-----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, JrYcMO/Kxzk3mUE/vRBNK8K+nenwdl7CJR7wGCH9Oy7Ovz2kAk7hftt4v66ymNbk LP1HOzpZhZ/dTTJ6VZgwPA== 0000088053-10-000369.txt : 20100305 0000088053-10-000369.hdr.sgml : 20100305 20100305090611 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0000088053-10-000369 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: N-CSR PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 12 CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT: 20091231 FILED AS OF DATE: 20100305 DATE AS OF CHANGE: 20100305 EFFECTIVENESS DATE: 20100305 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: DWS COMMUNICATIONS FUND, INC. CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000731129 IRS NUMBER: 521319644 STATE OF INCORPORATION: MD FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: N-CSR SEC ACT: 1940 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 811-03883 FILM NUMBER: 10659111 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 345 PARK AVENUE CITY: NEW YORK STATE: NY ZIP: 10154-0004 BUSINESS PHONE: 212-454-6778 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 345 PARK AVENUE CITY: NEW YORK STATE: NY ZIP: 10154-0004 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: DWS COMMUNICATIONS FUND DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 20060207 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: SCUDDER FLAG INVESTORS COMMUNICATIONS FUND INC DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 20030519 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: FLAG INVESTORS COMMUNICATIONS FUND INC DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 19980430 0000731129 S000005938 DWS Communications Fund C000016369 Class A TISHX C000016370 Class B FTEBX C000016371 Class C FTICX C000016372 Institutional Class FLICX N-CSR 1 ar123109cf.htm DWS COMMUNICATIONS FUND

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D. C. 20549

 

FORM N-CSR

 

Investment Company Act file number

811-03883

 

DWS Communications Fund, Inc.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

 

345 Park Avenue

New York, NY 10154-0004

(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)

 

Registrant’s Telephone Number, including Area Code: (212) 454-7190

 

Paul Schubert

345 Park Avenue

New York, NY 10154-0004

(Name and Address of Agent for Service)

 

Date of fiscal year end:

12/31

 

Date of reporting period:

12/31/09

 

 

ITEM 1.           REPORT TO STOCKHOLDERS

 

 

DECEMBER 31, 2009

Annual Report
to Shareholders

 

 

DWS Communications Fund

 

com_cover270

Contents

4 Performance Summary

7 Information About Your Fund's Expenses

9 Portfolio Management Review

13 Portfolio Summary

15 Investment Portfolio

18 Financial Statements

22 Financial Highlights

26 Notes to Financial Statements

36 Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

37 Tax Information

38 Investment Management Agreement Approval

43 Summary of Management Fee Evaluation by Independent Fee Consultant

48 Board Members and Officers

52 Account Management Resources

This report must be preceded or accompanied by a prospectus. To obtain a summary prospectus, if available, or prospectus for any of our funds, refer to the Account Management Resources information provided in the back of this booklet. We advise you to consider the fund's objectives, risks, charges and expenses carefully before investing. The summary prospectus and prospectus contain this and other important information about the fund. Please read the prospectus carefully before you invest.

Any fund that concentrates in a particular segment of the market will generally be more volatile than a fund that invests more broadly. Investing in foreign securities, particularly those of emerging markets, presents certain risks, such as currency fluctuations, political and economic changes, and market risks. This fund is non-diversified and can take larger positions in fewer issues, increasing its potential risk. Stocks may decline in value. See the prospectus for details.

DWS Investments is part of Deutsche Bank's Asset Management division and, within the US, represents the retail asset management activities of Deutsche Bank AG, Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, Deutsche Investment Management Americas Inc. and DWS Trust Company.

NOT FDIC/NCUA INSURED NO BANK GUARANTEE MAY LOSE VALUE NOT A DEPOSIT NOT INSURED BY ANY FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AGENCY

Performance Summary December 31, 2009

Average Annual Total Returns as of 12/31/09

Unadjusted for Sales Charge

1-Year

3-Year

5-Year

10-Year

Class A

52.60%

-13.51%

-2.08%

-9.33%

Class B

51.48%

-14.03%

-2.72%

-10.03%

Class C

51.42%

-14.17%

-2.81%

-10.07%

Adjusted for the Maximum Sales Charge

 

 

 

 

Class A (max 5.75% load)

43.83%

-15.20%

-3.23%

-9.86%

Class B (max 4.00% CDSC)

48.48%

-14.59%

-2.91%

-10.03%

Class C (max 1.00% CDSC)

51.42%

-14.17%

-2.81%

-10.07%

No Sales Charges

 

 

 

 

Institutional Class

52.87%

-13.28%

-1.82%

-9.08%

MSCI World Index+

29.99%

-5.63%

2.01%

-0.24%

MSCI World Telecom Services Index++

13.67%

-2.09%

2.20%

-6.50%

Sources: Lipper Inc. and Deutsche Investment Management Americas Inc.

Performance in the Average Annual Total Returns table above and the Growth of an Assumed $10,000 Investment line graph that follows is historical and does not guarantee future results. Investment return and principal fluctuate, so your shares may be worth more or less when redeemed. Current performance may differ from performance data shown. Please visit www.dws-investments.com for the Fund's most recent month-end performance. Performance includes reinvestment of all distributions. Unadjusted returns do not reflect sales charges and would have been lower if they had.

The gross expense ratios of the Fund, as stated in the fee table of the prospectus dated May 1, 2009 are 1.79%, 2.66%, 2.70% and 1.33% for Class A, Class B, Class C and Institutional Class shares, respectively, and may differ from the expense ratios disclosed in the Financial Highlights tables in this report.

The Fund may charge a 2% fee for redemptions of shares held less than 15 days.

Index returns assume reinvestment of dividends and, unlike Fund returns, do not reflect any fees or expenses. It is not possible to invest directly into an index.

Performance figures do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or the redemption of fund shares.

High double-digit returns were achieved during favorable market conditions, may not be consistently achieved and should not be the sole factor in making your investment decision.

Growth of an Assumed $10,000 Investment (Adjusted for Maximum Sales Charge)

[] DWS Communications Fund — Class A

[] MSCI World Index+

[] MSCI World Telecom Services Index++

com_g10k220

Yearly periods ended December 31

The Fund's growth of an assumed $10,000 investment is adjusted for the maximum sales charge of 5.75%. This results in a net initial investment of $9,425.

The growth of $10,000 is cumulative.

Performance of other share classes will vary based on the sales charges and the fee structure of those classes.

+ The Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) World Index is an unmanaged, capitalization-weighted measure of global stock markets including the US, Canada, Europe, Australia and the Far East. The index is calculated using closing local market prices and translates into US dollars using the London close foreign exchange rates.
++ MSCI World Telecom Services Index is an unmanaged index that tracks telecom securities from around the world.

Net Asset Value and Distribution Information

 

Class A

Class B

Class C

Institutional Class

Net Asset Value:

12/31/09

$ 14.37

$ 13.25

$ 13.20

$ 14.69

12/31/08

$ 9.58

$ 8.82

$ 8.79

$ 9.81

Distribution Information:

Twelve Months as of 12/31/09:

Income Dividends*

$ .26

$ .13

$ .13

$ .33

* Includes $0.01 of tax return of capital.

Lipper Rankings — Telecommunication Funds Category as of 12/31/09

Period

Rank

 

Number of Fund Classes Tracked

Percentile Ranking (%)

Class A

1-Year

6

of

44

14

3-Year

29

of

35

81

5-Year

15

of

27

54

10-Year

5

of

9

50

Class B

1-Year

9

of

44

20

3-Year

30

of

35

84

5-Year

20

of

27

72

10-Year

6

of

9

60

Class C

1-Year

10

of

44

23

3-Year

31

of

35

87

5-Year

21

of

27

75

10-Year

7

of

9

70

Institutional Class

1-Year

5

of

44

12

3-Year

28

of

35

78

5-Year

13

of

27

47

10-Year

4

of

9

40

Source: Lipper Inc. Rankings are historical and do not guarantee future results. Rankings are based on total return unadjusted for sales charges with distributions reinvested. If sales charges had been included, rankings might have been less favorable.

Information About Your Fund's Expenses

As an investor of the Fund, you incur two types of costs: ongoing expenses and transaction costs. Ongoing expenses include management fees, distribution and service (12b-1) fees and other Fund expenses. Examples of transaction costs include sales charges (loads), redemption fees and account maintenance fees, which are not shown in this section. The following tables are intended to help you understand your ongoing expenses (in dollars) of investing in the Fund and to help you compare these expenses with the ongoing expenses of investing in other mutual funds. In the most recent six-month period, the Fund limited these expenses; had they not done so, expenses would have been higher. The example in the table is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the six-month period and held for the entire period (July 1, 2009 to December 31, 2009).

The tables illustrate your Fund's expenses in two ways:

Actual Fund Return. This helps you estimate the actual dollar amount of ongoing expenses (but not transaction costs) paid on a $1,000 investment in the Fund using the Fund's actual return during the period. To estimate the expenses 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 "Expenses Paid per $1,000" line under the share class you hold.

Hypothetical 5% Fund Return. This helps you to compare your Fund's ongoing expenses (but not transaction costs) with those of other mutual funds using the Fund's actual expense ratio and a hypothetical rate of return of 5% per year before expenses. Examples using a 5% hypothetical fund return may be found in the shareholder reports of other mutual funds. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period.

Please note that the expenses shown in these tables are meant to highlight your ongoing expenses only and do not reflect any transaction costs. The "Expenses Paid per $1,000" line of the tables is useful in comparing ongoing expenses only and will not help you determine the relative total expense of owning different funds. If these transaction costs had been included, your costs would have been higher.

Expenses and Value of a $1,000 Investment for the six months ended December 31, 2009

Actual Fund Return

Class A

Class B

Class C

Institutional Class

Beginning Account Value 7/1/09

$ 1,000.00

$ 1,000.00

$ 1,000.00

$ 1,000.00

Ending Account Value 12/31/09

$ 1,161.60

$ 1,158.70

$ 1,157.40

$ 1,163.80

Expenses Paid per $1,000*

$ 9.04

$ 11.81

$ 13.05

$ 7.58

Hypothetical 5% Fund Return

Class A

Class B

Class C

Institutional Class

Beginning Account Value 7/1/09

$ 1,000.00

$ 1,000.00

$ 1,000.00

$ 1,000.00

Ending Account Value 12/31/09

$ 1,016.84

$ 1,014.27

$ 1,013.11

$ 1,018.20

Expenses Paid per $1,000*

$ 8.44

$ 11.02

$ 12.18

$ 7.07

* Expenses are equal to the Fund's annualized expense ratio for each share class, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by the number of days in the most recent six-month period, then divided by 365.

Annualized Expense Ratios

Class A

Class B

Class C

Institutional Class

DWS Communications Fund

1.66%

2.17%

2.40%

1.39%

For more information, please refer to the Fund's prospectus.

Portfolio Management Review

DWS Communications Fund: A Team Approach to Investing

Deutsche Investment Management Americas Inc. ("DIMA" or the "Advisor"), which is part of Deutsche Asset Management, is the investment advisor for DWS Communications Fund. DIMA and its predecessors have more than 80 years of experience managing mutual funds and DIMA provides a full range of investment advisory services to institutional and retail clients.

Deutsche Asset Management is a global asset management organization that offers a wide range of investing expertise and resources. This well-resourced global investment platform brings together a wide variety of experience and investment insight across industries, regions, asset classes and investing styles.

DIMA is an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of Deutsche Bank AG. Deutsche Bank is a major global banking institution that is engaged in a wide range of financial services, including investment management, mutual funds, retail, private and commercial banking, investment banking, and insurance.

Portfolio Management

Ralf Oberbannscheidt

Portfolio Manager

On January 26, 2010, DIMA announced its intention to transition members of your fund's portfolio management team out of DIMA into a separate independent investment advisory firm that is not affiliated with DIMA. The transition is expected to be completed during the second quarter 2010. Following the transition, DIMA intends to retain portfolio management responsibilities for the fund.

Market Overview and Fund Performance

The views expressed in the following discussion reflect those of the portfolio manager only through the end of the period of the report as stated on the cover. The manager's views are subject to change at any time based on market and other conditions and should not be construed as a recommendation. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Current and future portfolio holdings are subject to risk.

Communications-related shares produced a strong absolute performance during 2009, but — as is typically the case when stocks are rising sharply — the sector underperformed the broader world markets. The MSCI World Telecom Services Index returned 13.67% during the calendar year, lagging the 29.99% return of the MSCI World Index.1,2 International telecoms outpaced their US counterparts, due to strong returns for emerging-market equities and substantial underperformance of the US giants Verizon* and AT&T Corp.*

The Class A shares of the fund produced a return of 52.60% during 2009, well ahead of the MSCI World Telecom Services Index. (Returns are unadjusted for sales charges. If sales charges had been included, returns would have been lower. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Please see pages 4 through 6 for the performance of other share classes and more complete performance information.)

Positive Attribution

The communications sector is truly global in nature, with technologies, equipment suppliers and consumption patterns all similar in most countries around the world. We therefore try to find the best investment ideas regardless of their location. Naturally, differences in the regulatory and competitive environments exist across regions, and we place significant emphasis on these nuances in our stock selection process. Our global focus allows us to identify trends, behavioral changes and technology shifts before they become mainstream. During the past year, the outstanding performance of international stocks in general, and emerging markets in particular, helped many of our overseas holdings to perform very well. Among the standouts were the Russian companies Vimplecom* and Comstar United Telesystems, both of which staged strong recoveries from their extremely depressed valuation levels of late 2008-early 2009.3 We also added value through our holdings in the Scandinavian telecom operators Telenor ASA and Tele2 AB, which benefited from their exposure to the Russian and eastern European markets.

Our large non-US weighting, which stood at 62% of assets at year-end, was funded in part by our underweights in the major US telecoms such as Verizon and AT&T.4 Our lower level of exposure to these growth-starved giants proved to be a key factor in our outperformance in 2009. We believe this helps illustrate the benefit of our flexibility. Rather than investing in low-growth US companies simply because they are heavily represented in the benchmark, we can look for more dynamic opportunities overseas.

Our performance was also helped by the additions we made at the depths of the bear market. At that time, many stocks in our universe were trading as though they were at risk of bankruptcy, so we conducted an intensive balance sheet analysis to find companies where we believed this fear was exaggerated. Two such companies were Sprint Nextel Corp. and Virgin Mobile,* which we believed offered a significant trade-off of risk and reward since they were not at risk of default on near-term debt obligations. As the credit environment began to improve, both stocks rebounded sharply and contributed positively to our performance.

The fund also gained a benefit from our avoidance of the Japanese communications sector, which represents nearly 9% of our benchmark. While these companies offer value in an absolute sense when measured by most traditional valuation measures, we saw no catalyst for growth given Japan's intense competition, weak economy and poor demographic trends. Our zero weighting added value for the fund relative to the index as Japanese stocks underperformed in 2009, losing 15% on average.

Negative Attribution

As would be expected at a time of strong performance for the fund, few of our holdings produced a negative absolute return. Instead, the majority of our detractors came from positions where we lost ground on a relative basis versus the index. Of these, most were underweights or non-holdings in stocks that outperformed. For example, shares of the Spanish operator Telefonica SA* rose 33.4% on the strength of its exposure to Latin America. Telefonica SA carries a heavy benchmark weighting of about 12%, and on average we were eight percentage points underweight in the stock throughout the year. Along the same line, our underweights in the tower companies — such as American Tower* and Crown Castle* — hurt relative performance given the strong returns for this subsector.

The largest detractor among the stocks we held was MetroPCS Communications Services, Inc., which specializes in prepaid calling plans. We liked the prospects for the prepaid segment in general, and we especially liked MetroPCS, since it owns its own infrastructure in only select metro areas. This provides the company with a lower cost structure, which enables it to compete on price. Unfortunately, the positive dynamics of the prepaid business attracted competition from all of the industry's major players: AT&T, Sprint, Verizon and T-Mobile. The result was severe price competition that weighed heavily on the results of MetroPCS.

Also detracting from performance was a position in Clearwire Corp.,* which lost ground in the early part of the year on concerns that it would not be able to raise enough new capital to maintain operations. While the company eventually succeeded in this endeavor, we sold out of the position in the first half of the year to eliminate what at the time was a significant downside risk.

Outlook and Positioning

The market environment of the past year was a classic example of the proverbial "rising tide lifting all boats." Underlying company fundamentals had little correlation with stock price performance and, in many cases, lower-quality stocks generated substantial outperformance. In 2010, we expect a much more selective environment in which individual stocks will need to deliver favorable earnings results in order to outperform. We intend to position the fund accordingly by maintaining our focus on companies with high free cash flows, healthy balance sheets and stable dividend yields. At the same time, we also intend to increase our focus on companies that we believe are well positioned to benefit from some key growth trends we have identified within the communications industry.

For example, we have increased the fund's weighting in the cable/satellite communications and communications equipment sectors, two areas where we see the potential for above-average revenue growth. We established positions in Time Warner Cable and Liberty Global Inc., whose cable assets enable them to carry higher levels of data without having to invest in additional capacity. We also believe suppliers to the handset equipment industry, such as Qualcomm Inc.,* ARM Holdings PLC* and Skyworks Solutions Inc.,* may be well positioned to benefit from rising smartphone adoption. We funded these increases by reducing the fund's weighting in integrated carriers, particularly those with a focus on wireless and data communications. Other growth trends or themes that we are monitoring include the rise of cloud computing, the strong growth of the emerging markets, and the potential for rising merger and acquisition activity.5

While communications-related stocks lagged the broader market in 2009, the telecom sector is now trading at historically low valuation levels. We believe this gives the sector a favorable risk/reward profile. Furthermore, we believe the sector offers a number of stock-specific opportunities for investors as constantly evolving technology gives rise to new opportunities.

1 The Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) World Telecom Services Index is an unmanaged index that tracks telecom securities from around the world.
2 The Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) World Index is an unmanaged, capitalization-weighted measure of global stock markets including the US, Canada, Europe, Australia and the Far East. The Index is calculated using closing local market prices and translates into US dollars using the London close foreign exchange rates.
Index returns assume reinvestment of dividends and, unlike fund returns, do not reflect any fees of expenses. It is not possible to invest directly into an index.
3 "Valuation" refers to the price investors pay for a given security. An asset can be undervalued, meaning that it trades for less than its intrinsic value, or overvalued, which means that it trades at a more expensive price than its underlying worth.
4 "Overweight" means the fund holds a higher weighting in a given sector or security than the benchmark. "Underweight" means the fund holds a lower weighting.
5 Cloud computing involves the use of a third-party service to gain access to computing resources and IT services via the Internet.
* Not held in the portfolio as of December 31, 2009.

High double-digit returns were achieved during favorable market conditions, may not be consistently achieved and should not be the sole factor in making your investment decision.

Portfolio Summary

Asset Allocation (As a % of Investment Portfolio Excluding Securities Lending Collateral)

12/31/09

12/31/08

 

 

 

Common Stocks

98%

100%

Cash Equivalents

1%

Participatory Notes

1%

 

100%

100%

Sector Diversification (As a % of Common Stocks and Participatory Notes)

12/31/09

12/31/08

 

 

 

National Carriers

45%

53%

Wireless Services

33%

31%

Media

11%

1%

Specialty Services

4%

15%

Communications Equipment

4%

Software & Applications

1%

Internet

1%

Semiconductors

1%

 

100%

100%

Geographical Diversification (As a % of Common Stocks and Participatory Notes)

12/31/09

12/31/08

 

 

 

Europe (excluding United Kingdom)

40%

50%

United States

38%

25%

United Kingdom

11%

9%

Russia

4%

6%

Canada

2%

4%

Australia

2%

Latin America

2%

6%

Middle East

1%

 

100%

100%

Asset allocation, sector diversification and geographical diversification are subject to change.

Ten Largest Equity Holdings at December 31, 2009 (57.3% of Net Assets)

1. Deutsche Telekom AG
Offers fixed-line and mobile telephone and information technology services for business

9.9%

2. Vodafone Group PLC
Provides a range of mobile telecommunications services

9.5%

3. Sprint Nextel Corp.
Provider of telecommunication services to consumers, businesses and government sectors

8.0%

4. Qwest Communications International, Inc.
Provides broadband Internet-based data, voice and image communications services

7.9%

5. Time Warner Cable, Inc.
Offers cable television subscription services

4.8%

6. Comstar United Telesystems OJSC
Provides telephone, data and Internet services

4.4%

7. Telekom Austria AG
Offers telecommunications services primarily in Austria

3.5%

8. MetroPCS Communications, Inc.
Provides wireless communication services

3.3%

9. Tele2 AB
Offers telecommunications services through three subsidiaries, mainly in Europe

3.1%

10. Vivendi
Provides digital and pay television services

2.9%

Portfolio holdings are subject to change.

For more complete details about the Fund's investment portfolio, see page 15. A quarterly Fact Sheet is available upon request. A complete list of the Fund's portfolio holdings is posted as of the month end on www.dws-investments.com on or about the 15th day of the following month. More frequent posting of portfolio holdings information may be made from time to time on www.dws-investments.com. Please see the Account Management Resources section for contact information.

Following the Fund's fiscal first and third quarter-end, a complete portfolio holdings listing is filed with the SEC on Form N-Q. The form will be available on the SEC's Web site at www.sec.gov, and it also may be reviewed and copied at the SEC's Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C. Information on the operation of the SEC's Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling (800) SEC-0330.

Investment Portfolio as of December 31, 2009

 

Shares

Value ($)

 

 

Common Stocks 96.6%

Communications Equipment 2.9%

Harris Corp.

36,800

1,749,840

Spirent Communications PLC

1,244,869

2,038,031

 

3,787,871

Internet 1.0%

Fastweb*

47,616

1,312,946

Media 10.3%

Liberty Global, Inc. "A"* (a)

27,600

604,716

Time Warner Cable, Inc.

152,600

6,316,114

TiVo, Inc.* (a)

274,600

2,795,428

Vivendi

131,007

3,867,548

 

13,583,806

National Carriers 44.4%

Belgacom SA

100,100

3,610,597

Cincinnati Bell, Inc.*

397,100

1,369,995

Comstar United Telesystems OJSC (GDR)

1,052,641

5,789,525

Deutsche Telekom AG (ADR) (a)

220,300

3,238,410

Deutsche Telekom AG (Registered)

658,300

9,722,435

Elisa Oyj

98,700

2,254,856

Freenet AG*

143,360

1,927,826

Hellenic Telecommunications Organization SA

134,700

1,972,205

Maxcom Telecomunicaciones SAB de CV (ADR)* (a)

325,400

1,975,178

Qwest Communications International, Inc.

2,446,500

10,299,765

Telecom Corp. of New Zealand Ltd.

1,376,200

2,491,430

Telecom Italia SpA

1,755,800

2,723,134

Telekom Austria AG

324,100

4,627,361

Telenor ASA*

198,500

2,784,305

Telephone & Data Systems, Inc.

40,100

1,360,192

Telstra Corp., Ltd.

687,000

2,105,359

 

58,252,573

Semiconductors 0.6%

Lam Research Corp.* (a)

19,900

780,279

Software & Applications 1.2%

CommVault Systems, Inc.*

67,600

1,601,444

Specialty Services 4.1%

Gemalto NV*

30,878

1,328,888

Tele2 AB "B"

262,100

4,015,339

 

5,344,227

Wireless Services 32.1%

MetroPCS Communications, Inc.* (a)

572,900

4,371,227

Motorola, Inc.*

492,400

3,821,024

Orascom Telecom Holding SAE (GDR) REG S

110,900

2,510,942

Research In Motion Ltd.*

48,000

3,241,920

Sprint Nextel Corp.*

2,855,518

10,451,196

Syniverse Holdings, Inc.*

148,700

2,599,276

Turkcell Iletisim Hizmetleri AS (ADR)

158,800

2,777,412

Vodafone Group PLC

5,365,586

12,425,091

 

42,198,088

Total Common Stocks (Cost $124,160,074)

126,861,234

 

Participatory Note 0.9%

Communications Equipment

Mobile Telecommunications Co. (issuer Merrill Lynch International & Co.), Expiration Date 12/6/2010* (Cost $1,204,591)

318,600

1,115,387

 

Securities Lending Collateral 6.3%

Daily Assets Fund Institutional, 0.17% (b) (c) (Cost $8,275,164)

8,275,164

8,275,164

 

Cash Equivalents 1.0%

Central Cash Management Fund, 0.14% (b) (Cost $1,371,066)

1,371,066

1,371,066

 

% of Net Assets

Value ($)

 

 

Total Investment Portfolio (Cost $135,010,895)+

104.8

137,622,851

Other Assets and Liabilities, Net

(4.8)

(6,348,226)

Net Assets

100.0

131,274,625

* Non-income producing security.
+ The cost for federal income tax purposes was $140,780,298. At December 31, 2009, net unrealized depreciation for all securities based on tax cost was $3,157,447. This consisted of aggregate gross unrealized appreciation for all securities in which there was an excess of value over tax cost of $11,779,273 and aggregate gross unrealized depreciation for all securities in which there was an excess of tax cost over value of $14,936,720.
(a) All or a portion of these securities were on loan (see Notes to Financial Statements). The value of all securities loaned at December 31, 2009 amounted to $7,888,444, which is 6.0% of net assets.
(b) Affiliated fund managed by Deutsche Investment Management Americas Inc. The rate shown is the annualized seven-day yield at period end.
(c) Represents collateral held in connection with securities lending. Income earned by the Fund is net of borrower rebates.

ADR: American Depositary Receipt

GDR: Global Depositary Receipt

REG S: Securities sold under Regulation S may not be offered, sold or delivered within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, US persons, except pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933.

Fair Value Measurements

Various inputs are used in determining the value of the Fund's investments. These inputs are summarized in three broad levels. Level 1 includes quoted prices in active markets for identical securities. Level 2 includes other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for similar securities, interest rates, prepayment speeds, and credit risk). Level 3 includes 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.

The following is a summary of the inputs used as of December 31, 2009 in valuing the Fund's investments. For information on the Fund's policy regarding the valuation of investments, please refer to the Security Valuation section of Note A in the accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.

Assets

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Total

Common Stocks and/or Other Equity Investments

Communications Equipment

$ 1,749,840

$ 3,153,418

$ —

$ 4,903,258

Internet

1,312,946

1,312,946

Media

9,716,258

3,867,548

13,583,806

National Carriers

18,243,540

40,009,033

58,252,573

Semiconductors

780,279

780,279

Software & Applications

1,601,444

1,601,444

Specialty Services

5,344,227

5,344,227

Wireless Services

27,262,055

14,936,033

42,198,088

Other Receivable**

2,435,216

2,435,216

Short-Term Investments (d)

9,646,230

9,646,230

Total

$ 68,999,646

$ 68,623,205

$ 2,435,216

$ 140,058,067

(d) See Investment Portfolio for additional detailed categorizations.

Level 3 Reconciliation

The following is a reconciliation of the Fund's Level 3 other receivable for which significant unobservable inputs were used in determining value:

 

Other Receivable**

Balance as of December 31, 2008

$ —

Realized gains (loss)

Change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation)

1,383,947

Amortization premium/discount

Net purchases (sales)

Net transfers in (out) of Level 3

1,051,269

Balance as of December 31, 2009

$ 2,435,216

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) from investments still held as of December 31, 2009

$ 1,383,947

** Other receivable represents the fair value of the pending sale of participatory notes for which Lehman Brothers is the counterparty. The Fund is in the process of claiming Lehman Brothers.

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

Financial Statements

Statement of Assets and Liabilities as of December 31, 2009

Assets

Investments:

Investments in securities, at value (cost $125,364,665) — including $7,888,444 of securities loaned

$ 127,976,621

Investment in Daily Assets Fund Institutional (cost $8,275,164)*

8,275,164

Investment in Central Cash Management Fund (cost $1,371,066)

1,371,066

Total investments, at value (cost $135,010,895)

137,622,851

Foreign currency, at value (cost $137)

136

Due from Advisor

81

Dividends receivable

230,529

Interest receivable

4,646

Receivable for Fund shares sold

16,627

Foreign taxes recoverable

170,780

Other receivable**

2,435,216

Other assets

39,697

Total assets

140,520,563

Liabilities

Payable upon return of securities loaned

8,275,164

Payable for investments purchased

476,901

Payable for Fund shares redeemed

242,149

Accrued management fee

67,881

Other accrued expenses and payables

183,843

Total liabilities

9,245,938

Net assets, at value

$ 131,274,625

Net Assets Consist of

Distributions in excess of net investment income

(14,332)

Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on:

Investments

2,611,956

Other receivable

(10,311,936)

Foreign currency

(17,974)

Accumulated net realized gain (loss)

(400,442,724)

Paid-in capital

539,449,635

Net assets, at value

$ 131,274,625

* Represents collateral on securities loaned.
** Other receivable represents the fair value of the pending sale of participatory notes for which Lehman Brothers is the counterparty. The Fund is in the process of claiming Lehman Brothers.

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

Statement of Assets and Liabilities as of December 31, 2009 (continued)

Net Asset Value

Class A

Net Asset Value and redemption price(a) per share ($123,678,655 ÷ 8,607,821 shares of capital stock outstanding, $.001 par value, 75,000,000 shares authorized)

$ 14.37

Maximum offering price per share (100 ÷ 94.25 of $14.37)

$ 15.25

Class B

Net Asset Value, offering and redemption price(a) (subject to contingent deferred sales charge) per share ($1,008,653 ÷ 76,106 shares of capital stock outstanding, $.001 par value, 30,000,000 shares authorized)

$ 13.25

Class C

Net Asset Value, offering and redemption price(a) (subject to contingent deferred sales charge) per share ($4,926,098 ÷ 373,281 shares of capital stock outstanding, $.001 par value, 15,000,000 shares authorized)

$ 13.20

Institutional Class

Net Asset Value, offering and redemption price(a) per share ($1,661,219 ÷ 113,059 shares of capital stock outstanding, $.001 par value, 15,000,000 shares authorized)

$ 14.69

(a) Redemption price per share for shares held less than 15 days is equal to net asset value less a 2% redemption fee.

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

Statement of Operations for the year ended December 31, 2009

Investment Income

Income:
Dividends (net of foreign taxes withheld of $243,856)

$ 3,867,399

Interest

81

Income distributions — affiliated cash management vehicles

4,454

Securities lending income, including income from Daily Assets Fund Institutional, net of borrower rebates

98,015

Total Income

3,969,949

Expenses:
Management fee

1,122,306

Administration fee

113,898

Services to shareholders

431,485

Custodian fee

88,942

Distribution and service fees

281,902

Legal fees

140,582

Audit and tax fees

52,673

Directors' fees and expenses

5,253

Reports to shareholders

68,337

Registration fees

44,729

Other

20,681

Total expenses before expense reductions

2,370,788

Expense reductions

(509,372)

Total expenses after expense reductions

1,861,416

Net investment income (loss)

2,108,533

Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss)

Net realized gain (loss) from:
Investments

(19,931,607)

Foreign currency

11,270

 

(19,920,337)

Change in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on:
Investments

64,284,071

Other receivable

1,383,947

Foreign currency

3,637

 

65,671,655

Net gain (loss)

45,751,318

Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations

$ 47,859,851

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

Statement of Changes in Net Assets

Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets

Years Ended December 31,

2009

2008

Operations:
Net investment income (loss)

$ 2,108,533

$ 3,339,534

Net realized gain (loss)

(19,920,337)

(4,832,209)

Change in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation)

65,671,655

(147,075,254)

Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations

47,859,851

(148,567,929)

Distributions to shareholders from:
Net investment income:

Class A

(2,051,821)

(3,003,507)

Class B

(9,612)

(25,465)

Class C

(47,235)

(99,794)

Institutional Class

(38,409)

(74,820)

Tax return of capital

Class A

(63,210)

Class B

(296)

Class C

(1,455)

Institutional Class

(1,183)

Total distributions

(2,213,221)

(3,203,586)

Fund share transactions:
Proceeds from shares sold

28,735,521

13,453,538

Reinvestment of distributions

1,839,694

2,706,333

Cost of shares redeemed

(38,312,723)

(61,489,310)

Redemption fees

6,848

988

Net increase (decrease) in net assets from Fund share transactions

(7,730,660)

(45,328,451)

Increase (decrease) in net assets

37,915,970

(197,099,966)

Net assets at beginning of period

93,358,655

290,458,621

Net assets at end of period (including distributions in excess of net investment income and undistributed net investment income of $14,332 and $12,942, respectively)

$ 131,274,625

$ 93,358,655

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

Financial Highlights

Class A

Years Ended December 31,

2009

2008

2007

2006

2005

Selected Per Share Data

Net asset value, beginning of period

$ 9.58

$ 23.26

$ 23.38

$ 19.30

$ 16.79

Income (loss) from investment operations:

Net investment income (loss)a

.23

.31

(.08)

(.03)

(.03)

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)

4.82

(13.66)

(.04)

4.11

2.54

Total from investment operations

5.05

(13.35)

(.12)

4.08

2.51

Less distributions from:

Net investment income

(.25)

(.33)

Tax return of capital

(.01)

Total distributions

(.26)

(.33)

Redemption fees

.00*

.00*

.00*

.00*

.00*

Net asset value, end of period

$ 14.37

$ 9.58

$ 23.26

$ 23.38

$ 19.30

Total Return (%)b,c

52.60

(57.39)

(.51)

21.14

14.95

Ratios to Average Net Assets and Supplemental Data

Net assets, end of period ($ millions)

124

87

269

329

295

Ratio of expenses before expense reductions (%)

2.05

1.79

1.49

1.63

1.58

Ratio of expenses after expense reductions (%)

1.61

1.46

1.44

1.49

1.43

Ratio of net investment income (loss) (%)

1.89

1.86

(.32)

(.13)

(.18)

Portfolio turnover rate (%)

148

118

39

27

21

a Based on average shares outstanding during the period.
b Total return does not reflect the effect of any sales charges.
c Total return would have been lower had certain expenses not been reduced.
* Amount is less than $.005.

Class B

Years Ended December 31,

2009

2008

2007

2006

2005

Selected Per Share Data

Net asset value, beginning of period

$ 8.82

$ 21.33

$ 21.61

$ 17.96

$ 15.75

Income (loss) from investment operations:

Net investment income (loss)a

.14

.23

(.23)

(.15)

(.13)

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)

4.42

(12.50)

(.05)

3.80

2.34

Total from investment operations

4.56

(12.27)

(.28)

3.65

2.21

Less distributions from:

Net investment income

(.12)

(.24)

Tax return of capital

(.01)

Total distributions

(.13)

(.24)

Redemption fees

.00*

.00*

.00*

.00*

.00*

Net asset value, end of period

$ 13.25

$ 8.82

$ 21.33

$ 21.61

$ 17.96

Total Return (%)b,c

51.48

(57.50)

(1.30)

20.32

14.03

Ratios to Average Net Assets and Supplemental Data

Net assets, end of period ($ millions)

1

1

5

10

27

Ratio of expenses before expense reductions (%)

3.20

2.66

2.66

2.47

2.33

Ratio of expenses after expense reductions (%)

2.23

2.03

2.19

2.24

2.18

Ratio of net investment income (loss) (%)

1.23

1.29

(1.07)

(.88)

(.93)

Portfolio turnover rate (%)

148

118

39

27

21

a Based on average shares outstanding during the period.
b Total return does not reflect the effect of any sales charges.
c Total return would have been lower had certain expenses not been reduced.
* Amount is less than $.005.

Class C

Years Ended December 31,

2009

2008

2007

2006

2005

Selected Per Share Data

Net asset value, beginning of period

$ 8.79

$ 21.35

$ 21.63

$ 17.98

$ 15.77

Income (loss) from investment operations:

Net investment income (loss)a

.12

.21

(.23)

(.15)

(.14)

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)

4.42

(12.53)

(.05)

3.80

2.35

Total from investment operations

4.54

(12.32)

(.28)

3.65

2.21

Less distributions from:

Net investment income

(.12)

(.24)

Tax return of capital

(.01)

Total distributions

(.13)

(.24)

Redemption fees

.00*

.00*

.00*

.00*

.00*

Net asset value, end of period

$ 13.20

$ 8.79

$ 21.35

$ 21.63

$ 17.98

Total Return (%)b,c

51.42

(57.69)

(1.29)

20.30

14.01

Ratios to Average Net Assets and Supplemental Data

Net assets, end of period ($ millions)

5

4

11

13

13

Ratio of expenses before expense reductions (%)

3.00

2.70

2.38

2.43

2.33

Ratio of expenses after expense reductions (%)

2.36

2.21

2.19

2.24

2.18

Ratio of net investment income (loss) (%)

1.04

1.11

(1.07)

(.88)

(.93)

Portfolio turnover rate (%)

148

118

39

27

21

a Based on average shares outstanding during the period.
b Total return does not reflect the effect of any sales charges.
c Total return would have been lower had certain expenses not been reduced.
* Amount is less than $.005.

Institutional Class

Years Ended December 31,

2009

2008

2007

2006

2005

Selected Per Share Data

Net asset value, beginning of period

$ 9.81

$ 23.83

$ 23.88

$ 19.66

$ 17.06

Income (loss) from investment operations:

Net investment income (loss)a

.26

.35

.00

.02

.01

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)

4.95

(14.00)

(.05)

4.20

2.59

Total from investment operations

5.21

(13.65)

(.05)

4.22

2.60

Less distributions from:

Net investment income

(.32)

(.37)

Tax return of capital

(.01)

Total distributions

(.33)

(.37)

Redemption fees

.00*

.00*

.00*

.00*

.00*

Net asset value, end of period

$ 14.69

$ 9.81

$ 23.83

$ 23.88

$ 19.66

Total Return (%)

52.87b

(57.25)b

(.21)

21.46b

15.24b

Ratios to Average Net Assets and Supplemental Data

Net assets, end of period ($ millions)

2

2

5

4

2

Ratio of expenses before expense reductions (%)

1.52

1.33

1.10

1.33

1.33

Ratio of expenses after expense reductions (%)

1.34

1.21

1.10

1.24

1.18

Ratio of net investment income (loss) (%)

2.07

2.11

.02

.12

.07

Portfolio turnover rate (%)

148

118

39

27

21

a Based on average shares outstanding during the period.
b Total return would have been lower had certain expenses not been reduced.
* Amount is less than $.005.

Notes to Financial Statements

A. Organization and Significant Accounting Policies

DWS Communications Fund, Inc. (the "Fund") is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act"), as an open-end, non-diversified management investment company organized as a Maryland corporation.

The Fund offers multiple classes of shares which provide investors with different purchase options. Class A shares are offered to investors subject to an initial sales charge. Class B shares are offered to investors without an initial sales charge but are subject to higher ongoing expenses than Class A shares and a contingent deferred sales charge payable upon certain redemptions. Class B shares automatically convert to Class A shares six years after issuance. Effective March 1, 2010, Class B shares of the Fund will be closed to new purchases, except that Class B shares may continue to be purchased in connection with an exchange or the reinvestment of dividends or other distributions (including the investment of dividends and distributions in Class B shares of another fund). Class C shares are offered to investors without an initial sales charge but are subject to higher ongoing expenses than Class A shares and a contingent deferred sales charge payable upon certain redemptions within one year of purchase. Class C shares do not automatically convert into another class. Institutional Class shares are offered to a limited group of investors, are not subject to initial or contingent deferred sales charges and have lower ongoing expenses than other classes.

Investment income, realized and unrealized gains and losses, and certain fund-level expenses and expense reductions, if any, are borne pro rata on the basis of relative net assets by the holders of all classes of shares, except that each class bears certain expenses unique to that class such as services to shareholders, distribution and service fees and certain other class-specific expenses. Differences in class-level expenses may result in payment of different per share dividends by class. All shares of the Fund have equal rights with respect to voting subject to class-specific arrangements.

The Fund's financial statements are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America which require the use of management estimates. Actual results could differ from those estimates. The policies described below are followed consistently by the Fund in the preparation of its financial statements.

Security Valuation. Investments are stated at value determined as of the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange on each day the exchange is open for trading. Equity securities are valued at the most recent sale price or official closing price reported on the exchange (US or foreign) or over-the-counter market on which they trade. Securities for which no sales are reported are valued at the calculated mean between the most recent bid and asked quotations on the relevant market or, if a mean cannot be determined, at the most recent bid quotation.

Money market instruments purchased with an original or remaining maturity of sixty days or less, maturing at par, are valued at amortized cost. Investments in open-end investment companies are valued at their net asset value each business day.

Securities and other assets for which market quotations are not readily available or for which the above valuation procedures are deemed not to reflect fair value are valued in a manner that is intended to reflect their fair value as determined in accordance with procedures approved by the Directors. The Fund may use a fair valuation model to value international equity securities in order to adjust for events which may occur between the close of the foreign exchanges and the close of the New York Stock Exchange. In accordance with the Fund's valuation procedures, factors used in determining value may include, but are not limited to, the type of the security, the size of the holding, the initial cost of the security, the existence of any contractual restrictions on the security's disposition, the price and extent of public trading in similar securities of the issuer or of comparable companies, quotations or evaluated prices from broker-dealers and/or pricing services, information obtained from the issuer, analysts, and/or the appropriate stock exchange (for exchange-traded securities), an analysis of the company's or issuer's financial statements, an evaluation of the forces that influence the issuer and the market(s) in which the security is purchased and sold and with respect to debt securities, the maturity, coupon, creditworthiness, currency denomination, and the movement of the market in which the security is normally traded. The value determined under these procedures may differ from published values for the same securities.

Disclosure about the classification of fair value measurements is included in a table following the Fund's Investment Portfolio.

Securities Lending. The Fund may lend securities to certain financial institutions. The Fund retains beneficial ownership of the securities it has loaned and continues to receive interest and dividends paid by the issuer of securities and to participate in any changes in their market value. The Fund requires the borrowers of the securities to maintain collateral with the Fund consisting of either cash or liquid, unencumbered assets having a value at least equal to the value of the securities loaned. When the collateral falls below specified amounts, the lending agents will use their best efforts to obtain additional collateral on the next business day to meet required amounts under the security lending agreement. The Fund may invest the cash collateral into a joint trading account in an affiliated money market fund pursuant to Exemptive Orders issued by the SEC. The Fund receives compensation for lending its securities either in the form of fees or by earning interest on invested cash collateral net of borrower rebates and fees paid to a lending agent. Either the Fund or the borrower may terminate the loan. There may be risks of delay and costs in recovery of securities or even loss of rights in the collateral should the borrower of the securities fail financially. The Fund is also subject to all investment risks associated with the reinvestment of any cash collateral received, including, but not limited to, interest rate, credit and liquidity risk associated with such investments.

Foreign Currency Translations. The books and records of the Fund are maintained in US dollars. Investment securities and other assets and liabilities denominated in a foreign currency are translated into US dollars at the prevailing exchange rates at period end. Purchases and sales of investment securities, income and expenses are translated into US dollars at the prevailing exchange rates on the respective dates of the transactions.

Net realized and unrealized gains and losses on foreign currency transactions represent net gains and losses between trade and settlement dates on securities transactions, the disposition of forward foreign currency exchange contracts and foreign currencies, and the difference between the amount of net investment income accrued and the US dollar amount actually received. That portion of both realized and unrealized gains and losses on investments that results from fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates is not separately disclosed but is included with net realized and unrealized gain/appreciation and loss/depreciation on investments.

Derivatives. Authoritative accounting guidance requires that disclosures about the Fund's derivative and hedging activities and derivatives accounted for as hedging instruments must be disclosed separately from derivatives that do not qualify for hedge accounting. Because investment companies account for their derivatives at fair value and record any changes in fair value in current period earnings, the Fund's derivatives are not accounted for as hedging instruments. As such, even though the Fund may use derivatives in an attempt to achieve an economic hedge, the Fund's derivatives are not considered to be hedging instruments. The disclosure below is presented in accordance with authoritative accounting guidance.

Options. An option contract is a contract in which the writer (seller) of the option grants the buyer of the option, upon payment of a premium, the right to purchase from (call option), or sell to (put option), the writer a designated instrument at a specified price within a specified period of time. Certain options, including options on indices, will require cash settlement by the Fund if the option is exercised. The Fund enters into option contracts in order to hedge against potential adverse price movements in the value of portfolio assets; as a temporary substitute for selling and purchasing selected investments; to lock in the purchase price of a security or currency which it expects to purchase in the near future and to enhance potential gain.

The liability representing the Fund's obligation under an exchange traded written option or investment in a purchased option is valued at the last sale price or, in the absence of a sale, the mean between the closing bid and asked prices or at the most recent asked price (bid for purchased options) if no bid and asked prices are available. Over-the-counter written or purchased options are valued using dealer supplied quotations. Gain or loss is recognized when the option contract expires or is closed.

If the Fund writes a covered call option, the Fund foregoes, in exchange for the premium, the opportunity to profit during the option period from an increase in the market value of the underlying security above the exercise price. If the Fund writes a put option it accepts the risk of a decline in the market value of the underlying security below the exercise price. Over-the-counter options have the risk of the potential inability of counterparties to meet the terms of their contracts. The Fund's maximum exposure to purchased options is limited to the premium initially paid. In addition, certain risks may arise upon entering into option contracts including the risk that an illiquid secondary market will limit the Fund's ability to close out an option contract prior to the expiration date and that a change in the value of the option contract may not correlate exactly with changes in the value of the securities or currencies hedged.

There are no open options contracts as of December 31, 2009. For the year ended December 31, 2009, the Fund had transactions in purchased options with a total value ranging from $0 to approximately $119,500.

The amount of realized gains and losses on derivative instruments recognized in Portfolio earnings during the year ended December 31, 2009 and the related location in the accompanying Statement of Operations is summarized in the following tables by primary underlying risk exposure:

Realized Gain (Loss)

Purchased Options

Equity Contracts (a)

$ (111,863)

The above derivative is located in the following Statement of Operations account:

(a) Net realized gain (loss) from investments (includes purchased options)

Taxes. The Fund's policy is to comply with the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code, as amended, which are applicable to regulated investment companies, and to distribute all of its taxable income to its shareholders.

Additionally, based on the Fund's understanding of the tax rules and rates related to income, gains and transactions for the foreign jurisdictions in which it invests, the Fund will provide for foreign taxes, and where appropriate, deferred foreign taxes.

At December 31, 2009, the Fund had a net tax basis capital loss carryforward of approximately $392,048,000, which may be applied against any realized net taxable capital gains of each succeeding year until fully utilized or until December 31, 2010, ($344,993,000), December 31, 2011 ($3,433,000), December 31, 2012 ($9,289,000), December 31, 2013 ($4,871,000) and December 31, 2017 ($29,462,000), the respective expiration dates, whichever occurs first, which may be subject to certain limitations under Sections 382-383 of the Internal Revenue Code.

During the year ended December 31, 2009, the Fund lost through expiration $32,189,000 of prior year capital loss carryforward.

In addition, from November 1, 2009 through December 31, 2009, the Fund incurred approximately $2,625,000 of net realized capital losses and $16,000 as currency losses. As permitted by tax regulations, the Fund intends to elect to defer these losses and treat them as arising in the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010.

The Fund has reviewed the tax positions for each of the three open tax years as of December 31, 2009 and has determined that no provision for income tax is required in the Fund's financial statements. The Fund's federal tax returns for the prior three fiscal years remain open subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service.

Distribution of Income and Gains. Net investment income of the Fund is declared and distributed to shareholders annually. Net realized gains from investment transactions, in excess of available capital loss carryforwards, would be taxable to the Fund if not distributed, and, therefore, will be distributed to shareholders at least annually.

The timing and characterization of certain income and capital gains distributions are determined annually in accordance with federal tax regulations which may differ from accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. These differences primarily relate to certain securities sold at a loss and recognition of certain foreign currency gain (loss) as ordinary income. As a result, net investment income (loss) and net realized gain (loss) on investment transactions for a reporting period may differ significantly from distributions during such period. Accordingly, the Fund may periodically make reclassifications among certain of its capital accounts without impacting the net asset value of the Fund.

At December 31, 2009, the Fund's components of distributable earnings (accumulated losses) on a tax-basis are as follows:

Capital loss carryforwards

$ (392,048,000)

Unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments

$ (3,157,447)

In addition, the tax character of distributions paid to shareholders by the Fund is summarized as follows:

 

Years Ended December 31,

 

2009

2008

Distributions from ordinary income

$ 2,147,077

3,203,586

Return of capital distributions

$ 66,144

Redemption Fees. The Fund imposes a redemption fee of 2% of the total redemption amount on all Fund shares redeemed or exchanged within 15 days of buying them, either by purchase or exchange. This fee is assessed and retained by the Fund for the benefit of the remaining shareholders. The redemption fee is accounted for as an addition to paid-in-capital.

Contingencies. In the normal course of business, the Fund may enter into contracts with service providers that contain general indemnification clauses. The Fund's maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Fund that have not yet been made. However, based on experience, the Fund expects the risk of loss to be remote.

Other. Investment transactions are accounted for on a trade date plus one basis for daily net asset value calculations. However, for financial reporting purposes, investment security transactions are reported on trade date. Interest income is recorded on the accrual basis. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date net of foreign withholding taxes. Certain dividends from foreign securities may be recorded subsequent to the ex-dividend date as soon as the Fund is informed of such dividends. Realized gains and losses from investment transactions are recorded on an identified cost basis.

B. Purchases and Sales of Securities

During the year ended December 31, 2009, purchases and sales of investment securities (excluding short-term investments) aggregated $163,170,555 and $172,149,616, respectively.

C. Related Parties

Management Agreement. Under the Investment Management Agreement with Deutsche Investment Management Americas Inc. ("DIMA" or the "Advisor"), an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of Deutsche Bank AG, the Advisor directs the investments of the Fund in accordance with its investment objectives, policies and restrictions. The Advisor determines the securities, instruments and other contracts relating to investments to be purchased, sold or entered into by the Fund.

Pursuant to the Investment Management Agreement, the Fund pays a monthly management fee based on the Fund's average daily net assets, computed and accrued daily and payable monthly, at the following annual rates:

First $100 million of the Fund's average daily net assets

1.00%

Next $100 million of such net assets

.90%

Next $100 million of such net assets

.85%

Next $200 million of such net assets

.80%

Next $500 million of such net assets

.73%

Next $500 million of such net assets

.68%

Over $1.5 billion of such net assets

.65%

For the period from January 1, 2009 through September 30, 2009, the Advisor had contractually agreed to waive its fees and/or reimburse certain operating expenses of the Fund to the extent necessary to maintain the operating expenses (excluding certain expenses such as extraordinary expenses, taxes, brokerage and interest) of each class as follows:

Class A

1.54%

Class B

2.29%

Class C

2.29%

Institutional Class

1.29%

For the period from October 1, 2009 through September 30, 2010, the Advisor has contractually agreed to waive its fees and/or reimburse certain operating expenses of the Fund to the extent necessary to maintain the operating expenses (excluding certain expenses such as extraordinary expenses, taxes, brokerage and interest) of each class as

follows:

Class A

1.76%

Class B

2.51%

Class C

2.51%

Institutional Class

1.51%

For the year ended December 31, 2009, the Advisor waived a portion of its management fee aggregating $185,660 and the amount charged aggregated $936,646, which was equivalent to an annual effective rate of 0.82% of the Fund's average daily net assets.

Administration Fee. Pursuant to an Administrative Services Agreement, DIMA provides most administrative services to the Fund. For all services provided under the Administrative Services Agreement, the Fund pays the Advisor an annual fee ("Administration Fee") of 0.10% of the Fund's average daily net assets, computed and accrued daily and payable monthly. For the year ended December 31, 2009, the Administration Fee was $113,898, of which $10,961 is unpaid.

Service Provider Fees. DWS Investments Service Company ("DISC"), an affiliate of the Advisor, is the transfer agent, dividend-paying agent and shareholder service agent of the Fund. Pursuant to a sub-transfer agency agreement between DISC and DST Systems, Inc. ("DST"), DISC has delegated certain transfer agent, dividend-paying agent and shareholder service agent functions to DST. DISC compensates DST out of the shareholder servicing fee they receive from the Fund. For the year ended December 31, 2009, the amounts charged to the Fund by DISC were as follows:

Services to Shareholders

Total Aggregated

Waived

Unpaid at December 31, 2009

Class A

$ 310,684

$ 293,979

$ 16,705

Class B

7,894

7,894

Class C

20,406

20,406

Institutional Class

261

261

 

$ 339,245

$ 322,540

$ 16,705

Distribution and Service Fees. Under the Fund's Class B and Class C 12b-1 Plans, DWS Investments Distributors, Inc. ("DIDI"), an affiliate of the Advisor, receives a fee ("Distribution Fee") of 0.75% of average daily net assets of the Class B and C shares. In accordance with the Fund's Underwriting and Distribution Services Agreement, DIDI enters into related selling group agreements with various firms at various rates for sales of Class B and C shares. For the year ended December 31, 2009, the Distribution Fee was as follows:

Distribution Fee

Total Aggregated

Unpaid at December 31, 2009

Class B

$ 7,825

$ 1,351

Class C

32,704

3,133

 

$ 40,529

$ 4,484

In addition, DIDI provides information and administrative services for a fee ("Service Fee") to Class A, B and C shareholders at an annual rate of up to 0.25% of average daily net assets for each such class. DIDI in turn has various agreements with financial services firms that provide these services and pays these fees based upon the assets of shareholder accounts the firms service. For the year ended December 31, 2009, the Service Fee was as follows:

Service Fee

Total Aggregated

Waived

Unpaid at December 31, 2009

Annual Effective Rate

Class A

$ 229,666

$ —

$ 38,915

.22%

Class B

1,647

515

.11%

Class C

10,061

657

1,535

.22%

 

$ 241,374

$ 1,172

$ 40,450

 

Underwriting Agreement and Contingent Deferred Sales Charge. DIDI is the principal underwriter for the Fund. Underwriting commissions paid in connection with the distribution of Class A shares for the year ended December 31, 2009 aggregated $3,143.

In addition, DIDI receives any contingent deferred sales charge ("CDSC") from Class B share redemptions occurring within six years of purchase and Class C share redemptions occurring within one year of purchase. There is no such charge upon redemption of any share appreciation or reinvested dividends. The CDSC is based on declining rates ranging from 4% to 1% for Class B and 1% for Class C, of the value of the shares redeemed. For the year ended December 31, 2009, the CDSC for Class B and C shares aggregated $5,400 and $363, respectively. A deferred sales charge of up to 1% is assessed on certain redemptions of Class A shares.

Typesetting and Filing Service Fees. Under an agreement with DIMA, DIMA is compensated for providing typesetting and certain regulatory filing services to the Fund. For the year ended December 31, 2009, the amount charged to the Fund by DIMA included in the Statement of Operations under "reports to shareholders" aggregated $23,532, of which $11,234 is unpaid.

Director's Fees and Expenses. The Fund paid each Director not affiliated with the Advisor retainer fees plus specified amounts for various committee services and for the Board Chairperson.

Affiliated Cash Management Vehicles. The Fund may invest uninvested cash balances in affiliated funds managed by the Advisor. Affiliated cash management vehicles do not pay the Advisor a management fee. The Fund currently invests in Central Cash Management Fund. Prior to October 2, 2009, the Fund invested in Cash Management QP Trust ("QP Trust"). Effective October 2, 2009, QP Trust merged into Central Cash Management Fund. Central Cash Management Fund seeks to provide a high level of current income consistent with liquidity and the preservation of capital.

D. Line of Credit

The Fund and other affiliated funds (the "Participants") share in a $450 million revolving credit facility provided by a syndication of banks. The Fund may borrow for temporary or emergency purposes, including the meeting of redemption requests that otherwise might require the untimely disposition of securities. The Participants are charged an annual commitment fee which is allocated based on net assets, among each of the Participants. Interest is calculated at a rate per annum equal to the sum of the Federal Funds Rate plus 1.25 percent plus if LIBOR exceeds the Federal Funds Rate the amount of such excess. The Fund may borrow up to a maximum of 10 percent of its net assets under the agreement.

E. Share Transactions

The following table summarizes share and dollar activity in the Fund:

 

Year Ended December 31, 2009

Year Ended December 31, 2008

 

Shares

Dollars

Shares

Dollars

Shares sold

Class A

2,350,614

$ 27,855,012

612,122

$ 11,431,066

Class B

13,974

150,759

12,911

185,968

Class C

20,478

247,068

19,689

280,984

Institutional Class

46,886

482,682

90,635

1,555,520

 

 

$ 28,735,521

 

$ 13,453,538

Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions

Class A

120,973

$ 1,745,907

269,578

$ 2,517,890

Class B

697

9,324

2,727

23,363

Class C

3,452

45,909

10,656

91,433

Institutional Class

2,816

38,554

7,696

73,647

 

 

$ 1,839,694

 

$ 2,706,333

Shares redeemed

Class A

(2,916,226)

$ (35,050,168)

(3,417,760)

$ (55,564,080)

Class B

(48,396)

(550,617)

(123,794)

(1,993,081)

Class C

(64,788)

(718,599)

(146,043)

(2,204,302)

Institutional Class

(146,750)

(1,993,339)

(98,231)

(1,727,847)

 

 

$ (38,312,723)

 

$ (61,489,310)

Redemption fees

 

$ 6,848

 

$ 988

Net increase (decrease)

Class A

(444,639)

$ (5,442,405)

(2,536,060)

$ (41,614,136)

Class B

(33,725)

(390,534)

(108,156)

(1,783,750)

Class C

(40,858)

(425,618)

(115,698)

(1,831,885)

Institutional Class

(97,048)

(1,472,103)

100

(98,680)

 

 

$ (7,730,660)

 

$ (45,328,451)

F. Review for Subsequent Events

Management has reviewed the events and transactions for subsequent events from January 1, 2010 through February 24, 2010, the date the financial statements were available to be issued, and has determined that there were no material events that would require disclosure in the Fund's financial statements through this date.

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To the Board of Directors and Shareholders of DWS Communications Fund, Inc.

In our opinion, the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the investment portfolio, and the related statements of operations and of changes in net assets and the financial highlights present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of DWS Communications Fund, Inc. (the "Fund") at December 31, 2009, and the results of its operations, the changes in its net assets and the financial highlights for each of the periods indicated therein, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. These financial statements and financial highlights (hereafter referred to as "financial statements") are the responsibility of the Fund's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits. We conducted our audits of these financial statements in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits, which included confirmation of securities at December 31, 2009 by correspondence with the custodian and brokers, provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

Boston, Massachusetts
February 24, 2010

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Tax Information (Unaudited)

For corporate shareholders, 16% of the income dividends paid during the Fund's fiscal year ended December 31, 2009, qualified for the dividends received deduction.

For federal income tax purposes, the Fund designates approximately $4,522,000, or the maximum amount allowable under tax law, as qualified dividend income.

Please consult a tax advisor if you have questions about federal or state income tax laws, or on how to prepare your tax returns. If you have specific questions about your account, please call (800) 621-1048.

Investment Management Agreement Approval

The Board of Directors, including the Independent Directors, approved the renewal of your Fund's investment management agreement (the "Agreement") with Deutsche Investment Management Americas Inc. ("DWS") in September 2009.

In terms of the process that the Board followed prior to approving the Agreement, shareholders should know that:

In September 2009, all but one of the Fund's Directors were independent of DWS and its affiliates.

The Directors meet frequently to discuss fund matters. Each year, the Directors dedicate substantial time to contract review matters. Over the course of several months, the Board's Contract Committee, in coordination with the Board's Equity Oversight Committee, reviewed comprehensive materials received from DWS, independent third parties and independent counsel. These materials included an analysis of the Fund's performance, fees and expenses, and profitability compiled by the Fund's independent fee consultant. The Board also received extensive information throughout the year regarding performance of the Fund.

The Independent Directors regularly meet privately with their independent counsel to discuss contract review and other matters. In addition, the Independent Directors were also advised by the Fund's independent fee consultant in the course of their review of the Fund's contractual arrangements and considered a comprehensive report prepared by the independent fee consultant in connection with their deliberations (the "IFC Report").

In connection with reviewing the Agreement, the Board also reviewed the terms of the Fund's Rule 12b-1 plan, distribution agreement, administrative services agreement, transfer agency agreement and other material service agreements.

Based on its evaluation of the information provided, the Contract Committee presented its findings and recommendations to the Independent Directors as a group. The Independent Directors reviewed the Contract Committee's findings and recommendations and presented their recommendations to the full Board.

In connection with the contract review process, the Contract Committee and the Board considered the factors discussed below, among others. The Board also considered that DWS and its predecessors have managed the Fund since its inception, and the Board believes that a long-term relationship with a capable, conscientious advisor is in the best interests of the Fund. The Board considered, generally, that shareholders chose to invest or remain invested in the Fund knowing that DWS managed the Fund, and that the Agreement was approved by the Fund's shareholders. DWS is part of Deutsche Bank, a major global banking institution that is engaged in a wide range of financial services. The Board believes that there are significant advantages to being part of a global asset management business that offers a wide range of investing expertise and resources, including hundreds of portfolio managers and analysts with research capabilities in many countries throughout the world.

While shareholders may focus primarily on fund performance and fees, the Fund's Board considers these and many other factors, including the quality and integrity of DWS's personnel and such other issues as back-office operations, fund valuations, and compliance policies and procedures.

Nature, Quality and Extent of Services. The Board considered the terms of the Agreement, including the scope of advisory services provided under the Agreement. The Board noted that, under the Agreement, DWS provides portfolio management services to the Fund and that, pursuant to a separate administrative services agreement, DWS provides administrative services to the Fund. The Board considered the experience and skills of senior management and investment personnel, the resources made available to such personnel, the ability of DWS to attract and retain high-quality personnel, and the organizational depth and stability of DWS. The Board reviewed the Fund's performance over short-term and long-term periods and compared those returns to various agreed-upon performance measures, including market indices and a peer universe compiled by the independent fee consultant using information supplied by Lipper Inc. ("Lipper"). The Board also noted that it has put into place a process of identifying "Focus Funds" (e.g., funds performing poorly relative to their benchmark or a peer universe compiled by Lipper), and receives more frequent reporting and information from DWS regarding such funds, along with DWS's remedial plans to address underperformance. The Board believes this process is an effective manner of identifying and addressing underperforming funds. Based on the information provided, the Board noted that for the one-, three- and five-year periods ended December 31, 2008, the Fund's performance (Class A shares) was in the 4th quartile, 4th quartile and 3rd quartile, respectively, of the applicable Lipper universe (the 1st quartile being the best performers and the 4th quartile being the worst performers). The Board also observed that the Fund has underperformed its benchmark in each of the one-, three- and five-year periods ended December 31, 2008. The Board noted the disappointing investment performance of the Fund in recent periods and continued to discuss with senior management of DWS the factors contributing to such underperformance and actions being taken to improve performance. The Board observed that the Fund had experienced improved relative performance during the first seven months of 2009. The Board recognized that DWS has made significant changes in its investment personnel and processes in recent years in an effort to improve long-term performance.

On the basis of this evaluation and the ongoing review of investment results by the Board, the Board concluded that the nature, quality and extent of services provided by DWS historically have been and continue to be satisfactory.

Fees and Expenses. The Board considered the Fund's investment management fee schedule, operating expenses and total expense ratios, and comparative information provided by Lipper and the independent fee consultant regarding investment management fee rates paid to other investment advisors by similar funds (1st quartile being the most favorable and 4th quartile being the least favorable). With respect to management fees paid to other investment advisors by similar funds, the Board noted that the contractual fee rates paid by the Fund, which include a 0.10% fee paid to DWS under the Fund's administrative services agreement, were higher than the median (4th quartile) of the applicable Lipper peer group (based on Lipper data provided as of December 31, 2008). The Board also reviewed data comparing each share class's total (net) operating expenses to the applicable Lipper expense universe. The Board concluded that the comparative Lipper operating expense data was of limited utility, as it likely significantly understated the current expense ratios of many peer funds due to the substantial declines in net assets as a result of market losses and net redemptions that many funds experienced between mid-September 2008 and March 2009 and that were not reflected in the data. The Board also noted that the expense limitations agreed to by DWS helped to ensure that the Fund's total (net) operating expenses would remain competitive.

The information considered by the Board as part of its review of management fees included information regarding fees charged by DWS and its affiliates to similar institutional accounts and to similar funds managed by the same portfolio management teams but offered primarily to European investors ("DWS Europe funds"), in each case as applicable. The Board observed that advisory fee rates for institutional accounts generally were lower than the management fees charged by similarly managed DWS US mutual funds ("DWS Funds"), but also took note of the differences in services provided to DWS Funds as compared to institutional accounts. In the case of DWS Europe funds, the Board observed that fee rates for DWS Europe funds generally were higher than for similarly managed DWS Funds, but noted that differences in the types of services provided to DWS Funds relative to DWS Europe funds made it difficult to compare such fees.

On the basis of the information provided, the Board concluded that management fees were reasonable and appropriate in light of the nature, quality and extent of services provided by DWS.

Profitability. The Board reviewed detailed information regarding revenues received by DWS under the Agreement. The Board considered the estimated costs and pre-tax profits realized by DWS from advising the DWS Funds, as well as estimates of the pre-tax profits attributable to managing the Fund in particular. The Board also received information regarding the estimated enterprise-wide profitability of DWS and its affiliates with respect to all fund services in totality and by fund. The Board reviewed DWS's methodology in allocating its costs to the management of the Fund. Based on the information provided, the Board concluded that the pre-tax profits realized by DWS in connection with the management of the Fund were not unreasonable. The Board also reviewed information regarding the profitability of certain similar investment management firms. The Board noted that while information regarding the profitability of such firms is limited (and in some cases is not necessarily prepared on a comparable basis), DWS and its affiliates' overall profitability with respect to the DWS fund complex (after taking into account distribution and other services provided to the funds by DWS and its affiliates) was lower than the overall profitability levels of many comparable firms for which such data was available.

Economies of Scale. The Board considered whether there are economies of scale with respect to the management of the Fund and whether the Fund benefits from any economies of scale. The Board noted that the Fund's management fee schedule includes fee breakpoints. The Board concluded that the Fund's fee schedule represents an appropriate sharing between the Fund and DWS of such economies of scale as may exist in the management of the Fund at current asset levels.

Other Benefits to DWS and Its Affiliates. The Board also considered the character and amount of other incidental benefits received by DWS and its affiliates, including any fees received by DWS for administrative services provided to the Fund and any fees received by an affiliate of DWS for distribution services. The Board also considered benefits to DWS related to brokerage and soft-dollar allocations, including allocating brokerage to pay for research generated by parties other than the executing broker dealers, which pertain primarily to funds investing in equity securities, along with the incidental public relations benefits to DWS related to DWS Funds advertising and cross-selling opportunities among DWS products and services. The Board concluded that management fees were reasonable in light of these fallout benefits.

Compliance. The Board considered the significant attention and resources dedicated by DWS to documenting and enhancing its compliance processes in recent years. The Board noted in particular (i) the experience and seniority of both DWS's chief compliance officer and the Fund's chief compliance officer; (ii) the large number of DWS compliance personnel; and (iii) the substantial commitment of resources by DWS and its affiliates to compliance matters.

Based on all of the information considered and the conclusions reached, the Board unanimously (including the Independent Directors) determined that the continuation of the Agreement is in the best interests of the Fund. In making this determination, the Board did not give particular weight to any single factor identified above. The Board considered these factors over the course of numerous meetings, certain of which were in executive session with only the Independent Directors and their counsel present. It is possible that individual Directors may have weighed these factors differently in reaching their individual decisions to approve the continuation of the Agreement.

Summary of Management Fee Evaluation by Independent Fee Consultant

October 9, 2009, As Revised November 20, 2009

Pursuant to an Order entered into by Deutsche Investment Management Americas and affiliates (collectively, "DeAM") with the Attorney General of New York, I, Thomas H. Mack, have been appointed the Independent Fee Consultant for the DWS Funds (formerly the DWS Scudder Funds). My duties include preparing an annual written evaluation of the management fees DeAM charges the Funds, considering among other factors the management fees charged by other mutual fund companies for like services, management fees DeAM charges other clients for like services, DeAM's costs of supplying services under the management agreements and related profit margins, possible economies of scale if a Fund grows larger, and the nature and quality of DeAM's services, including fund performance. This report summarizes my evaluation for 2009, including my qualifications, the evaluation process for each of the DWS Funds, consideration of certain complex-level factors, and my conclusions. I served in substantially the same capacity in 2007 and 2008.

Qualifications

For more than 35 years I have served in various professional capacities within the investment management business. I have held investment analysis and advisory positions, including securities analyst, portfolio strategist and director of investment policy with a large investment firm. I have also performed business management functions, including business development, financial management and marketing research and analysis.

Since 1991, I have been an independent consultant within the asset management industry. I have provided services to over 125 client organizations, including investment managers, mutual fund boards, product distributors and related organizations. Over the past ten years I have completed a number of assignments for mutual fund boards, specifically including assisting boards with management contract renewal.

I hold a Master of Business Administration degree, with highest honors, from Harvard University and Master of Science and Bachelor of Science (highest honors) degrees from the University of California at Berkeley. I am an independent director and audit committee financial expert for two closed-end mutual funds and serve in various leadership and financial oversight capacities with non-profit organizations.

Evaluation of Fees for each DWS Fund

My work focused primarily on evaluating, fund-by-fund, the fees charged to each of the 124 publicly offered Fund portfolios in the DWS Fund family. For each Fund, I considered each of the key factors mentioned above, as well as any other relevant information. In doing so I worked closely with the Funds' Independent Directors in their annual contract renewal process, as well as in their approval of contracts for several new funds (documented separately).

In evaluating each Fund's fees, I reviewed comprehensive materials provided by or on behalf of DeAM, including expense information prepared by Lipper Analytical, comparative performance information, profitability data, manager histories, and other materials. I also accessed certain additional information from the Lipper, Strategic Insight, and Morningstar databases and drew on my industry knowledge and experience.

To facilitate evaluating this considerable body of information, I prepared for each Fund a document summarizing the key data elements in each area as well as additional analytics discussed below. This made it possible to consider each key data element in the context of the others.

In the course of contract renewal, DeAM agreed to implement a number of fee and expense adjustments requested by the Independent Directors which will favorably impact future fees and expenses, and my evaluation includes the effects of these changes.

Fees and Expenses Compared with Other Funds

The competitive fee and expense evaluation for each fund focused on two primary comparisons:

The Fund's contractual management fee (the advisory fee plus the administration fee where applicable) compared with those of a group of typically 12-15 funds in the same Lipper investment category (e.g. Large Capitalization Growth) having similar distribution arrangements and being of similar size.

The Fund's total expenses compared with a broader universe of funds from the same Lipper investment category and having similar distribution arrangements.

These two comparisons provide a view of not only the level of the fee compared with funds of similar scale but also the total expense the Fund bears for all the services it receives, in comparison with the investment choices available in the Fund's investment category and distribution channel. The principal figure-of-merit used in these comparisons was the subject Fund's percentile ranking against peers.

DeAM's Fees for Similar Services to Others

DeAM provided management fee schedules for all of its US domiciled fund and non-fund investment management accounts in any of the investment categories where there is a DWS Fund. These similar products included the other DWS Funds, non-fund pooled accounts, institutional accounts and sub-advisory accounts. Using this information, I calculated for each Fund the fee that would be charged to each similar product, at the subject Fund's asset level.

Evaluating information regarding non-fund products is difficult because there are varying levels of services required for different types of accounts, with mutual funds generally requiring considerably more regulatory and administrative types of service as well as having more frequent cash flows than other types of accounts. Also, while mutual fund fees for similar fund products can be expected to be similar, there will be some differences due to different pricing conditions in different distribution channels (e.g. retail funds versus those used in variable insurance products), differences in underlying investment processes and other factors.

Costs and Profit Margins

DeAM provided a detailed profitability analysis for each Fund. After making some adjustments so that the presentation would be more comparable to the available industry figures, I reviewed profit margins from investment management alone, from investment management plus other fund services (excluding distribution) provided to the Funds by DeAM (principally shareholder services), and DeAM profits from all sources, including distribution. A later section comments on overall profitability.

Economies of Scale

Economies of scale — an expected decline in management cost per dollar of fund assets as fund assets grow — are very rarely quantified and documented because of inherent difficulties in collecting and analyzing relevant data. However, in virtually every investment category that I reviewed, larger funds tend to have lower fees and lower total expenses than smaller funds. To see how each DWS Fund compares with this industry observation, I reviewed:

The trend in Fund assets over the last five years and the accompanying trend in total expenses. This shows if the Fund has grown and, if so, whether total expense (management fees as well as other expenses) have declined as a percent of assets.

Whether the Fund has break-points in its management fee schedule, the extent of the fee reduction built into the schedule and the asset levels where the breaks take effect, and in the case of a sub-advised Fund how the Fund's break-points compare with those of the sub-advisory fee schedule.

How the Fund's contractual fee schedule compares with trends in the industry data. To accomplish this, I constructed a chart showing how actual latest-fiscal-year contractual fees of the Fund and of other similar funds relate to average fund assets, with the subject Fund's contractual fee schedule superimposed.

Quality of Service — Performance

The quality-of-service evaluation focused on investment performance, which is the principal result of the investment management service. Each Fund's performance was reviewed over the past 1, 3, 5 and 10 years, as applicable, and compared with that of other funds in the same investment category and with a suitable market index.

In addition, I calculated and reviewed risk-adjusted returns relative to an index of similar mutual funds' returns and a suitable market index. The risk-adjusted returns analysis provides a way of determining the extent to which the Fund's return comparisons are mainly the product of investment value-added (or lack thereof) or alternatively taking considerably more or less risk than is typical in its investment category.

I also received and considered the history of portfolio manager changes for each Fund, as this provided an important context for evaluating the performance results.

Complex-Level Considerations

While this evaluation was conducted mainly at the individual fund level, there are some issues relating to the reasonableness of fees that can alternatively be considered across the whole fund complex:

I reviewed DeAM's profitability analysis for all DWS Funds, with a view toward determining if the allocation procedures used were reasonable and how profit levels compared with public data for other investment managers.

I considered whether DeAM and affiliates receive any significant ancillary or "fall-out" benefits that should be considered in interpreting the direct profitability results. These would be situations where serving as the investment manager of the Funds is beneficial to another part of the Deutsche Bank organization.

I considered how aggregated DWS Fund expenses had varied over the years, by asset class and in the context of trends in asset levels.

I reviewed the structure of the DeAM organization, trends in staffing levels, and information on compensation of investment management and other professionals compared with industry data.

Findings

Based on the process and analysis discussed above, which included reviewing a wide range of information from management and external data sources and considering among other factors the fees DeAM charges other clients, the fees charged by other fund managers, DeAM's costs and profits associated with managing the Funds, economies of scale, possible fall-out benefits, and the nature and quality of services provided, in my opinion the management fees charged the DWS Funds are reasonable.

com_sigmack0
Thomas H. Mack

Board Members and Officers

The following table presents certain information regarding the Board Members and Officers of the Corporation as of December 31, 2009. Each Board Member's year of birth is set forth in parentheses after his or her name. Unless otherwise noted, (i) each Board Member has engaged in the principal occupation(s) noted in the table for at least the most recent five years, although not necessarily in the same capacity; and (ii) the address of each Independent Board Member is c/o Paul K. Freeman, Independent Chairman, DWS Funds, PO Box 101833, Denver, CO 80250-1833. Except as otherwise noted below, the term of office for each Board Member is until the election and qualification of a successor, or until such Board Member sooner dies, resigns, is removed or as otherwise provided in the governing documents of the fund. Because the fund does not hold an annual meeting of shareholders, each Board Member will hold office for an indeterminate period. The Board Members may also serve in similar capacities with other funds in the fund complex. The Length of Time Served represents the year in which the Board Member joined the board of one or more DWS funds now overseen by the Board.

Independent Board Members

Name, Year of Birth, Position with the Fund and Length of Time Served1

Business Experience and Directorships During the Past Five Years

Number of Funds in DWS Fund Complex Overseen

Paul K. Freeman (1950)
Chairperson since 2009
Board Member since 1993
Consultant, World Bank/Inter-American Development Bank; Governing Council of the Independent Directors Council (governance, education committees); formerly, Project Leader, International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (1998-2001); Chief Executive Officer, The Eric Group, Inc. (environmental insurance) (1986-1998)

126

John W. Ballantine (1946)
Board Member since 1999
Retired; formerly, Executive Vice President and Chief Risk Management Officer, First Chicago NBD Corporation/The First National Bank of Chicago (1996-1998); Executive Vice President and Head of International Banking (1995-1996). Directorships: Healthways, Inc. (provider of disease and care management services); Portland General Electric (utility company); Stockwell Capital Investments PLC (private equity). Former Directorships: First Oak Brook Bancshares, Inc. and Oak Brook Bank; Prisma Energy International

126

Henry P. Becton, Jr. (1943)
Board Member since 1990
Vice Chair and former President, WGBH Educational Foundation. Directorships: Association of Public Television Stations; Lead Director, Becton Dickinson and Company3 (medical technology company); Lead Director, Belo Corporation3 (media company); Public Radio International; Public Radio Exchange (PRX); The PBS Foundation. Former Directorships: Boston Museum of Science; American Public Television; Concord Academy; New England Aquarium; Mass. Corporation for Educational Telecommunications; Committee for Economic Development; Public Broadcasting Service

126

Dawn-Marie Driscoll (1946)
Board Member since 1987
President, Driscoll Associates (consulting firm); Executive Fellow, Center for Business Ethics, Bentley University; formerly, Partner, Palmer & Dodge (1988-1990); Vice President of Corporate Affairs and General Counsel, Filene's (1978-1988). Directorships: Trustee of 20 open-end mutual funds managed by Sun Capital Advisers, Inc. (since 2007); Director of ICI Mutual Insurance Company (since 2007); Advisory Board, Center for Business Ethics, Bentley University; Trustee, Southwest Florida Community Foundation (charitable organization). Former Directorships: Investment Company Institute (audit, executive, nominating committees) and Independent Directors Council (governance, executive committees)

126

Keith R. Fox (1954)
Board Member since 1996
Managing General Partner, Exeter Capital Partners (a series of private investment funds). Directorships: Progressive Holding Corporation (kitchen goods importer and distributor); Box Top Media Inc. (advertising); The Kennel Shop (retailer); former Chairman, National Association of Small Business Investment Companies

126

Kenneth C. Froewiss (1945)
Board Member since 2001
Adjunct Professor of Finance, NYU Stern School of Business (September 2009-present; Clinical Professor from 1997-September 2009); Member, Finance Committee, Association for Asian Studies (2002-present); Director, Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Group (US) (2004-present); prior thereto, Managing Director, J.P. Morgan (investment banking firm) (until 1996)

126

Richard J. Herring (1946)
Board Member since 1990
Jacob Safra Professor of International Banking and Professor, Finance Department, The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania (since July 1972); Co-Director, Wharton Financial Institutions Center (since July 2000); Director, Japan Equity Fund, Inc. (since September 2007), Thai Capital Fund, Inc. (since September 2007), Singapore Fund, Inc. (since September 2007). Formerly, Vice Dean and Director, Wharton Undergraduate Division (July 1995-June 2000); Director, Lauder Institute of International Management Studies (July 2000-June 2006)

126

William McClayton (1944)
Board Member since 2004
Private equity investor (since October 2009); previously, Managing Director, Diamond Management & Technology Consultants, Inc. (global consulting firm) (2001-2009); Directorship: Board of Managers, YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago; formerly: Senior Partner, Arthur Andersen LLP (accounting) (1966-2001); Trustee, Ravinia Festival

126

Rebecca W. Rimel (1951)
Board Member since 1995
President and Chief Executive Officer, The Pew Charitable Trusts (charitable organization) (1994 to present); Trustee, Thomas Jefferson Foundation (charitable organization) (1994 to present); Trustee, Executive Committee, Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce (2001-2007); Trustee, Pro Publica (2007-present) (charitable organization); Director, CardioNet, Inc.2 (2009-present) (health care). Formerly, Executive Vice President, The Glenmede Trust Company (investment trust and wealth management) (1983-2004); Board Member, Investor Education (charitable organization) (2004-2005); Director, Viasys Health Care2 (January 2007-June 2007)

126

William N. Searcy, Jr. (1946)
Board Member since 1993
Private investor since October 2003; Trustee of 20 open-end mutual funds managed by Sun Capital Advisers, Inc. (since October 1998). Formerly, Pension & Savings Trust Officer, Sprint Corporation2 (telecommunications) (November 1989-September 2003)

126

Jean Gleason Stromberg (1943)
Board Member since 1997
Retired. Formerly, Consultant (1997-2001); Director, Financial Markets US Government Accountability Office (1996-1997); Partner, Fulbright & Jaworski, L.L.P. (law firm) (1978-1996). Directorships: The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation; Business Leadership Council, Wellesley College. Former Directorships: Service Source, Inc., Mutual Fund Directors Forum (2002-2004), American Bar Retirement Association (funding vehicle for retirement plans) (1987-1990 and 1994-1996)

126

Robert H. Wadsworth
(1940)
Board Member since 1999
President, Robert H. Wadsworth & Associates, Inc. (consulting firm) (1983 to present); Director, The Phoenix Boys Choir Association

129

Officers4

Name, Year of Birth, Position with the Fund and Length of Time Served5

Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years and Other Directorships Held

Michael G. Clark6 (1965)
President, 2006-present
Managing Director3, Deutsche Asset Management (2006-present); President of DWS family of funds; Director, ICI Mutual Insurance Company (since October 2007); formerly, Director of Fund Board Relations (2004-2006) and Director of Product Development (2000-2004), Merrill Lynch Investment Managers; Senior Vice President Operations, Merrill Lynch Asset Management (1999-2000)
John Millette7 (1962)
Vice President and Secretary, 1999-present
Director3, Deutsche Asset Management
Paul H. Schubert6 (1963)
Chief Financial Officer, 2004-present
Treasurer, 2005-present
Managing Director3, Deutsche Asset Management (since July 2004); formerly, Executive Director, Head of Mutual Fund Services and Treasurer for UBS Family of Funds (1998-2004); Vice President and Director of Mutual Fund Finance at UBS Global Asset Management (1994-1998)
Caroline Pearson7 (1962)
Assistant Secretary, 1997-present
Managing Director3, Deutsche Asset Management
Rita Rubin8 (1970)
Assistant Secretary, 2009-present
Vice President and Counsel, Deutsche Asset Management (since October 2007); formerly, Vice President, Morgan Stanley Investment Management (2004-2007); Attorney, Shearman & Sterling LLP (2004); Director and Associate General Counsel, UBS Global Asset Management (US) Inc. (2001-2004)
Paul Antosca7 (1957)
Assistant Treasurer, 2007-present
Director3, Deutsche Asset Management (since 2006); Vice President, The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company (U.S.A.) (1990-2006)
Jack Clark7 (1967)
Assistant Treasurer, 2007-present
Director3, Deutsche Asset Management (since 2007); formerly, Vice President, State Street Corporation (2002-2007)
Diane Kenneally7 (1966)
Assistant Treasurer, 2007-present
Director3, Deutsche Asset Management
Jason Vazquez8 (1972)
Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Officer, 2007-present
Vice President, Deutsche Asset Management (since 2006); formerly, AML Operations Manager for Bear Stearns (2004-2006), Supervising Compliance Principal and Operations Manager for AXA Financial (1999-2004)
Robert Kloby8 (1962)
Chief Compliance Officer, 2006-present
Managing Director3, Deutsche Asset Management
J. Christopher Jackson8 (1951)
Chief Legal Officer, 2006-present
Director3, Deutsche Asset Management (2006-present); formerly, Director, Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Assistant Secretary, Hansberger Global Investors, Inc. (1996-2006); Director, National Society of Compliance Professionals (2002-2005) (2006-2009)
1 The length of time served represents the year in which the Board Member joined the board of one or more DWS funds currently overseen by the Board.
2 A publicly held company with securities registered pursuant to Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
3 Executive title, not a board directorship.
4 As a result of their respective positions held with the Advisor, these individuals are considered "interested persons" of the Advisor within the meaning of the 1940 Act. Interested persons receive no compensation from the fund.
5 The length of time served represents the year in which the officer was first elected in such capacity for one or more DWS funds.
6 Address: 345 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10154.
7 Address: One Beacon Street, Boston, MA 02108.
8 Address: 280 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10017.

The fund's Statement of Additional Information ("SAI") includes additional information about the Board Members. The SAI is available, without charge, upon request. If you would like to request a copy of the SAI, you may do so by calling the following toll-free number: (800) 621-1048.

Account Management Resources

 

For More Information

The automated telephone system allows you to access personalized account information and obtain information on other DWS funds using either your voice or your telephone keypad. Certain account types within Classes A, B and C also have the ability to purchase, exchange or redeem shares using this system.
For more information, contact your financial advisor. You may also access our automated telephone system or speak with a DWS Investments representative by calling the appropriate number below:

For shareholders of Classes A, B, C and Institutional Class:

(800) 621-1048

Web Site

www.dws-investments.com

View your account transactions and balances, trade shares, monitor your asset allocation, and change your address, 24 hours a day.
Obtain prospectuses and applications, blank forms, interactive worksheets, news about DWS funds, subscription to fund updates by e-mail, retirement planning information, and more.

Written Correspondence

DWS Investments

PO Box 219151
Kansas City, MO 64121-9151

Proxy Voting

The fund's policies and procedures for voting proxies for portfolio securities and information about how the fund voted proxies related to its portfolio securities during the 12-month period ended June 30 are available on our Web site — www.dws-investments.com (click on "proxy voting"at the bottom of the page) — or on the SEC's Web site — www.sec.gov. To obtain a written copy of the fund's policies and procedures without charge, upon request, call us toll free at (800) 621-1048.

Principal Underwriter

If you have questions, comments or complaints, contact:

DWS Investments Distributors, Inc.

222 South Riverside Plaza
Chicago, IL 60606-5808

(800) 621-1148

 

Class A

Class B

Class C

Institutional Class

Nasdaq Symbol

TISHX
FTEBX
FTICX
FLICX

CUSIP Number

23339G 108
23339G 207
23339G 306
23339G 405

Fund Number

432
632
732
532

com_notesblank0Notes

com_backcover0

 

ITEM 2.

CODE OF ETHICS

 

 

 

As of the end of the period, December 31, 2009, DWS Communications Fund has a code of ethics, as defined in Item 2 of Form N-CSR, that applies to its Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer.

 

There have been no amendments to, or waivers from, a provision of the code of ethics during the period covered by this report that would require disclosure under Item 2.

 

A copy of the code of ethics is filed as an exhibit to this Form N-CSR.

 

 

 

ITEM 3.

AUDIT COMMITTEE FINANCIAL EXPERT

 

 

 

The fund’s audit committee is comprised solely of trustees who are "independent" (as such term has been defined by the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") in regulations implementing Section 407 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (the "Regulations")). The fund’s Board of Trustees has determined that there are several "audit committee financial experts" (as such term has been defined by the Regulations) serving on the fund’s audit committee including Mr. William McClayton, the chair of the fund’s audit committee. An “audit committee financial expert” is not an “expert” for any purpose, including for purposes of Section 11 of the Securities Act of 1933 and the designation or identification of a person as an “audit committee financial expert” does not impose on such person any duties, obligations or liability that are greater than the duties, obligations and liability imposed on such person as a member of the audit committee and board of directors in the absence of such designation or identification.

 

 

ITEM 4.

PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES

 

 

DWS COMMUNICATIONS FUND

FORM N-CSR DISCLOSURE RE: AUDIT FEES

The following table shows the amount of fees that PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP (“PWC”), the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm, billed to the Fund during the Fund’s last two fiscal years. The Audit Committee approved in advance all audit services and non-audit services that PWC provided to the Fund.

Services that the Fund’s Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm Billed to the Fund

Fiscal Year
Ended
December 31,

Audit Fees Billed to Fund

Audit-Related
Fees Billed to Fund

Tax Fees Billed to Fund

All
Other Fees Billed to Fund

2009

$48,679

$0

$0

$0

2008

$53,075

$0

$0

$0

 

Services that the Fund’s Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm Billed to the Adviser and Affiliated Fund Service Providers

The following table shows the amount of fees billed by PWC to Deutsche Investment Management Americas Inc. (“DeIM” or the “Adviser”), and any entity controlling, controlled by or under common control with DeIM (“Control Affiliate”) that provides ongoing services to the Fund (“Affiliated Fund Service Provider”), for engagements directly related to the Fund’s operations and financial reporting, during the Fund’s last two fiscal years.

 

 

Fiscal Year
December 31,

Audit-Related
Fees Billed to Adviser and Affiliated Fund Service Providers

Tax Fees Billed to Adviser and Affiliated Fund Service Providers

All
Other Fees Billed to Adviser and Affiliated Fund Service Providers

2009

$2,000

$0

$0

2008

$0

$19,000

$0

 

The “Audit-Related Fees” were billed for services in connection with the agreed-upon procedures and the above “Tax Fees” were billed in connection with tax compliance and tax planning.

Non-Audit Services

The following table shows the amount of fees that PWC billed during the Fund’s last two fiscal years for non-audit services. The Audit Committee pre-approved all non-audit services that PWC provided to the Adviser and any Affiliated Fund Service Provider that related directly to the Fund’s operations and financial reporting. The Audit Committee requested and received information from PWC about any non-audit services that PWC rendered during the Fund’s last fiscal year to the Adviser and any Affiliated Fund Service Provider. The Committee considered this information in evaluating PWC’s independence.

 

Fiscal Year
Ended
December 31,

Total
Non-Audit Fees Billed to Fund

(A)

Total Non-Audit Fees billed to Adviser and Affiliated Fund Service Providers (engagements related directly to the operations and financial reporting of the Fund)

(B)

Total Non-Audit Fees billed to Adviser and Affiliated Fund Service Providers (all other engagements)

(C)

Total of (A), (B)

and (C)

2009

$0

$0

$100,000

$100,000

2008

$0

$19,000

$0

$19,000

 

All other engagement fees were billed for services in connection with an internal control review of a subadvisor.

 

Audit Committee Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures. Generally, each Fund’s Audit Committee must pre approve (i) all services to be performed for a Fund by a Fund’s Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm and (ii) all non-audit services to be performed by a Fund’s Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm for the DIMA Entities with respect to operations and financial reporting of the Fund, except that the Chairperson or Vice Chairperson of each Fund’s Audit Committee may grant the pre-approval for non-audit services described in items (i) and (ii) above for non-prohibited services for engagements of less than $100,000. All such delegated pre approvals shall be presented to each Fund’s Audit Committee no later than the next Audit Committee meeting.

 

There were no amounts that were approved by the Audit Committee pursuant to the de minimis exception under Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X.

 

According to the registrant’s principal Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm, all of the principal Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm's hours spent on auditing the registrant's financial statements were attributed to work performed by full-time permanent employees of the principal Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.

***

PwC advised the Fund's Audit Committee that PwC has identified two matters that it determined to be inconsistent with the SEC's auditor independence rules. In the first instance, an employee of PwC had power of attorney over an account which included DWS funds. The employee did not perform any audit services for the DWS Funds, but did work on a non audit project for Deutsche Bank AG. In the second instance, an employee of PwC served as a nominee shareholder (effectively equivalent to a Trustee) of various companies/trusts since 2001. Some of these companies held shares of Aberdeen, a sub advisor to certain DWS Funds, and of certain funds sponsored by subsidiaries of Deutsche Bank AG. The trustee relationship has ceased. PwC informed the Audit Committee that these matters could have constituted an investment in an affiliate of an audit client in violation of the Rule 2-01(c)(1) of Regulation S-X. PwC advised the Audit Committee that PwC believes its independence had not been impacted as it related to the audits of the Fund. In reaching this conclusion, PwC noted that during the time of its audit, the engagement team was not aware of the investment and that PwC does not believe these situations affected PwC's ability to act objectively and impartially and to issue a report on financial statements as the funds' independent auditor.

 

 

 

ITEM 5.

AUDIT COMMITTEE OF LISTED REGISTRANTS

 

 

 

Not Applicable

 

 

ITEM 6.

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS

 

 

 

Not Applicable

 

 

ITEM 7.

DISCLOSURE OF PROXY VOTING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES FOR CLOSED-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES

 

 

 

Not applicable.

 

 

ITEM 8.

PORTFOLIO MANAGERS OF CLOSED-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES

 

 

 

Not applicable.

 

 

ITEM 9.

PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES BY CLOSED-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANY AND AFFILIATED PURCHASERS

 

 

 

Not Applicable.

 

 

 

 

 

ITEM 10.

SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS

 

 

 

There were no material changes to the procedures by which shareholders may recommend nominees to the Fund’s Board. The primary function of the Nominating and Governance Committee is to identify and recommend individuals for membership on the Board and oversee the administration of the Board Governance Guidelines. Shareholders may recommend candidates for Board positions by forwarding their correspondence by U.S. mail or courier service to Paul K. Freeman, Independent Chairman, DWS Funds, P.O. Box 101833, Denver, CO 80250-1833.

 

 

ITEM 11.

CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

 

 

 

(a)          The Chief Executive and Financial Officers concluded that the Registrant’s Disclosure Controls and Procedures are effective based on the evaluation of the Disclosure Controls and Procedures as of a date within 90 days of the filing date of this report.

 

 

 

(b)         There have been no changes in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the second fiscal quarter of the period covered by this report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal controls over financial reporting.

 

 

ITEM 12.

EXHIBITS

 

 

 

(a)(1)     Code of Ethics pursuant to Item 2 of Form N-CSR is filed and attached hereto as EX-99.CODE ETH.

 

 

 

(a)(2)     Certification pursuant to Rule 30a-2(a) under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (17 CFR 270.30a-2(a)) is filed and attached hereto as Exhibit 99.CERT.

 

 

 

(b)         Certification pursuant to Rule 30a-2(b) under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (17 CFR 270.30a-2(b)) is furnished and attached hereto as Exhibit 99.906CERT.

 

 

Form N-CSR Item F

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

Registrant:

DWS Communications Fund, Inc.

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/Michael G. Clark

Michael G. Clark

President

 

 

Date:

March 2, 2010

 

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

Registrant:

DWS Communications Fund, Inc.

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/Michael G. Clark

Michael G. Clark

President

 

 

Date:

March 2, 2010

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/Paul Schubert

Paul Schubert

Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

 

 

Date:

March 2, 2010

 

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DWS Investments

Principal Executive and Principal Financial Officer Code of Ethics

 

For the Registered Management Investment Companies Listed on Appendix A

 

 

 

 

 

 

Effective Date

[January 31, 2005]

 

Table of Contents

Page NumberPage Number

 

 

 

I.

 

 

 

Overview

 

This Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer Code of Ethics (“Officer Code”) sets forth the policies, practices, and values expected to be exhibited in the conduct of the Principal Executive Officers and Principal Financial Officers of the investment companies (“Funds”) they serve (“Covered Officers”). A list of Covered Officers and Funds is included on Appendix A.

 

The Boards of the Funds listed on Appendix A have elected to implement the Officer Code, pursuant to Section 406 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the SEC’s rules thereunder, to promote and demonstrate honest and ethical conduct in their Covered Officers.

 

Deutsche Asset Management, Inc. or its affiliates (“DeAM”) serves as the investment adviser to each Fund. All Covered Officers are also employees of DeAM or an affiliate. Thus, in addition to adhering to the Officer Code, these individuals must comply with DeAM policies and procedures, such as the DeAM Code of Ethics governing personal trading activities, as adopted pursuant to Rule 17j-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940.1 In addition, such individuals also must comply with other applicable Fund policies and procedures.

 

The DeAM Compliance Officer, who shall not be a Covered Officer and who shall serve as such subject to the approval of the Fund’s Board (or committee thereof), is primarily responsible for implementing and enforcing this Code. The Compliance Officer has the authority to interpret this Officer Code and its applicability to particular circumstances. Any questions about the Officer Code should be directed to the DeAM Compliance Officer.

 

The DeAM Compliance Officer and his or her contact information can be found in Appendix A.

 

 

 

II.

Purposes of the Officer Code

 

The purposes of the Officer Code are to deter wrongdoing and to:

 

 

promote honest and ethical conduct among Covered Officers, including the ethical handling of actual or apparent conflicts of interest between personal and professional relationships;

 

 

promote full, fair, accurate, timely and understandable disclosures in reports and documents that the Funds file with or submit to the SEC (and in other public communications from the Funds) and that are within the Covered Officer’s responsibilities;

 

 

promote compliance with applicable laws, rules and regulations;

 

 

encourage the prompt internal reporting of violations of the Officer Code to the DeAM Compliance Officer; and

 

 

establish accountability for adherence to the Officer Code.

_________________________

The obligations imposed by the Officer Code are separate from, and in addition to, any obligations imposed under codes of ethics adopted pursuant to Rule 17j-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, and any other code of conduct applicable to Covered Officers in whatever capacity they serve. The Officer Code does not incorporate any of those other codes and, accordingly, violations of those codes will not necessarily be considered violations of the Officer Code and waivers granted under those codes would not necessarily require a waiver to be granted under this Code. Sanctions imposed under those codes may be considered in determining appropriate sanctions for any violation of this Code.

 

Any questions about the Officer Code should be referred to DeAM’s Compliance Officer.

 

 

 

III.

Responsibilities of Covered Officers

 

 

A.

Honest and Ethical Conduct

 

It is the duty of every Covered Officer to encourage and demonstrate honest and ethical conduct, as well as adhere to and require adherence to the Officer Code and any other applicable policies and procedures designed to promote this behavior. Covered Officers must at all times conduct themselves with integrity and distinction, putting first the interests of the Fund(s) they serve. Covered Officers must be honest and candid while maintaining confidentiality of information where required by law, DeAM policy or Fund policy.

 

Covered Officers also must, at all times, act in good faith, responsibly and with due care, competence and diligence, without misrepresenting or being misleading about material facts or allowing their independent judgment to be subordinated. Covered Officers also should maintain skills appropriate and necessary for the performance of their duties for the Fund(s). Covered Officers also must responsibly use and control all Fund assets and resources entrusted to them.

 

Covered Officers may not retaliate against others for, or otherwise discourage the reporting of, actual or apparent violations of the Officer Code or applicable laws or regulations. Covered Officers should create an environment that encourages the exchange of information, including concerns of the type that this Code is designed to address.

 

 

 

B.

Conflicts of Interest

 

A “conflict of interest” occurs when a Covered Officer’s personal interests interfere with the interests of the Fund for which he or she serves as an officer. Covered Officers may not improperly use their position with a Fund for personal or private gain to themselves, their family, or any other person. Similarly, Covered Officers may not use their personal influence or personal relationships to influence decisions or other Fund business or operational matters where they would benefit personally at the Fund’s expense or to the Fund’s detriment. Covered Officers may not cause the Fund to take action, or refrain from taking action, for their personal benefit at the Fund’s expense or to the Fund’s detriment. Some examples of conflicts of interest follow (this is not an all-inclusive list): being in the position of supervising, reviewing or having any influence on the job evaluation, pay or benefit of any immediate family member who is an employee of a Fund service provider or is otherwise associated with the Fund; or having an ownership interest in, or having any consulting or employment relationship with, any Fund service provider other than DeAM or its affiliates.

 

Certain conflicts of interest covered by this Code arise out of the relationships between Covered Officers and the Fund that already are subject to conflict of interest provisions in the Investment Company Act and the Investment Advisers Act. For example, Covered Officers may not individually engage in certain transactions (such as the purchase or sale of securities or other property) with the Fund because of their status as “affiliated persons” of the Fund. Covered Officers must comply with applicable laws and regulations. Therefore, any violations of existing statutory and regulatory prohibitions on individual behavior could be considered a violation of this Code.

 

As to conflicts arising from, or as a result of the advisory relationship (or any other relationships) between the Fund and DeAM, of which the Covered Officers are also officers or employees, it is recognized by the Board that, subject to DeAM’s fiduciary duties to the Fund, the Covered Officers will in the normal course of their duties (whether formally for the Fund or for DeAM, or for both) be involved in establishing policies and implementing decisions which will have different effects on DeAM and the Fund. The Board recognizes that the participation of the Covered Officers in such activities is inherent in the contract relationship between the Fund and DeAM, and is consistent with the expectation of the Board of the performance by the Covered Officers of their duties as officers of the Fund.

 

Covered Officers should avoid actual conflicts of interest, and appearances of conflicts of interest, between the Covered Officer’s duties to the Fund and his or her personal interests beyond those contemplated or anticipated by applicable regulatory schemes. If a Covered Officer suspects or knows of a conflict or an appearance of one, the Covered Officer must immediately report the matter to the DeAM Compliance Officer. If a Covered Officer, in lieu of reporting such a matter to the DeAM Compliance Officer, may report the matter directly to the Fund’s Board (or committee thereof), as appropriate (e.g., if the conflict involves the DeAM Compliance Officer or the Covered Officer reasonably believes it would be futile to report the matter to the DeAM Compliance Officer).

 

When actual, apparent or suspected conflicts of interest arise in connection with a Covered Officer, DeAM personnel aware of the matter should promptly contact the DeAM Compliance Officer. There will be no reprisal or retaliation against the person reporting the matter.

 

Upon receipt of a report of a possible conflict, the DeAM Compliance Officer will take steps to determine whether a conflict exists. In so doing, the DeAM Compliance Officer may take any actions he or she determines to be appropriate in his or her sole discretion and may use all reasonable resources, including retaining or engaging legal counsel, accounting firms or other consultants, subject to applicable law.2 The costs associated with such actions may be borne by the Fund, if appropriate, after consultation with the Fund’s Board (or committee thereof). Otherwise, such costs will be borne by DeAM or other appropriate Fund service provider.

 

After full review of a report of a possible conflict of interest, the DeAM Compliance Officer may determine that no conflict or reasonable appearance of a conflict exists. If, however, the DeAM Compliance Officer determines that an actual conflict exists, the Compliance Officer will resolve the conflict solely in the interests of the Fund, and will report the conflict and its resolution to the Fund’s Board (or committee thereof). If the DeAM Compliance Officer determines that the appearance of a conflict exists, the DeAM Compliance Officer will take appropriate steps to remedy such appearance. In lieu of determining whether a conflict exists and/or resolving a conflict, the DeAM Compliance Officer instead may refer the matter to the Fund’s Board (or committee thereof), as appropriate. However, the DeAM Compliance Officer must refer the matter to the Fund’s Board (or committee thereof) if the DeAM Compliance Officer is directly involved in the conflict or under similar appropriate circumstances.

 

After responding to a report of a possible conflict of interest, the DeAM Compliance Officer will discuss the matter with the person reporting it (and with the Covered Officer at issue, if different) for purposes of educating those involved on conflicts of interests (including how to detect and avoid them, if appropriate).

_________________________

For example, retaining a Fund’s independent accounting firm may require pre-approval by the Fund’s audit committee.

 

Appropriate resolution of conflicts may restrict the personal activities of the Covered Officer and/or his family, friends or other persons.

 

Solely because a conflict is disclosed to the DeAM Compliance Officer (and/or the Board or Committee thereof) and/or resolved by the DeAM Compliance Officer does not mean that the conflict or its resolution constitutes a waiver from the Code’s requirements.

 

Any questions about conflicts of interests, including whether a particular situation might be a conflict or an appearance of one, should be directed to the DeAM Compliance Officer.

 

 

 

C.

Use of Personal Fund Shareholder Information

 

A Covered Officer may not use or disclose personal information about Fund shareholders, except in the performance of his or her duties for the Fund. Each Covered Officer also must abide by the Funds’ and DeAM’s privacy policies under SEC Regulation S-P.

 

 

 

D.

Public Communications

 

In connection with his or her responsibilities for or involvement with a Fund’s public communications and disclosure documents (e.g., shareholder reports, registration statements, press releases), each Covered Officer must provide information to Fund service providers (within the DeAM organization or otherwise) and to the Fund’s Board (and any committees thereof), independent auditors, government regulators and self-regulatory organizations that is fair, accurate, complete, objective, relevant, timely and understandable.

 

Further, within the scope of their duties, Covered Officers having direct or supervisory authority over Fund disclosure documents or other public Fund communications will, to the extent appropriate within their area of responsibility, endeavor to ensure full, fair, timely, accurate and understandable disclosure in Fund disclosure documents. Such Covered Officers will oversee, or appoint others to oversee, processes for the timely and accurate creation and review of all public reports and regulatory filings. Within the scope of his or her responsibilities as a Covered Officer, each Covered Officer also will familiarize himself or herself with the disclosure requirements applicable to the Fund, as well as the business and financial operations of the Fund. Each Covered Officer also will adhere to, and will promote adherence to, applicable disclosure controls, processes and procedures, including DeAM’s Disclosure Controls and Procedures, which govern the process by which Fund disclosure documents are created and reviewed.

 

To the extent that Covered Officers participate in the creation of a Fund’s books or records, they must do so in a way that promotes the accuracy, fairness and timeliness of those records.

 

 

 

E.

Compliance with Applicable Laws, Rules and Regulations

 

In connection with his or her duties and within the scope of his or her responsibilities as a Covered Officer, each Covered Officer must comply with governmental laws, rules and regulations, accounting standards, and Fund policies/procedures that apply to his or her role, responsibilities and duties with respect to the Funds (“Applicable Laws”). These requirements do not impose on Covered Officers any additional substantive duties. Additionally, Covered Officers should promote compliance with Applicable Laws.

 

If a Covered Officer knows of any material violations of Applicable Laws or suspects that such a violation may have occurred, the Covered Officer is expected to promptly report the matter to the DeAM Compliance Officer.

 

 

 

IV.

Violation Reporting

 

 

A.

Overview

Each Covered Officer must promptly report to the DeAM Compliance Officer, and promote the reporting of, any known or suspected violations of the Officer Code. Failure to report a violation may be a violation of the Officer Code.

 

Examples of violations of the Officer Code include, but are not limited to, the following:

 

Unethical or dishonest behavior

 

Obvious lack of adherence to policies surrounding review and approval of public communications and regulatory filings

 

Failure to report violations of the Officer Code

 

Known or obvious deviations from Applicable Laws

 

Failure to acknowledge and certify adherence to the Officer Code

 

The DeAM Compliance Officer has the authority to take any and all action he or she considers appropriate in his or her sole discretion to investigate known or suspected Code violations, including consulting with the Fund’s Board, the independent Board members, a Board committee, the Fund’s legal counsel and/or counsel to the independent Board members. The Compliance Officer also has the authority to use all reasonable resources to investigate violations, including retaining or engaging legal counsel, accounting firms or other consultants, subject to applicable law.3 The costs associated with such actions may be borne by the Fund, if appropriate, after consultation with the Fund’s Board (or committee thereof). Otherwise, such costs will be borne by DeAM.

 

 

 

B.

How to Report

Any known or suspected violations of the Officer Code must be promptly reported to the DeAM Compliance Officer.

 

 

 

C.

Process for Violation Reporting to the Fund Board

 

The DeAM Compliance Officer will promptly report any violations of the Code to the Fund’s Board (or committee thereof).

 

 

 

D.

Sanctions for Code Violations

 

Violations of the Code will be taken seriously. In response to reported or otherwise known violations, DeAM and the relevant Fund’s Board may impose sanctions within the scope of their respective authority over the Covered Officer at issue. Sanctions imposed by DeAM could include termination of employment. Sanctions imposed by a Fund’s Board could include termination of association with the Fund.

_________________________

For example, retaining a Fund’s independent accounting firm may require pre-approval by the Fund’s audit committee.

 

 

 

V.

Waivers from the Officer Code

 

A Covered Officer may request a waiver from the Officer Code by transmitting a written request for a waiver to the DeAM Compliance Officer.4 The request must include the rationale for the request and must explain how the waiver would be in furtherance of the standards of conduct described in and underlying purposes of the Officer Code. The DeAM Compliance Officer will present this information to the Fund’s Board (or committee thereof). The Board (or committee) will determine whether to grant the requested waiver. If the Board (or committee) grants the requested waiver, the DeAM Compliance Officer thereafter will monitor the activities subject to the waiver, as appropriate, and will promptly report to the Fund’s Board (or committee thereof) regarding such activities, as appropriate.

 

The DeAM Compliance Officer will coordinate and facilitate any required public disclosures of any waivers granted or any implicit waivers.

 

 

 

VI.

Amendments to the Code

 

The DeAM Compliance Officer will review the Officer Code from time to time for its continued appropriateness and will propose any amendments to the Fund’s Board (or committee thereof) on a timely basis. In addition, the Board (or committee thereof) will review the Officer Code at least annually for its continued appropriateness and may amend the Code as necessary or appropriate.

 

The DeAM Compliance Officer will coordinate and facilitate any required public disclosures of Code amendments.

 

 

 

VII.

Acknowledgement and Certification of Adherence to the Officer Code

 

Each Covered Officer must sign a statement upon appointment as a Covered Officer and annually thereafter acknowledging that he or she has received and read the Officer Code, as amended or updated, and confirming that he or she has complied with it (see Appendix B: Acknowledgement and Certification of Obligations Under the Officer Code).

 

Understanding and complying with the Officer Code and truthfully completing the Acknowledgement and Certification Form is each Covered Officer’s obligation.

 

The DeAM Compliance Officer will maintain such Acknowledgements in the Fund’s books and records.

 

 

VIII.

Scope of Responsibilities

 

A Covered Officer’s responsibilities under the Officer Code are limited to:

_________________________

Of course, it is not a waiver of the Officer Code if the Fund’s Board (or committee thereof) determines that a matter is not a deviation from the Officer Code’s requirements or is otherwise not covered by the Code.

 

 

(1)

Fund matters over which the Officer has direct responsibility or control, matters in which the Officer routinely participates, and matters with which the Officer is otherwise involved (i.e., matters within the scope of the Covered Officer’s responsibilities as a Fund officer); and

 

(2)

Fund matters of which the Officer has actual knowledge.

 

 

 

IX.

Recordkeeping

 

The DeAM Compliance Officer will create and maintain appropriate records regarding the implementation and operation of the Officer Code, including records relating to conflicts of interest determinations and investigations of possible Code violations.

 

 

 

X.

Confidentiality

 

All reports and records prepared or maintained pursuant to this Officer Code shall be considered confidential and shall be maintained and protected accordingly. Except as otherwise required by law or this Officer Code, such matters shall not be disclosed to anyone other than the DeAM Compliance Officer, the Fund’s Board (or committee thereof), legal counsel, independent auditors, and any consultants engaged by the Compliance Officer.

 

Appendices

Appendix A:

 

List of Officers Covered under the Code, by Board:

 

 

Fund Board

Principal Executive Officers

Principal Financial Officers

Treasurer

DWS Funds

Michael Clark

Paul Schubert

Paul Schubert

Germany*

Michael Clark

Paul Schubert

Paul Schubert

 

 

* Central Europe and Russia, European Equity, and New Germany Funds

 

 

DeAM Compliance Officer:

 

Joseph S. Yuen

Code of Ethics Compliance

212-454-7443

212-454-4703 fax

 

 

 

As of:

Jan 1, 2009

 

Appendix B: Acknowledgement and Certification

 

Initial Acknowledgement and Certification

of Obligations Under the Officer Code

 

 

 

Print Name

Department

Location

Telephone

 

 

 

 

1.

I acknowledge and certify that I am a Covered Officer under the DWS Investments Principal Executive and Financial Officer Code of Ethics (“Officer Code”), and therefore subject to all of its requirements and provisions.

 

2.

I have received and read the Officer Code and I understand the requirements and provisions set forth in the Officer Code.

 

3.

I have disclosed any conflicts of interest of which I am aware to the DeAM Compliance Officer.

 

4.

I will act in the best interest of the Funds for which I serve as an officer and have maintained the confidentiality of personal information about Fund shareholders.

 

5.

I will report any known or suspected violations of the Officer Code in a timely manner to the DeAM Compliance Officer.

 

 

 

 

___________________________________________________________________________________

Signature       Date

 

 

Annual Acknowledgement and Certification

of Obligations Under the Officer Code

 

 

 

Print Name

Department

Location

Telephone

 

 

 

 

1.

I acknowledge and certify that I am a Covered Officer under the DWS Investments Principal Executive and Financial Officer Code of Ethics (“Officer Code”), and therefore subject to all of its requirements and provisions.

 

2.

I have received and read the Officer Code, and I understand the requirements and provisions set forth in the Officer Code.

 

3.

I have adhered to the Officer Code.

 

4.

I have not knowingly been a party to any conflict of interest, nor have I had actual knowledge about actual or apparent conflicts of interest that I did not report to the DeAM Compliance Officer in accordance with the Officer Code’s requirements.

 

5.

I have acted in the best interest of the Funds for which I serve as an officer and have maintained the confidentiality of personal information about Fund shareholders.

 

6.

With respect to the duties I perform for the Fund as a Fund officer, I believe that effective processes are in place to create and file public reports and documents in accordance with applicable regulations.

 

7.

With respect to the duties I perform for the Fund as a Fund officer, I have complied to the best of my knowledge with all Applicable Laws (as that term is defined in the Officer Code) and have appropriately monitored those persons under my supervision for compliance with Applicable Laws.

 

8.

I have reported any known or suspected violations of the Officer Code in a timely manner to the DeAM Compliance Officer.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Signature

Date

 

Appendix C: Definitions

 

Principal Executive Officer

Individual holding the office of President of the Fund or series of Funds, or a person performing a similar function.

 

Principal Financial Officer

Individual holding the office of Treasurer of the Fund or series of Funds, or a person performing a similar function.

 

Registered Investment Management Investment Company

Registered investment companies other than a face-amount certificate company or a unit investment trust.

 

Waiver

A waiver is an approval of an exemption from a Code requirement.

 

Implicit Waiver

An implicit waiver is the failure to take action within a reasonable period of time regarding a material departure from a requirement or provision of the Officer Code that has been made known to the DeAM Compliance Officer or the Fund’s Board (or committee thereof).

 

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MY"Y2G'1QMYD9\-%'&=U\SG3VE5;7:X3T>05ZU6Z'GY-]2YI+A4!SYP#O8^D.0LX$JV5-O06Y-):ETRO]JEIG?]/"G- MN,SO'8EU MY=E3SJ-[='8K3BZM3*Y6^IAI#0%W6I)6'^&3^J9=3VY_"6IC/>T.6AV[$)VG MG#=UI:Q@(&FN%G1"TXZP^*M"U2"EJKD2J_!_-/6ZUU-QJ!#1POG?SW1HWO)Y+17#8\6:PS5];4[T[=T,CC' M5R3P)/%4G.G3DHN6KY%XYYIR4=$55GL]77RR@.<3@,:.)*W^S-EI: M6V]'+30OFBE>PR.C&78<0#JLY0;%UU5;:>L@KVP/F8'[A:1C/#4'L2J*W[6T MW2_-*ETC8I2QPZ4')''1RR8AJLG&-1*S\OJ.IWI-2G3;T\_'8W[6-8,-:&CN M&$I8L7[:>@^V6\R-'$F(C\QHGX-O8'JVJ*R8O&.%>FG3=VGR.<$!7NQU"VNVDI6/`W M(R97`\]W4?GA4DC'1R.8]I:]IP6D:@K0[(R5%'<&U-/0RUJA$&T-Q^T3Q6V(\60]>3'CR7G]EF_\`W6X?^ZO+ 3]E!<4UZ:G>[>H]84VUXV7_3_V3\_ ` end EX-99.CERT 9 ex99cert_a.htm CERTIFICATION


 

 

 

President

Form N-CSR Certification under Sarbanes Oxley Act

 

 

 

I, Michael G. Clark, certify that:

 

1.

I have reviewed this report, filed on behalf of DWS Communications Fund, Inc., on Form N-CSR;

 

2.

Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

 

3.

Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations, changes in net assets, and cash flows (if the financial statements are required to include a statement of cash flows) of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

 

4.

The registrant's other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 30a-3(c) under the Investment Company Act of 1940) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under the Investment Company Act of 1940) for the registrant and have:

 

 

(a)

Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

 

 

(b)

Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

 

 

(c)

Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing date of this report based on such evaluation; and

 

 

(d)

Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the second fiscal quarter of the period covered by this report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting; and

 

5.

The registrant's other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

 

 

(a)

All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize, and report financial information; and

 

 

(b)

Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting.

 

March 2, 2010

/s/Michael G. Clark

 

Michael G. Clark

 

President

 

DWS Communications Fund, Inc.

 

 


 

 

 

Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

Form N-CSR Certification under Sarbanes Oxley Act

 

 

 

I, Paul Schubert, certify that:

 

1.

I have reviewed this report, filed on behalf of DWS Communications Fund, Inc., on Form N-CSR;

 

2.

Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

 

3.

Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations, changes in net assets, and cash flows (if the financial statements are required to include a statement of cash flows) of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

 

4.

The registrant's other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 30a-3(c) under the Investment Company Act of 1940) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under the Investment Company Act of 1940) for the registrant and have:

 

 

(a)

Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

 

 

(b)

Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

 

 

(c)

Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing date of this report based on such evaluation; and

 

 

(d)

Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the second fiscal quarter of the period covered by this report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting; and

 

5.

The registrant's other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

 

 

(a)

All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize, and report financial information; and

 

 

(b)

Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting.

 

March 2, 2010

/s/Paul Schubert

 

Paul Schubert

 

Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

 

DWS Communications Fund, Inc.

 

 

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President

Section 906 Certification under Sarbanes Oxley Act

 

 

 

I, Michael G. Clark, certify that:

 

1.

I have reviewed this report, filed on behalf of DWS Communications Fund, Inc., on Form N-CSR;

 

2.

Based on my knowledge and pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350, the periodic report on Form N-CSR (the “Report”) fully complies with the requirements of § 13 (a) or §15 (d), as applicable, of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and that the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

 

 

 

 

March 2, 2010

/s/Michael G. Clark

 

Michael G. Clark

 

President

 

DWS Communications Fund, Inc.

 

 


 

 

 

Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

Section 906 Certification under Sarbanes Oxley Act

 

 

 

I, Paul Schubert, certify that:

 

1.

I have reviewed this report, filed on behalf of DWS Communications Fund, Inc., on Form N-CSR;

 

2.

Based on my knowledge and pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350, the periodic report on Form N-CSR (the “Report”) fully complies with the requirements of § 13 (a) or § 15 (d), as applicable, of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and that the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

 

 

March 2, 2010

/s/Paul Schubert

 

Paul Schubert

 

Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

 

DWS Communications Fund, Inc.

 

 

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