-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE----- Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov Originator-Key-Asymmetric: MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA, BlvXdkYIjb+jwDP0iT237y5NePVaDGoUNhtSbqrBhxdDcsewDxNHIkDR19jJldrW /yvy7+bYEk28Q3e53pz6Kw== 0001104659-10-013002.txt : 20100309 0001104659-10-013002.hdr.sgml : 20100309 20100309114322 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0001104659-10-013002 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: N-CSR PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 17 CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT: 20091231 FILED AS OF DATE: 20100309 DATE AS OF CHANGE: 20100309 EFFECTIVENESS DATE: 20100309 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: MORGAN STANLEY VARIABLE INVESTMENT SERIES CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000716716 IRS NUMBER: 133178476 STATE OF INCORPORATION: MA FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: N-CSR SEC ACT: 1940 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 811-03692 FILM NUMBER: 10665929 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 522 FIFTH AVENUE CITY: NEW YORK STATE: NY ZIP: 10036 BUSINESS PHONE: 800-869-6397 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 522 FIFTH AVENUE CITY: NEW YORK STATE: NY ZIP: 10036 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: MORGAN STANLEY DEAN WITTER VARIABLE INVESTMENT SERIES DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 19980622 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: DEAN WITTER VARIABLE INVESTMENT SERIES DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 19930209 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: WITTER DEAN VARIABLE INVESTMENT SERIES DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 19920703 0000716716 S000002453 MONEY MARKET PORTFOLIO C000006583 X C000006584 Y 0000716716 S000002454 S&P 500 INDEX PORTFOLIO C000006585 X C000006586 Y 0000716716 S000002456 AGGRESSIVE EQUITY PORTFOLIO C000006589 X C000006590 Y 0000716716 S000002458 STRATEGIST PORTFOLIO C000006593 X C000006594 Y 0000716716 S000002459 LIMITED DURATION PORTFOLIO C000006595 X C000006596 Y 0000716716 S000002460 INCOME PLUS PORTFOLIO C000006597 X C000006598 Y 0000716716 S000002461 HIGH YIELD PORTFOLIO C000006599 X C000006600 Y 0000716716 S000002462 GLOBAL INFRASTRUCTURE PORTFOLIO C000006601 X C000006602 Y 0000716716 S000002463 DIVIDEND GROWTH PORTFOLIO C000006603 X C000006604 Y 0000716716 S000002464 GLOBAL DIVIDEND GROWTH PORTFOLIO C000006605 X C000006606 Y 0000716716 S000002465 EUROPEAN EQUITY PORTFOLIO C000006607 X C000006608 Y 0000716716 S000002466 CAPITAL OPPORTUNITIES PORTFOLIO C000006609 X C000006610 Y 0000716716 S000004795 Income Builder Portfolio C000013006 Class X C000013007 Class Y N-CSR 1 a10-2529_1ncsr.htm N-CSR

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM N-CSR

 

CERTIFIED SHAREHOLDER REPORT OF REGISTERED
MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES

 

Investment Company Act file number

811-03692

 

Morgan Stanley Variable Investment Series

(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)

 

522 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York

 

10036

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

(Zip code)

 

Randy Takian
522 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York 10036

(Name and address of agent for service)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:

212-296-6990

 

 

Date of fiscal year end:

December 31, 2009

 

 

Date of reporting period:

December 31, 2009

 

 



 

Item 1 - Report to Shareholders

 



MORGAN STANLEY
VARIABLE INVESTMENT SERIES

Annual Report

DECEMBER 31, 2009

The Portfolios are intended to be the funding vehicle for variable annuity contracts and variable life insurance policies offered by the separate accounts of certain life insurance companies.



Morgan Stanley Variable Investment Series

Table of Contents

Letter to the Shareholders     1    
Expense Example     25    
Portfolios of Investments:  
Money Market     31    
Limited Duration     33    
Income Plus     43    
High Yield     56    
Global Infrastructure     66    
Income Builder     73    
Dividend Growth     79    
Global Dividend Growth     83    
European Equity     88    
Capital Opportunities     92    
S&P 500 Index     94    
Aggressive Equity     105    
Strategist     107    
Financial Statements:  
Statements of Assets and Liabilities     124    
Statements of Operations     127    
Statements of Changes in Net Assets     130    
Notes to Financial Statements     142    
Financial Highlights     186    
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm     198    
Trustee and Officer Information     199    
Federal Tax Notice     205    

 




Morgan Stanley Variable Investment Series

Letter to the Shareholders n December 31, 2009

Dear Shareholder,

As we entered 2009, the economy was still mired in recession and the financial markets continued to tumble as the credit crisis deepened and consumer confidence hit a new low. As the first quarter progressed, however, signs emerged that the unprecedented monetary and fiscal stimulus measures enacted by global governments and central banks had begun to take hold. Credit conditions became more favorable, thanks in part to the Federal Reserve's zero interest-rate policy and other initiatives to enhance liquidity, while at the same time, the contraction in economic growth appeared to be slowing, all of which served to boost investor confidence and a resurgence in risk appetite. Investors who had fled riskier asset classes in favor of the relatively safe haven of U.S. Treasury and cash-equivalent securities began to pour cash back into the credit and equity markets, sparking a brisk rebound in performance in early March.

Market sentiment continued to improve in the second quarter as encouraging news on the corporate and economic fronts — including better-than-expected corporate earnings and increased manufacturing activity — pointed to a potential economic recovery, propelling the markets higher. Although weak spots in the economy remained, most notably high unemployment and the still-languishing housing market, initial gross domestic product (GDP) estimates for the third quarter moved into positive territory, further stoking investor confidence. The rally continued to gain momentum through the third and fourth quarters and by year end, both the stock and bond markets had made a dramatic comeback, with many of the most beaten down sectors in 2008 posting the largest gains for the year.

While 2009 was certainly a remarkable year for the markets and the economy appears to be back on the path to expansion, concerns remain about the strength of the recovery going forward as the government begins winding down its various support programs and unemployment continues to hover near 10%.

Domestic Equity Overview

For the year overall, domestic equities were up 26.46% as measured by the S&P 500® Index. Performance was led by the most beaten-down sectors of the previous year, including sectors with greater economic sensitivity (cyclicals) and/or reliance on commodity prices. Within those sectors, lower quality, higher beta (more volatile) stocks tended to outperform.

In particular, financials, materials, information technology, and consumer discretionary were all among the top performing groups in 2009. Within financials, banks and diversified financial companies saw strong comebacks as government interventions helped stabilize the financial system and credit markets. Furthermore, companies with capital markets exposure were bolstered by the markets' rally. The materials sector gained on the back of rising commodity prices, as increasing optimism for a global economic recovery



Morgan Stanley Variable Investment Series

Letter to the Shareholders n December 31, 2009 continued

drove expectations of rising demand for commodities. The information technology and consumer discretionary sectors performed well as investors began to anticipate a return to economic expansion and an eventual increase in spending by corporations and consumers.

Not surprisingly, the sectors left behind in 2009's rally were those that had outperformed in 2008: the defensive (or less economically sensitive) sectors such as health care, telecommunications services, and utilities. Although there were areas of strength within each sector, including several high-profile acquisitions in the pharmaceuticals industry, investors generally rotated out of these defensive sectors into riskier areas of the market as it became clearer that an economic depression had been averted and that the worst had passed. However, all sectors, including the laggards, posted positive returns for the 12-month period.

Fixed Income Overview

Within the fixed income market, spread (or non-government) sectors rebounded strongly in 2009, with the riskiest segments of the market staging the most impressive rallies. Although Treasury securities performed well early in the year, as investors assumed more risk and shifted to other sectors, performance lagged and yields moved markedly higher. As of year end, yields on 2-, 5-, 10-, and 30-year Treasuries were approximately 37, 113, 162, and 196 basis points higher, respectively, than at the end of 2008.

The agency sector performed relatively well, thanks in part to growing investor interest in FDIC-backed bank notes, which were introduced in late 2008 as part of the Temporary Liquidity Guarantee Program. The Federal Reserve's program of purchasing large quantities of agency mortgage-backed securities (MBS) and investors' increasing confidence in credit-related securities led to much stronger performance for the residential mortgage sector. Despite lower rates and the Home Affordable Modification Program, refinancing activity remained low and mortgage prepayment speed only modestly increased.

The corporate credit sector benefited from a significant tightening in yield spreads (an indication of investors' willingness to assume credit risk), particularly within the lower quality, higher yielding segment. The Barclays Capital Corporate Bond Index, which is generally representative of the investment grade corporate credit market, returned 18.68% for the year. The best performing sectors were those with the widest yield spreads at the start of 2009: real estate investment trusts (REITs), metals/mining, life insurance, financials and telecommunications. The high yield corporate credit market made an even more dramatic comeback, posting a record 58.76% return for the year, as measured by the Barclays Capital U.S. Corporate High Yield - 2% Issuer Cap Index. The lowest quality bonds delivered the best performance; CCC rated issues were up over 90%, easily outperforming better quality BB and B rated issues, which returned 46%


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Letter to the Shareholders n December 31, 2009 continued

and 45%, respectively. From an industry perspective, financials and insurance were the top performers while the utility and consumer non-cyclical industries trailed.

Money market liquidity improved significantly during the year and as a result, the 3-month London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR), a benchmark for short-term interest rates, fell roughly 1.17% to end the year at 0.25%. The decline is indicative of improving financial conditions as the various government-sponsored programs reinvigorated financing activity. As the financial markets moved closer to normalcy, usage of the government-sponsored liquidity programs materially declined. Nonetheless, the Federal Reserve Board of Governors approved the extension of and modifications to a number of these programs until February 1, 2010 in an effort to promote financial stability and support the flow of credit to households and businesses.

International Equity Overview

International equities also came back strongly starting in mid-March, supported by significant monetary and fiscal stimulus by governments and central banks around the world. As in the U.S., cyclical sectors (such as materials, financials and consumer discretionary) led the recovery globally while the more defensive health care, telecommunications and utilities sectors lagged.

On a regional basis, the emerging markets again outperformed developed markets in 2009, propelled by more stable banking systems and healthier corporate and government balance sheets in several emerging market countries, a low interest rate environment, and positive economic momentum from China. Within developed markets, Asia ex-Japan and Europe each posted double-digit gains, while Japan was the notable laggard, with a single-digit return for the year.

In Europe, the economic outlook continued to brighten but concerns about the pace of deleveraging remained. Although European bank stocks rebounded strongly during the year as governments and central banks across the region took extraordinary measures to stabilize the financial system, investors began to worry about what may happen once these measures are removed. Moreover, investors are questioning the effect that large government deficits might have on European economies going forward, particularly in Greece, Spain, and the U.K.

Japan benefited in the first half of the year from the return of investors' risk appetites. Investors rotated into Japan, attracted to its highly cyclical nature. But political noise in the second half of the year, combined with a stronger yen, mounting deflationary pressure and a stream of equity finance announcements slowed the market's advance. However, in December, Japanese equities reversed course as some of these concerns abated, the yen weakened, mid-year earnings announcements were solid, and the government and Bank of Japan took coordinated actions to fuel the economy.


3



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Letter to the Shareholders n December 31, 2009 continued

Aggressive Equity Portfolio

For the 12-month period ended December 31, 2009, Variable Investment Series — Aggressive Equity Portfolio Class X shares produced a total return of 69.46%, outperforming the Russell 3000® Growth Index (the "Index"), which returned 37.01%. For the same period, the Portfolio's Class Y shares returned 69.06%. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

The performance of the Portfolio's two share classes varies because each has different expenses. The Portfolio's total returns assume the reinvestment of all distributions but do not reflect the deduction of any charges by your insurance company. Such costs would lower performance.

Stock selection in technology was the largest positive contributor to relative performance, although it was partially offset by the negative effect of an underweight there. The computer services, software and systems industry led performance within the sector. Stock selection in consumer discretionary also had a positive effect on relative performance, driven by the diversified retail industry. Both stock selection and an overweight in financial services added to relative performance. Here, exposure to the financial data and systems industry was the primary contributor.

Although the Portfolio outperformed the Index, one area was detrimental to overall performance. Stock selection in materials and processing detracted from relative performance, despite the benefit of an overweight position in the sector. While none of our

Performance data quoted represents past performance, which is no guarantee of future results and current performance may be lower or higher than the figures shown. For most recent month-end performance figures, please contact the issuing insurance company or speak with your Financial Advisor. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate. When you sell Portfolio shares, they may be worth less than their original cost. Total returns do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Portfolio distributions or the redemption of Portfolio shares. Performance for Class Y shares will vary from the performance of Class X shares due to differences in expenses. Performance assumes reinvestment of all distributions for the underlying portfolio based on net asset value (NAV). It does not reflect the deduction of insurance expenses, an annual contract maintenance fee, or surrender charges. If performance inform ation included the effect of these additional charges, the total returns would be lower.

  Average Annual Total Returns as of December 31, 2009

    1 Year   5 Years   10 Years   Since Inception*  
Class X     69.46 %     6.61 %     0.63 %     4.23 %  
Class Y     69.06 %     6.34 %           0.34 %  

 

(1)  Ending value on December 31, 2009 for the underlying portfolio. This figure does not reflect the deduction of any account fees or sales charges.

(2)  The Russell 3000® Growth Index measures the performance of the broad growth segment of the U.S. equity universe. It includes those Russell 3000® Index companies with higher price-to-book ratios and higher forecasted growth values. The Russell 3000® Index measures the performance of the largest 3000 U.S. companies representing approximately 98% of the investable U.S. equity ma rket. The Index is unmanaged and its returns do not include any sales charges or fees. Such costs would lower performance. It is not possible to invest directly in an index.

*  Inception dates of May 4, 1999 for Class X and June 5, 2000 for Class Y.


4



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Letter to the Shareholders n December 31, 2009 continued

holdings had negative returns, they did not keep pace with the stronger performing industries within the sector. In particular, the paper and chemicals industries, in which the Portfolio had no exposure, saw large rebounds in 2009.

There is no guarantee that any sectors mentioned will continue to perform as discussed above or that securities in such sectors will be held by the Portfolio in the future.

Capital Opportunities Portfolio

For the 12-month period ended December 31, 2009, Variable Investment Series — Capital Opportunities Portfolio Class X shares produced a total return of 71.32%, outperforming the Russell 3000® Growth Index (the "Index"), which returned 37.01%. For the same period, the Portfolio's Class Y shares returned 70.85%. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

The performance of the Portfolio's two share classes varies because each has different expenses. The Portfolio's total returns assume the reinvestment of all distributions but do not reflect the deduction of any charges by your insurance company. Such costs would lower performance.

Stock selection in technology was the largest positive contributor to relative performance, although it was partially offset by the negative effect of an underweight there. The computer services, software and systems industry led performance within the sector. Stock selection in consumer discretionary also had a positive effect on relative

Performance data quoted represents past performance, which is no guarantee of future results and current performance may be lower or higher than the figures shown. For most recent month-end performance figures, please contact the issuing insurance company or speak with your Financial Advisor. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate. When you sell Portfolio shares, they may be worth less than their original cost. Total returns do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Portfolio distributions or the redemption of Portfolio shares. Performance for Class Y shares will vary from the performance of Class X shares due to differences in expenses. Performance assumes reinvestment of all distributions for the underlying portfolio based on net asset value (NAV). It does not reflect the deduction of insurance expenses, an annual contract maintenance fee, or surrender charges. If performance inform ation included the effect of these additional charges, the total returns would be lower.

  Average Annual Total Returns as of December 31, 2009

    1 Year   5 Years   10 Years   Since Inception*  
Class X     71.32 %     5.72 %     –0.94 %     10.84 %  
Class Y     70.85 %     5.45 %           –0.27 %  

 

(1)  Ending value on December 31, 2009 for the underlying portfolio. This figure does not reflect the deduction of any account fees or sales charges.

(2)  The Russell 3000® Growth Index measures the performance of the broad growth segment of the U.S. equity universe. It includes those Russell 3000® Index companies with higher price-to-book ratios and higher forecasted growth values. The Russell 3000® Index measures the performance of the largest 3000 U.S. companies representing approximately 98% of the investable U.S. equity ma rket. The Index is unmanaged and its returns do not include any sales charges or fees. Such costs would lower performance. It is not possible to invest directly in an index.

*  Inception dates of March 9, 1984 for Class X and June 5, 2000 for Class Y.


5



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Letter to the Shareholders n December 31, 2009 continued

performance, driven by the diversified retail industry. Both stock selection and an overweight in financial services added to relative performance. Here, exposure to the financial data and systems industry was the primary contributor.

Although the Portfolio outperformed the Index, one area was detrimental to overall performance. Stock selection in materials and processing detracted from relative performance, despite the benefit of an overweight position in the sector. While none of our holdings had negative returns, they did not keep pace with the stronger performing industries within the sector. In particular, the paper and chemicals industries, in which the Portfolio had no exposure, saw large rebounds in 2009.

There is no guarantee that any sectors mentioned will continue to perform as discussed above or that securities in such sectors will be held by the Portfolio in the future.

Dividend Growth Portfolio

For the 12-month period ended December 31, 2009, Variable Investment Series — Dividend Growth Portfolio Class X shares produced a total return of 24.30%, underperforming the S&P 500® Index (the "Index"), which returned 26.46%. For the same period, the Portfolio's Class Y shares returned 23.94%. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

The performance of the Portfolio's two share classes varies because each has different expenses. The Portfolio's total returns assume the reinvestment of all distributions but do not reflect the deduction of any

Performance data quoted represents past performance, which is no guarantee of future results and current performance may be lower or higher than the figures shown. For most recent month-end performance figures, please contact the issuing insurance company or speak with your Financial Advisor. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate. When you sell Portfolio shares, they may be worth less than their original cost. Total returns do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Portfolio distributions or the redemption of Portfolio shares. Performance for Class Y shares will vary from the performance of Class X shares due to differences in expenses. Performance assumes reinvestment of all distributions for the underlying portfolio based on net asset value (NAV). It does not reflect the deduction of insurance expenses, an annual contract maintenance fee, or surrender charges. If performance inform ation included the effect of these additional charges, the total returns would be lower.

  Average Annual Total Returns as of December 31, 2009

    1 Year   5 Years   10 Years   Since Inception*  
Class X     24.30 %     –0.66 %     0.94 %     6.77 %  
Class Y     23.94 %     –0.91 %           0.98 %  

 

(1)  Ending value on December 31, 2009 for the underlying portfolio. This figure does not reflect the deduction of any account fees or sales charges.

(2)  The Standard & Poor's 500® Index (S&P 500®) measures the performance of the large cap segment of the U.S. equities market, covering approximately 75% of the U.S. equities market. The Index includes 500 leading companies in leading industries of the U.S. economy. The Index is unmanaged and its returns do not include any sales charges or fees. Such costs would lower performance. It is not possible to invest directly in an index.

*  Inception dates of March 1, 1990 for Class X and June 5, 2000 for Class Y.


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Letter to the Shareholders n December 31, 2009 continued

charges by your insurance company. Such costs would lower performance.

The main detractors from relative performance were stocks in the capital goods and technology sectors.

However, other positions benefited relative returns. The main contributors to relative performance were stocks in the shelter, health care, and consumer services sectors. In addition, an overweight position in the finance sector further added value to the Portfolio's relative returns.

There is no guarantee that any sectors mentioned will continue to perform as discussed above or that securities in such sectors will be held by the Portfolio in the future.

European Equity Portfolio

For the 12-month period ended December 31, 2009, Variable Investment Series — European Equity Portfolio Class X shares produced a total return of 27.73%, underperforming the MSCI Europe Index (the "Index"), which returned 35.83%. For the same period, the Portfolio's Class Y shares returned 27.41%. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

The performance of the Portfolio's two share classes varies because each has different expenses. The Portfolio's total returns assume the reinvestment of all distributions but do not reflect the deduction of any charges by your insurance company. Such costs would lower performance.

Performance data quoted represents past performance, which is no guarantee of future results and current performance may be lower or higher than the figures shown. For most recent month-end performance figures, please contact the issuing insurance company or speak with your Financial Advisor. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate. When you sell Portfolio shares, they may be worth less than their original cost. Total returns do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Portfolio distributions or the redemption of Portfolio shares. Performance for Class Y shares will vary from the performance of Class X shares due to differences in expenses. Performance assumes reinvestment of all distributions for the underlying portfolio based on net asset value (NAV). It does not reflect the deduction of insurance expenses, an annual contract maintenance fee, or surrender charges. If performance inform ation included the effect of these additional charges, the total returns would be lower.

  Average Annual Total Returns as of December 31, 2009

    1 Year   5 Years   10 Years   Since Inception*  
Class X     27.73 %     3.67 %     0.69 %     9.19 %  
Class Y     27.41 %     3.40 %           0.22 %  

 

(1)  Ending value on December 31, 2009 for the underlying portfolio. This figure does not reflect the deduction of any account fees or sales charges.

(2)  The Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) Europe Index is a free float-adjusted market capitalization index that is designed to measure developed market equity performance in Europe. The term "free float" represents the portion of shares outstanding that are deemed to be available for purchase in the public equity markets by investors. The performance of the Index is listed in U.S. dollars and assumes reinvestment of net dividends. The Index is unmanaged and its returns do not include any sales charges or fees. Such costs would lower performance. It is not possible to invest directly in an index.

*  Inception dates of March 1, 1991 for Class X and June 5, 2000 for Class Y.


7



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Letter to the Shareholders n December 31, 2009 continued

From a country perspective, detractors from performance included the U.K. and Switzerland, where both stock selection and overweight allocations in both countries dampened performance. Stock selection in Sweden and Norway, and an overweight allocation to the Netherlands also hampered relative results. However, the Portfolio had positive contributions from both stock selection and an underweight allocation in France, stock selection in Finland, and stock selection and an overweight allocation in Belgium.

Sectors that lagged on a relative basis included both stock selection and an underweight allocation in banks. The Portfolio had no exposure to the banks which rallied the strongest during the year, as these companies did not meet our investment criteria. Also, although we initiated a position in a major global financial services company later in the year, a substantial portion of the stock's appreciation had occurred earlier in the year. Stock selection in materials was another area of relative weakness, as the Portfolio was underweight in metals and mining stocks which performed very well during the rally. Other detractors included stock selection in pharmaceuticals, underweight allocations in energy and diversified financials, and stock selection and an overweight allocation in food, beverage and tobacco stocks.

However, other sectors benefited the Portfolio's relative performance. Stock selection in technology contributed positively. Here, the Portfolio had no exposure to a mobile phone supplier (which is the largest technology stock in the Index) that underperformed during the year. An underweight allocation to automobiles and components was additive to relative returns. The Portfolio had no exposure to a German automaker that was acquired last year and has since underperformed. An overweight allocation to the telecommunications sector drove relative gains, primarily from overweight positions in German and French telecommunications stocks. Additionally, an overweight in health care equipment and both stock selection and an overweight allocation in capital goods were positive for overall performance.

In the last year, we increased the Portfolio's weight in financials, with positions in several banks, and in more cyclical sectors, buying positions in a global leading steel company, U.K. retailers, and automobiles and components companies. We also added to health care with a U.K. consumer-branded health care products manufacturer. We took some profits from selected global pharmaceutical and telecommunications companies, and eliminated positions in a French nuclear utility and a Finnish energy company.

The outlook for the European economy has improved and it looks like the worst is behind us, although companies will likely take a while to de-leverage. Current equity valuations are now pricing a low growth scenario, which we believe seems to be the most likely scenario for the next few years. Our investment approach remains the same. We continue to seek high quality companies with high earnings visibility and predictability, stable and strong cash flow and low levels of debt.


8



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Letter to the Shareholders n December 31, 2009 continued

There is no guarantee that any sectors mentioned will continue to perform as discussed above or that securities in such sectors will be held by the Portfolio in the future.

Global Dividend Growth Portfolio

For the 12-month period ended December 31, 2009, Variable Investment Series — Global Dividend Growth Portfolio Class X shares produced a total return of 16.44%, underperforming the Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) World Index (the "Index"), which returned 29.99%. For the same period, the Portfolio's Class Y shares returned 16.11%. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

The performance of the Portfolio's two share classes varies because each has different expenses. The Portfolio's total returns assume the reinvestment of all distributions but do not reflect the deduction of any charges by your insurance company. Such costs would lower performance.

For the full-year period, the Index returned 29.99%, quite an exceptional recovery from its – 25% return from January through its March low. Those sectors which performed the worst during the 2008 slump were the top performers this year. Materials, financials and, within the consumer discretionary sector, the autos and retail industries all rebounded sharply in the recovery. The technology sector also performed strongly for the full-year period. Conversely, sectors such as utilities,

Performance data quoted represents past performance, which is no guarantee of future results and current performance may be lower or higher than the figures shown. For most recent month-end performance figures, please contact the issuing insurance company or speak with your Financial Advisor. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate. When you sell Portfolio shares, they may be worth less than their original cost. Total returns do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Portfolio distributions or the redemption of Portfolio shares. Performance for Class Y shares will vary from the performance of Class X shares due to differences in expenses. Performance assumes reinvestment of all distributions for the underlying portfolio based on net asset value (NAV). It does not reflect the deduction of insurance expenses, an annual contract maintenance fee, or surrender charges. If performance inform ation included the effect of these additional charges, the total returns would be lower.

  Average Annual Total Returns as of December 31, 2009

    1 Year   5 Years   10 Years   Since Inception*  
Class X     16.44 %     –0.93 %     1.48 %     5.70 %  
Class Y     16.11 %     –1.17 %           1.59 %  

 

(1)  Ending value on December 31, 2009 for the underlying portfolio. This figure does not reflect the deduction of any account fees or sales charges.

(2)  The Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) World Index is a free float-adjusted market capitalization weighted index that is designed to measure the global equity market performance of developed markets. The term "free float" represents the portion of shares outstanding that are deemed to be available for purchase in the public equity markets by investors. The MSCI World Index currently consists of 23 developed market country indices. The performance of the Index is listed in U.S. dollars and assumes reinvestment of net dividends. The Index is unmanaged and its returns do not include any sales charges or fees. Such costs would lower performance. It is not possible to invest directly in an index

*  Inception dates of February 23, 1994 for Class X and June 5, 2000 for Class Y.


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Letter to the Shareholders n December 31, 2009 continued

telecommunications, insurance and pharmaceuticals, while still delivering positive returns during the year, lagged the sectors mentioned above.

In this environment, where lower quality stocks outperformed, the Portfolio's 16.44% return was not sufficient to keep pace with the extraordinary return of the Index mentioned above. The majority of this relative underperformance came from allocation rather than stock selection decisions. The strategy of the Portfolio is to purchase high quality companies with attractive and sustainable dividend yields which are available at discounted valuations. Financial strength is an essential component of our stock assessment process and we look for companies with strong free cash flow which are not too highly leveraged. On this basis, the Portfolio has a natural overweight to the cash-generative telecommunications, consumer staples and pharmaceutical sectors, which lagged the strong performance o f the more cyclical sectors where the Portfolio is underweight.

However, the Portfolio outperformed the Index in other areas. In the industrials sector, stock selection in the capital goods group was additive. The Portfolio also made relative gains in the consumer staples sector with strong picks in tobacco and food stocks. Stock selection in the utilities sector further bolstered relative performance.

There is no guarantee that any sectors mentioned will continue to perform as discussed above or that securities in such sectors will be held by the Portfolio in the future.


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Letter to the Shareholders n December 31, 2009 continued

Global Infrastructure Portfolio

For the 12-month period ended December 31, 2009, Variable Investment Series — Global Infrastructure Portfolio Class X shares produced a total return of 19.26%, underperforming the S&P 500® Utilities Index/S&P Global Infrastructure Index (the "Index"), which returned 25.28%, and the S&P Global BMI Index, which returned 37.76%. For the same period, the Portfolio's Class Y shares returned 18.83%. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

The performance of the Portfolio's two share classes varies because each has different expenses. The Portfolio's total returns assume the reinvestment of all distributions but do not reflect the deduction of any charges by your insurance company. Such costs would lower performance.

Relative to the Index, the primary detractors from performance were the Portfolio's positions in transportation infrastructure, energy transportation, and gas utilities. An underweight in transportation infrastructure detracted from returns as this was the leading sector within the Index and our lower exposure there kept the Portfolio from more fully benefiting from its strong performance. An underweight in energy transportation also hindered relative performance, as did security selection within the sector. Lastly, the Portfolio's exposure to gas utilities, which are not represented in the Index, was disadvantageous as this segment underperformed for the period.

Performance data quoted represents past performance, which is no guarantee of future results and current performance may be lower or higher than the figures shown. For most recent month-end performance figures, please contact the issuing insurance company or speak with your Financial Advisor. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate. When you sell Portfolio shares, they may be worth less than their original cost. Total returns do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Portfolio distributions or the redemption of Portfolio shares. Performance for Class Y shares will vary from the performance of Class X shares due to differences in expenses. Performance assumes reinvestment of all distributions for the underlying portfolio based on net asset value (NAV). It does not reflect the deduction of insurance expenses, an annual contract maintenance fee, or surrender charges. If performance inform ation included the effect of these additional charges, the total returns would be lower.

  Average Annual Total Returns as of December 31, 2009

    1 Year   5 Years   10 Years   Since Inception*  
Class X     19.26 %     5.72 %     0.99 %     7.36 %  
Class Y     18.83 %     5.44 %           0.68 %  

 

(1)  Ending value on December 31, 2009 for the underlying portfolio. This figure does not reflect the deduction of any account fees or sales charges.

(2)  The S&P 500® Utilities Index/S&P Global Infrastructure Index is a custom index represented by the performance of the S&P 500® Utilities Index for periods from the Fund's inception to and including November 5, 2008 (the date the Fund completed implementation of the change to its principal investment strategy), and the performance of the S&P Global Infrastructure Index for periods thereafter. The Index is unmanaged and its returns do not include any sales charges or fees. Such costs would lower performance. It is not possible to invest directly in an index.

(3)  The Standard & Poor's Global BMI Index (S&P Global BMI Index) is a broad market index designed to capture exposure to equities in all countries in the world that meet minimum size and liquidity requirements. As of the date of this Report, there are approximately 11,000 index members representing 25 developed and 21 emerging market countries. The Index is unmanaged and its returns do not include any sales charges or fees. Such costs would lower performance. It is not possible to invest directly in an index.

*  Inception dates of March 1, 1990 for Class X and June 5, 2000 for Class Y.


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Letter to the Shareholders n December 31, 2009 continued

Other positions, however, were additive to relative performance. Among the top contributors to relative returns was security selection within the utilities sector. In particular, security selection in independent power producers and energy traders boosted returns. Security selection in electric utilities also enhanced returns, as did an underweight allocation there, given that electric utilities stocks overall underperformed the broader utilities sector. Favorable security selection in multi-utilities was the third largest contributor to relative performance for the year.

There is no guarantee that any sectors mentioned will continue to perform as discussed above or that securities in such sectors will be held by the Portfolio in the future.

High Yield Portfolio

For the 12-month period ended December 31, 2009, Variable Investment Series — High Yield Portfolio Class X shares produced a total return of 44.56%, underperforming the Barclays Capital U.S. Corporate High Yield - 2% Issuer Cap Index (the "Index"), which returned 58.76%. For the same period, the Portfolio's Class Y shares returned 44.27%. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

The performance of the Portfolio's two share classes varies because each has different expenses. The Portfolio's total returns assume the reinvestment of all distributions but do not reflect the deduction of any charges by your insurance company. Such costs would lower performance.

Performance data quoted represents past performance, which is no guarantee of future results and current performance may be lower or higher than the figures shown. For most recent month-end performance figures, please contact the issuing insurance company or speak with your Financial Advisor. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate. When you sell Portfolio shares, they may be worth less than their original cost. Total returns do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Portfolio distributions or the redemption of Portfolio shares. Performance for Class Y shares will vary from the performance of Class X shares due to differences in expenses. Performance assumes reinvestment of all distributions for the underlying portfolio based on net asset value (NAV). It does not reflect the deduction of insurance expenses, an annual contract maintenance fee, or surrender charges. If performance inform ation included the effect of these additional charges, the total returns would be lower.

  Average Annual Total Returns as of December 31, 2009

    1 Year   5 Years   10 Years   Since Inception*  
Class X     44.56 %     5.27 %     –2.75 %     3.92 %  
Class Y     44.27 %     5.05 %           –2.76 %  

 

(1)  Ending value on December 31, 2009 for the underlying portfolio. This figure does not reflect the deduction of any account fees or sales charges.

(2)  The Barclays Capital U.S. Corporate High Yield - 2% Issuer Cap Index is the 2% Issuer Cap component of the Barclays Capital U.S. Corporate High Yield Index which covers the U.S. dollar-denominated, non-investment grade, fixed-rate, taxable corporate bond market. Securities are classified as high-yield if the middle rating of Moody's, Fitch, and S&P is Ba1/BB+/BB+ or below. The Index excludes Emerging Markets debt. The Index is unmanaged and its returns do not include any sales charges or fees. Such costs would lower performance. It is not possible to invest directly in an index.

*  Inception dates of March 9, 1984 for Class X and June 5, 2000 for Class Y.


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Morgan Stanley Variable Investment Series

Letter to the Shareholders n December 31, 2009 continued

The Portfolio's underperformance of the Index was primarily attributable to its more conservative overall positioning. We continued to favor higher quality, more liquid bonds with an emphasis on issuers with solid asset coverage as we believe this positioning provided an appropriate risk/return profile for our investors. A significant underweight to the lowest quality, most risky segment of the high yield market was the primary detractor as these bonds provided the strongest returns for the period. An underweight in financials, particularly the banking and brokerage industry groups, also dampened performance as these industries performed well.

Other positions, however, were additive to relative performance. Large overweight allocations to the energy and utilities sectors were additive to performance. The energy sector benefited from heightened merger and acquisition (M&A) activity and rising commodity prices while the utility sector, and electric credits in particular, also performed well. An overweight allocation to the basic industry sector boosted returns. Here, overweights to the chemicals, mining and paper/packaging industries were advantageous as M&A activity drove the chemical industry's strong performance, mining benefited from the commodity rally, and the paper industr y rebounded strongly during the year.

There is no guarantee that any sectors mentioned will continue to perform as discussed above or that securities in such sectors will be held by the Portfolio in the future.


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Morgan Stanley Variable Investment Series

Letter to the Shareholders n December 31, 2009 continued

Income Builder Portfolio

For the 12-month period ended December 31, 2009, Variable Investment Series — Income Builder Portfolio Class X shares produced a total return of 25.16%, outperforming the Russell 1000® Value Index (the "Index"), which returned 19.69%, and the Barclays Capital U.S. Government/Credit Index, which returned 4.52%. For the same period, the Portfolio 's Class Y shares returned 24.90%. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

The performance of the Portfolio's two share classes varies because each has different expenses. The Portfolio's total returns assume the reinvestment of all distributions but do not reflect the deduction of any charges by your insurance company. Such costs would lower performance.

The energy sector was additive to relative performance, especially exploration and production (E&P) companies. E&P companies benefited from rising energy prices and the improving economic environment, whereas integrated oil companies (which we deemphasized in the Portfolio) lagged the broad sector. Although we increased the Portfolio's exposure to the energy sector overall, the sector remained a relative underweight.

Although we decreased the Portfolio's consumer staples exposure during the period, the sector contributed to relative performance. One of the Portfolio's top holdings was a confectionary company that performed strongly following an announcement that a competitor had made an offer

Performance data quoted represents past performance, which is no guarantee of future results and current performance may be lower or higher than the figures shown. For most recent month-end performance figures, please contact the issuing insurance company or speak with your Financial Advisor. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate. When you sell Portfolio shares, they may be worth less than their original cost. Total returns do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Portfolio distributions or the redemption of Portfolio shares. Performance for Class Y shares will vary from the performance of Class X shares due to differences in expenses. Performance assumes reinvestment of all distributions for the underlying portfolio based on net asset value (NAV). It does not reflect the deduction of insurance expenses, an annual contract maintenance fee, or surrender charges. If performance inform ation included the effect of these additional charges, the total returns would be lower.

  Average Annual Total Returns as of December 31, 2009

    1 Year   5 Year   10 Years   Since Inception*  
Class X     25.16 %     3.07 %     3.97 %     5.49 %  
Class Y     24.90 %     2.82 %           4.01 %  

 

(1)  Ending value on December 31, 2009 for the underlying portfolio. This figure does not reflect the deduction of any account fees or sales charges.

(2)  The Russell 1000® Value Index measures the performance of the large-cap value segment of the U.S. equity universe. It includes those Russell 1000® Index companies with lower price-to-book ratios and lower forecasted growth values. The Russell 1000® Index is an index of approximately 1,000 of the largest U.S. securities based on a combination of market capitalization and current index membership. The Index is unmanaged and its returns do not include any sales charges or fees. Such costs would lower performance. It is not possible to invest directly in an index.

(3)  The Barclays Capital U.S. Government/Credit Index tracks the performance of government and corporate obligations, including U.S. government agency and Treasury securities and corporate and Yankee bonds. The Index is unmanaged and its returns do not include any sales charges or fees. Such costs would lower performance. It is not possible to invest directly in an index.

*  Inception dates of January 21, 1997 for Class X and June 5, 2000 for Class Y.


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Letter to the Shareholders n December 31, 2009 continued

to acquire them. Toward the end of the period, we began adding attractive consumer staples companies that met our value-with-a-catalyst criteria.

Health care also contributed to outperformance during the period. The Portfolio has historically maintained an overweight in the sector; however, over the past 12 months the weight has declined. Most of the exposure in health care had been in the pharmaceutical industry and the Portfolio benefited from holding two companies that were targeted for acquisition: Wyeth and Schering Plough. Given the relative strength in health care over the preceding fiscal year and the merger and acquisition tailwind in pharmaceuticals in this fiscal year, we reduced the Portfolio's exposure in the sector and used the proceeds to invest in other areas we believed had better risk/reward opportunities.

However, other positions modestly offset those relative gains. The financials sector was the largest relative detractor during the review period. The Portfolio has maintained a significant underweight in financials versus the Index for some time, which benefited the portfolio significantly in 2007 and 2008. However, over the past 12 months, and specifically from March through May, financial stocks rebounded from their earlier dramatic decline. The Portfolio's exposure has been focused on financial companies that we believe possess conservative balance sheets and appropriate risk/return characteristics, and these companies did not participate in the rally to the degree that others in the sector did. In particular, the Portfolio was underexposed to the banks and diversified financials that rebounded most strongly during the period. The Portfolio's underexposure was based on our concerns regarding quality of balances sheets, uncert ainty regarding additional capital requirements and incremental dividend cuts, and the unpredictability of government influence.

The materials sector also dampened relative gains. The Portfolio's underweight in the sector meant that it had less exposure to these economically sensitive stocks, which performed well as the market rebounded.

The Portfolio's convertible securities exposure was generally additive to performance during the year. The convertible securities market, along with the equity market, rebounded during the 12-month period. Speculative grade convertible securities outperformed investment grade for the year, primarily due to the strong performance of the underlying stocks and spread tightening in the high yield bond market.

There is no guarantee that any sectors mentioned will continue to perform as discussed above or that securities in such sectors will be held by the Portfolio in the future.


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Morgan Stanley Variable Investment Series

Letter to the Shareholders n December 31, 2009 continued

Income Plus Portfolio

For the 12-month period ended December 31, 2009, Variable Investment Series — Income Plus Portfolio Class X shares produced a total return of 22.57%, outperforming the Barclays Capital U.S. Corporate Index (the "Index"), which returned 18.68%. For the same period, the Portfolio's Class Y shares returned 22.29%. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

The performance of the Portfolio's two share classes varies because each has different expenses. The Portfolio's total returns assume the reinvestment of all distributions but do not reflect the deduction of any charges by your insurance company. Such costs would lower performance.

The Portfolio's positioning in the corporate credit sector contributed to the outperformance of the Index for the reporting period. In particular, selected overweights in the banking, food and beverage, and insurance industries were additive to relative returns as significant spread tightening in these sectors led to their strong performance. However, this was somewhat offset by the negative impact of an overall underweight to the corporate sector.

The Portfolio's yield-curve positioning benefited performance. During the period we employed tactical strategies involving interest rate swaps that were designed to take advantage of short-term rate movements across the yield curve.

Conversely, a small position in U.S. Treasury securities, which are not included in the Index,

Performance data quoted represents past performance, which is no guarantee of future results and current performance may be lower or higher than the figures shown. For most recent month-end performance figures, please contact the issuing insurance company or speak with your Financial Advisor. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate. When you sell Portfolio shares, they may be worth less than their original cost. Total returns do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Portfolio distributions or the redemption of Portfolio shares. Performance for Class Y shares will vary from the performance of Class X shares due to differences in expenses. Performance assumes reinvestment of all distributions for the underlying portfolio based on net asset value (NAV). It does not reflect the deduction of insurance expenses, an annual contract maintenance fee, or surrender charges. If performance inform ation included the effect of these additional charges, the total returns would be lower.

  Average Annual Total Returns as of December 31, 2009

    1 Year   5 Years   10 Years   Since Inception*  
Class X     22.57 %     5.26 %     6.59 %     7.27 %  
Class Y     22.29 %     5.00 %           6.37 %  

 

(1)  Ending value on December 31, 2009 for the underlying portfolio. This figure does not reflect the deduction of any account fees or sales charges.

(2)  The Barclays Capital U.S. Corporate Index covers U.S. dollar-denominated, investment-grade, fixed rate, taxable securities sold by industrial, utility and financial issuers. It includes publicly issued U.S. corporate and foreign debentures and secured notes that meet specified maturity, liquidity and quality requirements. The Index is unmanaged and its returns do not include any sales charges or fees. Such costs would lower performance. It is not possible to invest directly in an index.

*  Inception dates of March 1, 1987 for Class X and June 5, 2000 for Class Y.


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Letter to the Shareholders n December 31, 2009 continued

detracted from relative performance as the sector underperformed for year.

There is no guarantee that any sectors mentioned will continue to perform as discussed above or that securities in such sectors will be held by the Portfolio in the future.

Limited Duration Portfolio

For the 12-month period ended December 31, 2009, Variable Investment Series — Limited Duration Portfolio Class X shares produced a total return of 5.76%, underperforming the Barclays Capital U.S. Credit Index (1-5 Year) (the "Index"), which returned 13.52%. For the same period, the Portfolio's Class Y shares returned 5.56%. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

The performance of the Portfolio's two share classes varies because each has different expenses. The Portfolio's total returns assume the reinvestment of all distributions but do not reflect the deduction of any charges by your insurance company. Such costs would lower performance.

The Portfolio's underperformance of the Index was primarily attributable to its relative underweight in corporate credit, which kept the Portfolio from more fully benefiting from the sector's strong performance for the year. However, selected overweights in banking, food and beverage, insurance and media were additive to relative returns as significant spread tightening in these segments led to their strong performance.

Performance data quoted represents past performance, which is no guarantee of future results and current performance may be lower or higher than the figures shown. For most recent month-end performance figures, please contact the issuing insurance company or speak with your Financial Advisor. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate. When you sell Portfolio shares, they may be worth less than their original cost. Total returns do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Portfolio distributions or the redemption of Portfolio shares. Performance for Class Y shares will vary from the performance of Class X shares due to differences in expenses. Performance assumes reinvestment of all distributions for the underlying portfolio based on net asset value (NAV). It does not reflect the deduction of insurance expenses, an annual contract maintenance fee, or surrender charges. If performance inform ation included the effect of these additional charges, the total returns would be lower.

  Average Annual Total Returns as of December 31, 2009

    1 Year   5 Years   10 Years   Since Inception*  
Class X     5.76 %     –0.32 %     1.83 %     1.87 %  
Class Y     5.56 %     –0.58 %           1.47 %  

 

(1)  Ending value on December 31, 2009 for the underlying portfolio. This figure does not reflect the deduction of any account fees or sales charges.

(2)  The Barclays Capital U.S. Credit Index (1-5 Year) includes U.S. corporate and specified foreign debentures and secured notes with maturities of one to five years. The Index is unmanaged and its returns do not include any sales charges or fees. Such costs would lower performance. It is not possible to invest directly in an index.

*  Inception dates of May 4, 1999 for Class X and June 5, 2000 for Class Y.


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Morgan Stanley Variable Investment Series

Letter to the Shareholders n December 31, 2009 continued

The underweight to corporate credit was largely the result of the Portfolio's allocation to the agency sector, which is not represented in the Index. Within the sector, the Portfolio's position in FDIC-backed bank notes contributed to performance as spreads on these securities tightened during the reporting period. However, the agency sector overall underperformed corporate credit for the year. The Portfolio also held a position in asset-backed securities (ABS), another sector not represented in the Index. This was beneficial to relative returns as spreads in the ABS sector narrowed considerably, resulting in particularly strong performance for the period.

There is no guarantee that any sectors mentioned will continue to perform as discussed above or that securities in such sectors will be held by the Portfolio in the future.

Money Market Portfolio

An investment in a money market fund is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. Although money market funds seek to preserve the value of an investment at $1.00 per share, it is possible to lose money by investing in such funds.

As of December 31, 2009, Variable Investment Series — Money Market Portfolio had net assets of approximately $166 million with an average portfolio maturity of 32 days. For the seven-day period ended December 31, 2009, the Portfolio's Class X shares provided an effective annualized yield of 0.01% (subsidized) and – 0.28% (non-subsidized) and a current yield of 0.01% (subsidized) and – 0.28% (non-subsidized). Yield quotations more closely reflect the current earnings of the Portfolio. The non-subsidized yield reflects what the yield would have been had a fee and/or expense waiver not been in place during the period shown. For the 12-month period ended December 31, 2009, the Portfolio's Class X shares returned 0.03%. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

For the seven-day period ended December 31, 2009, the Portfolio's Class Y shares provided an effective annualized yield of 0.01% (subsidized) and – 0.53% (non-subsidized) and a current yield of 0.01% (subsidized) and – 0.53% (non-subsidized). Yield quotations more closely reflect the current earnings of the Portfolio. The non-subsidized yield reflects wh at the yield would have been had a fee and/or expense waiver not been in place during the period shown. For the 12-month period ended December 31, 2009, the Portfolio's Class Y shares returned 0.01%. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

The performance of the Portfolio's two share classes varies because each has different expenses. The Portfolio's total returns assume the reinvestment of all distributions but do not reflect the deduction of any charges by your insurance company. Such costs would lower performance.


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Morgan Stanley Variable Investment Series

Letter to the Shareholders n December 31, 2009 continued

During the reporting period, we continued to place a strong emphasis on purchasing high quality corporate, financial, and banking obligations. We focused on maintaining high levels of liquidity and a short weighted average maturity to guard against the uncertainty caused by volatility in the financial markets. In addition, valuations have become very expensive with technical factors driving down absolute levels as well as tightening spreads dramatically versus historical levels. Our strategy in managing the Portfolio remained consistent with our long-term focus on capital preservation and very high liquidity, and as in the past, we adhered to a conservative approach. We continue to review all eligible securities on our purchase list to ensure that they continue to meet our high standards of minimal credit risk.

There is no guarantee that any sectors mentioned will continue to perform as discussed above or that securities in such sectors will be held by the Portfolio in the future.

S&P 500 Index Portfolio

For the 12-month period ended December 31, 2009, Variable Investment Series — S&P 500 Index Portfolio Class X shares produced a total return of 26.34%, underperforming the S&P 500® Index (the "Index"), which returned 26.46%. For the same period, the Portfolio's Class Y shares returned 26.06%. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

The performance of the Portfolio's two share classes varies because each has different expenses. The

Performance data quoted represents past performance, which is no guarantee of future results and current performance may be lower or higher than the figures shown. For most recent month-end performance figures, please contact the issuing insurance company or speak with your Financial Advisor. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate. When you sell Portfolio shares, they may be worth less than their original cost. Total returns do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Portfolio distributions or the redemption of Portfolio shares. Performance for Class Y shares will vary from the performance of Class X shares due to differences in expenses. Performance assumes reinvestment of all distributions for the underlying portfolio based on net asset value (NAV). It does not reflect the deduction of insurance expenses, an annual contract maintenance fee, or surrender charges. If performance inform ation included the effect of these additional charges, the total returns would be lower.

  Average Annual Total Returns as of December 31, 2009

    1 Year   5 Years   10 Years   Since Inception*  
Class X     26.34 %     0.23 %     –1.25 %     1.51 %  
Class Y     26.06 %     –0.02 %           –1.58 %  

 

(1)  Ending value on December 31, 2009 for the underlying portfolio. This figure does not reflect the deduction of any account fees or sales charges.

(2)  The Standard & Poor's 500® Index (S&P 500®) measures the performance of the large cap segment of the U.S. equities market, covering approximately 75% of the U.S. equities market. The Index includes 500 leading companies in leading industries of the U.S. economy. The Index is unmanaged and its returns do not include any sales charges or fees. Such costs would lower performance. It is not possible to invest directly in an index.

*  Inception dates of May 18, 1998 for Class X and June 5, 2000 for Class Y.


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Morgan Stanley Variable Investment Series

Letter to the Shareholders n December 31, 2009 continued

Portfolio's total returns assume the reinvestment of all distributions but do not reflect the deduction of any charges by your insurance company. Such costs would lower performance.

The year began with a rough start, with woes in the financial system and significant declines in economic activity across all sectors and segments of the economy. Unemployment kept rising, while consumer confidence and spending collapsed. The recession, which spread beyond the U.S. into developed and emerging markets as well, has been the worst since the Great Depression. The U.S. equity market continued to tumble, reaching its lowest point of the year in March.

However, as a result of the truly unprecedented global policy response by governments and central banks in the first half of 2009, so-called "green shoots" — tentative signs of improvement in quite a few economic indicators — began to appear. Late summer saw a stabilization of housing prices, a decline in inventories and positive industrial production. Since early March markets have embarked on a sizeable rally following a slow stream of positive news through the end of the year. Although unemployment remains high (at 10 percent in December), the consensus at the end of the period seems to be that the global economy is in the early stage of an upturn and the recession is over.

Within the Index and therefore the Portfolio, all ten sectors had positive absolute performance during the 12-month period, posting double-digit returns. The best performing sectors were information technology, materials and consumer discretionary. Rising commodity prices in 2009 led to improvement in the performance of the materials and energy sectors. The financials sector rebounded as a result of government intervention.

Other performance trends within the Portfolio and the Index during the period included the outperformance of growth stocks within every capitalization segment, as well as the outperformance of small-cap stocks.

Because the Index is market capitalization weighted (and the Portfolio seeks to replicate the performance attributes of the Index before Portfolio fees), the overall contribution of each sector was influenced by its relative size within the Index and the Portfolio. As such, the sectors that contributed the most to the Portfolio's return were information technology, consumer discretionary and financials, while telecommunication services and utilities contributed the least.

There is no guarantee that any sectors mentioned will continue to perform as discussed above or that securities in such sectors will be held by the Portfolio in the future.


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Morgan Stanley Variable Investment Series

Letter to the Shareholders n December 31, 2009 continued

Strategist Portfolio

For the 12-month period ended December 31, 2010, Variable Investment Series — Strategist Portfolio Class X shares produced a total return of 19.74%, underperforming the S&P 500® Index, which returned 26.46%, and outperforming the Barclays Capital U.S. Government/Credit Index, which returned 4.52%. For further comparison, the Lipper Variable Flexible Portfolio average total return was 18.44% and U.S. Treasury bills returned 0.17%. For the same period, the Portfolio's Class Y shares returned 19.44%. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

The performance of the Portfolio's two share classes varies because each has different expenses. The Portfolio's total returns assume the reinvestment of all distributions but do not reflect the deduction of any charges by your insurance company. Such costs would lower performance.

Strategist Portfolio's flexible investment approach allows investment across stocks, bonds, cash and other investment classes. To determine the specific allocation among asset classes throughout the period, we rigorously evaluate a comprehensive array of quantitative and qualitative factors. The quantitative analysis comprises an extensive "top-down" asset class review of many macroeconomic variables, with primary focus on three core factors: monetary policy and its impact on liquidity, inflation trends and corporate profitability. A second, more qualitative process then broadens the analysis to determine which individual sectors and industries would offer the best opportunities, in our

Performance data quoted represents past performance, which is no guarantee of future results and current performance may be lower or higher than the figures shown. For most recent month-end performance figures, please contact the issuing insurance company or speak with your Financial Advisor. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate. When you sell Portfolio shares, they may be worth less than their original cost. Total returns do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Portfolio distributions or the redemption of Portfolio shares. Performance for Class Y shares will vary from the performance of Class X shares due to differences in expenses. Performance assumes reinvestment of all distributions for the underlying portfolio based on net asset value (NAV). It does not reflect the deduction of insurance expenses, an annual contract maintenance fee, or surrender charges. If performance inform ation included the effect of these additional charges, the total returns would be lower.

  Average Annual Total Returns as of December 31, 2009

    1 Year   5 Years   10 Years   Since Inception*  
Class X     19.74 %     4.26 %     3.51 %     8.22 %  
Class Y     19.44 %     4.00 %           3.25 %  

 

(1)  Ending value on December 31, 2009 for the underlying portfolio. This figure does not reflect the deduction of any account fees or sales charges.

(2)  The Standard & Poor's 500® Index (S&P 500®) measures the performance of the large cap segment of the U.S. equities market, covering approximately 75% of the U.S. equities market. The Index includes 500 leading companies in leading industries of the U.S. economy. The Index is unmanaged and its returns do not include any sales charges or fees. Such costs would lower performance. It is not possible to invest directly in an index.

(3)  The Barclays Capital U.S. Government/Credit Index tracks the performance of government and corporate obligations, including U.S. government agency and Treasury securities and corporate and Yankee bonds. The Index is unmanaged and its returns do not include any sales charges or fees. Such costs would lower performance. It is not possible to invest directly in an index.

*  Inception dates of March 1, 1987 for Class X and June 5, 2000 for Class Y.


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Morgan Stanley Variable Investment Series

Letter to the Shareholders n December 31, 2009 continued

view, given the macroeconomic climate. Individual holdings are then selected to provide desired exposure to asset classes and sectors.

The Portfolio's target allocation remained unchanged throughout the 12-month period under review, based on the process summarized above. Approximately 60% of assets were allocated to equities (a slightly higher weight than the average balanced fund), while 20% of assets were allocated to long-term credit markets (a significantly lower allocation than the average balanced fund). The balance of assets (20%) remained in short-term credits and cash equivalent investments.

The 12-month period ending December 31, 2009 can best be assessed by splitting the year into two parts: the first, from January 1 to early March, and the second, from early March to year-end. While no single event marks this split, global stock and bond markets shifted from extreme pessimism to cautious optimism in early March as selling pressure finally exhausted itself. Investors entered the year with trepidation, as many hoped that the residual impact of the collapse in property values and frozen credit markets had already manifested itself with the consolidations and failures of a number of banks and global financial services firms. Equity markets around the world disagreed and seemed to focus on the extreme recessionary conditions brought on by this cycle, as well as the cessation of business activity and spending by consumers and corporations alike. By early March, the S&P 500® Index and the MSCI All-Country World Index® had each fallen by approximately 27% year-to-date, adding to the bear market slide experienced in 2008. Meanwhile, "safe havens" such as U.S. Treasury bills and notes hit historically low yield levels, as cash poured into these dollar-denominated instruments from every corner of the world.

Global government officials and central bank governors prepared a number of policy responses in an attempt to provide liquidity and prevent a global depression from setting in. Perhaps the psychological impact of the U.S. stimulus bill (signed by the president in February) and global central banks' shifts to zero rate policies and quantitative easing programs provided the type of unprecedented response investors needed to see.

With little fanfare, and constant skepticism, global equities began to recover. Corporations discussed the "troughing" of the global economic downturn and maintained exceptional financial discipline. Emerging economies posted robust growth. Housing prices in the U.S., Europe and Australia stabilized. And global stock markets posted historic rallies. From March to year-end, the S&P 500® Index and the MSCI All-Country World Index® returned 67% and 73%, respectively. U.S. treasury notes saw their yields rise (and prices fall) as investors began to rotate from their extreme risk-aversion position. As 2009 drew to a close,


22



Morgan Stanley Variable Investment Series

Letter to the Shareholders n December 31, 2009 continued

questions surrounding the health of the U.S. consumer and the recovery of capital spending continued, but the global economic expansion appeared underway.

During the year, we increased cyclical sector exposures in both the equity and fixed income portions of the Portfolio. Within the equity portfolio, allocations to technology and industrials rose, while financials and telecommunication services exposures were reduced. A long-standing bias toward large capitalization, higher quality companies continued, as did the Portfolio's tilt toward U.S. and emerging market equities. On a sector basis, the Portfolio's largest exposures at year-end included: information technology (approximately 26% of total equity portfolio market value), industrials (14%), and health care (14%). Our smallest sector exposures at period end included materials (5%), utilities (3%) and telecommunications services (3%).

The fixed income component of the Portfolio shifted during the year as well, as mortgage and cash positions were reduced in order to fund purchases in other sectors of the fixed income market. By year-end, the Portfolio's mortgage exposure had been reduced from approximately 12% of fixed income assets to roughly 1%, while cash equivalents were reduced from 19% to 5%. Exposures to corporate-issued bonds, as well as U.S. government and foreign sovereign debt, increased throughout the year. At year-end, U.S. government-issued securities climbed to over 51% of the overall fixed income portfolio, while corporate credits represented approximately 41% of the total. The balance of the Portfolio was distributed among government-agency backed securities, cash, mortgages, and municipal securities, in descending order of exposure.

There is no guarantee that any sectors mentioned will continue to perform as discussed above or that securities in such sectors will be held by the Portfolio in the future.

We appreciate your ongoing support of Morgan Stanley Variable Investment Series and look forward to continuing to serve your investment needs.

Very truly yours,

Randy Takian
President and Principal Executive Officer


23



Morgan Stanley Variable Investment Series

Letter to the Shareholders n December 31, 2009 continued

For More Information About Portfolio Holdings

Each Morgan Stanley fund provides a complete schedule of portfolio holdings in its semiannual and annual reports within 60 days of the end of the fund's second and fourth fiscal quarters. The semiannual reports and the annual reports are filed electronically with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on Form N-CSRS and Form N-CSR, respectively. Morgan Stanley also delivers the semiannual and annual reports to fund shareholders and makes these reports available on its public web site, www.morganstanley.com. Each Morgan Stanley fund also files a complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the SEC for the fund's first and third fiscal quarters on Form N-Q. Morgan Stanley does not deliver the reports for the first and third fiscal quarters to shareholders, nor are the reports posted to the Morgan Stanley public web site. You may, however, obtain the Form N-Q filings (as well as the Form N-CSR and N-CSRS filings) by accessing the SEC's web site, http://www.sec.gov. You may also review and copy them at the SEC's public reference room in Washington, DC. Information on the operation of the SEC's public reference room may be obtained by calling the SEC at (800) SEC-0330. You can also request copies of these materials, upon payment of a duplicating fee, by electronic request at the SEC's e-mail address (publicinfo@sec.gov) or by writing the public reference section of the SEC, Washington, DC 20549-1520.

Proxy Voting Policy and Procedures and Proxy Voting Record

You may obtain a copy of the Portfolio's Proxy Voting Policy and Procedures without charge, upon request, by calling toll free (800) 869-NEWS or by visiting the Mutual Fund Center on our web site at www.morganstanley.com. It is also available on the SEC's web site at http://www.sec.gov.

You may obtain information regarding how the Portfolios voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent twelve-month period ended June 30 without charge by visiting the Mutual Fund Center on our web site at www.morganstanley.com. This information is also available on the SEC's web site at http://www.sec.gov.


24




Morgan Stanley Variable Investment Series

Expense Example n December 31, 2009

As a shareholder of the Portfolio, you incur two types of costs: (1) insurance company charges; and (2) ongoing costs, including advisory fees; distribution and service (12b-1) fees; and other Portfolio expenses. This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the Portfolio and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds.

The example is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period and held for the entire period 07/01/09 – 12/31/09.

Actual Expenses

The first line of the table below provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in this line, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number in the first line under the heading entitled "Expenses Paid During Period" to estimate the expenses you paid on your accoun t during this period.

Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes

The second line of the table below provides information about hypothetical expenses based on the Portfolio's actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Portfolio's actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. You may use this information to compare the ongoing cost of investing in the Portfolio and other funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other funds.

Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any insurance company charges. Therefore, the second line of the table is useful in comparing ongoing costs, and will not help you determine the relative total cost of owning different funds. In addition, if these insurance company charges were included, your costs would have been higher.


25



Morgan Stanley Variable Investment Series

Expense Example n December 31, 2009 continued

Money Market

    Beginning
Account Value
  Ending
Account Value
  Expenses Paid
During Period@
 
    07/01/09   12/31/09   07/01/09 –
12/31/09
 
Class X  
Actual (0.01% return)   $ 1,000.00     $ 1,000.10     $ 1.36    
Hypothetical (5% annual return before expenses)   $ 1,000.00     $ 1,023.84     $ 1.38    
Class Y  
Actual (0.01% return)   $ 1,000.00     $ 1,000.10     $ 1.36    
Hypothetical (5% annual return before expenses)   $ 1,000.00     $ 1,023.84     $ 1.38    

 

  @  Expenses are equal to the Portfolio's annualized expense ratios of 0.27% and 0.27% for Class X and Class Y shares, respectively, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by 184/365 (to reflect the one-half year period). If the Portfolio had borne all of its expenses, the annualized expense ratios would have been 0.58% and 0.83% for Class X and Class Y shares, respectively. These figures reflect fees paid in connection with the U.S. Treasury Guarantee Program for Money Market Funds. This fee had an effect of 0.02%.

Limited Duration

    Beginning
Account Value
  Ending
Account Value
  Expenses Paid
During Period@
 
    07/01/09   12/31/09   07/01/09 –
12/31/09
 
Class X  
Actual (2.35% return)   $ 1,000.00     $ 1,023.50     $ 2.45    
Hypothetical (5% annual return before expenses)   $ 1,000.00     $ 1,022.79     $ 2.45    
Class Y  
Actual (2.23% return)   $ 1,000.00     $ 1,022.30     $ 3.72    
Hypothetical (5% annual return before expenses)   $ 1,000.00     $ 1,021.53     $ 3.72    

 

  @  Expenses are equal to the Portfolio's annualized expense ratios of 0.48% and 0.73% for Class X and Class Y shares, respectively, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by 184/365 (to reflect the one-half year period).

Income Plus

    Beginning
Account Value
  Ending
Account Value
  Expenses Paid
During Period@
 
    07/01/09   12/31/09   07/01/09 –
12/31/09
 
Class X  
Actual (11.23% return)   $ 1,000.00     $ 1,112.30     $ 2.93    
Hypothetical (5% annual return before expenses)   $ 1,000.00     $ 1,022.43     $ 2.80    
Class Y  
Actual (11.05% return)   $ 1,000.00     $ 1,110.50     $ 4.26    
Hypothetical (5% annual return before expenses)   $ 1,000.00     $ 1,021.17     $ 4.08    

 

  @  Expenses are equal to the Portfolio's annualized expense ratios of 0.55% and 0.80% for Class X and Class Y shares, respectively, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by 184/365 (to reflect the one-half year period).


26



Morgan Stanley Variable Investment Series

Expense Example n December 31, 2009 continued

High Yield

    Beginning
Account Value
  Ending
Account Value
  Expenses Paid
During Period@
 
    07/01/09   12/31/09   07/01/09 –
12/31/09
 
Class X  
Actual (18.95% return)   $ 1,000.00     $ 1,189.50     $ 9.99    
Hypothetical (5% annual return before expenses)   $ 1,000.00     $ 1,016.08     $ 9.20    
Class Y  
Actual (18.95% return)   $ 1,000.00     $ 1,189.50     $ 11.37    
Hypothetical (5% annual return before expenses)   $ 1,000.00     $ 1,014.82     $ 10.46    

 

  @  Expenses are equal to the Portfolio's annualized expense ratios of 1.81% and 2.06% for Class X and Class Y shares, respectively, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by 184/365 (to reflect the one-half year period). If the Portfolio had borne all of its expenses, the annualized expense ratios would have been 1.82% and 2.07% for Class X and Class Y shares, respectively.

Global Infrastructure

    Beginning
Account Value
  Ending
Account Value
  Expenses Paid
During Period@
 
    07/01/09   12/31/09   07/01/09 –
12/31/09
 
Class X  
Actual (17.46% return)   $ 1,000.00     $ 1,174.60     $ 5.26    
Hypothetical (5% annual return before expenses)   $ 1,000.00     $ 1,020.37     $ 4.89    
Class Y  
Actual (17.23% return)   $ 1,000.00     $ 1,172.30     $ 6.63    
Hypothetical (5% annual return before expenses)   $ 1,000.00     $ 1,019.11     $ 6.16    

 

  @  Expenses are equal to the Portfolio's annualized expense ratios of 0.96% and 1.21% for Class X and Class Y shares, respectively, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by 184/365 (to reflect the one-half year period).

Income Builder

    Beginning
Account Value
  Ending
Account Value
  Expenses Paid
During Period@
 
    07/01/09   12/31/09   07/01/09 –
12/31/09
 
Class X  
Actual (21.95% return)   $ 1,000.00     $ 1,219.50     $ 5.82    
Hypothetical (5% annual return before expenses)   $ 1,000.00     $ 1,019.96     $ 5.30    
Class Y  
Actual (21.76% return)   $ 1,000.00     $ 1,217.60     $ 7.21    
Hypothetical (5% annual return before expenses)   $ 1,000.00     $ 1,018.70     $ 6.56    

 

  @  Expenses are equal to the Portfolio's annualized expense ratios of 1.04% and 1.29% for Class X and Class Y shares, respectively, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by 184/365 (to reflect the one-half year period).


27



Morgan Stanley Variable Investment Series

Expense Example n December 31, 2009 continued

Dividend Growth

    Beginning
Account Value
  Ending
Account Value
  Expenses Paid
During Period@
 
    07/01/09   12/31/09   07/01/09 –
12/31/09
 
Class X  
Actual (21.69% return)   $ 1,000.00     $ 1,216.90     $ 3.69    
Hypothetical (5% annual return before expenses)   $ 1,000.00     $ 1,021.88     $ 3.36    
Class Y  
Actual (21.54% return)   $ 1,000.00     $ 1,215.40     $ 5.08    
Hypothetical (5% annual return before expenses)   $ 1,000.00     $ 1,020.62     $ 4.63    

 

  @  Expenses are equal to the Portfolio's annualized expense ratios of 0.66% and 0.91% for Class X and Class Y shares, respectively, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by 184/365 (to reflect the one-half year period).

Global Dividend Growth

    Beginning
Account Value
  Ending
Account Value
  Expenses Paid
During Period@
 
    07/01/09   12/31/09   07/01/09 –
12/31/09
 
Class X  
Actual (17.49% return)   $ 1,000.00     $ 1,174.90     $ 5.15    
Hypothetical (5% annual return before expenses)   $ 1,000.00     $ 1,020.47     $ 4.79    
Class Y  
Actual (17.36% return)   $ 1,000.00     $ 1,173.60     $ 6.52    
Hypothetical (5% annual return before expenses)   $ 1,000.00     $ 1,019.21     $ 6.06    

 

  @  Expenses are equal to the Portfolio's annualized expense ratios of 0.94% and 1.19% for Class X and Class Y shares, respectively, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by 184/365 (to reflect the one-half year period).

European Equity

    Beginning
Account Value
  Ending
Account Value
  Expenses Paid
During Period@
 
    07/01/09   12/31/09   07/01/09 –
12/31/09
 
Class X  
Actual (25.57% return)   $ 1,000.00     $ 1,255.70     $ 5.69    
Hypothetical (5% annual return before expenses)   $ 1,000.00     $ 1,020.16     $ 5.09    
Class Y  
Actual (25.41% return)   $ 1,000.00     $ 1,254.10     $ 7.10    
Hypothetical (5% annual return before expenses)   $ 1,000.00     $ 1,018.90     $ 6.36    

 

  @  Expenses are equal to the Portfolio's annualized expense ratios of 1.00% and 1.25% for Class X and Class Y shares, respectively, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by 184/365 (to reflect the one-half year period). If the Portfolio had borne all of its expenses, the annualized expense ratios would have been 1.08% and 1.33% for Class X and Class Y shares, respectively.


28



Morgan Stanley Variable Investment Series

Expense Example n December 31, 2009 continued

Capital Opportunities

    Beginning
Account Value
  Ending
Account Value
  Expenses Paid
During Period@
 
    07/01/09   12/31/09   07/01/09 –
12/31/09
 
Class X  
Actual (29.83% return)   $ 1,000.00     $ 1,298.30     $ 3.24    
Hypothetical (5% annual return before expenses)   $ 1,000.00     $ 1,022.38     $ 2.85    
Class Y  
Actual (29.66% return)   $ 1,000.00     $ 1,296.60     $ 4.69    
Hypothetical (5% annual return before expenses)   $ 1,000.00     $ 1,021.12     $ 4.13    

 

  @  Expenses are equal to the Portfolio's annualized expense ratios of 0.56% and 0.81% for Class X and Class Y shares, respectively, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by 184/365 (to reflect the one-half year period).

S&P 500 Index

    Beginning
Account Value
  Ending
Account Value
  Expenses Paid
During Period@
 
    07/01/09   12/31/09   07/01/09 –
12/31/09
 
Class X  
Actual (22.46% return)   $ 1,000.00     $ 1,224.60     $ 1.40    
Hypothetical (5% annual return before expenses)   $ 1,000.00     $ 1,023.95     $ 1.28    
Class Y  
Actual (22.33% return)   $ 1,000.00     $ 1,223.30     $ 2.80    
Hypothetical (5% annual return before expenses)   $ 1,000.00     $ 1,022.68     $ 2.55    

 

  @  Expenses are equal to the Portfolio's annualized expense ratios of 0.25% and 0.50% for Class X and Class Y shares, respectively, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by 184/365 (to reflect the one-half year period).

Aggressive Equity

    Beginning
Account Value
  Ending
Account Value
  Expenses Paid
During Period@
 
    07/01/09   12/31/09   07/01/09 –
12/31/09
 
Class X  
Actual (29.38% return)   $ 1,000.00     $ 1,293.80     $ 5.78    
Hypothetical (5% annual return before expenses)   $ 1,000.00     $ 1,020.16     $ 5.09    
Class Y  
Actual (29.22% return)   $ 1,000.00     $ 1,292.20     $ 7.22    
Hypothetical (5% annual return before expenses)   $ 1,000.00     $ 1,018.90     $ 6.36    

 

  @  Expenses are equal to the Portfolio's annualized expense ratios of 1.00% and 1.25% for Class X and Class Y shares, respectively, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by 184/365 (to reflect the one-half year period).


29



Morgan Stanley Variable Investment Series

Expense Example n December 31, 2009 continued

Strategist

    Beginning
Account Value
  Ending
Account Value
  Expenses Paid
During Period@
 
    07/01/09   12/31/09   07/01/09 –
12/31/09
 
Class X  
Actual (13.24% return)   $ 1,000.00     $ 1,132.40     $ 2.96    
Hypothetical (5% annual return before expenses)   $ 1,000.00     $ 1,022.43     $ 2.80    
Class Y  
Actual (13.10% return)   $ 1,000.00     $ 1,131.00     $ 4.30    
Hypothetical (5% annual return before expenses)   $ 1,000.00     $ 1,021.17     $ 4.08    

 

  @  Expenses are equal to the Portfolio's annualized expense ratios of 0.55% and 0.80% for Class X and Class Y shares, respectively, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by 184/365 (to reflect the one-half year period). If the Portfolio had borne all of its expenses, the annualized expense ratios would have been 0.58% and 0.83% for Class X and Class Y shares, respectively.


30




Morgan Stanley Variable Investment Series - Money Market

Portfolio of Investments n December 31, 2009

PRINCIPAL
AMOUNT IN
THOUSANDS
 


  ANNUALIZED
YIELD
ON DATE OF
PURCHASE
  MATURITY
DATE
  VALUE  
    Repurchase Agreements (40.7%)  
$ 7,000     Banc of America Securities, (dated 12/31/09;
proceeds $7,000,008; fully collateralized by
Federal Home Loan Bank 0.80% due 06/30/11,
valued at $7,143,805)
    0.01 %   01/04/10   $ 7,000,000    
  20,000     Barclay's Capital LLC, (dated 12/31/09;
proceeds $20,000,000; fully collateralized by
Government National Mortgage Assoc. 5.00%
due 10/15/39, valued at $20,600,000)
    0.00     01/04/10     20,000,000    
  40,465     BNP Paribas Securities, (dated 12/31/09;
proceeds $40,465,000; fully collateralized by
Federal National Mortgage Assoc.
3.79% - 4.50% due 01/01/23 - 03/01/38,
valued at $41,678,950)
    0.00     01/04/10     40,465,000    
    Total Repurchase Agreements
(Cost $67,465,000)
    67,465,000    
    Commercial Paper (25.1%)  
    Domestic Bank (3.0%)  
  5,000     J.P. Morgan Chase and Co.     0.06     01/04/10     4,999,975    
    International Banks (22.1%)  
  7,000     DNB NOR Bank ASA (a)     0.21     02/12/10     6,998,285    
  8,000     Intesa Funding LLC     0.20 - 0.25     01/19/10 - 03/29/10     7,997,183    
  6,500     Lloyds TSB Bank PLC     0.55     04/15/10     6,489,672    
  8,000     National Australia Funding (a)     0.20     01/27/10     7,998,845    
  5,000     Rabobank (U.S.) Finance Corp.     0.24     03/29/10     4,997,100    
  2,000     Societe Generale N.A., Inc.     0.26     03/16/10     1,998,931    
      36,480,016    
    Total Commercial Paper
(Cost $41,479,991)
    41,479,991    
    Certificates of Deposit (18.1%)  
    International Banks  
  5,000     Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria - NY     0.35     03/29/10     5,000,061    
  8,000     Barclays Bank PLC - NY     0.75     02/11/10     8,000,000    
  8,000     Calyon North America, Inc.     0.22     03/03/10     8,000,000    
  5,000     Nordea Bank AB     0.19     01/15/10     5,000,000    
  4,000     Royal Bank of Scotland PLC     0.28     02/09/10     4,000,000    
    Total Certificates of Deposit
(Cost $30,000,061)
    30,000,061    

 

See Notes to Financial Statements
31



Morgan Stanley Variable Investment Series - Money Market

Portfolio of Investments n December 31, 2009 continued

PRINCIPAL
AMOUNT IN
THOUSANDS
 


  ANNUALIZED
YIELD
ON DATE OF
PURCHASE
  MATURITY
DATE
  VALUE  
    Floating Rate Notes (11.5%)  
    International Banks (6.1%)  
$ 5,000     Societe Generale N.Y., Inc.     0.38 (b)%   02/05/10(c)   $ 5,000,000    
  5,000     Westpac Banking Corp. (a)     0.28 (b)   03/08/10(c)     5,000,000    
      10,000,000    
    U.S. Government Agency (5.4%)  
  9,000     Federal Home Loan Banks     0.08 (b)   02/08/10(c)     8,996,715    
    Total Floating Rate Notes
(Cost $18,996,715)
    18,996,715    
    Short-Term Bank Note (4.8%)  
    Domestic Bank  
  8,000     Bank of America N.A.
(Cost $8,000,000)
    0.23     02/17/10     8,000,000    
        Total Investments
(Cost $165,941,767) (d)
            100.2 %     165,941,767    
        Liabilities in Excess of Other Assets             (0.2 )     (310,572 )  
    Net Assets             100.0 %   $ 165,631,195    

 

  (a)  Resale is restricted to qualified institutional investors.

  (b)  Rate shown is the rate in effect at December 31, 2009.

  (c)  Date of next interest rate reset.

  (d)  Cost is the same for federal income tax purposes.

MATURITY SCHEDULE†

30 Days     54 %  
31 60 Days     25    
61 90 Days     17    
91 120 Days     4    
      100 %  

 

†  As a percentage of total investments.

See Notes to Financial Statements
32



Morgan Stanley Variable Investment Series - Limited Duration

Portfolio of Investments n December 31, 2009

PRINCIPAL
AMOUNT IN
THOUSANDS
 
  COUPON
RATE
  MATURITY
DATE
  VALUE  
    Corporate Bonds (50.8%)  
    Aerospace/Defense (0.5%)  
$ 400     BAE Systems Holdings, Inc. (144A) (a)     4.75 %   08/15/10   $ 406,131    
    Applications Software (0.3%)  
  230     Microsoft Corp.     2.95     06/01/14     232,703    
    Auto - Cars/Light Trucks (0.5%)  
  360     Daimler Finance North America LLC     7.30     01/15/12     391,557    
    Auto - Medium & Heavy Duty Trucks (0.1%)  
  100     PACCAR, Inc.     6.375     02/15/12     108,423    
    Beverages - Non-Alcoholic (0.9%)  
  340     Bottling Group LLC     6.95     03/15/14     391,568    
  300     Coca-Cola Enterprises, Inc.     3.75     03/01/12     311,963    
          703,531    
    Beverages - Wine/Spirits (0.3%)  
  250     Diageo Finance BV (Netherlands)     3.875     04/01/11     258,114    
    Brewery (0.3%)  
  205     Anheuser-Busch InBev Worldwide, Inc. (144A) (a)     5.375     11/15/14     217,277    
    Building Product - Cement/Aggregation (0.3%)  
  230     Lafarge SA (France)     6.15     07/15/11     239,766    
    Cable/Satellite TV (0.8%)  
  335     Comcast Cable Holdings LLC     9.80     02/01/12     379,335    
  200     Time Warner Cable, Inc.     8.25     02/14/14     233,957    
          613,292    
    Commercial Banks - Non-U.S. (8.8%)  
  315     Barclays Bank PLC (United Kingdom)     2.50     01/23/13     314,867    
  900     Commonwealth Bank of Australia (144A)
(Australia) (a)
    2.50     12/10/12     914,078    
  250     National Australia Bank Ltd. (144A) (Australia) (a)     5.35     06/12/13     269,297    
  2,300     Royal Bank of Scotland PLC (The) (144A)
(United Kingdom) (a)
    2.625     05/11/12     2,334,254    
  310     Royal Bank of Scotland PLC (The) (144A)
(United Kingdom) (a)
    4.875     08/25/14     314,566    
  320     Svenska Handelsbanken AB (144A) (Sweden) (a)     2.875     09/14/12     322,181    
  1,545     Swedbank AB (144A) (Sweden) (a)     2.90     01/14/13     1,574,710    
  810     Westpac Securities NZ Ltd. (144A)
(New Zealand) (a)
    2.50     05/25/12     821,750    
          6,865,703    
    Commercial Banks - Eastern U.S. (0.5%)  
  340     Credit Suisse (Switzerland)     5.50     05/01/14     369,325    

 

See Notes to Financial Statements
33



Morgan Stanley Variable Investment Series - Limited Duration

Portfolio of Investments n December 31, 2009 continued

PRINCIPAL
AMOUNT IN
THOUSANDS
 
  COUPON
RATE
  MATURITY
DATE
  VALUE  
    Commercial Banks - Southern U.S. (0.5%)  
$ 385     BB&T Corp.     3.10     %   07/28/11   $ 391,964    
    Computer Services (0.5%)  
  360     Computer Sciences Corp.     7.375     06/15/11     387,557    
    Computers (0.9%)  
  105     Dell, Inc.     3.375     06/15/12     108,647    
  330     Hewlett-Packard Co.     0.366 (b)   03/01/12     330,149    
  220     International Business Machines Corp.     4.75     11/29/12     236,516    
          675,312    
    Consumer Products - Miscellaneous (0.4%)  
  310     Clorox Co.     4.20     01/15/10     310,284    
    Data Processing Services (0.5%)  
  370     Fiserv, Inc.     6.125     11/20/12     403,149    
    Diversified Financial Services (4.2%)  
  300     Bank of America Corp.     5.375     08/15/11     315,054    
  325     Citigroup, Inc. (See Note 6)     4.625     08/03/10     331,657    
  275     Citigroup, Inc. (See Note 6)     5.30     10/17/12     286,664    
  700     General Electric Capital Corp. (Series A)     5.45     01/15/13     744,679    
  265     General Electric Capital Corp.     5.90     05/13/14     286,760    
  405     Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (The)     5.25     10/15/13     430,484    
  325     Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (The)     6.875     01/15/11     344,725    
  515     JPMorgan Chase & Co.     5.375     10/01/12     557,654    
          3,297,677    
    Diversified Minerals (0.6%)  
  235     BHP Billiton Finance USA Ltd. (Australia)     8.50     12/01/12     274,882    
  190     Rio Tinto Finance USA Ltd. (Australia)     5.875     07/15/13     205,181    
          480,063    
    Electric - Distribution (0.5%)  
  355     Detroit Edison Co. (The)     6.125     10/01/10     368,954    
    Electric - Integrated (2.0%)  
  205     Columbus Southern Power Co. (Series E)     4.40     12/01/10     208,780    
  380     Dominion Resources, Inc.     5.70     09/17/12     410,890    
  215     Firstenergy Solutions Corp.     4.80     02/15/15     219,696    
  405     Ohio Power Co.     0.431 (b)   04/05/10     405,025    
  290     Southern Co.     4.15     05/15/14     298,518    
  30     Southern Co. (Series A)     5.30     01/15/12     32,158    
          1,575,067    

 

See Notes to Financial Statements
34



Morgan Stanley Variable Investment Series - Limited Duration

Portfolio of Investments n December 31, 2009 continued

PRINCIPAL
AMOUNT IN
THOUSANDS
 
  COUPON
RATE
  MATURITY
DATE
  VALUE  
    Electronic Connectors (0.2%)  
$ 140     Amphenol Corp.     4.75     %   11/15/14   $ 140,200    
    Electronic Measuring Instrument (0.5%)  
  385     Agilent Technologies, Inc.     4.45     09/14/12     398,594    
    Enterprise Software/Service (0.5%)  
  335     Oracle Corp.     5.00     01/15/11     348,456    
    Fiduciary Banks (0.4%)  
  305     Mellon Funding Corp.     6.40     05/14/11     323,799    
    Finance - Auto Loans (0.5%)  
  395     American Honda Finance Corp. (MTN) (144A) (a)     2.757 (b)   06/02/11     404,875    
    Finance - Commercial (0.6%)  
  390     Caterpillar Financial Services Corp. (MTN)     6.125     02/17/14     436,241    
    Finance - Consumer Loans (1.3%)  
  695     HSBC Finance Corp.     6.75     05/15/11     734,771    
  215     John Deere Capital Corp.     7.00     03/15/12     238,630    
          973,401    
    Finance - Credit Card (1.7%)  
  475     American Express Co.     7.25     05/20/14     536,484    
  750     MBNA Corp.     6.125     03/01/13     796,243    
          1,332,727    
    Finance - Investment Banker/Broker (1.1%)  
  200     Credit Suisse USA, Inc.     6.125     11/15/11     215,772    
  260     Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc.     5.45     02/05/13     273,784    
  365     TD Ameritrade Holding Corp.     2.95     12/01/12     361,083    
          850,639    
    Finance - Other Services (0.5%)  
  390     BP Capital Markets PLC (United Kingdom)     3.625     05/08/14     399,371    
    Food - Miscellaneous/Diversified (0.8%)  
  215     ConAgra Foods, Inc.     5.875     04/15/14     234,519    
  345     Kraft Foods, Inc.     6.75     02/19/14     381,858    
          616,377    
    Food - Retail (0.3%)  
  225     Kroger Co. (The)     7.50     01/15/14     257,015    
    Industrial Gases (0.3%)  
  240     Praxair, Inc.     6.375     04/01/12     263,865    

 

See Notes to Financial Statements
35



Morgan Stanley Variable Investment Series - Limited Duration

Portfolio of Investments n December 31, 2009 continued

PRINCIPAL
AMOUNT IN
THOUSANDS
 
  COUPON
RATE
  MATURITY
DATE
  VALUE  
    Life/Health Insurance (0.9%)  
$ 325     Principal Life Income Funding Trusts (MTN)     5.15 %   06/17/11   $ 338,634    
  315     Prudential Financial, Inc. (MTN)     3.625     09/17/12     319,864    
          658,498    
    Medical Products (0.4%)  
  275     Baxter International, Inc.     4.00     03/01/14     283,861    
    Medical - Biomedical/Genetics (0.2%)  
  180     Genentech, Inc.     4.40     07/15/10     183,729    
    Medical - HMO (0.2%)  
  185     UnitedHealth Group, Inc.     5.25     03/15/11     191,754    
    Money Center Banks (0.7%)  
  500     Lloyds TSB Bank PLC (144A) (United Kingdom) (a)     2.80     04/02/12     510,362    
    Multi-line Insurance (0.7%)  
  515     MetLife Global Funding I (See Note 6) (144A) (a)     5.75     07/25/11     541,475    
    Multimedia (0.4%)  
  250     Time Warner, Inc.     6.875     05/01/12     273,834    
    Oil Companies - Exploration & Production (1.6%)  
  450     Burlington Resources Finance Co. (Canada)     6.68     02/15/11     478,317    
  335     Devon Financing Corp. ULC (Canada)     6.875     09/30/11     364,066    
  350     EOG Co. of Canada (144A) (Canada) (a)     7.00     12/01/11     375,880    
          1,218,263    
    Oil Company - Integrated (0.3%)  
  255     Chevron Corp.     3.95     03/03/14     266,479    
    Pipelines (1.0%)  
  180     Enterprise Products Operating LLC (Series B)     7.50     02/01/11     190,772    
  225     Enterprise Products Operating LLC (Series O)     9.75     01/31/14     268,763    
  320     Plains All American Pipeline LP/PAA Finance Corp.     4.25     09/01/12     330,442    
          789,977    
    Reinsurance (0.3%)  
  210     Berkshire Hathaway Finance Corp.     4.00     04/15/12     220,194    
    REITS - Regional Malls (0.2%)  
  110     Simon Property Group LP     6.75     05/15/14     117,335    
    Retail - Discount (0.4%)  
  245     Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.     7.25     06/01/13     282,843    
    Retail - Drug Store (0.2%)  
  180     CVS Caremark Corp.     5.75     08/15/11     191,752    

 

See Notes to Financial Statements
36



Morgan Stanley Variable Investment Series - Limited Duration

Portfolio of Investments n December 31, 2009 continued

PRINCIPAL
AMOUNT IN
THOUSANDS
 
  COUPON
RATE
  MATURITY
DATE
  VALUE  
    Retail - Restaurants (0.3%)  
$ 185     Yum! Brands, Inc.     8.875     %   04/15/11   $ 200,245    
    Savings & Loan/Thrifts - Eastern U.S. (0.4%)  
  320     Sovereign Bancorp, Inc.     0.479 (b)   03/23/10     319,896    
    Special Purpose Banks (2.8%)  
  1,530     Kreditanstalt fuer Wiederaufbau (Series G)
(Germany)
    2.25     04/16/12     1,553,793    
  577     Societe Financement de l'Economie
Francaise (144A) (France) (a)
    3.375     05/05/14     588,818    
          2,142,611    
    Special Purpose Entity (0.7%)  
  250     Harley-Davidson Funding Corp. (144A) (a)     5.25     12/15/12     255,727    
  260     Xlliac Global Funding (144A) (a)     4.80     08/10/10     261,549    
          517,276    
    Super - Regional Banks - U.S. (2.3%)  
  405     Bank One Corp.     5.25     01/30/13     429,791    
  370     Capital One Financial Corp. (MTN)     5.70     09/15/11     388,795    
  195     US Bancorp     4.20     05/15/14     202,619    
  740     Wells Fargo & Co.     5.25     10/23/12     790,521    
          1,811,726    
    Telecommunication Services (0.9%)  
  150     Verizon Global Funding Corp.     7.25     12/01/10     158,552    
  500     Verizon Global Funding Corp.     7.375     09/01/12     563,952    
          722,504    
    Telephone - Integrated (3.2%)  
  350     AT&T, Inc.     4.95     01/15/13     373,671    
  395     BellSouth Corp.     6.00     10/15/11     427,302    
  175     British Telecommunications PLC (United Kingdom)     9.125     12/15/10     187,525    
  300     Deutsche Telekom International Finance BV
(Netherlands)
    8.50     06/15/10     310,062    
  395     France Telecom SA (France)     4.375     07/08/14     413,181    
  505     Telecom Italia Capital SA (Luxembourg)     4.875     10/01/10     516,960    
  220     Telefonica Europe BV (Netherlands)     7.75     09/15/10     230,183    
          2,458,884    
    Transport - Rail (0.6%)  
  460     Union Pacific Corp.     6.50     04/15/12     502,615    
        Total Corporate Bonds
(Cost $38,495,299)
                39,447,522    

 

See Notes to Financial Statements
37



Morgan Stanley Variable Investment Series - Limited Duration

Portfolio of Investments n December 31, 2009 continued

PRINCIPAL
AMOUNT IN
THOUSANDS
 
  COUPON
RATE
  MATURITY
DATE
  VALUE  
    Foreign Government Obligations (2.4%)  
$ 1,508     Denmark Government International Bond (Series E)
(Denmark)
    2.75 %   11/15/11   $ 1,551,883    
  290     Export Development Canada (Canada)     3.125     04/24/14     294,044    
        Total Foreign Government Obligations
(Cost $1,831,154)
                1,845,927    
    U.S. Government Agencies and Obligations (21.7%)  
    Commercial Banks - Central U.S. - FDIC Guaranteed (3.5%)  
  2,600     KeyBank NA     3.20     06/15/12     2,700,349    
    Diversified Financial Services - FDIC Guaranteed (6.1%)  
  500     Bank of America Corp.     2.10     04/30/12     504,900    
  1,960     Citigroup, Inc. (See Note 6)     2.125     04/30/12     1,982,105    
  700     Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (The)     3.25     06/15/12     727,681    
  1,500     JPMorgan Chase & Co.     3.125     12/01/11     1,553,193    
          4,767,879    
    Super - Regional Banks - U.S. - FDIC Guaranteed (4.8%)  
  3,710     PNC Funding Corp.     2.30     06/22/12     3,774,940    
    U.S. Government Obligations (7.3%)  
  3,210     U.S. Treasury Note     0.75     11/30/11     3,190,066    
        U.S. Treasury Strips                
  705         0.00     11/15/19     468,257    
  1,190         0.00     11/15/20     743,832    
  2,260         0.00     11/15/22     1,246,874    
          5,649,029    
        Total U.S. Government Agencies and Obligations
(Cost $16,814,235)
                16,892,197    
    U.S. Government Agencies - Mortgage-Backed Securities (2.4%)  
    Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp. (ARM) (0.8%)  
  188         5.581     01/01/38     198,455    
  184         5.673     04/01/37     194,699    
  214         6.025     02/01/37     226,773    
          619,927    
    Federal National Mortgage Assoc. (0.9%)  
  485         6.50     01/01/32 - 11/01/33     523,576    
  163         7.00     08/01/29 - 06/01/32     179,877    
          703,453    

 

See Notes to Financial Statements
38



Morgan Stanley Variable Investment Series - Limited Duration

Portfolio of Investments n December 31, 2009 continued

PRINCIPAL
AMOUNT IN
THOUSANDS
 
  COUPON
RATE
  MATURITY
DATE
  VALUE  
    Federal National Mortgage Assoc. (ARM) (0.7%)  
$ 349         5.736   %   12/01/36   $ 368,766    
  144         5.783     03/01/38     152,302    
          521,068    
        Total U.S. Government Agencies - Mortgage-Backed Securities
(Cost $1,818,373)
                1,844,448    
    Asset-Backed Securities (17.9%)  
  675     American Express Credit Account Master Trust
2009-2 A
    1.483 (b)   03/15/17     694,459    
  1,100     Bank of America Auto Trust 2009-1A A2 (144A) (a)     1.70     12/15/11     1,105,783    
  725     BMW Vehicle Lease Trust 2009-1 A2     2.04     04/15/11     728,994    
  119     Capital Auto Receivables Asset Trust 2008-2 A2B     1.153 (b)   03/15/11     118,795    
  141     Capital Auto Receivables Asset Trust 2007-3 A3A     5.02     09/15/11     142,640    
  807     Capital One Multi-Asset Execution Trust
2005-A10 A
    0.313 (b)   09/15/15     792,058    
  325     Chrysler Financial Auto Securitization Trust
2009-A A2
    1.85     06/15/11     327,160    
  600     Citibank Credit Card Issuance Trust 2009-A5 A5
(See Note 6)
    2.25     12/23/14     594,960    
  775     Daimler Chrysler Auto Trust 2007-A A3A     5.00     02/08/12     787,518    
  850     Discover Card Master Trust 2009-A1 A1     1.533 (b)   12/15/14     854,736    
  700     Ford Credit Auto Owner Trust 2009-E A3     1.51     01/15/14     696,555    
  775     Ford Credit Floorplan Master Owner Trust
2009-2 A
    1.783 (b)   09/15/14     776,704    
  1,150     GE Capital Credit Card Master Note Trust
2009-1 A
    2.333 (b)   04/15/15     1,167,754    
  440     Harley-Davidson Motorcycle Trust 2009-4 A3     1.87     02/15/14     438,556    
  950     Harley-Davidson Motorcycle Trust 2009-2 A2     2.00     07/15/12     956,504    
  350     Honda Auto Receivables Owner Trust 2009-3 A2     1.50     08/15/11     351,770    
  750     Huntington Auto Trust 2009-1A A3 (144A) (a)     3.94     06/17/13     772,213    
  99     John Deere Owner Trust 2009-A A1     1.132     07/02/10     99,045    
  425     MMAF Equipment Finance LLC 2009-AA A3
(144A) (a)
    2.37     11/15/13     425,000    
  775     Nissan Auto Lease Trust 2009-A A2     2.01     04/15/11     779,750    
  775     Nissan Auto Lease Trust 2009-B A3     2.07     01/15/15     779,868    
  159     USAA Auto Owner Trust 2007-2 A3     4.90     02/15/12     160,691    
  318     Volkswagen Auto Lease Trust 2009-A A2     2.87     07/15/11     320,676    
        Total Asset-Backed Securities
(Cost $13,791,236)
                13,872,189    

 

See Notes to Financial Statements
39



Morgan Stanley Variable Investment Series - Limited Duration

Portfolio of Investments n December 31, 2009 continued

PRINCIPAL
AMOUNT IN
THOUSANDS
 
  COUPON
RATE
  MATURITY
DATE
  VALUE  
    Collateralized Mortgage Obligation (0.6%)  
    U.S. Government Agency  
$ 420     Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp. 2182 ZC
(Cost $449,449)
    7.50 %     09/15/29     $ 454,883    
    Commercial Mortgage-Backed Security (0.2%)  
    Private Issue  
  190     Wachovia Bank Commercial Mortgage Trust
2004-C12 A4
(Cost $193,399) (b)
    5.237       07/15/41       188,760    
    Short-Term Investments (3.7%)  
    U.S. Government Obligation (c)(d) (1.2%)  
  905     U.S. Treasury Bill
(Cost $904,524)
    0.152       05/06/10       904,535    
NUMBER OF
SHARES (000)
 
       
    Investment Company (2.5%)  
  1,961     Morgan Stanley Institutional Liquidity Funds - Money Market Portfolio - Institutional Class
(See Note 6)
(Cost $1,960,815)
    1,960,815    
        Total Short-Term Investments
(Cost $2,865,339)
                    2,865,350    
        Total Investments
(Cost $76,258,484) (e)(f)
            99.7 %     77,411,276    
        Other Assets in Excess of Liabilities             0.3       230,437    
        Net Assets             100.0 %   $ 77,641,713    

 

  ARM  Adjustable Rate Mortgage. Interest rate in effect as of December 31, 2009.

  FDIC  Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.

  MTN  Medium Term Note.

  (a)  Resale is restricted to qualified institutional investors.

  (b)  Floating rate security. Rate shown is the rate in effect at December 31, 2009.

  (c)  Purchased on a discount basis. The interest rates shown have been adjusted to reflect a money market equivalent yield.

  (d)  A portion of this security has been physically segregated in connection with open futures and swap contracts.

  (e)  Securities have been designated as collateral in connection with open futures and swap contracts.

  (f)  The aggregate cost for federal income tax purposes is $76,664,789. The aggregate gross unrealized appreciation is $874,412 and the aggregate gross unrealized depreciation is $127,925 resulting in net unrealized appreciation of $746,487.

See Notes to Financial Statements
40



Morgan Stanley Variable Investment Series - Limited Duration

Portfolio of Investments n December 31, 2009 continued

FUTURES CONTRACTS OPEN AT DECEMBER 31, 2009:

NUMBER OF
CONTRACTS
  LONG/SHORT   DESCRIPTION, DELIVERY
MONTH AND YEAR
  UNDERLYING FACE
AMOUNT AT VALUE
  UNREALIZED
APPRECIATION
(DEPRECIATION)
 
  31     Long   U.S. Treasury Notes 10 Year,
March 2010
  $ 3,579,047     $ (88,135 )  
  19     Long   U.S. Treasury Notes 5 Year,
March 2010
    2,173,273       (25,823 )  
  1     Short   U.S. Treasury Bonds 30 Year,
March 2010
    (115,375 )     5,998    
  192     Short   U.S. Treasury Notes 2 Year,
March 2010
    (41,522,999 )     221,439    
Net Unrealized Appreciation   $ 113,479    

 

INTEREST RATE SWAP CONTRACTS OPEN AT DECEMBER 31, 2009:

COUNTERPARTY   NOTIONAL
AMOUNT
(000's)
  PAYMENTS
RECEIVED
BY FUND
  PAYMENTS
MADE
BY FUND
  TERMINATION
DATE
  UNREALIZED
APPRECIATION
(DEPRECIATION)
 
Barclays Bank^   $ 1,590     Floating Rate 4.141#%   Fixed Rate 0.00%   November 15, 2019   $ (71,640 )  
Barclays Bank^^     1,590     Fixed Rate 0.00   Floating Rate 0.816#   November 15, 2019     (95,339 )  
Credit Suisse Group***     2,400     Fixed Rate 5.086   Floating Rate 0.00#   December 23, 2019     (11,520 )  
Credit Suisse Group     577     Floating Rate 0.248#   Fixed Rate 4.386   December 23, 2039     13,306    
Deutsche Bank AG***     7,913     Fixed Rate 4.40   Floating Rate 0.00#   October 1, 2016     (48,507 )  
Deutsche Bank AG***     4,258     Floating Rate 0.00#   Fixed Rate 4.41   October 3, 2018     50,543    
Deutsche Bank AG^^     1,100     Fixed Rate 0.00   Floating Rate 0.816#   November 15, 2021     (75,918 )  
Deutsche Bank AG^     1,100     Floating Rate 4.117#   Fixed Rate 0.00   November 15, 2021     (22,916 )  
JPMorgan Chase Bank
N.A. New York^
    705     Floating Rate 4.314#   Fixed Rate 0.00   November 15, 2019     (26,110 )  
JPMorgan Chase Bank
N.A. New York^
    1,190     Floating Rate 4.026#   Fixed Rate 0.00   November 15, 2020     (54,130 )  
JPMorgan Chase Bank
N.A. New York^
    2,260     Floating Rate 0.245#   Fixed Rate 0.00   November 15, 2022     80,177    
Net Unrealized Depreciation   $ (262,054 )  

 

  ***  Forward interest rate swap. Periodic payments on specified notional contract amount with future effective date, unless terminated earlier.

  #  Floating rate based on USD-3 Months LIBOR.

  ^  Portfolio will make payments of $616,586, $474,412, $267,984, $503,070 and $895,625 respectively, on termination date.

  ^^  Portfolio will receive payments of $436,614 and $367,331 respectively on termination date.

See Notes to Financial Statements
41



Morgan Stanley Variable Investment Series - Limited Duration

Portfolio of Investments n December 31, 2009 continued

LONG-TERM CREDIT ANALYSIS (unaudited)  
AAA     60.3 %  
AA     10.4    
A     18.3    
BBB     11.0    
      100.0 %++  

 

++  Does not include open long/short futures contracts with an underlying face amount of $47,390,694 and net unrealized appreciation of $113,479. Also does not include open swap contracts with net unrealized depreciation of $262,054.

See Notes to Financial Statements
42



Morgan Stanley Variable Investment Series - Income Plus

Portfolio of Investments n December 31, 2009

PRINCIPAL
AMOUNT IN
THOUSANDS
 
  COUPON
RATE
  MATURITY
DATE
  VALUE  
    Corporate Bonds (95.1%)  
    Advertising Agencies (0.2%)  
$ 490     Omnicom Group, Inc.     6.25 %   07/15/19   $ 529,592    
    Advertising Services (0.5%)  
  1,195     WPP Finance (United Kingdom)     8.00     09/15/14     1,360,376    
    Agricultural Chemicals (1.2%)  
  895     Agrium, Inc. (Canada)     6.75     01/15/19     969,234    
  815     Mosaic Co. (The) (144A) (a)     7.625     12/01/16     891,221    
  245     Potash Corp. of Saskatchewan, Inc. (Canada)     4.875     03/30/20     242,204    
  555     Potash Corp. of Saskatchewan, Inc. (Canada)     5.875     12/01/36     548,238    
  560     Potash Corp. of Saskatchewan, Inc. (Canada)     6.50     05/15/19     621,332    
      3,272,229    
    Agricultural Operations (0.3%)  
  580     Bunge Ltd. Finance Corp.     8.50     06/15/19     662,247    
    Airlines (0.3%)  
  1,007     America West Airlines LLC (Series 011G)
(AMBAC Insd)
    7.10     04/02/21     795,613    
    Appliances (0.2%)  
  450     Whirlpool Corp.     8.60     05/01/14     509,982    
    Auto - Cars/Light Trucks (0.2%)  
  395     Daimler Finance North America LLC     8.50     01/18/31     486,706    
    Beverages - Non-Alcoholic (0.4%)  
  860     Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Inc.     6.82     05/01/18     966,319    
    Beverages - Wine/Spirits (0.3%)  
  610     Bacardi Ltd. (144A) (Bermuda) (a)     8.20     04/01/19     722,207    
  165     Constellation Brands, Inc.     7.25     09/01/16     168,300    
      890,507    
    Brewery (0.7%)  
  470     Anheuser-Busch Cos., Inc.     5.50     01/15/18     477,146    
  510     Anheuser-Busch InBev Worldwide, Inc. (144A) (a)     5.375     11/15/14     540,543    
  85     Anheuser-Busch InBev Worldwide, Inc. (144A) (a)     8.20     01/15/39     107,825    
  700     FBG Finance Ltd. (144A) (Australia) (a)     5.125     06/15/15     725,400    
      1,850,914    
    Broadcast Service/Program (0.1%)  
  280     Grupo Televisa SA (Mexico)     6.00     05/15/18     283,147    
    Building Product - Cement/Aggregation (1.2%)  
  820     CRH America, Inc.     6.00     09/30/16     857,641    
  480     CRH America, Inc.     8.125     07/15/18     560,729    

 

See Notes to Financial Statements
43



Morgan Stanley Variable Investment Series - Income Plus

Portfolio of Investments n December 31, 2009 continued

PRINCIPAL
AMOUNT IN
THOUSANDS
 
  COUPON
RATE
  MATURITY
DATE
  VALUE  
$ 545     Holcim US Finance Sarl & Cie SCS (144A)
(Luxembourg) (a)
    6.00 %   12/30/19   $ 568,351    
  580     LAFARGE SA (France)     6.50     07/15/16     615,732    
  525     LAFARGE SA (France)     7.125     07/15/36     551,413    
      3,153,866    
    Building-Residential/Commercial (0.6%)  
  1,675     Toll Brothers Finance Corp.     6.75     11/01/19     1,643,386    
    Cable/Satellite TV (3.4%)  
  180     Comcast Corp.     5.70     05/15/18     189,540    
  820     Comcast Corp.     6.40     05/15/38     846,597    
  270     Comcast Corp.     6.45     03/15/37     279,293    
  1,620     Comcast Corp.     6.50     01/15/15     1,816,939    
  980     COX Communications, Inc. (144A) (a)     8.375     03/01/39     1,224,088    
  320     CSC Holdings, Inc.     7.625     07/15/18     331,200    
  465     DIRECTV Holdings LLC/Financing Co., Inc. (144A) (a)     5.875     10/01/19     473,821    
  275     DIRECTV Holdings LLC/Financing Co., Inc.     6.375     06/15/15     287,031    
  620     DIRECTV Holdings LLC/Financing Co., Inc.     7.625     05/15/16     678,215    
  1,200     Time Warner Cable, Inc.     6.75     07/01/18     1,320,428    
  375     Time Warner Cable, Inc.     6.75     06/15/39     394,025    
  350     Time Warner Cable, Inc.     8.25     04/01/19     417,582    
  485     Time Warner Cable, Inc.     8.75     02/14/19     592,075    
      8,850,834    
    Cellular Telephone (0.3%)  
  810     Vodafone Group PLC (United Kingdom)     5.625     02/27/17     861,623    
    Commercial Banks - Non-U.S. (2.9%)  
  545     Barclays Bank PLC (144A) (United Kingdom) (a)     6.05     12/04/17     555,514    
  1,495     Barclays Bank PLC (United Kingdom)     6.75     05/22/19     1,670,516    
  1,675     HBOS PLC (144A) (United Kingdom) (a)     6.75     05/21/18     1,556,656    
  260     Rabobank Nederland (144A) (Netherlands) (a)     11.00 (b)   06/30/49(c)     317,886    
  1,310     Royal Bank of Scotland PLC (The) (144A)
(United Kingdom) (a)
    4.875     08/25/14     1,329,295    
  925     Royal Bank of Scotland Group PLC (United Kingdom)     6.40     10/21/19     923,690    
  1,325     Westpac Banking Corp. (Australia)     4.20     02/27/15     1,348,374    
      7,701,931    
    Commercial Banks - Eastern U.S. (2.6%)  
  3,250     Credit Suisse (Switzerland)     5.30     08/13/19     3,343,928    
  580     Credit Suisse (Switzerland)     6.00     02/15/18     607,850    
  715     Discover Bank/Greenwood     8.70     11/18/19     767,299    
  760     PNC Bank NA     6.00     12/07/17     772,707    
  1,300     UBS AG/Stamford Branch (Switzerland)     5.875     12/20/17     1,338,112    
      6,829,896    

 

See Notes to Financial Statements
44



Morgan Stanley Variable Investment Series - Income Plus

Portfolio of Investments n December 31, 2009 continued

PRINCIPAL
AMOUNT IN
THOUSANDS
 
  COUPON
RATE
  MATURITY
DATE
  VALUE  
    Commercial Banks - Southern U.S. (1.3%)  
$ 1,160     BB&T Corp. (MTN)     6.85 %   04/30/19   $ 1,303,340    
  805     Regions Financial Corp.     7.75     11/10/14     794,697    
  1,370     Wachovia Bank NA     5.85     02/01/37     1,314,887    
      3,412,924    
    Consumer Products - Miscellaneous (0.2%)  
  460     Fortune Brands, Inc.     6.375     06/15/14     493,116    
    Containers - Paper/Plastic (0.2%)  
  515     Sealed Air Corp. (144A) (a)     7.875     06/15/17     549,333    
    Data Processing Services (0.2%)  
  350     Fiserv, Inc.     6.80     11/20/17     386,801    
    Diversified Financial Services (11.8%)  
  1,115     Bank of America Corp. (Series L)     5.65     05/01/18     1,134,275    
  1,865     Bank of America Corp.     5.75     12/01/17     1,912,811    
  795     Bank of America Corp.     7.625     06/01/19     921,280    
  1,735     Citigroup, Inc. (See Note 6)     5.875     05/29/37     1,533,709    
  480     Citigroup, Inc. (See Note 6)     6.125     05/15/18     483,378    
  265     Citigroup, Inc. (See Note 6)     8.125     07/15/39     299,994    
  4,820     Citigroup, Inc. (See Note 6)     8.50     05/22/19     5,575,174    
  795     Credit Agricole SA (144A) (France) (a)     8.375 (b)   10/13/49(c)     845,372    
  1,980     General Electric Capital Corp.     5.625     05/01/18     2,032,343    
  75     General Electric Capital Corp. (MTN)     5.875     01/14/38     69,670    
  6,075     General Electric Capital Corp. (Series G)     6.00     08/07/19     6,317,459    
  4,870     Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (The)     6.15     04/01/18     5,221,794    
  1,565     Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (The)     6.75     10/01/37     1,613,748    
  2,430     JPMorgan Chase & Co.     6.00     01/15/18     2,616,418    
  340     JPMorgan Chase & Co.     6.30     04/23/19     374,692    
      30,952,117    
    Diversified Manufactured Operation (1.5%)  
  2,565     General Electric Co.     5.25     12/06/17     2,625,306    
  1,150     Tyco Electronics Group SA (Luxembourg)     5.95     01/15/14     1,203,944    
      3,829,250    
    Diversified Minerals (1.2%)  
  825     Rio Tinto Finance USA Ltd. (Australia)     9.00     05/01/19     1,045,853    
  475     Teck Resources Ltd. (Canada)     10.25     05/15/16     555,750    
  650     Vale Overseas Ltd. (Cayman Islands)     5.625     09/15/19     659,573    
  595     Vale Overseas Ltd. (Cayman Islands)     6.875     11/21/36     595,988    
  345     Vale Overseas Ltd. (Cayman Islands)     6.875     11/10/39     349,045    
      3,206,209    

 

See Notes to Financial Statements
45



Morgan Stanley Variable Investment Series - Income Plus

Portfolio of Investments n December 31, 2009 continued

PRINCIPAL
AMOUNT IN
THOUSANDS
 
  COUPON
RATE
  MATURITY
DATE
  VALUE  
    Electric - Generation (0.6%)  
$ 1,610     AES Corp. (The)     8.00    %   06/01/20   $ 1,646,225    
    Electric - Integrated (5.8%)  
  65     CMS Energy Corp.     6.30     02/01/12     66,482    
  775     Consumers Energy Co.     5.80     09/15/35     748,256    
  435     Dominion Resources, Inc.     7.00     06/15/38     502,830    
  645     DTE Energy Co.     7.625     05/15/14     720,723    
  800     Entergy Gulf States Louisiana LLC     5.59     10/01/24     801,531    
  2,650     Exelon Generation Co. LLC     6.25     10/01/39     2,709,092    
  975     FirstEnergy Solutions Corp.     6.80     08/15/39     987,896    
  975     FirstEnergy Solutions Corp.     6.05     08/15/21     985,624    
  150     NiSource Finance Corp.     6.125     03/01/22     153,409    
  965     NiSource Finance Corp.     6.80     01/15/19     1,033,767    
  200     Ohio Power Co. (Series 1)     5.375     10/01/21     200,968    
  1,670     Ohio Power Co. (Series K)     6.00     06/01/16     1,772,835    
  1,510     PPL Energy Supply LLC     6.50     05/01/18     1,576,999    
  230     Progress Energy, Inc.     7.05     03/15/19     257,755    
  710     Southwestern Public Service Co. (Series G)     8.75     12/01/18     866,845    
  1,230     Virginia Electric & Power Co.     8.875     11/15/38     1,741,824    
      15,126,836    
    Electronic Component (0.3%)  
  746     Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Netherlands)     5.75     03/11/18     795,088    
    Electronic Connectors (0.2%)  
  560     Amphenol Corp.     4.75     11/15/14     560,799    
    Electronic Measuring Instrument (0.3%)  
  675     Agilent Technologies, Inc.     5.50     09/14/15     708,400    
    Enterprise Software/Service (0.2%)  
  540     CA, Inc.     5.375     12/01/19     544,065    
    Finance - Consumer Loans (1.8%)  
  785     American General Finance Corp. (Series H)     4.625     09/01/10     760,914    
  1,140     HSBC Finance Corp.     6.375     10/15/11     1,212,929    
  1,660     HSBC Finance Corp.     6.75     05/15/11     1,754,992    
  1,060     SLM Corp. (MTN)     0.442 (b)   07/26/10     1,037,546    
      4,766,381    
    Finance - Credit Card (1.4%)  
  525     American Express Co.     8.125     05/20/19     623,215    
  1,995     American Express Credit Corp. (Series C)     7.30     08/20/13     2,243,946    
  780     Capital One Bank USA NA     8.80     07/15/19     923,243    
      3,790,404    

 

See Notes to Financial Statements
46



Morgan Stanley Variable Investment Series - Income Plus

Portfolio of Investments n December 31, 2009 continued

PRINCIPAL
AMOUNT IN
THOUSANDS
 
  COUPON
RATE
  MATURITY
DATE
  VALUE  
    Finance - Investment Banker/Broker (4.5%)  
$ 610     Bear Stearns Cos. LLC (The)     5.55 %   01/22/17   $ 611,060    
  1,060     Bear Stearns Cos. LLC (The)     7.25     02/01/18     1,218,622    
  2,610     JPMorgan Chase Capital XXVII (Series AA)     7.00     11/01/39     2,640,477    
  1,210     Macquarie Group Ltd. (144A) (Australia) (a)     7.625     08/13/19     1,350,155    
  3,625     Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. (MTN)     6.875     04/25/18     3,911,933    
  930     Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc.     7.75     05/14/38     1,024,924    
  1,120     TD Ameritrade Holding Corp.     5.60     12/01/19     1,114,660    
      11,871,831    
    Food - Miscellaneous/Diversified (1.7%)  
  860     ConAgra Foods, Inc.     7.00     10/01/28     924,068    
  740     ConAgra Foods, Inc.     8.25     09/15/30     889,432    
  1,070     Kraft Foods, Inc.     6.125     08/23/18     1,130,049    
  700     Kraft Foods, Inc.     6.875     02/01/38     736,905    
  610     Kraft Foods, Inc.     6.875     01/26/39     642,562    
      4,323,016    
    Food - Retail (0.4%)  
  835     Delhaize America, Inc.     9.00     04/15/31     1,071,922    
    Gas - Distribution (0.4%)  
  780     Florida Gas Transmission Co. LLC (144A) (a)     7.90     05/15/19     914,497    
    Gold Mining (0.3%)  
  880     Newmont Mining Corp.     6.25     10/01/39     884,022    
    Independent Power Producer (0.1%)  
  295     NRG Energy, Inc.     8.50     06/15/19     303,850    
    Instruments - Scientific (0.3%)  
  820     Fisher Scientific International, Inc.     6.125     07/01/15     845,727    
    Investment Management/Advisor Services (0.7%)  
  870     Ameriprise Financial, Inc.     7.30     06/28/19     969,175    
  855     Blackstone Holdings Finance Co. LLC (144A) (a)     6.625     08/15/19     838,312    
      1,807,487    
    Life/Health Insurance (2.3%)  
  660     Aflac, Inc.     8.50     05/15/19     761,576    
  745     Lincoln National Corp.     8.75     07/01/19     852,650    
  1,025     Principal Financial Group, Inc.     8.875     05/15/19     1,184,294    
  925     Protective Life Corp.     7.375     10/15/19     928,596    
  950     Prudential Financial, Inc. (MTN)     4.75     09/17/15     964,508    
  635     Prudential Financial, Inc. (MTN)     6.625     12/01/37     653,004    
  660     Prudential Financial, Inc. (Series D)     7.375     06/15/19     741,252    
      6,085,880    

 

See Notes to Financial Statements
47



Morgan Stanley Variable Investment Series - Income Plus

Portfolio of Investments n December 31, 2009 continued

PRINCIPAL
AMOUNT IN
THOUSANDS
 
  COUPON
RATE
  MATURITY
DATE
  VALUE  
    Medical Instruments (0.2%)  
$ 600     Boston Scientific Corp.     6.00 %   01/15/20   $ 614,216    
    Medical Labs & Testing Services (0.2%)  
  605     Quest Diagnostics, Inc.     4.75     01/30/20     592,313    
    Medical - Biomedical/Genetics (0.3%)  
  790     Biogen Idec, Inc.     6.875     03/01/18     851,648    
    Medical - Drugs (0.3%)  
  405     Pfizer, Inc.     7.20     03/15/39     496,572    
  150     Wyeth     6.45     02/01/24     167,503    
      664,075    
    Medical - Generic Drugs (0.2%)  
  565     Watson Pharmaceuticals, Inc.     6.125     08/15/19     584,020    
    Medical - HMO (0.7%)  
  215     Aetna, Inc.     6.50     09/15/18     229,059    
  1,150     UnitedHealth Group, Inc.     6.00     02/15/18     1,189,790    
  260     WellPoint, Inc.     7.00     02/15/19     291,289    
      1,710,138    
    Medical - Hospitals (0.3%)  
  305     HCA, Inc. (144A) (a)     8.50     04/15/19     330,162    
  380     Tenet Healthcare Corp.     7.375     02/01/13     382,850    
      713,012    
    Metal - Aluminum (0.4%)  
  530     Alcoa, Inc.     5.87     02/23/22     493,188    
  465     Alcoa, Inc.     6.75     07/15/18     475,096    
      968,284    
    Metal - Copper (0.2%)  
  390     Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold, Inc.     8.375     04/01/17     427,635    
    Multi-line Insurance (3.5%)  
  800     Aegon (Netherlands)     4.625     12/01/15     781,926    
  840     Allstate Corp. (The) (See Note 6)     7.45     05/16/19     977,622    
  1,285     American Financial Group, Inc.     9.875     06/15/19     1,443,062    
  1,335     CNA Financial Corp.     7.35     11/15/19     1,338,877    
  1,750     Farmers Insurance Exchange (144A) (a)     8.625     05/01/24     1,695,192    
  290     MetLife, Inc. (Series A) (See Note 6)     6.817     08/15/18     323,523    
  965     MetLife, Inc. (See Note 6)     10.75     08/01/39     1,191,267    
  590     MetLife, Inc. (See Note 6)     7.717     02/15/19     694,499    
  850     XL Capital Ltd. (Cayman Islands)     5.25     09/15/14     833,276    
      9,279,244    

 

See Notes to Financial Statements
48



Morgan Stanley Variable Investment Series - Income Plus

Portfolio of Investments n December 31, 2009 continued

PRINCIPAL
AMOUNT IN
THOUSANDS
 
  COUPON
RATE
  MATURITY
DATE
  VALUE  
    Multimedia (1.9%)  
$ 170     News America, Inc.     6.40 %   12/15/35   $ 175,120    
  930     News America, Inc.     6.65     11/15/37     985,565    
  370     News America, Inc.     7.85     03/01/39     434,161    
  610     Time Warner, Inc.     6.50     11/15/36     638,988    
  715     Time Warner, Inc.     7.70     05/01/32     842,063    
  205     Viacom, Inc.     5.625     09/15/19     214,441    
  850     Viacom, Inc.     6.875     04/30/36     922,014    
  760     Vivendi (144A) (France) (a)     6.625     04/04/18     824,998    
      5,037,350    
    Networking Products (0.3%)  
  650     Cisco Systems, Inc.     5.90     02/15/39     659,498    
    Non-Hazardous Waste Disposal (0.7%)  
  665     Republic Services, Inc. (144A) (a)     5.50     09/15/19     676,537    
  1,105     Waste Management, Inc.     6.125     11/30/39     1,101,852    
      1,778,389    
    Office Automation & Equipment (0.4%)  
  255     Xerox Corp.     5.625     12/15/19     255,124    
  815     Xerox Corp.     6.35     05/15/18     851,527    
      1,106,651    
    Oil & Gas Drilling (0.4%)  
  985     Transocean, Inc. (Cayman Islands)     6.00     03/15/18     1,052,644    
    Oil Companies - Exploration & Production (2.9%)  
  665     Chesapeake Energy Corp.     7.625     07/15/13     699,912    
  155     EnCana Corp. (Canada)     5.90     12/01/17     166,962    
  1,220     EnCana Corp. (Canada)     6.50     02/01/38     1,332,911    
  400     Gaz Capital SA (144A) (Luxembourg) (a)     6.51     03/07/22     369,000    
  445     Newfield Exploration Co.     7.125     05/15/18     451,675    
  950     Nexen, Inc. (Canada)     7.50     07/30/39     1,092,630    
  180     Pioneer Natural Resources Co.     6.65     03/15/17     178,428    
  480     Plains Exploration & Production Co.     7.625     06/01/18     493,200    
  1,370     Questar Market Resources, Inc.     6.80     04/01/18     1,429,931    
  550     XTO Energy, Inc.     5.50     06/15/18     587,661    
  685     XTO Energy, Inc.     6.50     12/15/18     784,104    
      7,586,414    
    Oil Company - Integrated (1.5%)  
  1,010     Cenovus Energy, Inc. (144A) (Canada) (a)     5.70     10/15/19     1,055,472    
  750     Hess Corp.     6.00     01/15/40     745,249    
  835     Marathon Oil Corp.     5.90     03/15/18     880,964    

 

See Notes to Financial Statements
49



Morgan Stanley Variable Investment Series - Income Plus

Portfolio of Investments n December 31, 2009 continued

PRINCIPAL
AMOUNT IN
THOUSANDS
 
  COUPON
RATE
  MATURITY
DATE
  VALUE  
$ 950     Petro-Canada (Canada)     5.95 %   05/15/35   $ 940,592    
  410     Petrobras International Finance Co. (Cayman Islands)     5.75     01/20/20     419,138    
      4,041,415    
    Oil - Field Services (0.4%)  
  1,035     Weatherford International, Inc.     6.35     06/15/17     1,084,186    
    Paper & Related Products (1.2%)  
  130     Georgia-Pacific LLC (144A) (a)     8.25     05/01/16     138,450    
  860     International Paper Co.     7.50     08/15/21     965,519    
  460     International Paper Co.     9.375     05/15/19     566,345    
  1,325     MeadWestvaco Corp.     7.375     09/01/19     1,458,057    
      3,128,371    
    Pharmacy Services (0.5%)  
  1,220     Medco Health Solutions, Inc.     7.125     03/15/18     1,373,613    
    Pipelines (4.8%)  
  670     CenterPoint Energy Resources Corp.     6.25     02/01/37     651,576    
  375     CenterPoint Energy Resources Corp. (Series B)     7.875     04/01/13     422,695    
  364     Colorado Interstate Gas Co.     6.80     11/15/15     403,700    
  1,615     Energy Transfer Partners LP     9.00     04/15/19     1,928,197    
  275     Enterprise Products Operating LLC     5.25     01/31/20     272,562    
  1,265     Enterprise Products Operating LLC (Series G)     5.60     10/15/14     1,348,422    
  955     Kinder Morgan Energy Partners LP     5.85     09/15/12     1,028,390    
  1,480     Kinder Morgan Finance Co. ULC (Canada)     5.70     01/05/16     1,428,200    
  775     Midcontinent Express Pipeline LLC (144A) (a)     6.70     09/15/19     796,291    
  1,095     Plains All American Pipeline LP/PAA Finance Corp.     6.70     05/15/36     1,120,236    
  705     Plains All American Pipeline LP/PAA Finance Corp.     8.75     05/01/19     832,634    
  225     Spectra Energy Capital LLC     8.00     10/01/19     263,783    
  960     Texas Eastern Transmission LP     7.00     07/15/32     1,082,227    
  860     Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Co. LLC (Series B)     8.875     07/15/12     986,271    
      12,565,184    
    Property Trust (0.5%)  
  1,200     WEA Finance LLC/WT Finance Aust Pty Ltd. (144A) (a)     6.75     09/02/19     1,290,794    
    Real Estate Operation/Development (0.4%)  
  1,165     Brookfield Asset Management, Inc. (Canada)     5.80     04/25/17     1,063,093    
    Reinsurance (0.8%)  
  1,235     Platinum Underwriters Finance, Inc. (Series B)     7.50     06/01/17     1,264,834    
  775     Reinsurance Group of America, Inc.     6.45     11/15/19     773,851    
      2,038,685    

 

See Notes to Financial Statements
50



Morgan Stanley Variable Investment Series - Income Plus

Portfolio of Investments n December 31, 2009 continued

PRINCIPAL
AMOUNT IN
THOUSANDS
 
  COUPON
RATE
  MATURITY
DATE
  VALUE  
    REITS - Apartments (0.3%)  
$ 800     AvalonBay Communities, Inc. (MTN)     6.10 %   03/15/20   $ 818,470    
    REITS - Office Property (0.6%)  
  975     Boston Properties LP     5.875     10/15/19     979,856    
  650     Mack-Cali Realty Corp.     7.75     08/15/19     673,728    
      1,653,584    
    REITS - Regional Malls (0.3%)  
  610     Simon Property Group LP     6.75     05/15/14     650,678    
    Retail - Building Products (0.4%)  
  955     Home Depot, Inc. (The)     5.875     12/16/36     924,873    
    Retail - Discount (0.2%)  
  505     Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.     5.25     09/01/35     498,307    
    Retail - Drug Store (0.6%)  
  1,555     CVS Pass-Through Trust     6.036     12/10/28     1,475,165    
  119     CVS Pass-Through Trust (144A) (a)     8.353     07/10/31     131,474    
      1,606,639    
    Retail - Regional Department Store (0.3%)  
  675     Kohl's Corp.     6.875     12/15/37     768,092    
    Retail - Restaurants (0.5%)  
  235     Yum! Brands, Inc.     6.25     03/15/18     256,754    
  1,040     Yum! Brands, Inc.     6.875     11/15/37     1,127,341    
      1,384,095    
    Satellite Telecommunication (0.1%)  
  310     Intelsat Subsidiary Holding Co. Ltd. (Bermuda)     8.50     01/15/13     317,750    
    Semiconductor Equipment (0.4%)  
  905     KLA-Tencor Corp.     6.90     05/01/18     953,696    
    Special Purpose Entity (1.0%)  
  925     AIG SunAmerica Global Financing (144A) (a)     6.30     05/10/11     920,378    
  800     Capital One Capital     8.875     05/15/40     858,000    
  820     Harley-Davidson Funding Corp. (144A) (a)     6.80     06/15/18     819,017    
      2,597,395    
    Steel - Producers (1.1%)  
  2,170     ArcelorMittal (Luxembourg)     9.85     06/01/19     2,811,287    
    Super - Regional Banks - U.S. (2.5%)  
  455     PNC Funding Corp.     6.70     06/10/19     510,039    
  5,875     Wells Fargo & Co.     5.625     12/11/17     6,120,675    
      6,630,714    

 

See Notes to Financial Statements
51



Morgan Stanley Variable Investment Series - Income Plus

Portfolio of Investments n December 31, 2009 continued

PRINCIPAL
AMOUNT IN
THOUSANDS
 
  COUPON
RATE
  MATURITY
DATE
  VALUE  
    Telecom Equipment Fiber Optics (0.3%)  
$ 545     Corning, Inc.     6.625 %   05/15/19   $ 594,961    
  290     Corning, Inc.     7.25     08/15/36     296,365    
      891,326    
    Telecommunication Services (0.4%)  
  445     Qwest Corp.     6.50     06/01/17     439,437    
  260     Qwest Corp.     6.875     09/15/33     230,100    
  305     SBA Telecommunications, Inc. (144A) (a)     8.25     08/15/19     324,825    
      994,362    
    Telephone - Integrated (7.9%)  
  4,070     AT&T Corp.     8.00     11/15/31     4,981,603    
  1,855     AT&T, Inc.     6.15     09/15/34     1,839,442    
  840     CenturyTel, Inc.     6.00     04/01/17     863,802    
  415     CenturyTel, Inc. (Series Q)     6.15     09/15/19     425,055    
  715     Citizens Communications Co.     7.125     03/15/19     679,250    
  375     Deutsche Telekom International Finance BV
(Netherlands)
    6.00     07/08/19     401,106    
  315     Deutsche Telekom International Finance BV
(Netherlands)
    6.75     08/20/18     353,253    
  555     Deutsche Telekom International Finance BV
(Netherlands)
    8.75     06/15/30     715,706    
  1,680     Telecom Italia Capital SA (Luxembourg)     6.999     06/04/18     1,851,461    
  725     Telecom Italia Capital SA (Luxembourg)     7.175     06/18/19     809,686    
  2,120     Telefonica Europe BV (Netherlands)     8.25     09/15/30     2,646,735    
  2,470     Verizon Communications, Inc.     5.50     02/15/18     2,581,832    
  225     Verizon Communications, Inc.     6.35     04/01/19     248,666    
  790     Verizon Communications, Inc.     6.90     04/15/38     878,466    
  1,015     Verizon Communications, Inc.     8.95     03/01/39     1,377,658    
      20,653,721    
    Television (0.2%)  
  515     CBS Corp.     8.875     05/15/19     617,127    
    Tobacco (1.5%)  
  280     Altria Group, Inc.     9.25     08/06/19     341,785    
  460     Altria Group, Inc.     9.70     11/10/18     569,525    
  505     Altria Group, Inc.     10.20     02/06/39     675,603    
  445     BAT International Finance PLC (144A) (United Kingdom) (a)     9.50     11/15/18     565,996    
  835     Lorillard Tobacco Co.     8.125     06/23/19     919,525    
  835     Philip Morris International, Inc.     5.65     05/16/18     879,533    
  45     Philip Morris International, Inc.     6.375     05/16/38     48,808    
      4,000,775    

 

See Notes to Financial Statements
52



Morgan Stanley Variable Investment Series - Income Plus

Portfolio of Investments n December 31, 2009 continued

PRINCIPAL
AMOUNT IN
THOUSANDS
 
  COUPON
RATE
  MATURITY
DATE
  VALUE  
    Transport - Rail (0.4%)  
$ 505     CSX Corp.     6.15    %     05/01/37     $ 513,354    
  535     CSX Corp.     7.375       02/01/19       612,227    
      1,125,581    
        Total Corporate Bonds
(Cost $234,713,344)
                    249,634,692    
    Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities (0.8%)  
  475     Banc of America Commercial Mortgage Inc. 2007-4 A4     5.744 (b)     02/10/51       420,097    
  850     Bear Stearns Commercial Mortgage Securities
2007-T26 A4
    5.471 (b)     01/12/45       806,103    
  930     LB-UBS Commercial Mortgage Trust 2006-C6 A4     5.372       09/15/39       888,251    
        Total Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities
(Cost $1,882,709)
                    2,114,451    
    Municipal Bonds (0.2%)  
  600     State of California - Various Purpose General Obligation Bonds
(Cost $602,790)
    5.95       04/01/16       606,162    
    U.S. Government Agency - Mortgage-Backed Security (0.0%)  
  1     Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp. Gold
(Cost $1,522)
    6.50       12/01/28       1,586    
    Short-Term Investments (2.7%)  
    U.S. Government Obligation (d)(e) (0.6%)  
  1,420     U.S. Treasury Bill
(Cost $1,419,253)
    0.152       05/06/10       1,419,271    
NUMBER OF
SHARES (000)
 
 
 
   
    Investment Company (2.1%)  
  5,618     Morgan Stanley Institutional Liquidity Funds - Money Market Portfolio - Institutional Class
(See Note 6)
(Cost $5,618,450)
    5,618,450    
    Total Short-Term Investments
(Cost $7,037,703)
    7,037,721    
        Total Investments
(Cost $244,238,068) (f)(g)
            98.8 %     259,394,612    
        Other Assets in Excess of Liabilities             1.2       3,201,044    
        Net Assets             100.0 %   $ 262,595,656    

 

See Notes to Financial Statements
53



Morgan Stanley Variable Investment Series - Income Plus

Portfolio of Investments n December 31, 2009 continued

  MTN  Medium Term Note.

  (a)  Resale is restricted to qualified institutional investors.

  (b)  Floating rate security. Rate shown is the rate in effect at December 31, 2009.

  (c)  Security issued with perpetual maturity.

  (d)  Purchased on a discount basis. The interest rates shown have been adjusted to reflect a money market equivalent yield.

  (e)  A portion of this security has been physically segregated in connection with open futures contracts and open swap contracts.

  (f)  Securities have been designated as collateral in connection with open futures contracts and open swap contracts.

  (g)  The aggregate cost for federal income tax purposes is $244,859,453. The aggregate gross unrealized appreciation is $15,504,589 and the aggregate gross unrealized depreciation is $969,430 resulting in net unrealized appreciation of $14,535,159.

Bond Insurance:

AMBAC  AMBAC Assurance Corporation.

FUTURES CONTRACTS OPEN AT DECEMBER 31, 2009:

NUMBER OF
CONTRACTS
  LONG/SHORT   DESCRIPTION, DELIVERY
MONTH AND YEAR
  UNDERLYING FACE
AMOUNT AT VALUE
  UNREALIZED
APPRECIATION
(DEPRECIATION)
 
  119     Long   U.S. Treasury Notes 2 Year,
March 2010
  $ 25,735,609     $ (141,406 )  
  211     Long   U.S. Treasury Notes 5 Year,
March 2010
    24,134,773       (449,451 )  
  167     Short   U.S. Treasury Bonds 30 Year,
March 2010
    (19,267,625 )     807,577    
  367     Short   U.S. Treasury Notes 10 Year,
March 2010
    (42,371,299 )     1,007,262    
Net Unrealized Appreciation   $ 1,223,982    

 

See Notes to Financial Statements
54



Morgan Stanley Variable Investment Series - Income Plus

Portfolio of Investments n December 31, 2009 continued

CREDIT DEFAULT SWAPS CONTRACTS OPEN AT DECEMBER 31, 2009:

SWAP
COUNTERPARTY &
REFERENCE
OBLIGATION
  BUY/SELL
PROTECTION
  NOTIONAL
AMOUNT
(000's)
  INTEREST
RATE
  TERMINATION
DATE
  UNREALIZED
APPRECIATION
(DEPRECIATION)
  UPFRONT
PAYMENTS
  VALUE   CREDIT
RATING OF
REFERENCE
OBLIGATION+
 
                                (unaudited)  
Bank of America, N.A.                                    
 
Carnival Corp.   Buy   $ 1,185       1.57 %   March 20, 2018   $ (56,603 )         $ (56,603 )   BBB+  
Bank of America, N.A.
Centurytel, Inc.
  Buy     905       0.88     September 20, 2017     11,359             11,359     BBB-  
Goldman Sachs International
Sealed Air Corp.
  Buy     505       1.08     March 20, 2018     3,310             3,310     BB+  
Bank of America, N.A.  Tyco Electronics Ltd.   Buy     925       5.00     June 20, 2014     (133,411 )   $ (38,859 )     (172,270 )   BBB-  
Bank of America, N.A.
Toll Brothers Inc.
  Buy     1,695       2.90     March 20, 2013     (91,539 )           (91,539 )   BBB-  
Barclays Capital
Whirlpool Corp.
  Buy     450       1.00     June 20, 2014     (23,575 )     24,263       688     BBB-  
Total Credit Default Swaps     $(290,459)   $(14,596)   $(305,055)    

 

  +  Credit rating as issued by Standard & Poors.

LONG-TERM CREDIT ANALYSIS (unaudited)  
AAA     3.3 %  
AA     13.4    
A     32.4    
BBB     47.0    
BB     3.6    
B or BELOW     0.3    
      100.0 %++  

 

++  Does not include open long/short futures contracts with an underlying face amount of $111,509,306 and net unrealized appreciation of $1,223,982. Also does not include open swap contracts with net unrealized depreciation of $290,459.

See Notes to Financial Statements
55



Morgan Stanley Variable Investment Series - High Yield

Portfolio of Investments n December 31, 2009

PRINCIPAL
AMOUNT IN
THOUSANDS
 

  COUPON
RATE
  MATURITY
DATE
  VALUE  
    Corporate Bonds (92.8%)  
    Advanced Materials/Products (0.4%)  
$ 145     Hexcel Corp. (a)     6.75 %   02/01/15   $ 139,925    
    Aerospace/Defense (0.4%)  
  145     Transdigm, Inc. (144A) (b)     7.75     07/15/14     147,900    
    Agricultural Chemicals (0.8%)  
  255     Terra Capital, Inc. (144A) (a)(b)     7.75     11/01/19     274,125    
    Apparel Manufacturers (0.5%)  
  150     Oxford Industries, Inc.     11.375     07/15/15     165,750    
    Auto - Medium&Heavy Duty Trucks (0.3%)  
  95     Navistar International Corp. (a)     8.25     11/01/21     97,850    
    Beverages - Wine/Spirits (0.5%)  
  175     Constellation Brands, Inc.     7.25     05/15/17     178,281    
    Broadcast Service/Program (0.4%)  
  135     XM Satellite Radio, Inc. (144A) (b)     13.00     08/01/13     147,319    
    Building Product - Cement/Aggregation (0.3%)  
  100     Hanson Ltd. (United Kingdom)     7.875     09/27/10     103,642    
    Building - Residential/Commercial (0.9%)  
  295     K Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc. (144A) (b)     10.625     10/15/16     309,750    
    Cable/Satellite TV (4.2%)  
  295     Charter Communications Operating LLC/Charter
Communications Operating Capital (144A) (b)
    10.875     09/15/14     331,875    
  120     CSC Holdings, Inc. (144A) (b)     8.50     06/15/15     128,400    
  445     CSC Holdings, Inc. (144A) (b)     8.625     02/15/19     481,156    
  330     DISH DBS Corp.     6.625     10/01/14     333,712    
  130     DISH DBS Corp.     7.00     10/01/13     134,388    
      1,409,531    
    Casino Gaming (5.0%)  
  4,485     Aladdin Gaming Holdings LLC (Series B) (c)(d)(e)     13.50     03/01/10     0    
  165     Ameristar Casinos, Inc. (144A) (a)(b)     9.25     06/01/14     172,013    
  250     Harrahs Operating Escrow LLC/Harrahs Escrow Corp.
(144A) (a)(b)
    11.25     06/01/17     262,812    
  100     Las Vegas Sands Corp. (a)     6.375     02/15/15     89,000    
  605     MGM Mirage (a)     13.00     11/15/13     697,262    
  125     Scientific Games International, Inc.     9.25     06/15/19     131,875    
  335     Wynn Las Vegas LLC/Wynn Las Vegas Capital Corp. (a)     6.625     12/01/14     325,369    
      1,678,331    

 

See Notes to Financial Statements
56



Morgan Stanley Variable Investment Series - High Yield

Portfolio of Investments n December 31, 2009 continued

PRINCIPAL
AMOUNT IN
THOUSANDS
 

  COUPON
RATE
  MATURITY
DATE
  VALUE  
    Cellular Telephone (1.6%)  
$ 165     MetroPCS Wireless, Inc.     9.25 %   11/01/14   $ 167,887    
  370     Nextel Communications, Inc. (Series E)     6.875     10/31/13     360,750    
      528,637    
    Chemicals - Other (0.5%)  
  175     Innophos, Inc.     8.875     08/15/14     178,500    
    Chemicals: Major Diversified (0.9%)  
  180     Innophos Holdings, Inc. (144A) (b)     9.50     04/15/12     183,600    
  130     Westlake Chemical Corp.     6.625     01/15/16     124,962    
      308,562    
    Chemicals: Specialty (0.6%)  
  175     Ashland, Inc. (144A) (b)     9.125     06/01/17     192,500    
    Coal (1.2%)  
  140     Foundation PA Coal Co. LLC     7.25     08/01/14     142,450    
  255     Massey Energy Co.     6.875     12/15/13     255,956    
      398,406    
    Commercial Services (0.8%)  
  260     Ticketmaster Entertainment, Inc.     10.75     08/01/16     281,450    
    Computer Services (1.3%)  
  280     SunGard Data Systems, Inc.     9.125     08/15/13     288,400    
  60     SunGard Data Systems, Inc. (a)     10.25     08/15/15     64,200    
  65     SunGard Data Systems, Inc.     10.625     05/15/15     71,906    
      424,506    
    Containers - Metal & Glass (0.8%)  
  12     Crown Americas LLC/Crown Americas Capital Corp.     7.625     11/15/13     12,450    
  115     Owens-Brockway Glass Container, Inc.     7.375     05/15/16     119,313    
  150     Owens-Brockway Glass Container, Inc.     8.25     05/15/13     154,875    
      286,638    
    Containers - Paper/Plastic (3.3%)  
  360     Berry Plastics Corp. (a)     8.875     09/15/14     351,900    
  110     Berry Plastics Escrow LLC/Berry Plastics Escrow Corp.
(144A) (b)
    8.25     11/15/15     111,100    
  210     Graham Packaging Co. LP/GPC Capital Corp. I (a)     9.875     10/15/14     215,250    
  200     Graphic Packaging International, Inc.     9.50     08/15/13     207,500    
  210     Solo Cup Co. (a)     8.50     02/15/14     206,325    
      1,092,075    
    Data Processing Services (1.1%)  
  310     First Data Corp. (a)     9.875     09/24/15     290,625    
  105     First Data Corp. (a)     11.25     03/31/16     90,300    
      380,925    

 

See Notes to Financial Statements
57



Morgan Stanley Variable Investment Series - High Yield

Portfolio of Investments n December 31, 2009 continued

PRINCIPAL
AMOUNT IN
THOUSANDS
 

  COUPON
RATE
  MATURITY
DATE
  VALUE  
    Decision Support Software (1.3%)  
$ 460     Vangent, Inc.     9.625 %   02/15/15   $ 435,275    
    Diversified Financial Services (2.3%)  
  190     Bank of America Corp. (a)     8.00 (f)   12/29/49(g)     183,186    
  370     CIT Group, Inc.     7.00     05/01/17     322,825    
  71     GMAC, Inc. (144A) (b)     6.75     12/01/14     68,160    
  190     GMAC, Inc. (144A) (b)     6.875     09/15/11     189,050    
      763,221    
    Diversified Manufactured Operation (2.1%)  
  460     Bombardier, Inc. (144A) (Canada) (b)     6.30     05/01/14     457,700    
  235     RBS Global, Inc./Rexnord LLC     9.50     08/01/14     236,762    
      694,462    
    Diversified Minerals (1.3%)  
  360     Teck Resources Ltd. (Canada) (a)     10.25     05/15/16     421,200    
    E-Commerce/Services (0.9%)  
  270     Expedia, Inc.     8.50     07/01/16     293,288    
    Electric - Generation (3.4%)  
  270     AES Corp. (The)     7.75     03/01/14     275,400    
  100     AES Corp. (The) (144A) (b)     8.75     05/15/13     103,000    
  200     Edison Mission Energy (a)     7.00     05/15/17     159,000    
  175     Edison Mission Energy     7.75     06/15/16     149,625    
  285     Intergen (144A) (Netherlands) (b)     9.00     06/30/17     298,537    
  146     Midwest Generation LLC (Series B)     8.56     01/02/16     147,551    
      1,133,113    
    Electric - Integrated (2.2%)  
  115     Ipalco Enterprises, Inc.     8.625     11/14/11     120,750    
  495     Mirant Americas Generation LLC (a)     8.50     10/01/21     472,725    
  170     Texas Competitive Electric Holdings Co. LLC (Series A) (a)     10.25     11/01/15     138,550    
      732,025    
    Electronic Component (0.3%)  
  99     Flextronics International Ltd. (Singapore) (a)     6.50     05/15/13     99,743    
    Electronics - Military (0.6%)  
  200     L-3 Communications Corp. (a)     5.875     01/15/15     200,750    
    Finance - Auto Loans (1.4%)  
  450     Ford Motor Credit Co. LLC     7.25     10/25/11     454,641    
    Food - Meat Products (0.5%)  
  140     JBS USA LLC/JBS USA Finance, Inc. (144A) (b)     11.625     05/01/14     159,250    

 

See Notes to Financial Statements
58



Morgan Stanley Variable Investment Series - High Yield

Portfolio of Investments n December 31, 2009 continued

PRINCIPAL
AMOUNT IN
THOUSANDS
 

  COUPON
RATE
  MATURITY
DATE
  VALUE  
    Food - Miscellaneous/Diversified (0.3%)  
$ 110     M-Foods Holdings, Inc. (144A) (b)     9.75 %   10/01/13   $ 114,813    
    Food - Retail (1.1%)  
  110     SUPERVALU, Inc. (a)     7.50     05/15/12     113,850    
  120     SUPERVALU, Inc.     7.50     11/15/14     122,100    
  120     SUPERVALU, Inc.     8.00     05/01/16     122,400    
      358,350    
    Funeral Service & Related Items (0.5%)  
  170     Service Corp. International/US     6.75     04/01/16     165,325    
    Independent Power Producer (1.8%)  
  330     NRG Energy, Inc.     8.50     06/15/19     339,900    
  265     RRI Energy, Inc. (a)     7.875     06/15/17     261,687    
      601,587    
    Industrial Gases (0.1%)  
  45     Airgas, Inc. (144A) (b)     7.125     10/01/18     47,025    
    Machinery - Electric Utility (0.7%)  
  276     Ormat Funding Corp.     8.25     12/30/20     250,744    
    Machinery - Electrical (0.4%)  
  120     Baldor Electric Co.     8.625     02/15/17     123,300    
    Machinery - Farm (0.4%)  
  135     Case New Holland, Inc. (144A) (b)     7.75     09/01/13     138,713    
    Media (0.6%)  
  185     Nielsen Finance LLC/Nielsen Finance Co. (a)     10.00     08/01/14     193,788    
    Medical Products (1.9%)  
  280     Biomet, Inc.     10.00     10/15/17     305,550    
  255     Fresenius Medical Care Capital Trust IV     7.875     06/15/11     265,519    
  65     Invacare Corp.     9.75     02/15/15     68,087    
      639,156    
    Medical - Drugs (0.4%)  
  110     Axcan Intermediate Holdings, Inc.     12.75     03/01/16     123,475    
    Medical - Hospitals (2.9%)  
  255     HCA, Inc.     5.75     03/15/14     240,975    
  200     HCA, Inc.     6.25     02/15/13     195,500    
  70     HCA, Inc. (a)     9.125     11/15/14     74,025    
  115     HCA, Inc. (144A) (b)     9.875     02/15/17     127,650    
  180     Tenet Healthcare Corp. (a)     7.375     02/01/13     181,350    
  135     Tenet Healthcare Corp. (144A) (b)     10.00     05/01/18     151,875    
      971,375    

 

See Notes to Financial Statements
59



Morgan Stanley Variable Investment Series - High Yield

Portfolio of Investments n December 31, 2009 continued

PRINCIPAL
AMOUNT IN
THOUSANDS
 

  COUPON
RATE
  MATURITY
DATE
  VALUE  
    Medical - Nursing Homes (0.6%)  
$ 210     Sun Healthcare Group, Inc.     9.125 %   04/15/15   $ 216,825    
    Medical - Outpatient/Home Medical (2.3%)  
  210     Apria Healthcare Group, Inc. (144A) (b)     11.25     11/01/14     231,525    
  95     Apria Healthcare Group, Inc. (144A) (a)(b)     12.375     11/01/14     104,975    
  160     Select Medical Corp.     6.428 (f)   09/15/15     148,800    
  290     Select Medical Corp. (a)     7.625     02/01/15     282,750    
      768,050    
    Metal - Aluminum (1.2%)  
  430     Novelis, Inc. (Canada)     7.25     02/15/15     411,725    
    Office Furnishings - Original (0.2%)  
  75     Interface, Inc.     9.50     02/01/14     74,156    
    Oil Companies - Exploration & Production (9.9%)  
  235     Atlas Energy Operating Co. LLC/Atlas Energy Finance Corp.     10.75     02/01/18     260,850    
  290     Chaparral Energy, Inc. (a)     8.50     12/01/15     257,375    
  150     Chesapeake Energy Corp.     6.375     06/15/15     147,750    
  130     Chesapeake Energy Corp.     6.50     08/15/17     128,050    
  120     Chesapeake Energy Corp.     7.50     09/15/13     122,700    
  90     Cimarex Energy Co.     7.125     05/01/17     91,350    
  115     Forest Oil Corp.     7.25     06/15/19     114,138    
  185     Forest Oil Corp. (a)     7.75     05/01/14     188,237    
  305     Hilcorp Energy I LP/Hilcorp Finance Co. (144A) (b)     7.75     11/01/15     300,425    
  255     Newfield Exploration Co.     6.625     09/01/14     258,825    
  60     Newfield Exploration Co.     7.125     05/15/18     60,900    
  365     OPTI Canada, Inc. (Canada)     8.25     12/15/14     302,494    
  215     Pioneer Natural Resources Co.     6.65     03/15/17     213,122    
  295     Plains Exploration & Production Co.     7.625     06/01/18     303,112    
  105     Plains Exploration & Production Co.     7.75     06/15/15     107,363    
  125     Plains Exploration & Production Co. (a)     10.00     03/01/16     137,500    
  80     SandRidge Energy, Inc. (144A) (b)     8.00     06/01/18     79,000    
  265     SandRidge Energy, Inc. (a)(h)     8.625     04/01/15     266,325    
      3,339,516    
    Oil - Field Services (0.4%)  
  140     Key Energy Services, Inc. (a)     8.375     12/01/14     141,050    
    Paper & Related Products (3.0%)  
  145     Cascades, Inc. (144A) (Canada) (b)     7.875     01/15/20     147,900    
  265     Georgia-Pacific LLC (144A) (b)     7.125     01/15/17     269,637    
  65     Georgia-Pacific LLC (144A) (b)     8.25     05/01/16     69,225    
  110     Glatfelter     7.125     05/01/16     109,863    

 

See Notes to Financial Statements
60



Morgan Stanley Variable Investment Series - High Yield

Portfolio of Investments n December 31, 2009 continued

PRINCIPAL
AMOUNT IN
THOUSANDS
 

  COUPON
RATE
  MATURITY
DATE
  VALUE  
$ 220     NewPage Corp. (144A) (b)     11.375 %   12/31/14   $ 223,300    
  165     Verso Paper Holdings LLC/Verso Paper, Inc. (144A) (a)(b)     11.50     07/01/14     182,325    
      1,002,250    
    Pharmacy Services (1.2%)  
  345     Omnicare, Inc.     6.75     12/15/13     339,825    
  70     Omnicare, Inc.     6.875     12/15/15     68,425    
      408,250    
    Physical Therapy/Rehabilitation Centers (0.7%)  
  230     Healthsouth Corp. (a)     10.75     06/15/16     251,275    
    Pipelines (1.0%)  
  115     El Paso Corp.     6.875     06/15/14     115,490    
  25     El Paso Corp. (a)     12.00     12/12/13     29,438    
  170     Sonat, Inc.     7.625     07/15/11     176,069    
      320,997    
    Radio (0.6%)  
  200     Sirius XM Radio, Inc.     9.625     08/01/13     200,000    
    Rental Auto/Equipment (0.6%)  
  190     United Rentals North America, Inc.     6.50     02/15/12     190,475    
    Resorts/Theme Parks (0.0%)  
  7,210     Resort at Summerlin LP (Series B) (c)(d)(e)     13.00     12/15/07     0    
    Retail - Apparel/Shoe (1.5%)  
  330     Brown Shoe Co., Inc.     8.75     05/01/12     337,837    
  155     Phillips-Van Heusen Corp.     7.25     02/15/11     156,163    
      494,000    
    Retail - Drug Store (0.9%)  
  340     RITE AID Corp. (a)     8.625     03/01/15     297,500    
    Retail - Regional Department Store (0.6%)  
  200     Macy's Retail Holdings, Inc.     5.90     12/01/16     196,000    
    Satellite Telecommunication (2.4%)  
  125     Hughes Network Systems LLC/HNS Finance Corp.     9.50     04/15/14     129,688    
  525     Intelsat Bermuda Ltd. (144A) (Bermuda) (b)(h)     11.50     02/04/17     518,437    
  140     Intelsat Corp. (a)     9.25     06/15/16     145,250    
      793,375    
    Seismic Data Collection (0.6%)  
  205     Cie Generale de Geophysique-Veritas (France)     7.50     05/15/15     204,488    
    Special Purpose Entity (2.6%)  
  125     FireKeepers Development Authority (144A) (b)     13.875     05/01/15     142,500    
  80     Fresenius US Finance II, Inc. (144A) (b)     9.00     07/15/15     88,400    

 

See Notes to Financial Statements
61



Morgan Stanley Variable Investment Series - High Yield

Portfolio of Investments n December 31, 2009 continued

PRINCIPAL
AMOUNT IN
THOUSANDS
 

  COUPON
RATE
  MATURITY
DATE
  VALUE  
$ 355     LPL Holdings, Inc. (144A) (b)     10.75    %   12/15/15   $ 367,869    
  315     NSG Holdings LLC/NSG Holdings, Inc. (144A) (b)     7.75     12/15/25     283,500    
      882,269    
    Steel - Producers (0.6%)  
  160     ArcelorMittal (Luxembourg)     9.85     06/01/19     207,284    
    Telecommunication Services (3.3%)  
  415     PAETEC Holding Corp. (a)     8.875     06/30/17     422,262    
  165     West Corp. (a)     9.50     10/15/14     168,300    
  200     Wind Acquisition Finance SA (144A) (Luxembourg) (b)     11.75     07/15/17     219,500    
  275     Wind Acquisition Finance SA (144A) (Luxembourg) (b)     12.00     12/01/15     295,625    
      1,105,687    
    Telephone - Integrated (4.7%)  
  400     Citizens Communications Co.     9.00     08/15/31     395,000    
  350     Qwest Capital Funding, Inc. (a)     7.25     02/15/11     357,000    
  315     Sprint Capital Corp. (a)     6.90     05/01/19     291,375    
  14     Virgin Media Finance PLC (United Kingdom) (a)     8.75     04/15/14     14,525    
  205     Virgin Media Finance PLC (United Kingdom)     9.125     08/15/16     217,044    
  165     Windstream Corp. (144A) (b)     7.875     11/01/17     163,762    
  125     Windstream Corp. (a)     8.125     08/01/13     130,313    
      1,569,019    
    Theaters (0.7%)  
  220     AMC Entertainment, Inc. (a)     8.75     06/01/19     225,500    
        Total Corporate Bonds
(Cost $39,972,522)
                31,138,913    
    Senior Loan Notes (1.7%)  
    Casino Services (0.9%)  
  321     CCM Merger Corp.     8.50 (f)   07/13/12     313,740    
    Utilities (0.8%)  
  273     Calpine Corp.     3.135 (f)   03/29/14     258,909    
        Total Senior Loan Notes
(Cost $502,164)
                572,649    

 

NUMBER OF
SHARES
 
 
 
    Preferred Stock (0.3%)  
    Diversified Financial Services  
  172     GMAC, Inc. $70.00 (144A) (b)
(Cost $72,132)
    113,380    

 

See Notes to Financial Statements
62



Morgan Stanley Variable Investment Series - High Yield

Portfolio of Investments n December 31, 2009 continued

NUMBER OF
SHARES
 
  VALUE  
    Common Stocks (0.2%)  
    Casino Gaming (0.0%)  
  2,000     Fitzgeralds Gaming Corp. (d)(i)(j)   $ 0    
    Communications Equipment (0.1%)  
  12,688     Birch Telecom, Inc. (d)(j)(k)(l)     127    
  6,198     Orbcomm, Inc. (j)     16,735    
      16,862    
    Food Products (0.0%)  
  2,375     SFAC New Holdings, Inc. (d)(j)(k)(m)     0    
  436     SSFB Holdings, Inc. (d)(j)(k)     0    
      0    
    Restaurants (0.1%)  
  3,374     American Restaurant Group, Inc. (Class A) (d)(j)(k)     26,992    
    Textile - Apparel (0.0%)  
  298,461     U.S. Leather, Inc. (d)(j)(k)     0    
    Wireless Telecommunication Services (0.0%)  
  521     USA Mobility, Inc. (a)(k)(n)     5,736    
        Total Common Stocks
(Cost $41,765,946)
    49,590    

 

NUMBER OF
WARRANTS
 
  EXPIRATION
DATE
 
 
    Warrants (0.0%)  
    Casino Gaming  
  83,500     Aladdin Gaming Enterprises, Inc. (144A) (b)(d)(j)
(Cost $835)
  03/01/10     0    

 

PRINCIPAL
AMOUNT IN
THOUSANDS
 

 

 
    Short-Term Investments (30.3%)  
    Securities Held as Collateral on Loaned Securities (26.0%)  
    Repurchase Agreements (5.5%)  
$ 153     Bank of America Securities LLC (0.01% dated 12/31/09, due 01/04/10;
proceeds $153,398; fully collateralized by U.S. Government Agency
securities at the date of this Portfolio of Investments as follows: Government
National Mortgage Association 5.00% due 11/20/39; valued at $156,466)
    153,398    

 

See Notes to Financial Statements
63



Morgan Stanley Variable Investment Series - High Yield

Portfolio of Investments n December 31, 2009 continued

PRINCIPAL
AMOUNT IN
THOUSANDS
 

  VALUE  
$ 1,168     Deutsche Bank (0.01% dated 12/31/09, due 01/04/10; proceeds $1,167,830;
fully collateralized by U.S. Government Agency securities at the date of this
Portfolio of Investments as follows: Federal National Mortgage Association
5.50% - 7.00% due 11/01/30 - 05/01/39; valued at $1,191,185)
  $ 1,167,829    
  515     ING (0.01% dated 12/31/09, due 01/04/10; proceeds $515,219;
fully collateralized by U.S. Government Agency securities at the date of this
Portfolio of Investments as follows: Federal Home Loan Mortgage Association
0.60% - 2.23% due 09/15/14 - 08/15/30; valued at $525,525)
    515,218    
        Total Repurchase Agreements
(Cost $1,836,445)
    1,836,445    
NUMBER OF
SHARES (000)
 
 
 
    Investment Company (20.5%)  
  6,870     Morgan Stanley Institutional Liquidity Funds - Money Market Portfolio - Institutional Class
(See Note 6)
(Cost $6,870,131)
    6,870,131    
        Total Securities Held as Collateral on Loaned Securities
(Cost $8,706,576)
    8,706,576    
    Investment Company (4.3%)  
  1,440     Morgan Stanley Institutional Liquidity Funds - Money Market Portfolio - Institutional Class
(See Note 6)
(Cost $1,439,614)
    1,439,614    
        Total Short-Term Investments
(Cost $10,146,190)
    10,146,190    

 

Total Investments
(Cost $92,459,789) (o)
    125.3 %     42,020,722    
Liabilities in Excess of Other Assets     (25.3 )     (8,474,118 )  
Net Assets     100.0 %   $ 33,546,604    

 

  (a)  All or a portion of this security was on loan at December 31, 2009.

  (b)  Resale is restricted to qualified institutional investors.

  (c)  Non-income producing security; bond in default.

  (d)  Securities with a total market value equal to $27,119 have been valued at their fair value as determined in good faith under procedures established by and under the general supervision of the Fund's Trustees. Such fair value measurements may be level 2 measurements if observable inputs are available.

  (e)  Issuer in bankruptcy.

  (f)  Floating rate security. Rate shown is the rate in effect at December 31, 2009.

See Notes to Financial Statements
64



Morgan Stanley Variable Investment Series - High Yield

Portfolio of Investments n December 31, 2009 continued

  (g)  Security issued with perpetual maturity.

  (h)  Payment-in-kind security.

  (i)  Resale is restricted, acquired (12/22/98) at a cost basis of $9,020.

  (j)  Non-income producing security.

  (k)  Acquired through exchange offer.

  (l)  Resale is restricted, acquired (06/18/98 and 08/25/98) at a cost basis of $6,473,685.

  (m)  Resale is restricted, acquired (06/10/99) at a cost basis of $24.

  (n)  Illiquid security.

  (o)  The aggregate cost for federal income tax purposes is $92,604,225. The aggregate gross unrealized appreciation is $3,080,556 and the aggregate gross unrealized depreciation is $53,664,059 resulting in net unrealized depreciation of $50,583,503.

LONG-TERM CREDIT ANALYSIS  
A     3.5 %  
BBB     0.6    
BB     28.8    
B     41.4    
CCC     22.8    
NR     2.9    
      100.0 %  

 

See Notes to Financial Statements
65




Morgan Stanley Variable Investment Series - Global Infrastructure

Portfolio of Investments n December 31, 2009

NUMBER OF
SHARES
 

  VALUE  
    Common Stocks (99.2%)
Australia (a)(5.8%)
 
    Electric Utilities  
  156,940     Spark Infrastructure
Group (144A) (b)
  $ 194,039    
    Transportation Infrastructure  
  355,763     Australian Infrastructure Fund
(Stapled Securities) (c)(d)(e)
    564,598    
  675,800     ConnectEast Group (Stapled
Securities) (d)
    261,915    
  585,329     Macquarie Airports (Stapled
Securities) (d)
    1,580,475    
  479,734     Transurban Group (Stapled
Securities) (c)(d)(e)
    2,376,482    
      4,783,470    
        Total Australia     4,977,509    
    Austria (a)(0.8%)  
    Construction & Engineering  
  23,938     Strabag SE     705,714    
    Belgium (a)(0.1%)  
    Construction & Engineering  
  2,200     Compagnie d'Entreprises CFE     111,266    
    Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels  
  42     Euronav NV     914    
        Total Belgium     112,180    
    Bermuda (0.4%)  
    Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels  
  10,500     Frontline Ltd. (a)(e)(f)     292,175    
  100     Ship Finance
International Ltd. (e)
    1,363    
        Total Bermuda     293,538    
    Brazil (0.4%)  
    Electric Utilities  
  125     Cia Energetica de Minas
Gerais (ADR)
    2,257    

 

NUMBER OF
SHARES
 

  VALUE  
    Transportation Infrastructure  
  19,100     Obrascon Huarte Lain
Brasil SA (a)
  $ 367,369    
        Total Brazil     369,626    
    Canada (7.5%)  
    Diversified Telecommunication
Services
 
  8,500     BCE, Inc.     235,693    
    Multi-Utilities  
  5,100     Atco Ltd.     225,144    
  6,100     Canadian Utilities Ltd.     255,175    
  17,700     Just Energy Income Fund
(Units) (c)
    244,045    
      724,364    
    Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels  
  73,300     Enbridge, Inc. (e)     3,408,308    
  61,600     TransCanada Corp. (e)     2,131,572    
      5,539,880    
        Total Canada     6,499,937    
    Chile (0.9%)  
    Electric Utilities  
  14,800     Enersis SA (ADR)     338,328    
    Independent Power
Producers & Energy Traders
 
  266,379     Empresa Nacional de
Electricidad SA (a)
    445,160    
        Total Chile     783,488    
    China (a)(4.3%)  
    Independent Power
Producers & Energy Traders
 
  2,000     Datang International Power
Generation Co., Ltd.
(H Shares) (g)
    854    
    Machinery  
  560,100     China National Materials Co.,
Ltd. (H Shares) (g)
    413,424    

 

See Notes to Financial Statements
66



Morgan Stanley Variable Investment Series - Global Infrastructure

Portfolio of Investments n December 31, 2009 continued

NUMBER OF
SHARES
 

  VALUE  
    Transportation Infrastructure  
  314,000     Beijing Capital International
Airport Co., Ltd. (g)(h)
  $ 206,406    
  464,000     Jiangsu Expressway Co.,
Ltd. (g)
    411,012    
  2,952,000     Zhejiang Expressway Co., Ltd.
(H Shares) (g)
    2,713,379    
      3,330,797    
        Total China     3,745,075    
    Czech Republic (a)(0.4%)  
    Electric Utilities  
  6,953     CEZ     326,169    
    France (a)(7.7%)  
    Construction & Engineering  
  4,537     Bouygues SA     236,611    
    Electric Utilities  
  16,362     EDF SA     973,626    
    Multi-Utilities  
  85,655     GDF Suez (e)     3,716,031    
    Transportation Infrastructure  
  19,700     Aeroports de Paris (ADP)     1,584,607    
  2,073     Societe Des Autoroutes
Paris-Rhin-Rhone (h)
    158,791    
      1,743,398    
        Total France     6,669,666    
    Germany (a)(7.8%)  
    Electric Utilities  
  66,607     E.ON AG     2,780,683    
    Multi-Utilities  
  33,284     RWE AG     3,234,453    
    Transportation Infrastructure  
  14,620     Fraport AG Frankfurt Airport
Services Worldwide (e)
    760,445    
        Total Germany     6,775,581    
    Greece (0.0%)  
    Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels  
  100     Tsakos Energy
Navigation Ltd. (e)
    1,466    

 

NUMBER OF
SHARES
 

  VALUE  
    Italy (a)(8.3%)  
    Transportation Infrastructure  
  99,800     Ansaldo STS SpA   $ 1,893,677    
  184,597     Atlantia SpA (e)     4,798,434    
  578,600     Gemina SpA (h)     469,098    
        Total Italy     7,161,209    
    Japan (a)(7.0%)  
    Diversified Telecommunication
Services
 
  12,899     Nippon Telegraph &
Telephone Corp.
    507,382    
    Gas Utilities  
  98,000     Osaka Gas Co., Ltd.     330,176    
  180,000     Toho Gas Co., Ltd.     954,631    
      1,284,807    
    Metals & Mining  
  671,000     Kobe Steel Ltd. (h)     1,215,315    
    Transportation Infrastructure  
  268,000     Kamigumi Co., Ltd.     1,947,381    
    Wireless Telecommunication
Services
 
  122     KDDI Corp.     643,353    
  298     NTT DoCoMo, Inc.     415,120    
      1,058,473    
        Total Japan     6,013,358    
    Malaysia (a)(0.9%)  
    Electric Utilities  
  92,500     Tenaga Nasional Berhad     226,425    
    Transportation Infrastructure  
  604,900     PLUS Expressways Berhad     575,780    
        Total Malaysia     802,205    
    Mexico (0.3%)  
    Transportation Infrastructure  
  88,000     Grupo Aeroportuario del
Pacifico SAB de CV
(Class B)
    274,521    

 

See Notes to Financial Statements
67



Morgan Stanley Variable Investment Series - Global Infrastructure

Portfolio of Investments n December 31, 2009 continued

NUMBER OF
SHARES
 

  VALUE  
    Netherlands (a)(4.0%)  
    Transportation Infrastructure  
  33,816     Koninklijke Vopak NV (h)   $ 2,671,654    
  9,300     Smit Internationale NV     800,589    
        Total Netherlands     3,472,243    
    Portugal (a)(0.9%)  
    Electric Utilities  
  83,939     EDP - Energias de Portugal SA     371,513    
    Transportation Infrastructure  
  41,906     Brisa Auto-Estradas de
Portugal SA
    428,193    
        Total Portugal     799,706    
    Singapore (a)(0.9%)  
    Transportation Infrastructure  
  405,000     Singapore Airport Terminal
Services Ltd.
    786,166    
    South Africa (a)(1.6%)  
    Diversified Telecommunication
Services
 
  177,606     Telkom South Africa Ltd.     895,432    
    Wireless Telecommunication
Services
 
  31,116     MTN Group Ltd.     495,036    
        Total South Africa     1,390,468    
    Spain (a)(7.9%)  
    Electric Utilities  
  12,174     Acciona SA     1,581,175    
  35,024     Iberdrola SA (e)     333,659    
      1,914,834    
    Transportation Infrastructure  
  163,809     Abertis Infraestructuras SA (e)     3,696,377    
  100,864     Cintra Concesiones de
Infraestructuras de
Transporte SA
    1,177,928    
      4,874,305    
        Total Spain     6,789,139    

 

NUMBER OF
SHARES
 

  VALUE  
    Turkey (a)(1.7%)  
    Gas Utilities  
  389,999     Aygaz   $ 1,465,993    
    United Kingdom (a)(7.3%)  
    Diversified Telecommunication
Services
 
  548,086     BT Group PLC     1,186,724    
    Independent Power
Producers & Energy Traders
 
  110,425     Drax Group PLC     739,201    
    Multi-Utilities  
  614,429     Centrica PLC     2,774,961    
  88,278     National Grid PLC     964,972    
      3,739,933    
    Transportation Infrastructure  
  236,913     BBA Aviation PLC     624,047    
        Total United Kingdom     6,289,905    
    United States (22.3%)  
    Communications Equipment  
  22,100     Comverse Technology, Inc. (h)     208,845    
    Construction & Engineering  
  18,400     EMCOR Group, Inc. (e)(h)     494,960    
  33,300     KBR, Inc.     632,700    
      1,127,660    
    Electric Utilities  
  8,400     Entergy Corp.     687,456    
  4,900     FirstEnergy Corp.     227,605    
  7,700     FPL Group, Inc.     406,714    
      1,321,775    
    Gas Utilities  
  8,800     Atmos Energy Corp.     258,720    
  27,300     Nicor, Inc.     1,149,330    
  3,200     Oneok, Inc.     142,624    
  13,900     Southwest Gas Corp.     396,567    
  45,700     UGI Corp.     1,105,483    
      3,052,724    

 

See Notes to Financial Statements
68



Morgan Stanley Variable Investment Series - Global Infrastructure

Portfolio of Investments n December 31, 2009 continued

NUMBER OF
SHARES
 

  VALUE  
    Independent Power
Producers & Energy Traders
 
  25,200     Constellation Energy
Group, Inc.
  $ 886,284    
    Multi-Utilities  
  18,700     DTE Energy Co.     815,133    
  41,300     Public Service Enterprise
Group, Inc.
    1,373,225    
      2,188,358    
    Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels  
  171,100     El Paso Corp.     1,681,913    
  100     General Maritime Corp.     699    
  106,500     Southern Union Co.     2,417,550    
  116,316     Spectra Energy Corp.     2,385,641    
  192,200     Williams Cos., Inc. (The)     4,051,576    
      10,537,379    
        Total United States     19,323,025    
        Total Common Stocks
(Cost $74,817,324)
    85,827,887    
    Preferred Stock (0.5%)
Brazil (a)
 
    Electric Utilities  
  21,000     Eletropaulo Metropolitana
Eletricidade de Sao Paulo SA
(Cost $287,916)
    409,654    

 

PRINCIPAL
AMOUNT IN
THOUSANDS
 

  VALUE  
    Short-Term Investments (8.4%)
Securities Held as Collateral
on Loaned Securities
 
    Repurchase Agreements (1.7%)  
$ 124     Bank of America
Securities LLC (0.01% dated
12/31/09, due 01/04/10;
proceeds $123,979; fully
collateralized by U.S.
Government Agency
security at the date of this
Portfolio of Investments as
follows: Government National
Mortgage Association
5.00% due 11/20/39;
valued at $126,458)
  $ 123,978    
  944     Deutsche Bank (0.01% dated
12/31/09, due 01/04/10;
proceeds $943,858; fully
collateralized by U.S.
Government Agency
security at the date of this
Portfolio of Investments as
follows: Federal National
Mortgage Association
5.50% - 7.00% due
11/01/30 - 05/01/39;
valued at $962,734)
    943,857    
  416     ING (0.01% dated 12/31/09,
due 01/04/10; proceeds
$416,408; fully collateralized
by U.S. Government Agency
securities at the date of this
Portfolio of Investments as
follows: Federal Home Loan
Mortgage Association
0.60% - 2.23% due
09/15/14 - 08/15/30;
valued at $424,738)
    416,408    
        Total Repurchase
Agreements
(Cost $1,484,243)
    1,484,243    

 

See Notes to Financial Statements
69



Morgan Stanley Variable Investment Series - Global Infrastructure

Portfolio of Investments n December 31, 2009 continued

NUMBER OF
SHARES (000)
 

  VALUE  
    Investment Company (6.4%)      
  5,553     Morgan Stanley Institutional
Liquidity Funds - Money
Market Portfolio - Institutional
Class (See Note 6)
(Cost $5,552,545)
  $ 5,552,545    
    Total Securities Held as
Collateral on Loaned
Securities
(Cost $7,036,788)
    7,036,788    
    Investment Company (0.3%)      
  279     Morgan Stanley Institutional
Liquidity Funds - Money
Market Portfolio - Institutional
Class (See Note 6)
(Cost $278,920)
    278,920    
    Total Short-Term Investments
(Cost $7,315,708)
    7,315,708    
Total Investments
(Cost $82,420,948) (i)(j)
    108.1 %     93,553,249    
Total Written Options
Outstanding
(premium received $29,784)
    (0.1 )     (53,326 )  
Liabilities in Excess of Other
Assets
    (8.0 )     (6,933,563 )  
Net Assets     100.0 %   $ 86,566,360    

 

  ADR  American Depositary Receipt.

  (a)  Securities with a total market value equal to $59,796,644 have been valued at their fair value as determined in good faith under procedures established by and under the general supervision of the Fund's Trustees. Such fair value measurements may be level 2 measurements if observable inputs are available. See Note 2.

  (b)  Resale is restricted to qualified institutional investors.

  (c)  Consists of one or more class of securities traded together as a unit; stocks with attached warrants.

  (d)  Comprised of securities in separate entities that are traded as a single stapled security.

  (e)  All or a portion of this security was on loan at December 31, 2009.

  (f)  Security trades on the Norwegian exchange.

  (g)  Security trades on the Hong Kong exchange.

  (h)  Non-income producing security.

  (i)  Securities have been designated as collateral in connection with options and open forward foreign currency contracts.

  (j)  The aggregate cost for federal income tax purposes is $83,506,318. The aggregate gross unrealized appreciation is $10,713,184 and the aggregate gross unrealized depreciation is $666,253 resulting in net unrealized appreciation of $10,046,931.

See Notes to Financial Statements
70



Morgan Stanley Variable Investment Series - Global Infrastructure

Portfolio of Investments n December 31, 2009 continued

FORWARD FOREIGN CURRENCY CONTRACTS OPEN AT DECEMBER 31, 2009:

CONTRACTS
TO DELIVER
  IN EXCHANGE
FOR
  DELIVERY
DATE
  UNREALIZED
APPRECIATION
(DEPRECIATION)
 
$ 1,988,682     AUD 2,182,894     01/14/10   $ (30,695 )  
$ 2,413,822     CAD 2,558,652     01/14/10     32,663    
$ 649,659     HKD 5,035,373     01/14/10     (151 )  
$ 717,082     HKD 5,555,949     01/14/10     (426 )  
$ 163,193     NOK 948,313     01/14/10     495    
$ 359,022     NZD 497,881     01/14/10     2,099    
$ 459,409     SGD 641,013     01/14/10     (3,193 )  
BRL 1,407,722     $ 804,412     01/14/10     (1,663 )  
EUR 439,521     $ 648,285     01/14/10     18,216    
EUR 391,070     $ 569,565     01/14/10     8,953    
GBP 891,848     $ 1,450,324     01/14/10     9,924    
JPY 109,023,900     $ 1,215,699     01/14/10     45,012    
MXN 2,939,373     $ 230,340     01/14/10     5,987    
MYR 4,069,949     $ 1,193,533     01/14/10     5,628    
TRY 2,407,531     $ 1,588,081     01/14/10     (21,065 )  
ZAR 12,332,441     $ 1,649,825     01/14/10     (16,690 )  
Net Unrealized Appreciation   $ 55,094    

 

Currency Abbreviations:

AUD  Australian Dollar.

BRL  Brazilian Real.

CAD  Canadian Dollar.

EUR  Euro.

GBP  British Pound.

HKD  Hong Kong Dollar.

JPY  Japanese Yen.

MXN  Mexican New Peso.

MYR  Malaysian Ringgit.

NOK  Norwegian Krone.

NZD  New Zealand Dollar.

SGD  Singapore Dollar.

TRY  Turkish Lira.

ZAR  South African Rand.

See Notes to Financial Statements
71



Morgan Stanley Variable Investment Series - Global Infrastructure

Portfolio of Investments n December 31, 2009 continued

OPTIONS WRITTEN AT DECEMBER 31, 2009:

NUMBER OF
CONTRACTS
  DESCRIPTION   STRIKE
PRICE
  EXPIRATION
DATE
  PREMIUM   VALUE  
  151     E.ON AG   $ 29.00     January 2010   $ 6,874     $ 14,298    
  116     EDF SA     42.00     January 2010     7,029       7,489    
  118     Fraport AG Frankfurt Airport
Services Worldwide
    38.00     January 2010     5,372       3,217    
  210     RWE AG     68.00     January 2010     10,509       28,322    
Total     $29,784   $53,326  

 

SUMMARY OF INVESTMENTS

INDUSTRY   VALUE   PERCENT OF
TOTAL
INVESTMENTS
 
Transportation
Infrastructure
  $ 31,129,324       36.0 %  
Oil, Gas &
Consumable Fuels
    16,373,177       18.9    
Multi-Utilities     13,603,139       15.7    
Electric Utilities     8,859,303       10.2    
Gas Utilities     5,803,524       6.7    
Diversified
Telecommunication
Services
    2,825,231       3.3    
Construction &
Engineering
    2,181,251       2.5    
Independent Power
Producers & Energy
Traders
    2,071,499       2.4    

 

INDUSTRY   VALUE   PERCENT OF
TOTAL
INVESTMENTS
 
Wireless
Telecommunication
Services
  $ 1,553,509       1.8 %  
Metals & Mining     1,215,315       1.4    
Machinery     413,424       0.5    
Investment Company     278,920       0.3    
Communications
Equipment
    208,845       0.3    
    $ 86,516,461 ^     100.0 %  

 

^  Does not reflect the value of securities held as collateral on loaned securities. Also does not include open forward foreign currency contracts with net unrealized appreciation of $55,094 and options written with a value of $53,326.

See Notes to Financial Statements
72



Morgan Stanley Variable Investment Series - Income Builder

Portfolio of Investments n December 31, 2009

NUMBER OF
SHARES
 
  VALUE  
    Common Stocks (72.1%)  
    Aerospace & Defense (0.4%)  
  1,900     General Dynamics Corp.   $ 129,523    
    Air Freight & Logistics (0.4%)  
  1,500     FedEx Corp.     125,175    
    Automobiles (0.5%)  
  3,100     Ford Motor Co. (a)     31,000    
  5,125     Harley-Davidson, Inc.     129,150    
      160,150    
    Beverages (0.7%)  
  3,890     Coca-Cola Co. (The)     221,730    
    Capital Markets (1.5%)  
  19,133     Charles Schwab Corp. (The)     360,083    
  3,200     State Street Corp.     139,328    
      499,411    
    Chemicals (0.8%)  
  9,900     Dow Chemical Co. (The)     273,537    
    Commercial Banks (3.5%)  
  6,400     BB&T Corp.     162,368    
  13,300     Fifth Third Bancorp     129,675    
  5,093     First Horizon National Corp. (a)     68,248    
  8,904     PNC Financial Services Group, Inc.     470,042    
  4,800     US Bancorp     108,048    
  8,600     Wells Fargo & Co.     232,114    
      1,170,495    
    Commercial Services & Supplies (0.7%)  
  3,400     Avery Dennison Corp.     124,066    
  4,700     Cintas Corp.     122,435    
      246,501    
    Communications Equipment (1.1%)  
  15,600     Cisco Systems, Inc. (a)     373,464    
    Computers & Peripherals (1.9%)  
  9,000     Dell, Inc. (a)     129,240    
  9,621     Hewlett-Packard Co.     495,578    
      624,818    
    Diversified Financial Services (5.1%)  
  29,500     Bank of America Corp.     444,270    
  46,500     Citigroup, Inc. (See Note 6)     153,915    
  26,511     JPMorgan Chase & Co.     1,104,713    
      1,702,898    

 

See Notes to Financial Statements
73



Morgan Stanley Variable Investment Series - Income Builder

Portfolio of Investments n December 31, 2009 (continued)

NUMBER OF
SHARES
 
  VALUE  
    Diversified Telecommunication Services (0.8%)  
  7,839     Verizon Communications, Inc.   $ 259,706    
    Electric Utilities (3.2%)  
  14,357     American Electric Power Co., Inc.     499,480    
  3,200     Edison International     111,296    
  2,363     Entergy Corp.     193,388    
  5,170     FirstEnergy Corp.     240,147    
      1,044,311    
    Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components (0.9%)  
  9,600     Agilent Technologies, Inc. (a)     298,272    
    Energy Equipment & Services (1.5%)  
  4,740     Schlumberger Ltd. (Netherlands Antilles)     308,527    
  7,300     Smith International, Inc.     198,341    
      506,868    
    Food & Staples Retailing (3.0%)  
  9,500     Sysco Corp.     265,430    
  9,200     Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.     491,740    
  6,800     Walgreen Co.     249,696    
      1,006,866    
    Food Products (2.1%)  
  18,400     Kraft Foods, Inc. (Class A)     500,112    
  6,160     Unilever N.V. (NY Registered Shares) (Netherlands)     199,153    
      699,265    
    Health Care Equipment & Supplies (1.5%)  
  18,640     Boston Scientific Corp. (a)     167,760    
  6,950     Covidien PLC (Ireland)     332,836    
      500,596    
    Health Care Providers & Services (1.1%)  
  4,450     Cardinal Health, Inc.     143,468    
  7,000     UnitedHealth Group, Inc.     213,360    
      356,828    
    Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure (0.2%)  
  2,750     Starbucks Corp. (a)     63,415    
    Household Durables (0.9%)  
  10,530     Sony Corp. (ADR) (Japan)     305,370    
    Industrial Conglomerates (3.7%)  
  42,100     General Electric Co.     636,973    
  2,870     Siemens AG (ADR) (Germany)     263,179    
  9,540     Tyco International Ltd. (Luxembourg)     340,387    
      1,240,539    

 

See Notes to Financial Statements
74



Morgan Stanley Variable Investment Series - Income Builder

Portfolio of Investments n December 31, 2009 (continued)

NUMBER OF
SHARES
 
  VALUE  
    Insurance (4.5%)  
  6,424     Chubb Corp.   $ 315,932    
  32,327     Marsh & McLennan Cos., Inc.     713,780    
  1,500     Transatlantic Holdings, Inc.     78,165    
  7,445     Travelers Companies, Inc. (The)     371,208    
      1,479,085    
    Internet Software & Services (2.1%)  
  22,230     eBay, Inc. (a)     523,294    
  11,000     Yahoo!, Inc. (a)     184,580    
      707,874    
    Machinery (1.6%)  
  7,900     Dover Corp.     328,719    
  5,605     Ingersoll-Rand PLC (Ireland)     200,323    
      529,042    
    Media (4.8%)  
  20,640     Comcast Corp. (Class A)     347,991    
  5,177     Time Warner Cable, Inc.     214,276    
  14,836     Time Warner, Inc.     432,321    
  20,143     Viacom, Inc. (Class B) (a)     598,851    
      1,593,439    
    Metals & Mining (1.1%)  
  2,300     Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold, Inc. (a)     184,667    
  3,550     Newmont Mining Corp.     167,951    
      352,618    
    Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels (8.4%)  
  8,000     Anadarko Petroleum Corp.     499,360    
  4,680     BP PLC (ADR) (United Kingdom)     271,300    
  4,008     ConocoPhillips     204,689    
  3,460     Devon Energy Corp.     254,310    
  4,660     Exxon Mobil Corp.     317,765    
  3,097     Hess Corp.     187,368    
  7,060     Occidental Petroleum Corp.     574,331    
  7,630     Royal Dutch Shell PLC (ADR) (United Kingdom)     458,639    
      2,767,762    
    Personal Products (0.8%)  
  5,140     Estee Lauder Cos., Inc. (The) (Class A)     248,570    
    Pharmaceuticals (8.0%)  
  3,660     Abbott Laboratories     197,603    
  4,830     Bayer AG (ADR) (Germany)     385,434    
  16,530     Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.     417,383    

 

See Notes to Financial Statements
75



Morgan Stanley Variable Investment Series - Income Builder

Portfolio of Investments n December 31, 2009 (continued)

NUMBER OF
SHARES
 
  VALUE  
  27,171     Merck & Co., Inc.   $ 992,828    
  20,100     Pfizer, Inc.     365,619    
  6,800     Roche Holding AG (ADR) (Switzerland)     287,912    
      2,646,779    
    Professional Services (0.9%)  
  2,940     Manpower, Inc.     160,465    
  4,500     Robert Half International, Inc.     120,285    
      280,750    
    Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment (1.4%)  
  12,989     Intel Corp.     264,975    
  5,237     Lam Research Corp. (a)     205,343    
      470,318    
    Software (0.2%)  
  3,296     Symantec Corp. (a)     58,965    
    Specialty Retail (1.9%)  
  8,800     Gap, Inc. (The)     184,360    
  14,930     Home Depot, Inc.     431,925    
      616,285    
    Wireless Telecommunication Services (0.9%)  
  13,200     Vodafone Group PLC (ADR) (United Kingdom)     304,788    
        Total Common Stocks
(Cost $22,362,446)
    23,866,013    

 

PRINCIPAL
AMOUNT IN
THOUSANDS
 

 
COUPON
RATE
 
MATURITY
DATE
 

 
    Convertible Bonds (13.6%)  
    Brewery (4.0%)  
$ 1,200     Molson Coors Brewing Co.     2.50 %   07/30/13     1,332,000    
    Electric - Integrated (1.6%)  
  173     PG&E Corp.     9.50     06/30/10     530,461    
    Electronic Component - Semiconductor (4.2%)  
  1,450     Intel Corp. (144A) (b)     2.95     12/15/35     1,406,500    
    Gold Mining (3.8%)  
  1,000     Newmont Mining Corp.     1.25     07/15/14     1,252,500    
        Total Convertible Bonds
(Cost $4,147,897)
                4,521,461    

 

See Notes to Financial Statements
76



Morgan Stanley Variable Investment Series - Income Builder

Portfolio of Investments n December 31, 2009 (continued)

PRINCIPAL
AMOUNT IN
THOUSANDS
 

 
COUPON
RATE
 
MATURITY
DATE
 

VALUE
 
    Corporate Bonds (11.2%)  
    Hotels & Motels (6.5%)  
$ 2,000     Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.     7.875 %   05/01/12   $ 2,167,500    
    Paper & Related Products (4.7%)  
  1,500     Buckeye Technologies, Inc.     8.50     10/01/13     1,539,375    
    Total Corporate Bonds
(Cost $3,577,500)
            3,706,875    

 

NUMBER OF
SHARES
 
 
 
    Convertible Preferred Stocks (1.3%)  
    Diversified Financial Services (0.3%)  
  6,000     Bank of America Corp. $10.00     90,120    
    Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) (1.0%)  
  9,000     Equity Residential (Series E) $1.75     345,420    
        Total Convertible Preferred Stocks
(Cost $315,040)
    435,540    
NUMBER OF
SHARES (000)
 
 
 
    Short-Term Investment (1.4%)  
    Investment Company  
  455     Morgan Stanley Institutional Liquidity Funds - Money Market Portfolio - Institutional Class
(See Note 6)
(Cost $455,415)
    455,415    

 

Total Investments
(Cost $30,858,298) (c)
    99.6 %     32,985,304    
Other Assets in Excess of Liabilities     0.4       129,241    
Net Assets     100.0 %   $ 33,114,545    

 

  ADR  American Depositary Receipt.

  (a)  Non-income producing security.

  (b)  Resale is restricted to qualified institutional investors.

  (c)  The aggregate cost for federal income tax purposes is $31,360,854. The aggregate gross unrealized appreciation is $2,878,915 and the aggregate gross unrealized depreciation is $1,254,465 resulting in net unrealized appreciation of $1,624,450.

See Notes to Financial Statements
77



Morgan Stanley Variable Investment Series - Income Builder

Summary of Investments n December 31, 2009

INDUSTRY   VALUE   PERCENT OF
TOTAL
INVESTMENTS
 
Oil, Gas & Consumable
Fuels
  $ 2,767,762       8.4 %  
Pharmaceuticals     2,646,779       8.0    
Hotels & Motels     2,167,500       6.6    
Diversified Financial
Services
    1,793,018       5.4    
Media     1,593,439       4.8    
Paper & Related Products     1,539,375       4.7    
Insurance     1,479,085       4.5    
Electronic Component -
Semiconductor
    1,406,500       4.3    
Brewery     1,332,000       4.0    
Gold Mining     1,252,500       3.8    
Industrial Conglomerates     1,240,539       3.8    
Commercial Banks     1,170,495       3.5    
Electric Utilities     1,044,311       3.2    
Food & Staples Retailing     1,006,866       3.1    
Internet Software &
Services
    707,874       2.1    
Food Products     699,265       2.1    
Computers & Peripherals     624,818       1.9    
Specialty Retail     616,285       1.9    
Electric - Integrated     530,461       1.6    
Machinery     529,042       1.6    
Energy Equipment &
Services
    506,868       1.5    
Health Care Equipment &
Supplies
    500,596       1.5    
Capital Markets     499,411       1.5    
Semiconductors &
Semiconductor Equipment
    470,318       1.4    

 

INDUSTRY   VALUE   PERCENT OF
TOTAL
INVESTMENTS
 
Investment Company   $ 455,415       1.4 %  
Communications Equipment     373,464       1.1    
Health Care Providers &
Services
    356,828       1.1    
Metals & Mining     352,618       1.1    
Real Estate Investment
Trusts (REITs)
    345,420       1.0    
Household Durables     305,370       0.9    
Wireless Telecommunication
Services
    304,788       0.9    
Electronic Equipment,
Instruments &
Components
    298,272       0.9    
Professional Services     280,750       0.9    
Chemicals     273,537       0.8    
Diversified
Telecommunication
Services
    259,706       0.8    
Personal Products     248,570       0.8    
Commercial Services &
Supplies
    246,501       0.7    
Beverages     221,730       0.7    
Automobiles     160,150       0.5    
Aerospace & Defense     129,523       0.4    
Air Freight & Logistics     125,175       0.4    
Hotels, Restaurants &
Leisure
    63,415       0.2    
Software     58,965       0.2    
    $ 32,985,304       100.0 %  

 

See Notes to Financial Statements
78



Morgan Stanley Variable Investment Series - Dividend Growth

Portfolio of Investments n December 31, 2009

NUMBER OF
SHARES
 

  VALUE  
    Common Stocks (98.5%)  
    Aerospace & Defense (4.9%)  
  40,200     Boeing Co. (The)   $ 2,176,026    
  25,610     L-3 Communications
Holdings, Inc.
    2,226,790    
  60,100     Raytheon Co.     3,096,352    
  74,679     United Technologies Corp.     5,183,469    
      12,682,637    
    Biotechnology (1.2%)  
  55,000     Amgen, Inc. (a)     3,111,350    
    Capital Markets (2.0%)  
  30,568     Goldman Sachs Group,
Inc. (The)
    5,161,101    
    Chemicals (1.4%)  
  48,580     Lubrizol Corp. (The)     3,543,911    
    Commercial Banks (2.1%)  
  198,960     Wells Fargo & Co.     5,369,930    
    Commercial Services &
Supplies (1.0%)
 
  113,166     Pitney Bowes, Inc.     2,575,658    
    Computers & Peripherals (7.1%)  
  30,580     Apple, Inc. (a)     6,448,099    
  96,220     Hewlett-Packard Co.     4,956,292    
  51,430     International Business
Machines Corp.
    6,732,187    
      18,136,578    
    Construction &
Engineering (1.4%)
 
  78,890     Fluor Corp.     3,553,206    
    Diversified Financial
Services (2.8%)
 
  174,442     JPMorgan Chase & Co.     7,268,998    
    Diversified Telecommunication
Services (1.8%)
 
  167,600     AT&T, Inc.     4,697,828    
    Electronic Equipment,
Instruments &
Components (1.4%)
 
  183,680     Corning, Inc.     3,546,861    

 

NUMBER OF
SHARES
 

  VALUE  
    Energy Equipment &
Services (3.0%)
 
  86,130     Halliburton Co.   $ 2,591,652    
  61,070     Transocean Ltd.
(Switzerland) (a)
    5,056,596    
      7,648,248    
    Food & Staples Retailing (1.7%)  
  138,427     CVS Caremark Corp.     4,458,734    
    Health Care Providers &
Services (3.4%)
 
  146,460     UnitedHealth Group, Inc.     4,464,101    
  73,980     WellPoint, Inc. (a)     4,312,294    
      8,776,395    
    Hotels, Restaurants &
Leisure (3.2%)
 
  77,750     McDonald's Corp.     4,854,710    
  132,240     Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.
(Liberia) (a)
    3,343,027    
      8,197,737    
    Household Durables (1.1%)  
  33,900     Whirlpool Corp.     2,734,374    
    Household Products (3.1%)  
  74,730     Kimberly-Clark Corp.     4,761,048    
  50,714     Procter & Gamble Co. (The)     3,074,790    
      7,835,838    
    Independent Power
Producers & Energy
Traders (1.2%)
 
  133,050     NRG Energy, Inc. (a)     3,141,311    
    Industrial Conglomerates (2.4%)  
  400,527     General Electric Co.     6,059,974    
    Information Technology
Services (1.3%)
 
  55,920     Computer Sciences Corp. (a)     3,217,078    
    Insurance (5.8%)  
  50,000     ACE Ltd. (Switzerland) (a)     2,520,000    
  94,990     Aflac, Inc.     4,393,287    
  114,925     MetLife, Inc. (See Note 6)     4,062,599    
  76,870     Travelers Cos., Inc. (The)     3,832,738    
      14,808,624    

 

See Notes to Financial Statements
79



Morgan Stanley Variable Investment Series - Dividend Growth

Portfolio of Investments n December 31, 2009 continued

NUMBER OF
SHARES
 

  VALUE  
    Internet Software &
Services (2.1%)
 
  8,891     Google, Inc. (Class A) (a)   $ 5,512,242    
    Leisure Equipment &
Products (1.6%)
 
  199,950     Mattel, Inc.     3,995,001    
    Metals & Mining (1.8%)  
  58,970     Freeport-McMoRan Copper &
Gold, Inc. (a)
    4,734,701    
    Multi-Utilities (3.0%)  
  115,160     Public Service Enterprise
Group, Inc.
    3,829,070    
  70,000     Sempra Energy     3,918,600    
      7,747,670    
    Multiline Retail (1.5%)  
  81,930     Target Corp.     3,962,954    
    Oil, Gas & Consumable
Fuels (9.0%)
 
  45,500     Apache Corp.     4,694,235    
  32,990     BP PLC (ADR)
(United Kingdom)
    1,912,430    
  65,150     Chevron Corp.     5,015,899    
  52,530     ConocoPhillips     2,682,707    
  80,243     Exxon Mobil Corp.     5,471,770    
  102,620     Marathon Oil Corp.     3,203,796    
  1     XTO Energy, Inc.     47    
      22,980,884    
    Paper & Forest Products (1.6%)  
  150,190     International Paper Co.     4,022,088    
    Pharmaceuticals (8.2%)  
  116,330     Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.     2,937,333    
  20,075     Johnson & Johnson     1,293,031    
  161,720     Merck & Co., Inc.     5,909,249    
  404,697     Pfizer, Inc.     7,361,438    
  92,050     Watson Pharmaceuticals,
Inc. (a)
    3,646,100    
      21,147,151    
    Road & Rail (1.9%)  
  100,760     CSX Corp.     4,885,852    

 

NUMBER OF
SHARES
 

  VALUE  
    Semiconductors &
Semiconductor Equipment (2.2%)
     
  271,090     Intel Corp.   $ 5,530,236    
    Software (3.5%)      
  297,247     Microsoft Corp.     9,063,061    
    Specialty Retail (4.0%)      
  153,970     Gap, Inc. (The)     3,225,671    
  106,260     Guess?, Inc.     4,494,798    
  42,400     Sherwin-Williams Co. (The)     2,613,960    
      10,334,429    
    Textiles, Apparel & Luxury
Goods (1.1%)
     
  39,449     VF Corp.     2,889,245    
    Tobacco (3.7%)      
  177,968     Altria Group, Inc.     3,493,512    
  126,528     Philip Morris International, Inc.     6,097,384    
      9,590,896    
      Total Common Stocks
(Cost $245,051,136)
    252,922,781    
NUMBER OF
SHARES (000)
     
    Short-Term Investment (1.5%)      
    Investment Company      
  3,778     Morgan Stanley Institutional
Liquidity Funds - Money
Market Portfolio - Institutional
Class (See Note 6)
(Cost $3,778,181)
    3,778,181    
Total Investments
(Cost $248,829,317) (b)(c)
    100.0 %     256,700,962    
Total Written Options
Outstanding
(premium received $11,657)
    0.0       (3,422 )  
Other Assets in Excess of
Liabilities
    0.0       43,901    
Net Assets     100.0 %   $ 256,741,441    

 

See Notes to Financial Statements
80



Morgan Stanley Variable Investment Series - Dividend Growth

Portfolio of Investments n December 31, 2009 continued

  ADR  American Depositary Receipt.

  (a)  Non-income producing security.

  (b)  Securities have been designated as collateral in connection with options.

  (c)  The aggregate cost for federal income tax purposes is $249,146,390. The aggregate gross unrealized appreciation is $30,125,813 and the aggregate gross unrealized depreciation is $22,571,241 resulting in net unrealized appreciation of $7,554,572.

OPTIONS WRITTEN AT DECEMBER 31, 2009:

NUMBER OF
CONTRACTS
  DESCRIPTION   STRIKE
PRICE
  EXPIRATION
DATE
  PREMIUM   VALUE  
  58     MetLife, Inc.   $ 36.00     January 2010   $ 11,657     $ 3,422    

 

See Notes to Financial Statements
81



Morgan Stanley Variable Investment Series - Dividend Growth

Summary of Investments n December 31, 2009

INDUSTRY   VALUE   PERCENT OF
TOTAL
INVESTMENTS
 
Oil, Gas & Consumable
Fuels
  $ 22,980,884       9.0 %  
Pharmaceuticals     21,147,151       8.2    
Computers & Peripherals     18,136,578       7.1    
Insurance     14,808,624       5.8    
Aerospace & Defense     12,682,637       4.9    
Specialty Retail     10,334,429       4.0    
Tobacco     9,590,896       3.7    
Software     9,063,061       3.5    
Health Care Providers &
Services
    8,776,395       3.4    
Hotels, Restaurants &
Leisure
    8,197,737       3.2    
Household Products     7,835,838       3.1    
Multi-Utilities     7,747,670       3.0    
Energy Equipment &
Services
    7,648,248       3.0    
Diversified Financial
Services
    7,268,998       2.8    
Industrial Conglomerates     6,059,974       2.4    
Semiconductors &
Semiconductor
Equipment
    5,530,236       2.2    
Internet Software &
Services
    5,512,242       2.1    
Commercial Banks     5,369,930       2.1    
Capital Markets     5,161,101       2.0    
Road & Rail     4,885,852       1.9    
Metals & Mining     4,734,701       1.8    

 

INDUSTRY   VALUE   PERCENT OF
TOTAL
INVESTMENTS
 
Diversified
Telecommunication
Services
  $ 4,697,828       1.8 %  
Food & Staples Retailing     4,458,734       1.7    
Paper & Forest Products     4,022,088       1.6    
Leisure Equipment &
Products
    3,995,001       1.6    
Multiline Retail     3,962,954       1.5    
Investment Company     3,778,181       1.5    
Construction & Engineering     3,553,206       1.4    
Electronic Equipment,
Instruments &
Components
    3,546,861       1.4    
Chemicals     3,543,911       1.4    
Information Technology
Services
    3,217,078       1.3    
Independent Power
Producers & Energy
Traders
    3,141,311       1.2    
Biotechnology     3,111,350       1.2    
Textiles, Apparel & Luxury
Goods
    2,889,245       1.1    
Household Durables     2,734,374       1.1    
Commercial Services &
Supplies
    2,575,658       1.0    
    $ 256,700,962 ^     100.0 %  

 

^  Does not include options written with a value of $3,422.

See Notes to Financial Statements
82



Morgan Stanley Variable Investment Series - Global Dividend Growth

Portfolio of Investments n December 31, 2009

NUMBER OF
SHARES
 

  VALUE  
    Common Stocks (97.4%)
Austria (a)(0.9%)
 
    Diversified Telecommunication
Services
 
  60,538     Telekom Austria AG   $ 864,334    
    Bermuda (1.5%)  
    Insurance  
  51,821     Willis Group Holdings Ltd.     1,367,038    
    Finland (a)(1.6%)  
    Machinery  
  16,925     Konecranes Oyj     460,326    
    Metals & Mining  
  41,386     Rautaruukki Oyj     950,243    
        Total Finland     1,410,569    
    France (a)(9.0%)  
    Commercial Banks  
  10,714     BNP Paribas     845,479    
    Diversified Telecommunication
Services
 
  50,823     France Telecom SA     1,268,917    
    Information Technology Services  
  19,616     Cap Gemini SA     888,515    
    Insurance  
  5,736     Euler Hermes SA     426,145    
    Machinery  
  8,244     Vallourec SA     1,499,464    
    Multi-Utilities  
  27,174     GDF Suez (b)     1,178,908    
    Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels  
  19,882     Total SA (b)     1,274,068    
    Real Estate Investment
Trusts (REITs)
 
  8,063     ICADE     766,816    
        Total France     8,148,312    
    Germany (a)(3.2%)  
    Air Freight & Logistics  
  50,656     Deutsche Post AG (Registered
Shares)
    974,682    

 

NUMBER OF
SHARES
 

  VALUE  
    Electric Utilities  
  31,804     E.ON AG   $ 1,327,741    
    Industrial Conglomerates  
  6,744     Siemens AG (Registered
Shares) (c)
    618,578    
        Total Germany     2,921,001    
    Greece (a)(1.0%)  
    Commercial Banks  
  33,980     National Bank of Greece SA     866,457    
    Ireland (a)(2.8%)  
    Construction Materials  
  92,951     CRH PLC     2,517,823    
    Italy (a)(2.5%)  
    Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels  
  89,084     Eni SpA     2,267,994    
    Japan (a)(10.7%)  
    Commercial Banks  
  53,300     Sumitomo Mitsui Financial
Group, Inc. (b)
    1,519,562    
  55,500     Tokyo Tomin Bank, Ltd. (The)     753,558    
      2,273,120    
    Electronic Equipment,
Instruments & Components
 
  18,834     Hoya Corp. (b)     499,304    
  21,053     TDK Corp. (b)     1,283,737    
      1,783,041    
    Machinery  
  158,448     Amada Co., Ltd. (b)     983,345    
  235,680     Daifuku Co., Ltd. (b)     1,490,049    
  117,000     Mori Seiki Co., Ltd. (b)     1,044,885    
      3,518,279    
    Office Electronics  
  27,200     Canon, Inc.     1,149,882    
    Software  
  4,085     Nintendo Co., Ltd.     968,415    
        Total Japan     9,692,737    

 

See Notes to Financial Statements
83



Morgan Stanley Variable Investment Series - Global Dividend Growth

Portfolio of Investments n December 31, 2009 continued

NUMBER OF
SHARES
 

  VALUE  
    Netherlands (a)(6.0%)  
    Chemicals  
  9,522     Akzo Nobel N.V.   $ 627,620    
    Food Products  
  34,226     Unilever N.V.     1,115,261    
    Media  
  152,876     Reed Elsevier N.V.     1,875,792    
  83,743     Wolters Kluwer N.V.     1,835,491    
      3,711,283    
        Total Netherlands     5,454,164    
    Singapore (a)(2.0%)  
    Air Freight & Logistics  
  1,266,000     Singapore Post Ltd.     908,063    
    Road & Rail  
  746,406     ComfortDelgro Corp., Ltd.     867,935    
        Total Singapore     1,775,998    
    Spain (a)(1.1%)  
    Diversified Telecommunication
Services
 
  36,400     Telefonica SA     1,014,523    
    Switzerland (a)(4.1%)  
    Food Products  
  23,182     Nestle SA (Registered Shares)     1,126,246    
    Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure  
  1,742     Kuoni Reisen Holding AG
(Registered Shares)
    588,171    
    Pharmaceuticals  
  37,143     Novartis AG (Registered
Shares)
    2,023,634    
        Total Switzerland     3,738,051    
    Taiwan (a)(1.7%)  
    Computers & Peripherals  
  511,000     Acer, Inc.     1,526,588    
    United Kingdom (a)(16.0%)  
    Beverages  
  52,295     Diageo PLC     911,989    
    Commercial Banks  
  58,598     HSBC Holdings PLC     668,738    

 

NUMBER OF
SHARES
 

  VALUE  
    Electric Utilities  
  49,053     Scottish & Southern
Energy PLC
  $ 916,664    
    Insurance  
  213,746     Prudential PLC     2,177,437    
    Machinery  
  52,846     IMI PLC     442,227    
    Metals & Mining  
  16,127     BHP Billiton PLC     515,139    
    Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels  
  162,535     BP PLC     1,571,901    
  56,244     Royal Dutch Shell PLC
(A Shares)
    1,698,152    
      3,270,053    
    Pharmaceuticals  
  53,070     GlaxoSmithKline PLC     1,124,187    
    Tobacco  
  83,495     British American Tobacco PLC     2,708,619    
    Wireless Telecommunication
Services
 
  780,196     Vodafone Group PLC     1,806,695    
        Total United Kingdom     14,541,748    
    United States (33.3%)  
    Capital Markets  
  64,551     Bank of New York Mellon
Corp. (The)
    1,805,491    
  4,758     Goldman Sachs Group,
Inc. (The)
    803,341    
      2,608,832    
    Chemicals  
  44,445     EI Du Pont de Nemours & Co.     1,496,463    
    Commercial Services & Supplies  
  24,378     Avery Dennison Corp.     889,553    
    Computers & Peripherals  
  34,826     Diebold, Inc.     990,800    
    Containers & Packaging  
  29,820     Bemis Co., Inc.     884,163    
  31,706     Sonoco Products Co.     927,400    
      1,811,563    

 

See Notes to Financial Statements
84



Morgan Stanley Variable Investment Series - Global Dividend Growth

Portfolio of Investments n December 31, 2009 continued

NUMBER OF
SHARES
 

  VALUE  
    Diversified Financial Services  
  40,562     JPMorgan Chase & Co.   $ 1,690,218    
  52,172     Moody's Corp. (b)     1,398,210    
      3,088,428    
    Diversified Telecommunication
Services
 
  34,075     AT&T, Inc.     955,122    
  58,787     Verizon Communications, Inc.     1,947,614    
      2,902,736    
    Electric Utilities  
  21,939     Allete, Inc.     716,967    
    Household Products  
  10,563     Procter & Gamble Co. (The)     640,435    
    Media  
  27,495     McGraw-Hill Cos., Inc. (The)     921,357    
    Multiline Retail  
  44,819     JC Penney Co., Inc.     1,192,634    
    Personal Products  
  13,899     Mead Johnson Nutrition Co. (b)     607,386    
    Pharmaceuticals  
  100,089     Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.     2,527,247    
  30,294     Eli Lilly & Co.     1,081,799    
      3,609,046    
    Real Estate Investment
Trusts (REITs)
 
  44,222     Potlatch Corp. (b)     1,409,797    
    Semiconductors &
Semiconductor Equipment
 
  42,253     Intel Corp.     861,961    
  42,990     Texas Instruments, Inc.     1,120,320    
      1,982,281    
    Tobacco  
  71,989     Philip Morris International, Inc.     3,469,150    
  36,286     Reynolds American, Inc. (b)     1,922,069    
      5,391,219    
        Total United States     30,259,497    
        Total Common Stocks
(Cost $74,221,573)
    88,366,834    

 

PRINCIPAL
AMOUNT IN
THOUSANDS
 

  VALUE  
    Short-Term Investments (13.8%)
Securities Held as Collateral
on Loaned Securities (11.9%)
 
    Repurchase Agreements (2.5%)  
$ 190     Bank of America
Securities LLC (0.01% dated
12/31/09, due 01/04/10;
proceeds $189,722; fully
collateralized by U.S.
Government Agency
securities at the date of this
Portfolio of Investments as
follows: Government National
Mortgage Association
5.00% due 11/20/39;
valued at $193,516)
  $ 189,722    
  1,444     Deutsche Bank (0.01% dated
12/31/09, due 01/04/10;
proceeds $1,444,368; fully
collateralized by U.S.
Government Agency
securities at the date of this
Portfolio of Investments as
follows: Federal National
Mortgage Association
5.50% - 7.00% due
11/1/30 - 05/1/39;
valued at $1,473,254)
    1,444,367    
  637     ING (0.01% dated 12/31/09,
due 01/04/10; proceeds
$637,221 fully collateralized
by U.S. Government Agency
securities at the date of this
Portfolio of Investments as
follows: Federal Home Loan
Mortgage Association
0.60% - 2.23% due
09/15/14 - 08/15/30;
valued at $649,968)
    637,220    
        Total Repurchase
Agreements
(Cost $2,271,309)
    2,271,309    

 

See Notes to Financial Statements
85



Morgan Stanley Variable Investment Series - Global Dividend Growth

Portfolio of Investments n December 31, 2009 continued

NUMBER OF
SHARES (000)
 

  VALUE  
    Investment Company (9.4%)      
  8,497     Morgan Stanley Institutional
Liquidity Funds - Money
Market Portfolio - Institutional
Class (See Note 6)
(Cost $8,496,954)
  $ 8,496,954    
    Total Securities Held as
Collateral on Loaned
Securities
(Cost $10,768,263)
    10,768,263    
    Investment Company (1.9%)      
  1,768     Morgan Stanley Institutional
Liquidity Funds - Money
Market Portfolio - Institutional
Class (See Note 6)
(Cost $1,767,767)
    1,767,767    
    Total Short-Term Investments
(Cost $12,536,030)
    12,536,030    
Total Investments
(Cost $86,757,603) (d)(e)
    111.2 %     100,902,864    
Liabilities in Excess of Other
Assets
    (11.2 )     (10,142,594 )  
Net Assets     100.0 %   $ 90,760,270    

 

  (a)  Securities with a total market value equal to $56,740,299 have been valued at their fair value as determined in good faith under procedures established by and under the general supervision of the Fund's Trustees. Such fair value measurements may be level 2 measurements if observable inputs are available. See Note 2.

  (b)  All or a portion of this security was on loan at December 31, 2009.

  (c)  Non-income producing security.

  (d)  Securities have been designated as collateral in connection with open forward foreign currency contracts.

  (e)  The aggregate cost for federal income tax purposes is $87,246,315. The aggregate gross unrealized appreciation is $15,403,423 and the aggregate gross unrealized depreciation is $1,746,874 resulting in net unrealized appreciation of $13,656,549.

FORWARD FOREIGN CURRENCY CONTRACTS OPEN AT DECEMBER 31, 2009:

CONTRACTS
TO DELIVER
  IN EXCHANGE
FOR
  DELIVERY
DATE
  UNREALIZED
APPRECIATION
(DEPRECIATION)
 
$ 7,816,148     EUR 5,443,000     01/06/10   $ (13,347 )  
$ 2,589,522     GBP 1,631,000     01/06/10     44,789    
GBP 1,631,000     $ 2,710,657     01/06/10     76,346    
EUR 5,443,000     $ 8,151,328     01/06/10     348,527    
GBP 1,722,000     $ 2,733,451     02/08/10     (47,274 )  
EUR 5,088,000     $ 7,305,961     02/08/10     12,404    
Net Unrealized Appreciation   $ 421,445    

 

Currency Abbreviations:

EUR  Euro.

GBP  British Pound.

See Notes to Financial Statements
86



Morgan Stanley Variable Investment Series - Global Dividend Growth

Summary of Investments n December 31, 2009

INDUSTRY   VALUE   PERCENT OF
TOTAL
INVESTMENTS
 
Tobacco   $ 8,099,838       9.0 %  
Oil, Gas & Consumable
Fuels
    6,812,115       7.5    
Pharmaceuticals     6,756,867       7.5    
Diversified
Telecommunication
Services
    6,050,510       6.7    
Machinery     5,920,296       6.6    
Commercial Banks     4,653,794       5.2    
Media     4,632,640       5.1    
Insurance     3,970,620       4.4    
Diversified Financial
Services
    3,088,428       3.4    
Electric Utilities     2,961,372       3.3    
Capital Markets     2,608,832       2.9    
Construction Materials     2,517,823       2.8    
Computers & Peripherals     2,517,388       2.8    
Food Products     2,241,507       2.5    
Real Estate Investment
Trusts (REITs)
    2,176,613       2.4    
Chemicals     2,124,083       2.3    
Semiconductors &
Semiconductor Equipment
    1,982,281       2.2    
Air Freight & Logistics     1,882,745       2.1    
Containers & Packaging     1,811,563       2.0    
Wireless Telecommunication
Services
    1,806,695       2.0    

 

INDUSTRY   VALUE   PERCENT OF
TOTAL
INVESTMENTS
 
Electronic Equipment,
Instruments &
Components
  $ 1,783,041       2.0 %  
Investment Company     1,767,767       2.0    
Metals & Mining     1,465,382       1.6    
Multiline Retail     1,192,634       1.3    
Multi-Utilities     1,178,908       1.3    
Office Electronics     1,149,882       1.3    
Software     968,415       1.1    
Beverages     911,989       1.0    
Commercial Services &
Supplies
    889,553       1.0    
Information Technology
Services
    888,515       1.0    
Road & Rail     867,935       1.0    
Household Products     640,435       0.7    
Industrial Conglomerates     618,578       0.7    
Personal Products     607,386       0.7    
Hotels, Restaurants &
Leisure
    588,171       0.6    
    $ 90,134,601 ^     100.0 %  

 

^  Does not include open forward foreign currency contracts with net unrealized appreciation of $421,445. Also does not reflect the value of securities held as collateral on loaned securities.

See Notes to Financial Statements
87




Morgan Stanley Variable Investment Series - European Equity

Portfolio of Investments n December 31, 2009

NUMBER OF
SHARES
 

  VALUE  
    Common Stocks (95.4%)
Belgium (a)(1.8%)
 
    Chemicals  
  43,206     Umicore   $ 1,438,754    
    France (a)(9.9%)  
    Commercial Banks  
  26,996     BNP Paribas     2,130,349    
  21,890     Societe Generale     1,514,621    
      3,644,970    
    Electrical Equipment  
  14,807     Schneider Electric SA     1,715,416    
    Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure  
  17,540     ACCOR SA     952,839    
    Multi-Utilities  
  38,873     GDF Suez (b)     1,686,454    
        Total France     7,999,679    
    Germany (a)(14.3%)  
    Automobiles  
  32,349     Daimler AG     1,728,308    
    Diversified Telecommunication
Services
 
  88,208     Deutsche Telecom AG     1,302,742    
    Industrial Conglomerates  
  22,122     Siemens AG
(Registered Shares)
    2,029,092    
    Insurance  
  13,644     Allianz SE
(Registered Shares)
    1,698,305    
  8,490     Muenchener
Rueckversicherungs AG
(Registered Shares)
    1,323,479    
      3,021,784    
    Machinery  
  15,979     MAN SE     1,244,493    
    Pharmaceuticals  
  27,205     Bayer AG     2,174,360    
        Total Germany     11,500,779    

 

NUMBER OF
SHARES
 

  VALUE  
    Greece (a)(1.2%)  
    Commercial Banks  
  38,280     National Bank of
Greece SA (c)
  $ 976,103    
    Italy (a)(2.7%)  
    Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels  
  85,016     Eni SpA     2,164,427    
    Luxembourg (a)(2.3%)  
    Metals & Mining  
  40,420     ArcelorMittal (b)     1,833,243    
    Netherlands (a)(1.8%)  
    Diversified Telecommunication
Services
 
  86,096     Koninklijke KPN     1,460,335    
    Spain (a)(5.2%)  
    Commercial Banks  
  102,593     Banco Bilbao Vizcaya
Argentaria SA (b)
    1,858,397    
    Diversified Telecommunication
Services
 
  83,341     Telefonica SA     2,322,840    
        Total Spain     4,181,237    
    Sweden (a)(1.7%)  
    Auto Components  
  30,735     Autoliv, Inc. (SDR)     1,358,822    
    Switzerland (a)(15.3%)  
    Capital Markets  
  93,971     UBS AG
(Registered Shares) (c)
    1,443,571    
    Food Products  
  68,035     Nestle SA
(Registered Shares)
    3,305,331    
    Health Care Equipment &
Supplies
 
  29,726     Nobel Biocare Holding AG
(Registered Shares)
    994,865    

 

See Notes to Financial Statements
88



Morgan Stanley Variable Investment Series - European Equity

Portfolio of Investments n December 31, 2009 continued

NUMBER OF
SHARES
 

  VALUE  
    Insurance  
  6,271     Zurich Financial Services AG   $ 1,363,482    
    Pharmaceuticals  
  47,887     Novartis AG
(Registered Shares)
    2,608,991    
  15,443     Roche Holding AG     2,627,104    
      5,236,095    
        Total Switzerland     12,343,344    
    United Kingdom (a)(39.2%)  
    Aerospace & Defense  
  275,524     BAE Systems PLC     1,587,793    
  137,199     Rolls-Royce Group PLC (c)     1,070,678    
      2,658,471    
    Capital Markets  
  196,602     Man Group PLC     967,097    
    Commercial Banks  
  262,702     Barclays PLC     1,157,640    
  291,737     HSBC Holdings PLC     3,329,389    
      4,487,029    
    Food & Staples Retailing  
  253,828     Tesco PLC     1,744,000    
  222,000     WM Morrison
Supermarkets PLC
    989,735    
      2,733,735    
    Health Care Equipment &
Supplies
 
  76,945     SSL International PLC     970,974    
    Insurance  
  129,520     Prudential PLC     1,319,424    
    Media  
  107,858     Reed Elsevier PLC     885,702    
    Metals & Mining  
  53,750     Anglo American PLC (c)     2,326,230    
    Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels  
  117,011     BG Group PLC     2,095,401    

 

NUMBER OF
SHARES
 

  VALUE  
  102,690     Royal Dutch Shell PLC
(A Shares)
  $ 3,100,476    
      5,195,877    
    Pharmaceuticals  
  103,822     GlaxoSmithKline PLC     2,199,272    
    Specialty Retail  
  254,292     Carphone Warehouse
Group PLC
    766,526    
  1,495,107     DSG International PLC (b)(c)     879,784    
      1,646,310    
    Tobacco  
  62,027     British American
Tobacco PLC
    2,012,187    
  54,334     Imperial Tobacco Group PLC     1,712,341    
      3,724,528    
    Wireless Telecommunication
Services
 
  1,076,254     Vodafone Group PLC     2,492,274    
        Total United Kingdom     31,606,923    
        Total Common Stocks
(Cost $69,722,844)
    76,863,646    
    Preferred Stock (1.4%)
Germany (a)
 
    Health Care Equipment &
Supplies
 
  16,178     Fresenius SE
(Cost $1,279,733)
    1,156,193    

 

See Notes to Financial Statements
89



Morgan Stanley Variable Investment Series - European Equity

Portfolio of Investments n December 31, 2009 continued

PRINCIPAL
AMOUNT IN
THOUSANDS
 

  VALUE  
    Short-Term Investments (5.3%)
Securities Held as Collateral
on Loaned Securities (2.4%)
 
    Repurchase Agreements (0.5%)  
$ 34     Bank of America Securities LLC
(0.01% dated 12/31/09,
due 01/04/10; proceeds
$33,540; fully collateralized
by U.S. Government Agency
securities at the date of this
Portfolio of Investments as
follows: Government National
Mortgage Association 5.00%
due 11/20/39; valued at
$34,211)
  $ 33,540    
  255     Deutsche Bank (0.01% dated
12/31/09, due 01/04/10;
proceeds $255,345; fully
collateralized by U.S.
Government Agency
securities at the date of this
Portfolio of Investments as
follows: Federal National
Mortgage Association
5.50% - 7.00% due
11/01/30 - 05/01/39;
valued at $260,451)
    255,344    
  113     ING (0.01% dated 12/31/09,
due 01/04/10; proceeds
$112,652; fully collateralized
by U.S. Government Agency
securities at the date of this
Portfolio of Investments as
follows: Federal Home Loan
Mortgage Association
0.60% - 2.23% due
09/15/14 - 08/15/30;
valued at $114,905)
    112,652    
        Total Repurchase Agreements
(Cost $401,536)
    401,536    

 

NUMBER OF
SHARES (000)
 

  VALUE  
    Investment Company (1.9%)      
  1,502     Morgan Stanley Institutional
Liquidity Funds - Money
Market Portfolio - Institutional
Class (See Note 6)
(Cost $1,502,146)
  $ 1,502,146    
    Total Securities Held as
Collateral on Loaned
Securities
(Cost $1,903,682)
    1,903,682    
    Investment Company (2.9%)      
  2,304     Morgan Stanley Institutional
Liquidity Funds - Money
Market Portfolio - Institutional
Class (See Note 6)
(Cost $2,303,654)
    2,303,654    
    Total Short-Term Investments
(Cost $4,207,336)
    4,207,336    
Total Investments
(Cost $75,209,913) (d)
    102.1 %     82,227,175    
Liabilities in Excess of
Other Assets
    (2.1 )     (1,707,330 )  
Net Assets     100.0 %   $ 80,519,845    

 

SDR  Swedish Depositary Receipt.

  (a)  Securities with a total market value equal to $78,019,839 have been valued at their fair value as determined in good faith under procedures established by and under the general supervision of the Fund's Trustees. Such fair value measurements may be level 2 measurements if observable inputs are available. See Note 2.

  (b)  All or a portion of this security was on loan at December 31, 2009.

  (c)  Non-income producing security.

  (d)  The aggregate cost for federal income tax purposes is $76,630,771. The aggregate gross unrealized appreciation is $12,937,394 and the aggregate gross unrealized depreciation is $7,340,990 resulting in net unrealized appreciation of $5,596,404.

See Notes to Financial Statements
90



Morgan Stanley Variable Investment Series - European Equity

Summary of Investments n December 31, 2009

INDUSTRY   VALUE   PERCENT OF
TOTAL
INVESTMENTS
 
Commercial Banks   $ 10,966,499       13.7 %  
Pharmaceuticals     9,609,727       12.0    
Oil, Gas &
Consumable Fuels
    7,360,304       9.2    
Insurance     5,704,690       7.1    
Diversified
Telecommunication
Services
    5,085,917       6.3    
Metals & Mining     4,159,473       5.2    
Tobacco     3,724,528       4.6    
Food Products     3,305,331       4.1    
Health Care Equipment &
Supplies
    3,122,032       3.9    
Food & Staples Retailing     2,733,735       3.4    
Aerospace & Defense     2,658,471       3.3    
Wireless Telecommunication
Services
    2,492,274       3.1    

 

INDUSTRY   VALUE   PERCENT OF
TOTAL
INVESTMENTS
 
Capital Markets   $ 2,410,668       3.0 %  
Investment Company     2,303,654       2.9    
Industrial Conglomerates     2,029,092       2.5    
Automobiles     1,728,308       2.2    
Electrical Equipment     1,715,416       2.1    
Multi-Utilities     1,686,454       2.1    
Specialty Retail     1,646,310       2.0    
Chemicals     1,438,754       1.8    
Auto Components     1,358,822       1.7    
Machinery     1,244,493       1.5    
Hotels, Restaurants &
Leisure
    952,839       1.2    
Media     885,702       1.1    
    $ 80,323,493 ^     100.0 %  

 

^  Does not reflect the value of securities held as collateral on loaned securities.

See Notes to Financial Statements
91



Morgan Stanley Variable Investment Series - Capital Opportunities

Portfolio of Investments n December 31, 2009

NUMBER OF
SHARES
 

  VALUE  
    Common Stocks (97.3%)  
    Air Freight & Logistics (2.1%)  
  162,243     Expeditors International of
Washington, Inc.
  $ 5,634,699    
    Capital Markets (3.8%)  
  124,976     Greenhill & Co., Inc.     10,028,074    
    Chemicals (4.2%)  
  136,165     Monsanto Co.     11,131,489    
    Computers & Peripherals (9.9%)  
  85,465     Apple, Inc. (a)     18,021,150    
  264,402     Teradata Corp. (a)     8,310,155    
      26,331,305    
    Distributors (3.3%)  
  2,116,000     Li & Fung Ltd.
(Bermuda) (b)(c)
    8,708,354    
    Diversified Financial
Services (7.0%)
 
  796,806     BM&F BOVESPA SA
(Brazil) (b)
    5,537,683    
  236,838     Leucadia National Corp. (a)     5,634,376    
  235,087     MSCI, Inc. (Class A) (a)     7,475,767    
      18,647,826    
    Health Care Technology (3.0%)  
  179,179     athenahealth, Inc. (a)     8,106,058    
    Hotels, Restaurants &
Leisure (6.1%)
 
  133,241     Ctrip.com International Ltd.
(ADR) (Cayman Islands) (a)
    9,574,698    
  116,420     Wynn Resorts Ltd.     6,779,137    
      16,353,835    
    Information Technology
Services (6.3%)
 
  43,198     Mastercard, Inc. (Class A)     11,057,824    
  354,591     Redecard SA (Brazil) (b)     5,822,730    
      16,880,554    
    Internet & Catalog Retail (7.3%)  
  145,499     Amazon.com, Inc. (a)     19,572,525    

 

NUMBER OF
SHARES
 

  VALUE  
    Internet Software &
Services (18.3%)
 
  23,246     Baidu, Inc. (ADR)
(Cayman Islands) (a)
  $ 9,559,453    
  32,315     Google, Inc. (Class A) (a)     20,034,654    
  883,100     Tencent Holdings Ltd.
(Cayman Islands) (b)(c)
    19,032,936    
      48,627,043    
    Life Sciences Tools &
Services (5.0%)
 
  190,887     Illumina, Inc. (a)     5,850,686    
  107,810     Techne Corp.     7,391,454    
      13,242,140    
    Oil, Gas & Consumable
Fuels (6.5%)
 
  134,532     Range Resources Corp.     6,706,420    
  210,744     Ultra Petroleum Corp.
(Canada) (a)
    10,507,696    
      17,214,116    
    Professional Services (5.4%)  
  155,672     CoStar Group, Inc. (a)     6,502,420    
  260,158     Verisk Analytics, Inc.
(Class A) (a)
    7,877,584    
      14,380,004    
    Real Estate Management &
Development (3.4%)
 
  412,484     Brookfield Asset Management,
Inc. (Class A) (Canada)
    9,148,895    
    Semiconductors &
Semiconductor
Equipment (2.4%)
 
  276,555     Tessera Technologies, Inc. (a)     6,435,435    
    Software (3.3%)  
  117,680     Salesforce.com, Inc. (a)     8,681,254    
      Total Common Stocks
(Cost $210,941,276)
    259,123,606    

 

See Notes to Financial Statements
92



Morgan Stanley Variable Investment Series - Capital Opportunities

Portfolio of Investments n December 31, 2009 continued

NUMBER OF
SHARES (000)
 

  VALUE  
    Short-Term Investment (2.8%)      
    Investment Company      
  7,508     Morgan Stanley Institutional
Liquidity Funds - Money
Market Portfolio - Institutional
Class (See Note 6)
(Cost $7,508,265)
  $ 7,508,265    
Total Investments
(Cost $218,449,541) (d)
    100.1 %     266,631,871    
Liabilities in Excess of
Other Assets
    (0.1 )     (230,630 )  
Net Assets     100.0 %   $ 266,401,241    

 

ADR  American Depositary Receipt.

  (a)  Non-income producing security.

  (b)  Securities with a total market value equal to $39,101,703 have been valued at their fair value as determined in good faith under procedures established by and under the general supervision of the Fund's Trustees. Such fair value measurements may be level 2 measurements if observable inputs are available. See Note 2.

  (c)  Security trades on the Hong Kong exchange.

  (d)  The aggregate cost for federal income tax purposes is $220,099,158. The aggregate gross unrealized appreciation is $66,641,326 and the aggregate gross unrealized depreciation is $20,108,613 resulting in net unrealized appreciation of $46,532,713.

SUMMARY OF INVESTMENTS

INDUSTRY   VALUE   PERCENT OF
TOTAL
INVESTMENTS
 
Internet Software &
Services
  $ 48,627,043       18.2 %  
Computers & Peripherals     26,331,305       9.9    
Internet & Catalog Retail     19,572,525       7.3    
Diversified Financial
Services
    18,647,826       7.0    
Oil, Gas & Consumable
Fuels
    17,214,116       6.5    
Information Technology
Services
    16,880,554       6.3    
Hotels, Restaurants &
Leisure
    16,353,835       6.1    
Professional Services     14,380,004       5.4    
Life Sciences Tools &
Services
    13,242,140       5.0    
Chemicals     11,131,489       4.2    
Capital Markets     10,028,074       3.8    
Real Estate Management &
Development
    9,148,895       3.4    
Distributors     8,708,354       3.3    
Software     8,681,254       3.3    
Health Care Technology     8,106,058       3.0    
Investment Company     7,508,265       2.8    
Semiconductors &
Semiconductor
Equipment
    6,435,435       2.4    
Air Freight & Logistics     5,634,699       2.1    
    $ 266,631,871       100.0 %  

 

See Notes to Financial Statements
93



Morgan Stanley Variable Investment Series - S&P 500 Index

Portfolio of Investments n December 31, 2009

NUMBER OF
SHARES
 

  VALUE  
    Common Stocks (99.1%)  
    Aerospace & Defense (2.7%)  
  9,276     Boeing Co. (The)   $ 502,110    
  5,064     General Dynamics Corp.     345,213    
  1,738     Goodrich Corp.     111,666    
  9,536     Honeywell International, Inc.     373,811    
  2,564     ITT Corp.     127,533    
  1,350     L-3 Communications
Holdings, Inc.
    117,382    
  4,065     Lockheed Martin Corp.     306,298    
  4,141     Northrop Grumman Corp.     231,275    
  1,713     Precision Castparts Corp.     189,030    
  4,701     Raytheon Co.     242,196    
  2,235     Rockwell Collins, Inc.     123,730    
  11,956     United Technologies Corp.     829,866    
      3,500,110    
    Air Freight & Logistics (1.0%)  
  2,389     C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc.     140,306    
  2,994     Expeditors International of
Washington, Inc.
    103,982    
  4,049     FedEx Corp.     337,889    
  12,653     United Parcel Service, Inc.
(Class B)
    725,902    
      1,308,079    
    Airlines (0.1%)  
  10,446     Southwest Airlines Co.     119,398    
    Auto Components (0.2%)  
  3,407     Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co.
(The) (a)
    48,039    
  8,390     Johnson Controls, Inc.     228,543    
      276,582    
    Automobiles (0.4%)  
  42,579     Ford Motor Co. (a)     425,790    
  3,288     Harley-Davidson, Inc.     82,858    
      508,648    
    Beverages (2.6%)  
  1,385     Brown-Forman Corp.
(Class B)
    74,194    

 

NUMBER OF
SHARES
 

  VALUE  
  30,166     Coca-Cola Co. (The)   $ 1,719,462    
  4,483     Coca-Cola Enterprises, Inc.     95,040    
  2,749     Constellation Brands, Inc.
(Class A) (a)
    43,791    
  3,582     Dr Pepper Snapple
Group, Inc.
    101,371    
  2,102     Molson Coors Brewing Co.
(Class B)
    94,926    
  1,908     Pepsi Bottling Group, Inc.     71,550    
  20,251     PepsiCo, Inc.     1,231,261    
      3,431,595    
    Biotechnology (1.5%)  
  13,423     Amgen, Inc. (a)     759,339    
  3,674     Biogen Idec, Inc. (a)     196,559    
  6,308     Celgene Corp. (a)     351,229    
  967     Cephalon, Inc. (a)     60,351    
  3,307     Genzyme Corp. (a)     162,076    
  11,212     Gilead Sciences, Inc. (a)     485,255    
      2,014,809    
    Building Products (0.1%)  
  5,082     Masco Corp.     70,182    
    Capital Markets (2.7%)  
  3,059     Ameriprise Financial, Inc.     118,750    
  15,304     Bank of New York Mellon
Corp. (The)
    428,053    
  11,768     Charles Schwab Corp. (The)     221,474    
  12,787     E*Trade Financial Corp. (a)     22,377    
  1,251     Federated Investors, Inc.
(Class B)
    34,402    
  1,885     Franklin Resources, Inc.     198,585    
  6,633     Goldman Sachs Group,
Inc. (The)
    1,119,916    
  5,436     Invesco Ltd. (Bermuda)     127,692    
  2,229     Janus Capital Group, Inc.     29,980    
  2,004     Legg Mason, Inc.     60,441    
  17,449     Morgan Stanley (See Note 6)     516,490    
  3,149     Northern Trust Corp.     165,008    
  6,636     State Street Corp.     288,931    
  3,150     T. Rowe Price Group, Inc.     167,737    
      3,499,836    

 

See Notes to Financial Statements
94



Morgan Stanley Variable Investment Series - S&P 500 Index

Portfolio of Investments n December 31, 2009 continued

NUMBER OF
SHARES
 

  VALUE  
    Chemicals (2.0%)  
  2,602     Air Products &
Chemicals, Inc.
  $ 210,918    
  1,095     Airgas, Inc.     52,122    
  669     CF Industries Holdings, Inc.     60,732    
  14,948     Dow Chemical Co. (The)     413,013    
  1,024     Eastman Chemical Co.     61,686    
  2,912     Ecolab, Inc.     129,817    
  12,015     EI Du Pont de Nemours & Co.     404,545    
  990     FMC Corp.     55,202    
  1,111     International Flavors &
Fragrances, Inc.
    45,707    
  6,988     Monsanto Co.     571,269    
  2,319     PPG Industries, Inc.     135,754    
  4,057     Praxair, Inc.     325,818    
  1,770     Sigma-Aldrich Corp.     89,438    
      2,556,021    
    Commercial Banks (2.7%)  
  8,796     BB&T Corp.     223,155    
  2,125     Comerica, Inc.     62,836    
  9,750     Fifth Third Bancorp     95,063    
  3,115     First Horizon National
Corp. (a)
    41,740    
  6,049     Huntington Bancshares, Inc.     22,079    
  10,036     Keycorp     55,700    
  1,090     M&T Bank Corp.     72,910    
  4,480     Marshall & Ilsley Corp.     24,416    
  6,085     PNC Financial Services
Group, Inc.
    321,229    
  13,934     Regions Financial Corp.     73,711    
  6,261     SunTrust Banks, Inc.     127,036    
  24,744     US Bancorp     556,987    
  66,440     Wells Fargo & Co.     1,793,208    
  1,629     Zions BanCorp.     20,900    
      3,490,970    
    Commercial Services &
Supplies (0.5%)
 
  1,501     Avery Dennison Corp.     54,771    
  1,855     Cintas Corp.     48,323    

 

NUMBER OF
SHARES
 

  VALUE  
  2,538     Iron Mountain, Inc. (a)   $ 57,765    
  2,911     Pitney Bowes, Inc.     66,254    
  4,533     Republic Services, Inc.     128,329    
  2,895     RR Donnelley & Sons Co.     64,472    
  1,208     Stericycle, Inc. (a)     66,645    
  6,075     Waste Management, Inc.     205,396    
      691,955    
    Communications
Equipment (2.6%)
 
  75,103     Cisco Systems, Inc. (a)     1,797,966    
  1,901     Harris Corp.     90,392    
  3,104     JDS Uniphase Corp. (a)     25,608    
  6,576     Juniper Networks, Inc. (a)     175,382    
  30,087     Motorola, Inc. (a)     233,475    
  21,514     QUALCOMM, Inc.     995,238    
  5,620     Tellabs, Inc. (a)     31,922    
      3,349,983    
    Computers &
Peripherals (5.9%)
 
  11,706     Apple, Inc. (a)     2,468,327    
  22,832     Dell, Inc. (a)     327,868    
  26,219     EMC Corp. (a)     458,046    
  30,961     Hewlett-Packard Co.     1,594,801    
  17,091     International Business
Machines Corp.
    2,237,212    
  1,107     Lexmark International, Inc.
(Class A) (a)
    28,760    
  4,662     NetApp, Inc. (a)     160,326    
  1,806     QLogic Corp. (a)     34,079    
  3,192     SanDisk Corp. (a)     92,536    
  10,430     Sun Microsystems, Inc. (a)     97,729    
  2,485     Teradata Corp. (a)     78,104    
  3,115     Western Digital Corp. (a)     137,527    
      7,715,315    
    Construction &
Engineering (0.2%)
 
  2,563     Fluor Corp.     115,438    

 

See Notes to Financial Statements
95



Morgan Stanley Variable Investment Series - S&P 500 Index

Portfolio of Investments n December 31, 2009 continued

NUMBER OF
SHARES
 

  VALUE  
  1,735     Jacobs Engineering Group,
Inc. (a)
  $ 65,253    
  2,726     Quanta Services, Inc. (a)     56,810    
      237,501    
    Construction Materials (0.1%)  
  1,555     Vulcan Materials Co.     81,902    
    Consumer Finance (0.8%)  
  15,603     American Express Co.     632,233    
  5,850     Capital One Financial Corp.     224,289    
  6,777     Discover Financial Services     99,690    
  6,599     SLM Corp. (a)     74,371    
      1,030,583    
    Containers & Packaging (0.2%)  
  1,336     Ball Corp.     69,071    
  1,407     Bemis Co., Inc.     41,717    
  2,356     Owens-Illinois, Inc. (a)     77,442    
  1,855     Pactiv Corp. (a)     44,780    
  2,229     Sealed Air Corp.     48,726    
      281,736    
    Distributors (0.1%)  
  2,251     Genuine Parts Co.     85,448    
    Diversified Consumer
Services (0.2%)
 
  1,504     Apollo Group, Inc.
(Class A) (a)
    91,112    
  851     DeVry, Inc.     48,277    
  4,786     H&R Block, Inc.     108,260    
      247,649    
    Diversified Financial
Services (4.3%)
 
  129,434     Bank of America Corp.     1,949,274    
  255,584     Citigroup, Inc. (See Note 6)     845,983    
  849     CME Group, Inc.     285,222    
  1,020     IntercontinentalExchange,
Inc. (a)
    114,546    
  51,284     JPMorgan Chase & Co.     2,137,004    
  2,499     Leucadia National Corp. (a)     59,451    
  2,743     Moody's Corp.     73,512    

 

NUMBER OF
SHARES
 

  VALUE  
  1,922     NASDAQ OMX Group, Inc.
(The) (a)
  $ 38,094    
  3,742     NYSE Euronext     94,673    
      5,597,759    
    Diversified Telecommunication
Services (2.8%)
 
  76,890     AT&T, Inc.     2,155,227    
  3,490     CenturyTel, Inc.     126,373    
  4,396     Frontier Communications
Corp.
    34,333    
  20,687     Qwest Communications
International, Inc.
    87,092    
  36,834     Verizon
Communications, Inc.
    1,220,310    
  6,205     Windstream Corp.     68,193    
      3,691,528    
    Electric Utilities (2.0%)  
  2,387     Allegheny Energy, Inc.     56,047    
  6,499     American Electric Power
Co., Inc.
    226,100    
  16,225     Duke Energy Corp.     279,232    
  3,819     Edison International     132,825    
  2,290     Entergy Corp.     187,414    
  8,262     Exelon Corp.     403,764    
  3,706     FirstEnergy Corp.     172,144    
  5,359     FPL Group, Inc.     283,062    
  2,199     Northeast Utilities     56,712    
  3,053     Pepco Holdings, Inc.     51,443    
  1,424     Pinnacle West Capital Corp.     52,090    
  5,295     PPL Corp.     171,082    
  3,715     Progress Energy, Inc.     152,352    
  10,291     Southern Co.     342,896    
      2,567,163    
    Electrical Equipment (0.5%)  
  9,552     Emerson Electric Co.     406,915    
  647     First Solar, Inc. (a)     87,604    
  1,998     Rockwell Automation, Inc.     93,866    
  1,193     Roper Industries, Inc.     62,477    
      650,862    

 

See Notes to Financial Statements
96



Morgan Stanley Variable Investment Series - S&P 500 Index

Portfolio of Investments n December 31, 2009 continued

NUMBER OF
SHARES
 

  VALUE  
    Electronic Equipment,
Instruments &
Components (0.6%)
 
  4,027     Agilent Technologies, Inc. (a)   $ 125,119    
  2,482     Amphenol Corp. (Class A)     114,619    
  20,542     Corning, Inc.     396,666    
  1,960     FLIR Systems, Inc. (a)     64,131    
  2,975     Jabil Circuit, Inc.     51,676    
  1,989     Molex, Inc.     42,863    
      795,074    
    Energy Equipment &
Services (1.8%)
 
  3,645     Baker Hughes, Inc.     147,550    
  4,122     BJ Services Co.     76,669    
  3,100     Cameron International
Corp. (a)
    129,580    
  969     Diamond Offshore
Drilling, Inc.
    95,369    
  1,414     FMC Technologies, Inc. (a)     81,786    
  11,662     Halliburton Co.     350,910    
  4,018     Nabors Industries Ltd.
(Bermuda) (a)
    87,954    
  5,324     National Oilwell Varco, Inc.     234,735    
  1,596     Rowan Cos., Inc. (a)     36,133    
  15,515     Schlumberger Ltd.
(Netherlands Antilles)
    1,009,871    
  3,090     Smith International, Inc.     83,955    
      2,334,512    
    Food & Staples
Retailing (2.6%)
 
  5,652     Costco Wholesale Corp.     334,429    
  18,504     CVS Caremark Corp.     596,014    
  8,011     Kroger Co. (The)     164,466    
  4,919     Safeway, Inc.     104,726    
  2,990     SUPERVALU, Inc.     38,003    
  7,528     Sysco Corp.     210,332    
  27,373     Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.     1,463,087    
  12,695     Walgreen Co.     466,160    
  1,981     Whole Foods Market, Inc. (a)     54,378    
      3,431,595    

 

NUMBER OF
SHARES
 

  VALUE  
    Food Products (1.6%)  
  8,291     Archer-Daniels-Midland Co.   $ 259,591    
  2,043     Campbell Soup Co.     69,053    
  5,141     ConAgra Foods, Inc.     118,500    
  2,174     Dean Foods Co. (a)     39,219    
  4,006     General Mills, Inc.     283,665    
  2,342     Hershey Co. (The)     83,820    
  3,833     HJ Heinz Co.     163,899    
  980     Hormel Foods Corp.     37,681    
  1,672     JM Smucker Co. (The)     103,246    
  3,024     Kellogg Co.     160,877    
  19,323     Kraft Foods, Inc. (Class A)     525,199    
  1,836     McCormick & Co., Inc.     66,335    
  9,982     Sara Lee Corp.     121,581    
  4,266     Tyson Foods, Inc. (Class A)     52,344    
      2,085,010    
    Gas Utilities (0.2%)  
  1,848     EQT Corp.     81,164    
  638     Nicor, Inc.     26,860    
  2,449     Questar Corp.     101,805    
      209,829    
    Health Care Equipment &
Supplies (1.9%)
 
  7,685     Baxter International, Inc.     450,956    
  3,102     Becton Dickinson and Co.     244,624    
  18,343     Boston Scientific Corp. (a)     165,087    
  1,014     C.R. Bard, Inc.     78,991    
  2,539     CareFusion Corp. (a)     63,500    
  2,103     DENTSPLY International, Inc.     73,962    
  2,254     Hospira, Inc. (a)     114,954    
  451     Intuitive Surgical, Inc. (a)     136,797    
  14,524     Medtronic, Inc.     638,766    
  3,965     St Jude Medical, Inc. (a)     145,833    
  3,523     Stryker Corp.     177,453    
  1,755     Varian Medical Systems,
Inc. (a)
    82,222    
  2,683     Zimmer Holdings, Inc. (a)     158,592    
      2,531,737    

 

See Notes to Financial Statements
97



Morgan Stanley Variable Investment Series - S&P 500 Index

Portfolio of Investments n December 31, 2009 continued

NUMBER OF
SHARES
 

  VALUE  
    Health Care Providers &
Services (2.1%)
 
  5,700     Aetna, Inc.   $ 180,690    
  3,265     AmerisourceBergen Corp.     85,119    
  5,078     Cardinal Health, Inc.     163,715    
  3,142     CIGNA Corp.     110,818    
  2,104     Coventry Health Care, Inc. (a)     51,106    
  1,466     DaVita, Inc. (a)     86,113    
  3,596     Express Scripts, Inc. (a)     310,874    
  2,382     Humana, Inc. (a)     104,546    
  1,525     Laboratory Corp. of America
Holdings (a)
    114,131    
  3,502     McKesson Corp.     218,875    
  6,130     Medco Health Solutions,
Inc. (a)
    391,768    
  1,288     Patterson Cos., Inc. (a)     36,038    
  1,834     Quest Diagnostics, Inc.     110,737    
  5,862     Tenet Healthcare Corp. (a)     31,596    
  15,173     UnitedHealth Group, Inc.     462,473    
  5,689     WellPoint, Inc. (a)     331,612    
      2,790,211    
    Health Care Technology (0.0%)  
  2,568     IMS Health, Inc.     54,082    
    Hotels, Restaurants &
Leisure (1.4%)
 
  5,348     Carnival Corp. (Units)
(Panama) (a)(b)
    169,478    
  1,959     Darden Restaurants, Inc.     68,702    
  4,161     International Game
Technology
    78,102    
  2,916     Marriott International, Inc.
(Class A)
    79,461    
  13,837     McDonald's Corp.     863,982    
  9,509     Starbucks Corp. (a)     219,278    
  2,585     Starwood Hotels & Resorts
Worldwide, Inc.
    94,533    
  2,504     Wyndham Worldwide Corp.     50,506    
  870     Wynn Resorts Ltd.     50,660    
  5,764     Yum! Brands, Inc.     201,567    
      1,876,269    

 

NUMBER OF
SHARES
 

  VALUE  
    Household Durables (0.4%)  
  849     Black & Decker Corp.   $ 55,041    
  3,890     DR Horton, Inc.     42,284    
  2,117     Fortune Brands, Inc.     91,454    
  827     Harman International
Industries, Inc.
    29,177    
  2,206     Leggett & Platt, Inc.     45,002    
  1,995     Lennar Corp. (Class A)     25,476    
  3,914     Newell Rubbermaid, Inc.     58,749    
  3,326     Pulte Homes, Inc. (a)     33,260    
  811     Snap-On, Inc.     34,273    
  1,113     Stanley Works (The)     57,331    
  1,038     Whirlpool Corp.     83,725    
      555,772    
    Household Products (2.5%)  
  1,959     Clorox Co.     119,499    
  6,203     Colgate-Palmolive Co.     509,576    
  5,474     Kimberly-Clark Corp.     348,749    
  37,971     Procter & Gamble Co. (The)     2,302,182    
      3,280,006    
    Independent Power Producers &
Energy Traders (0.2%)
 
  9,500     AES Corp. (The) (a)     126,445    
  2,519     Constellation Energy
Group, Inc.
    88,593    
      215,038    
    Industrial Conglomerates (2.2%)  
  9,069     3M Co.     749,734    
  138,405     General Electric Co. (c)     2,094,068    
  3,405     Textron, Inc.     64,048    
      2,907,850    
    Information Technology
Services (1.6%)
 
  1,378     Affiliated Computer Services,
Inc. (Class A) (a)
    82,253    
  6,564     Automatic Data
Processing, Inc.
    281,070    

 

See Notes to Financial Statements
98



Morgan Stanley Variable Investment Series - S&P 500 Index

Portfolio of Investments n December 31, 2009 continued

NUMBER OF
SHARES
 

  VALUE  
  3,558     Cognizant Technology Solutions
Corp. (Class A) (a)
  $ 161,177    
  2,139     Computer Sciences Corp. (a)     123,057    
  3,745     Fidelity National Information
Services, Inc.
    87,783    
  2,262     Fiserv, Inc. (a)     109,662    
  1,230     Mastercard, Inc. (Class A)     314,855    
  4,534     Paychex, Inc.     138,922    
  3,214     SAIC, Inc. (a)     60,873    
  2,779     Total System Services, Inc.     47,993    
  5,783     Visa, Inc. (Class A)     505,781    
  8,842     Western Union Co. (The)     166,672    
      2,080,098    
    Insurance (2.4%)  
  5,980     Aflac, Inc.     276,575    
  6,784     Allstate Corp. (The)
(See Note 6)
    203,791    
  1,898     American International Group,
Inc. (a)
    56,902    
  3,810     AON Corp.     146,075    
  1,661     Assurant, Inc.     48,966    
  4,580     Chubb Corp.     225,244    
  2,293     Cincinnati Financial Corp.     60,168    
  6,116     Genworth Financial, Inc.
(Class A) (a)
    69,417    
  4,701     Hartford Financial Services
Group, Inc.
    109,345    
  3,613     Lincoln National Corp.     89,891    
  4,416     Loews Corp.     160,522    
  7,259     Marsh & McLennan Cos., Inc.     160,279    
  10,372     MetLife, Inc. (See Note 6)     366,650    
  3,845     Principal Financial Group, Inc.     92,434    
  8,451     Progressive Corp. (The) (a)     152,034    
  6,105     Prudential Financial, Inc.     303,785    
  1,201     Torchmark Corp.     52,784    
  7,209     Travelers Companies,
Inc. (The)
    359,441    
  4,676     Unum Group     91,276    
  4,671     XL Capital Ltd. (Class A)
(Cayman Islands)
    85,619    
      3,111,198    

 

NUMBER OF
SHARES
 

  VALUE  
    Internet & Catalog Retail (0.6%)  
  4,323     Amazon.com, Inc. (a)   $ 581,530    
  2,958     Expedia, Inc. (a)     76,050    
  567     Priceline.com, Inc. (a)     123,890    
      781,470    
    Internet Software &
Services (2.0%)
 
  2,388     Akamai Technologies, Inc. (a)     60,488    
  14,552     eBay, Inc. (a)     342,554    
  3,133     Google, Inc. (Class A) (a)     1,942,397    
  2,740     VeriSign, Inc. (a)     66,418    
  15,291     Yahoo!, Inc. (a)     256,583    
      2,668,440    
    Leisure Equipment &
Products (0.1%)
 
  3,791     Eastman Kodak Co. (a)     15,998    
  1,749     Hasbro, Inc.     56,073    
  5,061     Mattel, Inc.     101,119    
      173,190    
    Life Sciences Tools &
Services (0.4%)
 
  2,437     Life Technologies Corp. (a)     127,285    
  780     Millipore Corp. (a)     56,433    
  1,668     PerkinElmer, Inc.     34,344    
  5,408     Thermo Fisher Scientific,
Inc. (a)
    257,908    
  1,388     Waters Corp. (a)     86,000    
      561,970    
    Machinery (1.6%)  
  8,105     Caterpillar, Inc.     461,904    
  2,844     Cummins, Inc.     130,426    
  3,223     Danaher Corp.     242,370    
  5,525     Deere & Co.     298,847    
  2,626     Dover Corp.     109,268    
  1,927     Eaton Corp.     122,596    
  798     Flowserve Corp.     75,435    
  4,979     Illinois Tool Works, Inc.     238,942    
  4,446     PACCAR, Inc.     161,256    

 

See Notes to Financial Statements
99



Morgan Stanley Variable Investment Series - S&P 500 Index

Portfolio of Investments n December 31, 2009 continued

NUMBER OF
SHARES
 

  VALUE  
  1,667     Pall Corp.   $ 60,345    
  2,276     Parker Hannifin Corp.     122,631    
      2,024,020    
    Media (2.8%)  
  9,601     CBS Corp. (Class B)     134,894    
  36,784     Comcast Corp. (Class A)     620,178    
  12,250     DIRECTV (Class A) (a)     408,538    
  3,221     Gannett Co., Inc.     47,832    
  6,729     Interpublic Group of Cos.,
Inc. (a)
    49,660    
  3,695     McGraw-Hill Cos., Inc. (The)     123,819    
  510     Meredith Corp.     15,734    
  1,645     New York Times Co. (The)
(Class A) (a)
    20,332    
  28,473     News Corp. (Class A)     389,795    
  4,389     Omnicom Group, Inc.     171,829    
  1,272     Scripps Networks Interactive,
Inc. (Class A)
    52,788    
  4,325     Time Warner Cable, Inc.     179,012    
  15,150     Time Warner, Inc.     441,471    
  7,744     Viacom, Inc. (Class B) (a)     230,229    
  23,939     Walt Disney Co. (The)     772,033    
  85     Washington Post Co. (The)
(Class B)
    37,366    
      3,695,510    
    Metals & Mining (1.1%)  
  1,582     AK Steel Holding Corp.     33,776    
  12,445     Alcoa, Inc.     200,613    
  1,360     Allegheny Technologies, Inc.     60,887    
  1,414     Cliffs Natural Resources, Inc.     65,171    
  5,526     Freeport-McMoRan Copper &
Gold, Inc. (a)
    443,683    
  6,176     Newmont Mining Corp.     292,187    
  3,817     Nucor Corp.     178,063    
  1,202     Titanium Metals Corp. (a)     15,049    
  1,679     United States Steel Corp.     92,546    
      1,381,975    
    Multi-Utilities (1.4%)  
  2,986     Ameren Corp.     83,459    

 

NUMBER OF
SHARES
 

  VALUE  
  4,860     Centerpoint Energy, Inc.   $ 70,519    
  3,194     CMS Energy Corp.     50,018    
  3,864     Consolidated Edison, Inc.     175,542    
  7,463     Dominion Resources, Inc.     290,460    
  2,302     DTE Energy Co.     100,344    
  1,079     Integrys Energy Group, Inc.     45,307    
  3,873     NiSource, Inc.     59,567    
  5,097     PG&E Corp.     227,581    
  6,394     Public Service Enterprise
Group, Inc.
    212,601    
  1,658     SCANA Corp.     62,473    
  2,978     Sempra Energy     166,708    
  3,005     TECO Energy, Inc.     48,741    
  1,651     Wisconsin Energy Corp.     82,269    
  6,341     Xcel Energy, Inc.     134,556    
      1,810,145    
    Multiline Retail (0.9%)  
  1,160     Big Lots, Inc. (a)     33,617    
  1,973     Family Dollar Stores, Inc.     54,909    
  3,137     JC Penney Co., Inc.     83,475    
  3,784     Kohl's Corp. (a)     204,071    
  5,939     Macy's, Inc.     99,538    
  2,251     Nordstrom, Inc.     84,592    
  786     Sears Holdings Corp. (a)     65,592    
  10,027     Target Corp.     485,006    
      1,110,800    
    Office Electronics (0.1%)  
  12,223     Xerox Corp.     103,407    
    Oil, Gas & Consumable
Fuels (9.6%)
 
  6,240     Anadarko Petroleum Corp.     389,501    
  4,457     Apache Corp.     459,829    
  1,459     Cabot Oil & Gas Corp.     63,598    
  8,243     Chesapeake Energy Corp.     213,329    
  26,138     Chevron Corp.     2,012,365    
  19,211     ConocoPhillips     981,106    
  2,559     Consol Energy, Inc.     127,438    
  3,950     Denbury Resources, Inc. (a)     58,460    
  5,826     Devon Energy Corp.     428,211    

 

See Notes to Financial Statements
100



Morgan Stanley Variable Investment Series - S&P 500 Index

Portfolio of Investments n December 31, 2009 continued

NUMBER OF
SHARES
 

  VALUE  
  9,902     El Paso Corp.   $ 97,337    
  3,229     EOG Resources, Inc.     314,182    
  61,703     Exxon Mobil Corp.     4,207,527    
  4,006     Hess Corp.     242,363    
  9,211     Marathon Oil Corp.     287,567    
  1,202     Massey Energy Co.     50,496    
  2,690     Murphy Oil Corp.     145,798    
  2,074     Noble Energy, Inc.     147,710    
  10,579     Occidental Petroleum Corp.     860,602    
  3,183     Peabody Energy Corp.     143,903    
  1,662     Pioneer Natural Resources Co.     80,058    
  2,194     Range Resources Corp.     109,371    
  4,362     Southwestern Energy Co. (a)     210,248    
  8,629     Spectra Energy Corp.     176,981    
  1,650     Sunoco, Inc.     43,065    
  1,955     Tesoro Corp.     26,490    
  7,287     Valero Energy Corp.     122,057    
  8,171     Williams Cos., Inc. (The)     172,245    
  7,232     XTO Energy, Inc.     336,505    
      12,508,342    
    Paper & Forest Products (0.3%)  
  6,037     International Paper Co.     161,671    
  2,412     MeadWestvaco Corp.     69,055    
  2,984     Weyerhaeuser Co.     128,730    
      359,456    
    Personal Products (0.3%)  
  5,227     Avon Products, Inc.     164,650    
  1,636     Estee Lauder Cos., Inc. (The)
(Class A)
    79,117    
  2,307     Mead Johnson Nutrition Co.     100,816    
      344,583    
    Pharmaceuticals (6.4%)  
  19,683     Abbott Laboratories     1,062,685    
  4,045     Allergan, Inc.     254,876    
  22,295     Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.     562,949    
  13,359     Eli Lilly & Co.     477,050    
  4,256     Forest Laboratories, Inc. (a)     136,660    
  35,896     Johnson & Johnson     2,312,061    
  3,480     King Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (a)     42,700    

 

NUMBER OF
SHARES
 

  VALUE  
  39,636     Merck & Co., Inc.   $ 1,448,299    
  4,303     Mylan, Inc. (a)     79,304    
  105,029     Pfizer, Inc.     1,910,478    
  1,477     Watson Pharmaceuticals,
Inc. (a)
    58,504    
      8,345,566    
    Professional Services (0.2%)  
  761     Dun & Bradstreet Corp.     64,206    
  1,784     Equifax, Inc.     55,108    
  1,740     Monster Worldwide, Inc. (a)     30,276    
  2,191     Robert Half International, Inc.     58,565    
      208,155    
    Real Estate Investment Trusts
(REITs) (1.2%)
 
  1,642     Apartment Investment &
Management Co. (Class A)
    26,141    
  1,123     AvalonBay Communities, Inc.     92,210    
  1,706     Boston Properties, Inc.     114,421    
  3,841     Equity Residential     129,749    
  3,568     HCP, Inc.     108,967    
  1,403     Health Care REIT, Inc.     62,181    
  7,534     Host Hotels & Resorts, Inc. (a)     87,922    
  4,224     Kimco Realty Corp.     57,151    
  2,355     Plum Creek Timber Co., Inc.     88,925    
  5,063     ProLogis     69,312    
  1,770     Public Storage     144,166    
  3,695     Simon Property Group, Inc.     294,861    
  2,081     Ventas, Inc.     91,023    
  2,008     Vornado Realty Trust     140,439    
      1,507,468    
    Real Estate Management &
Development (0.0%)
 
  3,149     CB Richard Ellis Group, Inc.
(Class A) (a)
    42,732    
    Road & Rail (1.0%)  
  3,363     Burlington Northern Santa
Fe Corp.
    331,659    
  5,026     CSX Corp.     243,711    
  4,716     Norfolk Southern Corp.     247,213    

 

See Notes to Financial Statements
101



Morgan Stanley Variable Investment Series - S&P 500 Index

Portfolio of Investments n December 31, 2009 continued

NUMBER OF
SHARES
 

  VALUE  
  785     Ryder System, Inc.   $ 32,318    
  6,713     Union Pacific Corp.     428,961    
      1,283,862    
    Semiconductors &
Semiconductor
Equipment (2.6%)
 
  8,592     Advanced Micro Devices,
Inc. (a)
    83,171    
  4,199     Altera Corp.     95,023    
  4,112     Analog Devices, Inc.     129,857    
  17,167     Applied Materials, Inc.     239,308    
  5,407     Broadcom Corp. (Class A) (a)     170,050    
  72,761     Intel Corp.     1,484,324    
  2,384     Kla-Tencor Corp.     86,206    
  3,131     Linear Technology Corp.     95,621    
  9,109     LSI Corp. (a)     54,745    
  3,169     MEMC Electronic Materials,
Inc. (a)
    43,162    
  2,568     Microchip Technology, Inc.     74,626    
  10,785     Micron Technology, Inc. (a)     113,890    
  2,755     National Semiconductor Corp.     42,317    
  1,379     Novellus Systems, Inc. (a)     32,186    
  7,584     Nvidia Corp. (a)     141,669    
  2,391     Teradyne, Inc. (a)     25,655    
  16,038     Texas Instruments, Inc.     417,950    
  3,868     Xilinx, Inc.     96,932    
      3,426,692    
    Software (4.4%)  
  6,806     Adobe Systems, Inc. (a)     250,325    
  3,195     Autodesk, Inc. (a)     81,185    
  2,648     BMC Software, Inc. (a)     106,185    
  5,562     CA, Inc.     124,923    
  2,565     Citrix Systems, Inc. (a)     106,730    
  3,481     Compuware Corp. (a)     25,168    
  4,531     Electronic Arts, Inc. (a)     80,425    
  4,520     Intuit, Inc. (a)     138,809    
  2,157     McAfee, Inc. (a)     87,509    
  101,223     Microsoft Corp.     3,086,289    
  4,875     Novell, Inc. (a)     20,231    

 

NUMBER OF
SHARES
 

  VALUE  
  50,823     Oracle Corp.   $ 1,247,196    
  2,639     Red Hat, Inc. (a)     81,545    
  1,482     Salesforce.com, Inc. (a)     109,327    
  10,294     Symantec Corp. (a)     184,160    
      5,730,007    
    Specialty Retail (1.9%)  
  1,229     Abercrombie & Fitch Co.
(Class A)
    42,831    
  1,523     AutoNation, Inc. (a)     29,166    
  348     AutoZone, Inc. (a)     55,008    
  3,667     Bed Bath & Beyond, Inc. (a)     141,656    
  4,179     Best Buy Co., Inc.     164,903    
  2,313     GameStop Corp. (Class A) (a)     50,747    
  6,584     Gap, Inc. (The)     137,935    
  21,883     Home Depot, Inc.     633,075    
  3,821     Limited Brands, Inc.     73,516    
  18,482     Lowe's Cos., Inc.     432,294    
  1,853     O'Reilly Automotive, Inc. (a)     70,636    
  3,882     Office Depot, Inc. (a)     25,039    
  1,766     RadioShack Corp.     34,437    
  1,324     Ross Stores, Inc.     56,548    
  1,387     Sherwin-Williams Co. (The)     85,509    
  8,908     Staples, Inc.     219,048    
  1,738     Tiffany & Co.     74,734    
  5,237     TJX Cos., Inc.     191,412    
      2,518,494    
    Textiles, Apparel & Luxury
Goods (0.5%)
 
  3,886     Coach, Inc.     141,956    
  5,100     NIKE, Inc. (Class B)     336,957    
  794     Polo Ralph Lauren Corp.     64,298    
  1,244     VF Corp.     91,110    
      634,321    
    Thrifts & Mortgage
Finance (0.1%)
 
  5,424     Hudson City Bancorp, Inc.     74,471    
  4,911     People's United Financial, Inc.     82,014    
      156,485    

 

See Notes to Financial Statements
102



Morgan Stanley Variable Investment Series - S&P 500 Index

Portfolio of Investments n December 31, 2009 continued

NUMBER OF
SHARES
 

  VALUE  
    Tobacco (1.5%)      
  26,207     Altria Group, Inc.   $ 514,444    
  2,045     Lorillard, Inc.     164,070    
  24,776     Philip Morris International, Inc.     1,193,956    
  2,387     Reynolds American, Inc.     126,439    
      1,998,909    
    Trading Companies &
Distributors (0.1%)
     
  1,825     Fastenal Co.     75,993    
  913     WW Grainger, Inc.     88,406    
      164,399    
    Wireless Telecommunication
Services (0.3%)
     
  4,953     American Tower Corp.
(Class A) (a)
    214,019    
  2,582     MetroPCS Communications,
Inc. (a)
    19,701    
  40,341     Sprint Nextel Corp. (a)     147,648    
      381,368    
      Total Common Stocks
(Cost $101,233,790)
    129,185,661    
NUMBER OF
SHARES (000)
     
    Short-Term Investment (0.9%)      
    Investment Company      
  1,184     Morgan Stanley Institutional
Liquidity Funds - Money
Market Portfolio - Institutional
Class (See Note 6)
(Cost $1,183,795)
    1,183,795    
Total Investments
(Cost $102,417,585) (d)(e)
    100.0 %     130,369,456    
Other Assets in Excess of
Liabilities
    0.0       18,398    
Net Assets     100.0 %   $ 130,387,854    

 

  (a)  Non-income producing security.

  (b)  Consists of one or more class of securities traded together as a unit; stocks with attached warrants.

  (c)  A portion of this security has been physically segregated in connection with open futures contracts.

  (d)  Securities have been designated as collateral in connection with open futures contracts.

  (e)  The aggregate cost for federal income tax purposes is $107,972,112. The aggregate gross unrealized appreciation is $37,935,235 and the aggregate gross unrealized depreciation is $15,537,891 resulting in net unrealized appreciation of $22,397,344.

FUTURES CONTRACTS OPEN AT DECEMBER 31, 2009:

NUMBER OF
CONTRACTS
  LONG/
SHORT
  DESCRIPTION,
DELIVERY
MONTH, AND
YEAR
  UNDERLYING
FACE AMOUNT
AT VALUE
  UNREALIZED
APPRECIATION
 
  33     Long   S&P 500 E-MINI,
March 2010
  $ 1,832,655     $ 20,244    

 

See Notes to Financial Statements
103



Morgan Stanley Variable Investment Series - S&P 500 Index

Summary of Investments n December 31, 2009

SECTOR   VALUE   PERCENT OF
NET
ASSETS
 
Information Technology Services   $ 25,869,016       19.8 %  
Financials     18,437,031       14.1    
Health Care     16,298,375       12.5    
Energy     14,842,854       11.4    
Consumer Staples     14,571,698       11.2    
Industrials     13,257,977       10.2    
Consumer Discretionary     12,372,549       9.5    
Utilities     4,802,175       3.7    
Materials     4,661,090       3.6    
Telecommunication Services     4,072,896       3.1    
Investment Company     1,183,795       0.9    
    $ 130,369,456 ^     100.0 %  

 

  ^  Does not include open long futures contracts with an underlying face amount of $1,832,655 and total unrealized appreciation of $20,244.

See Notes to Financial Statements
104



Morgan Stanley Variable Investment Series - Aggressive Equity

Portfolio of Investments n December 31, 2009

NUMBER OF
SHARES
 

  VALUE  
    Common Stocks (97.7%)  
    Air Freight & Logistics (2.1%)  
  19,856     Expeditors International of
Washington, Inc.
  $ 689,599    
    Capital Markets (3.8%)  
  15,295     Greenhill & Co., Inc.     1,227,271    
    Chemicals (4.2%)  
  16,665     Monsanto Co.     1,362,364    
    Computers &
Peripherals (9.9%)
 
  10,460     Apple, Inc. (a)     2,205,596    
  32,099     Teradata Corp. (a)     1,008,871    
      3,214,467    
    Distributors (3.3%)  
  260,000     Li & Fung Ltd.
(Bermuda) (b)(c)
    1,070,025    
    Diversified Financial
Services (7.0%)
 
  97,518     BM&F BOVESPA SA (Brazil) (c)     677,738    
  28,986     Leucadia National Corp. (a)     689,577    
  28,771     MSCI, Inc. (Class A) (a)     914,918    
      2,282,233    
    Health Care Technology (3.1%)  
  21,929     athenahealth, Inc. (a)     992,068    
    Hotels, Restaurants &
Leisure (6.2%)
 
  16,307     Ctrip.com International Ltd.
(ADR) (Cayman Islands) (a)
    1,171,821    
  14,249     Wynn Resorts Ltd.     829,719    
      2,001,540    
    Information Technology
Services (6.4%)
 
  5,287     Mastercard, Inc. (Class A)     1,353,366    
  43,397     Redecard SA (Brazil) (c)     712,621    
      2,065,987    
    Internet & Catalog Retail (7.3%)  
  17,664     Amazon.com, Inc. (a)     2,376,161    

 

NUMBER OF
SHARES
 

  VALUE  
    Internet Software &
Services (18.3%)
 
  2,845     Baidu, Inc. (ADR)
(Cayman Islands) (a)
  $ 1,169,949    
  3,955     Google, Inc. (Class A) (a)     2,452,021    
  108,100     Tencent Holdings Ltd.
(Cayman Islands) (b)(c)
    2,329,816    
      5,951,786    
    Life Sciences Tools &
Services (5.0%)
 
  23,362     Illumina, Inc. (a)     716,045    
  13,194     Techne Corp.     904,581    
      1,620,626    
    Oil, Gas & Consumable
Fuels (6.5%)
 
  16,465     Range Resources Corp.     820,780    
  25,792     Ultra Petroleum Corp.
(Canada) (a)
    1,285,989    
      2,106,769    
    Professional Services (5.4%)  
  19,052     CoStar Group, Inc. (a)     795,802    
  31,840     Verisk Analytics, Inc.
(Class A) (a)
    964,115    
      1,759,917    
    Real Estate Management &
Development (3.5%)
 
  50,482     Brookfield Asset Management,
Inc. (Class A) (Canada)
    1,119,691    
    Semiconductors &
Semiconductor
Equipment (2.4%)
 
  33,847     Tessera Technologies, Inc. (a)     787,620    
    Software (3.3%)  
  14,402     Salesforce.com, Inc. (a)     1,062,436    
        Total Common Stocks
(Cost $25,485,260)
    31,690,560    

 

See Notes to Financial Statements
105



Morgan Stanley Variable Investment Series - Aggressive Equity

Portfolio of Investments n December 31, 2009 continued

NUMBER OF
SHARES (000)
 

  VALUE  
    Short-Term Investment (2.5%)      
    Investment Company      
  815     Morgan Stanley Institutional
Liquidity Funds - Money Market
Portfolio - Institutional Class
(See Note 6)
(Cost $815,431)
  $ 815,431    
Total Investments
(Cost $26,300,691) (d)
    100.2 %     32,505,991    
Liabilities in Excess of
Other Assets
    (0.2 )     (67,408 )  
Net Assets     100.0 %   $ 32,438,583    

 

ADR  American Depositary Receipt.

  (a)  Non-income producing security.

  (b)  Security trades on the Hong Kong exchange.

  (c)  Securities with a total market value equal to $4,790,200 have been valued at their fair value as determined in good faith under procedures established by and under the general supervision of the Fund's Trustees. Such fair value measurements may be level 2 measurements if observable inputs are available. See Note 2.

  (d)  The aggregate cost for federal income tax purposes is $26,431,972. The aggregate gross unrealized appreciation is $8,455,423 and the aggregate gross unrealized depreciation is $2,381,404 resulting in net unrealized appreciation of $6,074,019.

SUMMARY OF INVESTMENTS

INDUSTRY   VALUE   PERCENT OF
TOTAL
INVESTMENTS
 
Internet Software &
Services
  $ 5,951,786       18.3 %  
Computers & Peripherals     3,214,467       9.9    
Internet & Catalog Retail     2,376,161       7.3    
Diversified Financial
Services
    2,282,233       7.0    
Oil, Gas & Consumable
Fuels
    2,106,769       6.5    
Information Technology
Services
    2,065,987       6.4    
Hotels, Restaurants &
Leisure
    2,001,540       6.2    
Professional Services     1,759,917       5.4    
Life Sciences Tools &
Services
    1,620,626       5.0    
Chemicals     1,362,364       4.2    
Capital Markets     1,227,271       3.8    
Real Estate Management &
Development
    1,119,691       3.4    
Distributors     1,070,025       3.3    
Software     1,062,436       3.3    
Health Care Technology     992,068       3.0    
Investment Company     815,431       2.5    
Semiconductors &
Semiconductor
Equipment
    787,620       2.4    
Air Freight & Logistics     689,599       2.1    
    $ 32,505,991       100.0 %  

 

See Notes to Financial Statements
106




Morgan Stanley Variable Investment Series - Strategist

Portfolio of Investments n December 31, 2009

NUMBER OF
SHARES
 
  VALUE  
    Common Stocks (59.9%)  
    Aerospace & Defense (2.4%)  
  19,290     Boeing Co. (The)   $ 1,044,168    
  26,755     Northrop Grumman Corp.     1,494,267    
  41,255     Raytheon Co.     2,125,457    
      4,663,892    
    Airlines (1.1%)  
  117,820     Continental Airlines, Inc. (Class B) (a)     2,111,334    
    Automobiles (0.7%)  
  41,110     Honda Motor Co. Ltd. (ADR) (Japan)     1,393,629    
    Biotechnology (4.3%)  
  31,500     Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (a)     1,537,830    
  23,010     Amgen, Inc. (a)     1,301,676    
  42,680     Biogen Idec, Inc. (a)     2,283,380    
  14,930     Celgene Corp. (a)     831,302    
  28,460     Gilead Sciences, Inc. (a)     1,231,749    
  30,620     Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (a)     1,312,067    
      8,498,004    
    Capital Markets (1.6%)  
  45,650     Charles Schwab Corp. (The)     859,133    
  7,065     Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (The)     1,192,855    
  31,090     Lazard Ltd. (Class A) (Bermuda)     1,180,487    
      3,232,475    
    Chemicals (0.6%)  
  36,130     EI Du Pont de Nemours & Co.     1,216,497    
    Commercial Services & Supplies (1.3%)  
  77,490     Waste Management, Inc.     2,619,937    
    Communications Equipment (0.9%)  
  70,100     Cisco Systems, Inc. (a)     1,678,194    
    Computers & Peripherals (3.4%)  
  11,085     Apple, Inc. (a)     2,337,383    
  104,645     EMC Corp. (a)     1,828,148    
  19,873     International Business Machines Corp.     2,601,376    
      6,766,907    
    Construction & Engineering (0.8%)  
  79,420     Chicago Bridge & Iron Co. (NY Registered Shares) (Netherlands) (a)     1,605,872    
    Diversified Financial Services (1.8%)  
  69,525     Bank of America Corp.     1,047,047    
  164,430     Citigroup, Inc. (See Note 6)     544,263    

 

See Notes to Financial Statements
107



Morgan Stanley Variable Investment Series - Strategist

Portfolio of Investments n December 31, 2009 continued

NUMBER OF
SHARES
 
  VALUE  
  34,920     JPMorgan Chase & Co.   $ 1,455,116    
  19,515     NYSE Euronext     493,730    
      3,540,156    
    Diversified Telecommunication Services (2.0%)  
  49,025     AT&T, Inc.     1,374,171    
  52,400     Verizon Communications, Inc.     1,736,012    
  84,990     Windstream Corp.     934,040    
      4,044,223    
    Electric Utilities (1.0%)  
  56,200     American Electric Power Co., Inc.     1,955,198    
    Electrical Equipment (0.9%)  
  41,770     Emerson Electric Co.     1,779,402    
    Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components (1.6%)  
  159,320     Corning, Inc.     3,076,469    
    Energy Equipment & Services (2.0%)  
  12,750     Diamond Offshore Drilling, Inc.     1,254,855    
  47,920     Halliburton Co.     1,441,913    
  74,725     Weatherford International Ltd. (Switzerland) (a)     1,338,325    
      4,035,093    
    Food & Staples Retailing (0.6%)  
  18,685     Costco Wholesale Corp.     1,105,591    
    Food Products (1.3%)  
  32,220     Kellogg Co.     1,714,104    
  28,570     Kraft Foods, Inc. (Class A)     776,533    
      2,490,637    
    Health Care Equipment & Supplies (1.0%)  
  11,290     C.R. Bard, Inc.     879,491    
  22,660     Covidien PLC (Ireland)     1,085,187    
      1,964,678    
    Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure (1.1%)  
  28,440     Carnival Corp. (Units) (Panama) (a)(b)     901,264    
  20,460     McDonald's Corp.     1,277,522    
      2,178,786    
    Household Durables (0.9%)  
  36,010     Gafisa SA (ADR) (Brazil)     1,165,284    
  22,355     Sony Corp. (ADR) (Japan)     648,295    
      1,813,579    
    Household Products (0.4%)  
  8,910     Colgate-Palmolive Co.     731,957    

 

See Notes to Financial Statements
108



Morgan Stanley Variable Investment Series - Strategist

Portfolio of Investments n December 31, 2009 continued

NUMBER OF
SHARES
 
  VALUE  
    Industrial Conglomerates (0.6%)  
  80,150     General Electric Co.   $ 1,212,670    
    Information Technology Services (0.6%)  
  13,695     Visa, Inc. (Class A)     1,197,765    
    Insurance (1.6%)  
  23,770     Chubb Corp.     1,169,009    
  106,250     XL Capital Ltd. (Class A) (Cayman Islands)     1,947,562    
      3,116,571    
    Internet Software & Services (1.1%)  
  21,350     eBay, Inc. (a)     502,579    
  2,745     Google, Inc. (Class A) (a)     1,701,845    
      2,204,424    
    Life Sciences Tools & Services (0.6%)  
  25,560     Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc. (a)     1,218,956    
    Machinery (1.6%)  
  42,845     PACCAR, Inc.     1,553,988    
  11,930     Parker Hannifin Corp.     642,789    
  60,625     Trinity Industries, Inc.     1,057,300    
      3,254,077    
    Metals & Mining (2.3%)  
  61,395     AK Steel Holding Corp.     1,310,783    
  11,760     Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold, Inc. (a)     944,210    
  25,775     Kinross Gold Corp. (Canada)     474,260    
  33,055     United States Steel Corp.     1,821,992    
      4,551,245    
    Multiline Retail (0.5%)  
  19,240     Kohl's Corp. (a)     1,037,613    
    Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels (1.8%)  
  17,020     Exxon Mobil Corp.     1,160,594    
  40,435     Hess Corp.     2,446,317    
      3,606,911    
    Pharmaceuticals (2.7%)  
  26,280     Johnson & Johnson     1,692,695    
  53,685     Merck & Co., Inc.     1,961,650    
  92,360     Pfizer, Inc.     1,680,028    
      5,334,373    
    Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) (0.7%)  
  38,040     Plum Creek Timber Co., Inc.     1,436,390    

 

See Notes to Financial Statements
109



Morgan Stanley Variable Investment Series - Strategist

Portfolio of Investments n December 31, 2009 continued

NUMBER OF
SHARES
 
  VALUE  
    Real Estate Management & Development (1.6%)  
  136,220     CB Richard Ellis Group, Inc. (Class A) (a)   $ 1,848,505    
  69,680     E-House China Holdings Ltd. (ADR) (Cayman Islands) (a)     1,262,602    
      3,111,107    
    Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment (3.1%)  
  73,700     Applied Materials, Inc.     1,027,378    
  94,105     Intel Corp.     1,919,742    
  30,000     Kla-Tencor Corp.     1,084,800    
  181,117     Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Ltd. (ADR) (Taiwan)     2,071,979    
      6,103,899    
    Software (5.4%)  
  179,585     Activision Blizzard, Inc. (a)     1,995,189    
  88,050     Microsoft Corp.     2,684,645    
  131,745     Oracle Corp.     3,233,022    
  61,850     Sybase, Inc. (a)     2,684,290    
      10,597,146    
    Specialty Retail (1.6%)  
  51,120     Staples, Inc.     1,257,041    
  25,670     TJX Cos., Inc.     938,239    
  328,570     Zale Corp. (a)     893,710    
      3,088,990    
    Tobacco (1.4%)  
  53,010     Altria Group, Inc.     1,040,586    
  35,245     Philip Morris International, Inc.     1,698,457    
      2,739,043    
    Water Utilities (1.0%)  
  87,945     American Water Works Co., Inc.     1,970,847    
        Total Common Stocks
(Cost $94,822,825)
    118,284,537    

 

PRINCIPAL
AMOUNT IN
THOUSANDS
 

 
COUPON
RATE
 
MATURITY
DATE
 

 
    Corporate Bonds (8.3%)  
    Advertising Services (0.1%)  
$ 100     WPP Finance (United Kingdom)     8.00 %   09/15/14     113,839    
    Aerospace/Defense (0.0%)  
  84     Systems 2001 Asset Trust (144A) (Cayman
Islands) (c)
    6.664     09/15/13     85,770    

 

See Notes to Financial Statements
110



Morgan Stanley Variable Investment Series - Strategist

Portfolio of Investments n December 31, 2009 continued

PRINCIPAL
AMOUNT IN
THOUSANDS
 

  COUPON
RATE
  MATURITY
DATE
  VALUE  
    Agricultural Chemicals (0.1%)  
$ 65     Potash Corp. of Saskatchewan, Inc. (Canada)     5.875 %   12/01/36   $ 64,208    
  25     Potash Corp. of Saskatchewan, Inc. (Canada)     6.50     05/15/19     27,738    
      91,946    
    Agricultural Operations (0.1%)  
  55     Archer-Daniels-Midland Co.     5.45     03/15/18     58,679    
  35     Bunge Ltd. Finance Corp.     8.50     06/15/19     39,963    
      98,642    
    Airlines (0.1%)  
  145     America West Airlines LLC (Series 011G)
(AMBAC Insd)
    7.10     04/02/21     114,803    
    Auto - Cars/Light Trucks (0.0%)  
  60     Daimler Finance North America LLC     7.30     01/15/12     65,259    
    Beverages - Wine/Spirits (0.0%)  
  25     Constellation Brands, Inc.     7.25     09/01/16     25,500    
    Brewery (0.1%)  
  25     Anheuser-Busch InBev Worldwide, Inc. (144A) (c)     5.375     11/15/14     26,497    
  50     Anheuser-Busch InBev Worldwide, Inc. (144A) (c)     7.20     01/15/14     56,758    
  95     FBG Finance Ltd. (144A) (Australia) (c)     5.125     06/15/15     98,447    
      181,702    
    Building Product - Cement/Aggregation (0.1%)  
  75     CRH America, Inc.     6.00     09/30/16     78,443    
  30     Holcim US Finance Sarl & Cie SCS (144A)
(Luxembourg) (c)
    6.00     12/30/19     31,285    
      109,728    
    Building Societies (0.1%)  
  110     Nationwide Building Society (144A)
(United Kingdom) (c)
    4.25     02/01/10     110,035    
    Cable/Satellite TV (0.3%)  
  115     Comcast Corp.     5.70     05/15/18     121,095    
  15     Comcast Corp.     6.45     03/15/37     15,516    
  30     Comcast Corp.     6.50     01/15/15     33,647    
  100     COX Communications, Inc. (144A) (c)     8.375     03/01/39     124,907    
  45     CSC Holdings, Inc.     7.625     07/15/18     46,575    
  30     DIRECTV Holdings LLC/Financing Co., Inc. (144A) (c)     5.875     10/01/19     30,569    
  30     DIRECTV Holdings LLC/Financing Co., Inc.     7.625     05/15/16     32,817    
  20     Time Warner Cable, Inc.     6.75     07/01/18     22,007    
  25     Time Warner Cable, Inc.     6.75     06/15/39     26,269    

 

See Notes to Financial Statements
111



Morgan Stanley Variable Investment Series - Strategist

Portfolio of Investments n December 31, 2009 continued

PRINCIPAL
AMOUNT IN
THOUSANDS
 

  COUPON
RATE
  MATURITY
DATE
  VALUE  
$ 25     Time Warner Cable, Inc.     8.25 %   04/01/19   $ 29,827    
  65     Time Warner Cable, Inc.     8.75     02/14/19     79,350    
      562,579    
    Commercial Banks Non-U.S. (0.3%)  
  175     Barclays Bank PLC (United Kingdom)     6.75     05/22/19     195,545    
  110     Commonwealth Bank of Australia (144A) (Australia) (c)     5.00     10/15/19     109,421    
  130     HBOS PLC (144A) (United Kingdom) (c)     6.75     05/21/18     120,815    
  100     Royal Bank of Scotland PLC (The) (144A)
(United Kingdom) (c)
    4.875     08/25/14     101,473    
  75     Westpac Banking Corp. (Australia)     4.20     02/27/15     76,323    
      603,577    
    Commercial Banks - Eastern U.S. (0.2%)  
  200     Credit Suisse (Switzerland)     5.30     08/13/19     205,780    
  50     Credit Suisse (Switzerland)     6.00     02/15/18     52,401    
  65     UBS AG/Stamford Branch (Switzerland)     5.875     12/20/17     66,906    
      325,087    
    Commercial Banks - Southern U.S. (0.1%)  
  50     BB&T Corp. (MTN)     6.85     04/30/19     56,179    
  60     Regions Financial Corp.     7.75     11/10/14     59,232    
      115,411    
    Computers (0.1%)  
  100     International Business Machines Corp.     7.625     10/15/18     122,317    
    Data Processing Services (0.0%)  
  20     Fiserv, Inc.     6.80     11/20/17     22,103    
    Diversified Financial Services (0.9%)  
  135     Bank of America Corp. (Series L)     5.65     05/01/18     137,334    
  185     Bank of America Corp.     5.75     12/01/17     189,743    
  110     Citigroup, Inc. (See Note 6)     5.875     05/29/37     97,238    
  185     Citigroup, Inc. (See Note 6)     6.125     11/21/17     186,764    
  70     Citigroup, Inc. (See Note 6)     6.125     05/15/18     70,492    
  120     Citigroup, Inc. (See Note 6)     8.50     05/22/19     138,801    
  215     General Electric Capital Corp.     5.625     05/01/18     220,684    
  225     General Electric Capital Corp. (Series G)     6.00     08/07/19     233,980    
  245     Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (The)     6.15     04/01/18     262,698    
  80     Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (The)     6.75     10/01/37     82,492    
  215     JPMorgan Chase & Co.     6.00     01/15/18     231,494    
      1,851,720    

 

See Notes to Financial Statements
112



Morgan Stanley Variable Investment Series - Strategist

Portfolio of Investments n December 31, 2009 continued

PRINCIPAL
AMOUNT IN
THOUSANDS
 

  COUPON
RATE
  MATURITY
DATE
  VALUE  
    Diversified Manufactured Operation (0.3%)  
$ 90     Cooper US, Inc.     5.25 %   11/15/12   $ 96,642    
  305     General Electric Co.     5.25     12/06/17     312,171    
  200     Tyco Electronics Group SA (Luxembourg)     5.95     01/15/14     209,382    
      618,195    
    Diversified Minerals (0.1%)  
  50     Rio Tinto Finance USA Ltd. (Australia)     9.00     05/01/19     63,385    
  60     Vale Overseas Ltd. (Cayman Islands)     5.625     09/15/19     60,884    
  25     Vale Overseas Ltd. (Cayman Islands)     6.875     11/10/39     25,293    
      149,562    
    Electric - Integrated (0.5%)  
  85     Electricite de France (EDF) (144A) (France) (c)     6.50     01/26/19     95,588    
  125     Enel Finance International SA (144A)
(Luxembourg) (c)
    5.125     10/07/19     126,012    
  150     Exelon Generation Co. LLC     5.20     10/01/19     150,351    
  140     FirstEnergy Solutions Corp.     6.05     08/15/21     141,525    
  75     NiSource Finance Corp.     6.80     01/15/19     80,345    
  75     Ohio Power Co. (Series 1)     5.375     10/01/21     75,363    
  50     Ohio Power Co. (Series K)     6.00     06/01/16     53,079    
  55     PPL Energy Supply LLC     6.30     07/15/13     59,274    
  35     PPL Energy Supply LLC     6.50     05/01/18     36,553    
  80     Progress Energy, Inc.     7.05     03/15/19     89,654    
  110     Virginia Electric & Power Co.     8.875     11/15/38     155,773    
      1,063,517    
    Electronic Component (0.0%)  
  75     Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Netherlands)     5.75     03/11/18     79,935    
    Electronic Connectors (0.0%)  
  45     Amphenol Corp.     4.75     11/15/14     45,064    
    Electronic Measuring Instrument (0.0%)  
  50     Agilent Technologies, Inc.     5.50     09/14/15     52,474    
    Enterprise Software/Service (0.0%)  
  85     CA, Inc.     5.375     12/01/19     85,640    
    Finance - Consumer Loans (0.1%)  
  75     HSBC Finance Corp.     6.375     10/15/11     79,798    
  115     HSBC Finance Corp.     6.75     05/15/11     121,581    
  40     SLM Corp. (MTN)     8.45     06/15/18     39,528    
      240,907    

 

See Notes to Financial Statements
113



Morgan Stanley Variable Investment Series - Strategist

Portfolio of Investments n December 31, 2009 continued

PRINCIPAL
AMOUNT IN
THOUSANDS
 

  COUPON
RATE
  MATURITY
DATE
  VALUE  
    Finance - Credit Card (0.1%)  
$ 70     American Express Co.     8.125 %   05/20/19   $ 83,095    
  110     American Express Credit Corp. (Series C)     7.30     08/20/13     123,727    
      206,822    
    Finance - Investment Banker/Broker (0.4%)  
  60     Bear Stearns Cos. LLC (The)     6.40     10/02/17     65,505    
  200     Bear Stearns Cos. LLC (The)     7.25     02/01/18     229,929    
  45     Credit Suisse USA, Inc.     5.125     08/15/15     47,903    
  225     Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. (MTN)     6.875     04/25/18     242,810    
  105     TD Ameritrade Holding Corp.     5.60     12/01/19     104,499    
      690,646    
    Finance - Other Services (0.1%)  
  100     Iberdrola Finance Ireland Ltd. (144A) (Ireland) (c)     5.00     09/11/19     99,705    
    Food - Miscellaneous/Diversified (0.2%)  
  30     ConAgra Foods, Inc.     7.00     10/01/28     32,235    
  55     ConAgra Foods, Inc.     8.25     09/15/30     66,106    
  180     Kraft Foods, Inc.     7.00     08/11/37     192,307    
      290,648    
    Food - Retail (0.1%)  
  15     Delhaize America, Inc.     9.00     04/15/31     19,256    
  50     Delhaize Group SA (Belgium)     5.875     02/01/14     53,749    
  20     Kroger Co. (The)     3.90     10/01/15     20,135    
  10     Kroger Co. (The)     6.40     08/15/17     10,941    
      104,081    
    Gold Mining (0.1%)  
  125     Newmont Mining Corp.     5.125     10/01/19     125,296    
    Independent Power Producer (0.0%)  
  45     NRG Energy, Inc.     8.50     06/15/19     46,350    
    Life/Health Insurance (0.1%)  
  50     Principal Financial Group, Inc.     8.875     05/15/19     57,771    
  85     Prudential Financial, Inc. (MTN)     4.75     09/17/15     86,298    
  40     Prudential Financial, Inc. (MTN)     6.625     12/01/37     41,134    
  20     Prudential Financial, Inc. (Series D)     7.375     06/15/19     22,462    
      207,665    
    Medical Instruments (0.0%)  
  45     Boston Scientific Corp.     6.00     01/15/20     46,066    

 

See Notes to Financial Statements
114



Morgan Stanley Variable Investment Series - Strategist

Portfolio of Investments n December 31, 2009 continued

PRINCIPAL
AMOUNT IN
THOUSANDS
 

  COUPON
RATE
  MATURITY
DATE
  VALUE  
    Medical Labs & Testing Services (0.1%)  
$ 55     Quest Diagnostics, Inc.     4.75 %   01/30/20   $ 53,847    
  115     Roche Holdings, Inc. (144A) (c)     6.00     03/01/19     126,593    
      180,440    
    Medical - Biomedical/Genetics (0.0%)  
  60     Biogen Idec, Inc.     6.875     03/01/18     64,682    
    Medical - Drugs (0.0%)  
  15     Wyeth     5.45     04/01/17     16,011    
  20     Wyeth     6.45     02/01/24     22,334    
      38,345    
    Medical - Generic Drugs (0.0%)  
  60     Watson Pharmaceuticals, Inc.     6.125     08/15/19     62,020    
    Medical - HMO (0.1%)  
  80     UnitedHealth Group, Inc.     6.00     02/15/18     82,768    
  15     WellPoint, Inc.     7.00     02/15/19     16,805    
      99,573    
    Medical - Wholesale Drug Distribution (0.0%)  
  45     AmerisourceBergen Corp.     4.875     11/15/19     44,512    
    Metal - Copper (0.0%)  
  30     Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold, Inc.     8.375     04/01/17     32,895    
    Mortgage Banks (0.1%)  
  100     Abbey National Treasury Services PLC (144A)
(United Kingdom) (c)
    3.875     11/10/14     100,466    
    Multi-line Insurance (0.1%)  
  50     Allstate Corp. (The) (See Note 6)     7.45     05/16/19     58,192    
  75     MetLife, Inc. (Series A) (See Note 6)     6.817     08/15/18     83,670    
  75     MetLife, Inc. (See Note 6)     6.75     06/01/16     84,098    
  10     MetLife, Inc. (See Note 6)     7.717     02/15/19     11,771    
      237,731    
    Multimedia (0.2%)  
  100     News America, Inc.     7.85     03/01/39     117,341    
  40     Time Warner, Inc.     5.875     11/15/16     43,241    
  60     Time Warner, Inc.     7.70     05/01/32     70,663    
  20     Viacom, Inc.     5.625     09/15/19     20,921    
  80     Viacom, Inc.     6.875     04/30/36     86,778    
  45     Vivendi (144A) (France) (c)     6.625     04/04/18     48,848    
      387,792    

 

See Notes to Financial Statements
115



Morgan Stanley Variable Investment Series - Strategist

Portfolio of Investments n December 31, 2009 continued

PRINCIPAL
AMOUNT IN
THOUSANDS
 

  COUPON
RATE
  MATURITY
DATE
  VALUE  
    Networking Products (0.0%)  
$ 60     Cisco Systems, Inc.     4.95 %   02/15/19   $ 61,613    
    Non-Hazardous Waste Disposal (0.1%)  
  60     Republic Services, Inc. (144A) (c)     5.50     09/15/19     61,041    
  80     Waste Management, Inc.     6.125     11/30/39     79,772    
      140,813    
    Office Automation & Equipment (0.0%)  
  15     Xerox Corp.     5.625     12/15/19     15,007    
  45     Xerox Corp.     6.35     05/15/18     47,017    
      62,024    
    Oil & Gas Drilling (0.0%)  
  55     Transocean, Inc. (Cayman Islands)     6.00     03/15/18     58,777    
    Oil Companies - Exploration & Production (0.2%)  
  100     Gaz Capital SA (144A) (Luxembourg) (c)     6.51     03/07/22     92,250    
  30     Pioneer Natural Resources Co.     6.65     03/15/17     29,738    
  95     Questar Market Resources, Inc.     6.80     04/01/18     99,156    
  105     XTO Energy, Inc.     5.50     06/15/18     112,190    
  10     XTO Energy, Inc.     6.50     12/15/18     11,446    
      344,780    
    Oil Company - Integrated (0.1%)  
  75     Hess Corp.     6.00     01/15/40     74,525    
  80     Petrobras International Finance Co. (Cayman Islands)     5.75     01/20/20     81,783    
      156,308    
    Oil - Field Services (0.1%)  
  150     Weatherford International Ltd. (Switzerland)     9.625     03/01/19     187,306    
    Paper & Related Products (0.1%)  
  10     International Paper Co.     7.30     11/15/39     10,642    
  75     International Paper Co.     7.50     08/15/21     84,202    
      94,844    
    Pharmacy Services (0.1%)  
  110     Medco Health Solutions, Inc.     7.125     03/15/18     123,850    
    Pipelines (0.4%)  
  55     CenterPoint Energy Resources Corp.     6.25     02/01/37     53,487    
  25     CenterPoint Energy Resources Corp. (Series B)     7.875     04/01/13     28,180    
  20     Colorado Interstate Gas Co.     6.80     11/15/15     22,181    
  50     El Paso Corp. (MTN)     8.25     02/15/16     53,625    
  75     Energy Transfer Partners LP     8.50     04/15/14     86,651    
  35     Enterprise Products Operating LLC     5.25     01/31/20     34,690    
  90     Enterprise Products Operating LLC (Series N)     6.50     01/31/19     97,254    

 

See Notes to Financial Statements
116



Morgan Stanley Variable Investment Series - Strategist

Portfolio of Investments n December 31, 2009 continued

PRINCIPAL
AMOUNT IN
THOUSANDS
 

  COUPON
RATE
  MATURITY
DATE
  VALUE  
$ 50     Kinder Morgan Energy Partners LP     5.95 %   02/15/18   $ 53,046    
  135     Kinder Morgan Finance Co. ULC (Canada)     5.70     01/05/16     130,275    
  60     Plains All American Pipeline LP/PAA Finance Corp.     6.70     05/15/36     61,383    
  60     Plains All American Pipeline LP/PAA Finance Corp.     8.75     05/01/19     70,862    
  50     Spectra Energy Capital LLC     7.50     09/15/38     55,530    
  55     Texas Eastern Transmission LP     7.00     07/15/32     62,003    
      809,167    
    Property Trust (0.0%)  
  75     WEA Finance LLC/WT Finance Aust Pty
Ltd. (144A) (c)
    6.75     09/02/19     80,675    
    Property/Casualty Insurance (0.0%)  
  80     ACE INA Holdings, Inc.     5.60     05/15/15     85,949    
    Real Estate Operation/Development (0.0%)  
  35     Brookfield Asset Management, Inc. (Canada)     5.80     04/25/17     31,939    
  30     Brookfield Asset Management, Inc. (Canada)     7.125     06/15/12     31,510    
      63,449    
    Reinsurance (0.1%)  
  85     Platinum Underwriters Finance, Inc. (Series B)     7.50     06/01/17     87,053    
  60     Reinsurance Group of America, Inc.     6.45     11/15/19     59,911    
      146,964    
    REITS - Apartments (0.0%)  
  60     AvalonBay Communities, Inc. (MTN)     6.10     03/15/20     61,385    
    REITS - Office Property (0.0%)  
  75     Boston Properties LP     5.875     10/15/19     75,374    
    REITS - Regional Malls (0.1%)  
  100     Simon Property Group LP     6.75     05/15/14     106,669    
    Retail - Building Products (0.1%)  
  90     Home Depot, Inc. (The)     5.875     12/16/36     87,161    
    Retail - Drug Store (0.1%)  
  153     CVS Pass-Through Trust     6.036     12/10/28     145,315    
    Retail - Regional Department Store (0.0%)  
  75     Kohl's Corp.     6.875     12/15/37     85,344    
    Retail - Restaurants (0.1%)  
  60     Yum! Brands, Inc.     5.30     09/15/19     60,378    
  30     Yum! Brands, Inc.     6.25     03/15/18     32,777    
  5     Yum! Brands, Inc.     6.875     11/15/37     5,420    
      98,575    
    Satellite Telecommunication (0.0%)  
  50     Intelsat Subsidiary Holding Co. Ltd. (Bermuda)     8.50     01/15/13     51,250    

 

See Notes to Financial Statements
117



Morgan Stanley Variable Investment Series - Strategist

Portfolio of Investments n December 31, 2009 continued

PRINCIPAL
AMOUNT IN
THOUSANDS
 

  COUPON
RATE
  MATURITY
DATE
  VALUE  
    Schools (0.0%)  
$ 65     Duke University     5.15 %   04/01/19   $ 67,885    
    Semiconductor Equipment (0.0%)  
  45     KLA-Tencor Corp.     6.90     05/01/18     47,421    
    Special Purpose Entity (0.3%)  
  190     AIG SunAmerica Global Financing (144A) (c)     6.30     05/10/11     189,051    
  140     Farmers Exchange Capital (144A) (c)     7.05     07/15/28     122,259    
  65     Harley-Davidson Funding Corp. (144A) (c)     6.80     06/15/18     64,922    
  100     Pearson Dollar Finance Two PLC (144A)
(United Kingdom) (c)
    6.25     05/06/18     105,169    
  130     Xlliac Global Funding (144A) (c)     4.80     08/10/10     130,774    
      612,175    
    Steel - Producers (0.1%)  
  190     ArcelorMittal (Luxembourg)     9.85     06/01/19     246,150    
    Super - Regional Banks-U.S. (0.3%)  
  155     Capital One Financial Corp.     6.75     09/15/17     167,042    
  60     PNC Funding Corp.     6.70     06/10/19     67,258    
  385     Wells Fargo & Co.     5.625     12/11/17     401,099    
      635,399    
    Telecom Equipment Fiber Optics (0.0%)  
  30     Corning, Inc.     6.625     05/15/19     32,750    
    Telecommunication Services (0.0%)  
  20     Qwest Corp.     6.50     06/01/17     19,750    
  40     Qwest Corp.     6.875     09/15/33     35,400    
      55,150    
    Telephone - Integrated (0.5%)  
  95     AT&T, Inc.     6.15     09/15/34     94,203    
  155     AT&T, Inc.     6.30     01/15/38     157,959    
  25     CenturyTel, Inc. (Series Q)     6.15     09/15/19     25,606    
  60     Deutsche Telekom International Finance BV
(Netherlands)
    8.75     06/15/30     77,374    
  60     Telecom Italia Capital SA (Luxembourg)     6.999     06/04/18     66,124    
  90     Telecom Italia Capital SA (Luxembourg)     7.175     06/18/19     100,513    
  125     Telefonica Europe BV (Netherlands)     8.25     09/15/30     156,057    
  110     Verizon Communications, Inc.     5.50     02/15/18     114,980    
  15     Verizon Communications, Inc.     5.85     09/15/35     14,675    
  120     Verizon Communications, Inc.     6.35     04/01/19     132,622    
  65     Verizon Communications, Inc.     8.95     03/01/39     88,224    
      1,028,337    

 

See Notes to Financial Statements
118



Morgan Stanley Variable Investment Series - Strategist

Portfolio of Investments n December 31, 2009 continued

PRINCIPAL
AMOUNT IN
THOUSANDS
 

  COUPON
RATE
  MATURITY
DATE
  VALUE  
    Tobacco (0.1%)  
$ 60     Altria Group, Inc.     9.25 %   08/06/19   $ 73,240    
  50     BAT International Finance PLC (144A)
(United Kingdom) (c)
    9.50     11/15/18     63,595    
  75     Philip Morris International, Inc.     5.65     05/16/18     79,000    
      215,835    
    Transport - Rail (0.1%)  
  45     CSX Corp.     7.375     02/01/19     51,496    
  55     Norfolk Southern Corp.     5.75     01/15/16     58,587    
  40     Union Pacific Corp.     6.125     02/15/20     43,382    
  75     Union Pacific Corp.     7.875     01/15/19     90,902    
      244,367    
        Total Corporate Bonds
(Cost $15,547,889)
                16,314,108    
    Foreign Government Obligations (0.2%)  
  230     Federative Republic of Brazil (Brazil)     6.00     01/17/17     249,550    
  105     Italian Republic (Italy)     6.875     09/27/23     119,121    
  25     Republic of Peru (Peru)     7.125     03/30/19     28,875    
        Total Foreign Government Obligations
(Cost $376,635)
                397,546    
    U.S. Government Agencies and Obligations (11.0%)  
    Commercial Banks - Central U.S. - FDIC
Guaranteed (0.1%)
 
  200     KeyBank NA     3.20     06/15/12     207,719    
    Diversified Banking Institution (0.1%)  
  200     GMAC, Inc.     2.20     12/19/12     201,326    
    Diversified Financial Services - FDIC Guaranteed (1.4%)  
  1,200     Citigroup Funding, Inc. (See Note 6)     2.25     12/10/12     1,210,273    
  300     General Electric Capital Corp.     2.20     06/08/12     304,387    
  1,200     General Electric Capital Corp. (Series G)     2.625     12/28/12     1,222,969    
      2,737,629    
    Finance - Consumer Loans - FDIC Guaranteed (0.5%)  
  1,000     John Deere Capital Corp.     2.875     06/19/12     1,031,086    
    U.S. Government Agencies (1.1%)  
    Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp.,  
  150         3.75     03/27/19     147,347    
  400         4.875     06/13/18     428,606    
  250         6.75     03/15/31     305,376    

 

See Notes to Financial Statements
119



Morgan Stanley Variable Investment Series - Strategist

Portfolio of Investments n December 31, 2009 continued

PRINCIPAL
AMOUNT IN
THOUSANDS
 

  COUPON
RATE
  MATURITY
DATE
  VALUE  
$ 500     Federal National Mortgage Assoc     2.875 %   12/11/13   $ 510,484    
  700     Federal National Mortgage Assoc.     4.375     10/15/15     745,642    
      2,137,455    
    U.S. Government Obligations (7.8%)  
    U.S. Treasury Bond,  
  1,715         3.50     02/15/39     1,405,230    
  350         4.25     05/15/39     328,453    
    U.S. Treasury Note,  
  2,400         0.875     03/31/11     2,405,158    
  500         1.375     09/15/12     497,813    
  325         1.75     01/31/14     318,932    
  1,700         1.75     03/31/14     1,660,157    
  300         2.125     11/30/14     292,993    
  5,950         2.375     10/31/14     5,887,245    
  1,000         2.75     02/15/19     920,938    
  50         3.375     11/15/19     48,110    
  480         3.75     11/15/18     480,113    
    U.S. Treasury Strip,  
  735         0.00     11/15/19     488,183    
  1,330         0.00     11/15/21     781,609    
      15,514,934    
        Total U.S. Government Agencies and Obligations
(Cost $22,325,577)
                21,830,149    
    Asset-Backed Securities (0.1%)  
  46     Harley-Davidson Motorcycle Trust 2005-2 A2     4.07     02/15/12     46,858    
  56     Harley-Davidson Motorcycle Trust 2005-3 A2     4.41     06/15/12     57,262    
        Total Asset-Backed Securities
(Cost $102,844)
                104,120    
    U.S. Government Agencies - Mortgage-Backed Securities (0.0%)  
    Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp (ARM)  
  2         6.50     05/01/29 - 12/01/31     2,812    
    Federal National Mortgage Assoc.  
  2         6.50     11/01/29     2,473    
        Total U.S. Government Agencies - Mortgage-Backed Securities
(Cost $5,069)
                5,285    
    Municipal Bonds (0.1%)  
  45     State of California Various Purpose General
Obligation Bonds
    5.95     04/01/16     45,462    

 

See Notes to Financial Statements
120



Morgan Stanley Variable Investment Series - Strategist

Portfolio of Investments n December 31, 2009 continued

PRINCIPAL
AMOUNT IN
THOUSANDS
 

  COUPON
RATE
  MATURITY
DATE
  VALUE  
    Transportation (0.1%)  
$ 85     Illinois State Toll Highway Authority (The) 2009
(Series A)
    6.184 %   01/01/34   $ 86,541    
    Total Municipal Bonds
(Cost $130,209)
            132,003    

 

NUMBER OF
SHARES
 
   
    Investment Trusts/Mutual Funds (1.0%)  
  23,935     iShares FTSE/Xinhua China 25 Index Fund     1,011,493    
  38,155     ProShares UltraShort Financials     924,496    

 

    Total Investment Trusts/Mutual Funds
(Cost $1,688,223)
            1,935,989    
PRINCIPAL
AMOUNT IN
THOUSANDS
 

 

 

 

 
    Short-Term Investments (19.4%)  
    U.S. Government Obligation (d)(e) (0.2%)  
$ 450     U.S. Treasury Bills
(Cost $449,763)
    0.152     05/06/10     449,769    

 

NUMBER OF
SHARES (000)
 
 
 
    Investment Company (19.2%)  
  37,997     Morgan Stanley Institutional Liquidity Funds - Money Market Portfolio - Institutional Class
(See Note 6)
(Cost $37,996,759)
    37,996,759    
    Total Short-Term Investments
(Cost $38,446,522)
    38,446,528    

 

  Total Investments
(Cost $173,445,793) (f)(g)
    100.0 %     197,450,265    
  Other Assets in Excess of Liabilities     0.0       17,845    
 Net Assets      100.0 %   $ 197,468,110    

 

  ADR  American Depositary Receipt.

  ARM  Adjustable Rate Mortgage. Interest rate in effect as of December 31, 2009.

  FDIC  Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.

  MTN  Medium Term Note.

  (a)  Non-income producing security.

  (b)  Consists of one or more class of securities traded together as a unit; stocks with attached warrants.

  (c)  Resale is restricted to qualified institutional investors.

See Notes to Financial Statements
121



Morgan Stanley Variable Investment Series - Strategist

Portfolio of Investments n December 31, 2009 continued

  (d)  Purchased on a discount basis. The interest rates shown have been adjusted to reflect a money market equivalent yield.

  (e)  A portion of this security has been physically segregated in connection with open future and swap contracts.

  (f)  Securities have been designated as collateral in connection with open futures and swap contracts.

  (g)  The aggregate cost for federal income tax purposes is $173,772,670. The aggregate gross unrealized appreciation is $28,185,374 and the aggregate gross unrealized depreciation is $4,507,779 resulting in net unrealized appreciation of $23,677,595.

Bond Insurance:

AMBAC  AMBAC Assurance Corporation.

FUTURES CONTRACTS OPEN AT DECEMBER 31, 2009:

NUMBER OF
CONTRACTS
  LONG/SHORT   DESCRIPTION, DELIVERY
MONTH AND YEAR
  UNDERLYING FACE
AMOUNT AT VALUE
  UNREALIZED
APPRECIATION
(DEPRECIATION)
 
  29     Long   U.S. Treasury Notes 5 Year,
March 2010
  $ 3,317,102     $ (56,445 )  
  5     Short   U.S. Treasury Bonds 30 Year,
March 2010
    (576,875 )     24,141    
  11     Short   U.S. Treasury Notes 2 Year,
March 2010
    (2,378,922 )     11,955    
  28     Short   U.S. Treasury Notes 10 Year,
March 2010
    (3,232,688 )     80,046    
Net Unrealized Appreciation   $ 59,697    

 

CREDIT DEFAULT SWAPS CONTRACTS OPEN AT DECEMBER 31, 2009:

SWAP
COUNTERPARTY &
REFERENCE
OBLIGATION
  BUY/SELL
PROTECTION
  NOTIONAL
AMOUNT
(000's)
  INTEREST
RATE
  TERMINATION
DATE
  UNREALIZED
DEPRECIATION
  UPFRONT
PAYMENTS
  VALUE   CREDIT
RATING OF
REFERENCE
OBLIGATION+
 
                                                    (unaudited)  
Bank of America, N.A.  
Tyco Electronics Ltd.
  Buy   $ 165       5.00 %   June 20, 2014   $ (23,798 )   $ (6,932 )   $ (30,730 )   BBB-  

 

  +  Credit rating as issued by Standard & Poor's.

See Notes to Financial Statements
122



Morgan Stanley Variable Investment Series - Strategist

Portfolio of Investments n December 31, 2009 continued

INTEREST RATE SWAP CONTRACTS OPEN AT DECEMBER 31, 2009:

COUNTERPARTY   NOTIONAL
AMOUNT
(000's)
  PAYMENTS
RECEIVED
BY FUND
  PAYMENTS
MADE
BY FUND†
  TERMINATION
DATE
  UNREALIZED
APPRECIATION
(DEPRECIATION)
 
Barclays Bank^^   $ 710     Fixed Rate 0.00%   Floating Rate 0.816#%   November 15, 2019   $ (42,573 )  
Barclays Bank^     710     Floating Rate 4.141#   Fixed Rate 0.00   November 15, 2019     (31,991 )  
Credit Suisse Group***     2,560     Fixed Rate 5.086   Floating Rate 0.00#   December 23, 2019     (12,288 )  
Credit Suisse Group     614     Floating Rate 0.25#   Fixed Rate 4.39   December 23, 2039     14,159    
Deutsche Bank AG***     7,840     Fixed Rate 4.40   Floating Rate 0.00#   October 01, 2016     (48,059 )  
Deutsche Bank AG***     4,218     Floating Rate 0.00#   Fixed Rate 4.41   October 03, 2018     50,068    
JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.
New York^
    735     Floating Rate 4.314#   Fixed Rate 0.00   November 15, 2019     (27,221 )  
JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.
New York^
    1,330     Floating Rate 4.141#   Fixed Rate 0.00   November 15, 2021     (43,619 )  
Net Unrealized Depreciation   $ (141,524 )  

 

  ***  Forward interest rate swap. Periodic payments on specified notional contract amount with future effective date, unless terminated earlier.

  #  Floating rate based on USD-3 Months LIBOR.

  ^  Portfolio will make payments of $275,331, $279,388, and $589,387 respectively, on termination date.

  ^^  Portfolio will receive payment of 194,966 on termination date.

SUMMARY OF INVESTMENTS

PORTFOLIO COMPOSITION   VALUE   PERCENT OF
TOTAL
INVESTMENTS
 
Common Stocks   $ 118,284,537       59.9 %  
Investment Companies     37,996,759       19.2    
U.S. Government Agencies and Obligations     21,830,149       11.0    
Corporate Bonds     16,314,108       8.3    
Investment Trusts/Mutual Funds     1,935,989       1.0    
U.S. Government Obligation     449,769       0.2    
Foreign Government Obligations     397,546       0.2    
Tax-Exempt Municipal Bonds     132,003       0.1    
Asset-Backed Securities     104,120       0.1    
U.S. Government Agencies - Mortgage-Backed Securities     5,285          
    $ 197,450,265 ^      100.0 %  

 

  ^  Does not include open long/short futures contracts with an underlying face amount of $9,505,587 with net unrealized appreciation of $59,697. Also does not include open swap contracts with net unrealized depreciation of $165,322.

See Notes to Financial Statements
123




Morgan Stanley Variable Investment Series

Financial Statements

Statements of Assets and Liabilities
December 31, 2009

    Money
Market
  Limited
Duration
  Income
Plus
  High
Yield
  Global
Infrastructure
 
Assets:  
Investments in securities, at value*   $ 165,941,767 (1)    $ 71,713,600     $ 242,696,996     $ 33,710,977 (2)    $ 87,721,784 (2)   
Investments in affiliates, at value**           5,697,676       16,697,616       8,309,745       5,831,465    
Unrealized appreciation on open swap contracts           144,026       14,669                
Unrealized appreciation on open forward foreign currency contracts                             128,977    
Cash     5,302                   10,544       26,045 (3)   
Receivable for:  
Interest     40,659       512,502       3,495,477       605,528          
Dividends                             202,958    
Foreign withholding taxes reclaimed                             33,519    
Interest and dividends from affiliates           29,950       150,996       247       108    
Premium paid on open swap contracts                 24,263                
Variation margin           22,249       143,551                
Investments sold                                
Principal paydowns           4,374                      
Shares of beneficial interest sold                             780    
Swap contracts termination                 3,778                
Periodic interest on open swap contracts           36                      
Prepaid expenses and other assets     16,737       6,377       21,285       4,204       8,355    
Total Assets     166,004,465       78,130,790       263,248,631       42,641,245       93,953,991    
Liabilities:  
Collateral on securities loaned, at value                       8,706,576       7,036,788    
Written options outstanding, at value                             53,326 (4)   
Unrealized depreciation on open swap contracts           406,080       305,128                
Unrealized depreciation on open forward foreign currency contracts                             73,883    
Payable for:  
Shares of beneficial interest redeemed     292,763       5,645       97,552       35,193       104,128    
Investment advisory fee     20,511       19,552       93,134       11,559       41,638    
Distribution fee (Class Y)           12,973       31,463       3,534       3,761    
Swap contracts termination                       251,972          
Administration fee     7,207       5,300       17,909       2,272       5,856    
Premium received on open swap contracts                 38,859                
Variation margin                                
Transfer agent fee     500       500       500       500       500    
Periodic interest on open swap contracts           626       4,116                
Accrued expenses and other payables     52,289       38,401       64,314       83,035       67,751    
Total Liabilities     373,270       489,077       652,975       9,094,641       7,387,631    
Net Assets   $ 165,631,195     $ 77,641,713     $ 262,595,656     $ 33,546,604     $ 86,566,360    
Composition of Net Assets:  
Paid-in-capital   $ 165,627,579     $ 111,272,210     $ 273,356,485     $ 285,118,221     $ 68,354,127    
Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation)           1,004,217       16,090,067       (50,439,067 )     11,169,556    
Accumulated undistributed net investment income (net investment loss)     3,616       2,072,916       13,986,311       2,239,958       1,785,290    
Accumulated net realized gain (loss)           (36,707,630 )     (40,837,207 )     (203,372,508 )     5,257,387    
Net Assets   $ 165,631,195     $ 77,641,713     $ 262,595,656     $ 33,546,604     $ 86,566,360    
* Cost   $ 165,941,767     $ 70,610,887     $ 228,384,461     $ 84,150,044     $ 76,589,483    
** Affiliated Cost   $     $ 5,647,597     $ 15,853,607     $ 8,309,745     $ 5,831,465    
Class X Shares:  
Net Assets   $ 84,486,463     $ 16,888,923     $ 114,487,919     $ 16,823,918     $ 68,747,956    
Shares Outstanding (unlimited shares authorized, $.01 par value)     84,484,669       2,154,431       10,417,473       14,903,032       7,924,641    
Net Asset Value Per Share   $ 1.00     $ 7.84     $ 10.99     $ 1.13     $ 8.68    
Class Y Shares:  
Net Assets   $ 81,144,732     $ 60,752,790     $ 148,107,737     $ 16,722,686     $ 17,818,404    
Shares Outstanding (unlimited shares authorized, $.01 par value)     81,142,916       7,778,377       13,530,844       14,825,696       2,061,174    
Net Asset Value Per Share   $ 1.00     $ 7.81     $ 10.95     $ 1.13     $ 8.64    

 

(1)  Including repurchase agreements of $67,465,000.

(2)  Including securities loaned at value of $8,425,561, $6,728,840, $10,276,083, and $1,792,698, respectively.

(3)  Including foreign currency valued at $26,046, $168,513, and $157,137, respectively with a cost of $26,034, $168,578, and $156,029, respectively.

(4)  Premium received $29,784 and $11,657, respectively.

See Notes to Financial Statements
124



    Income
Builder
  Dividend
Growth
  Global
Dividend
Growth
  European
Equity
  Capital
Opportunities
 
Assets:  
Investments in securities, at value*   $ 32,375,974     $ 248,860,182     $ 90,638,143 (2)    $ 78,421,375 (2)    $ 259,123,606    
Investments in affiliates, at value**     609,330       7,840,780       10,264,721       3,805,800       7,508,265    
Unrealized appreciation on open swap contracts                                
Unrealized appreciation on open forward foreign currency contracts                 482,066                
Cash     36,055             168,513 (3)      157,137 (3)         
Receivable for:  
Interest     87,481                            
Dividends     50,424       396,455       199,255       117,668       12,446    
Foreign withholding taxes reclaimed     3,644       48,714       21,360       94,868          
Interest and dividends from affiliates     194       399       254       179       1,697    
Premium paid on open swap contracts                                
Variation margin                                
Investments sold     3,523                            
Principal paydowns                                
Shares of beneficial interest sold                                
Swap contracts termination                                
Periodic interest on open swap contracts                                
Prepaid expenses and other assets     4,299       18,088       8,666       7,662       27,168    
Total Assets     33,170,924       257,164,618       101,782,978       82,604,689       266,673,182    
Liabilities:  
Collateral on securities loaned, at value                 10,768,263       1,903,682          
Written options outstanding, at value           3,422 (4)                     
Unrealized depreciation on open swap contracts                                
Unrealized depreciation on open forward foreign currency contracts                 60,621                
Payable for:  
Shares of beneficial interest redeemed     3,204       176,357       66,829       65,701       83,838    
Investment advisory fee     18,746       117,022       51,331       50,376       92,222    
Distribution fee (Class Y)     3,470       13,619       6,409       4,126       13,569    
Swap contracts termination                                
Administration fee     2,276       17,364       6,164       5,489       17,952    
Premium received on open swap contracts                                
Variation margin                                
Transfer agent fee     500       500       500       500       500    
Periodic interest on open swap contracts                                
Accrued expenses and other payables     28,183       94,893       62,591       54,970       63,860    
Total Liabilities     56,379       423,177       11,022,708       2,084,844       271,941    
Net Assets   $ 33,114,545     $ 256,741,441     $ 90,760,270     $ 80,519,845     $ 266,401,241    
Composition of Net Assets:  
Paid-in-capital   $ 35,370,592     $ 458,029,554     $ 95,633,045     $ 84,996,590     $ 378,044,104    
Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation)     2,127,006       7,879,880       14,562,737       7,023,990       48,182,605    
Accumulated undistributed net investment income (net investment loss)     655,381       4,049,585       1,096,960       1,813,052       392,620    
Accumulated net realized gain (loss)     (5,038,434 )     (213,217,578 )     (20,532,472 )     (13,313,787 )     (160,218,088 )  
Net Assets   $ 33,114,545     $ 256,741,441     $ 90,760,270     $ 80,519,845     $ 266,401,241    
* Cost   $ 30,207,669     $ 239,241,840     $ 76,492,882     $ 71,404,113     $ 210,941,276    
** Affiliated Cost   $ 650,629     $ 9,587,477     $ 10,264,721     $ 3,805,800     $ 7,508,265    
Class X Shares:  
Net Assets   $ 17,116,436     $ 192,278,680     $ 60,521,089     $ 61,196,712     $ 202,278,979    
Shares Outstanding (unlimited shares authorized, $.01 par value)     1,780,513       14,646,035       7,092,386       3,968,574       6,438,280    
Net Asset Value Per Share   $ 9.61     $ 13.13     $ 8.53     $ 15.42     $ 31.42    
Class Y Shares:  
Net Assets   $ 15,998,109     $ 64,462,761     $ 30,239,181     $ 19,323,133     $ 64,122,262    
Shares Outstanding (unlimited shares authorized, $.01 par value)     1,671,448       4,925,107       3,577,071       1,258,905       2,054,648    
Net Asset Value Per Share   $ 9.57     $ 13.09     $ 8.45     $ 15.35     $ 31.21    

 


125



Morgan Stanley Variable Investment Series

Financial Statements continued

Statements of Assets and Liabilities continued
December 31, 2009

    S&P 500
Index
  Aggressive
Equity
  Strategist  
Assets:  
Investments in securities, at value*   $ 127,252,747     $ 31,690,560     $ 156,967,944    
Investments in affiliates, at value**     3,116,709       815,431       40,482,321    
Unrealized appreciation on open swap contracts                 64,227    
Unrealized appreciation on open forward foreign currency contracts                    
Cash     25,679             20,210    
Receivable for:  
Interest                 349,273    
Dividends     172,776       1,523       125,783    
Foreign withholding taxes reclaimed                    
Interest and dividends from affiliates     1,689       169       14,320    
Variation margin                 8,377    
Investments sold                 61,572    
Principal paydowns                    
Shares of beneficial interest sold                    
Swap contracts termination                    
Periodic interest on open swap contracts                 38    
Prepaid expenses and other assets     10,531       4,805       17,086    
Total Assets     130,580,131       32,512,488       198,111,151    
Liabilities:  
Collateral on securities loaned, at value                    
Written options outstanding, at value                    
Unrealized depreciation on open swap contracts                 229,549    
Unrealized depreciation on open forward foreign currency contracts                    
Payable for:  
Shares of beneficial interest redeemed     83,715       23,841       234,324    
Investment advisory fee     12,849       18,039       62,979    
Distribution fee (Class Y)     19,458       3,675       12,656    
Swap contracts termination                 7,478    
Administration fee     8,868       2,180       13,426    
Premium received on open swap contracts                 6,932    
Variation margin     18,810                
Transfer agent fee     500       500       500    
Periodic interest on open swap contracts                 895    
Accrued expenses and other payables     48,077       25,670       74,302    
Total Liabilities     192,277       73,905       643,041    
Net Assets   $ 130,387,854     $ 32,438,583     $ 197,468,110    
Composition of Net Assets:  
Paid-in-capital   $ 134,780,777     $ 41,475,257     $ 169,862,605    
Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation)     27,972,115       6,205,334       23,930,568    
Accumulated undistributed net investment income (net investment loss)     2,208,382       (38,217 )     3,945,368    
Accumulated net realized gain (loss)     (34,573,420 )     (15,203,791 )     (270,431 )  
Net Assets   $ 130,387,854     $ 32,438,583     $ 197,468,110    
* Cost   $ 97,605,865     $ 25,485,260     $ 132,232,439    
** Affiliated Cost   $ 4,811,720     $ 815,431     $ 41,213,354    
Class X Shares:  
Net Assets   $ 38,872,743     $ 14,897,949     $ 137,731,064    
Shares Outstanding (unlimited shares authorized, $.01 par value)     3,833,102       969,431       11,107,189    
Net Asset Value Per Share   $ 10.14     $ 15.37     $ 12.40    
Class Y Shares:  
Net Assets   $ 91,515,111     $ 17,540,634     $ 59,737,046    
Shares Outstanding (unlimited shares authorized, $.01 par value)     9,076,761       1,163,539       4,836,227    
Net Asset Value Per Share   $ 10.08     $ 15.08     $ 12.35    

 

See Notes to Financial Statements
126



Morgan Stanley Variable Investment Series

Financial Statements continued

Statements of Operations
For the year ended December 31, 2009

    Money
Market
  Limited
Duration
  Income
Plus
 
Net Investment Income:  
Income  
Dividends                    
Interest   $ 836,468     $ 2,330,343     $ 15,134,955    
Interest and dividends from affiliates           80,077       447,254    
Total Income     836,468       2,410,420       15,582,209    
Expenses  
Investment advisory fee     886,358       233,337       1,054,790    
Administration fee     98,484       62,223       200,912    
Distribution fee (Class Y shares)     241,652       153,015       350,733    
Mutual fund insurance (Note 9)     63,910                
Professional fees     76,837       53,580       68,018    
Shareholder reports and notices     15,737       5,797       13,742    
Custodian fees     7,757       2,481       13,373    
Trustees' fees and expenses     198       4,856       8,726    
Transfer agent fees and expenses     500       500       500    
Other     19,223       19,175       42,814    
Total Expenses     1,410,656       534,964       1,753,608    
Less: amounts waived     (615,281 )              
Less: rebate from Morgan Stanley affiliated cash sweep (Note 6)           (2,429 )     (4,828 )  
Net Expenses     795,375       532,535       1,748,780    
Net Investment Income (Loss)     41,093       1,877,885       13,833,429    
Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss):  
Net Realized Gain (Loss) on:  
Investments     3,704       805,892       (1,181,255 )  
Investments in affiliates           5,183       78,650    
Futures contracts           (770,199 )     (4,200,425 )  
Swap contracts           2,456,451       10,886,034    
Options written           (30,688 )        
Foreign currency translation           1,442       222    
Net Realized Gain (Loss)     3,704       2,468,081       5,583,226    
Change in Unrealized Appreciation/Depreciation on:  
Investments           535,311       34,679,517    
Investments in affiliates           75,943       844,009    
Futures contracts           615,755       5,076,776    
Swap contracts           (1,380,565 )     (9,424,040 )  
Options written           35,017          
Foreign currency translation           70       613    
Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation/Depreciation           (118,469 )     31,176,875    
Net Gain     3,704       2,349,612       36,760,101    
Net Increase   $ 44,797     $ 4,227,497     $ 50,593,530    

 

See Notes to Financial Statements
127



Morgan Stanley Variable Investment Series

Financial Statements continued

Statements of Operations continued
For the year ended December 31, 2009

    High
Yield
  Global
Infrastructure
  Income
Builder
  Dividend
Growth
  Global
Dividend
Growth
 
Net Investment Income:  
Income  
Dividends†   $ 10,722     $ 3,327,758     $ 552,388     $ 5,655,428     $ 3,797,550    
Interest†     3,163,684             487,771             75    
Interest and dividends from affiliates     4,949       1,749       4,170       131,825       4,041    
Income from securities loaned - net     19,077       157,698                   117,962    
Total Income     3,198,432       3,487,205       1,044,329       5,787,253       3,919,628    
†Net of foreign withholding taxes           305,596       9,920       33,941       268,122    
Expenses  
Investment advisory fee     128,012       458,708       205,164       1,274,317       574,140    
Administration fee     24,383       64,380       24,497       187,340       68,554    
Distribution fee (Class Y shares)     38,336       40,487       37,271       144,775       70,567    
Mutual fund insurance (Note 9)                                
Professional fees     350,248       67,665       55,047       68,433       75,162    
Shareholder reports and notices     10,355       44,114       8,070       22,161       9,335    
Custodian fees     1,291       119,065       11,135       5,061       53,157    
Trustees' fees and expenses     769       1,996       1,248       2,953       4,254    
Transfer agent fees and expenses     500       500       500       500       500    
Registration fees                                
Other     16,793       20,303       5,421       18,986       17,670    
Total Expenses     570,687       817,218       348,353       1,724,526       873,339    
Less: amounts waived/reimbursed                                
Less: rebate from Morgan Stanley affiliated cash sweep (Note 6)     (2,156 )     (888 )     (1,836 )     (4,041 )     (1,775 )  
Net Expenses     568,531       816,330       346,517       1,720,485       871,564    
Net Investment Income (Loss)     2,629,901       2,670,875       697,812       4,066,768       3,048,064    
Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss):  
Net Realized Gain (Loss) on:  
Investments     (2,347,100 )     5,535,318       (3,545,083 )     (12,969,586 )     4,682,996    
Investments in affiliates                 (18,449 )     (2,450,660 )        
Futures contracts                                
Swap contracts                                
Options written           3,363             218,965          
Forward foreign currency contracts     35       (587,377 )     (628 )           (1,359,983 )  
Foreign currency translation     (24 )     (276,024 )     252             (249,690 )  
Net Realized Gain (Loss)     (2,347,089 )     4,675,280       (3,563,908 )     (15,201,281 )     3,073,323    
Change in Unrealized Appreciation/Depreciation on:  
Investments     10,752,985       6,235,423       9,720,379       60,481,623       5,862,678    
Investments in affiliates                 (41,299 )     1,772,779          
Futures contracts                                
Swap contracts                                
Options written           (23,542 )           8,235          
Forward foreign currency contracts           8,043                   865,473    
Foreign currency translation           29,303                   2,469    
Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation/Depreciation     10,752,985       6,249,227       9,679,080       62,262,637       6,730,620    
Net Gain     8,405,896       10,924,507       6,115,172       47,061,356       9,803,943    
Net Increase   $ 11,035,797     $ 13,595,382     $ 6,812,984     $ 51,128,124     $ 12,852,007    

 

See Notes to Financial Statements
128



    European
Equity
  Capital
Opportunities
  S&P 500
Index
  Aggressive
Equity
  Strategist  
Net Investment Income:  
Income  
Dividends†   $ 2,538,903     $ 2,217,779     $ 2,701,536     $ 267,222     $ 2,305,306    
Interest†                             1,208,088    
Interest and dividends from affiliates     2,699       13,991       25,551       3,093       148,527    
Income from securities loaned - net     100,527                            
Total Income     2,642,129       2,231,770       2,727,087       270,315       3,661,921    
†Net of foreign withholding taxes     294,115       49,161       76       5,891       32,663    
Expenses  
Investment advisory fee     625,907       942,140       138,225       182,938       786,575    
Administration fee     57,555       179,455       92,150       21,843       149,824    
Distribution fee (Class Y shares)     43,188       136,375       202,702       37,014       138,383    
Mutual fund insurance (Note 9)                                
Professional fees     68,742       68,108       54,462       50,583       77,061    
Shareholder reports and notices     11,000       14,427       13,456       6,669       9,070    
Custodian fees     22,861       23,242             6,471       14,469    
Trustees' fees and expenses     3,071       6,911       7,078       877       3,773    
Transfer agent fees and expenses     500       500       500       500       500    
Registration fees           1,003             1,006          
Other     15,415       15,779       13,723       7,512       39,240    
Total Expenses     848,239       1,387,940       522,296       315,413       1,218,895    
Less: amounts waived/reimbursed     (84,388 )                          
Less: rebate from Morgan Stanley affiliated cash sweep (Note 6)     (1,185 )     (8,241 )     (1,546 )     (1,357 )     (47,722 )  
Net Expenses     762,666       1,379,699       520,750       314,056       1,171,173    
Net Investment Income (Loss)     1,879,463       852,071       2,206,337       (43,741 )     2,490,748    
Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss):  
Net Realized Gain (Loss) on:  
Investments     (5,360,939 )     (6,534,761 )     (1,166,372 )     24,493       6,334,960    
Investments in affiliates                 (165,421 )           (365,034 )  
Futures contracts                 244,431             95,696    
Swap contracts                             1,762,201    
Options written                             (26,773 )  
Forward foreign currency contracts     (11,316 )     (3,460 )           (96 )     104    
Foreign currency translation     3,352       13,482             1,907       (5,233 )  
Net Realized Gain (Loss)     (5,368,903 )     (6,524,739 )     (1,087,362 )     26,304       7,795,921    
Change in Unrealized Appreciation/Depreciation on:  
Investments     21,065,851       124,982,172       26,713,751       14,260,246       25,266,980    
Investments in affiliates                 25,260             (693,955 )  
Futures contracts                 (50,810 )           (154,585 )  
Swap contracts                             (1,141,242 )  
Options written                             31,231    
Forward foreign currency contracts                                
Foreign currency translation     18,899       187             24       4,840    
Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation/Depreciation     21,084,750       124,982,359       26,688,201       14,260,270       23,313,269    
Net Gain     15,715,847       118,457,620       25,600,839       14,286,574       31,109,190    
Net Increase   $ 17,595,310     $ 119,309,691     $ 27,807,176     $ 14,242,833     $ 33,599,938    

 


129



Morgan Stanley Variable Investment Series

Financial Statements continued

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

    Money Market   Limited Duration   Income Plus  
    For The Year
Ended
December 31, 2009
  For The Year
Ended
December 31, 2008
  For The Year
Ended
December 31, 2009
  For The Year
Ended
December 31, 2008
  For The Year
Ended
December 31, 2009
  For The Year
Ended
December 31, 2008
 
Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets:  
Operations:  
Net investment income   $ 41,093     $ 5,148,906     $ 1,877,885     $ 4,209,957     $ 13,833,429     $ 15,826,167    
Net realized gain (loss)     3,704             2,468,081       (26,979,435 )     5,583,226       (18,752,116 )  
Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation                 (118,469 )     5,025,245       31,176,875       (26,220,418 )  
Net Increase (Decrease)     44,797       5,148,906       4,227,497       (17,744,233 )     50,593,530       (29,146,367 )  
Dividends and Distributions to Shareholders from:  
Net investment income  
Class X shares     (27,542 )     (2,750,646 )     (750,368 )     (403,890 )     (5,671,232 )     (2,630,821 )  
Class Y shares     (13,660 )     (2,398,335 )     (2,578,098 )     (1,470,642 )     (6,874,880 )     (3,227,663 )  
Net realized gain  
Class X shares                                      
Class Y shares                                      
Total Dividends and Distributions     (41,202 )     (5,148,981 )     (3,328,466 )     (1,874,532 )     (12,546,112 )     (5,858,484 )  
Net increase (decrease) from transactions in shares of
beneficial interest
    (61,899,672 )     14,525,817       (2,885,461 )     (28,033,410 )     (21,134,851 )     (71,964,921 )  
Net Increase (Decrease)     (61,896,077 )     14,525,742       (1,986,430 )     (47,652,175 )     16,912,567       (106,969,772 )  
Net Assets:  
Beginning of period     227,527,272       213,001,530       79,628,143       127,280,318       245,683,089       352,652,861    
End of Period   $ 165,631,195     $ 227,527,272     $ 77,641,713     $ 79,628,143     $ 262,595,656     $ 245,683,089    
Accumulated Undistributed Net Investment
Income
  $ 3,616     $ 158     $ 2,072,916     $ 2,961,783     $ 13,986,311     $ 11,067,655    

 

See Notes to Financial Statements
130



    High Yield   Global Infrastructure  
    For The Year
Ended
December 31, 2009
  For The Year
Ended
December 31, 2008
  For The Year
Ended
December 31, 2009
  For The Year
Ended
December 31, 2008
 
Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets:  
Operations:  
Net investment income   $ 2,629,901     $ 2,545,180     $ 2,670,875     $ 3,065,023    
Net realized gain (loss)     (2,347,089 )     (9,781,424 )     4,675,280       27,057,828    
Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation     10,752,985       (1,476,560 )     6,249,227       (79,158,685 )  
Net Increase (Decrease)     11,035,797       (8,712,804 )     13,595,382       (49,035,834 )  
Dividends and Distributions to Shareholders from:  
Net investment income  
Class X shares     (1,215,369 )     (437,443 )     (2,101,457 )     (647,408 )  
Class Y shares     (1,195,423 )     (479,055 )     (498,225 )     (134,680 )  
Net realized gain  
Class X shares                 (20,597,967 )     (20,127,613 )  
Class Y shares                 (5,301,817 )     (4,721,337 )  
Total Dividends and Distributions     (2,410,792 )     (916,498 )     (28,499,466 )     (25,631,038 )  
Net increase (decrease) from transactions in shares of
beneficial interest
    (2,278,057 )     (9,229,477 )     13,974,171       (3,124,164 )  
Net Increase (Decrease)     6,346,948       (18,858,779 )     (929,913 )     (77,791,036 )  
Net Assets:  
Beginning of period     27,199,656       46,058,435       87,496,273       165,287,309    
End of Period   $ 33,546,604     $ 27,199,656     $ 86,566,360     $ 87,496,273    
Accumulated Undistributed Net Investment
Income
  $ 2,239,958     $ 1,886,536     $ 1,785,290     $ 2,512,439    

 


131



Morgan Stanley Variable Investment Series

Financial Statements continued

Statements of Changes in Net Assets continued

    Income Builder   Dividend Growth   Global Dividend Growth  
    For The Year
Ended
December 31, 2009
  For The Year
Ended
December 31, 2008
  For The Year
Ended
December 31, 2009
  For The Year
Ended
December 31, 2008
  For The Year
Ended
December 31, 2009
  For The Year
Ended
December 31, 2008
 
Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets:  
Operations:  
Net investment income   $ 697,812     $ 1,323,971     $ 4,066,768     $ 5,989,301     $ 3,048,064     $ 4,283,236    
Net realized gain (loss)     (3,563,908 )     (846,135 )     (15,201,281 )     (41,866,289 )     3,073,323       (24,882,731 )  
Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation     9,679,080       (14,007,172 )     62,262,637       (118,615,870 )     6,730,620       (51,605,946 )  
Net Increase (Decrease)     6,812,984       (13,529,336 )     51,128,124       (154,492,858 )     12,852,007       (72,205,441 )  
Dividends and Distributions to Shareholders from:  
Net investment income  
Class X shares     (528,794 )     (176,967 )     (3,466,136 )     (1,348,818 )     (2,992,150 )     (2,856,039 )  
Class Y shares     (448,809 )     (191,122 )     (986,235 )     (367,487 )     (1,372,445 )     (1,205,469 )  
Net realized gain  
Class X shares     (8,092 )     (3,462,208 )                       (19,931,578 )  
Class Y shares     (7,525 )     (4,034,191 )                       (9,677,516 )  
Total Dividends and Distributions     (993,220 )     (7,864,488 )     (4,452,371 )     (1,716,305 )     (4,364,595 )     (33,670,602 )  
Net decrease from transactions in shares of
beneficial interest
    (4,385,614 )     (9,887,251 )     (33,543,934 )     (85,189,189 )     (9,583,791 )     (4,126,470 )  
Net Increase (Decrease)     1,434,150       (31,281,075 )     13,131,819       (241,398,352 )     (1,096,379 )     (110,002,513 )  
Net Assets:  
Beginning of period     31,680,395       62,961,470       243,609,622       485,007,974       91,856,649       201,859,162    
End of Period   $ 33,114,545     $ 31,680,395     $ 256,741,441     $ 243,609,622     $ 90,760,270     $ 91,856,649    
Accumulated Undistributed Net Investment
Income (Loss)
  $ 655,381     $ 725,589     $ 4,049,585     $ 4,433,824     $ 1,096,960     $ 4,100,875    

 

See Notes to Financial Statements
132



    European Equity   Capital Opportunities  
    For The Year
Ended
December 31, 2009
  For The Year
Ended
December 31, 2008
  For The Year
Ended
December 31, 2009
  For The Year
Ended
December 31, 2008
 
Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets:  
Operations:  
Net investment income   $ 1,879,463     $ 3,542,961     $ 852,071     $ 90,023    
Net realized gain (loss)     (5,368,903 )     (4,874,519 )     (6,524,739 )     (22,270,280 )  
Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation     21,084,750       (62,139,555 )     124,982,359       (160,018,627 )  
Net Increase (Decrease)     17,595,310       (63,471,113 )     119,309,691       (182,198,884 )  
Dividends and Distributions to Shareholders from:  
Net investment income  
Class X shares     (2,185,883 )     (2,413,005 )     (639,379 )     (635,044 )  
Class Y shares     (624,553 )     (642,298 )     (66,814 )     (146,796 )  
Net realized gain  
Class X shares     (2,763,964 )     (16,690,917 )              
Class Y shares     (880,063 )     (5,203,748 )              
Total Dividends and Distributions     (6,454,463 )     (24,949,968 )     (706,193 )     (781,840 )  
Net decrease from transactions in shares of
beneficial interest
    (6,200,158 )     (3,791,426 )     (37,914,310 )     (70,259,908 )  
Net Increase (Decrease)     4,940,689       (92,212,507 )     80,689,188       (253,240,632 )  
Net Assets:  
Beginning of period     75,579,156       167,791,663       185,712,053       438,952,685    
End of Period   $ 80,519,845     $ 75,579,156     $ 266,401,241     $ 185,712,053    
Accumulated Undistributed Net Investment
Income (Loss)
  $ 1,813,052     $ 2,751,600     $ 392,620     $ (136,162 )  

 


133



Morgan Stanley Variable Investment Series

Financial Statements continued

Statements of Changes in Net Assets continued

    S&P 500 Index   Aggressive Equity  
    For The Year
Ended
December 31, 2009
  For The Year
Ended
December 31, 2008
  For The Year
Ended
December 31, 2009
  For The Year
Ended
December 31, 2008
 
Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets:  
Operations:  
Net investment income   $ 2,206,337     $ 3,063,478     $ (43,741 )   $ (172,564 )  
Net realized gain (loss)     (1,087,362 )     (610,275 )     26,304       (2,074,666 )  
Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation     26,688,201       (74,828,095 )     14,260,270       (21,144,566 )  
Net Increase (Decrease)     27,807,176       (72,374,892 )     14,242,833       (23,391,796 )  
Dividends and Distributions to Shareholders from:  
Net investment income  
Class X shares     (976,649 )     (1,233,419 )           (40,785 )  
Class Y shares     (2,074,490 )     (2,473,396 )              
Net realized gain  
Class X shares                          
Class Y shares                          
Total Dividends and Distributions     (3,051,139 )     (3,706,815 )           (40,785 )  
Net decrease from transactions in shares of beneficial interest     (8,284,436 )     (29,261,336 )     (4,365,317 )     (9,878,008 )  
Net Increase (Decrease)     16,471,601       (105,343,043 )     9,877,516       (33,310,589 )  
Net Assets:  
Beginning of period     113,916,253       219,259,296       22,561,067       55,871,656    
End of Period   $ 130,387,854     $ 113,916,253     $ 32,438,583     $ 22,561,067    
Accumulated Undistributed Net Investment Income (Loss)   $ 2,208,382     $ 3,070,238     $ (38,217 )   $ 28,289    

 

See Notes to Financial Statements
134



    Strategist  
    For The Year
Ended
December 31, 2009
  For The Year
Ended
December 31, 2008
 
Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets:  
Operations:  
Net investment income   $ 2,490,748     $ 5,496,368    
Net realized gain (loss)     7,795,921       (6,195,603 )  
Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation     23,313,269       (64,498,692 )  
Net Increase (Decrease)     33,599,938       (65,197,927 )  
Dividends and Distributions to Shareholders from:  
Net investment income  
Class X shares     (3,009,491 )     (1,351,745 )  
Class Y shares     (1,156,509 )     (508,327 )  
Net realized gain  
Class X shares           (17,620,917 )  
Class Y shares           (7,191,427 )  
Total Dividends and Distributions     (4,166,000 )     (26,672,416 )  
Net decrease from transactions in shares of beneficial interest     (19,679,309 )     (26,332,133 )  
Net Increase (Decrease)     9,754,629       (118,202,476 )  
Net Assets:  
Beginning of period     187,713,481       305,915,957    
End of Period   $ 197,468,110     $ 187,713,481    
Accumulated Undistributed Net Investment Income (Loss)   $ 3,945,368     $ 4,298,293    

 


135



Morgan Stanley Variable Investment Series

Financial Statements continued

Statements of Changes in Net Assets continued
Summary of Transactions in Shares of Beneficial Interest

    Money Market   Limited Duration   Income Plus  
    For The Year
Ended
December 31, 2009
  For The Year
Ended
December 31, 2008
  For The Year
Ended
December 31, 2009
  For The Year
Ended
December 31, 2008
  For The Year
Ended
December 31, 2009
  For The Year
Ended
December 31, 2008
 
Class X Shares  
Shares  
Sold     14,093,090       39,272,429       320,280       219,481       217,229       318,057    
Reinvestment of dividends and distributions     27,542       2,750,646       97,959       45,466       574,011       251,075    
Redeemed     (45,050,887 )     (38,086,011 )     (379,007 )     (976,690 )     (1,994,330 )     (3,710,728 )  
Net Increase (Decrease) - Class X     (30,930,255 )     3,937,064       39,232       (711,743 )     (1,203,090 )     (3,141,596 )  
Amount  
Sold   $ 14,093,090     $ 39,272,429     $ 2,506,478     $ 1,951,419     $ 2,222,728     $ 3,287,185    
Reinvestment of dividends and distributions     27,542       2,750,646       750,368       403,890       5,671,232       2,630,821    
Redeemed     (45,050,887 )     38,086,011       (2,959,936 )     (8,136,803 )     (20,079,631 )     (36,737,304 )  
Net Increase (Decrease) - Class X   $ (30,930,255 )   $ 3,937,064     $ 296,910     $ (5,781,494 )   $ (12,185,671 )   $ (30,819,298 )  
Class Y Shares  
Shares  
Sold     19,989,089       62,076,186       525,769       365,769       527,412       549,322    
Reinvestment of dividends and distributions     13,660       2,398,335       337,447       165,939       697,250       308,624    
Redeemed     (50,972,166 )     (53,885,768 )     (1,262,117 )     (3,269,102 )     (2,115,187 )     (5,102,030 )  
Net Increase (Decrease) - Class Y     (30,969,417 )     10,588,753       (398,901 )     (2,737,394 )     (890,525 )     (4,244,084 )  
Amount  
Sold   $ 19,989,089     $ 62,076,186     $ 4,083,133     $ 3,336,110     $ 5,391,890     $ 5,807,550    
Reinvestment of dividends and distributions     13,660       2,398,335       2,578,098       1,470,642       6,874,880       3,227,663    
Redeemed     (50,972,166 )     (53,885,768 )     (9,843,602 )     (27,058,668 )     (21,215,950 )     (50,180,836 )  
Net Increase (Decrease) - Class Y   $ (30,969,417 )   $ 10,588,753     $ (3,182,371 )   $ (22,251,916 )   $ (8,949,180 )   $ (41,145,623 )  

 

See Notes to Financial Statements
136



    High Yield   Global Infrastructure  
    For The Year
Ended
December 31, 2009
  For The Year
Ended
December 31, 2008
  For The Year
Ended
December 31, 2009
  For The Year
Ended
December 31, 2008
 
Class X Shares  
Shares  
Sold     885,547       439,070       38,571       136,433    
Reinvestment of dividends and distributions     1,279,336       394,745       3,071,641       1,279,897    
Redeemed     (2,812,285 )     (4,491,763 )     (1,464,640 )     (1,600,079 )  
Net Increase (Decrease) - Class X     (647,402 )     (3,657,948 )     1,645,572       (183,749 )  
Amount  
Sold   $ 849,248     $ 468,293     $ 350,423     $ 2,528,018    
Reinvestment of dividends and distributions     1,215,369       437,443       22,699,424       20,775,021    
Redeemed     (2,762,208 )     (4,693,944 )     (13,246,644 )     (25,468,846 )  
Net Increase (Decrease) - Class X   $ (697,591 )   $ (3,788,208 )   $ 9,803,203     $ (2,165,807 )  
Class Y Shares  
Shares  
Sold     408,859       224,818       114,210       65,397    
Reinvestment of dividends and distributions     1,258,340       430,638       786,980       299,658    
Redeemed     (3,277,685 )     (5,897,980 )     (308,094 )     (436,317 )  
Net Increase (Decrease) - Class Y     (1,610,486 )     (5,242,524 )     593,096       (71,262 )  
Amount  
Sold   $ 415,103     $ 237,416     $ 1,092,329     $ 1,074,404    
Reinvestment of dividends and distributions     1,195,423       479,055       5,800,042       4,856,017    
Redeemed     (3,190,992 )     (6,157,740 )     (2,721,403 )     (6,888,778 )  
Net Increase (Decrease) - Class Y   $ (1,580,466 )   $ (5,441,269 )   $ 4,170,968     $ (958,357 )  

 


137



Morgan Stanley Variable Investment Series

Financial Statements continued

Statements of Changes in Net Assets continued
Summary of Transactions in Shares of Beneficial Interest

    Income Builder   Dividend Growth   Global Dividend Growth  
    For The Year
Ended
December 31, 2009
  For The Year
Ended
December 31, 2008
  For The Year
Ended
December 31, 2009
  For The Year
Ended
December 31, 2008
  For The Year
Ended
December 31, 2009
  For The Year
Ended
December 31, 2008
 
Class X Shares  
Shares  
Sold     84,206       80,930       40,020       188,631       39,028       88,216    
Reinvestment of dividends and distributions     68,133       367,205       321,236       87,699       412,142       2,049,246    
Redeemed     (402,407 )     (614,459 )     (2,833,291 )     (4,839,160 )     (1,414,208 )     (2,174,259 )  
Net Decrease - Class X     (250,068 )     (166,324 )     (2,472,035 )     (4,562,830 )     (963,038 )     (36,797 )  
Amount  
Sold   $ 700,726     $ 806,302     $ 445,763     $ 2,972,885     $ 300,376     $ 1,247,301    
Reinvestment of dividends and distributions     536,886       3,639,175       3,466,136       1,348,818       2,992,150       22,787,617    
Redeemed     (3,276,702 )     (6,520,735 )     (31,203,978 )     (70,063,288 )     (10,681,016 )     (26,457,893 )  
Net Decrease - Class X   $ (2,039,090 )   $ (2,075,258 )   $ (27,292,079 )   $ (65,741,585 )   $ (7,388,490 )   $ (2,422,975 )  
Class Y Shares  
Shares  
Sold     46,979       61,287       64,575       58,376       120,372       43,315    
Reinvestment of dividends and distributions     58,058       427,890       91,572       23,925       190,617       987,567    
Redeemed     (392,269 )     (1,237,576 )     (723,234 )     (1,435,936 )     (590,289 )     (1,087,949 )  
Net Decrease - Class Y     (287,232 )     (748,399 )     (567,087 )     (1,353,635 )     (279,300 )     (57,067 )  
Amount  
Sold   $ 393,492     $ 707,013     $ 656,925     $ 794,273     $ 854,130     $ 599,490    
Reinvestment of dividends and distributions     456,334       4,225,313       986,235       367,487       1,372,445       10,882,985    
Redeemed     (3,196,350 )     (12,744,319 )     (7,895,015 )     (20,609,364 )     (4,421,876 )     (13,185,970 )  
Net Decrease - Class Y   $ (2,346,524 )   $ (7,811,993 )   $ (6,251,855 )   $ (19,447,604 )   $ (2,195,301 )   $ (1,703,495 )  

 

See Notes to Financial Statements
138



    European Equity   Capital Opportunities  
    For The Year
Ended
December 31, 2009
  For The Year
Ended
December 31, 2008
  For The Year
Ended
December 31, 2009
  For The Year
Ended
December 31, 2008
 
Class X Shares  
Shares  
Sold     24,684       38,114       20,590       86,342    
Reinvestment of dividends and distributions     403,082       950,444       26,421       20,244    
Redeemed     (793,662 )     (1,061,103 )     (1,215,413 )     (1,902,212 )  
Net Decrease - Class X     (365,896 )     (72,545 )     (1,168,402 )     (1,795,626 )  
Amount  
Sold   $ 337,718     $ 924,340     $ 531,421     $ 2,683,773    
Reinvestment of dividends and distributions     4,949,847       19,103,922       639,379       635,044    
Redeemed     (10,207,492 )     (21,953,195 )     (28,719,023 )     (56,132,455 )  
Net Decrease - Class X   $ (4,919,927 )   $ (1,924,933 )   $ (27,548,223 )   $ (52,813,638 )  
Class Y Shares  
Shares  
Sold     9,175       16,951       21,100       188,849    
Reinvestment of dividends and distributions     122,926       292,156       2,776       4,703    
Redeemed     (221,102 )     (382,417 )     (466,830 )     (768,316 )  
Net Decrease - Class Y     (89,001 )     (73,310 )     (442,954 )     (574,764 )  
Amount  
Sold   $ 113,978     $ 382,065     $ 497,162     $ 4,731,146    
Reinvestment of dividends and distributions     1,504,616       5,846,046       66,814       146,796    
Redeemed     (2,898,825 )     (8,094,604 )     (10,930,063 )     (22,324,212 )  
Net Decrease - Class Y   $ (1,280,231 )   $ (1,866,493 )   $ (10,366,087 )   $ (17,446,270 )  

 


139



Morgan Stanley Variable Investment Series

Financial Statements continued

Statements of Changes in Net Assets continued
Summary of Transactions in Shares of Beneficial Interest

    S&P 500 Index   Aggressive Equity  
    For The Year
Ended
December 31, 2009
  For The Year
Ended
December 31, 2008
  For The Year
Ended
December 31, 2009
  For The Year
Ended
December 31, 2008
 
Class X Shares  
Shares  
Sold     227,397       204,363       30,502       27,794    
Reinvestment of dividends and distributions     117,952       106,605             2,460    
Redeemed     (600,690 )     (1,144,889 )     (195,172 )     (361,194 )  
Net Decrease - Class X     (255,341 )     (833,921 )     (164,670 )     (330,940 )  
Amount  
Sold   $ 1,896,482     $ 2,036,301     $ 374,527     $ 414,384    
Reinvestment of dividends and distributions     976,649       1,233,419             40,785    
Redeemed     (5,068,610 )     (12,941,380 )     (2,305,220 )     (5,409,021 )  
Net Decrease - Class X   $ (2,195,479 )   $ (9,671,660 )   $ (1,930,693 )   $ (4,953,852 )  
Class Y Shares  
Shares  
Sold     584,015       427,594       17,153       45,414    
Reinvestment of dividends and distributions     251,759       214,891                
Redeemed     (1,515,796 )     (2,335,950 )     (229,185 )     (376,129 )  
Net Decrease - Class Y     (680,022 )     (1,693,465 )     (212,032 )     (330,715 )  
Amount  
Sold   $ 5,084,799     $ 4,418,421     $ 238,698     $ 670,281    
Reinvestment of dividends and distributions     2,074,490       2,473,396                
Redeemed     (13,248,246 )     (26,481,493 )     (2,673,322 )     (5,594,437 )  
Net Decrease - Class Y   $ (6,088,957 )   $ (19,589,676 )   $ (2,434,624 )   $ (4,924,156 )  

 

See Notes to Financial Statements
140



    Strategist  
    For The Year
Ended
December 31, 2009
  For The Year
Ended
December 31, 2008
 
Class X Shares  
Shares  
Sold     143,881       315,787    
Reinvestment of dividends and distributions     274,839       1,454,772    
Redeemed     (2,013,942 )     (3,039,684 )  
Net Decrease - Class X     (1,595,222 )     (1,269,125 )  
Amount  
Sold   $ 1,613,235     $ 4,422,151    
Reinvestment of dividends and distributions     3,009,491       18,972,662    
Redeemed     (22,149,953 )     (40,695,307 )  
Net Decrease - Class X   $ (17,527,227 )   $ (17,300,494 )  
Class Y Shares  
Shares  
Sold     319,879       198,421    
Reinvestment of dividends and distributions     105,907       592,076    
Redeemed     (611,314 )     (1,478,670 )  
Net Decrease - Class Y     (185,528 )     (688,173 )  
Amount  
Sold   $ 3,458,405     $ 2,749,332    
Reinvestment of dividends and distributions     1,156,509       7,699,754    
Redeemed     (6,766,996 )     (19,480,725 )  
Net Decrease - Class Y   $ (2,152,082 )   $ (9,031,639 )  

 


141




Morgan Stanley Variable Investment Series

Notes to Financial Statements n December 31, 2009

1. Organization and Accounting Policies

Morgan Stanley Variable Investment Series (the "Fund") is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "Act"), as a diversified, open-end management investment company. The Fund is offered exclusively to life insurance companies in connection with particular life insurance and/or annuity contracts they offer.

The Fund, organized on February 25, 1983 as a Massachusetts business trust, consists of thirteen Portfolios ("Portfolios") which commenced operations as follows:

PORTFOLIO   COMMENCEMENT OF
OPERATIONS
  PORTFOLIO   COMMENCEMENT OF
OPERATIONS
 
Money Market   March 9, 1984   Global Dividend Growth   February 23, 1994  
Limited Duration   May 4, 1999   European Equity   March 1, 1991  
Income Plus   March 1, 1987   Capital Opportunities   March 9, 1984  
High Yield   March 9, 1984   S&P 500 Index   May 18, 1998  
Global Infrastructure   March 1, 1990   Aggressive Equity   May 4, 1999  
Income Builder   January 21, 1997   Strategist   March 1, 1987  
Dividend Growth   March 1, 1990        

 

On June 5, 2000, the Fund commenced offering one additional class of shares (Class Y shares). The two classes are identical except that Class Y shares incur distribution expenses. Class X shares are generally available to holders of contracts offered before May 1, 2000. Class Y shares are available to holders of contracts offered on or after June 5, 2000.

The investment objectives of each Portfolio are as follows:

Money Market   Seeks high current income, preservation of capital and liquidity.  
Limited Duration   Seeks to provide a high level of current income consistent with the preservation of capital.  
Income Plus   Seeks, as its primary objective, to provide a high level of current income and, as a secondary objective, capital appreciation, but only when consistent with its primary objective.  
High Yield   Seeks, as its primary objective, to provide a high level of current income and, as a secondary objective, capital appreciation, but only when consistent with its primary objective.  
Global Infrastructure   Seeks both capital appreciation and current income.  
Income Builder   Seeks, as its primary objective, reasonable income and, as a secondary objective, growth of capital.  

 


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Morgan Stanley Variable Investment Series

Notes to Financial Statements n December 31, 2009 continued

Dividend Growth Seeks to provide reasonable current income and long-term growth of income and capital.  
Global Dividend Seeks to provide reasonable current income and long-term growth of income and Growth capital.  
European Equity Seeks to maximize the capital appreciation of its investments.  
Capital Opportunities Seeks, as its primary objective, growth of capital and, as a secondary objective, income, but only when consistent with its primary objective.  
S&P 500 Index Seeks to provide investment results that, before expenses, correspond to the total return of the Standard & Poor's 500® Composite Stock Price Index.  
Aggressive Equity Seeks long-term capital growth.  
Strategist Seeks high total investment return.  

 

Morgan Stanley announced on October 19, 2009 that it has entered into a definitive agreement to sell substantially all of its retail asset management business to Invesco Ltd. ("Invesco"), a leading global investment management company. The Board of Trustees of the Fund approved an Agreement and Plan of Reorganization with respect to the High Yield, Income Builder, Dividend Growth, Global Dividend Growth and S&P 500 Index portfolios (each a "Plan"). Pursuant to each Plan, substantially all of the assets of the applicable Portfolio would be combined with those of a newly organized mutual fund advised by an affiliate of Invesco Ltd. (each a "New Portfolio"). Pursuant to each Plan, shareholders of the applicable Portfolio would become shareholders of a New Portfolio, receiving shares of such New Portfolio equal to the value of their holdings in the Portfolio. Each Plan is subject to the approval of the applicable Portfolio's shareholders at a special meeting of shareholders anticipated to be held during the second quarter of 2010.

The following is a summary of significant accounting policies:

A. Valuation of Investments — Money Market: Portfolio securities are valued at amortized cost, which approximates market value, in accordance with Rule 2a-7 under the Act. All remaining Portfolios: (1) an equity portfolio security listed or traded on the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE") or American Stock Exchange or other exchange is valued at its latest sale price prior to the time when assets are valued; if there were no sales that day, the security is valued at the mean between the last reported bid and ask price; (2) an equity portfolio security listed or traded on the Nasdaq is valued at the Nasdaq Official Closing Price; if there were no sales that day, the security is valued at the mean between the last reported bid and ask price; (3) all other portfolio securities for which over-the-counter market quotations are readily available are valu ed at the mean between the last reported bid and ask price. In cases where a security is traded on more than one exchange, the security is valued on the exchange designated as the primary market; (4) credit default/interest rate/asset swaps are marked-to-market daily based upon quotations from market makers; (5) for equity securities traded on foreign exchanges, the last


143



Morgan Stanley Variable Investment Series

Notes to Financial Statements n December 31, 2009 continued

reported sale price or the latest bid price may be used if there were no sales on a particular day; (6) listed options are valued at the latest sale price on the exchange on which they are listed unless no sales of such options have taken place that day, in which case they are valued at the mean between their latest bid and ask price; (7) futures are valued at the latest price published by the commodities exchange on which they trade; (8) when market quotations are not readily available including circumstances under which Morgan Stanley Investment Advisors Inc. (the "Investment Adviser") or Morgan Stanley Investment Management Limited (the "Sub-Adviser"), each a wholly owned subsidiary of Morgan Stanley, determines that the latest sale price, the bid price or the mean between the last reported bid and ask price do not reflect a security's market value, portfolio securities are valued at their fair value as determined in good fai th under procedures established by and under the general supervision of the Fund's Trustees. Occasionally, developments affecting the closing prices of securities and other assets may occur between the times at which valuations of such securities are determined (that is, close of the foreign market on which the securities trade) and the close of business on the NYSE. If developments occur during such periods that are expected to materially affect the value of such securities, such valuations may be adjusted to reflect the estimated fair value of such securities as of the close of the NYSE, as determined in good faith by the Fund's Trustees or by the Investment Adviser using a pricing service and/or procedures approved by the Trustees of the Fund; (9) certain portfolio securities may be valued by an outside pricing service approved by the Fund's Trustees. (10) investments in open-end mutual funds, including the Morgan Stanley Institutional Liquidity Funds, are valued at the net asset value as of the close of each business day; and (11) short-term debt securities having a maturity date of more than sixty days at time of purchase are valued on a mark-to-market basis until sixty days prior to maturity and thereafter at amortized cost based on their value on the 61st day. Short-term debt securities having a maturity date of sixty days or less at the time of purchase are valued at amortized cost, which approximates market value.

B. Accounting for Investments — Security transactions are accounted for on the trade date (date the order to buy or sell is executed). Realized gains and losses on security transactions are determined by the identified cost method. Dividend income and other distributions are recorded on the ex-dividend date except for certain dividends on foreign securities which are recorded as soon as the Fund is informed after the ex-dividend date. Interest income is accrued daily except where collection is not expected. Discounts are accreted and premiums are amortized over the life of the respective securities and are included in interest income. Interest income is accrued daily as earned.

C. Repurchase Agreements — The Fund may invest directly with institutions in repurchase agreements. The Fund's custodian receives the collateral, which is marked-to-market daily to determine that the value of the collateral does not decrease below the repurchase price plus accrued interest as earned. If such a decrease occurs, additional collateral will be requested and, when received, will be added to the account to maintain full collateralization.


144



Morgan Stanley Variable Investment Series

Notes to Financial Statements n December 31, 2009 continued

D. Multiple Class Allocations — Investment income, expenses (other than distribution fees), and realized and unrealized gains and losses are allocated to each class of shares based upon the relative net asset value on the date such items are recognized. Distribution fees are charged directly to the respective class.

E. Options — When the Fund writes a call or put option, an amount equal to the premium received is included in the Fund's Statement of Assets and Liabilities as a liability which is subsequently marked-to-market to reflect the current market value of the option written. If a written option either expires or the Fund enters into a closing purchase transaction, the Fund realizes a gain or loss without regard to any unrealized gain or loss on the underlying security and the liability related to such option is extinguished. If a written call option is exercised, the Fund realizes a gain or loss from the sale of the underlying security or currency and the proceeds from such sale are increased by the premium originally received. If a written put option is exercised, the amount of the premium originally received reduces the cost of the security which th e Fund purchases upon exercise of the option. By writing a covered call option, the Fund, in exchange for the premium, foregoes the opportunity for capital appreciation above the exercise price, should the market price of the underlying security increase. By writing a put option, the Fund, in exchange for the premium, accepts the risk of having to purchase a security at an exercise price that is above the current market price.

When the Fund purchases a call or put option, the premium paid is recorded as an investment which is subsequently marked-to-market to reflect the current market value. If a purchased option expires, the Fund will realize a loss to the extent of the premium paid. If the Fund enters into a closing sale transaction, a gain or loss is realized for the difference between the proceeds from the sale and the cost of the option. If a put option is exercised, the cost of the security or currency sold upon exercise will be increased by the premium originally paid. If a call option is exercised, the cost of the security purchased upon exercise will be increased by the premium originally paid. The maximum exposure to loss for any purchased option is limited to the premium initially paid for the option.

F. Futures — A futures contract is an agreement between two parties to buy and sell financial instruments or contracts based on financial indices at a set price on a future date. Upon entering into such a contract, the Fund is required to pledge to the broker cash, U.S. Government securities or other liquid portfolio securities equal to the minimum initial margin requirements of the applicable futures exchange. Pursuant to the contract, the Fund agrees to receive from or pay to the broker an amount of cash equal to the daily fluctuation in the value of the contract. Such receipts or payments known as variation margin are recorded by the Fund as unrealized gains and losses. Upon closing of the contract, the Fund realizes a gain or loss equal to the difference between the value of the contract at the time it was opened and the value at the time it was closed.


145



Morgan Stanley Variable Investment Series

Notes to Financial Statements n December 31, 2009 continued

G. Foreign Currency Translation and Forward Foreign Currency Contracts — The books and records of the Fund are maintained in U.S. dollars as follows: (1) the foreign currency market value of investment securities, other assets and liabilities and forward foreign currency contracts ("forward contracts") are translated at the exchange rates prevailing at the end of the period; and (2) purchases, sales, income and expenses are translated at the exchange rates prevailing on the respective dates of such transactions. The resultant exchange gains and losses are recorded as realized and unrealized gains/losses on foreign currency translations. Pursuant to U.S. federal income tax regulations, certain foreign exchange gains/losses included in realized and unrealized gains/losses are included in or are a reduction of ordinary income for federal income tax purposes. The Fund does not isolate that portion of the results of operations arising as a result of changes in the foreign exchange rates from the changes in the market prices of the securities held. Forward contracts are valued daily at the appropriate exchange rates. The resultant unrealized exchange gains and losses are recorded as unrealized foreign currency translation gains or losses. The Fund records realized gains or losses on delivery of the currency or at the time the forward contract is extinguished (compensated) by entering into a closing transaction prior to delivery.

H. Securities Lending — The Fund may lend securities to qualified financial institutions, such as broker-dealers, to earn additional income. Any increase or decrease in the fair value of the securities loaned that might occur and any interest earned or dividends declared on those securities during the term of the loan would remain in the Fund. The Fund receives cash or securities as collateral in an amount equal to or exceeding 100% of the current fair value of the loaned securities. The collateral is marked-to-market daily, by the securities lending agent, to ensure that a minimum of 100% collateral coverage is maintained.

Based on pre-established guidelines, the securities lending agent invests any cash collateral that is received in high-quality short-term investments. Securities lending income is generated from the earnings on the invested collateral and borrowing fees, less any rebates owed to the borrowers and compensation to the lending agent.

PORTFOLIO   VALUE OF LOANED
SECURITIES
  VALUE OF COLLATERAL
CASH(1)
 
High Yield   $ 8,425,561     $ 8,706,576    
Global Infrastructure     6,728,840       7,036,788    
Global Dividend     10,276,083       10,768,263    
European Equity     1,792,698       1,903,682    

 

(1)  The Portfolios received cash collateral which was subsequently invested in Repurchase Agreements and Morgan Stanley Institutional Liquidity Funds as reported in the respective Portfolio of Investments.

The Portfolios have the right under the lending agreement to recover the securities from the borrower on demand.


146



Morgan Stanley Variable Investment Series

Notes to Financial Statements n December 31, 2009 continued

I. Swaps — Certain Portfolios may enter into credit default swap contracts, a type of credit derivative, for hedging purposes or to gain exposure to a credit or index of credits of underlying issue in which the Portfolio may otherwise invest. A credit default swap is an agreement between two parties to exchange the credit risk of an issuer or index of issuers. A buyer of a credit default swap is said to buy protection by paying periodic fees in return for a contingent payment from the seller if the issuer has a credit event such as bankruptcy, a failure to pay outstanding obligations or deteriorating credit while the swap is outstanding. A seller of a credit default swap is said to sell protection and thus collects the periodic fees and profits if the credit of the issuer remains stable or improves while the swap is outstanding. The seller in a c redit default swap contract would be required to pay an agreed upon amount, to the buyer in the event of an adverse credit event of the issuer. This agreed-upon amount approximates the notional amount of the swap as disclosed in the table following the Portfolio of Investments and is estimated to be the maximum potential future payment that the seller could be required to make under the credit default swap contract. In the event of an adverse credit event, the seller generally does not have any contractual remedies against the issuer or any other third party. However, if a physical settlement is elected, the seller would receive the defaulted credit and, as a result, become a creditor of the issuer.

The current credit rating of each individual issuer is listed in the table following the Portfolio of Investments and serves as indicator of the current status of the payment/performance risk of the credit derivative. Alternatively, for credit default swaps on an index of credits, the quoted market prices and current values serve as an indicator of the current status of the payment/performance risk of the credit derivative. Generally, lower credit ratings and increasing market values, in absolute terms, represent a deterioration of the credit and a greater likelihood of an adverse credit event of the issuer.

The Portfolios accrue for the periodic fees on credit default swaps on a daily basis as earned with the net amount accrued recorded within realized gains/losses on swap contracts on the Statements of Operations. Net unrealized gains are recorded as an asset or net unrealized losses are reported as a liability on the Statements of Assets and Liabilities. The change in value of the swap contracts is reported as unrealized gains or losses on the Statements of Operations. Payments received or made upon entering into a credit default swap contract, if any, are recorded as realized gains or losses on the Statements of Operations upon termination or maturity of the swap. Credit default swaps may involve greater risks than if a Portfolio had invested in the issuer directly. Credit default swaps are subject to general market risk, counterparty risk and credit risk.

Certain Portfolios may also enter into interest rate swaps and asset swaps (where parties combine the purchase or sale of a bond/note with an interest rate swap) primarily to preserve a return or spread on a particular investment or portion of its portfolio, as a duration management technique or to protect against any increase in the price of securities the Portfolio anticipates purchasing at a later date. These are contractual agreements


147



Morgan Stanley Variable Investment Series

Notes to Financial Statements n December 31, 2009 continued

to exchange periodic interest payment streams calculated on a predetermined notional principal amount. They generally involve one party paying a fixed interest rate and the other party paying a variable rate. The Portfolio will usually enter into them on a net basis, i.e, the two payment streams are netted out in a cash settlement on the payment date or date specified in the instrument, with the Portfolio receiving or paying, as the case may be, only the net amount of the two payments. The Portfolio accrues the net amount with respect to each swap on a daily basis. This net amount is recorded within realized gains/losses on swap contracts on the Statements of Operations. Risk may arise as a result of the potential inability of the counterparties to meet the terms of the contracts.

Swap agreements are not entered into or traded on exchanges and there is no central clearing or guaranty function for swaps. Therefore, swaps are subject to the risk of default or non-performance by the counterparty. If there is a default by the counterparty to a swap agreement, the Portfolio will have contractual remedies pursuant to the agreements related to the transaction. Counterparties are required to pledge collateral daily (based on the valuation of each swap) on behalf of the Portfolio with a value approximately equal to the amount of any unrealized gain. Reciprocally, when the Portfolio has an unrealized loss on a swap contract, the Portfolio has instructed the custodian to pledge cash or liquid securities as collateral with a value approximately equal to the amount of the unrealized loss. Collateral pledges are monitored and subsequently adjusted if and when the swap valuations fluctuate. For cash collateral received, the Portfolio pays a monthly fee to the counterparty based on the effective rate for Federal Funds.

J. Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities — Certain Portfolios may invest in Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities ("TIPS"), including structured bonds in which the principal amount is adjusted daily to keep pace with inflation, as measured by the U.S. Consumer Pricing Index for Urban Consumers. The adjustments to principal due to inflation/deflation are reflected as increases/decreases to interest income with a corresponding adjustment to cost. Such adjustments may have a significant impact on the Portfolio's distributions and may result in a return of capital to shareholders. The repayment of the original bond principal upon maturity is guaranteed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government.

K. Senior Loans — Certain Portfolios invest in Senior Loans to Borrowers. Senior Loans are typically structured by a syndicate of lenders ("Lenders"), one or more of which administers the Senior Loan on behalf of the Lenders ("Agent"). Lenders may sell interests in Senior Loans to third parties ("Participations") or may assign all or a portion of their interest in a Senior Loan to third parties ("Assignments"). Senior Loans are exempt from registration under the Securities Act of 1933. Presently, Senior Loans are not readily marketable and are often subject to restrictions on resale.


148



Morgan Stanley Variable Investment Series

Notes to Financial Statements n December 31, 2009 continued

L. Federal Income Tax Policy — It is the Fund's policy to comply with the requirements of Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code applicable to regulated investment companies and to distribute substantially all of its taxable income to its shareholders. Therefore, no federal income tax provision is required. The Fund files tax returns with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service, New York State and New York City. The Fund recognizes the tax effects of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return only if it is more likely than not to be sustained based solely on its technical merits as of the reporting date. The more-likely-than-not threshold must continue to be met in each reporting period to support continued recognition of the benefit. The difference between the tax benefit recognized in the financial statements for a tax position t aken and the tax benefit claimed in the income tax return is referred to as an unrecognized tax benefit. There are no unrecognized tax benefits in the accompanying financial statements. If applicable, the Fund recognizes interest accrued related to unrecognized tax benefits in interest expense and penalties in other expenses in the Statements of Operations. Each of the tax years in the four-year period ended December 31, 2009, remains subject to examination by taxing authorities.

M. Dividends and Distributions to Shareholders — The Fund records dividends and distributions to its shareholders on the ex-dividend date.

N. Expenses — Direct expenses are charged to the respective Portfolio and general Fund expenses are allocated on the basis of relative net assets or equally among the Portfolios.

O. Use of Estimates — The preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States ("GAAP") requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts and disclosures. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

P. Subsequent Events — The Fund considers events or transactions that occur after the date of the Statements of Assets and Liabilities but before the financial statements are issued to provide additional evidence relative to certain estimates or to identify matters that require additional disclosure. Subsequent events have been evaluated through February 26, 2010, the date of issuance of these financial statements.

2. Fair Valuation Measurements

Fair value is defined as the price that the Fund would receive to sell an investment or pay to transfer a liability in a timely transaction with an independent buyer in the principal market, or in the absence of a principal market the most advantageous market for the investment or liability. GAAP utilizes a three-tier hierarchy to distinguish between (1) inputs that reflect the assumptions market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability developed based on market data obtained from sources independent of the reporting entity (observable inputs) and (2) inputs that reflect the reporting entity's own assumptions about


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Morgan Stanley Variable Investment Series

Notes to Financial Statements n December 31, 2009 continued

the assumptions market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability developed based on the best information available in the circumstances (unobservable inputs) and to establish classification of fair value measurements for disclosure purposes. Various inputs are used in determining the value of the Fund's investments. The inputs are summarized in the three broad levels listed below.

•  Level 1 — unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical investments

•  Level 2 — other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for similar investments, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, etc.)

•  Level 3 — significant unobservable inputs (including the Fund's own assumptions in  determining the fair value of investments)

The inputs or methodology used for valuing securities are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities and the determination of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement in its entirety requires judgment and considers factors specific to each security.

The following is the summary of the inputs used as of December 31, 2009 in valuing the Fund's investments carried at fair value:

        Fair Value Measurements at December 31, 2009 Using  
Investment Type   Total   Unadjusted
Quoted Prices In
Active Market for
Identical Investments
(Level 1)
  Significant
Other Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)
  Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
 
Money Market  
Assets:  
Short-Term Investments  
Repurchase Agreements   $ 67,465,000           $ 67,465,000          
Commercial Paper     41,479,991             41,479,991          
Certificates of Deposit     30,000,061             30,000,061          
Floating Rate Notes — Corporate     10,000,000             10,000,000          
Floating Rate Notes —
U.S. Government Agency
    8,996,715             8,996,715          
Short-Term Bank Note     8,000,000             8,000,000          
Total   $ 165,941,767           $ 165,941,767          

 


150



Morgan Stanley Variable Investment Series

Notes to Financial Statements n December 31, 2009 continued

        Fair Value Measurements at December 31, 2009 Using  
Investment Type   Total   Unadjusted
Quoted Prices In
Active Market for
Identical Investments
(Level 1)
  Significant
Other Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)
  Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
 
Limited Duration  
Assets:  
Asset-Backed Securities   $ 13,872,189           $ 13,872,189          
Collateralized Mortgage
Obligation — U.S. Government
Agency
    454,883             454,883          
Commercial Mortgage-Backed
Security
    188,760             188,760          
Corporate Bonds     39,447,522             39,447,522          
Foreign Government Obligations     1,845,927             1,845,927          
U.S. Government
Agencies & Obligations
    16,892,197             16,892,197          
U.S. Government Agencies —
Mortgage-Backed Securities
    1,844,448             1,844,448          
Short-Term Investments  
Investment Company     1,960,815     $ 1,960,815                
U.S. Government Obligation     904,535             904,535          
Total Short-Term Investments     2,865,350       1,960,815       904,535          
Futures     227,437       227,437                
Interest Rate Swaps     144,026             144,026          
Total   $ 77,782,739     $ 2,188,252     $ 75,594,487          
Liabilities:  
Futures   $ (113,958 )   $ (113,958 )              
Interest Rate Swaps     (406,080 )         $ (406,080 )        
Total   $ (520,038 )   $ (113,958 )   $ (406,080 )        
Income Plus  
Assets:  
Commercial Mortgage-Backed
Securities
  $ 2,114,451           $ 2,114,451          
Corporate Bonds     249,634,692             249,634,692          
Municipal Bonds     606,162             606,162          
U.S. Government Agency —
Mortgage-Backed Security
    1,586             1,586          

 


151



Morgan Stanley Variable Investment Series

Notes to Financial Statements n December 31, 2009 continued

        Fair Value Measurements at December 31, 2009 Using  
Investment Type   Total   Unadjusted
Quoted Prices In
Active Market for
Identical Investments
(Level 1)
  Significant
Other Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)
  Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
 
Short-Term Investments  
Investment Company   $ 5,618,450     $ 5,618,450                
U.S. Government Obligation     1,419,271           $ 1,419,271          
Total Short-Term Investments     7,037,721       5,618,450       1,419,271          
Credit Default Swaps     14,669             14,669          
Futures     1,814,839       1,814,839                
Total   $ 261,224,120     $ 7,433,289     $ 253,790,831          
Liabilities:  
Credit Default Swaps   $ (305,128 )         $ (305,128 )        
Futures     (590,857 )   $ (590,857 )              
Total   $ (895,985 )   $ (590,857 )   $ (305,128 )        
High Yield  
Assets:  
Common Stocks  
Casino Gaming   $ 0                 $ 0    
Communications Equipment     16,862     $ 16,735             127    
Food Products     0                   0    
Restaurants     26,992                   26,992    
Textile — Apparel     0                   0    
Wireless Telecommunication
Services
    5,736       5,736                
Total Common Stocks     49,590       22,471             27,119    
Preferred Stock     113,380           $ 113,380          
Warrants     0                   0    
Corporate Bonds     31,138,913             31,138,913          
Senior Loan Notes     572,649             572,649          
Short-Term Investments                              
Investment Company     8,309,745       8,309,745                
Repurchase Agreements     1,836,445             1,836,445          
Total Short-Term Investments     10,146,190       8,309,745       1,836,445          
Total   $ 42,020,722     $ 8,332,216     $ 33,661,387     $ 27,119    

 


152



Morgan Stanley Variable Investment Series

Notes to Financial Statements n December 31, 2009 continued

        Fair Value Measurements at December 31, 2009 Using  
Investment Type   Total   Unadjusted
Quoted Prices In
Active Market for
Identical Investments
(Level 1)
  Significant
Other Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)
  Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
 
Global Infrastructure  
Assets:  
Common Stocks  
Communications Equipment   $ 208,845     $ 208,845                
Construction & Engineering     2,181,251       1,127,660     $ 1,053,591          
Diversified Telecommunication
Services
    2,825,231       235,693       2,589,538          
Electric Utilities     8,449,649       1,662,360       6,787,289          
Gas Utilities     5,803,524       3,052,724       2,750,800          
Independent Power Producers &
Energy Traders
    2,071,499       886,284       1,185,215          
Machinery     413,424             413,424          
Metals & Mining     1,215,315             1,215,315          
Multi-Utilities     13,603,139       2,912,722       10,690,417          
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels     16,373,177       16,080,088       293,089          
Transportation Infrastructure     31,129,324       274,521       30,854,803          
Wireless Telecommunication
Services
    1,553,509             1,553,509          
Total Common Stocks     85,827,887       26,440,897       59,386,990          
Preferred Stocks     409,654             409,654          
Short-Term Investments  
Investment Company     5,831,465       5,831,465                
Repurchase Agreements     1,484,243             1,484,243          
Total Short-Term Investments     7,315,708       5,831,465       1,484,243          
Forward Forward Currency
Contracts
    128,977             128,977          
Total   $ 93,682,226     $ 32,272,362     $ 61,409,864          
Liabilities:  
Forward Foreign Currency
Contracts
  $ (73,883 )         $ (73,883 )        
Options Written     (53,326 )   $ (53,326 )              
Total   $ (127,209 )   $ (53,326 )   $ (73,883 )        

 


153



Morgan Stanley Variable Investment Series

Notes to Financial Statements n December 31, 2009 continued

        Fair Value Measurements at December 31, 2009 Using  
Investment Type   Total   Unadjusted
Quoted Prices In
Active Market for
Identical Investments
(Level 1)
  Significant
Other Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)
  Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
 
Income Builder  
Assets:  
Common Stocks  
Aerospace & Defense   $ 129,523     $ 129,523                
Air Freight & Logistics     125,175       125,175                
Automobiles     160,150       160,150                
Beverages     221,730       221,730                
Capital Markets     499,411       499,411                
Chemicals     273,537       273,537                
Commercial Banks     1,170,495       1,170,495                
Commercial Services & Supplies     246,501       246,501                
Communications Equipment     373,464       373,464                
Computers & Peripherals     624,818       624,818                
Diversified Financial Services     1,702,898       1,702,898                
Diversified Telecommunication
Services
    259,706       259,706                
Electric Utilities     1,044,311       1,044,311                
Electronic Equipment,
Instruments & Components
    298,272       298,272                
Energy Equipment & Services     506,868       506,868                
Food & Staples Retailing     1,006,866       1,006,866                
Food Products     699,265       699,265                
Health Care Equipment & Supplies     500,596       500,596                
Health Care Providers & Services     356,828       356,828                
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure     63,415       63,415                
Household Durables     305,370       305,370                
Industrial Conglomerates     1,240,539       1,240,539                
Insurance     1,479,085       1,479,085                
Internet Software & Services     707,874       707,874                
Machinery     529,042       529,042                
Media     1,593,439       1,593,439                
Metals & Mining     352,618       352,618                
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels     2,767,762       2,767,762                
Personal Products     248,570       248,570                

 


154



Morgan Stanley Variable Investment Series

Notes to Financial Statements n December 31, 2009 continued

        Fair Value Measurements at December 31, 2009 Using  
Investment Type   Total   Unadjusted
Quoted Prices In
Active Market for
Identical Investments
(Level 1)
  Significant
Other Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)
  Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
 
Pharmaceuticals   $ 2,646,779     $ 2,646,779                
Professional Services     280,750       280,750                
Semiconductors & Semiconductor
Equipment
    470,318       470,318                
Software     58,965       58,965                
Specialty Retail     616,285       616,285                
Wireless Telecommunication
Services
    304,788       304,788                
Total Common Stocks     23,866,013       23,866,013                
Convertible Bonds     4,521,461           $ 4,521,461          
Convertible Preferred Stock     435,540             435,540          
Corporate Bonds     3,706,875             3,706,875          
Short-Term Investments —
Investment Company
    455,415       455,415                
Total   $ 32,985,304     $ 24,321,428     $ 8,663,876          
Dividend Growth  
Assets:  
Common Stocks  
Aerospace & Defense   $ 12,682,637     $ 12,682,637                
Biotechnology     3,111,350       3,111,350                
Capital Markets     5,161,101       5,161,101                
Chemicals     3,543,911       3,543,911                
Commercial Banks     5,369,930       5,369,930                
Commercial Services & Supplies     2,575,658       2,575,658                
Computers & Peripherals     18,136,578       18,136,578                
Construction & Engineering     3,553,206       3,553,206                
Diversified Financial Services     7,268,998       7,268,998                
Diversified Telecommunication
Services
    4,697,828       4,697,828                
Electronic Equipment,
Instruments & Components
    3,546,861       3,546,861                
Energy Equipment & Services     7,648,248       7,648,248                
Food & Staples Retailing     4,458,734       4,458,734                
Health Care Providers & Services     8,776,395       8,776,395                
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure     8,197,737       8,197,737                

 


155



Morgan Stanley Variable Investment Series

Notes to Financial Statements n December 31, 2009 continued

        Fair Value Measurements at December 31, 2009 Using  
Investment Type   Total   Unadjusted
Quoted Prices In
Active Market for
Identical Investments
(Level 1)
  Significant
Other Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)
  Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
 
Household Durables   $ 2,734,374     $ 2,734,374                
Household Products     7,835,838       7,835,838                
Independent Power Producers &
Energy Traders
    3,141,311       3,141,311                
Industrial Conglomerates     6,059,974       6,059,974                
Information Technology Services     3,217,078       3,217,078                
Insurance     14,808,624       14,808,624                
Internet Software & Services     5,512,242       5,512,242                
Leisure Equipment & Products     3,995,001       3,995,001                
Metals & Mining     4,734,701       4,734,701                
Multi-Utilities     7,747,670       7,747,670                
Multiline Retail     3,962,954       3,962,954                
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels     22,980,884       22,980,884                
Paper & Forest Products     4,022,088       4,022,088                
Pharmaceuticals     21,147,151       21,147,151                
Road & Rail     4,885,852       4,885,852                
Semiconductors & Semiconductor
Equipment
    5,530,236       5,530,236                
Software     9,063,061       9,063,061                
Specialty Retail     10,334,429       10,334,429                
Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods     2,889,245       2,889,245                
Tobacco     9,590,896       9,590,896                
Total Common Stocks     252,922,781       252,922,781                
Short-Term Investments —  
Investment Company     3,778,181       3,778,181                
Total   $ 256,700,962     $ 256,700,962                
Liabilities:  
Options Written   $ (3,422 )   $ (3,422 )              

 


156



Morgan Stanley Variable Investment Series

Notes to Financial Statements n December 31, 2009 continued

        Fair Value Measurements at December 31, 2009 Using  
Investment Type   Total   Unadjusted
Quoted Prices In
Active Market for
Identical Investments
(Level 1)
  Significant
Other Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)
  Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
 
Global Dividend Growth  
Assets:  
Common Stocks  
Air Freight & Logistics   $ 1,882,745           $ 1,882,745          
Beverages     911,989             911,989          
Capital Markets     2,608,832     $ 2,608,832                
Chemicals     2,124,083       1,496,463       627,620          
Commercial Banks     4,653,794             4,653,794          
Commercial Services & Supplies     889,553       889,553                
Computers & Peripherals     2,517,388       990,800       1,526,588          
Construction Materials     2,517,823             2,517,823          
Containers & Packaging     1,811,563       1,811,563                
Diversified Financial Services     3,088,428       3,088,428                
Diversified Telecommunication
Services
    6,050,510       2,902,736       3,147,774          
Electric Utilities     2,961,372       716,967       2,244,405          
Electronic Equipment,
Instruments & Components
    1,783,041             1,783,041          
Food Products     2,241,507             2,241,507          
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure     588,171             588,171          
Household Products     640,435       640,435                
Industrial Conglomerates     618,578             618,578          
Information Technology Services     888,515             888,515          
Insurance     3,970,620       1,367,038       2,603,582          
Machinery     5,920,296             5,920,296          
Media     4,632,640       921,357       3,711,283          
Metals & Mining     1,465,382             1,465,382          
Multiline Retail     1,192,634       1,192,634                
Multi-Utilities     1,178,908             1,178,908          
Office Electronics     1,149,882             1,149,882          
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels     6,812,115             6,812,115          
Personal Products     607,386       607,386                
Pharmaceuticals     6,756,867       3,609,046       3,147,821          
Real Estate Investment Trusts     2,176,613       1,409,797       766,816          
Road & Rail     867,935             867,935          

 


157



Morgan Stanley Variable Investment Series

Notes to Financial Statements n December 31, 2009 continued

        Fair Value Measurements at December 31, 2009 Using  
Investment Type   Total   Unadjusted
Quoted Prices In
Active Market for
Identical Investments
(Level 1)
  Significant
Other Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)
  Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
 
Semiconductors & Semiconductor
Equipment
  $ 1,982,281     $ 1,982,281                
Software     968,415           $ 968,415          
Tobacco     8,099,838       5,391,219       2,708,619          
Wireless Telecommunication
Services
    1,806,695             1,806,695          
Total Common Stocks     88,366,834       31,626,535       56,740,299          
Short-Term Investments  
Investment Company     10,264,721       10,264,721                
Repurchase Agreements     2,271,309             2,271,309          
Total Short-Term Investments     12,536,030       10,264,721       2,271,309          
Forward Contracts     482,066             482,066          
Total   $ 101,384,930     $ 41,891,256     $ 59,493,674          
Liabilities  
Forward Contracts   $ (60,621 )         $ (60,621 )        
European Equity  
Assets:  
Common Stocks  
Aerospace & Defense   $ 2,658,471           $ 2,658,471          
Auto Components     1,358,822             1,358,822          
Automobiles     1,728,308             1,728,308          
Capital Markets     2,410,668             2,410,668          
Chemicals     1,438,754             1,438,754          
Commercial Banks     10,966,499             10,966,499          
Diversified Telecommunication
Services
    5,085,917             5,085,917          
Electrical Equipment     1,715,416             1,715,416          
Food & Staples Retailing     2,733,735             2,733,735          
Food Products     3,305,331             3,305,331          
Health Care Equipment & Supplies     1,965,839             1,965,839          
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure     952,839             952,839          
Industrial Conglomerates     2,029,092             2,029,092          
Insurance     5,704,690             5,704,690          
Machinery     1,244,493             1,244,493          

 


158



Morgan Stanley Variable Investment Series

Notes to Financial Statements n December 31, 2009 continued

        Fair Value Measurements at December 31, 2009 Using  
Investment Type   Total   Unadjusted
Quoted Prices In
Active Market for
Identical Investments
(Level 1)
  Significant
Other Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)
  Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
 
Media   $ 885,702           $ 885,702          
Metals & Mining     4,159,473             4,159,473          
Multi-Utilities     1,686,454             1,686,454          
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels     7,360,304             7,360,304          
Pharmaceuticals     9,609,727             9,609,727          
Specialty Retail     1,646,310             1,646,310          
Tobacco     3,724,528             3,724,528          
Wireless Telecommunication
Services
    2,492,274             2,492,274          
Total Common Stocks     76,863,646             76,863,646          
Preferred Stock     1,156,193             1,156,193          
Short-Term Investments  
Investment Company     3,805,800     $ 3,805,800                
Repurchase Agreements     401,536             401,536          
Total Short-Term Investments     4,207,336       3,805,800       401,536          
Total   $ 82,227,175     $ 3,805,800     $ 78,421,375          
Capital Opportunities  
Assets:  
Common Stocks  
Air Freight & Logistics   $ 5,634,699     $ 5,634,699                
Capital Markets     10,028,074       10,028,074                
Chemicals     11,131,489       11,131,489                
Computers & Peripherals     26,331,305       26,331,305                
Distributors     8,708,354           $ 8,708,354          
Diversified Financial Services     18,647,826       13,110,143       5,537,683          
Health Care Technology     8,106,058       8,106,058                
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure     16,353,835       16,353,835                
Information Technology Services     16,880,554       11,057,824       5,822,730          
Internet & Catalog Retail     19,572,525       19,572,525                
Internet Software & Services     48,627,043       29,594,107       19,032,936          
Life Sciences Tools & Services     13,242,140       13,242,140                
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels     17,214,116       17,214,116                
Professional Services     14,380,004       14,380,004                
Real Estate Management &
Development
    9,148,895       9,148,895                

 


159



Morgan Stanley Variable Investment Series

Notes to Financial Statements n December 31, 2009 continued

        Fair Value Measurements at December 31, 2009 Using  
Investment Type   Total   Unadjusted
Quoted Prices In
Active Market for
Identical Investments
(Level 1)
  Significant
Other Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)
  Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
 
Semiconductors & Semiconductor
Equipment
  $ 6,435,435     $ 6,435,435                
Software     8,681,254       8,681,254                
Total Common Stocks     259,123,606       220,021,903     $ 39,101,703          
Short-Term Investments —  
Investment Company     7,508,265       7,508,265                
Total   $ 266,631,871     $ 227,530,168     $ 39,101,703          
S&P 500 Index  
Assets:  
Common Stocks  
Aerospace & Defense   $ 3,500,110     $ 3,500,110                
Air Freight & Logistics     1,308,079       1,308,079                
Airlines     119,398       119,398                
Auto Components     276,582       276,582                
Automobiles     508,648       508,648                
Beverages     3,431,595       3,431,595                
Biotechnology     2,014,809       2,014,809                
Building Products     70,182       70,182                
Capital Markets     3,499,836       3,499,836                
Chemicals     2,556,021       2,556,021                
Commercial Banks     3,490,970       3,490,970                
Commercial Services & Supplies     691,955       691,955                
Communications Equipment     3,349,983       3,349,983                
Computers & Peripherals     7,715,315       7,715,315                
Construction & Engineering     237,501       237,501                
Construction Materials     81,902       81,902                
Consumer Finance     1,030,583       1,030,583                
Containers & Packaging     281,736       281,736                
Distributors     85,448       85,448                
Diversified Consumer Services     247,649       247,649                
Diversified Financial Services     5,597,759       5,597,759                
Diversified Telecommunication
Services
    3,691,528       3,691,528                
Electric Utilities     2,567,163       2,567,163                
Electrical Equipment     650,862       650,862                

 


160



Morgan Stanley Variable Investment Series

Notes to Financial Statements n December 31, 2009 continued

        Fair Value Measurements at December 31, 2009 Using  
Investment Type   Total   Unadjusted
Quoted Prices In
Active Market for
Identical Investments
(Level 1)
  Significant
Other Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)
  Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
 
Electronic Equipment,
Instruments & Components
  $ 795,074     $ 795,074                
Energy Equipment & Services     2,334,512       2,334,512                
Food & Staples Retailing     3,431,595       3,431,595                
Food Products     2,085,010       2,085,010                
Gas Utilities     209,829       209,829                
Health Care Equipment & Supplies     2,531,737       2,531,737                
Health Care Providers & Services     2,790,211       2,790,211                
Health Care Technology     54,082       54,082                
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure     1,876,269       1,876,269                
Household Durables     555,772       555,772                
Household Products     3,280,006       3,280,006                
Independent Power Producers &
Energy Traders
    215,038       215,038                
Industrial Conglomerates     2,907,850       2,907,850                
Information Technology Services     2,080,098       2,080,098                
Insurance     3,111,198       3,111,198                
Internet & Catalog Retail     781,470       781,470                
Internet Software & Services     2,668,440       2,668,440                
Leisure Equipment & Products     173,190       173,190                
Life Sciences Tools & Services     561,970       561,970                
Machinery     2,024,020       2,024,020                
Media     3,695,510       3,695,510                
Metals & Mining     1,381,975       1,381,975                
Multi-Utilities     1,810,145       1,810,145                
Multiline Retail     1,110,800       1,110,800                
Office Electronics     103,407       103,407                
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels     12,508,342       12,508,342                
Paper & Forest Products     359,456       359,456                
Personal Products     344,583       344,583                
Pharmaceuticals     8,345,566       8,345,566                
Professional Services     208,155       208,155                
Real Estate Investment Trusts     1,507,468       1,507,468                
Real Estate Management &
Development
    42,732       42,732                

 


161



Morgan Stanley Variable Investment Series

Notes to Financial Statements n December 31, 2009 continued

        Fair Value Measurements at December 31, 2009 Using  
Investment Type   Total   Unadjusted
Quoted Prices In
Active Market for
Identical Investments
(Level 1)
  Significant
Other Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)
  Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
 
Road & Rail   $ 1,283,862     $ 1,283,862                
Semiconductors & Semiconductor
Equipment
    3,426,692       3,426,692                
Software     5,730,007       5,730,007                
Specialty Retail     2,518,494       2,518,494                
Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods     634,321       634,321                
Thrifts & Mortgage Finance     156,485       156,485                
Tobacco     1,998,909       1,998,909                
Trading Companies & Distributors     164,399       164,399                
Wireless Telecommunication
Services
    381,368       381,368                
Total Common Stocks     129,185,661       129,185,661                
Short-Term Investments —  
Investment Company     1,183,795       1,183,795                
Futures     20,244       20,244                
Total   $ 130,389,700     $ 130,389,700                
Aggressive Equity  
Assets:  
Common Stocks  
Air Freight & Logistics   $ 689,599     $ 689,599                
Capital Markets     1,227,271       1,227,271                
Chemicals     1,362,364       1,362,364                
Computers & Peripherals     3,214,467       3,214,467                
Distributors     1,070,025           $ 1,070,025          
Diversified Financial Services     2,282,233       1,604,495       677,738          
Health Care Technology     992,068       992,068                
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure     2,001,540       2,001,540                
Information Technology Services     2,065,987       1,353,366       712,621          
Internet & Catalog Retail     2,376,161       2,376,161                
Internet Software & Services     5,951,786       3,621,970       2,329,816          
Life Sciences Tools & Services     1,620,626       1,620,626                
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels     2,106,769       2,106,769                
Professional Services     1,759,917       1,759,917                

 


162



Morgan Stanley Variable Investment Series

Notes to Financial Statements n December 31, 2009 continued

        Fair Value Measurements at December 31, 2009 Using  
Investment Type   Total   Unadjusted
Quoted Prices In
Active Market for
Identical Investments
(Level 1)
  Significant
Other Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)
  Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
 
Real Estate Management &
Development
  $ 1,119,691     $ 1,119,691                
Semiconductors & Semiconductor
Equipment
    787,620       787,620                
Software     1,062,436       1,062,436                
Total Common Stocks     31,690,560       26,900,360     $ 4,790,200          
Short-Term Investment —  
Investment Company     815,431       815,431                
Total   $ 32,505,991     $ 27,715,791     $ 4,790,200          
Strategist  
Assets:  
Common Stocks  
Aerospace & Defense   $ 4,663,892     $ 4,663,892                
Airlines     2,111,334       2,111,334                
Automobiles     1,393,629       1,393,629                
Biotechnology     8,498,004       8,498,004                
Capital Markets     3,232,475       3,232,475                
Chemicals     1,216,497       1,216,497                
Commercial Services & Supplies     2,619,937       2,619,937                
Communications Equipment     1,678,194       1,678,194                
Computers & Peripherals     6,766,907       6,766,907                
Construction & Engineering     1,605,872       1,605,872                
Diversified Financial Services     3,540,156       3,540,156                
Diversified Telecommunication
Services
    4,044,223       4,044,223                
Electric Utilities     1,955,198       1,955,198                
Electrical Equipment     1,779,402       1,779,402                
Electronic Equipment,
Instruments & Components
    3,076,469       3,076,469                
Energy Equipment & Services     4,035,093       4,035,093                
Food & Staples Retailing     1,105,591       1,105,591                
Food Products     2,490,637       2,490,637                
Health Care Equipment & Supplies     1,964,678       1,964,678                
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure     2,178,786       2,178,786                
Household Durables     1,813,579       1,813,579                

 


163



Morgan Stanley Variable Investment Series

Notes to Financial Statements n December 31, 2009 continued

        Fair Value Measurements at December 31, 2009 Using  
Investment Type   Total   Unadjusted
Quoted Prices In
Active Market for
Identical Investments
(Level 1)
  Significant
Other Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)
  Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
 
Household Products   $ 731,957     $ 731,957                
Industrial Conglomerates     1,212,670       1,212,670                
Information Technology Services     1,197,765       1,197,765                
Insurance     3,116,571       3,116,571                
Internet Software & Services     2,204,424       2,204,424                
Life Sciences Tools & Services     1,218,956       1,218,956                
Machinery     3,254,077       3,254,077                
Metals & Mining     4,551,245       4,551,245                
Multiline Retail     1,037,613       1,037,613                
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels     3,606,911       3,606,911                
Pharmaceuticals     5,334,373       5,334,373                
Real Estate Investment Trusts     1,436,390       1,436,390                
Real Estate Management &
Development
    3,111,107       3,111,107                
Semiconductors & Semiconductor
Equipment
    6,103,899       6,103,899                
Software     10,597,146       10,597,146                
Specialty Retail     3,088,990       3,088,990                
Tobacco     2,739,043       2,739,043                
Water Utilities     1,970,847       1,970,847                
Total Common Stocks     118,284,537       118,284,537                
Asset-Backed Securities     104,120           $ 104,120          
Corporate Bonds     16,314,108             16,314,108          
Foreign Government Obligations     397,546             397,546          
Investment Trusts/Mutual Funds     1,935,989       1,935,989                
Municipal Bonds     132,003             132,003          
U.S. Government Agencies &
Obligations
    21,830,149             21,830,149          
U.S. Government Agencies —
Mortgage-Backed Securities
    5,285             5,285          
Short-Term Investments  
Investment Company     37,996,759       37,996,759                
U.S. Government Obligation     449,769             449,769          
Total Short-Term Investments     38,446,528       37,996,759       449,769          

 


164



Morgan Stanley Variable Investment Series

Notes to Financial Statements n December 31, 2009 continued

        Fair Value Measurements at December 31, 2009 Using  
Investment Type   Total   Unadjusted
Quoted Prices In
Active Market for
Identical Investments
(Level 1)
  Significant
Other Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)
  Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
 
Futures   $ 116,142     $ 116,142                
Interest Rate Swaps     64,227           $ 64,227          
Total   $ 197,630,634     $ 158,333,427     $ 39,297,207          
Liabilities:  
Credit Default Swaps   $ (23,798 )         $ (23,798 )        
Futures     (56,445 )   $ (56,445 )              
Interest Rate Swaps     (205,751 )           (205,751 )        
Total   $ (285,994 )   $ (56,445 )   $ (229,549 )        

 

Following is a reconciliation of investments in which significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) were used in determining fair value:

    Investments in Securities  
    Income Plus   High Yield   S&P 500 Index   Strategist  
Beginning Balance   $ 10,003     $ 27,119     $ 0     $ 114,063    
Net purchases (sales)     (17,563 )           (431 )     (185,416 )  
Transfers in and/or out                          
Change in unrealized
appreciation/depreciation
    1,357,974                   314,429    
Realized gains (losses)     (1,350,414 )           431       (243,076 )  
Ending Balance   $ 0     $ 27,119     $ 0     $ 0    
Net change in unrealized appreciation/
depreciation from investments still held
as of December 31, 2009
        $ 0                

 

3. Derivative Financial Instruments

A derivative financial instrument in very general terms refers to a security whose value is "derived" from the value of an underlying asset, reference rate or index.

The Fund may use derivative instruments for a variety of reasons, such as to attempt to protect the Fund against possible changes in the market value of its portfolio or to manage the Fund's foreign currency exposure or to generate potential gain. All of the Fund's portfolio holdings, including derivative


165



Morgan Stanley Variable Investment Series

Notes to Financial Statements n December 31, 2009 continued

instruments, are marked-to-market each day with the change in value reflected in unrealized appreciation/depreciation. Upon disposition, a realized gain or loss is recognized accordingly, except when taking delivery of a security underlying a contract. In these instances, the recognition of gain or loss is postponed until the disposal of the security underlying the contract. Risk may arise as a result of the potential inability of the counterparties to meet the terms of their contracts.

Summarized below are specific types of derivative financial instruments used by certain Portfolios.

Forward Foreign Currency Contracts Certain Portfolios may enter into forward contracts for many purposes, including to facilitate settlement of foreign currency denominated portfolio transactions or to manage foreign currency exposure associated with foreign currency denominated securities. Forward contracts involve elements of market risk in excess of the amount reflected in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities. The respective Portfolios bear the risk of an unfavorable change in the foreign exchange rates underlying the forward contracts. Risks may also arise upon entering into these contracts from the potential inability of the counterparties to meet the terms of their contracts.

During the year ended December 31, 2009, the value of forward foreign currency contracts opened and closed were as follows:

PORTFOLIO   OPEN   CLOSE  
High Yield   $ 697     $ 2,508    
Global Infrastructure     264,287,214       276,803,523    
Income Builder     23,017       85,868    
Global Dividend Growth     247,815,751       257,976,888    
European Equity     11,893,925       25,637,351    
Capital Opportunities     500       5,998,166    
Aggressive Equity           567,717    
Strategist           91,750    

 

Futures Certain Portfolios may purchase and sell interest rate, Eurodollar and index futures ("futures contracts") to facilitate trading, increase or decrease the Portfolio's market exposure, seek higher investment returns or to seek to protect against a decline in the value of the Portfolio's securities or an increase in prices of securities that may be purchased. These futures involve elements of market risk in excess of the amount reflected in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities. The respective Portfolios bear the risk of an unfavorable change in the value of the underlying securities. Risks may also arise upon entering into these contracts from the potential inability of the counterparties to meet the terms of their contracts.


166



Morgan Stanley Variable Investment Series

Notes to Financial Statements n December 31, 2009 continued

Transactions in futures contracts for the year ended December 31, 2009, were as follows:

Limited Duration  
    NUMBER OF
CONTRACTS
 
Futures, outstanding at beginning of the period     249    
Futures opened     1,741    
Futures closed     (1,747 )  
Futures, outstanding at end of the period     243    
Income Plus  
    NUMBER OF
CONTRACTS
 
Futures, outstanding at beginning of the period     767    
Futures opened     6,051    
Futures closed     (5,954 )  
Futures, outstanding at end of the period     864    
S&P 500 Index  
    NUMBER OF
CONTRACTS
 
Futures, outstanding at beginning of the period     50    
Futures opened     268    
Futures closed     (285 )  
Futures, outstanding at end of the period     33    
Strategist  
    NUMBER OF
CONTRACTS
 
Futures, outstanding at beginning of the period     129    
Futures opened     782    
Futures closed     (838 )  
Futures, outstanding at end of the period     73    

 

Options For hedging and investment purposes, certain Portfolios may engage in transactions in listed and over-the-counter options. Risks may arise from an imperfect correlation between the change in the market value of the securities held by the Portfolios and the price of options relating to the securities purchased or sold by the Portfolios and from the possible lack of a liquid secondary market for an option.


167



Morgan Stanley Variable Investment Series

Notes to Financial Statements n December 31, 2009 continued

Transactions in options for the year ended December 31, 2009, were as follows:

Limited Duration  
    NUMBER OF
CONTRACTS
  COST  
Options purchased, outstanding at beginning of period     37     $ 33,398    
Options purchased     70       54,223    
Options closed     (107 )     (87,621 )  
Options purchased, outstanding at end of period              
    NUMBER OF
CONTRACTS
  PREMIUM  
Options written, outstanding at beginning of period     37     $ 18,402    
Options written     107       20,079    
Options closed     (144 )     (38,481 )  
Options written, outstanding at end of period              
Global Infrastructure  
    NUMBER OF
CONTRACTS
  PREMIUM  
Options written, outstanding at beginning of period              
Options written     671     $ 34,489    
Options closed     (76 )     (4,705 )  
Options written, outstanding at end of period     595     $ 29,784    
Dividend Growth  
    NUMBER OF
CONTRACTS
  PREMIUM  
Options written, outstanding at beginning of period              
Options written     1,824     $ 369,729    
Options expired     (959 )     (230,821 )  
Options closed     (807 )     (127,251 )  
Options written, outstanding at end of period     58     $ 11,657    
Strategist  
    NUMBER OF
CONTRACTS
  COST  
Options purchased, outstanding at beginning of period     33     $ 29,787    
Options purchased     66       51,125    
Options closed     (99 )     (80,912 )  
Options purchased, outstanding at end of period              

 


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Notes to Financial Statements n December 31, 2009 continued

    NUMBER OF
CONTRACTS
  PREMIUM  
Options written, outstanding at beginning of period     33     $ 16,413    
Options written     101       18,957    
Options closed     (134 )     (35,370 )  
Options written, outstanding at end of period              

 

Swaps Certain Portfolios may enter into swaps and may purchase or sell interest rate caps, floors and collars. The Portfolios expect to enter into these transactions primarily to manage interest rate risk, hedge portfolio positions and preserve a return or spread on a particular investment or portion of its portfolio. The Portfolios may also enter into these transactions to protect against any increase in the price of securities a Portfolio anticipates purchasing at a later date. Swap transactions are subject to market risk, risk of default by the other party to the transaction, risk of imperfect correlation and manager risk. Such risks may exceed the related amounts shown in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities.

Certain Portfolios may enter into credit default swaps for hedging purposes, to add leverage to its portfolio or to gain exposure to a credit in which the Portfolio may otherwise invest. Credit default swaps may involve greater risks than if the Portfolio had invested in the issuer directly. Credit default swaps are subject to general market risk, counterparty risk and credit risk. If the Portfolio is a buyer and no credit event occurs, it will lose its investment. In addition, if the Portfolio is a seller and a credit event occurs, the value of the referenced obligation received by the Portfolio coupled with the periodic payments previously received may be less than the maximum payout amount it pays to the buyer, resulting in a loss to the Portfolio.

Transactions in swap contracts for the year ended December 31, 2009, were as follows:

Limited Duration  
    NOTIONAL
AMOUNT
(000'S)
  NOTIONAL
AMOUNT
(000'S)
 
Swaps, outstanding at beginning of period   EUR 15,314     $ 107,808    
Swaps opened           72,503    
Swaps closed     (15,314 )     (155,628 )  
Swaps, outstanding at end of period         $ 24,683    

 


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Income Plus  
    NOTIONAL
AMOUNT
(000'S)
  NOTIONAL
AMOUNT
(000'S)
 
Swaps, outstanding at beginning of period   EUR 133,580     $ 492,370    
Swaps opened           102,925    
Swaps closed     (133,580 )     (589,630 )  
Swaps, outstanding at end of period         $ 5,665    
Strategist  
    NOTIONAL
AMOUNT
(000'S)
  NOTIONAL
AMOUNT
(000'S)
 
Swaps, outstanding at beginning of period   EUR 23,086     $ 71,762    
Swaps opened     6,772       50,633    
Swaps closed     (29,858 )     (103,513 )  
Swaps, outstanding at end of period         $ 18,882    

 

The following table sets forth the fair value of the Fund's derivative contracts by primary risk exposure as of December 31, 2009.

PORTFOLIO   PRIMARY RISK
EXPOSURE
  ASSET DERIVATIVE
BALANCE SHEET
LOCATION
  FAIR VALUE   LIABILITIES DERIVATIVE
BALANCE SHEET
LOCATION
  FAIR VALUE  
Limited Duration   Interest Rate   Variation margin   $ 227,437   Variation margin   $ (113,958 )†  
    Risk   Unrealized appreciation
on open swap contracts
    144,026     Unrealized depreciation
on open swap contracts
    (406,080 )  
            $ 371,463         $ (520,038 )  
Income Plus   Interest Rate   Variation margin   $ 1,814,839   Variation margin   $ (590,857 )†  
    Risk                          
    Credit Risk   Unrealized appreciation
on open swap contracts
    14,669     Unrealized depreciation
on open swap contracts
    (305,128 )  
            $ 1,829,508         $ (895,985 )  

 


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PORTFOLIO   PRIMARY RISK
EXPOSURE
  ASSET DERIVATIVE
BALANCE SHEET
LOCATION
  FAIR VALUE   LIABILITIES DERIVATIVE
BALANCE SHEET
LOCATION
  FAIR VALUE  
Global
Infrastructure
  Foreign
Currency Risk
  Unrealized appreciation
on open forward foreign
currency contracts
  $ 128,977     Unrealized depreciation
on open forward foreign
currency contracts
  $ (73,883 )  
    Equity Risk   Options purchased,
Investments, at value
        Written options
outstanding, at value
    (53,326 )  
            $ 128,977         $ (127,209 )  
Dividend Growth   Equity Risk   Options purchased,
Investments, at value
        Written options
outstanding, at value
  $ (3,422 )  
Global
Dividend Growth
  Foreign
Currency Risk
  Unrealized appreciation
on open forward foreign
currency contracts
  $ 482,066     Unrealized depreciation
on open forward foreign
currency contracts
  $ (60,621 )  
Strategist   Interest Rate   Variation Margin   $ 116,142   Variation Margin   $ (56,445 )†  
    Risk   Unrealized appreciation
on open swap contracts
    64,227     Unrealized depreciation
on open swap contracts
    (205,751 )  
    Credit Risk   Unrealized appreciation
on open swap contracts
        Unrealized depreciation
on open swap contracts
    (23,798 )  
            $ 180,369         $ (285,994 )  
S&P 500 Index   Equity Risk   Variation margin   $ 20,244   Variation margin        

 

†  Includes cumulative appreciation/depreciation of futures contracts as reported in the respective Portfolio of Investments. Only current day's variation margin is reported within the Statements of Assets and Liabilities.

The following tables set forth by primary risk exposure the Fund's realized gains (losses) and change in unrealized gains (losses) by type of derivative contract for the year ended December 31, 2009.

AMOUNT OF REALIZED GAIN (LOSS) ON DERIVATIVE CONTRACTS

PORTFOLIO   PRIMARY RISK
EXPOSURE
  FUTURES   SWAPS   OPTIONS
WRITTEN
  OPTIONS
PURCHASED††
  FORWARD
FOREIGN
CURRENCY
 
Limited Duration   Interest Rate Risk   $ (770,199 )   $ 2,485,576     $ (30,688 )   $ 10,670          
    Credit Risk           (29,125 )                    
    $ (770,199 )   $ 2,456,451     $ (30,688 )   $ 10,670          

 


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AMOUNT OF REALIZED GAIN (LOSS) ON DERIVATIVE CONTRACTS

PORTFOLIO   PRIMARY RISK
EXPOSURE
  FUTURES   SWAPS   OPTIONS
WRITTEN
  OPTIONS
PURCHASED††
  FORWARD
FOREIGN
CURRENCY
 
Income Plus   Interest Rate Risk   $ (4,200,425 )   $ 10,872,354                      
    Credit Risk           13,680                      
    Total   $ (4,200,425 )   $ 10,886,034                      
High Yield   Foreign Currency Risk                           $ 35    
Global Infrastructure   Equity Risk               $ 3,363                
    Foreign Currency Risk                           $ (587,377 )  
    Total               $ 3,363           $ (587,377 )  
Income Builder   Foreign Currency Risk                           $ (628 )  
Dividend Growth   Equity Risk               $ 218,965                
Global Dividend Growth   Foreign Currency Risk                           $ (1,359,983 )  
European Equity   Foreign Currency Risk                           $ (11,316 )  
Capital Opportunities   Foreign Currency Risk                           $ (3,460 )  
S&P 500 Index   Equity Risk   $ 244,431                            
Aggressive Equity   Foreign Currency Risk                           $ (96 )  
Strategist   Interest Rate Risk   $ 95,696     $ 1,686,850     $ (26,773 )   $ 6,850          
    Credit Risk           75,351                      
    Foreign Currency Risk                           $ 104    
    Total   $ 95,696     $ 1,762,201     $ (26,773 )   $ 6,850     $ 104    

 

CHANGE IN UNREALIZED APPRECIATION/DEPRECIATION ON DERIVATIVE CONTRACTS

PORTFOLIO   PRIMARY RISK
EXPOSURE
  FUTURES   SWAPS   OPTIONS
WRITTEN
  OPTIONS
PURCHASED††
  FORWARD
FOREIGN
CURRENCY
 
Limited Duration   Credit Risk         $ 87,715                      
    Interest Rate Risk   $ 615,755       (1,468,280 )   $ 35,017     $ (52,627 )        
    Total   $ 615,755     $ (1,380,565 )   $ 35,017     $ (52,627 )        
Income Plus   Interest Rate Risk   $ 5,076,776     $ (9,743,202 )                    
    Credit Risk           319,162                      
    Total   $ 5,076,776     $ (9,424,040 )                    
Global Infrastructure   Foreign Currency Risk                           $ 8,043    
    Equity Risk               $ (23,542 )              
    Total               $ (23,542 )         $ 8,043    

 


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CHANGE IN UNREALIZED APPRECIATION/DEPRECIATION ON DERIVATIVE CONTRACTS

PORTFOLIO   PRIMARY RISK
EXPOSURE
  FUTURES   SWAPS   OPTIONS
WRITTEN
  OPTIONS
PURCHASED††
  FORWARD
FOREIGN
CURRENCY
 
Dividend Growth   Equity Risk               $ 8,235                
Global Dividend Growth   Foreign Currency Risk                           $ 865,473    
S&P 500 Index   Equity Risk   $ (50,810 )                          
Strategist   Interest Rate Risk   $ (154,585 )   $ (1,101,193 )   $ 31,231     $ (46,938 )        
    Credit Risk           (40,049 )                    
    Total   $ (154,585 )   $ (1,141,242 )   $ 31,231     $ (46,938 )        

 

††  Amounts are included in Investments in the Statements of Operations.

4. Investment Advisory/Administration and Sub-Advisory Agreements

Pursuant to an Investment Advisory Agreement, the Fund pays the Investment Adviser an advisory fee, accrued daily and payable monthly, by applying the annual rates listed below to each Portfolios' net assets determined at the close of each business day.

Money Market — 0.45% to the portion of the daily net assets not exceeding $250 million; 0.375% to the portion of the daily net assets exceeding $250 million but not exceeding $750 million; 0.325% to the portion of the daily net assets exceeding $750 million but not exceeding $1.25 billion; 0.30% to the portion of the daily net assets exceeding $1.25 billion but not exceeding $1.5 billion and 0.275% to the portion of the daily net assets in excess of $1.5 billion.

Limited Duration — 0.30%.

Income Plus — 0.42% to the portion of the daily net assets not exceeding $500 million; 0.35% to the portion of the daily net assets exceeding $500 million but not exceeding $1.25 billion and 0.22% to the portion of the daily net assets in excess of $1.25 billion.

High Yield — 0.42% to the portion of the daily net assets not exceeding $500 million; 0.345% to the portion of the daily net assets exceeding $500 million but not exceeding $750 million; 0.295% to the portion of the daily net assets exceeding $750 million but not exceeding $1 billion; 0.27% to the portion of the daily net assets exceeding $1 billion but not exceeding $2 bil lion; 0.245% to the portion of the daily net assets exceeding $2 billion but not exceeding $3 billion and 0.22% to the portion of the daily net assets in excess of $3 billion.

Global Infrastructure — 0.57% to the portion of the daily net assets not exceeding $500 million; 0.47% to the portion of the daily net assets exceeding $500 million but not exceeding $1 billion; 0.445% to the portion of the


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daily net assets exceeding $1 billion but not exceeding $1.5 billion; 0.42% to the portion of the daily net assets exceeding $1.5 billion but not exceeding $2.5 billion; 0.395% to the portion of the daily net assets exceeding $2.5 billion but not exceeding $3.5 billion; 0.37% to the portion of the daily net assets exceeding $3.5 billion but not exceeding $5 billion and 0.345% to the portion of the daily net assets in excess of $5 billion.

Income Builder — 0.67% to the portion of the daily net assets not exceeding $500 million and 0.645% to the portion of the daily net assets in excess of $500 million.

Dividend Growth — 0.545% to the portion of the daily net assets not exceeding $250 million; 0.42% to the portion of the daily net assets exceeding $250 million but not exceeding $1 billion; 0.395% to the portion of the daily net assets exceeding $1 billion but not exceeding $2 billion and 0.37% to the portion of the daily net assets in excess of $2 billion.

Global Dividend Growth — 0.67% to the portion of the daily net assets not exceeding $1 billion; 0.645% to the portion of the daily net assets exceeding $1 billion but not exceeding $1.5 billion; 0.62% to the portion of the daily net assets exceeding $1.5 billion but not exceeding $2.5 billion; 0.595% to the portion of the daily net assets exceeding $2.5 billion but not exceeding $3.5 billion; 0.57% to the portion of the daily net assets exceeding $3.5 billion but not exceeding $4.5 billion and 0.545% to the portion of the daily net assets in excess of $4.5 billion.

European Equity — 0.87% to the portion of the daily net assets not exceeding $500 million; 0.82% to the portion of the daily net assets exceeding $500 million but not exceeding $2 billion; 0.77% to the portion of the daily net assets exceeding $2 billion but not exceeding $3 billion and 0.745% to the portion of the daily net assets in excess of $3 billion.

Capital Opportunities — 0.42% to the portion of the daily net assets not exceeding $1 billion; 0.395% to the portion of the daily net assets exceeding $1 billion but not exceeding $2 billion and 0.37% to the portion of the daily net assets in excess of $2 billion.

S&P 500 Index — 0.12% to the portion of the daily net assets not exceeding $2 billion and 0.10% to the portion of the daily net assets in excess of $2 billion.

Aggressive Equity — 0.67% to the portion of the daily net assets not exceeding $500 million; 0.645% to the portion of the daily net assets exceeding $500 million but not exceeding $2 billion; 0.62% to the portion of the daily net assets exceeding $2 billion but not exceeding $3 billion and 0.595% to the portion of the daily net assets in excess of $3 billion.


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Strategist — 0.42% to the portion of the daily net assets not exceeding $1.5 billion and 0.395% to the portion of the daily net assets in excess of $1.5 billion.

Under the Sub-Advisory Agreement between the Investment Adviser and the Sub-Adviser, the Sub-Adviser provides Income Plus (effective February 24, 2009), Global Infrastructure, Global Dividend Growth and European Equity with investment advisory services, subject to the overall supervision of the Investment Adviser and the Fund's Officers and Trustees. The Investment Adviser pays the Sub-Adviser on a monthly basis a portion of the net advisory fees the Investment Adviser receives from each Portfolio. Effective September 24, 2009, the Sub-Advisory Agreement was terminated and services previously provided by the Sub-Adviser are now being provided by the Investment Adviser for Income Plus.

The Investment Adviser has voluntarily agreed to cap European Equity and S&P 500 Index's operating expenses (except for brokerage and 12b-1 fees) by assuming the Portfolio's "other expenses" and/or waiving the Portfolio's advisory fees, and Morgan Stanley Services Company Inc. (the "Administrator") has agreed to waive the Portfolio's administrative fees, to the extent such operating expenses exceed 1.00% and 0.40%, respectively, of the average daily net assets of the Portfolio on an annualized basis.< /font>

Pursuant to an Administration Agreement with the Administrator, an affiliate of the Investment Adviser and Sub-Adviser, each Portfolio pays an administration fee, accrued daily and payable monthly, by applying the annual rate of 0.08% (Money Market 0.05%) to the Portfolio's daily net assets.

Under an 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.

5. Plan of Distribution

Shares of the Fund are distributed by Morgan Stanley Distributors Inc. (the "Distributor"), an affiliate of the Investment Adviser, Administrator and Sub-Adviser. The Fund has adopted a Plan of Distribution (the "Plan") pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Act. Under the Plan, Class Y shares of each Portfolio bear a distribution fee which is accrued daily and paid monthly at the annual rate of 0.25% of the average daily net assets of the class.

The Distributor, Investment Adviser and Administrator have voluntarily agreed to waive all or a portion of the Money Market Portfolio's distribution fee, investment advisory fee and administration fee, respectively, to the extent that total expenses exceed total income of the Money Market Portfolio on a daily basis. For the year ended December 31, 2009, the Distributor waived $229,767 and the Investment Adviser waived $385,514. This waiver may be terminated at any time.


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6. Security Transactions and Transactions with Affiliates

Each Portfolio (except Money Market) may invest in Morgan Stanley Institutional Liquidity Funds – Money Market Portfolio – Institutional Class, an open-end management investment company managed by an affiliate of the Investment Adviser, both directly, and as a portion of the securities held as collateral on loaned securities. Investment Advisory fees paid by the Portfolios are reduced by an amount equal to the advisory and administrative services fees paid by Morgan Stanley Institutional Liquidity Funds – Money Market Portfolio – Institutional Class with respect to assets invested by the Portfolios in Morgan Stanley Institutional Liquidity Funds – Money Market Portfolio – Institutional Class. For the year ended December 31, 2009, the tables below identify, for each Portfolio that invested in Morgan Stanley Institutional Liquidity Funds – Money Market Portfolio – Institutional Class, that a mount by which that Portfolio's advisory fees were reduced in relation to that Portfolio's investment in Morgan Stanley Institutional Liquidity Funds – Money Market Portfolio – Institutional Class.

In addition, the table also identifies the income distributions earned, if any, by each Portfolio for that Portfolio's investment in Morgan Stanley Institutional Liquidity Funds – Money Market Portfolio – Institutional Class.

Income distributions are included in "interest and dividends from affiliates" in the Statements of Operations.

PORTFOLIO   INCOME
DISTRIBUTION
EARNED
  ADVISORY FEE
REDUCTION
 
Limited Duration   $ 6,308     $ 2,429    
Income Plus     11,007       4,828    
High Yield     4,949       2,156    
Global Infrastructure     1,749       888    
Income Builder     3,896       1,836    
Dividend Growth     9,232       4,041    
Global Dividend Growth     4,041       1,775    
European Equity     2,699       1,185    
Capital Opportunities     13,991       8,241    
S&P 500 Index     3,806       1,546    
Aggressive Equity     3,093       1,357    
Strategist     103,166       47,722    

 


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During the year ended December 31, 2009, each Portfolio's cost of purchases and proceeds from sales of investments in Morgan Stanley Institutional Liquidity Funds – Money Market Portfolio – Institutional Class were as follows:

PORTFOLIO   PURCHASES   SALES  
Limited Duration   $ 70,071,727     $ 70,486,115    
Income Plus     119,001,732       118,033,360    
High Yield     14,647,614       14,626,379    
Global Infrastructure     46,496,933       46,218,013    
Income Builder     11,798,314       12,907,952    
Dividend Growth     44,598,674       44,289,875    
Global Dividend Growth     33,881,539       34,232,100    
European Equity     17,057,891       16,468,452    
Capital Opportunities     64,850,239       61,767,601    
S&P 500 Index     14,570,575       16,193,622    
Aggressive Equity     7,190,410       8,021,709    
Strategist     82,472,309       84,924,483    

 

Purchases and sales/prepayments/maturities of portfolio securities, excluding short-term investments (except Money Market), for the year ended December 31, 2009 were as follows:

    U.S. GOVERNMENT SECURITIES   OTHER  
    PURCHASES   SALES/PREPAYMENTS
MATURITIES
  PURCHASES   SALES/PREPAYMENTS
MATURITIES
 
Money Market               $ 22,775,509,134     $ 22,837,111,854    
Limited Duration   $ 37,925,251     $ 30,871,036       56,134,126       42,958,321    
Income Plus     1,880,559       1,343,273       180,839,507       193,253,478    
High Yield                 21,428,113       22,605,423    
Global Infrastructure                 224,177,409       236,610,263    
Income Builder                 13,843,901       17,347,034    
Dividend Growth                 101,507,590       128,233,312    
Global Dividend Growth                 66,622,109       78,341,398    
European Equity                 18,278,978       29,540,158    
Capital Opportunities                 50,130,141       90,572,500    
S&P 500 Index                 5,787,796       12,433,303    
Aggressive Equity                 6,125,534       9,641,891    
Strategist     49,599,014       47,060,178       97,752,955       121,087,898    

 


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The following Portfolios had transactions with the following affiliates of the Fund:

PORTFOLIO   ISSUER   PURCHASES   SALES/
MATURITIES
  NET REALIZED
GAINS(LOSS)
  INCOME   VALUE  
Limited Duration   MetLife Global   $ 542,846     $ 767,337     $ 5,183     $ 29,091     $ 541,475    
Income Plus   Allstate Corp. (The)     853,005                   38,003       977,622    
    MetLife, Inc.     1,588,753       613,392       1,256       119,224       2,209,289    
Dividend Growth   Allstate Corp. (The)           3,961,190       (2,450,660 )     57,728          
    MetLife, Inc.*     918,094             865 *     64,865       4,059,177 *  
S&P 500 Index   Allstate Corp. (The)           24,005       (3,959 )     5,898       203,791    
    MetLife, Inc.     8,923       25,068       (1,259 )     8,199       366,650    
    Morgan Stanley     88,960       28,700       (5,375 )     6,878       516,490    
Strategist   Allstate Corp. (The)     1,227,570       1,860,531       (344,854 )     10,393       58,192    
    MetLife, Inc.     90,679                   7,744       179,539    

 

*  Includes realized gain of $865 and a value of $3,422 for call options written issued by MetLife, Inc. See the "Options Written" section of the Portfolio of Investments for details.

The following Portfolio had transactions with Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc., an affiliate of the Investment Adviser, Distributor, Sub-Adviser and Administrator:

PORTFOLIO   PURCHASES   SALES   NET REALIZED
LOSS
  INCOME   VALUE  
Income Builder         $ 36,351     $ (18,449 )   $ 274          

 

For the period June 1, 2009 through December 31, 2009 the following Portfolios had transactions with Citigroup, Inc. an affiliate of the Investment Adviser, Distributor, Sub-Adviser and Administrator:

PORTFOLIO   PURCHASES   SALES   NET REALIZED
GAIN(LOSS)
  INCOME   VALUE  
Limited Duration   $ 599,430                 $ 44,678     $ 3,195,386    
Income Plus     4,240,694     $ 1,908,560     $ 77,394       279,020       7,892,255    
Income Builder     195,214                         153,915    
S&P 500 Index**     698,548       23,612       (154,828 )     770       845,983    
Strategist     1,333,320       444,680       (20,179 )     27,224       2,247,831    

 

**  Citigroup has been an affiliate of variable S&P 500 Index for the full year.


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The following Portfolios had transactions with other Morgan Stanley funds during the period ended December 31, 2009:

PORTFOLIO   PURCHASES   SALES   NET REALIZED
GAIN (LOSS)
 
Global Infrastructure   $ 3,674,823     $ 5,053,586     $ 435,067    
Capital Opportunities     1,252,908       10,914,552       (445,874 )  
Aggressive Equity     150,790       2,061,292       (84,055 )  

 

For the year ended December 31, 2009, the following Portfolios incurred brokerage commissions with Morgan Stanley & Co., Inc. an affiliate of the Investment Adviser, Distributor, Sub-Adviser and Administrator for portfolio transactions executed on behalf of each Portfolio:

GLOBAL
INFRASTRUCTURE
  INCOME
BUILDER
  DIVIDEND
GROWTH
  GLOBAL
DIVIDEND
  CAPITAL
OPPORTUNITIES
  AGGRESSIVE
EQUITY
  STRATEGIST  
$ 8,733     $ 1,186     $ 2,060     $ 6,630     $ 16,169     $ 1,587     $ 43,321    

 

For the period June 1, 2009 (the date on which Citigroup, Inc. became an affiliate of the Investment Adviser, Distributor, Sub-Adviser and Administrator) through December 31, 2009, the following Portfolios incurred brokerage commissions with Citigroup, Inc. for portfolio transactions executed on behalf of the Portfolio.

GLOBAL
INFRASTRUCTURE
  INCOME
BUILDER
  DIVIDEND
GROWTH
  GLOBAL
DIVIDEND
  EUROPEAN
EQUITY
  STRATEGIST  
$ 58     $ 20     $ 529     $ 2,805     $ 372     $ 5,140    

 

Morgan Stanley Trust, an affiliate of the Investment Adviser, Distributor, Sub-Adviser and Administrator is the Fund's transfer agent.

The Fund has an unfunded noncontributory defined benefit pension plan covering certain independent Trustees of the Fund who will have served as independent Trustees for at least five years at the time of retirement. Benefits under this plan are based on factors which include years of service and compensation. The Trustees voted to close the plan to new participants and eliminate the future benefits growth due to increases to compensation after July 31, 2003.


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Aggregate pension costs for the year ended December 31, 2009, included in "trustees' fees and expenses" in the Statements of Operations and the accrued pension liability included in "accrued expenses and other payables" in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities are as follows:

AGGREGATE PENSION COSTS

MONEY
MARKET
  LIMITED
DURATION
  INCOME PLUS   HIGH
YIELD
  GLOBAL
INFRASTRUCTURE
  INCOME
BUILDER
  DIVIDEND
GROWTH
  GLOBAL
DIVIDEND
GROWTH
 
$ 0     $ 2,885     $ 2,696     $ 2,713     $ 0     $ 411     $ 0     $ 2,110    
EUROPEAN
EQUITY
  CAPITAL
OPPORTUNITIES
  S&P 500
INDEX
  AGGRESSIVE
EQUITY
  STRATEGIST        
$ 1,315     $ 1,290     $ 4,813     $ 253     $ 0          

 

AGGREGATE PENSION LIABILITY

MONEY
MARKET
  LIMITED
DURATION
  INCOME PLUS   HIGH
YIELD
  GLOBAL
INFRASTRUCTURE
  INCOME
BUILDER
  DIVIDEND
GROWTH
  GLOBAL
DIVIDEND
GROWTH
 
$ 6,083     $ 2,763     $ 9,308     $ 1,178     $ 3,020     $ 1,185     $ 8,957     $ 3,177    
EUROPEAN
EQUITY
  CAPITAL
OPPORTUNITIES
  S&P 500
INDEX
  AGGRESSIVE
EQUITY
  STRATEGIST        
$ 2,835     $ 7,840     $ 4,575     $ 1,117     $ 6,939          

 

The Fund has an unfunded Deferred Compensation Plan (the "Compensation Plan") which allows each independent Trustee to defer payment of all, or a portion, of the fees he or she receives for serving on the Board of Trustees. 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 that are offered as investment options under the Compensation Plan. Appreciation/depreciation and distributions received from these investments are recorded with an offsetting increase/decrease in the deferred compensation obligation and do not affect the net asset value of the Fund.

7. Purposes of and Risks Relating to Certain Financial Instruments

Certain Portfolios may lend securities to qualified financial institutions, such as broker-dealers, to earn additional income. Risks in securities lending transactions are that a borrower may not provide additional


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collateral when required or return the securities when due, and that the value of the short-term investments will be less than the amount of cash collateral plus any rebate that is required to be returned to the borrower.

Certain Portfolios may invest in mortgage securities, including securities issued by Federal National Mortgage Assoc. ("FNMA") and Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp. ("FHLMC"). These are fixed income securities that derive their value from or represent interests in a pool of mortgages or mortgage securities. An unexpectedly high rate of defaults on the mortgages held by a mortgage pool may adversely affect the value of a mortgage backed security and could result in losses to the Portfolio. The risk of such defaults is generally higher in the case of mortgage pools that include subprime mortgages. Subprime mortgages refer to loans made to borrowers with weakened credit histories or with a lower capacity to make timely payments on their mortgages. The securities held by the Portfolios are not backed by sub-prime borrowers.

Additionally, securities issued by FNMA and FHLMC are not backed by or entitled to the full faith and credit of the United States; rather, they are supported by the right of the issuer to borrow from the Treasury.

The Federal Housing Finance Agency ("FHFA") serves as conservator of FNMA and FHLMC and the U.S. Department of the Treasury has agreed to provide capital as needed to ensure FNMA and FHLMC continue to provide liquidity to the housing and mortgage markets.

At December 31, 2009, European Equity's investments in securities of issuers in the United Kingdom and Germany represented 39.2% and 15.7%, respectively of the Portfolio's net assets. Global Dividend Growth's investments in securities of issuers in the United Kingdom represented 16.0% of the Portfolio's net assets. These investments, as well as other non-U.S. investments, which involve risks and considerations not present with respect to U.S. securities, may be affected by economic or political developmen ts in these countries.

8. Federal Income Tax Status

The amount of dividends and distributions from net investment income and net realized capital gains are determined in accordance with federal income tax regulations which may differ from GAAP. These "book/tax" differences are either considered temporary or permanent in nature. To the extent these differences are permanent in nature, such amounts are reclassified within the capital accounts based on their federal tax-basis treatment; temporary differences do not require reclassification. Dividends and distributions which exceed net investment income and net realized capital gains for tax purposes are reported as distributions of paid-in-capital.


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The tax character of distributions paid for the years ended December 31, 2008 and December 31, 2009 for all Portfolios was the same as the book character shown on the Statements of Changes in Net Assets except as follows:

    FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2008  
    GLOBAL
INFRASTRUCTURE
  INCOME
BUILDER
  GLOBAL
DIVIDEND
GROWTH
  EUROPEAN
EQUITY
 
Ordinary income   $ 2,244,933     $ 942,655     $ 6,775,077     $ 9,991,642    
Long-term capital gains     23,386,105       6,921,833       26,895,525       14,958,326    
Total distributions   $ 25,631,038     $ 7,864,488     $ 33,670,602     $ 24,949,968    

 

As of December 31, 2009, the tax-basis components of accumulated earnings (losses) were as follows:

    MONEY
MARKET
  LIMITED
DURATION
  INCOME PLUS   HIGH
YIELD
  GLOBAL
INFRASTRUCTURE
 
Undistributed ordinary income   $ 10,719     $ 2,459,571     $ 14,616,577     $ 2,648,766     $ 5,452,354    
Undistributed long-term gains                             3,194,733    
Net accumulated earnings     10,719       2,459,571       14,616,577       2,648,766       8,647,087    
Foreign tax credit pass-through                             69,968    
Capital loss carryforward*           (36,561,425 )     (39,609,608 )     (203,201,950 )        
Post-October losses           (9,937 )           (162,816 )     (462,366 )  
Temporary differences     (7,103 )     (3,139 )     (12,498 )     (272,114 )     (73,406 )  
Net unrealized appreciation
(depreciation)
          484,433       14,244,700       (50,583,503 )     10,030,950    
Total accumulated earnings (losses)   $ 3,616     $ (33,630,497 )   $ (10,760,829 )   $ (251,571,617 )   $ 18,212,233    
    INCOME
BUILDER
  DIVIDEND
GROWTH
  GLOBAL DIVIDEND
GROWTH
  EUROPEAN
EQUITY
  CAPITAL
OPPORTUNITIES
 
Undistributed ordinary income   $ 750,036     $ 4,059,676     $ 1,522,003     $ 1,837,265     $ 728,423    
Undistributed long-term gains                                
Net accumulated earnings     750,036       4,059,676       1,522,003       1,837,265       728,423    
Foreign tax credit pass-through                 29,606       58,704          
Capital loss carryforward*     (4,529,599 )     (211,469,197 )     (20,043,760 )     (11,892,933 )     (158,894,649 )  
Post-October losses     (99,064 )     (1,431,307 )           (21,039 )     (786 )  
Temporary differences     (1,870 )     (10,092 )     (33,204 )     (61,874 )     (8,839 )  
Net unrealized appreciation
(depreciation)
    1,624,450       7,562,807       13,652,580       5,603,132       46,532,988    
Total accumulated losses   $ (2,256,047 )   $ (201,288,113 )   $ (4,872,775 )   $ (4,476,745 )   $ (111,642,863 )  

 


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    S&P 500
INDEX
  AGGRESSIVE
EQUITY
  STRATEGIST  
Undistributed ordinary income   $ 2,194,404           $ 4,239,369    
Undistributed long-term gains                    
Net accumulated earnings     2,194,404             4,239,369    
Foreign tax credit pass-through                    
Capital loss carryforward*     (28,979,560 )   $ (15,109,400 )     (157,642 )  
Post-October losses           (88 )     (11,462 )  
Temporary differences     (5,111 )     (1,239 )     (8,754 )  
Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation)     22,397,344       6,074,053       23,543,994    
Total accumulated earnings (losses)   $ (4,392,923 )   $ (9,036,674 )   $ 27,605,505    

 

*  As of December 31, 2009, the following Portfolios had a net capital loss carryforward which may be used to offset future capital gains to the extent provided by regulations.

    (AMOUNTS IN THOUSANDS)  
AVAILABLE THROUGH
DECEMBER 31,
  2010   2011   2012   2013   2014   2015   2016   2017   TOTAL  
Limited Duration   $ 328     $ 1,546     $ 4,026     $ 1,267     $ 2,232     $ 1,063     $ 17,119     $ 8,980     $ 36,561    
Income Plus     15,205                               5,172       19,232             39,609    
High Yield     63,495       81,458       24,098       15,737       6,219             1,794       10,401       203,202    
Income Builder                                               4,530       4,530    
Dividend Growth     106,916       48,222                               19,117       37,214       211,469    
Global Dividend Growth                                         3,068       16,976       20,044    
European Equity                                               11,893       11,893    
Capital Opportunities     130,806                                     20,502       7,587       158,895    
S & P 500 Index     9,169             3,450       9,726       5,449                   1,185       28,979    
Aggressive Equity     13,085                                     1,612       412       15,109    
Strategist                                         158             158    

 

During the year ended December 31, 2009, the following Portfolios utilized net capital loss carryforwards: Income Plus — $1,658,505; Strategist — $2,984,722.


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At December 31, 2009, the primary reason(s) for significant temporary/permanent book/tax differences were as follows:

    TEMPORARY DIFFERENCES   PERMANENT DIFFERENCES  
    POST-
OCTOBER
LOSSES
  LOSS
DEFERRALS FROM
WASH SALES
  FOREIGN
CURRENCY
GAINS/LOSSES
  GAINS/
LOSSES ON