Independent Trustees as described below under the caption "Shareholder Communications."
The Board formed the Compliance and Insurance Committee to address insurance coverage and oversee the compliance function for the Fund and the Board. The Compliance and Insurance Committee consists of Frank L. Bowman, Michael Bozic, Manuel H. Johnson and James F. Higgins. Frank L. Bowman, Michael Bozic and Manuel H. Johnson are Independent Trustees. The Chairperson of the Compliance and Insurance Committee is Michael Bozic. The Compliance and Insurance Committee has an Insurance Sub-Committee to review and monitor the insurance coverage maintained by the Fund. The Chairperson of the Insurance Sub-Committee is Frank L. Bowman.
The Investment Committee oversees the portfolio investment process for and reviews the performance of the Fund. The Investment Committee also recommends to the Board to approve or renew the Fund's Investment Advisory and Administration Agreements. The members of the Investment Committee are Frank L. Bowman, Michael Bozic, Kathleen A. Dennis, James F. Higgins, Manuel H. Johnson, Joseph J. Kearns, Michael F. Klein, Michael E. Nugent, W. Allen Reed and Fergus Reid. The Chairperson of the Investment Committee is Manuel H. Johnson.
The Investment Committee has three Sub-Committees, each with its own Chairperson. Each Sub-Committee focuses on the funds' primary areas of investment, namely equities, fixed income and alternatives. The Sub-Committees and their members are as follows:
(1) Equity W. Allen Reed (Chairperson), Frank L. Bowman and Michael E. Nugent.
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(2) Fixed Income Michael F. Klein (Chairperson), Michael Bozic and Fergus Reid.
(3) Money Market and Alternatives Kathleen A. Dennis (Chairperson), James F. Higgins and Joseph J. Kearns.
During the Fund's fiscal year ended January 31, 2012, the Board of Trustees held the following meetings:
Board of Trustees | 8 | ||||||
Committee/Sub-Committee: | Number of meetings: | ||||||
Audit Committee | 4 | ||||||
Governance Committee | 4 | ||||||
Compliance and Insurance Committee | 4 | ||||||
Insurance Sub-Committee | 1 | ||||||
Investment Committee | 5 | ||||||
Equity Sub-Committee | 5 | ||||||
Fixed Income Sub-Committee | 5 | ||||||
Money Market and Alternatives Sub-Committee | 6 |
Experience, Qualifications and Attributes. The Board has concluded, based on each Trustee's experience, qualifications and attributes that each Board member should serve as a Trustee. Following is a brief summary of the information that led to and/or supports this conclusion.
Mr. Bowman has experience in a variety of business and financial matters through his prior service as a Director or Trustee for various other funds in the Fund Complex, where he serves as Chairperson of the Insurance Sub-Committee of the Compliance and Insurance Committee, and as a Director of BP p.l.c. and Naval and Nuclear Technologies LLP. Mr. Bowman also serves as a Director for the Armed Services YMCA of the USA, the Naval Submarine League and the American Shipbuilding Suppliers Association. Mr. Bowman is also a member of the National Security Advisory Council of the Center for U.S. Global Engagement and a member of the CNA Military Advisory Board. Mr. Bowman retired as an Admiral in the U.S. Navy after serving over 38 years on active duty including eight years as Director of the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program in the Department of the Navy and the U.S. Department of Energy (1996-2004). Additionally, Mr. Bowman served as the U.S. Navy's Chief of Naval Personnel (1994-1996) where he was responsible for the planning and programming of all manpower, personnel, training and education resources for the U.S. Navy and on the Joint Staff as Director of Political Military Affairs (1992-1994). In addition, Mr. Bowman served as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Nuclear Energy Institute. Mr. Bowman has received such distinctions as a knighthood as Honorary Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire and the Officer de l'Orde National du Mérite from the French Government and was elected to the National Academy of Engineering (2009). He is President of the consulting firm Strategic Decisions, LLC.
With over 20 years of experience on the boards and in senior management of such companies as Kmart Corporation, Levitz Furniture Corporation, Hills Department Stores and Sears Merchandise Group of Sears, Roebuck & Co., where Mr. Bozic also served as Chief Financial Officer of the Merchandise Group, and with over 15 years of experience as a Director or Trustee of certain other funds in the Fund Complex, Mr. Bozic has experience with a variety of financial, management, regulatory and operational issues as well as experience with marketing and distribution. Mr. Bozic has served as the Chairperson of the Compliance and Insurance Committee since 2006.
Ms. Dennis has over 25 years of business experience in the financial services industry and related fields including serving as a Director or Trustee of various other funds in the Fund Complex, where she serves as Chairperson of the Money Market and Alternatives Sub-Committee of the Investment Committee. Ms. Dennis possesses a strong understanding of the regulatory framework under which investment companies must operate based on her years of service to this Board and her position as Senior Managing Trustee of Victory Capital Management.
In addition to his tenure as a Director or Trustee of various other funds in the Fund Complex, where he formerly served as Chairperson of the Audit Committee, Dr. Johnson has also served as an officer or a board member of numerous companies for nearly 20 years. These positions included Co-Chairman
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and a founder of the Group of Seven Council, Director of NVR, Inc., Director of Evergreen Energy and Director of Greenwich Capital Holdings. He also has served as Vice Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Treasury. In addition, Dr. Johnson also served as Chairman of the Financial Accounting Foundation, which oversees the Financial Accounting Standards Board, for seven years.
Mr. Kearns gained extensive experience regarding accounting through his experience on the Audit Committees of the boards of other funds in the Funds Complex, including serving as either Chairperson or Deputy Chairperson of the Audit Committee for fourteen years, and through his position as Chief Financial Officer of the J. Paul Getty Trust. He also has experience in financial, accounting, investment and regulatory matters through his position as President and founder of Kearns & Associates LLC, a financial consulting company. Mr. Kearns also serves as a Director of Electro Rent Corporation and The Ford Family Foundation. The Board has determined that Mr. Kearns is an "audit committee financial expert" as defined by the SEC.
Through his prior positions as Managing Director of Morgan Stanley & Co. Inc. and Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Investment Management and as President of Morgan Stanley Institutional Funds, Mr. Klein has experience in the management and operation of registered investment companies, enabling him to provide management input and investment guidance to the Board. Mr. Klein also has extensive experience in the investment management industry based on his current positions as Managing Director of Aetos Capital, LLC and as Director of certain investment funds managed or sponsored by Aetos Capital, LLC. In addition, he also has experience as a member of the board of other funds in the Fund Complex.
Mr. Nugent has extensive experience with financial, accounting, investment and regulatory matters through his almost 20 years of service on the boards of various funds in the Fund Complex, including time as the Chairperson of the Insurance Committee and Chairman of the Morgan Stanley Funds. Mr. Nugent also has experience as a General Partner in Triumph Capital, L.P.
Mr. Reed has experience on investment company boards and is experienced with financial, accounting, investment and regulatory matters through his prior service as a Director of iShares, Inc. and his service as Trustee and Director of other funds in the Fund Complex. Mr. Reed also gained substantial experience in the financial services industry through his position as Director of Legg Mason, Inc. and prior position as President and CEO of General Motors Asset Management.
Mr. Reid has served on a number of mutual fund boards, including as a Trustee and Director of certain investment companies in the JPMorgan Funds complex and as a Director or Trustee of other funds in the Fund Complex. Therefore, Mr. Reid is experienced with financial, accounting, investment and regulatory matters, enabling him to provide management input and investment guidance to the Board.
Mr. Higgins has over 30 years of experience in the financial services industry. Mr. Higgins has substantial mutual fund experience and is experienced with financial, accounting, investment and regulatory matters due to his experience on the boards of other funds in the Fund Complex. Mr. Higgins also serves on the boards of other companies in the financial services industry, including AXA Financial, Inc. and The Equitable Life Assurance Society of the United States.
The Trustees' principal occupations during the past five years or more are shown in the above tables.
Advantages of Having the Same Individuals as Trustees for the Morgan Stanley Funds. The Independent Trustees and the Fund's management believe that having the same Independent Trustees for each of the Morgan Stanley 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 Morgan Stanley 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 of the caliber, experience and business acumen of the individuals who serve as Independent Trustees of the Morgan Stanley Funds.
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Trustee and Officer Indemnification. The Fund's Declaration of Trust provides that no Trustee, Officer, employee or agent of the Fund is liable to the Fund or to a shareholder, nor is any Trustee, Officer, employee or agent liable to any third persons in connection with the affairs of the Fund, except as such liability may arise from his/her or its own bad faith, willful misfeasance, gross negligence or reckless disregard of his/her or its duties. It also provides that all third persons shall look solely to Fund 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.
Shareholder Communications. Shareholders may send communications to the Fund's Board of Trustees. Shareholders should send communications intended for the Fund's Board by addressing the communications directly to that Board (or individual Board members) and/or otherwise clearly indicating in the salutation that the communication is for the Board (or individual Board members) and by sending the communication to either the Fund's office or directly to such Board member(s) at the address specified for each Trustee previously noted. Other shareholder communications received by the Fund not directly addressed and sent to the Board will be reviewed and generally responded to by management, and will be forwarded to the Board only at management's discretion based on the matters contained therein.
C. Compensation
Each Trustee (except for the Chairperson of the Boards) receives an annual retainer fee of $210,000 for serving as a Trustee of the Morgan Stanley Funds.
The Chairperson of the Audit Committee receives an additional annual retainer fee of $78,750 and the Investment Committee Chairperson receives an additional annual retainer fee of $63,000. Other Committee and, effective January 1, 2012, Sub-Committee Chairpersons receive an additional annual retainer fee of $31,500. The aggregate compensation paid to each Trustee is paid by the Morgan Stanley Funds, and is allocated on a pro rata basis among each of the operational funds/portfolios of the Morgan Stanley Funds based on the relative net assets of each of the funds/portfolios. Michael E. Nugent receives a total annual retainer fee of $420,000 for his services as Chairperson of the Boards of the Morgan Stanley Funds and for administrative services provided to each Board.
The Fund also reimburses such Trustees for travel and other out-of-pocket expenses incurred by them in connection with attending such meetings. Trustees of the Fund who are employed by the Adviser receive no compensation or expense reimbursement from the Fund for their services as Trustee.
Effective April 1, 2004, the Fund began a Deferred Compensation Plan (the "DC Plan"), which allows each Trustee to defer payment of all, or a portion, of the fees he or she receives for serving on the Board of Trustees throughout the year. Each eligible Trustee generally may elect to have the deferred amounts credited with a return equal to the total return on one or more of the Morgan Stanley Funds (or portfolios thereof) that are offered as investment options under the DC Plan. At the Trustee's election, distributions are either in one lump sum payment, or in the form of equal annual installments over a period of five years. The rights of an eligible Trustee and the beneficiaries to the amounts held under the DC Plan are unsecured and such amounts are subject to the claims of the creditors of the Fund.
Prior to April 1, 2004, certain Morgan Stanley Funds maintained a similar Deferred Compensation Plan (the "Prior DC Plan"), which also allowed each Independent Trustee to defer payment of all, or a portion, of the fees he or she received for serving on the Board of Trustees throughout the year. Generally, the DC Plan amends and supersedes the Prior DC Plan and all amounts payable under the Prior DC Plan are now subject to the terms of the DC Plan (except for amounts paid during the calendar year 2004, which remain subject to the terms of the Prior DC Plan).
The following table shows aggregate compensation payable to each of the Fund's Trustees from the Fund for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2012 and the aggregate compensation payable to each of the
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funds' Trustees by the Fund Complex (which includes all of the Morgan Stanley Funds) for the calendar year ended December 31, 2011.
Compensation (1)
Name of Independent Trustee: |
Aggregate
Compensation From the Fund (2) |
Total
Compensation From Fund and Fund Complex Paid to Trustee (3) |
|||||||||
Frank L. Bowman | $ | 3,324 | $ | 225,750 | |||||||
Michael Bozic | 3,422 | 241,500 | |||||||||
Kathleen A. Dennis | 3,324 | 225,750 | |||||||||
Manuel H. Johnson | 3,868 | 273,000 | |||||||||
Joseph J. Kearns (2) | 4,091 | 306,750 | |||||||||
Michael F. Klein | 3,324 | 225,750 | |||||||||
Michael E. Nugent | 5,950 | 420,000 | |||||||||
W. Allen Reed (2) | 3,323 | 225,750 | |||||||||
Fergus Reid | 3,422 | 259,500 | |||||||||
Name of Interested Trustee: | |||||||||||
James F. Higgins | 2,979 | 210,000 |
(1) Includes all amounts paid for serving as director/trustee of the funds, as well as serving as Chairperson of the Boards or a Chairperson of a Committee or Sub-Committee.
(2) The amounts shown in this column represent the aggregate compensation before deferral with respect to the Fund's fiscal year. The following Trustees deferred compensation from the Fund during the fiscal year ended January 31, 2012: Mr. Kearns, $1,003; Mr. Reed, $3,323.
(3) The amounts shown in this column represent the aggregate compensation paid by all of the funds in the Fund Complex as of December 31, 2011 before deferral by the Trustees under the DC Plan. As of December 31, 2011, the value (including interest) of the deferral accounts across the Fund Complex for Messrs. Kearns, Reed and Reid pursuant to the deferred compensation plan was $532,157, $674,903 and $523,935, respectively. Because the funds in the Fund Complex have different fiscal year ends, the amounts shown in this column are presented on a calendar year basis.
Prior to December 31, 2003, 49 of the Morgan Stanley Funds (the "Adopting Funds"), including the Fund, had adopted a retirement program under which an Independent Trustee who retired after serving for at least five years as an Independent Trustee of any such fund (an "Eligible Trustee") would have been entitled to retirement payments, based on factors such as length of service, upon reaching the eligible retirement age. On December 31, 2003, the amount of accrued retirement benefits for each Eligible Trustee was frozen, and will be payable, together with a return of 8% per annum, at or following each such Eligible Trustee's retirement as shown in the table below.
The following table illustrates the retirement benefits accrued to the Fund's Independent Trustees by the Fund for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2012 and by the the Adopting Funds for the calendar year ended December 31, 2011, and the estimated retirement benefits for the Independent Trustees from the Fund as of the fiscal year ended January 31, 2012 and from the Adopting Funds for each calendar year following retirement. Only the Trustees listed below participated in the retirement program.
Retirement benefits accrued as
fund expenses |
Estimated annual
benefits upon retirement (1) |
||||||||||||||||||
Name of Independent Trustee: | By the Fund |
By All Adopting
Funds |
From the Fund |
From All Adopting
Funds |
|||||||||||||||
Michael Bozic | $ | 929 | $ | 42,107 | $ | 967 | $ | 43,940 | |||||||||||
Manuel H. Johnson | 658 | 30,210 | 1,420 | 64,338 | |||||||||||||||
Michael E. Nugent | 148 | 6,805 | 1,269 | 57,539 |
(1) Total compensation accrued under the retirement plan, together with a return of 8% per annum, will be paid annually commencing upon retirement and continuing for the remainder of the Trustee's life.
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IV. CONTROL PERSONS AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS OF SECURITIES
The following owned beneficially or of record 5% or more of the outstanding Class A shares of the Fund as of May 1, 2012: Morgan Stanley & Co., Harborside Financial Center, 201 Plaza II, 3rd Floor, Jersey City, NJ 07311 32.99%; Morgan Stanley Smith Barney Proprietary Fund Operations, Harborside Financial Center, 201 Plaza II, Jersey City, NJ 07311 64.41%. The percentage ownership of shares of the Fund changes from time to time depending on purchases and redemptions by shareholders and the total number of shares outstanding.
As of the date of this SAI , 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% of the Fund's shares of beneficial interest outstanding.
V. INVESTMENT ADVISORY AND OTHER SERVICES
A. Adviser and Administrator
The Adviser to the Fund is Morgan Stanley Investment Management Inc., a Delaware corporation, whose address is 522 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10036. The Adviser is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Morgan Stanley, a Delaware corporation. Morgan Stanley is a preeminent global financial services firm engaged in securities trading and brokerage activities, as well as providing investment banking, research and analysis, financing and financial advisory services.
Pursuant to an Investment Advisory Agreement (the "Investment Advisory Agreement") with the Adviser, the Fund has retained the Adviser to manage the investment of the Fund's assets, including the placing of orders for the purchase and sale of portfolio securities. The Fund pays the Adviser monthly compensation calculated daily by applying the following annual rates to the average daily net assets of the Fund determined as of the close of each business day: 0.45% of the portion of the daily net assets not exceeding $500 million; 0.375% of the portion of the daily net assets exceeding $500 million but not exceeding $750 million; 0.325% of the portion of the daily net assets exceeding $750 million but not exceeding $1 billion; 0.30% of the portion of the daily net assets exceeding $1 billion but not exceeding $1.5 billion; 0.275% of the portion of the daily net assets exceeding $1.5 billion but not exceeding $2 billion; 0.25% of the portion of the daily net assets exceeding $2 billion but not exceeding $2.5 billion; 0.225% of the portion of the daily net assets exceeding $2.5 billion but not exceeding $3 billion; and 0.20% of the portion of the daily net assets exceeding $3 billion.
Administration services are provided to the Fund by Morgan Stanley Services Company Inc. ("Administrator"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Adviser, pursuant to a separate administration agreement ("Administration Agreement") entered into by the Fund with the Administrator. The Fund pays the Administrator monthly compensation at the annual rate of 0.05% of daily net assets.
The following table reflects (i) the advisory fee paid; and (ii) the advisory fee waived and/or affiliated rebates for each of the past three fiscal years ended January 31, 2010, 2011 and 2012:
Advisory Fees Paid
(After Fee Waivers and/or Affiliated Rebates) |
Advisory Fees Waived | Affiliated Rebates | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
$ | 1,332,041 | $ | 274,213 | $ | 23,238 | $ | 2,424,117 | $ | 2,366,557 | $ | 5,321,835 | | | |
For the fiscal years ended January 31, 2010, 2011 and 2012, the Fund paid compensation under its Administration Agreement as follows:
Compensation Paid for the Fiscal Year
Ended January 31, |
|||||||||||
2010 | 2011 | 2012 | |||||||||
$ | 412,400 | (1) | $ | 270,858 | (2) | $ | 417,139 | (3) |
(1) The administration fee paid reflects a waiver of $54,547.
(2) The administration fee paid reflects a waiver of $31,005.
(3) The administration fee paid reflects a waiver of $322,425.
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The Distributor, the Adviser and the Administrator have agreed to waive and/or reimburse all or a portion of the Fund's distribution fee, advisory fee and administration fee, respectively, to the extent that total expenses exceed total income on a daily basis. In addition, the Adviser has agreed to cap the Fund's operating expenses, by assuming the Fund's "other expenses" and/or waiving the Fund's advisory fees, and the Administrator has agreed to waive the Fund's administrative fees, to the extent that such operating expenses exceed 0.75% of the average daily net assets of the Fund on an annualized basis. For the fiscal year ended January 31, 2012, this waiver had no impact on the Fund's expenses. These fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements will continue for at least one year or until such time as the Board of Trustees acts to discontinue all or a portion of such waivers and/or expense reimbursements when it deems such action is appropriate.
Under a Sub-Administration Agreement between the Administrator and State Street Bank and Trust Company ("State Street"), State Street provides certain administrative services to the Fund. For such services, the Administrator pays State Street a portion of the fee the Administrator receives from the Fund.
B. Principal Underwriter
The Fund's principal underwriter is the Distributor (which has the same address as the Adviser). In this capacity, the Fund's shares are distributed by the Distributor. The Distributor has entered into a selected dealer agreement with Morgan Stanley Smith Barney and Morgan Stanley & Co., which through their own sales organizations sell shares of the Fund. In addition, the Distributor may enter into similar agreements with other selected broker-dealers. The Distributor, a Delaware corporation, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Morgan Stanley.
The Distributor bears all expenses it may incur in providing services under the Distribution Agreement. The Distributor also pays certain expenses in connection with the distribution of the Fund's shares, including the costs of preparing, printing and distributing advertising or promotional materials, and the costs of printing and distributing prospectuses and supplements thereto used in connection with the offering and sale of the Fund's shares. The Fund bears the costs of initial typesetting, printing and distribution of prospectuses and supplements thereto to shareholders. The Fund also bears the costs of registering the Fund and its shares under federal and state securities laws and pays filing fees in accordance with state securities laws.
The Fund and the Distributor have agreed to indemnify each other against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. 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.
C. Services Provided by the Adviser and Administrator
The Adviser manages the investment of the Fund's assets, including the placing of orders for the purchase and sale of portfolio securities. The Adviser obtains and evaluates the 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 objectives.
Under the terms of the Administration Agreement, the Administrator maintains certain of the Fund's books and records and furnishes, at its own expense, the office space, facilities, equipment, clerical help and bookkeeping as the Fund may reasonably require in the conduct of its business. The Administrator also assists in 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 registered public accounting firm and attorneys is, in the opinion of the Administrator necessary or desirable). The Administrator also bears the cost of telephone service, heat, light, power and other utilities provided to the Fund.
Expenses not expressly assumed by the Adviser under the Investment Advisory Agreement or by the Administrator under the Administration Agreement or by the Distributor will be paid by the Fund. These expenses include, but are not limited to: expenses of the Plan of Distribution pursuant to Rule 12b-1; charges and expenses of any registrar, custodian, stock transfer and dividend disbursing agent; brokerage
23
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 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 Adviser or any corporate affiliate of the Adviser; 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 Adviser (not including compensation or expenses of attorneys who are employees of the Adviser); fees and expenses of the Fund's independent registered public accounting firm; 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.
The Investment Advisory Agreement provides that in the absence of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of its obligations thereunder, the Adviser is not liable to the Fund or any of its investors for any act or omission by the Adviser or for any losses sustained by the Fund or its investors.
The Investment Advisory Agreement will remain in effect from year to year, provided continuance of the Investment Advisory Agreement is approved at least annually by the vote of the holders of a majority, as defined in the Investment Company Act, of the outstanding shares of the Fund, or by the Trustees; provided that in either event such continuance is approved annually by the vote of a majority of the Independent Trustees.
The Administration Agreement provides that in the absence of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of its obligations thereunder, the Administrator is not liable to the Fund or any of its investors for any act or omission by the Administrator or for any losses sustained by the Fund or its investors. The Administration Agreement will continue unless terminated by either party by written notice delivered to the other party within 30 days.
D. Shareholder Services Plan
The Fund has adopted a Shareholder Services Plan (the "Plan"). Pursuant to the Plan, the Fund may pay the Distributor as compensation for the provision of services to shareholders a service fee up to the rate of 0.15% on an annualized basis of the average daily net assets of the Fund. The fee is calculated and accrued daily and paid monthly. The service fee is for providing "personal service and/or the maintenance of shareholder accounts" as provided for in Section 2830(b)(9) of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority ("FINRA") Conduct Rules, including (i) expenditures for overhead and other expenses of the Distributor, Morgan Stanley & Co. and other affiliated broker-dealers, (ii) telephone and other communications expenses relating to the provision of shareholder services and (iii) compensation to and expenses of financial advisors and other employees of the Distributor, Morgan Stanley & Co. and other affiliated broker-dealers for the provision of shareholder services. For the fiscal year ended January 31, 2012, the Fund paid $188,842 to compensate the Distributor pursuant to the Plan. The shareholder service fees paid by the Fund pursuant to the Plan reflect a waiver of $1,290,286.
E. Other Service Providers
(1) Transfer Agent/Dividend Disbursing Agent
Morgan Stanley Services Company Inc., P.O. Box 219886, Kansas City, MO 64121-9886, is the Transfer Agent for the Fund's shares and the Dividend Disbursing Agent for payment of dividends and distributions on Fund shares and Agent for shareholders under various investment plans.
(2) Custodian and Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
State Street Bank and Trust Company, One Lincoln Street, Boston, MA 02111, is the Custodian of the Fund's assets. Any of the Fund's cash balances with the Custodian in excess of $250,000 (a temporary
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increase from $100,000, which is due to expire on December 31, 2013) are unprotected by federal deposit insurance. These balances may, at times, be substantial.
As of June 7, 2011, Ernst & Young LLP, located at 200 Clarendon Street, Boston, MA 02116-5072, is the independent registered public accounting firm for the Fund. Prior to June 7, 2011, Deloitte & Touche LLP, located at Two World Financial Center, New York, NY 10281, was the independent registered public accounting firm of the Fund. The Fund's independent registered public accounting firm is responsible for auditing the annual financial statements.
(3) Affiliated Persons
The Transfer Agent is an affiliate of the Adviser and the Distributor. As Transfer Agent and Dividend Disbursing Agent, the Transfer Agent'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. Pursuant to a Transfer Agency and Service Agreement, as consideration for the services it provides, the Transfer Agent receives certain fees from the Fund, which are approved by the Trustees, generally based on the number of shareholder accounts and is reimbursed for its out-of-pocket expenses in connection with such services. The Fund and the Transfer Agent may enter into agreements with unaffiliated third party intermediaries, pursuant to which such intermediaries agree to provide recordkeeping and other administrative services for their clients who invest in the Fund. In such instances, the Fund will pay certain fees to the intermediaries for the services they provide that otherwise would have been performed by the Transfer Agent.
F. Codes of Ethics
The Fund, the Adviser and the Distributor have each adopted a Code of Ethics pursuant to Rule 17j-1 under the Investment Company Act. The Codes of Ethics are designed to detect and prevent improper personal trading. The Codes of Ethics permit personnel subject to the Codes to invest in securities, including securities that may be purchased, sold or held by the Fund, subject to a number of restrictions and controls, including prohibitions against purchases of securities in an initial public offering and a preclearance requirement with respect to personal securities transactions.
G. Proxy Voting Policy and Proxy Voting Record
The Board of Trustees believes that the voting of proxies on securities held by the Fund is an important element of the overall investment process. As such, the Trustees have delegated the responsibility to vote such proxies to MSIM.
A copy of MSIM's Proxy Voting Policy ("Proxy Policy") is attached hereto as Appendix A. In addition, a copy of the Proxy Policy, as well as the Fund's most recent proxy voting record for the 12-month period ended June 30, as filed with the SEC, are available without charge on our web site at www.morganstanley.com/im. The Fund's proxy voting record is also available without charge on the SEC's web site at www.sec.gov.
H. Revenue Sharing
The Adviser and/or Distributor may pay compensation, out of their own funds and not as an expense of the Fund, to Morgan Stanley Smith Barney and Citigroup Global Markets Inc. ("CGM") in connection with the sale, distribution, marketing and retention of Fund shares and/or shareholder servicing. For example, the Adviser or the Distributor may pay additional compensation to Morgan Stanley Smith Barney and CGM for, among other things, promoting the sale and distribution of Fund shares, providing access to various programs, mutual fund platforms or preferred or recommended mutual fund lists offered by Morgan Stanley Smith Barney and CGM, granting the Distributor access to Morgan Stanley Smith Barney's and CGM's financial advisors and consultants, providing assistance in the ongoing education and training of Morgan Stanley Smith Barney's and CGM's financial personnel, furnishing marketing support, maintaining share balances and/or for sub-accounting, recordkeeping, administrative, shareholder or transaction processing services. Such payments are in addition to any distribution fees, shareholder service fees and/or transfer agency fees that may be payable by the Fund. The additional payments may be based on various factors, including level of sales (based on gross or net sales or some specified minimum sales or some other similar criteria related to sales of the Fund and/or some or all other Morgan
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Stanley Funds), amount of assets invested by Morgan Stanley Smith Barney's and CGM's customers (which could include current or aged assets of the Funds and/or some or all other Morgan Stanley Funds), the Funds' advisory fees, some other agreed upon amount, or other measures as determined from time to time by the Adviser and/or Distributor.
These payments currently include the following amounts, which are paid in accordance with the applicable compensation structure:
(1) On shares held directly in traditional brokerage accounts at Morgan Stanley Smith Barney and CGM, an ongoing annual fee in an amount up to 0.18% annually of the total average monthly net asset value of such shares; and
(2) On shares held in an account through certain 401(k) platforms in Morgan Stanley Smith Barney's Corporate Retirement Solutions, an ongoing annual fee in an amount up to 0.20% of the total average monthly net asset value of such shares.
The prospect of receiving, or the receipt of, additional compensation, as described above, by Morgan Stanley Smith Barney and CGM may provide Morgan Stanley Smith Barney and CGM and/or their financial advisors or other salespersons, with an incentive to favor sales of shares of the Fund over other investment options with respect to which Morgan Stanley Smith Barney and CGM do not receive additional compensation (or receive lower levels of additional compensation). These payment arrangements, however, will not change the price that an investor pays for shares of the Fund or the amount that the Fund receives to invest on behalf of an investor. Investors may wish to take such payment arrangements into account when considering and evaluating any recommendations relating to Fund shares and should review carefully any disclosure provided by Morgan Stanley Smith Barney and CGM as to their compensation.
VI. BROKERAGE ALLOCATION AND OTHER PRACTICES
A. Brokerage Transactions
Subject to the general supervision of the Trustees, the Adviser is responsible for decisions to buy and sell securities for the Fund, the selection of brokers and dealers to effect the transactions, and the negotiation of brokerage commissions, if any. Purchases and sales of securities 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.
Pursuant to orders issued by the SEC, the Fund is permitted to engage in principal transactions involving money market instruments, subject to certain conditions, with Morgan Stanley & Co. and with Citigroup, Inc., each of which is a broker-dealer affiliated with the Fund's Adviser.
During the fiscal years ended January 31, 2010, 2011 and 2012, the Fund did not effect any principal transactions with Morgan Stanley & Co. or Citigroup, Inc.
During the fiscal years ended January 31, 2010, 2011 and 2012, the Fund did not pay any brokerage commissions or concessions.
B. Commissions
Brokerage transactions in securities listed on exchanges or admitted to unlisted trading privileges may be effected through Morgan Stanley & Co., Citigroup, Inc. and other affiliated brokers and dealers. In order for an affiliated broker or dealer to effect any portfolio transactions on an exchange for the Fund, the commissions, fees or other remuneration received by the affiliated broker or dealer 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 the affiliated broker or dealer 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, including the Independent Trustees, have adopted procedures which are reasonably designed to provide that any commissions, fees or other remuneration paid to an affiliated broker or dealer are consistent with the foregoing standard. The Fund
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does not reduce the management fee it pays to the Adviser by any amount of the brokerage commissions it may pay to an affiliated broker or dealer.
During the fiscal years ended January 31, 2010, 2011 and 2012, the Fund did not pay any brokerage commissions to an affiliated broker or dealer.
C. Brokerage Selection
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. The Adviser is prohibited from directing brokerage transactions on the basis of the referral of clients or the sale of shares of investment companies for which it acts as investment adviser. Consistent with this policy, when securities transactions are effected on a stock exchange, the Fund's policy is to pay commissions which are considered fair and reasonable without necessarily determining that the lowest possible commissions are paid in all circumstances. The Fund believes that a requirement to always seek the lowest possible commission cost could impede effective portfolio management and preclude the Fund and the Adviser from obtaining a high quality of brokerage research services.
In seeking to implement the Fund's policies, the Adviser effects transactions with those broker-dealers that the Adviser believes provide prompt execution of orders in an effective manner at the most favorable prices. The Adviser may place portfolio transactions with those broker-dealers that also furnish research and other services to the Fund or the Adviser. Services provided may include certain research services (as described below) as well as effecting securities transactions and performing functions incidental thereto (such as clearance, settlement and custody).
The Adviser and its affiliated investment advisers have established commission sharing arrangements under a commission management program (the "Commission Management Program" or "CMP"), pursuant to which execution and research costs or a portion of those costs are decoupled in accordance with applicable laws, rules and regulations. Under the CMP, the Adviser and its affiliated investment advisers select approved equity brokers (which include the Adviser's affiliates) for execution services, and after accumulation of commissions at such brokers, the Adviser and/or its affiliates instruct these approved equity brokers to pay for eligible research provided by executing brokers or third-party research providers, which are selected independently by a Research Services Committee of the Adviser and its affiliated investment advisers. Generally, the Adviser and its affiliated investment advisers will direct the approved equity broker to record research credits based upon a previously agreed-upon allocation and will periodically instruct the approved equity broker to direct specified dollar amounts from that pool to pay for eligible research services provided by third-party research providers and executing brokers. The research credits are pooled among the Adviser and its affiliated investment advisers and allocated from this pool. Likewise, the research services obtained under the CMP are shared among the Adviser and its affiliated investment advisers.
Selection of approved equity brokers for execution is based on three main criteria: access to liquidity, provision of capital and quality of execution. Under the CMP, each approved equity broker is responsible for the payment of fees for research services and obtains the research services pursuant to written agreements between the approved equity broker and the third-party research provider.
For those costs not decoupled, but retained by broker-dealers, the Adviser also effects transactions with brokers which directly pay for research services provided by those brokers in accordance with Section 28(e) of the Exchange Act. Such transactions include equity transactions and may include fixed-income transactions effected on an agency basis.
Transactions involving client accounts managed by two or more affiliated investment advisers may be aggregated and executed using the services of broker-dealers that provide third party benefits/research so long as: (i) all client accounts involved in the transaction benefit from one or more of the services offered by such broker-dealer; and (ii) each affiliated investment adviser has approved the use of such broker-dealer and the services provided thereby.
The research services received include those of the nature described above and other services which aid the Adviser in fulfilling its investment decision-making responsibilities, including (a) furnishing advice as to the value of securities, the advisability of investing in, purchasing or selling securities, and the availability of securities or purchasers or sellers of securities; and (b) furnishing analyses and reports
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concerning issuers, industries, securities, economic factors and trends, portfolio strategy and the performance of accounts. Where a particular item (such as proxy services) has both research and non-research related uses, the Adviser will make a reasonable allocation of the cost of the item between research and non-research uses and will only pay for the portion of the cost allocated to research uses with client brokerage transactions. Research services furnished or paid for by brokers through whom the Adviser effects transactions for a particular account may be used by the Adviser or its affiliated investment advisers in servicing their other accounts, and not all such services may be used for the benefit of the client which pays the brokerage commission that results in the receipt of such research services. Commissions paid to brokers providing research services may be higher than those charged by brokers not providing services.
The Adviser and its affiliated investment advisers make a good faith determination of the value of research services in accordance with Section 28(e) of the Exchange Act, UK Financial Services Authority Rules and other relevant regulatory requirements.
Certain investment professionals and other employees of the Adviser are also officers of affiliated investment advisers and may provide investment advisory services to clients of such affiliated investment advisers. The Adviser's personnel also provide research and trading support to personnel of certain affiliated investment advisers. Research related costs may be shared by affiliated investment advisers and may benefit the clients of such affiliated investment advisers. Research services that benefit the Adviser may be received in connection with commissions generated by clients of its affiliated investment advisers. Similarly, research services received in connection with commissions generated by the Adviser's clients may benefit affiliated investment advisers and their clients. Moreover, research services provided by broker-dealers through which the Adviser effects transactions for a particular account may be used by the Adviser and/or an affiliated investment adviser in servicing its other accounts and not all such research services may be used for the benefit of the particular client, which pays the brokerage commission giving rise to the receipt of such research services.
D. Regular Broker-Dealers
During the fiscal year ended January 31, 2012, the Fund purchased securities issued by BNP Paribas SA, Wells Fargo & Company, ING Financial Markets LLC, Credit Agricole Securities, Bank of Nova Scotia, Deutsche Bank Financial LLC, TD Securities USA, Inc., Barclays Capital Group, Goldman Sachs & Co. and ABN Amro Securities LLC, which were among the ten brokers or ten dealers which executed transactions for or with the Fund in the largest dollar amounts during the period. At January 31, 2012, the Fund did not own any securities issued by any of such issuers.
VII. CAPITAL STOCK AND OTHER SECURITIES
The shareholders of the Fund are entitled to a full vote for each full share of beneficial interest held. The Fund is authorized to issue an unlimited number of shares of beneficial interest. 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's 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. The Trustees have not presently authorized any such additional series or Classes of shares other than as set forth in the Prospectus.
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 Investment Company Act or the Declaration of Trust. Under certain circumstances, the Trustees may be removed by the actions of the Trustees. In addition, under certain circumstances, the shareholders may call a meeting to remove the Trustees and the Fund is required to provide assistance in communicating with shareholders about such a meeting. The voting rights of shareholders are not cumulative, so that holders of more than 50% 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.
Under Massachusetts law, shareholders of a business trust may, under certain limited circumstances, be held personally liable as partners for the obligations of the Fund. However, the Declaration of Trust contains an
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express disclaimer of shareholder liability for acts or obligations of the Fund, requires that notice of such Fund obligations include such disclaimer, and provides for indemnification out of the Fund's property for any shareholder held personally liable for the obligations of the Fund. Thus, the risk of a shareholder incurring financial loss on account of shareholder liability is limited to circumstances in which the Fund itself would be unable to meet its obligations. Given the above limitations on shareholder personal liability, and the nature of the Fund's assets and operations, the possibility of the Fund being unable to meet its obligations is remote and thus, in the opinion of Massachusetts counsel to the Fund, the risk to Fund shareholders of personal liability is remote.
The Trustees themselves have the power to alter the number and the terms of office of the Trustees (as provided for in the Declaration of Trust), and they may at any time lengthen or shorten their own terms or make their terms of unlimited duration and appoint their own successors, provided that always at least a majority of the Trustees has been elected by the shareholders of the Fund.
VIII. PURCHASE, REDEMPTION AND PRICING OF SHARES
A. Purchase/Redemption of Shares
Information concerning how Fund shares are offered to the public (and how they are redeemed and exchanged) is provided in the Fund's Prospectus.
Transfer Agent as Agent. With respect to the redemption or repurchase of Fund shares, the application of proceeds to the purchase of new shares in the Fund or any other Morgan Stanley Funds and the general administration of the exchange privilege, the Transfer Agent acts as agent for the Distributor and for the shareholder's authorized broker-dealer, if any, in the performance of such functions. With respect to exchanges, redemptions or repurchases, the Transfer Agent is liable for its own negligence and not for the default or negligence of its correspondents or for losses in transit. The Fund is not liable for any default or negligence of the Transfer Agent, the Distributor or any authorized broker-dealer.
The Distributor and any authorized broker-dealer have appointed the Transfer Agent to act as their agent in connection with the application of proceeds of any redemption of Fund shares to the purchase of shares of any other Morgan Stanley Fund and the general administration of the exchange privilege. No commission or discounts will be paid to the Distributor or any authorized broker-dealer for any transaction pursuant to the exchange privilege.
Redemptions. A check drawn by a shareholder against his or her account in the Fund constitutes a request for redemption of a number of shares sufficient to provide proceeds equal to the amount of the check. Payment of the proceeds will normally be made on the next business day after receipt by the Transfer Agent of the check in proper form. If a check is presented for payment to the Transfer Agent by a shareholder or payee in person, the Transfer Agent will make payment by means of a check drawn on the Fund's account or, in the case of a shareholder payee, to the shareholder's predesignated bank account, but will not make payment in cash.
Suspension of Redemptions. Redemptions are not made on days during which the NYSE is closed. The right of redemption may be suspended and the payment therefore may be postponed for more than seven days during any period when (a) the NYSE is closed for other than customary weekends or holidays; (b) the SEC determines trading on the NYSE is restricted; (c) the SEC determines 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) the SEC, by order, so permits.
Outside Brokerage Accounts/Limited Portability. Most Fund shareholders hold their shares with Morgan Stanley Smith Barney. Please note that your ability to transfer your Fund shares to a brokerage account at another securities dealer may be limited. Fund shares may only be transferred to accounts held at securities dealers or financial intermediaries that have entered into agreements with the Distributor. After a transfer, you may purchase additional shares of the Morgan Stanley Fund(s) you owned before the transfer and, in most instances, you will also be able to purchase shares of most other
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Morgan Stanley Funds. After a transfer, you will not, however, be able to exchange shares of this Fund (or any other Morgan Stanley Fund that is not a Multi-Class Fund) for any other Morgan Stanley Fund.
If you wish to transfer Fund shares to a securities dealer or other financial intermediary that has not entered into an agreement with the Distributor, you may request that the securities dealer or financial intermediary maintain the shares in an account at the Transfer Agent registered in the name of such securities dealer or financial intermediary for your benefit. You may also hold your Fund shares in your own name directly with the Transfer Agent. In either case, you will continue to have the ability to purchase additional Morgan Stanley Funds and will have full exchange privileges. Other options may also be available; please check with the respective securities dealer or financial intermediary. If you choose not to hold your shares with the Transfer Agent, either directly or through a securities dealer or other financial intermediary, you must redeem your shares and pay any applicable contingent deferred sales charges.
B. Offering Price
The price of Fund shares, called "net asset value" ("NAV"), is based on the value of the Fund's portfolio securities.
The Fund utilizes the amortized cost method in valuing its portfolio securities for purposes of determining the net asset value of its shares. The Fund utilizes the amortized cost method in valuing its portfolio securities even though the portfolio securities may increase or decrease in market value, generally in connection with changes in interest rates. The amortized cost method of valuation involves valuing a security at its cost at the time of purchase adjusted by a constant amortization to maturity of any discount or premium, regardless of the impact of fluctuating interest rates on the market value of the instrument. While this method provides certainty in valuation, it may result in periods during which value, as determined by amortized cost, is higher or lower than the price the Fund would receive if it sold the investment. During such periods, the yield to investors in the Fund may differ somewhat from that obtained in a similar company which uses market-to-market values for all of its portfolio securities. For example, if the use of amortized cost resulted in a lower (higher) aggregate portfolio value on a particular day, a prospective investor in the Fund would be able to obtain a somewhat higher (lower) yield than would result from investment in such a similar company and existing investors would receive less (more) investment income. The purpose of this method of calculation is to facilitate the maintenance of a constant net asset value per share of $1.00.
The use of the amortized cost method to value the portfolio securities of the Fund and the maintenance of the per share net asset value of $1.00 is permitted pursuant to Rule 2a-7 of the Act (the "Rule") and is conditioned on its compliance with various conditions contained in the Rule including: (a) the Trustees are obligated, as a particular responsibility within the overall duty of care owed to the Fund's shareholders, to establish procedures reasonably designed, taking into account current market conditions and the Fund's investment objectives, to stabilize the net asset value per share as computed for the purpose of distribution and redemption at $1.00 per share; (b) the procedures include (i) calculation, at such intervals as the Trustees determine are appropriate and as are reasonable in light of current market conditions, of the deviation, if any, between net asset value per share using amortized cost to value portfolio securities and net asset value per share based upon available market quotations with respect to such portfolio securities; (ii) periodic review by the Trustees of the amount of deviation as well as methods used to calculate it; and (iii) maintenance of written records of the procedures, and the Trustees' considerations made pursuant to them and any actions taken upon such consideration; (c) the Trustees should consider what steps should be taken, if any, in the event of a difference of more than 1/2 of 1% between the two methods of valuation; and (d) the Trustees should take such action as they deem appropriate (such as shortening the average portfolio maturity, realizing gains or losses, withholding dividends or, as provided by the Declaration of Trust, reducing the number of outstanding shares of the Fund) to eliminate or reduce to the extent reasonably practicable material dilution or other unfair results to investors or existing shareholders which might arise from differences between the two method of valuation.
Generally, for purposes of the procedures adopted under the Rule, the maturity of a portfolio security is deemed to be the period remaining (calculated from the trade date or such other date on which the Fund's interest in the instrument is subject to market action) until the date on which in accordance with the terms of the security the principal amount must unconditionally be paid, or in the case of a security called for redemption, the date on which the redemption payment must be made.
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A variable rate security that is subject to a demand feature generally is deemed to have a maturity equal to the period remaining until the principal amount can be recovered through demand. A floating rate security that is subject to a demand feature generally is deemed to have a maturity equal to the period remaining until the principal amount can be recovered through demand. The maturity date of adjustable rate government securities and floating rate government securities is specifically addressed under the Rule. If the rate of interest of a variable rate government security is adjusted at intervals not exceeding 397 days, the maturity on that security is deemed to equal the period remaining until the next readjustment date. Floating rate government securities are deemed to have a maturity of one day.
An "NRSRO" is a nationally recognized statistical rating organization. At the time the Fund acquires its investments, they will be rated (or issued by an issuer that is rated with respect to a comparable class of short-term debt obligations) (i) in one of the two highest rating categories for short-term debt obligations assigned by at least two NRSROs; or (ii) if only one NRSRO has issued a rating with respect to such security or issuer at the time a fund purchases or rolls over the security, that NRSRO (the "Requisite NRSROs").
An Eligible Security is generally defined in the Rule to mean (i) a rated security with a remaining maturity of 397 calendar days or less that has received a rating from the Requisite NRSROs in one of the two highest short-term rating categories (within which there may be sub-categories or gradations indicating relative standing); or (ii) An Unrated Security that is of comparable quality to a security meeting the requirements of (1) above, as determined by Trustees. In addition, in the case of a security that is subject to a Demand Feature or Guarantee: (A) The Guarantee has received a rating from an NRSRO or the Guarantee is issued by a guarantor that has received a rating from an NRSRO with respect to a class of debt obligations (or any debt obligation within that class) that is comparable in priority and security to the Guarantee, unless: (1) the Guarantee is issued by a person that directly or indirectly, controls, is controlled by or is under a common control with the issuer of the security subject to the Guarantee (other than a sponsor or a Special Purpose Entity with respect to an Asset-Backed Security: (2) the security subject to the Guarantee is a repurchase agreement that is Collateralized Fully; or (3) the Guarantee itself is a Government Security and (B) the issuer of the Demand Feature, or another institution, has undertaken promptly to notify the holder of the security in the event the Demand Feature or Guarantee is substituted with another Demand Feature or Guarantee (if such substitution is permissible under the terms of the Demand Feature or Guarantee). The Fund will limit its investments to securities that meet the requirements for Eligible Securities.
As permitted by the Rule, the Trustees have delegated to the Fund's Adviser the authority to determine which securities present minimal credit risks and which unrated securities are comparable in quality to rated securities.
Also, as required by the Rule, the Fund will limit its investments in securities, other than Government securities, so that, at the time of purchase: (a) except as further limited in (b) below with regard to certain securities, no more than 5% of its total assets will be invested in the securities of any one issuer; and (b) with respect to Eligible Securities that have received a rating in less than the highest category by any one of the NRSROs whose ratings are used to qualify the security as an Eligible Security, or that have been determined to be of comparable quality: (i) no more than 3% in the aggregate of the Fund's total assets in all such securities, (ii) no more than 0.5% of total assets in the securities on any one issuer and (iii) the remaining maturity of any such securities must be 45 days or less.
The Rule further requires that the Fund limit its investments to U.S. dollar-denominated instruments which the Trustees determine present minimal credit risks and which are Eligible Securities. The Rule also requires the Fund to maintain a dollar-weighted average portfolio maturity (not more than 60 days) appropriate to its objective of maintaining a stable net asset value of $1.00 per share and precludes the purchase of any instrument with a remaining maturity of more than 397 days. Should the disposition of a portfolio security result in a dollar-weighted average portfolio maturity of more than 60 days, the Fund will invest its available cash in such a manner as to reduce such maturity to 60 days or less a soon as is reasonably practicable.
If the Trustees determine that it is no longer in the best interests of the Fund and its shareholders to maintain a stable price of $1.00 per share or if the Trustees believe that maintaining such price no longer reflects a market-based net asset value per share, the Trustees have the right to change from an amortized
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cost basis of valuation to valuation based on market quotations. The Fund will notify shareholders of the Fund of any such change.
In the unlikely event that the Fund's Board of Trustees are to determine pursuant to Rule 2a-7 that the extent of the deviation between the Fund's amortized cost per share and its market-based NAV per share may result in material dilution or other unfair results to shareholders, the Board will cause the Fund to take such action as it deems appropriate to eliminate or reduce to the extent practicable such dilution or unfair results, including, but not limited to, considering suspending redemption of shares and liquidating the Fund under Rule 22e-3 under the Investment Company Act.
IX. TAXATION OF THE FUND AND SHAREHOLDERS
The Fund intends to distribute all of its daily net investment income (and net short-term capital gains, if any) to shareholders of record as of the close of business the preceding business day. Net income, for dividend purposes, includes accrued interest and amortization of acquisition, original issue and market discount, plus or minus any short-term gains or losses realized on sales of portfolio securities, less the amortization of market premium and the estimated expenses of the Fund. Net income will be calculated immediately prior to the determination of net asset value per share of the Fund.
The Trustees of the Fund may revise the dividend policy, or postpone the payment of dividends, if the Fund should have or anticipate any large unexpected expense, loss or fluctuation in net assets which, in the opinion of the Trustees, might have a significant adverse effect on shareholders. On occasion, in order to maintain a constant $1.00 per share net asset value, the Trustees may direct that the number of outstanding shares be reduced in each shareholder's account. Such reduction may result in taxable income to a shareholder in excess of the net increase (i.e., dividends less such reductions), if any, in the shareholder's account for a period of time. Furthermore, such reduction may be realized as a capital loss when the shares are liquidated.
It has been and remains the Fund's policy and practice that, if checks for dividends or distributions paid in cash remain uncashed, no interest will accrue on amounts represented by such uncashed checks.
Investment Company Taxation. The Fund intends to continue to qualify as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. As such, the Fund will not be subject to federal income tax on its net investment income and capital gains, if any, to the extent that it timely distributes such income and capital gains to its shareholders. If the Fund fails to qualify for any taxable year as a regulated investment company, all of its taxable income will be subject to tax at regular corporate income tax rates without any deduction for distributions to shareholders, and such distributions generally will be taxable to shareholders as ordinary dividends to the extent of the Fund's current and accumulated earnings and profits.
The Fund generally intends to distribute sufficient income and gains so that the Fund will not pay corporate income tax on its earnings. The Fund also generally intends to distribute to its shareholders in each calendar year a sufficient amount of ordinary income and capital gains to avoid the imposition of a 4% excise tax. However, the Fund may instead determine to retain all or part of any income or net long-term capital gains in any year for reinvestment. In such event, the Fund will pay federal income tax (and possibly excise tax) on such retained income or gains.
Gains or losses on sales of securities held by the Fund will generally be long-term capital gains or losses if the securities have a tax holding period of more than one year at the time of such sale. Gains or losses on the sale of securities with a tax holding period of one year or less will be short-term capital gains or losses.
Taxation of Dividends and Distributions. Shareholders normally will be subject to federal income taxes on dividends paid from interest income derived from taxable securities and on distributions of net short-term capital gains and long-term capital gains. Such distributions also may be subject to state and local income tax. However, any dividends attributable to interest earned on direct obligations of the U.S. government may be exempt from state and local taxes. Interest and realized net short-term capital gains
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distributions are generally taxable to the shareholder as ordinary dividend income regardless of whether the shareholder receives such distributions in additional shares or in cash. Since the Trust's income is expected to be derived entirely from interest rather than dividends, none of such distributions will be eligible for the federal dividends received deduction available to corporations or as qualified dividends for non-corporate shareholders. Realized net long-term capital gains distributions, if any, are taxable as long-term capital gains, regardless of how long the shareholder has held the Fund shares and regardless of whether the distribution is received in additional shares or in cash. Under current law, the maximum tax rate on long-term capital gains available to non-corporate shareholders is 15%. Without future congressional action, the maximum tax rate on long-term capital gains will return to 20% in 2013. Realized net long-term capital gains distributions are not eligible for the dividends received deduction.
Shareholders are generally taxed on any income dividend or capital gain distributions from the Fund in the year they are actually distributed. However, if any such dividends or distributions are declared in October, November or December and paid to shareholders of record of such month in January then such amounts will be treated for tax purposes as received by the shareholder on December 31.
Shareholders who are not citizens or residents of the United States and certain foreign entities, while not subject to U.S. tax on distributions of net long-term capital gains, will generally be subject to withholding of U.S. tax on distributions made by the Fund of any taxable interest income and short-term capital gains. Such prospective investors are urged to consult their tax advisors regarding the tax consequences to them of dividends and distributions.
After the end of each calendar year, shareholders will be sent information on their dividends and capital gain distributions for tax purposes, including the portion taxable as ordinary income and the portion taxable as long-term capital gains.
Shareholders are urged to consult their own tax advisors regarding specific questions as to federal, state or local taxes.
Purchases and Redemptions and Exchanges of Fund Shares. 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 some portion of the dividends may be 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 but nonetheless would be taxable to the shareholder. Therefore, an investor should consider the tax implications of purchasing Fund shares immediately prior to a distribution record date.
Shareholders normally will be subject to federal income taxes, and state and/or local income taxes, on the sale or disposition of Fund shares. In general, a sale of shares results in capital gain or loss, and for individual shareholders, is taxable at a federal rate dependent upon the length of time the shares were held. A redemption of a shareholder's Fund shares is normally treated as a sale for tax purposes. Fund shares held for a period of one year or less at the time of such sale or redemption will, for tax purposes, generally result in short-term capital gains or losses and those held for more than one year will generally result in long-term capital gains or losses. Under current law, the maximum tax rate on long-term capital gains available to non-corporate shareholders generally is 15%. Without future congressional action, the maximum tax rate on long-term capital gains will return to 20% in 2013.
Gain or loss on the sale or redemption of shares in the Fund is measured by the difference between the amount of cash received (or the fair market value of any property received) and the adjusted tax basis of the shares. Exchanges of Fund shares for shares of another fund, including shares of other Morgan Stanley Funds, are also subject to similar tax treatment. Such an exchange is treated for tax purposes as a sale of the original shares in the Fund, followed by the purchase of shares in the other fund. However, you should not recognize any gain or loss on the sale of Fund shares so long as the Fund maintains a share price of $1.00.
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The ability to deduct capital losses may be limited. In addition, if a shareholder realizes a loss on the redemption or exchange of a fund's shares and reinvests in that fund's shares or substantially identical shares within 30 days before or after the redemption or exchange, the transactions may be subject to the "wash sale" rules, resulting in a postponement of the recognition of such loss for tax purposes.
X. UNDERWRITERS
The Fund's shares are offered to the public on a continuous basis. The Distributor, as the principal underwriter of the shares, has certain obligations under the Distribution Agreement concerning the distribution of the shares. These obligations and the compensation the Distributor receives are described above in the sections titled "Principal Underwriter" and "Shareholder Services Plan."
XI. PERFORMANCE DATA
The Fund's current yield for the seven days ended January 31, 2012 was 0.01%. The Fund's seven-day effective yield on January 31, 2012 was 0.01%, assuming daily compounding.
XII. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The Fund's audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2012, including notes thereto, and the report of Ernst & Young LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, are herein incorporated by reference to the Fund's Annual Report to Shareholders . A copy of the Fund's Annual Report to Shareholders must accompany the delivery of this SAI.
On June 7, 2011, Deloitte & Touche LLP was dismissed as the independent registered public accounting firm of the Fund. The Fund, with the approval of its Board of Trustees and its Audit Committee, engaged Ernst & Young LLP as its new independent registered public accounting firm as of June 7, 2011.
XIII. FUND COUNSEL
Dechert LLP, located at 1095 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10036, acts as the Fund's legal counsel.
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This SAI and the Prospectus do not contain all of the information set forth in the Registration Statement the Fund has filed with the SEC. The complete Registration Statement may be obtained from the SEC.
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Appendix A
MORGAN STANLEY INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT
PROXY VOTING POLICY AND PROCEDURES
I. POLICY STATEMENT
Morgan Stanley Investment Management's ("MSIM") policy and procedures for voting proxies ("Policy") with respect to securities held in the accounts of clients applies to those MSIM entities that provide discretionary investment management services and for which an MSIM entity has authority to vote proxies. This Policy is reviewed and updated as necessary to address new and evolving proxy voting issues and standards.
The MSIM entities covered by this Policy currently include the following: Morgan Stanley AIP GP LP, Morgan Stanley Investment Management Inc., Morgan Stanley Investment Management Limited, Morgan Stanley Investment Management Company, Morgan Stanley Asset & Investment Trust Management Co., Limited, Morgan Stanley Investment Management Private Limited and Private Investment Partners Inc. (each an "MSIM Affiliate" and collectively referred to as the "MSIM Affiliates" or as "we" below).
Each MSIM Affiliate will use its best efforts to vote proxies as part of its authority to manage, acquire and dispose of account assets. With respect to the MSIM registered management investment companies (the "MSIM Funds"), each MSIM Affiliate will vote proxies under this Policy pursuant to authority granted under its applicable investment advisory agreement or, in the absence of such authority, as authorized by the Board of Directors/Trustees of the MSIM Funds. A MSIM Affiliate will not vote proxies unless the investment management or investment advisory agreement explicitly authorizes the MSIM Affiliate to vote proxies. MSIM Affiliates will vote proxies in a prudent and diligent manner and in the best interests of clients, including beneficiaries of and participants in a client's benefit plan(s) for which the MSIM Affiliates manage assets, consistent with the objective of maximizing long-term investment returns ("Client Proxy Standard"). In certain situations, a client or its fiduciary may provide an MSIM Affiliate with a proxy voting policy. In these situations, the MSIM Affiliate will comply with the client's policy.
Proxy Research Services ISS Governance Services ("ISS") and Glass Lewis (together with other proxy research providers as we may retain from time to time, the "Research Providers") are independent advisers that specialize in providing a variety of fiduciary-level proxy-related services to institutional investment managers, plan sponsors, custodians, consultants, and other institutional investors. The services provided include in-depth research, global issuer analysis, and voting recommendations. While we may review and utilize the recommendations of one or more Research Providers in making proxy voting decisions, we are in no way obligated to follow such recommendations. In addition to research, ISS provides vote execution, reporting, and recordkeeping services.
Voting Proxies for Certain Non-U.S. Companies Voting proxies of companies located in some jurisdictions may involve several problems that can restrict or prevent the ability to vote such proxies or entail significant costs. These problems include, but are not limited to: (i) proxy statements and ballots being written in a language other than English; (ii) untimely and/or inadequate notice of shareholder meetings; (iii) restrictions on the ability of holders outside the issuer's jurisdiction of organization to exercise votes; (iv) requirements to vote proxies in person; (v) the imposition of restrictions on the sale of the securities for a period of time in proximity to the shareholder meeting; and (vi) requirements to provide local agents with power of attorney to facilitate our voting instructions. As a result, we vote clients' non-U.S. proxies on a best efforts basis only, after weighing the costs and benefits of voting such proxies, consistent with the Client Proxy Standard. ISS has been retained to provide assistance in connection with voting non-U.S. proxies.
II. GENERAL PROXY VOTING GUIDELINES
To promotes consistency in voting proxies on behalf of its clients, we follow this Policy (subject to any exception set forth herein). The Policy addresses a broad range of issues, and provides general voting parameters on proposals that arise most frequently. However, details of specific proposals vary, and those details affect particular voting decisions, as do factors specific to a given company. Pursuant
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to the procedures set forth herein, we may vote in a manner that is not in accordance with the following general guidelines, provided the vote is approved by the Proxy Review Committee (see Section III for description) and is consistent with the Client Proxy Standard. Morgan Stanley AIP GP LP will follow the procedures as described in Appendix A.
We endeavor to integrate governance and proxy voting policy with investment goals, using the vote to encourage portfolio companies to enhance long-term shareholder value and to provide a high standard of transparency such that equity markets can value corporate assets appropriately.
We seek to follow the Client Proxy Standard for each client. At times, this may result in split votes, for example when different clients have varying economic interests in the outcome of a particular voting matter (such as a case in which varied ownership interests in two companies involved in a merger result in different stakes in the outcome). We also may split votes at times based on differing views of portfolio managers.
We may abstain on matters for which disclosure is inadequate.
A. Routine Matters.
We generally support routine management proposals. The following are examples of routine management proposals:
• Approval of financial statements and auditor reports if delivered with an unqualified auditor's opinion.
• General updating/corrective amendments to the charter, articles of association or bylaws, unless we believe that such amendments would diminish shareholder rights.
• Most proposals related to the conduct of the annual meeting, with the following exceptions. We generally oppose proposals that relate to "the transaction of such other business which may come before the meeting," and open-ended requests for adjournment. However, where management specifically states the reason for requesting an adjournment and the requested adjournment would facilitate passage of a proposal that would otherwise be supported under this Policy (i.e. an uncontested corporate transaction), the adjournment request will be supported.
We generally support shareholder proposals advocating confidential voting procedures and independent tabulation of voting results.
B. Board of Directors.
1. Election of directors: Votes on board nominees can involve balancing a variety of considerations. In vote decisions, we may take into consideration whether the company has a majority voting policy in place that we believe makes the director vote more meaningful. In the absence of a proxy contest, we generally support the board's nominees for director except as follows:
a. We consider withholding support from or voting against a nominee if we believe a direct conflict exists between the interests of the nominee and the public shareholders, including failure to meet fiduciary standards of care and/or loyalty. We may oppose directors where we conclude that actions of directors are unlawful, unethical or negligent. We consider opposing individual board members or an entire slate if we believe the board is entrenched and/or dealing inadequately with performance problems; if we believe the board is acting with insufficient independence between the board and management; or if we believe the board has not been sufficiently forthcoming with information on key governance or other material matters.
b. We consider witholding support from or voting against interested directors if the company's board does not meet market standards for director independence, or if otherwise we believe board independence is insufficient. We refer to prevalent market standards as promulgated by a stock exchange or other authority within a given market (e.g., New York Stock Exchange or Nasdaq rules for most U.S. companies, and The Combined Code on Corporate Governance in the United Kingdom). Thus, for an NYSE company with no controlling shareholder, we would expect that at a minimum a majority of directors should be independent as defined by NYSE. Where we view market standards as inadequate, we may withhold votes based on
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stronger independence standards. Market standards notwithstanding, we generally do not view long board tenure alone as a basis to classify a director as non-independent.
i. At a company with a shareholder or group that controls the company by virtue of a majority economic interest in the company, we have a reduced expectation for board independence, although we believe the presence of independent directors can be helpful, particularly in staffing the audit committee, and at times we may withhold support from or vote against a nominee on the view the board or its committees are not sufficiently independent. In markets where board independence is not the norm (e.g. Japan), however, we consider factors including whether a board of a controlled company includes independent members who can be expected to look out for interests of minority holders.
ii. We consider withholding support from or voting against a nominee if he or she is affiliated with a major shareholder that has representation on a board disproportionate to its economic interest.
c. Depending on market standards, we consider withholding support from or voting against a nominee who is interested and who is standing for election as a member of the company's compensation/renumeration, nominating/governance or audit committee.
d. We consider withholding support or voting against nominees if the term for which they are nominated is excessive. We consider this issue on a market-specific basis.
e. We consider withholding support from or voting against nominees if, in our view, there has been insufficient board renewal (turnover), particularly in the context of extended poor company performance.
f. We consider withholding support from or voting against a nominee standing for election if the board has not taken action to implement generally accepted governance practices for which there is a "bright line" test. For example, in the context of the U.S. market, failure to eliminate a dead hand or slow hand poison pill would be seen as a basis for opposing one or more incumbent nominees.
g. In markets that encourage designated audit committee financial experts, we consider voting against members of an audit committee if no members are designated as such. We also may not support the audit committee members if the company has faced financial reporting issues and/or does not put the auditor up for ratification by shareholders.
h. We believe investors should have the ability to vote on individual nominees, and may abstain or vote against a slate of nominees where we are not given the opportunity to vote on individual nominees.
i. We consider withholding support from or voting against a nominee who has failed to attend at least 75% of the nominee's board and board committee meetings within a given year without a reasonable excuse. We also consider opposing nominees if the company does not meet market standards for disclosure on attendance.
j. We consider withholding support from or voting against a nominee who appears overcommitted, particularly through service on an excessive number of boards. Market expectations are incorporated into this analysis; for U.S. boards, we generally oppose election of a nominee who serves on more than six public company boards (excluding investment companies), although we may reference National Association of Corporate Directors guidance suggesting that public company CEOs, for example, should serve no more than two outside boards given the level of time commitment required in their primary job.
2. Discharge of directors' duties: In markets where an annual discharge of directors' responsibility is a routine agenda item, we generally support such discharge. However, we may vote against discharge or abstain from voting where there are serious findings of fraud or other unethical behavior for which the individual bears responsibility. The annual discharge of responsibility represents shareholder approval of disclosed actions taken by the board during the year and may make future shareholder action against the board difficult to pursue.
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3. Board independence: We generally support U.S. shareholder proposals requiring that a certain percentage (up to 66 2/3%) of the company's board members be independent directors, and promoting all-independent audit, compensation and nominating/governance committees.
4. Board diversity: We consider on a case-by-case basis shareholder proposals urging diversity of board membership with respect to social, religious or ethnic group.
5. Majority voting: We generally support proposals requesting or requiring majority voting policies in election of directors, so long as there is a carve-out for plurality voting in the case of contested elections.
6. Proxy access: We consider on a case-by-case basis shareholder proposals on particular procedures for inclusion of shareholder nominees in company proxy statements.
7. Reimbursement for dissident nominees: We generally support well-crafted U.S. shareholder proposals that would provide for reimbursement of dissident nominees elected to a board, as the cost to shareholders in electing such nominees can be factored into the voting decision on those nominees.
8. Proposals to elect directors more frequently: In the U.S. public company context, we usually support shareholder and management proposals to elect all directors annually (to "declassify" the board), although we make an exception to this policy where we believe that long-term shareholder value may be harmed by this change given particular circumstances at the company at the time of the vote on such proposal. As indicated above, outside the U.S., we generally support greater accountability to shareholders that comes through more frequent director elections, but recognize that many markets embrace longer term lengths, sometimes for valid reasons given other aspects of the legal context in electing boards.
9. Cumulative voting: We generally support proposals to eliminate cumulative voting in the U.S. market context. (Cumulative voting provides that shareholders may concentrate their votes for one or a handful of candidates, a system that can enable a minority bloc to place representation on a board.) U.S. proposals to establish cumulative voting in the election of directors generally will not be supported.
10. Separation of Chairman and CEO positions: We vote on shareholder proposals to separate the Chairman and CEO positions and/or to appoint an independent Chairman based in part on prevailing practice in particular markets, since the context for such a practice varies. In many non-U.S. markets, we view separation of the roles as a market standard practice, and support division of the roles in that context. In the U.S., we consider such proposals on a case-by-case basis, considering, among other things, the existing board leadership structure, company performance, and any other evidence of entrenchment or perceived risk that power is overly concentrated in a single individual.
11. Director retirement age and term limits: Proposals setting or recommending director retirement ages or director term limits are voted on a case-by-case basis that includes consideration of company performance, the rate of board renewal, evidence of effective individual director evaluation processes, and any indications of entrenchment.
12. Proposals to limit directors' liability and/or broaden indemnification of officers and directors. Generally, we will support such proposals provided that an individual is eligible only if he or she has not acted in bad faith, with gross negligence or with reckless disregard of their duties.
C. Statutory auditor boards.
The statutory auditor board, which is separate from the main board of directors, plays a role in corporate governance in several markets. These boards are elected by shareholders to provide assurance on compliance with legal and accounting standards and the company's articles of association. We generally vote for statutory auditor nominees if they meet independence standards. In markets that require disclosure on attendance by internal statutory auditors, however, we consider voting against nominees for these
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positions who failed to attend at least 75% of meetings in the previous year. We also consider opposing nominees if the company does not meet market standards for disclosure on attendance.
D. Corporate transactions and proxy fights.
We examine proposals relating to mergers, acquisitions and other special corporate transactions (i.e., takeovers, spin-offs, sales of assets, reorganizations, restructurings and recapitalizations) on a case-by-case basis in the interests of each fund or other account. Proposals for mergers or other significant transactions that are friendly and approved by the Research Providers usually are supported if there is no portfolio manager objection. We also analyze proxy contests on a case-by-case basis.
E. Changes in capital structure.
1. We generally support the following:
• Management and shareholder proposals aimed at eliminating unequal voting rights, assuming fair economic treatment of classes of shares we hold.
• U.S. management proposals to increase the authorization of existing classes of common stock (or securities convertible into common stock) if: (i) a clear business purpose is stated that we can support and the number of shares requested is reasonable in relation to the purpose for which authorization is requested; and/or (ii) the authorization does not exceed 100% of shares currently authorized and at least 30% of the total new authorization will be outstanding. (We consider proposals that do not meet these criteria on a case-by-case basis.)
• U.S. management proposals to create a new class of preferred stock or for issuances of preferred stock up to 50% of issued capital, unless we have concerns about use of the authority for anti-takeover purposes.
• Proposals in non-U.S. markets that in our view appropriately limit potential dilution of existing shareholders. A major consideration is whether existing shareholders would have preemptive rights for any issuance under a proposal for standing share issuance authority. We generally consider market-specific guidance in making these decisions; for example, in the U.K. market, we usually follow Association of British Insurers' ("ABI") guidance, although company-specific factors may be considered and for example, may sometimes lead us to voting against share authorization proposals even if they meet ABI guidance.
• Management proposals to authorize share repurchase plans, except in some cases in which we believe there are insufficient protections against use of an authorization for anti-takeover purposes.
• Management proposals to reduce the number of authorized shares of common or preferred stock, or to eliminate classes of preferred stock.
• Management proposals to effect stock splits.
• Management proposals to effect reverse stock splits if management proportionately reduces the authorized share amount set forth in the corporate charter. Reverse stock splits that do not adjust proportionately to the authorized share amount generally will be approved if the resulting increase in authorized shares coincides with the proxy guidelines set forth above for common stock increases.
• Management dividend payout proposals, except where we perceive company payouts to shareholders as inadequate.
2. We generally oppose the following (notwithstanding management support):
• Proposals to add classes of stock that would substantially dilute the voting interests of existing shareholders.
• Proposals to increase the authorized or issued number of shares of existing classes of stock that are unreasonably dilutive, particularly if there are no preemptive rights for existing shareholders.
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However, depending on market practices, we consider voting for proposals giving general authorization for issuance of shares not subject to pre-emptive rights if the authority is limited.
• Proposals that authorize share issuance at a discount to market rates, except where authority for such issuance is de minimis, or if there is a special situation that we believe justifies such authorization (as may be the case, for example, at a company under severe stress and risk of bankruptcy).
• Proposals relating to changes in capitalization by 100% or more.
We consider on a case-by-case basis shareholder proposals to increase dividend payout ratios, in light of market practice and perceived market weaknesses, as well as individual company payout history and current circumstances. For example, currently we perceive low payouts to shareholders as a concern at some Japanese companies, but may deem a low payout ratio as appropriate for a growth company making good use of its cash, notwithstanding the broader market concern.
F. Takeover Defenses and Shareholder Rights.
1. Shareholder rights plans: We generally support proposals to require shareholder approval or ratification of shareholder rights plans (poison pills). In voting on rights plans or similar takeover defenses, we consider on a case-by-case basis whether the company has demonstrated a need for the defense in the context of promoting long-term share value; whether provisions of the defense are in line with generally accepted governance principles in the market (and specifically the presence of an adequate qualified offer provision that would exempt offers meeting certain conditions from the pill); and the specific context if the proposal is made in the midst of a takeover bid or contest for control.
2. Supermajority voting requirements: We generally oppose requirements for supermajority votes to amend the charter or bylaws, unless the provisions protect minority shareholders where there is a large shareholder. In line with this view, in the absence of a large shareholder we support reasonable shareholder proposals to limit such supermajority voting requirements.
3. Shareholder rights to call meetings: We consider proposals to enhance shareholder rights to call meetings on a case-by-case basis. At large-cap U.S. companies, we generally support efforts to establish the rights of holders of 10% or more of shares to call special meetings, unless the board or state law has a set policy or law establishing such rights at a threshold that we believe to be acceptable.
4. Written consent rights: In the U.S. context, we examine proposals for shareholder written consent rights on a case-by-case basis.
5. Reincorporation: We consider management and shareholder proposals to reincorporate to a different jurisdiction on a case-by-case basis. We oppose such proposals if we believe the main purpose is to take advantage of laws or judicial precedents that reduce shareholder rights.
6. Anti-greenmail provisions: Proposals relating to the adoption of anti-greenmail provisions will be supported, provided that the proposal: (i) defines greenmail; (ii) prohibits buyback offers to large block holders (holders of at least 1% of the outstanding shares and in certain cases, a greater amount) not made to all shareholders or not approved by disinterested shareholders; and (iii) contains no anti-takeover measures or other provisions restricting the rights of shareholders.
7. Bundled proposals: We may consider opposing or abstaining on proposals if disparate issues are "bundled" and presented for a single vote.
G. Auditors.
We generally support management proposals for selection or ratification of independent auditors. However, we may consider opposing such proposals with reference to incumbent audit firms if the company has suffered from serious accounting irregularities and we believe rotation of the audit firm is appropriate, or if fees paid to the auditor for non-audit-related services are excessive. Generally, to determine if non-audit fees are excessive, a 50% test will be applied (i.e., non-audit-related fees should be
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less than 50% of the total fees paid to the auditor). We generally vote against proposals to indemnify auditors.
H. Executive and Director Remuneration.
1. We generally support the following:
• Proposals for employee equity compensation plans and other employee ownership plans, provided that our research does not indicate that approval of the plan would be against shareholder interest. Such approval may be against shareholder interest if it authorizes excessive dilution and shareholder cost, particularly in the context of high usage ("run rate") of equity compensation in the recent past; or if there are objectionable plan design and provision.
• Proposals relating to fees to outside directors, provided the amounts are not excessive relative to other companies in the country or industry, and provided that the structure is appropriate within the market context. While stock-based compensation to outside directors is positive if moderate and appropriately structured, we are wary of significant stock option awards or other performance-based awards for outside directors, as well as provisions that could result in significant forfeiture of value on a director's decision to resign from a board (such forfeiture can undercut director independence).
• Proposals for employee stock purchase plans that permit discounts, but only for grants that are part of a broad-based employee plan, including all non-executive employees, and only if the discounts are limited to a reasonable market standard or less.
• Proposals for the establishment of employee retirement and severance plans, provided that our research does not indicate that approval of the plan would be against shareholder interest.
2. We generally oppose retirement plans and bonuses for non-executive directors and independent statutory auditors.
3. In the U.S. context, shareholder proposals requiring shareholder approval of all severance agreements will not be supported, but proposals that require shareholder approval for agreements in excess of three times the annual compensation (salary and bonus) generally will be supported. We generally oppose shareholder proposals that would establish arbitrary caps on pay. We consider on a case-by-case basis shareholder proposals that seek to limit Supplemental Executive Retirement Plans (SERPs), but support such proposals where we consider SERPs to be excessive.
4. Shareholder proposals advocating stronger and/or particular pay-for-performance models will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis, with consideration of the merits of the individual proposal within the context of the particular company and its labor markets, and the company's current and past practices. While we generally support emphasis on long-term components of senior executive pay and strong linkage of pay to performance, we consider factors including whether a proposal may be overly prescriptive, and the impact of the proposal, if implemented as written, on recruitment and retention.
5. We generally support proposals advocating reasonable senior executive and director stock ownership guidelines and holding requirements for shares gained in executive equity compensation programs
6. We generally support shareholder proposals for reasonable "claw-back" provisions that provide for company recovery of senior executive bonuses to the extent they were based on achieving financial benchmarks that were not actually met in light of subsequent restatements.
7. Management proposals effectively to re-price stock options are considered on a case-by-case basis. Considerations include the company's reasons and justifications for a re-pricing, the company's competitive position, whether senior executives and outside directors are excluded, potential cost to shareholders, whether the re-pricing or share exchange is on a value-for-value basis, and whether vesting requirements are extended.
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8. Say-on-Pay: We consider proposals relating to an advisory vote on remuneration on a case-by-case basis. Considerations include a review of the relationship between executive remuneration and performance based on operating trends and total shareholder return over multiple performance periods. In addition, we review remuneration structures and potential poor pay practices, including relative magnitude of pay, discretionary bonus awards, tax gross ups, change-in-control features, internal pay equity and peer group construction. As long-term investors, we support remuneration policies that align with long-term shareholder returns.
I. Social, Political and Environmental Issues.
Shareholders in the U.S. and certain other markets submit proposals encouraging changes in company disclosure and practices related to particular corporate, social, political and environmental matters. We consider how to vote on the proposals on a case-by-case basis to determine likely impacts on shareholder value. We seek to balance concerns on reputational and other risks that lie behind a proposal against costs of implementation, while considering appropriate shareholder and management prerogatives. We may abstain from voting on proposals that do not have a readily determinable financial impact on shareholder value. We support proposals that, if implemented, would enhance useful disclosure, but we generally vote against proposals requesting reports that we believe are duplicative, related to matters not material to the business, or that would impose unnecessary or excessive costs. We believe that certain social and environmental shareholder proposals may intrude excessively on management prerogatives, which can lead us to oppose them.
J. Fund of Funds.
Certain Funds advised by an MSIM Affiliate invest only in other MSIM Funds. If an underlying fund has a shareholder meeting, in order to avoid any potential conflict of interest, such proposals will be voted in the same proportion as the votes of the other shareholders of the underlying fund, unless otherwise determined by the Proxy Review Committee.
III. ADMINISTRATION OF POLICY
The MSIM Proxy Review Committee (the "Committee") has overall responsibility for the Policy. The Committee, which is appointed by MSIM's Long-Only Executive Committee, consists of investment professionals who represent the different investment disciplines and geographic locations of the firm, and is chaired by the director of the Corporate Governance Team ("CGT"). Because proxy voting is an investment responsibility and impacts shareholder value, and because of their knowledge of companies and markets, portfolio managers and other members of investment staff play a key role in proxy voting, although the Committee has final authority over proxy votes.
The CGT Director is responsible for identifying issues that require Committee deliberation or ratification. The CGT, working with advice of investment teams and the Committee, is responsible for voting on routine items and on matters that can be addressed in line with these Policy guidelines. The CGT has responsibility for voting case-by-case where guidelines and precedent provide adequate guidance.
The Committee will periodically review and have the authority to amend, as necessary, the Policy and establish and direct voting positions consistent with the Client Proxy Standard.
CGT and members of the Committee may take into account Research Providers' recommendations and research as well as any other relevant information they may request or receive, including portfolio manager and/or analyst comments and research, as applicable. Generally, proxies related to securities held in accounts that are managed pursuant to quantitative, index or index-like strategies ("Index Strategies") will be voted in the same manner as those held in actively managed accounts, unless economic interests of the accounts differ. Because accounts managed using Index Strategies are passively managed accounts, research from portfolio managers and/or analysts related to securities held in these accounts may not be available. If the affected securities are held only in accounts that are managed pursuant to Index Strategies, and the proxy relates to a matter that is not described in this Policy, the CGT will consider all available information from the Research Providers, and to the extent that the holdings are significant, from the portfolio managers and/or analysts.
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A. Committee Procedures
The Committee meets at least quarterly and reviews and considers changes to the Policy at least annually. Through meetings and/or written communications, the Committee is responsible for monitoring and ratifying "split votes" (i.e., allowing certain shares of the same issuer that are the subject of the same proxy solicitation and held by one or more MSIM portfolios to be voted differently than other shares) and/or "override voting" (i.e., voting all MSIM portfolio shares in a manner contrary to the Policy). The Committee will review developing issues and approve upcoming votes, as appropriate, for matters as requested by CGT.
The Committee reserves the right to review voting decisions at any time and to make voting decisions as necessary to ensure the independence and integrity of the votes.
B. Material Conflicts of Interest
In addition to the procedures discussed above, if the CGT Director determines that an issue raises a material conflict of interest, the CGT Director may request a special committee to review, and recommend a course of action with respect to, the conflict(s) in question ("Special Committee").
A potential material conflict of interest could exist in the following situations, among others:
1. The issuer soliciting the vote is a client of MSIM or an affiliate of MSIM and the vote is on a matter that materially affects the issuer.
2. The proxy relates to Morgan Stanley common stock or any other security issued by Morgan Stanley or its affiliates except if echo voting is used, as with MSIM Funds, as described herein.
3. Morgan Stanley has a material pecuniary interest in the matter submitted for a vote (e.g., acting as a financial advisor to a party to a merger or acquisition for which Morgan Stanley will be paid a success fee if completed).
If the CGT Director determines that an issue raises a potential material conflict of interest, depending on the facts and circumstances, the issue will be addressed as follows:
1. If the matter relates to a topic that is discussed in this Policy, the proposal will be voted as per the Policy.
2. If the matter is not discussed in this Policy or the Policy indicates that the issue is to be decided case-by-case, the proposal will be voted in a manner consistent with the Research Providers, provided that all the Research Providers consulted have the same recommendation, no portfolio manager objects to that vote, and the vote is consistent with MSIM's Client Proxy Standard.
3. If the Research Providers' recommendations differ, the CGT Director will refer the matter to a Special Committee to vote on the proposal, as appropriate.
Any Special Committee shall be comprised of the CGT Director and at least two portfolio managers (preferably members of the Committee) as approved by the Committee. The CGT Director may request non-voting participation by MSIM's General Counsel or his/her designee and the Chief Compliance Officer or his/her designee. In addition to the research provided by Research Providers, the Special Committee may request analysis from MSIM Affiliate investment professionals and outside sources to the extent it deems appropriate.
C. Proxy Voting Reporting
The CGT will document in writing all Committee and Special Committee decisions and actions, which documentation will be maintained by the CGT for a period of at least six years. To the extent these decisions relate to a security held by an MSIM Fund, the CGT will report the decisions to each applicable Board of Trustees/Directors of those Funds at each Board's next regularly scheduled Board meeting. The report will contain information concerning decisions made during the most recently ended calendar quarter immediately preceding the Board meeting.
A-9
MSIM will promptly provide a copy of this Policy to any client requesting it. MSIM will also, upon client request, promptly provide a report indicating how each proxy was voted with respect to securities held in that client's account.
MSIM's Legal Department is responsible for filing an annual Form N-PX on behalf of each MSIM Fund for which such filing is required, indicating how all proxies were voted with respect to such Fund's holdings.
APPENDIX A
The following procedures apply to accounts managed by Morgan Stanley AIP GP LP and Private Investment Partners Inc. ("AIP").
Generally, AIP will follow the guidelines set forth in Section II of MSIM's Proxy Voting Policy and Procedures. To the extent that such guidelines do not provide specific direction, or AIP determines that consistent with the Client Proxy Standard, the guidelines should not be followed, the Proxy Review Committee has delegated the voting authority to vote securities held by accounts managed by AIP to the Fund of Hedge Funds investment team, the Private Equity Fund of Funds investment team or the Private Equity Real Estate Fund of Funds investment team of AIP. A summary of decisions made by the investment teams will be made available to the Proxy Review Committee for its information at the next scheduled meeting of the Proxy Review Committee.
In certain cases, AIP may determine to abstain from determining (or recommending) how a proxy should be voted (and therefore abstain from voting such proxy or recommending how such proxy should be voted), such as where the expected cost of giving due consideration to the proxy does not justify the potential benefits to the affected account(s) that might result from adopting or rejecting (as the case may be) the measure in question.
Waiver of Voting Rights
For regulatory reasons, AIP may either 1) invest in a class of securities of an underlying fund (the "Fund") that does not provide for voting rights; or 2) waive 100% of its voting rights with respect to the following:
1. Any rights with respect to the removal or replacement of a director, general partner, managing member or other person acting in a similar capacity for or on behalf of the Fund (each individually a "Designated Person," and collectively, the "Designated Persons"), which may include, but are not limited to, voting on the election or removal of a Designated Person in the event of such Designated Person's death, disability, insolvency, bankruptcy, incapacity, or other event requiring a vote of interest holders of the Fund to remove or replace a Designated Person; and
2. Any rights in connection with a determination to renew, dissolve, liquidate, or otherwise terminate or continue the Fund, which may include, but are not limited to, voting on the renewal, dissolution, liquidation, termination or continuance of the Fund upon the occurrence of an event described in the Fund's organizational documents; provided, however, that, if the Fund's organizational documents require the consent of the Fund's general partner or manager, as the case may be, for any such termination or continuation of the Fund to be effective, then AIP may exercise its voting rights with respect to such matter.
Approved by Morgan Stanley Funds Board on September 27-28, 2011
A-10
MORGAN STANLEY U.S. GOVERNMENT MONEY MARKET TRUST
PART C
OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 28. Exhibits
(a) |
(1). |
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Declaration of Trust of the Registrant, dated November 18, 1981, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 1(a) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 16 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A, filed on March 15, 1996. |
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(2). |
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Amendment to the Declaration of Trust of the Registrant, dated January 18, 1983, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 1(b) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 16 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A, filed on March 15, 1996. |
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(3). |
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Amendment to the Declaration of Trust of the Registrant, dated May 18, 1984, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 1(c) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 16 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A, filed on March 15, 1996. |
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(4). |
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Amendment to the Declaration of Trust of the Registrant, dated June 22, 1984, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 1(d) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 16 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A, filed on March 15, 1996. |
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(5). |
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Amendment to the Declaration of Trust of the Registrant, dated February 19, 1993, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 1(e) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 16 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A, filed on March 15, 1996. |
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(6). |
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Amendment to the Declaration of Trust of the Registrant, dated June 22, 1998, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 1 of Post-Effective Amendment No. 19 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A, filed on January 27, 1999. |
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(7). |
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Amendment to the Declaration of Trust of the Registrant, dated June 18, 2001, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 1(g) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 23 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A, filed on March 28, 2002. |
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(8). |
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Amendment to the Declaration of Trust of the Registrant (with respect to the change of principal place of business), dated December 8, 2011, is filed herein. |
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(b). |
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Amended and Restated By-Laws of the Registrant, dated February 27, 2008, is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (b) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 31 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A, filed on May 29, 2008. |
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(c). |
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Not applicable. |
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(d). |
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Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and Morgan Stanley Investment Management Inc., dated July 31, 2011, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (d) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 25 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A of Morgan Stanley Limited Duration U.S. Government Trust, filed on September 28, 2011. |
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(e) |
(1). |
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Distribution Agreement between the Registrant and Morgan Stanley Distribution, Inc., dated July 31, 2011, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (e)(1) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 25 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A of Morgan Stanley Limited Duration U.S. Government Trust, filed on September 28, 2011. |
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(2). |
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Selected Dealer Agreement between Morgan Stanley Distributors Inc. and Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (e)(2) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 4 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A of Morgan Stanley Fundamental Value Fund, filed on January 25, 2006. |
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(3). |
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Addendum No. 1 to Selected Dealer Agreement is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (e)(3) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 24 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A of Morgan Stanley Strategist Fund, filed on September 26, 2007. |
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(4). |
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First Amendment to Addendum No. 1 to the Selected Dealer Agreement, dated February 15, 2008, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (e)(4) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 19 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A of Morgan Stanley Limited Term Municipal Trust, filed on July 25, 2008. |
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(5). |
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Form of Dealer Agreement is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (e)(3) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 10 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A of Morgan Stanley Aggressive Equity Fund, filed on November 22, 2006. |
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(f). |
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Second Amended and Restated Retirement Plan for Non-Interested Trustees or Directors, dated May 8, 1997, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 6 of Post-Effective Amendment No. 20 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A, filed on March 29, 1999. |
(g) |
(1). |
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Custodian Agreement between the Registrant and State Street Bank and Trust Company, dated March 7, 2008, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (g)(1) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 101 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A of Morgan Stanley Institutional Fund Trust, filed on February 6, 2012. |
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(2). |
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Data Access Services Agreement between the Registrant and State Street Bank and Trust Company, dated March 7, 2008, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (g)(2) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 24 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A of Morgan Stanley Limited Duration U.S. Government Trust, filed on September 30, 2010. |
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(h) |
(1). |
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Transfer Agency and Service Agreement, dated June 1, 2010, between Morgan Stanley Services Company Inc. and the Registrant is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (h)(1) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 24 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A of Morgan Stanley Limited Duration U.S. Government Trust, filed on September 30, 2010. |
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(2). |
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Amendment, effective June 1, 2010, to the Transfer Agency and Service Agreement is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (h)(2) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 24 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A of Morgan Stanley Limited Duration U.S. Government Trust, filed on September 30, 2010. |
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(3). |
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Administration Agreement between Morgan Stanley Services Company Inc. and the Registrant, dated July 31, 2011, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (h)(3) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 25 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A of Morgan Stanley Limited Duration U.S. Government Trust, filed on September 28, 2011. |
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(i) |
(1). |
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Opinion of Clifford Chance US LLP, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (h)(1) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 27 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A, filed on May 27, 2005. |
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(2). |
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Consent of Dechert LLP, filed herein. |
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(3). |
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Opinion of Dechert LLP, Massachusetts Counsel, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (h)(2) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 27 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A, filed on May 27, 2005. |
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(j) |
(1). |
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Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm, Deloitte & Touche LLP, filed herein. |
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(2). |
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Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm, Ernst & Young LLP, filed herein. |
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(k). |
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Not applicable. |
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(l). |
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Not applicable. |
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(m). |
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Amended and Restated Shareholder Services Plan, dated July 31, 2011, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (m)(1) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 25 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A of Morgan Stanley Limited Duration U.S. Government Trust, filed on September 28, 2011. |
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(n). |
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Not applicable. |
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(o). |
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Not applicable. |
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(p) |
(1). |
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Code of Ethics of Morgan Stanley Investment Management, effective February 15, 2011, is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (p)(1) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 23 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A of Morgan Stanley Multi Cap Growth Trust, filed on March 29, 2011. |
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(2). |
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Code of Ethics of Morgan Stanley Funds, is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (p)(2) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 24 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A, of Morgan Stanley Limited Duration U.S. Government Trust, filed on September 30, 2010. |
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(q). |
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Powers of Attorney of Trustees, dated February 29, 2012, are incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (q) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 26 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A of Morgan Stanley Multi Cap Growth Trust, filed on March 28, 2012. |
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ITEM 29. Persons Controlled by or Under Common Control with the Fund
None
ITEM 30. Indemnification
Pursuant to Section 5.3 of the Registrants Declaration of Trust and under Section 4.8 of the Registrants By-Laws, the indemnification of the Registrants 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 Registrants Declaration of Trust, neither the Investment Adviser 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. Pursuant to Section 9 of the Registrants Investment Advisory Agreement, in the absence of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of its obligations under the Agreement, the Investment Adviser shall not be liable to the Registrant or any of its investors for any error of judgment or mistake of law or for any act or omission by the Investment Adviser or for any losses sustained by the Registrant or its investors. Pursuant to Section 7 of the Registrants Administration Agreement, the Administrator will use its best efforts in the performance of administrative activities on behalf of each fund, but in the absence of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of its obligations hereunder, the Administrator shall not be liable to the Fund or any of its investors for any error of judgment or mistake of law or for any act or omission by the Administrator or for any losses sustained by the Fund or its investors.
Pursuant to Section 7 of the Registrants Underwriting Agreement, the Registrant shall indemnify and hold harmless the Underwriter and each person, if any, who controls the Underwriter against any loss, liability, claim, damage or expense (including the reasonable cost of investigating or defending any alleged loss, liability, claim, damage or expense and reasonable counsel fees incurred in connection therewith) arising by reason of any person acquiring any Shares, which may be based upon the Securities Act of 1933 (the Act), or on any other statute or at common law, on the grounds that the Registration Statement or related Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information, as from time to time amended and supplemented, or the annual or interim reports to shareholders of the Registrant, includes an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading, unless such statement or omission was made in reliance upon, and in conformity with, information furnished to the Registrant in connection therewith by or on behalf of the Underwriter; provided, however, that in no case (i) is the indemnity of the Registrant in favor of the Underwriter and any such controlling persons to be deemed to protect the Underwriter or any such controlling persons thereof against any liability to the Registrant or its security holders to which the Underwriter or any such controlling persons would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence in the performance of its duties or by reason of reckless disregard of its obligations and duties under this Agreement; or (ii) is the Registrant to be liable under its indemnity agreement contained in this paragraph with respect to any claim made against the Underwriter or any such controlling persons, unless the Underwriter or any such controlling persons, as the case may be, shall have notified the Registrant in writing within a reasonable time after the summons or other first legal process giving information of the nature of the claim shall have been served upon the Underwriter or such controlling persons (or after the Underwriter or such controlling persons shall have received notice of such service on any designated agent), but failure to notify the Registrant of any such claim shall not relieve it from any liability which it may have to the person against whom such action is brought otherwise than on account of its indemnity agreement contained in this paragraph.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Act may be permitted to trustees, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a trustee, officer, or controlling person of the Registrant in connection with the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted against the Registrant by such trustee, officer or controlling person in connection with the shares being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act, and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
The Registrant hereby undertakes that it will apply the indemnification provision of its by-laws in a manner consistent with Release 11330 of the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Investment Company Act of 1940, so long as the interpretation of Sections 17(h) and 17(i) of such Act remains in effect.
The Registrant, in conjunction with the Investment Adviser, the Registrants Trustees, and other registered investment management companies managed by the Investment Adviser, maintains insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a Trustee, officer, employee, or agent of the Registrant, or who is or was serving at the request of the 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 the Registrant itself is not permitted to indemnify him.
ITEM 31. Business and Other Connections of Investment Adviser
See Fund Management in the Prospectus regarding the business of the investment adviser. The following information is given regarding directors and officers of Morgan Stanley Investment Management Inc. (Morgan Stanley Investment Management). Morgan Stanley Investment Management is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Morgan Stanley.
Set forth below is the name and principal business address of each company for which directors or officers of Morgan Stanley Investment Management serve as directors, officers or employees:
Morgan Stanley Investment Management Inc.
Morgan Stanley Distribution, Inc.
522 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10036
Morgan Stanley Services Company Inc.
Harborside Financial Center, 201 Plaza II, Jersey City, NJ 07311
Listed below are the officers and Directors of Morgan Stanley Investment Management:
Name and Position with
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Other Substantial Business, Profession, or Vocation |
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Gregory J. Fleming
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MSAM Holdings II, Inc. and Morgan Stanley Smith Barney. |
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Edmond Moriarty
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Managing Director and Director of Morgan Stanley Services Company Inc. and Morgan Stanley Distribution, Inc.; Director of MSAM Holdings II, Inc. |
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Christopher ODell
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Managing Director and Secretary of Morgan Stanley Distribution, Inc. and Morgan Stanley Services Company Inc.; Secretary of MSAM Holdings II, Inc. and other entities affiliated with the Adviser. |
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Mary Ann Picciotto
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Chief Compliance Officer of the Morgan Stanley Funds. |
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Jeffrey Gelfand
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Managing Director, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of Morgan Stanley Distribution, Inc. and Morgan Stanley Services Company Inc.; Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of MSAM Holdings II, Inc. |
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Arthur Lev
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President and Principal Executive Officer of the Equity and Fixed Income Funds; Head of the Long-only Business of Morgan Stanley Investment Management. |
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James Janover
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Director of MSAM Holdings II, Inc. |
For information as to the business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature of additional officers of the Adviser, reference is made to the Advisers current Form ADV (File No. 801-15757) filed under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, incorporated herein by reference.
ITEM 32. Principal Underwriters
(a) Morgan Stanley Distribution, Inc., a Delaware corporation, is the principal underwriter of the Registrant. Morgan Stanley Distribution, Inc. is also the principal underwriter of the following investment companies:
(1) Active Assets California Tax-Free Trust
(2) Active Assets Government Securities Trust
(3) Active Assets Institutional Government Securities Trust
(4) Active Assets Institutional Money Trust
(5) Active Assets Money Trust
(6) Active Assets Tax-Free Trust
(7) Morgan Stanley California Tax-Free Daily Income Trust
(8) Morgan Stanley European Equity Fund Inc.
(9) Morgan Stanley Focus Growth Fund
(10) Morgan Stanley Global Fixed Income Opportunities Fund
(11) Morgan Stanley Global Infrastructure Fund
(12) Morgan Stanley Global Strategist Fund
(13) Morgan Stanley Institutional Fund, Inc.
(14) Morgan Stanley Institutional Fund Trust
(15) Morgan Stanley Institutional Liquidity Funds
(16) Morgan Stanley International Fund
(17) Morgan Stanley International Value Equity Fund
(18) Morgan Stanley Limited Duration U.S. Government Trust
(19) Morgan Stanley Liquid Asset Fund Inc.
(20) Morgan Stanley Mid Cap Growth Fund
(21) Morgan Stanley Mortgage Securities Trust
(22) Morgan Stanley Multi Cap Growth Trust
(23) Morgan Stanley New York Municipal Money Market Trust
(24) Morgan Stanley Select Dimensions Investment Series
(25) Morgan Stanley Tax-Free Daily Income Trust
(26) Morgan Stanley U.S. Government Money Market Trust
(27) Morgan Stanley U.S. Government Securities Trust
(28) Morgan Stanley Variable Investment Series
(29) The Universal Institutional Funds, Inc.
(b) The following information is given regarding directors and officers of Morgan Stanley Distribution, Inc. The principal address of Morgan Stanley Distribution, Inc. is 522 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York 10036.
Name and Principal Business
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Positions and Offices with
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Positions and Offices with
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Lisa Jones |
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President and Director |
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None |
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Edmond Moriarty |
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Director |
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None |
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Jeffrey Gelfand |
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Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer |
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None |
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Christopher ODell |
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Secretary |
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None |
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Keraya Jefferson |
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Chief Compliance Officer |
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None |
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Gina Gallagher |
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Chief Anti-Money Laundering Officer |
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None |
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Joseph DAuria |
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Financial and Operations Principal |
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None |
(c) Not applicable.
ITEM 33. Location of Accounts and Records
Books or other documents required to be maintained by Section 31(a) [15 U.S.C. 80a-30(a)] of the Investment Company Act of 1940, and the rules promulgated thereunder, are maintained as follows:
State Street Bank and Trust Company
One Lincoln Street
Boston, MA 02111
(records relating to its function as custodian)
Morgan Stanley Investment Management Inc.
522 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10036
(records relating to its function as investment adviser)
Morgan Stanley Services Company Inc.
Harborside Financial Center,
201 Plaza II, 7th Floor
Jersey City, NJ 07311
(records relating to its function as administrator, transfer agent and
dividend disbursing agent)
ITEM 34. Management Services
Registrant is not a party to any such management-related service contract.
ITEM 35. Undertakings
Not Applicable.
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 24 th day of May 2012.
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MORGAN STANLEY U.S. GOVERNMENT MONEY |
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MARKET TRUST |
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By: |
/s/ KEVIN KLINGERT |
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Kevin Klingert |
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President and Principal Executive Officer |
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Post-Effective Amendment No. 37 has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
MORGAN STANLEY U.S. GOVERNMENT MONEY MARKET TRUST
Exhibit Index
(a)(8) |
Amendment to the Declaration of Trust (changing the Principal Place of Business). |
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(i)(2) |
Consent of Dechert LLP. |
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(j)(1) |
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm, Deloitte & Touche LLP. |
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(j)(2) |
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm, Ernst &Young LLP. |
Exhibit 99.(a)(8)
CERTIFICATE
The undersigned hereby certifies that she is the Secretary of Morgan Stanley U.S. Government Money Market Trust (the Trust), an unincorporated business trust organized under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, that annexed hereto is an Amendment to the Declaration of Trust of the Trust adopted by the Trustees of the Trust on December 8, 2011 as provided in Section 9.3 of the Declaration of Trust of the Trust, said Amendment to take effect on January 1, 2012 and I do hereby further certify that such Amendment has not been amended and is on the date hereof in full force and effect.
Dated this 14 th day of December, 2011
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/s/ Mary E. Mullin |
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Mary E. Mullin |
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Secretary |
AMENDMENT
Dated: |
December 8, 2011 |
To be Effective: |
January 1, 2012 |
TO
MORGAN STANLEY U.S. GOVERNMENT MONEY MARKET TRUST
DECLARATION OF TRUST
DATED
November 18, 1981
MORGAN STANLEY U.S. GOVERNMENT MONEY MARKET TRUST
AMENDMENT TO THE DECLARATION OF TRUST
WHEREAS , Morgan Stanley U.S. Government Money Market Trust (the Trust) was established by the Declaration of Trust dated November 18, 1981, as amended from time to time (the Declaration), under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts;
WHEREAS, Section 9.3 of the Declaration provides that the Trustees may amend the Declaration without the vote or consent of Shareholders to supply any omission or to cure, correct or supplement any ambiguous, defective or inconsistent provision thereof;
WHEREAS, the Trustees of the Trust have deemed it advisable to amend the Declaration to add a provision to the Declaration setting forth the principal place of business of the Trust; and
WHEREAS, the Trustees of the Trust have deemed it advisable to amend the Declaration to reflect the current Trustees of the Trust;
NOW, THEREFORE:
I. Section 11.8 is hereby added to Article XI of the Declaration and shall read in its entirety as follows:
Section 11.8. Principal Place of Business . The principal place of business of the Trust shall be 522 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York 10036, or such other location as the Trustees may designate from time to time.
II. The Trustees of the Trust are:
Frank L. Bowman |
c/o Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP |
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Counsel to the Independent Trustees |
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1177 Avenue of the Americas |
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New York, NY 10036 |
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Michael Bozic |
c/o Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP |
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Counsel to the Independent Trustees |
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1177 Avenue of the Americas |
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New York, NY 10036 |
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Kathleen A. Dennis |
c/o Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP |
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Counsel to the Independent Trustees |
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1177 Avenue of the Americas |
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New York, NY 10036 |
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James F. Higgins |
c/o Morgan Stanley Services Company Inc. |
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Harborside Financial Center 201 Plaza Two |
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Jersey City, NJ 07311 |
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Dr. Manuel H. Johnson |
c/o Johnson Smick Group, Inc. |
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888 16th Street, N.W., Suite 740 |
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Washington, D.C. 20006 |
Joseph J. Kearns |
c/o Kearns & Associates LLC |
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PMB754, 22631 Pacific Coast Highway |
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Malibu, CA 90265 |
|
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Michael F. Klein |
c/o Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP |
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Counsel to the Independent Trustees |
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1177 Avenue of the Americas |
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New York, NY 10036 |
|
|
Michael E. Nugent |
c/o Triumph Capital, L.P. |
|
445 Park Avenue |
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New York, NY 10022 |
|
|
W. Allen Reed |
c/o Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP |
|
Counsel to the Independent Trustees |
|
1177 Avenue of the Americas |
|
New York, NY 10036 |
|
|
Fergus Reid |
c/o Joe Pietryka, Inc. |
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85 Charles Colman Blvd. |
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Pawling, NY 12564 |
III. The Trustees of the Trust hereby reaffirm the Declaration, as amended, in all respects.
IV. The undersigned hereby certify that this instrument has been duly adopted in accordance with the provisions of the Declaration.
V. This amendment may be executed in more than one counterpart, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same document.
IN WITNESS THEREOF, the undersigned, the Trustees of the Trust, have executed this instrument this 8 th day of December, 2011.
/s/ Frank L. Bowman |
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/s/ Michael Bozic |
Frank L. Bowman, as Trustee, and not individually |
|
Michael Bozic, as Trustee, and not individually |
c/o Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP |
|
c/o Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP |
Counsel to the Independent Trustees |
|
Counsel to the Independent Trustees |
1177 Avenue of the Americas |
|
1177 Avenue of the Americas |
New York, NY 10036 |
|
New York, NY 10036 |
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|
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/s/ Kathleen A. Dennis |
|
/s/ Manuel H. Johnson |
Kathleen A. Dennis, as Trustee, and not individually |
|
Dr. Manuel H. Johnson, as Trustee, and not individually |
c/o Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP |
|
c/o Johnson Smick Group, Inc. |
Counsel to the Independent Trustees |
|
888 16th Street, N.W., Suite 740 |
1177 Avenue of the Americas |
|
Washington, D.C. 20006 |
New York, NY 10036 |
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ James F. Higgins |
|
/s/ Joseph J. Kearns |
James F. Higgins, as Trustee, and not individually |
|
Joseph J. Kearns, as Trustee, and not individually |
c/o Morgan Stanley Services Company Inc. |
|
c/o Kearns & Associates LLC |
Harborside Financial Center 201 Plaza Two |
|
PMB754, 22631 Pacific Coast Highway |
Jersey City, NJ 07311 |
|
Malibu, CA 90265 |
|
|
|
/s/ Michael F. Klein |
|
/s/ Michael E. Nugent |
Michael F. Klein, as Trustee, and not individually |
|
Michael E. Nugent, as Trustee, and not individually |
c/o Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP |
|
c/o Triumph Capital, L.P. |
Counsel to the Independent Trustees |
|
445 Park Avenue |
1177 Avenue of the Americas |
|
New York, NY 10022 |
New York, NY 10036 |
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ W. Allen Reed |
|
/s/ Fergus Reid |
W. Allen Reed, as Trustee, and not individually |
|
Fergus Reid, as Trustee, and not individually |
c/o Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP |
|
c/o Joe Pietryka, Inc. |
Counsel to the Independent Trustees |
|
85 Charles Colman Blvd. |
1177 Avenue of the Americas |
|
Pawling, NY 12564 |
New York, NY 10036 |
|
|
Exhibit 99.(i)(2)
CONSENT OF DECHERT LLP
We hereby consent to the reference to our firm under the caption Fund Counsel in the Statement of Additional Information comprising a part of Post-Effective Amendment No. 37 to the Form N-1A Registration Statement of Morgan Stanley U.S. Government Money Market Trust, File No. 2-74980. We do not thereby admit that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act of 1933 or the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder.
/s/ Dechert LLP |
|
New York, New York |
|
May 24, 2012 |
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Exhibit 99.(j)(1)
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Post-Effective Amendment No. 37 to Registration Statement No . 2-74980 on Form N-1A of our report dated March 29, 2011, relating to the financial statements and financial highlights of Morgan Stanley U.S. Government Money Market Trust (the Fund) for the year ended January 31, 2011, which reference appears in the audited financial statements dated January 31, 2012 of the Fund that are incorporated by reference in the Statement of Additional Information dated May 31, 2012 (SAI), which is part of such Registration Statement.
We also consent to the references to us under the captions Financial Highlights in the Prospectus, and Other Service Providers - Custodian and Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm and Financial Statements in the SAI, which are part of such Registration Statement.
/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP
New York, New York
May 23, 2012
Exhibit 99.(j)(2)
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
We consent to the references to our firm under the captions Financial Highlights in the Prospectus and Custodian and Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm and Financial Statements in the Statement of Additional Information in Post-Effective Amendment No. 37 to the Registration Statement (Form N-1A, No. 2-74980) of Morgan Stanley U.S. Government Money Market Trust and to the incorporation by reference of our report, dated March 23, 2012 on Morgan Stanley U.S. Government Money Market Trust included in the Annual Report to Shareholders for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2012.
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/s/ ERNST & YOUNG LLP |
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|
|
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Boston, Massachusetts |
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May 23, 2012 |
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