N-CSR 1 y02767nvcsr.htm FORM N-CSR nvcsr
 
 
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM N-CSR
CERTIFIED SHAREHOLDER REPORT OF REGISTERED
MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES
Investment Company Act file number: 811-07377
Morgan Stanley Capital Opportunities Trust
(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)
     
522 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York
(Address of principal executive offices)
  10036
(Zip code)
Randy Takian
522 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York 10036
(Name and address of agent for service)
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: 212-296-6990
Date of fiscal year end: November 30, 2009
Date of reporting period: November 30, 2009
 
 
Item 1 — Report to Shareholders

 


 

     
     
INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT
  [MORGAN STANLEY LOGO]
 
 
Welcome, Shareholder:
 
In this report, you’ll learn about how your investment in
Morgan Stanley Capital Opportunities Trust performed during the annual period. We will provide an overview of the market conditions, and discuss some of the factors that affected performance during the reporting period. In addition, this report includes the Fund’s financial statements and a list of Fund investments.
 
 
This material must be preceded or accompanied by a prospectus for the fund being offered.
 
 
Market forecasts provided in this report may not necessarily come to pass. There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective. The Fund is subject to market risk, which is the possibility that market values of securities owned by the Fund will decline and, therefore, the value of the Fund’s shares may be less than what you paid for them. Accordingly, you can lose money investing in this Fund. Please see the prospectus for more complete information on investment risks.


 

 
Fund Report
 
For the year ended November 30, 2009

 
Total Return for the 12 Months Ended November 30, 2009
 
                               
 
                        Russell 3000®
    Lipper Multi-Cap
                        Growth
    Growth Funds
Class A     Class B     Class C     Class I     Index1     Index2
63.10%
    61.86%     61.96%     63.54%     35.13%     40.03%
                               
 
The performance of the Fund’s four share classes varies because each has different expenses. The Fund’s total returns assume the reinvestment of all distributions but do not reflect the deduction of any applicable sales charges. Such costs would lower performance. See Performance Summary for standardized performance and benchmark information.
 
Market Conditions
 
 
In late 2008 and early 2009, the market continued to reel from the credit crisis and its impact on the broader economy. Fear was the prevailing investor sentiment, creating high levels of market volatility and risk aversion. However, in early March, signs of improvement brought a turnaround in negative sentiment as policy efforts to contain the crisis began to have a noticeable effect. Many economic indicators continued to stabilize and corporate earnings beat expectations, supporting the market’s rally through the end of the period. Yet, high unemployment rates and a weak real estate market remain significant causes for concern.
 
We believe the market has continued to differentiate on fundamentals since the rally began, and the portfolio’s higher quality names have benefited. We continue to focus on quality, the nature and sustainability of competitive advantage, and balance sheet strength.
 
Performance Analysis
 
 
All share classes of Morgan Stanley Capital Opportunities Trust outperformed the Russell 3000® Growth Index (the “Index”) and the Lipper Multi-Cap Growth Funds Index for the 12 months ended November 30, 2009, assuming no deduction of applicable sales charges.
 
The largest contributors to the Fund’s outperformance relative to the Index during the period were in the consumer discretionary, technology and financial services sectors. Stock selection in the consumer discretionary sector had the largest positive effect on relative performance, although an overweight there slightly detracted. Within the sector, exposure to the diversified retail industry led performance. Stock selection in technology also added to relative gains, but the gain was slightly offset by the negative impact of an underweight in the sector. Here, the computer services software and systems industry was especially beneficial. Finally, both stock selection and an overweight in financial services contributed positively to relative results, primarily due to the portfolio’s securities brokerage and services industry exposure.
 
Although the portfolio outperformed the Index, there were two areas that were detrimental to overall performance. Stock selection in the materials and processing sector dampened relative performance, despite the benefit of an overweight position. On an individual holdings basis, none of the portfolio’s holdings detracted from performance. Rather, the holdings did not perform as well as other areas within the sector in which the Fund was not invested. Relative returns for the period were also diminished by both stock selection and an overweight in the energy sector, driven solely by weakness in natural gas producers.
 
There is no guarantee that any sectors mentioned will continue to perform as discussed herein or that securities in such sectors will be held by the Fund in the future.

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TOP 10 HOLDINGS as of 11/30/09    
Amazon.com, Inc. 
    8 .5%
Google, Inc. (Class A)
    7 .3
Apple, Inc.
    6 .6
Tencent Holdings Ltd.
    6 .3
Monsanto Co.
    4 .3
Mastercard, Inc. (Class A)
    4 .0
Greenhill & Co., Inc.
    4 .0
Baidu, Inc. (ADR)
    3 .9
Ultra Petroleum Corp.
    3 .8
Ctrip.com International Ltd. (ADR)
    3 .8

 
         
TOP FIVE INDUSTRIES as of 11/30/09    
Internet Software & Services
    17 .5%
Internet & Catalog Retail
    8 .5
Diversified Financial Services
    6 .8
Computers & Pheripherals
    6 .6
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure
    6 .5
 
Subject to change daily. Provided for informational purposes only and should not be deemed as a recommendation to buy or sell the securities mentioned above. Top 10 holdings and top five industries are as a percentage of net assets. Morgan Stanley is a full-service securities firm engaged in securities trading and brokerage activities, investment banking, research and analysis, financing and financial advisory services.
 
Investment Strategy
 
 
The Fund will normally invest at least 65 percent of its assets in a portfolio of common stocks of companies with market capitalizations, at the time of purchase, within the capitalization range of the companies comprising the Russell 3000® Growth Index, which as of December 31, 2008 was between $7.6 million and $397.2 billion. The Fund’s Investment Adviser, Morgan Stanley Investment Advisors Inc., seeks to invest in high quality companies it believes have sustainable competitive advantages and the ability to redeploy capital at high rates of return. The Investment Adviser typically favors companies with rising returns on invested capital, above average business visibility, strong free cash flow generation and attractive risk/reward. The Fund may also use derivative instruments as discussed in the Fund’s prospectus. These derivative instruments will be counted toward the 65 percent policy discussed above to the extent they have economic characteristics similar to the securities included within that policy. The Investment Adviser generally considers selling an investment when it determines the company no longer satisfies its investment criteria.
 
For More Information About Portfolio Holdings
 
 
Each Morgan Stanley fund provides a complete schedule of portfolio holdings in its semiannual and annual reports within 60 days of the end of the fund’s second and fourth fiscal quarters. The semiannual reports and the annual reports are filed electronically with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on Form N-CSRS and Form N-CSR, respectively. Morgan Stanley also delivers the semiannual and annual reports to fund shareholders and makes these reports available on its public web site, www.morganstanley.com. Each

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Morgan Stanley fund also files a complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the SEC for the fund’s first and third fiscal quarters on Form N-Q. Morgan Stanley does not deliver the reports for the first and third fiscal quarters to shareholders, nor are the reports posted to the Morgan Stanley public web site. You may, however, obtain the Form N-Q filings (as well as the Form N-CSR and N-CSRS filings) by accessing the SEC’s web site, http://www.sec.gov. You may also review and copy them at the SEC’s public reference room in Washington, DC. Information on the operation of the SEC’s public reference room may be obtained by calling the SEC at (800) SEC-0330. You can also request copies of these materials, upon payment of a duplicating fee, by electronic request at the SEC’s e-mail address (publicinfo@sec.gov) or by writing the public reference section of the SEC, Washington, DC 20549-1520.
 
Proxy Voting Policy and Procedures and Proxy Voting Record
 
 
You may obtain a copy of the Fund’s Proxy Voting Policy and Procedures without charge, upon request, by calling toll free (800) 869-NEWS or by visiting the Mutual Fund Center on our web site at www.morganstanley.com. It is also available on the SEC’s web site at http://www.sec.gov.
 
You may obtain information regarding how the Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent twelve-month period ended June 30 without charge by visiting the Mutual Fund Center on our web site at www.morganstanley.com. This information is also available on the SEC’s web site at http://www.sec.gov.
 
Householding Notice
 
 
To reduce printing and mailing costs, the Fund attempts to eliminate duplicate mailings to the same address. The Fund delivers a single copy of certain shareholder documents, including shareholder reports, prospectuses and proxy materials, to investors with the same last name who reside at the same address. Your participation in this program will continue for an unlimited period of time unless you instruct us otherwise. You can request multiple copies of these documents by calling (800) 869-NEWS, 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., ET. Once our Customer Service Center has received your instructions, we will begin sending individual copies for each account within 30 days.

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(This Page Intentionally Left Blank)
 

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Performance Summary

 
Performance of a $10,000 Investment — Class B
 
Over 10 Years
 

6


 

 

 
Average Annual Total Returns — Period Ended November 30, 2009
 
                                 
                                 
      Class A Shares *     Class B Shares **     Class C Shares     Class I Shares ††
      (since 07/28/97 )     (since 02/27/96 )     (since 07/28/97 )     (since 07/28/97 )
Symbol
    CPOAX       CPOBX       CPOCX       CPODX  
1 Year
    63.10 %3     61.86 %3     61.96 %3     63.54 %3
      54.54  4     56.86  4     60.96  4     —   
                                 
5 Years
    6.24  3     5.46  3     5.47  3     6.52  3
      5.10  4     5.14  4     5.47  4     —   
                                 
10 Years
    –4.91  3     –5.47  3     –5.61  3     –4.68  3
      –5.42  4     –5.47  4     –5.61  4     —   
                                 
Since Inception
    5.27  3     4.93  3     4.49  3     5.51  3
      4.81  4     4.93  4     4.49  4     —   
 
Performance data quoted represents past performance, which is no guarantee of future results and current performance may be lower or higher than the figures shown. For most recent month-end performance figures, please visit www.morganstanley.com/im or speak with your Financial Advisor. Investment returns and principal value will fluctuate and fund shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. The graph and table do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or the redemption of fund shares. Performance for Class A, Class B, Class C, and Class I shares will vary due to differences in sales charges and expenses. See the Fund’s current prospectus for complete details on fees and sales charges.
 
* The maximum front-end sales charge for Class A is 5.25%.
 
** The maximum contingent deferred sales charge (CDSC) for Class B is 5.0%. The CDSC declines to 0% after six years. Effective April 2005, Class B shares will generally convert to Class A shares approximately eight years after the end of the calendar month in which the shares were purchased. Performance for periods greater than eight years reflects this conversion (beginning April 2005).
 
The maximum contingent deferred sales charge for Class C is 1.0% for shares redeemed within one year of purchase.
 
†† Class I has no sales charge.
 
(1) The Russell 3000® Growth Index measures the performance of the broad growth segment of the U.S. equity universe. It includes those Russell 3000® Index companies with higher price-to-book ratios and higher forecasted growth values. The Russell 3000® Index measures the performance of the largest 3000 U.S. companies representing approximately 98% of the investable U.S. equity market. The Index is unmanaged and its returns do not include any sales charges or fees. Such costs would lower performance. It is not possible to invest directly in an index.
 
(2) The Lipper Multi-Cap Growth Funds Index is an equally weighted performance index of the largest qualifying funds (based on net assets) in the Lipper Multi-Cap Growth Funds classification. The Index, which is adjusted for capital gains distributions and income dividends, is unmanaged and should not be considered an investment. There are currently 30 funds represented in this Index. The Fund was in the Lipper Multi-Cap Growth Funds classification as of the date of this report.
 
(3) Figure shown assumes reinvestment of all distributions and does not reflect the deduction of any sales charges.
 
(4) Figure shown assumes reinvestment of all distributions and the deduction of the maximum applicable sales charge. See the Fund’s current prospectus for complete details on fees and sales charges.
 
Ending value assuming a complete redemption on November 30, 2009.

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Expense Example

 
As a shareholder of the Fund, you incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, including sales charges (loads) on purchase payments and redemption fees; and (2) ongoing costs, including advisory fees; distribution and service (12b-1) fees; and other Fund expenses. This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the Fund and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds.
 
The example is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period and held for the entire period 06/01/09 – 11/30/09.
 
Actual Expenses
 
 
The first line of the table below provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in this line, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number in the first line under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.
 
Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes
 
 
The second line of the table below provides information about hypothetical expenses based on the Fund’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Fund’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. You may use this information to compare the ongoing cost of investing in the Fund and other funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other funds.
 
Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs, such as sales charges (loads) and redemption fees. Therefore, the second line of the table is useful in comparing ongoing costs, and will not help you determine the relative total cost of owning different funds. In addition, if these transactional costs were included, your costs would have been higher.
 
                         
    Beginning
  Ending
  Expenses Paid
    Account Value   Account Value   During Period@
            06/01/09 –
    06/01/09   11/30/09   11/30/09
Class A
                       
Actual (25.11% return)
  $ 1,000.00     $ 1,251.10     $ 8.24  
Hypothetical (5% annual return before expenses)
  $ 1,000.00     $ 1,017.75     $ 7.38  
Class B
                       
Actual (24.68% return)
  $ 1,000.00     $ 1,246.80     $ 12.45  
Hypothetical (5% annual return before expenses)
  $ 1,000.00     $ 1,013.99     $ 11.16  
Class C
                       
Actual (24.62% return)
  $ 1,000.00     $ 1,246.20     $ 12.44  
Hypothetical (5% annual return before expenses)
  $ 1,000.00     $ 1,013.99     $ 11.16  
Class I
                       
Actual (25.32% return)
  $ 1,000.00     $ 1,253.20     $ 6.83  
Hypothetical (5% annual return before expenses)
  $ 1,000.00     $ 1,019.00     $ 6.12  
@ Expenses are equal to the Fund’s annualized expense ratios of 1.46%, 2.21%, 2.21% and 1.21% for Class A, Class B, Class C and Class I shares, respectively, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by 183/365 (to reflect the one-half year period).

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Investment Advisory Agreement Approval

 
Nature, Extent and Quality of Services
 
 
The Board reviewed and considered the nature and extent of the investment advisory services provided by the Investment Adviser (as defined herein) under the advisory agreement, including portfolio management, investment research and equity and fixed income securities trading. The Board also reviewed and considered the nature and extent of the non-advisory, administrative services provided by the Fund’s Administrator (as defined herein) under the administration agreement, including accounting, clerical, bookkeeping, compliance, business management and planning, and the provision of supplies, office space and utilities at the Investment Adviser’s expense. (The Investment Adviser and Administrator together are referred to as the “Adviser” and the advisory and administration agreements together are referred to as the “Management Agreement.”) The Board also compared the nature of the services provided by the Adviser with similar services provided by non-affiliated advisers as reported to the Board by Lipper Inc. (“Lipper”).
 
The Board reviewed and considered the qualifications of the portfolio managers, the senior administrative managers and other key personnel of the Adviser who provide the advisory and administrative services to the Fund. The Board determined that the Adviser’s portfolio managers and key personnel are well qualified by education and/or training and experience to perform the services in an efficient and professional manner. The Board concluded that the nature and extent of the advisory and administrative services provided were necessary and appropriate for the conduct of the business and investment activities of the Fund. The Board also concluded that the overall quality of the advisory and administrative services was satisfactory.
 
Performance, Fees and Expenses of the Fund
 
 
The Board reviewed the performance, fees and expenses of the Fund compared to its peers, as determined by Lipper, and to appropriate benchmarks where applicable. The Board discussed with the Adviser the performance goals and the actual results achieved in managing the Fund. When considering a fund’s performance, the Board and the Adviser place emphasis on trends and longer-term returns (focusing on one-year, three-year and five-year performance, as of December 31, 2008, as applicable). When a fund underperforms its benchmark and/or its peer group average, the Board and the Adviser discuss the causes of such underperformance and, where necessary, they discuss specific changes to investment strategy or investment personnel. The Board noted that the Fund’s performance was better than its peer group average for the five-year period but below its peer group average for the one- and three-year periods. The Board discussed with the Adviser the level of the advisory and administration fees (together, the “management fee”) for this Fund relative to comparable funds advised by the Adviser and compared to its peers as determined by Lipper. In addition to the management fee, the Board also reviewed the Fund’s total expense ratio. The Board noted that the management fee and total expense ratio were lower than the peer group average. After

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discussion, the Board concluded that the Fund’s management fee and total expense ratio were competitive with the peer group average, and the performance was acceptable.
 
Economies of Scale
 
 
The Board considered the size and growth prospects of the Fund and how that relates to the Fund’s total expense ratio and particularly the Fund’s management fee rate, which includes breakpoints. In conjunction with its review of the Adviser’s profitability, the Board discussed with the Adviser how a change in assets can affect the efficiency or effectiveness of managing the Fund and whether the management fee level is appropriate relative to current and projected asset levels and/or whether the management fee structure reflects economies of scale as asset levels change. The Board has determined that its review of the actual and potential economies of scale of the Fund support its decision to approve the Management Agreement.
 
Profitability of the Adviser and Affiliates
 
 
The Board considered information concerning the costs incurred and profits realized by the Adviser and its affiliates during the last year from their relationship with the Fund and during the last two years from their relationship with the Morgan Stanley Fund Complex and reviewed with the Adviser the cost allocation methodology used to determine the profitability of the Adviser and affiliates. The Board has determined that its review of the analysis of the Adviser’s expenses and profitability supports its decision to approve the Management Agreement.
 
Other Benefits of the Relationship
 
 
The Board considered other benefits to the Adviser and its affiliates derived from their relationship with the Fund and other funds advised by the Adviser. These benefits may include, among other things, “float” benefits derived from handling of checks for purchases and sales, research received by the Adviser generated from commission dollars spent on funds’ portfolio trading and fees for distribution and/or shareholder servicing. The Board reviewed with the Adviser each of these arrangements and the reasonableness of its costs relative to the services performed. The Board has determined that its review of the other benefits received by the Adviser or its affiliates supports its decision to approve the Management Agreement.
 
Resources of the Adviser and Historical Relationship Between the Fund and the Adviser
 
 
The Board considered whether the Adviser is financially sound and has the resources necessary to perform its obligations under the Management Agreement. The Board also reviewed and considered the historical relationship between the Fund and the Adviser, including the organizational structure of the Adviser, the policies and procedures formulated and adopted by the Adviser for managing the Fund’s operations and the

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Board’s confidence in the competence and integrity of the senior managers and key personnel of the Adviser. The Board concluded that the Adviser has the financial resources necessary to fulfill its obligations under the Management Agreement and that it is beneficial for the Fund to continue its relationship with the Adviser.
 
Other Factors and Current Trends
 
 
The Board considered the controls and procedures adopted and implemented by the Adviser and monitored by the Fund’s Chief Compliance Officer and concluded that the conduct of business by the Adviser indicates a good faith effort on its part to adhere to high ethical standards in the conduct of the Fund’s business.
 
General Conclusion
 
 
After considering and weighing all of the above factors, the Board concluded that it would be in the best interest of the Fund and its shareholders to approve renewal of the Management Agreement for another year. In reaching this conclusion the Board did not give particular weight to any single factor referenced above. The Board considered these factors over the course of numerous meetings, some of which were in executive session with only the Independent Board members and their counsel present. It is possible that individual Board members may have weighed these factors differently in reaching their individual decisions to approve the Management Agreement.

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Morgan Stanley Capital Opportunities Trust
Portfolio of Investments - November 30, 2009
 
                           
NUMBER OF
           
SHARES           VALUE
        Common Stocks (96.3%)        
       
Air Freight & Logistics (2.0%)
       
  194,025    
Expeditors International of Washington, Inc. 
  $ 6,195,218  
                 
       
Capital Markets (4.0%)
       
  149,458    
Greenhill & Co., Inc. 
    12,203,246  
                 
       
Chemicals (4.3%)
       
  162,839    
Monsanto Co. 
    13,149,249  
                 
       
Communications Equipment (1.6%)
       
  86,314    
Research In Motion Ltd. (Canada) (a)
    4,996,718  
                 
       
Computers & Peripherals (6.6%)
       
  102,207    
Apple, Inc. (a)
    20,432,201  
                 
       
Construction Materials (0.9%)
       
  246,929    
Cemex SAB de CV (ADR) (Mexico) (a)
    2,787,828  
                 
       
Distributors (3.3%)
       
  2,532,465    
Li & Fung Ltd. (Bermuda) (b)
    10,195,148  
                 
       
Diversified Financial Services (6.8%)
       
  952,897    
BM&F BOVESPA SA (Brazil)
    6,405,120  
  284,448    
Leucadia National Corp. (a)
    6,121,321  
  281,140    
MSCI, Inc. (Class A) (a)
    8,566,336  
                 
                        21,092,777  
                           
       
Health Care Technology (2.9%)
       
  214,279    
athenahealth, Inc. (a)
    8,978,290  
                 
       
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure (6.5%)
       
  159,342    
Ctrip.com International Ltd. (ADR) (Cayman Islands) (a)
    11,687,736  
  130,827    
Wynn Resorts Ltd.
    8,443,574  
                 
                        20,131,310  
                           
       
Information Technology Services (6.1%)
       
  51,660    
Mastercard, Inc. (Class A)
    12,442,828  
  424,055    
Redecard SA (Brazil)
    6,473,753  
                 
                        18,916,581  
                           
       
Internet & Catalog Retail (8.5%)
       
  193,663    
Amazon.com, Inc. (a)
    26,320,738  
                 
       
Internet Software & Services (17.5%)
       
  27,800    
Baidu, Inc. (ADR) (Cayman Islands) (a)
    12,057,972  
  38,646    
Google, Inc. (Class A) (a)
    22,530,618  
  1,056,100    
Tencent Holdings Ltd. (Cayman Islands) (b)
    19,527,504  
                 
                        54,116,094  
                           
       
Life Sciences Tools & Services (5.0%)
       
  228,281    
Illumina, Inc. (a)
    6,601,887  
  128,929    
Techne Corp. 
    8,751,700  
                 
                        15,353,587  
                           
       
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels (6.3%)
       
  160,887    
Range Resources Corp. 
    7,582,604  
  252,028    
Ultra Petroleum Corp. (Canada) (a)
    11,842,796  
                 
                        19,425,400  
                           
       
Professional Services (5.1%)
       
  186,168    
CoStar Group, Inc. (a)
    7,396,455  
  311,122    
Verisk Analytics, Inc. (Class A) (a)
    8,372,293  
                 
                        15,768,748  
                           
       
Real Estate Management & Development (3.4%)
       
  493,288    
Brookfield Asset Management, Inc. (Class A) (Canada)
    10,467,571  
                 
 
See Notes to Financial Statements

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Morgan Stanley Capital Opportunities Trust
Portfolio of Investments - November 30, 2009 continued
 
                           
NUMBER OF
           
SHARES           VALUE
       
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment (2.6%)
       
  330,731    
Tessera Technologies, Inc. (a)
  $ 7,828,403  
                 
       
Software (2.9%)
       
  140,733    
Salesforce.com, Inc. (a)
    8,821,145  
                 
        Total Common Stocks
(Cost $250,029,416)
    297,180,252  
                 
                           
NUMBER OF
           
SHARES (000)            
 
        Short-Term Investment (3.7%)
        Investment Company        
   11,561    
Morgan Stanley Institutional Liquidity Funds – Money Market Portfolio – Institutional Class (See Note 6) (Cost $11,560,957)
    11,560,957  
                 
Total Investments
(Cost $261,590,373) (c)
    100.0   %     308,741,209  
Liabilities in Excess of Other Assets     (0.0 )       (133,519 )
                   
Net Assets     100.0   %   $ 308,607,690  
                   
 
     
 
 
ADR
  American Depositary Receipt.
(a)
  Non-income producing security.
(b)
  Security trades on a Hong Kong exchange.
(c)
  The aggregate cost for federal income tax purposes is $262,479,469. The aggregate gross unrealized appreciation is $74,167,808 and the aggregate gross unrealized depreciation is $27,906,068 resulting in net unrealized appreciation of $46,261,740.
 
Summary of Investments
                   
        PERCENT OF
        TOTAL
INDUSTRY   VALUE   INVESTMENTS
Internet Software & Services
  $ 54,116,094       17.5   %
Internet & Catalog Retail
    26,320,738       8.5    
Diversified Financial Services
    21,092,777       6.8    
Computers & Peripherals
    20,432,201       6.6    
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure
    20,131,310       6.5    
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels
    19,425,400       6.3    
Information Technology Services
    18,916,581       6.1    
Professional Services
    15,768,748       5.1    
Life Sciences Tools & Services
    15,353,587       5.0    
Chemicals
    13,149,249       4.3    
Capital Markets
    12,203,246       4.0    
Investment Company
    11,560,957       3.7    
Real Estate Management & Development
    10,467,571       3.4    
Distributors
    10,195,148       3.3    
Health Care Technology
    8,978,290       2.9    
Software
    8,821,145       2.9    
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment
    7,828,403       2.6    
Air Freight & Logistics
    6,195,218       2.0    
Communications Equipment
    4,996,718       1.6    
Construction Materials
    2,787,828       0.9    
                 
    $ 308,741,209       100.0   %
                 
 
See Notes to Financial Statements

13


 

Morgan Stanley Capital Opportunities Trust
Financial Statements
 
Statement of Assets and Liabilities
November 30, 2009
         
Assets:
       
Investments in securities, at value (cost $250,029,416)
  $ 297,180,252  
Investment in affiliate, at value (cost $11,560,957)
    11,560,957  
Foreign cash (cost of $247)
    247  
Receivable for:
       
Dividends
    646,814  
Shares of beneficial interest sold
    74,457  
Investments sold
    27,316  
Dividends from affiliate
    1,382  
Prepaid expenses and other assets
    32,860  
         
Total Assets
    309,524,285  
         
Liabilities:
       
Payable for:
       
Shares of beneficial interest redeemed
    377,086  
Investment advisory fee
    172,864  
Distribution fee
    97,369  
Transfer agent fee
    81,874  
Administration fee
    20,898  
Accrued expenses and other payables
    166,504  
         
Total Liabilities
    916,595  
         
Net Assets
  $ 308,607,690  
         
Composition of Net Assets:
       
Paid-in-capital
  $ 751,766,117  
Net unrealized appreciation
    47,150,836  
Accumulated net investment loss
    (341,310 )
Accumulated net realized loss
    (489,967,953 )
         
Net Assets
  $ 308,607,690  
         
Class A Shares:
       
Net Assets
    $221,049,662  
Shares Outstanding (unlimited shares authorized, $.01 par value)
    11,061,338  
Net Asset Value Per Share
    $19.98  
         
Maximum Offering Price Per Share,
(net asset value plus 5.54% of net asset value)
    $21.09  
         
Class B Shares:
       
Net Assets
    $34,517,071  
Shares Outstanding (unlimited shares authorized, $.01 par value)
    1,887,271  
Net Asset Value Per Share
    $18.29  
         
Class C Shares:
       
Net Assets
    $24,511,212  
Shares Outstanding (unlimited shares authorized, $.01 par value)
    1,345,400  
Net Asset Value Per Share
    $18.22  
         
Class I Shares:
       
Net Assets
    $28,529,745  
Shares Outstanding (unlimited shares authorized, $.01 par value)
    1,389,309  
Net Asset Value Per Share
    $20.54  
         
 
Statement of Operations
For the year ended November 30, 2009
 
         
Net Investment Loss:
       
Income
       
Dividends (net of $60,251 foreign withholding tax)
  $ 2,802,744  
Dividends from affiliate
    24,528  
Interest
    250  
         
Total Income
    2,827,522  
         
Expenses
       
Investment advisory fee
    1,740,378  
Distribution fee (Class A shares)
    447,066  
Distribution fee (Class B shares)
    354,003  
Distribution fee (Class C shares)
    204,047  
Transfer agent fees and expenses
    915,646  
Administration fee
    207,806  
Shareholder reports and notices
    88,473  
Professional fees
    79,063  
Registration fees
    61,933  
Custodian fees
    30,587  
Trustees’ fees and expenses
    7,843  
Other
    27,406  
         
Total Expenses
    4,164,251  
Less: rebate from Morgan Stanley affiliated cash sweep (Note 6)
    (9,345 )
         
Net Expenses
    4,154,906  
         
Net Investment Loss
    (1,327,384 )
         
Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss):
       
Realized Gain (Loss) on:
       
Investments
    (3,152,937 )
Forward foreign currency contracts
    (25,323 )
Foreign currency translation
    456  
         
Net Realized Loss
    (3,177,804 )
Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation/Depreciation on Investments
    131,284,371  
         
Net Gain
    128,106,567  
         
Net Increase
  $ 126,779,183  
         
 
See Notes to Financial Statements

14


 

Morgan Stanley Capital Opportunities Trust
Financial Statements continued
 
 
Statements of Changes in Net Assets
                 
    FOR THE YEAR
  FOR THE YEAR
    ENDED
  ENDED
    NOVEMBER 30, 2009   NOVEMBER 30, 2008
 
Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets:
               
Operations:
               
Net investment loss
  $ (1,327,384 )   $ (3,934,654 )
Net realized loss
    (3,177,804 )     (23,021,292 )
Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation
    131,284,371       (215,158,335 )
                 
Net Increase (Decrease)
    126,779,183       (242,114,281 )
                 
Net decrease from transactions in shares of beneficial interest
    (48,201,725 )     (72,964,720 )
                 
Net Increase (Decrease)
    78,577,458       (315,079,001 )
Net Assets:
               
Beginning of period
    230,030,232       545,109,233  
                 
End of Period
               
(Including accumulated net investment loss of $341,310 and accumulated undistributed net investment income of $312,265, respectively)
  $ 308,607,690     $ 230,030,232  
                 
 
See Notes to Financial Statements

15


 

Morgan Stanley Capital Opportunities Trust
Notes to Financial Statements - November 30, 2009
 
 
 
 
 
 
1. Organization and Accounting Policies
Morgan Stanley Capital Opportunities Trust (the “Fund”) is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Act”), as a diversified, open-end management investment company. The Fund’s investment objective is to seek long-term capital appreciation. The Fund was organized as a Massachusetts business trust on October 17, 1995 and commenced operations on February 27, 1996. On July 28, 1997, the Fund converted to a multiple class share structure.
 
The Fund offers Class A shares, Class B shares, Class C shares and Class I shares. The four classes are substantially the same except that most Class A shares are subject to a sales charge imposed at the time of purchase and some Class A shares, and most Class B shares and Class C shares are subject to a contingent deferred sales charge imposed on shares redeemed within eighteen months, six years and one year, respectively. Class I shares are not subject to a sales charge. Additionally, Class A shares, Class B shares and Class C shares incur distribution expenses.
 
For the period December 1, 2008 to January 20, 2009, the Fund assessed a 2% redemption fee, on Class A shares, Class B shares, Class C shares, and Class I shares, which was paid directly to the Fund, for shares redeemed or exchanged within seven days of purchase, subject to certain exceptions. The redemption fee was designed to protect the Fund and its remaining shareholders from the effects of short-term trading. The Board of Trustees approved the elimination of redemption fees, effective January 21, 2009.
 
The following is a summary of significant accounting policies:
 
A. Valuation of Investments — (1) an equity portfolio security listed or traded on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) or American Stock Exchange or other exchange is valued at its latest sale price prior to the time when assets are valued; if there were no sales that day, the security is valued at the mean between the last reported bid and ask price; (2) an equity portfolio security listed or traded on the Nasdaq is valued at the Nasdaq Official Closing Price; if there were no sales that day, the security is valued at the mean between the last reported bid and ask price; (3) all other portfolio securities for which over-the-counter market quotations are readily available are valued at the mean between the last reported bid and ask price. In cases where a security is traded on more than one exchange, the security is valued on the exchange designated as the primary market; (4) for equity securities traded on foreign exchanges, the last reported sale price or the latest bid price may be used if there were no sales on a particular day; (5) when market quotations are not readily available including circumstances under which Morgan Stanley Investment Advisors Inc. (the “Investment Adviser”) determines that the latest sale price, the bid price or the mean between the last reported bid and ask price do not reflect a security’s market value, portfolio securities are valued at their fair value as determined in good faith under procedures established by and under the general supervision of the Fund’s Trustees. Occasionally, developments affecting the closing prices of securities and

16


 

Morgan Stanley Capital Opportunities Trust
Notes to Financial Statements - November 30, 2009 continued
 
other assets may occur between the times at which valuations of such securities are determined (that is, close of the foreign market on which the securities trade) and the close of business on the NYSE. If developments occur during such periods that are expected to materially affect the value of such securities, such valuations may be adjusted to reflect the estimated fair value of such securities as of the close of the NYSE, as determined in good faith by the Fund’s Trustees or by the Investment Adviser using a pricing service and/or procedures approved by the Trustees of the Fund; (6) certain portfolio securities may be valued by an outside pricing service approved by the Fund’s Trustees; (7) investments in open-end mutual funds, including the Morgan Stanley Institutional Liquidity Funds, are valued at the net asset value as of the close of each business day; and (8) short-term debt securities having a maturity date of more than sixty days at time of purchase are valued on a mark-to-market basis until sixty days prior to maturity and thereafter at amortized cost based on their value on the 61st day. Short-term debt securities having a maturity date of sixty days or less at the time of purchase are valued at amortized cost, which approximates market value.
 
B. Accounting for Investments — Security transactions are accounted for on the trade date (date the order to buy or sell is executed). Realized gains and losses on security transactions are determined by the identified cost method. Dividend income and other distributions are recorded on the ex-dividend date. Discounts are accreted and premiums are amortized over the life of the respective securities and are included in interest income. Interest income is accrued daily as earned.
 
C. Multiple Class Allocations — Investment income, expenses (other than distribution fees), and realized and unrealized gains and losses are allocated to each class of shares based upon the relative net asset value on the date such items are recognized. Distribution fees are charged directly to the respective class.
 
D. Foreign Currency Translation and Forward Foreign Currency Contracts — The books and records of the Fund are maintained in U.S. dollars as follows: (1) the foreign currency market value of investment securities, other assets and liabilities and forward foreign currency contracts (“forward contracts”) are translated at the exchange rates prevailing at the end of the period; and (2) purchases, sales, income and expenses are translated at the exchange rates prevailing on the respective dates of such transactions. The resultant exchange gains and losses are recorded as realized and unrealized gains/losses on forward contracts and foreign currency translations. Pursuant to U.S. federal income tax regulations, certain foreign exchange gains/losses included in realized and unrealized gains/losses are included in or are a reduction of ordinary income for federal income tax purposes. The Fund does not isolate that portion of the results of operations arising as a result of changes in the foreign exchange rates from the changes in the market prices of the securities. Forward contracts are valued daily at the appropriate exchange rates. The resultant unrealized exchange gains and losses are recorded as unrealized foreign currency translation gains or losses. The Fund records realized gains or losses on delivery of the currency or at the time the forward contract is extinguished (compensated) by entering into a closing transaction prior to delivery.

17


 

Morgan Stanley Capital Opportunities Trust
Notes to Financial Statements - November 30, 2009 continued
 
E. Federal Income Tax Policy — It is the Fund’s policy to comply with the requirements of Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code applicable to regulated investment companies and to distribute substantially all of its taxable income to its shareholders. Therefore, no federal income tax provision is required. The Fund files tax returns with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service, New York State and New York City. The Fund recognizes the tax effects of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return only if it is more likely than not to be sustained based solely on its technical merits as of the reporting date. The more-likely-than-not threshold must continue to be met in each reporting period to support continued recognition of the benefit. The difference between the tax benefit recognized in the financial statements for a tax position taken and the tax benefit claimed in the income tax return is referred to as an unrecognized tax benefit. There are no unrecognized tax benefits in the accompanying financial statements. If applicable, the Fund recognizes interest accrued related to unrecognized tax benefits in interest expense and penalties in other expenses in the Statement of Operations. Each of the tax years in the four year period ended November 30, 2009 remains subject to examination by taxing authorities.
 
F. Dividends and Distributions to Shareholders — Dividends and distributions to shareholders are recorded on the ex-dividend date.
 
G. Use of Estimates — The preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts and disclosures. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
 
H. Subsequent Events — The Fund considers events or transactions that occur after the date of the Statement of Assets and Liabilities but before the financial statements are issued to provide additional evidence relative to certain estimates or to identify matters that require additional disclosure. Subsequent events have been evaluated through January 25, 2010, the date of issuance of these financial statements.
 
2. Fair Valuation Measurements
Fair value is defined as the price that the Fund would receive to sell an investment or pay to transfer a liability in a timely transaction with an independent buyer in the principal market, or in the absence of a principal market the most advantageous market for the investment or liability. GAAP utilizes a three-tier hierarchy to distinguish between (1) inputs that reflect the assumptions market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability developed based on market data obtained from sources independent of the reporting entity (observable inputs) and (2) inputs that reflect the reporting entity’s own assumptions about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability developed based on the best information available in the circumstances (unobservable inputs) and to establish classification of fair value

18


 

Morgan Stanley Capital Opportunities Trust
Notes to Financial Statements - November 30, 2009 continued
 
measurements for disclosure purposes. Various inputs are used in determining the value of the Fund’s investments. The inputs are summarized in the three broad levels listed below.
 
  •  Level 1 — unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical investments
 
  •  Level 2 — other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for similar investments, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, etc.)
 
  •  Level 3 — significant unobservable inputs (including the Fund’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments)
 
The inputs or methodology used for valuing securities are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities and the determination of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement in its entirety requires judgment and considers factors specific to each security.
 
The following is the summary of the inputs used as of November 30, 2009 in valuing the Fund’s investments carried at fair value:
 
                                 
        FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS AT NOVEMBER 30, 2009 USING
        UNADJUSTED
       
        QUOTED PRICES IN
  SIGNIFICANT
  SIGNIFICANT
        ACTIVE MARKET FOR
  OTHER OBSERVABLE
  UNOBSERVABLE
        IDENTICAL INVESTMENTS
  INPUTS
  INPUTS
INVESTMENT TYPE   TOTAL   (LEVEL 1)   (LEVEL 2)   (LEVEL 3)
Assets:
                               
Common Stocks
                               
Air Freight & Logistics
  $ 6,195,218     $ 6,195,218              
Capital Markets
    12,203,246       12,203,246              
Chemicals
    13,149,249       13,149,249              
Communications Equipment
    4,996,718       4,996,718              
Computers & Peripherals
    20,432,201       20,432,201              
Construction Materials
    2,787,828       2,787,828              
Distributors
    10,195,148       10,195,148              
Diversified Financial Services
    21,092,777       21,092,777              
Health Care Technology
    8,978,290       8,978,290              
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure
    20,131,310       20,131,310              
Information Technology Services
    18,916,581       18,916,581              
Internet & Catalog Retail
    26,320,738       26,320,738              
Internet Software & Services
    54,116,094       54,116,094              
Life Sciences Tools & Services
    15,353,587       15,353,587              
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels
    19,425,400       19,425,400              
Professional Services
    15,768,748       15,768,748              
Real Estate Management & Development
    10,467,571       10,467,571              
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment
    7,828,403       7,828,403              
Software
    8,821,145       8,821,145              
                                 
Total Common Stocks
    297,180,252       297,180,252              
                                 
Short-Term Investment — Investment Company
    11,560,957       11,560,957              
                                 
Total
  $ 308,741,209     $ 308,741,209              —                    —        
                                 

19


 

Morgan Stanley Capital Opportunities Trust
Notes to Financial Statements - November 30, 2009 continued
 
3. Derivative Financial Instruments
A derivative financial instrument in very general terms refers to a security whose value is “derived” from the value of an underlying asset, reference rate or index.
 
The Fund may use derivative instruments for a variety of reasons, such as to attempt to protect the Fund against possible changes in the market value of its portfolio or to manage the Fund’s foreign currency exposure or to generate potential gain. All of the Fund’s portfolio holdings, including derivative instruments, are marked-to-market each day with the change in value reflected in unrealized appreciation/depreciation. Upon disposition, a realized gain or loss is recognized accordingly, except when taking delivery of a security underlying a contract. In these instances, the recognition of gain or loss is postponed until the disposal of the security underlying the contract. Risk may arise as a result of the potential inability of the counterparties to meet the terms of their contracts.
 
Summarized below is a specific type of derivative financial instrument used by the Fund.
 
Forward Foreign Currency Contracts  The Fund may enter into forward contracts for many purposes, including to facilitate settlement of foreign currency denominated portfolio transactions or to manage foreign currency exposure associated with foreign currency denominated securities. Forward contracts involve elements of market risk in excess of the amount reflected in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. The Fund bears the risk of an unfavorable change in the foreign exchange rates underlying the forward contracts. Risks may also arise upon entering into these contracts from the potential inability of the counterparties to meet the terms of their contracts.
 
During the year ended November 30, 2009, the value of forward foreign currency contracts opened and closed were $815 and $8,620,817, respectively.
 
The following table sets forth by primary risk exposure the Fund’s realized gains (losses) by type of derivative contract for the year ended November 30, 2009.
 
         
AMOUNT OF REALIZED GAIN (LOSS) ON DERIVATIVE CONTRACTS
PRIMARY RISK EXPPOSURE
 
FORWARD FOREIGN CURRENCY
 
Foreign Currency Risk
  $ (25,323 )
         
4. Investment Advisory/Administration Agreements
Pursuant to an Investment Advisory Agreement, the Fund pays the Investment Adviser an advisory fee, accrued daily and payable monthly, by applying the following annual rates to the net assets of the Fund determined as of the close of each business day: 0.67% to the portion of the daily net assets not exceeding $500 million; 0.645% to the portion of the daily net assets exceeding $500 million but not exceeding

20


 

Morgan Stanley Capital Opportunities Trust
Notes to Financial Statements - November 30, 2009 continued
 
$2 billion; 0.62% to the portion of the daily net assets exceeding $2 billion but not exceeding $3 billion; and 0.595% to the portion of the daily net assets exceeding $3 billion.
 
Pursuant to an Administration Agreement with Morgan Stanley Services Company Inc. (the “Administrator”), an affiliate of the Investment Adviser, the Fund pays an administration fee, accrued daily and payable monthly, by applying the annual rate of 0.08% to the Fund’s daily net assets.
 
Under an agreement between the Administrator and State Street Bank and Trust Company (“State Street”), State Street provides certain administrative services to the Fund. For such services, the Administrator pays State Street a portion of the fee the Administrator receives from the Fund.
 
5. Plan of Distribution
Shares of the Fund are distributed by Morgan Stanley Distributors Inc. (the “Distributor”), an affiliate of the Investment Adviser and Administrator. The Fund has adopted a Plan of Distribution (the “Plan”) pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Act. The Plan provides that the Fund will pay the Distributor a fee which is accrued daily and paid monthly at the following annual rates: (i) Class A – up to 0.25% of the average daily net assets of Class A shares; (ii) Class B – up to 1.0% of the lesser of: (a) the average daily aggregate gross sales of the Class B shares since the inception of the Plan (not including reinvestment of dividend or capital gain distributions) less the average daily aggregate net asset value of the Class B shares redeemed since the Plan’s inception upon which a contingent deferred sales charge has been imposed or waived; or (b) the average daily net assets of Class B shares; and (iii) Class C – up to 1.0% of the average daily net assets of Class C shares.
 
In the case of Class B shares, provided that the Plan continues in effect, any cumulative expenses incurred by the Distributor but not yet recovered may be recovered through the payment of future distribution fees from the Fund pursuant to the Plan and contingent deferred sales charges paid by investors upon redemption of Class B shares. Although there is no legal obligation for the Fund to pay expenses incurred in excess of payments made to the Distributor under the Plan and the proceeds of contingent deferred sales charges paid by investors upon redemption of shares, if for any reason the Plan is terminated, the Trustees will consider at that time the manner in which to treat such expenses. The Distributor has advised the Fund that such excess amounts totaled $78,677,938 at November 30, 2009.
 
In the case of Class A shares and Class C shares, expenses incurred pursuant to the Plan in any calendar year in excess of 0.25% or 1.0% of the average daily net assets of Class A or Class C, respectively, will not be reimbursed by the Fund through payments in any subsequent year, except that expenses representing a gross sales credit to Morgan Stanley Financial Advisors and other authorized financial representatives at the time of sale may be reimbursed in the subsequent calendar year. For the year ended November 30, 2009, the distribution fee was accrued for Class A shares and Class C shares at the annual rate of 0.25% and 1.0%, respectively.

21


 

Morgan Stanley Capital Opportunities Trust
Notes to Financial Statements - November 30, 2009 continued
 
The Distributor has informed the Fund that for the year ended November 30, 2009, it received contingent deferred sales charges from certain redemptions of the Fund’s Class A shares, Class B shares and Class C shares of $1,111, $51,854 and $1,611, respectively and received $50,565 in front-end sales charges from sales of the Fund’s Class A shares. The respective shareholders pay such charges which are not an expense of the Fund.
 
6. Security Transactions and Transactions with Affiliates
The Fund invests in Morgan Stanley Institutional Liquidity Funds – Money Market Portfolio – Institutional Class, an open-end management investment company managed by an affiliate of the Investment Adviser. Investment advisory fees paid by the Fund are reduced by an amount equal to the advisory and administrative service fees paid by Morgan Stanley Institutional Liquidity Funds – Money Market Portfolio – Institutional Class with respect to assets invested by the Fund in Morgan Stanley Institutional Liquidity Funds – Money Market Portfolio – Institutional Class. For the year ended November 30, 2009, advisory fees paid were reduced by $9,345 relating to the Fund’s investment in Morgan Stanley Institutional Liquidity Funds – Money Market Portfolio – Institutional Class. Income distributions earned by the Fund are recorded as “dividends from affiliate” in the Statement of Operations and totaled $24,528 for the year ended November 30, 2009. During the year ended November 30, 2009, the cost of purchases and sales of investments in Morgan Stanley Institutional Liquidity Funds – Money Market Portfolio – Institutional Class aggregated $83,827,354 and $74,677,313, respectively.
 
The cost of purchases and proceeds from sales of portfolio securities, excluding short-term investments, for the year ended November 30, 2009 aggregated $51,693,229 and $99,229,028, respectively. Included in the aforementioned transactions are purchases and sales of $646,566 and $12,750,832 respectively, with other Morgan Stanley funds, resulting in net realized losses of $57,356.
 
For the year ended November 30, 2009, the Fund incurred brokerage commissions of $16,201 with Morgan Stanley & Co., Inc. an affiliate of the Investment Adviser, Administrator and Distributor, for portfolio transactions executed on behalf of the Fund.
 
The Fund has an unfunded Deferred Compensation Plan (the “Compensation Plan”) which allows each independent Trustee to defer payment of all, or a portion, of the fees he or she receives for serving on the Board of Trustees. Each eligible Trustee generally may elect to have the deferred amounts credited with a return equal to the total return on one or more of the Morgan Stanley funds that are offered as investment options under the Compensation Plan. Appreciation/depreciation and distributions received from these investments are recorded with an offsetting increase/decrease in the deferred compensation obligation and do not affect the net asset value of the Fund.

22


 

Morgan Stanley Capital Opportunities Trust
Notes to Financial Statements - November 30, 2009 continued
 
7. Shares of Beneficial Interest
Transactions in shares of beneficial interest were as follows:
 
                                 
    FOR THE YEAR
  FOR THE YEAR
    ENDED
  ENDED
    NOVEMBER 30, 2009   NOVEMBER 30, 2008
    SHARES   AMOUNT   SHARES   AMOUNT
CLASS A SHARES
                               
Sold
    1,243,912     $ 18,842,049       3,549,821     $ 74,332,085  
Conversion from Class B
    129,047       1,942,574       981,933       21,440,983  
Redeemed
    (2,429,680 )     (36,208,728 )     (4,028,512 )     (74,012,251 )
                                 
Net Increase (decrease) – Class A
    (1,056,721 )     (15,424,105 )     503,242       21,760,817  
                                 
CLASS B SHARES
                               
Sold
    139,281       1,909,700       227,140       4,413,229  
Conversion to Class A
    (140,421 )     (1,942,574 )     (1,058,910 )     (21,440,983 )
Redeemed
    (1,554,005 )     (21,066,283 )     (2,853,859 )     (54,323,013 )
                                 
Net decrease – Class B
    (1,555,145 )     (21,099,157 )     (3,685,629 )     (71,350,767 )
                                 
CLASS C SHARES
                               
Sold
    106,166       1,528,349       126,657       2,463,487  
Redeemed
    (334,157 )     (4,569,882 )     (381,419 )     (6,862,490 )
                                 
Net decrease – Class C
    (227,991 )     (3,041,533 )     (254,762 )     (4,399,003 )
                                 
CLASS I SHARES
                               
Sold
    134,539       2,158,827       267,784       5,805,554  
Redeemed
    (739,085 )     (10,795,757 )     (1,212,380 )     (24,781,321 )
                                 
Net decrease – Class I
    (604,546 )     (8,636,930 )     (944,596 )     (18,975,767 )
                                 
Net decrease in Fund
    (3,444,403 )   $ (48,201,725 )     (4,381,745 )   $ (72,964,720 )
                                 
 
8. Federal Income Tax Status
The amount of dividends and distributions from net investment income and net realized capital gains are determined in accordance with federal income tax regulations which may differ from GAAP. These “book/tax” differences are either considered temporary or permanent in nature. To the extent these differences are permanent in nature, such amounts are reclassified within the capital accounts based on their federal tax-basis treatment; temporary differences do not require reclassification. Dividends and distributions which exceed net investment income and net realized capital gains for tax purposes are reported as distributions of paid-in-capital.

23


 

Morgan Stanley Capital Opportunities Trust
Notes to Financial Statements - November 30, 2009 continued
 
As of November 30, 2009, the tax-basis components of accumulated losses were as follows:
 
                 
Net accumulated earnings
             
Capital loss carryforward
  $ (489,417,513 )        
Post-October losses
    (1,467 )        
Temporary differences
    (1,187 )        
Net unrealized appreciation
    46,261,740          
                 
Total accumulated losses
  $ (443,158,427 )        
                 
 
As of November 30, 2009, the Fund had a net capital loss carryforward of $489,417,513, to offset future capital gains to the extent provided by regulations, which will expire according to the following schedule.
 
             
AMOUNT   EXPIRATION
 
$453,209,324
      November 30, 2010  
 
28,592,340
      November 30, 2016  
 
7,615,849
      November 30, 2017  
 
As of November 30, 2009, the Fund had temporary book/tax differences primarily attributable to post-October losses (foreign currency losses incurred after October 31 within the taxable year which are deemed to arise on the first business day of the Fund’s next taxable year) and capital loss deferrals on wash sales.
 
Permanent differences, primarily due to foreign currency losses, a net operating loss and an expired capital loss carryforward, resulted in the following reclassifications among the Fund’s components of net assets at November 30, 2009:
 
                     
ACCUMULATED
  ACCUMULATED
   
NET INVESTMENT
  NET REALIZED
   
LOSS
 
LOSS
 
PAID-IN-CAPITAL
$ 673,809     $ 234,895,611     $ (235,569,420 )
                     

24


 

Morgan Stanley Capital Opportunities Trust
Financial Highlights
 
Selected ratios and per share data for a share of beneficial interest outstanding throughout each period:
 
                                                   
    FOR THE YEAR ENDED NOVEMBER 30,
    2009   2008   2007   2006   2005
Class A Shares
                                                 
Selected Per Share Data:
                                                 
Net asset value, beginning of period
    $12.25         $23.77         $20.27         $18.66         $14.76    
                                         
Income (loss) from investment operations:
                                                 
Net investment loss(1)
    (0.06 )       (0.14 )       (0.02 )       (0.17 )       (0.17 )  
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)
    7.79         (11.38 )       3.52         1.78         4.07    
                                         
Total income (loss) from investment operations
    7.73         (11.52 )       3.50         1.61         3.90    
                                         
Net asset value, end of period
    $19.98         $12.25         $23.77         $20.27         $18.66    
                                         
Total Return(2)
    63.10   %     (48.46 ) %     17.27   %     8.63   %     26.42   %
Ratios to Average Net Assets:(3)
                                                 
Total expenses (before expense offset)
    1.46%(4 )       1.32%(4 )       1.32%(4 )       1.55   %     1.48   %
Net investment loss
    (0.37 ) %(4)     (0.68 ) %(4)     (0.15 ) %(4)     (0.88 ) %     (1.03 ) %
Rebate from Morgan Stanley affiliate
    0.00%(5 )       0.00%(5 )       0.00%(5 )        —           —     
Supplemental Data:
                                                 
Net assets, end of period, in thousands
     $221,050          $148,420          $276,064          $136,788          $121,998    
Portfolio turnover rate
    20   %     32   %     60   %     57   %     88   %
(1) The per share amounts were computed using an average number of shares outstanding during the period.
(2) Does not reflect the deduction of sales charge. Calculated based on the net asset value as of the last business day of the period.
(3) Reflects overall Fund ratios for investment income and non-class specific expenses.
(4) The ratios reflect the rebate of certain Fund expenses in connection with investments in a Morgan Stanley affiliate during the period. The effect of the rebate on the ratios is disclosed in the above table as “Rebate from Morgan Stanley affiliate”.
(5) Amount is less than 0.005%.
 
See Notes to Financial Statements

25


 

Morgan Stanley Capital Opportunities Trust
Financial Highlights continued
 
                                                   
    FOR THE YEAR ENDED NOVEMBER 30,
    2009   2008   2007   2006   2005
Class B Shares
                                                 
Selected Per Share Data:
                                                 
Net asset value, beginning of period
    $11.29         $22.08         $18.98         $17.57         $14.02    
                                         
Income (loss) from investment operations:
                                                 
Net investment loss(1)
    (0.16 )       (0.28 )       (0.20 )       (0.29 )       (0.26 )  
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)
    7.16         (10.51 )       3.30         1.70         3.81    
                                         
Total income (loss) from investment operations
    7.00         (10.79 )       3.10         1.41         3.55    
                                         
Net asset value, end of period
    $18.29         $11.29         $22.08         $18.98         $17.57    
                                         
Total Return(2)
    61.86   %     (48.82 ) %     16.33   %     7.84   %     25.53   %
Ratios to Average Net Assets:(3)
                                                 
Total expenses (before expense offset)
    2.21%(4 )       2.08%(4 )       2.08%(4 )       2.30   %     2.23   %
Net investment loss
    (1.12 ) %(4)     (1.44 ) %(4)     (0.91 ) %(4)     (1.63 ) %     (1.78 ) %
Rebate from Morgan Stanley affiliate
    0.00%(5 )       0.00%(5 )       0.00%(5 )        —           —     
Supplemental Data:
                                                 
Net assets, end of period, in thousands
     $34,517          $38,878          $157,414          $96,737          $143,995    
Portfolio turnover rate
    20   %     32   %     60   %     57   %     88   %
(1) The per share amounts were computed using an average number of shares outstanding during the period.
(2) Does not reflect the deduction of sales charge. Calculated based on the net asset value as of the last business day of the period.
(3) Reflects overall Fund ratios for investment income and non-class specific expenses.
(4) The ratios reflect the rebate of certain Fund expenses in connection with investments in a Morgan Stanley affiliate during the period. The effect of the rebate on the ratios is disclosed in the above table as “Rebate from Morgan Stanley affiliate”.
(5) Amount is less than 0.005%.
 
See Notes to Financial Statements

26


 

Morgan Stanley Capital Opportunities Trust
Financial Highlights continued
 
                                                   
    FOR THE YEAR ENDED NOVEMBER 30,
    2009   2008   2007   2006   2005
Class C Shares
                                                 
Selected Per Share Data:
                                                 
Net asset value, beginning of period
    $11.25         $22.00         $18.90         $17.51         $13.96    
                                         
Income (loss) from investment operations:
                                                 
Net investment loss(1)
    (0.16 )       (0.27 )       (0.18 )       (0.29 )       (0.26 )  
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)
    7.13         (10.48 )       3.28         1.68         3.81    
                                         
Total income (loss) from investment operations
    6.97         (10.75 )       3.10         1.39         3.55    
                                         
Net asset value, end of period
    $18.22         $11.25         $22.00         $18.90         $17.51    
                                         
Total Return(2)
    61.96   %     (48.86 ) %     16.40   %     7.82   %     25.57   %
Ratios to Average Net Assets:(3)
                                                 
Total expenses (before expense offset)
    2.21%(4 )       2.07%(4 )       2.08%(4 )       2.30   %     2.19   %
Net investment loss
    (1.12 ) %(4)     (1.43 ) %(4)     (0.91 ) %(4)     (1.63 ) %     (1.74 ) %
Rebate from Morgan Stanley affiliate
    0.00%(5 )       0.00%(5 )       0.00%(5 )        —           —     
Supplemental Data:
                                                 
Net assets, end of period, in thousands
     $24,511          $17,700          $40,213          $15,230          $14,909    
Portfolio turnover rate
    20   %     32   %     60   %     57   %     88   %
(1) The per share amounts were computed using an average number of shares outstanding during the period.
(2) Does not reflect the deduction of sales charge. Calculated based on the net asset value as of the last business day of the period.
(3) Reflects overall Fund ratios for investment income and non-class specific expenses.
(4) The ratios reflect the rebate of certain Fund expenses in connection with investments in a Morgan Stanley affiliate during the period. The effect of the rebate on the ratios is disclosed in the above table as “Rebate from Morgan Stanley affiliate”.
(5) Amount is less than 0.005%.
 
See Notes to Financial Statements

27


 

Morgan Stanley Capital Opportunities Trust
Financial Highlights continued
 
                                                   
    FOR THE YEAR ENDED NOVEMBER 30,
    2009   2008   2007   2006   2005
Class I Shares
                                                 
Selected Per Share Data:
                                                 
Net asset value, beginning of period
    $12.55         $24.30         $20.68         $18.97         $14.98    
                                         
Income (loss) from investment operations:
                                                 
Net investment income (loss)(1)
    (0.02 )       (0.09 )       0.02         (0.12 )       (0.12 )  
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)
    8.01         (11.66 )       3.60         1.83         4.11    
                                         
Total income (loss) from investment operations
    7.99         (11.75 )       3.62         1.71         3.99    
                                         
Net asset value, end of period
    $20.54         $12.55         $24.30         $20.68         $18.97    
                                         
Total Return(2)
    63.54   %     (48.31 ) %     17.50   %     8.96   %     26.70   %
Ratios to Average Net Assets:(3)
                                                 
Total expenses (before expense offset)
    1.21%(4 )       1.08%(4 )       1.08%(4 )       1.30   %     1.23   %
Net investment income (loss)
    (0.12 ) %(4)     (0.44 ) %(4)     0.09%(4 )       (0.63 ) %     (0.78 ) %
Rebate from Morgan Stanley affiliate
    0.00%(5 )       0.00%(5 )       0.00%(5 )        —           —     
Supplemental Data:
                                                 
Net assets, end of period, in thousands
     $28,530          $25,032          $71,418          $74,084          $90,526    
Portfolio turnover rate
    20   %     32   %     60   %     57   %     88   %
(1) The per share amounts were computed using an average number of shares outstanding during the period.
(2) Calculated based on the net asset value as of the last business day of the period.
(3) Reflects overall Fund ratios for investment income and non-class specific expenses.
(4) The ratios reflect the rebate of certain Fund expenses in connection with investments in a Morgan Stanley affiliate during the period. The effect of the rebate on the ratios is disclosed in the above table as “Rebate from Morgan Stanley affiliate”.
(5) Amount is less than 0.005%.
 
See Notes to Financial Statements

28


 

Morgan Stanley Capital Opportunities Trust
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
 
 
 
 
 
 
To the Shareholders and Board of Trustees of
Morgan Stanley Capital Opportunities Trust:
 
 
We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities of Morgan Stanley Capital Opportunities Trust (the “Fund”), including the portfolio of investments, as of November 30, 2009, and the related statement of operations for the year then ended, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended. These financial statements and financial highlights are the responsibility of the Fund’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and financial highlights based on our audits.
 
We conducted our audits 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 and financial highlights are free of material misstatement. The Fund is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Fund’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also 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, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of November 30, 2009, by correspondence with the custodian. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
 
In our opinion, the financial statements and financial highlights referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Morgan Stanley Capital Opportunities Trust as of November 30, 2009, the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
 
Deloitte & Touche LLP
New York, New York
January 25, 2010

29


 

Morgan Stanley Capital Opportunities Trust
An Important Notice Concerning Our U.S. Privacy Policy (unaudited)
 
We are required by federal law to provide you with a copy of our privacy policy (“Policy”) annually.
 
This Policy applies to current and former individual clients of Morgan Stanley Distributors Inc., as well as current and former individual investors in Morgan Stanley mutual funds and related companies.
 
This Policy is not applicable to partnerships, corporations, trusts or other non-individual clients or account holders, nor is this Policy applicable to individuals who are either beneficiaries of a trust for which we serve as trustee or participants in an employee benefit plan administered or advised by us. This Policy is, however, applicable to individuals who select us to be a custodian of securities or assets in individual retirement accounts, 401(k) accounts, 529 Educational Savings Accounts, accounts subject to the Uniform Gifts to Minors Act, or similar accounts. We may amend this Policy at any time, and will inform you of any changes to this Policy as required by law.
 
We Respect Your Privacy
We appreciate that you have provided us with your personal financial information and understand your concerns about safeguarding such information. We strive to maintain the privacy of such information while we help you achieve your financial objectives. This Policy describes what non-public personal information we collect about you, how we collect it, when we may share it with others, and how others may use it. It discusses the steps you may take to limit our sharing of information about you with affiliated Morgan Stanley companies (“affiliated companies”). It also discloses how you may limit our affiliates’ use of shared information for marketing purposes. Throughout this Policy, we refer to the non-public information that personally identifies you or your accounts as “personal information.”
 
1.  What Personal Information Do We Collect About You?
To better serve you and manage our business, it is important that we collect and maintain accurate information about you. We obtain this information from applications and other forms you submit to us, from your dealings with us, from consumer reporting agencies, from our websites and from third parties and other sources.
 
For example:
•  We collect information such as your name, address, e-mail address, telephone/fax numbers, assets, income and investment objectives through application forms you submit to us.
 
•  We may obtain information about account balances, your use of account(s) and the types of products and services you prefer to receive from us through your dealings and transactions with us and other sources.
 
•  We may obtain information about your creditworthiness and credit history from consumer reporting agencies.

30


 

Morgan Stanley Capital Opportunities Trust
An Important Notice Concerning Our U.S. Privacy Policy (unaudited) continued
 
•  We may collect background information from and through third-party vendors to verify representations you have made and to comply with various regulatory requirements.
 
•  If you interact with us through our public and private Web sites, we may collect information that you provide directly through online communications (such as an e-mail address). We may also collect information about your Internet service provider, your domain name, your computer’s operating system and Web browser, your use of our Web sites and your product and service preferences, through the use of “cookies.” “Cookies” recognize your computer each time you return to one of our sites, and help to improve our sites’ content and personalize your experience on our sites by, for example, suggesting offerings that may interest you. Please consult the Terms of Use of these sites for more details on our use of cookies.
 
2.  When Do We Disclose Personal Information We Collect About You?
To provide you with the products and services you request, to better serve you, to manage our business and as otherwise required or permitted by law, we may disclose personal information we collect about you to other affiliated companies and to non-affiliated third parties.
 
A. Information We Disclose to Our Affiliated Companies.  In order to manage your account(s) effectively, including servicing and processing your transactions, to let you know about products and services offered by us and affiliated companies, to manage our business, and as otherwise required or permitted by law, we may disclose personal information about you to other affiliated companies. Offers for products and services from affiliated companies are developed under conditions designed to safeguard your personal information.
 
B. Information We Disclose to Third Parties.  We do not disclose personal information that we collect about you to non-affiliated third parties except to enable them to provide marketing services on our behalf, to perform joint marketing agreements with other financial institutions, and as otherwise required or permitted by law. For example, some instances where we may disclose information about you to third parties include: for servicing and processing transactions, to offer our own products and services, to protect against fraud, for institutional risk control, to respond to judicial process or to perform services on our behalf. When we share personal information with a non-affiliated third party, they are required to limit their use of personal information about you to the particular purpose for which it was shared and they are not allowed to share personal information about you with others except to fulfill that limited purpose or as may be required by law.
 
3.  How Do We Protect The Security and Confidentiality of Personal Information We Collect About You?
We maintain physical, electronic and procedural security measures to help safeguard the personal information we collect about you. We have internal policies governing the proper handling of client information. Third parties that provide support or marketing services on our behalf may also receive personal

31


 

Morgan Stanley Capital Opportunities Trust
An Important Notice Concerning Our U.S. Privacy Policy (unaudited) continued
 
information about you, and we require them to adhere to confidentiality standards with respect to such information.
 
4.  How Can You Limit Our Sharing of Certain Personal Information About You With Our Affiliated Companies for Eligibility Determination?
We respect your privacy and offer you choices as to whether we share with our affiliated companies personal information that was collected to determine your eligibility for products and services such as credit reports and other information that you have provided to us or that we may obtain from third parties (“eligibility information”). Please note that, even if you direct us not to share certain eligibility information with our affiliated companies, we may still share your personal information, including eligibility information, with those companies under circumstances that are permitted under applicable law, such as to process transactions or to service your account. We may also share certain other types of personal information with affiliated companies – such as your name, address, telephone number, e-mail address and account number(s), and information about your transactions and experiences with us.
 
5.  How Can You Limit the Use of Certain Personal Information About You by our Affiliated Companies for Marketing?
You may limit our affiliated companies from using certain personal information about you that we may share with them for marketing their products or services to you. This information includes our transactions and other experiences with you such as your assets and account history. Please note that, even if you choose to limit our affiliated companies from using certain personal information about you that we may share with them for marketing their products and services to you, we may still share such personal information about you with them, including our transactions and experiences with you, for other purposes as permitted under applicable law.
 
6.  How Can You Send Us an Opt-Out Instruction?
If you wish to limit our sharing of certain personal information about you with our affiliated companies for “eligibility purposes” and for our affiliated companies’ use in marketing products and services to you as described in this notice, you may do so by:
 
•  Calling us at (800) 869-6397
Monday-Friday between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. (EST)
 
•  Writing to us at the following address:
Morgan Stanley Privacy Department
Harborside Financial Center, Plaza Two, 3rd Floor
Jersey City, NJ 07311
 
If you choose to write to us, your written request should include: your name, address, telephone number and account number(s) to which the opt-out applies and should not be sent with any other correspondence. In

32


 

Morgan Stanley Capital Opportunities Trust
An Important Notice Concerning Our U.S. Privacy Policy (unaudited) continued
 
order to process your request, we require that the request be provided by you directly and not through a third party. Once you have informed us about your privacy preferences, your opt-out preference will remain in effect with respect to this Policy (as it may be amended) until you notify us otherwise. If you are a joint account owner, we will accept instructions from any one of you and apply those instructions to the entire account. Please allow approximately 30 days from our receipt of your opt-out for your instructions to become effective.
 
Please understand that if you opt-out, you and any joint account holders may not receive certain Morgan Stanley or our affiliated companies’ products and services that could help you manage your financial resources and achieve your investment objectives.
 
If you have more than one account with us or our affiliates, you may receive multiple privacy policies from us, and would need to follow the directions stated in each particular policy for each account you have with us.
 
Special Notice To Residents of Vermont
This section supplements our Policy with respect to our individual clients who have a Vermont address and supersedes anything to the contrary in the above Policy with respect to those clients only.
 
The State of Vermont requires financial institutions to obtain your consent prior to sharing personal information that they collect about you with affiliated companies and non-affiliated third parties other than in certain limited circumstances. Except as permitted by law, we will not share personal information we collect about you with non-affiliated third parties or other affiliated companies unless you provide us with your written consent to share such information (“opt-in”).
 
If you wish to receive offers for investment products and services offered by or through other affiliated companies, please notify us in writing at the following address:
 
Morgan Stanley Privacy Department
Harborside Financial Center, Plaza Two, 3rd Floor
Jersey City, NJ 07311
 
Your authorization should include: your name, address, telephone number and account number(s) to which the opt-in applies and should not be sent with any other correspondence. In order to process your authorization, we require that the authorization be provided by you directly and not through a third-party.

33


 

Morgan Stanley Capital Opportunities Trust
Trustee and Officer Information (unaudited)
 
 
Independent Trustees:
 
                         
                Number of
   
                Portfolios
   
                in Fund
   
        Term of
      Complex
   
        Office and
      Overseen
   
    Position(s)
  Length of
      by
   
Name, Age and Address of
  Held with
  Time
  Principal Occupation(s)
  Independent
  Other Directorships
Independent Trustee   Registrant   Served*   During Past 5 Years   Trustee**   Held by Independent Trustee
 
Frank L. Bowman (65)
c/o Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP
Counsel to the Independent Trustees
1177 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10036
  Trustee   Since
August 2006
  President, Strategic Decisions, LLC (consulting) (since February 2009); Director or Trustee of various Retail Funds and Institutional Funds (since August 2006); Chairperson of the Insurance Sub-Committee of the Compliance and Insurance Committee (since February 2007); served as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Nuclear Energy Institute (policy organization) through November 2008; retired as Admiral, U.S. Navy in January 2005 after serving over 8 years as Director of the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program and Deputy Administrator–Naval Reactors in the National Nuclear Security Administration at the U.S. Department of Energy (1996-2004), Knighted as Honorary Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire; Awarded the Officer de l’Orde National du Mérite by the French Government.     162     Director of the Armed Services YMCA of the USA; member, BP America External Advisory Council (energy); member, National Academy of Engineers.
                         
Michael Bozic (69)
c/o Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP Counsel to the Independent Trustees
1177 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10036
  Trustee   Since
April 1994
  Private investor; Chairperson of the Compliance and Insurance Committee (since October 2006); Director or Trustee of the Retail Funds (since April 1994) and Institutional Funds (since July 2003); formerly, Chairperson of the Insurance Committee (July 2006-September 2006); Vice Chairman of Kmart Corporation (December 1998-October 2000), Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Levitz Furniture Corporation (November 1995-November 1998) and President and Chief Executive Officer of Hills Department Stores (May 1991-July 1995); variously Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, President and Chief Operating Officer (1987-1991) of the Sears Merchandise Group of Sears, Roebuck & Co.     164     Director of various business organizations.

34


 

Morgan Stanley Capital Opportunities Trust
Trustee and Officer Information (unaudited) continued
 
                         
                Number of
   
                Portfolios
   
                in Fund
   
        Term of
      Complex
   
        Office and
      Overseen
   
    Position(s)
  Length of
      by
   
Name, Age and Address of
  Held with
  Time
  Principal Occupation(s)
  Independent
  Other Directorships
Independent Trustee   Registrant   Served*   During Past 5 Years   Trustee**   Held by Independent Trustee
 
                         
Kathleen A. Dennis (56)
c/o Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP Counsel to the Independent Trustees
1177 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10036
  Trustee   Since
August 2006
  President, Cedarwood Associates (mutual fund and investment management consulting) (since July 2006); Chairperson of the Money Market and Alternatives Sub-Committee of the Investment Committee (since October 2006) and Director or Trustee of various Retail Funds and Institutional Funds (since August 2006); formerly, Senior Managing Director of Victory Capital Management (1993-2006).     162     Director of various non-profit organizations.
                         
Dr. Manuel H. Johnson (60)
c/o Johnson Smick Group, Inc.
888 16th Street, N.W.
Suite 740
Washington, D.C. 20006
  Trustee   Since
July 1991
  Senior Partner, Johnson Smick International, Inc. (consulting firm); Chairperson of the Investment Committee (since October 2006) and Director or Trustee of the Retail Funds (since July 1991) and Institutional Funds (since July 2003); Co-Chairman and a founder of the Group of Seven Council (G7C) (international economic commission); formerly, Chairperson of the Audit Committee (July 1991-September 2006); Vice Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Treasury.     164     Director of NVR, Inc. (home construction); Director of Evergreen Energy.
                         
Joseph J. Kearns (67)
c/o Kearns & Associates LLC
PMB754
23852 Pacific Coast Highway
Malibu, CA 90265
  Trustee   Since
August 1994
  President, Kearns & Associates LLC (investment consulting); Chairperson of the Audit Committee (since October 2006) and Director or Trustee of the Retail Funds (since July 2003) and Institutional Funds (since August 1994); formerly, Deputy Chairperson of the Audit Committee (July 2003-September 2006) and Chairperson of the Audit Committee of Institutional Funds (October 2001-July 2003); CFO of the J. Paul Getty Trust.     165     Director of Electro Rent Corporation (equipment leasing) and The Ford Family Foundation.
 

35


 

Morgan Stanley Capital Opportunities Trust
Trustee and Officer Information (unaudited) continued
 
                         
                Number of
   
                Portfolios
   
                in Fund
   
        Term of
      Complex
   
        Office and
      Overseen
   
    Position(s)
  Length of
      by
   
Name, Age and Address of
  Held with
  Time
  Principal Occupation(s)
  Independent
  Other Directorships
Independent Trustee   Registrant   Served*   During Past 5 Years   Trustee**   Held by Independent Trustee
 
Michael F. Klein (51)
c/o Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP
Counsel to the Independent Trustees
1177 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10036
  Trustee   Since
August 2006
  Managing Director, Aetos Capital, LLC (since March 2000) and Co-President, Aetos Alternatives Management, LLC (since January 2004); Chairperson of the Fixed Income Sub-Committee of the Investment Committee (since October 2006) and Director or Trustee of various Retail Funds and Institutional Funds (since August 2006); formerly, Managing Director, Morgan Stanley & Co. Inc. and Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Investment Management, President, Morgan Stanley Institutional Funds (June 1998-March 2000) and Principal, Morgan Stanley & Co. Inc. and Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Investment Management (August 1997-December 1999).     162     Director of certain investment funds managed or sponsored by Aetos Capital, LLC. Director of Sanitized AG and Sanitized Marketing AG (specialty chemicals).
                         
Michael E. Nugent (73)
c/o Triumph Capital, L.P.
445 Park Avenue
New York, NY 10022
  Chairperson of the Board and Trustee   Chairperson of the Boards
since
July 2006
and Trustee
since
July 1991
  General Partner, Triumph Capital, L.P. (private investment partnership); Chairperson of the Boards of the Retail Funds and Institutional Funds (since July 2006); Director or Trustee of the Retail Funds (since July 1991) and Institutional Funds (since July 2001); formerly, Chairperson of the Insurance Committee (until July 2006).     164     None.
                         
W. Allen Reed (62)†
c/o Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP
Counsel to the Independent Trustees
1177 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10036
  Trustee   Since
August 2006
  Chairperson of the Equity Sub-Committee of the Investment Committee (since October 2006) and Director or Trustee of various Retail Funds and Institutional Funds (since August 2006); formerly, President and CEO of General Motors Asset Management; Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the GM Trust Bank and Corporate Vice President of General Motors Corporation (August 1994-December 2005).     162     Director of Temple-Inland Industries (packaging and forest products); Director of Legg Mason, Inc. and Director of the Auburn University Foundation.

36


 

Morgan Stanley Capital Opportunities Trust
Trustee and Officer Information (unaudited) continued
 
                         
                Number of
   
                Portfolios
   
                in Fund
   
        Term of
      Complex
   
        Office and
      Overseen
   
    Position(s)
  Length of
      by
   
Name, Age and Address of
  Held with
  Time
  Principal Occupation(s)
  Independent
  Other Directorships
Independent Trustee   Registrant   Served*   During Past 5 Years   Trustee**   Held by Independent Trustee
 
                         
Fergus Reid (77)
c/o Lumelite Plastics Corporation
85 Charles Colman Blvd.
Pawling, NY 12564
  Trustee   Since
June 1992
  Chairman, Lumelite Plastics Corporation; Chairperson of the Governance Committee and Director or Trustee of the Retail Funds (since July 2003) and Institutional Funds (since June 1992).     165     Trustee and Director of certain investment companies in the JPMorgan Funds complex managed by JP Morgan Investment Management Inc.
 
Interested Trustee:
 
                         
                Number of
   
                Portfolios
   
                in Fund
   
        Term of
      Complex
   
        Office and
      Overseen
   
    Position(s)
  Length of
      by
   
Name, Age and Address of
  Held with
  Time
  Principal Occupation(s)
  Interested
  Other Directorships
Interested Trustee   Registrant   Served*   During Past 5 Years   Trustee**   Held by Interested Trustee
 
James F. Higgins (61)
c/o Morgan Stanley Trust 
Harborside Financial Center
Plaza Two
Jersey City, NJ 07311
  Trustee   Since
June 2000
  Director or Trustee of the Retail Funds (since June 2000) and Institutional Funds (since July 2003); Senior Advisor of Morgan Stanley (since August 2000).     163     Director of AXA Financial, Inc. and The Equitable Life Assurance Society of the United States (financial services).
* This is the earliest date the Trustee began serving the funds advised by Morgan Stanley Investment Advisors Inc. (the “Investment Adviser”) (the “Retail Funds”) or the funds advised by Morgan Stanley Investment Management Inc. and Morgan Stanley AIP GP LP (the “Institutional Funds”).
** The Fund Complex includes all open-end and closed-end funds (including all of their portfolios) advised by the Investment Adviser and any funds that have an investment adviser that is an affiliated person of the Investment Adviser (including, but not limited to, Morgan Stanley Investment Management Inc.).
For the period September 26, 2008 through February 5, 2009, W. Allen Reed was an Interested Trustee. At all other times covered by this report, Mr. Reed was an Independent Trustee.

37


 

Morgan Stanley Capital Opportunities Trust
Trustee and Officer Information (unaudited) continued
 
Executive Officers:
 
             
        Term of
   
        Office and
   
    Position(s)
  Length of
   
Name, Age and Address of
  Held with
  Time
   
Executive Officer   Registrant   Served*   Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years
 
             
Randy Takian (35)
522 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10036
  President and Principal Executive Officer   Since September 2008   President and Principal Executive Officer (since September 2008) of funds in the Fund Complex; President and Chief Executive Officer of Morgan Stanley Services Company Inc. (since September 2008). President of the Investment Adviser (since July 2008). Head of the Retail and Intermediary business within Morgan Stanley Investment Management (since July 2008). Head of Liquidity and Bank Trust business (since July 2008) and the Latin American franchise (since July 2008) at Morgan Stanley Investment Management. Managing Director, Director and/or Officer of the Investment Adviser and various entities affiliated with the Investment Adviser. Formerly Head of Strategy and Product Development for the Alternatives Group and Senior Loan Investment Management. Formerly with Bank of America (July 1996-March 2006), most recently as Head of the Strategy, Mergers and Acquisitions team for Global Wealth and Investment Management.
             
Kevin Klingert (47)
522 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10036
  Vice President   Since June 2008   Head, Chief Operating Officer and acting Chief Investment Officer of the Global Fixed Income Group of Morgan Stanley Investment Management Inc. and the Investment Adviser (since April 2008). Head of Global Liquidity Portfolio Management and co-Head of Liquidity Credit Research of Morgan Stanley Investment Management (since December 2007). Managing Director of Morgan Stanley Investment Management Inc. and the Investment Adviser (since December 2007). Previously, Managing Director on the Management Committee and head of Municipal Portfolio Management and Liquidity at BlackRock (October 1991 to January 2007).
             
Carsten Otto (46)
522 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10036
  Chief Compliance Officer   Since October 2004   Managing Director and Global Head of Compliance for Morgan Stanley Investment Management (since April 2007) and Chief Compliance Officer of the Retail Funds and Institutional Funds (since October 2004). Formerly, U.S. Director of Compliance (October 2004-April 2007) and Assistant Secretary and Assistant General Counsel of the Retail Funds.
             
Stefanie V. Chang Yu (43)
522 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10036
  Vice President   Since December 1997   Managing Director and Secretary of the Investment Adviser and various entities affiliated with the Investment Adviser; Vice President of the Retail Funds (since July 2002) and Institutional Funds (since December 1997).

38


 

Morgan Stanley Capital Opportunities Trust
Trustee and Officer Information (unaudited) continued
 
             
        Term of
   
        Office and
   
    Position(s)
  Length of
   
Name, Age and Address of
  Held with
  Time
   
Executive Officer   Registrant   Served*   Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years
 
             
Francis J. Smith (44)
c/o Morgan Stanley Trust 
Harborside Financial Center
Plaza Two
Jersey City, NJ 07311
  Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer   Treasurer since July 2003 and Chief Financial Officer since September 2002   Executive Director of the Investment Adviser and various entities affiliated with the Investment Adviser; Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer of the Retail Funds (since July 2003).
             
Mary E. Mullin (42)
522 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10036
  Secretary   Since June 1999   Executive Director of the Investment Adviser and various entities affiliated with the Investment Adviser; Secretary of the Retail Funds (since July 2003) and Institutional Funds (since June 1999).
 
* This is the earliest date the Officer began serving the Retail Funds or Institutional Funds.

39


 

Trustees
 
Frank L. Bowman
Michael Bozic
Kathleen A. Dennis
James F. Higgins
Dr. Manuel H. Johnson
Joseph J. Kearns
Michael F. Klein
Michael E. Nugent
W. Allen Reed
Fergus Reid
 
Officers
 
Michael E. Nugent
Chairperson of the Board
 
Randy Takian
President and Principal Executive Officer
 
Kevin Klingert
Vice President
 
Carsten Otto
Chief Compliance Officer
 
Stefanie V. Chang Yu
Vice President
 
Francis J. Smith
Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer
 
Mary E. Mullin
Secretary
 
Transfer Agent
 
Morgan Stanley Trust
Harborside Financial Center, Plaza Two
Jersey City, New Jersey 07311
 
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
 
Deloitte & Touche LLP
Two World Financial Center
New York, New York 10281
 
Legal Counsel
 
Dechert LLP
1095 Avenue of the Americas
New York, New York 10036
 
Counsel to the Independent Trustees
 
Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP
1177 Avenue of the Americas
New York, New York 10036
 
Investment Adviser
 
Morgan Stanley Investment Advisors Inc.
522 Fifth Avenue
New York, New York 10036
 
 
This report is submitted for the general information of the shareholders of the Fund. For more detailed information about the Fund, its fees and expenses and other pertinent information, please read its Prospectus. The Fund’s Statement of Additional Information contains additional information about the Fund, including its trustees. It is available, without charge, by calling (800) 869-NEWS.
 
This report is not authorized for distribution to prospective investors in the Fund unless preceded or accompanied by an effective Prospectus. Read the Prospectus carefully before investing.
 
Morgan Stanley Distributors Inc., member FINRA.
 
 
(c)  2010 Morgan Stanley
 
 
[MORGAN STANLEY LOGO]
[MORGAN STANLEY LOGO]
 
 
INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT
Morgan Stanley
Capital Opportunities Trust
 
(Morgan Stanley Graphic)
Annual Report
 
November 30, 2009

CPOANN
IU10-00037P-Y11/09


 

Item 2. Code of Ethics.
(a) The Fund has adopted a code of ethics (the “Code of Ethics”) that applies to its principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, or persons performing similar functions, regardless of whether these individuals are employed by the Fund or a third party.
(b) No information need be disclosed pursuant to this paragraph.
(c) Not applicable.
(d) Not applicable.
(e) Not applicable.
(f)
     (1) The Fund’s Code of Ethics is attached hereto as Exhibit 12 A.
     (2) Not applicable.
     (3) Not applicable.
Item 3. Audit Committee Financial Expert.
The Fund’s Board of Trustees has determined that Joseph J. Kearns, an “independent” Trustee, is an “audit committee financial expert” serving on its audit committee. Under applicable securities laws, a person who is determined to be an audit committee financial expert will not be deemed an “expert” for any purpose, including without limitation for the purposes of Section 11 of the Securities Act of 1933, as a result of being designated or identified as an audit committee financial expert. The designation or identification of a person as an audit committee financial expert does not impose on such person any duties, obligations, or liabilities that are greater than the duties, obligations, and liabilities imposed on such person as a member of the audit committee and Board of Trustees in the absence of such designation or identification

2


 

Item 4. Principal Accountant Fees and Services.
(a)(b)(c)(d) and (g). Based on fees billed for the periods shown:
2009
                 
    Registrant   Covered Entities(1)
Audit Fees
  $ 42,700       N/A  
 
               
Non-Audit Fees
               
Audit-Related Fees
  $ (2)   $ 6,909,000 (2)
Tax Fees
  $ 6,063 (3)   $ 1,019,000 (4)
All Other Fees
  $       $    
Total Non-Audit Fees
  $ 6,063     $ 7,922,000  
 
               
Total
  $ 48,763     $ 7,922,000  
2008
                 
    Registrant   Covered Entities(1)
Audit Fees
  $ 42,700       N/A  
 
               
Non-Audit Fees
               
Audit-Related Fees
  $ 325 (2)   $ 6,418,000 (2)
Tax Fees
  $ 6,338 (3)   $ 881,000 (4)
All Other Fees
  $       $ (5)
Total Non-Audit Fees
  $ 6,663     $ 7,299,000  
 
               
Total
  $ 49,363     $ 7,299,000  
 
N/A- Not applicable, as not required by Item 4.
 
(1)   Covered Entities include the Adviser (excluding sub-advisors) and any entity controlling, controlled by or under common control with the Adviser that provides ongoing services to the Registrant.
 
(2)   Audit-Related Fees represent assurance and related services provided that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit of the financial statements of the Covered Entities’ and funds advised by the Adviser or its affiliates, specifically data verification and agreed-upon procedures related to asset securitizations and agreed-upon procedures engagements.
 
(3)   Tax Fees represent tax compliance, tax planning and tax advice services provided in connection with the preparation and review of the Registrant’s tax returns.
 
(4)   Tax Fees represent tax compliance, tax planning and tax advice services provided in connection with the review of Covered Entities’ tax returns.
 
(5)   All other fees represent project management for future business applications and improving business and operational processes.

3


 

(e)(1) The audit committee’s pre-approval policies and procedures are as follows:
APPENDIX A
AUDIT COMMITTEE
AUDIT AND NON-AUDIT SERVICES
PRE-APPROVAL POLICY AND PROCEDURES
OF THE
MORGAN STANLEY RETAIL AND INSTITUTIONAL FUNDS
AS ADOPTED AND AMENDED JULY 23, 2004,1
     1. Statement of Principles
The Audit Committee of the Board is required to review and, in its sole discretion, pre-approve all Covered Services to be provided by the Independent Auditors to the Fund and Covered Entities in order to assure that services performed by the Independent Auditors do not impair the auditor’s independence from the Fund.
The SEC has issued rules specifying the types of services that an independent auditor may not provide to its audit client, as well as the audit committee’s administration of the engagement of the independent auditor. The SEC’s rules establish two different approaches to pre-approving services, which the SEC considers to be equally valid. Proposed services either: may be pre-approved without consideration of specific case-by-case services by the Audit Committee (“general pre-approval”); or require the specific pre-approval of the Audit Committee or its delegate (“specific pre-approval”). The Audit Committee believes that the combination of these two approaches in this Policy will result in an effective and efficient procedure to pre-approve services performed by the Independent Auditors. As set forth in this Policy, unless a type of service has received general pre-approval, it will require specific pre-approval by the Audit Committee (or by any member of the Audit Committee to which pre-approval authority has been delegated) if it is to be provided by the Independent Auditors. Any proposed services exceeding pre-approved cost levels or budgeted amounts will also require specific pre-approval by the Audit Committee.
The appendices to this Policy describe the Audit, Audit-related, Tax and All Other services that have the general pre-approval of the Audit Committee. The term of any general pre-approval is 12 months from the date of pre-approval, unless the Audit Committee considers and provides a different period and states otherwise. The Audit Committee will annually review and pre-approve the services that may be provided by the Independent Auditors without obtaining specific pre-approval from the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee will add to or subtract from the list of general pre-approved services from time to time, based on subsequent determinations.
 
1   This Audit Committee Audit and Non-Audit Services Pre-Approval Policy and Procedures (the “Policy”), adopted as of the date above, supersedes and replaces all prior versions that may have been adopted from time to time.

4


 

The purpose of this Policy is to set forth the policy and procedures by which the Audit Committee intends to fulfill its responsibilities. It does not delegate the Audit Committee’s responsibilities to pre-approve services performed by the Independent Auditors to management.
The Fund’s Independent Auditors have reviewed this Policy and believes that implementation of the Policy will not adversely affect the Independent Auditors’ independence.
     2. Delegation
As provided in the Act and the SEC’s rules, the Audit Committee may delegate either type of pre-approval authority to one or more of its members. The member to whom such authority is delegated must report, for informational purposes only, any pre-approval decisions to the Audit Committee at its next scheduled meeting.
     3. Audit Services
The annual Audit services engagement terms and fees are subject to the specific pre-approval of the Audit Committee. Audit services include the annual financial statement audit and other procedures required to be performed by the Independent Auditors to be able to form an opinion on the Fund’s financial statements. These other procedures include information systems and procedural reviews and testing performed in order to understand and place reliance on the systems of internal control, and consultations relating to the audit. The Audit Committee will approve, if necessary, any changes in terms, conditions and fees resulting from changes in audit scope, Fund structure or other items.
In addition to the annual Audit services engagement approved by the Audit Committee, the Audit Committee may grant general pre-approval to other Audit services, which are those services that only the Independent Auditors reasonably can provide. Other Audit services may include statutory audits and services associated with SEC registration statements (on Forms N-1A, N-2, N-3, N-4, etc.), periodic reports and other documents filed with the SEC or other documents issued in connection with securities offerings.
The Audit Committee has pre-approved the Audit services in Appendix B.1. All other Audit services not listed in Appendix B.1 must be specifically pre-approved by the Audit Committee (or by any member of the Audit Committee to which pre-approval has been delegated).
     4. Audit-related Services
Audit-related services are assurance and related services that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review of the Fund’s financial statements and, to the extent they are Covered Services, the Covered Entities or that are traditionally performed by the Independent Auditors. Because the Audit Committee believes that the provision of Audit-related services does not impair the independence of the auditor and is consistent with the SEC’s rules on auditor independence, the Audit Committee may grant general pre-approval to Audit-related services. Audit-related services include, among others, accounting consultations related to accounting, financial reporting or disclosure matters

5


 

not classified as “Audit services”; assistance with understanding and implementing new accounting and financial reporting guidance from rulemaking authorities; agreed-upon or expanded audit procedures related to accounting and/or billing records required to respond to or comply with financial, accounting or regulatory reporting matters; and assistance with internal control reporting requirements under Forms N-SAR and/or N-CSR.
The Audit Committee has pre-approved the Audit-related services in Appendix B.2. All other Audit-related services not listed in Appendix B.2 must be specifically pre-approved by the Audit Committee (or by any member of the Audit Committee to which pre-approval has been delegated).
     5. Tax Services
The Audit Committee believes that the Independent Auditors can provide Tax services to the Fund and, to the extent they are Covered Services, the Covered Entities, such as tax compliance, tax planning and tax advice without impairing the auditor’s independence, and the SEC has stated that the Independent Auditors may provide such services.
Pursuant to the preceding paragraph, the Audit Committee has pre-approved the Tax Services in Appendix B.3. All Tax services in Appendix B.3 must be specifically pre-approved by the Audit Committee (or by any member of the Audit Committee to which pre-approval has been delegated).
     6. All Other Services
The Audit Committee believes, based on the SEC’s rules prohibiting the Independent Auditors from providing specific non-audit services, that other types of non-audit services are permitted. Accordingly, the Audit Committee believes it may grant general pre-approval to those permissible non-audit services classified as All Other services that it believes are routine and recurring services, would not impair the independence of the auditor and are consistent with the SEC’s rules on auditor independence.
The Audit Committee has pre-approved the All Other services in Appendix B.4. Permissible All Other services not listed in Appendix B.4 must be specifically pre-approved by the Audit Committee (or by any member of the Audit Committee to which pre-approval has been delegated).
     7. Pre-Approval Fee Levels or Budgeted Amounts
Pre-approval fee levels or budgeted amounts for all services to be provided by the Independent Auditors will be established annually by the Audit Committee. Any proposed services exceeding these levels or amounts will require specific pre-approval by the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee is mindful of the overall relationship of fees for audit and non-audit services in determining whether to pre-approve any such services.
     8. Procedures
All requests or applications for services to be provided by the Independent Auditors that do not require specific approval by the Audit Committee will be submitted to the Fund’s Chief Financial Officer and must include a detailed description of the services to be

6


 

rendered. The Fund’s Chief Financial Officer will determine whether such services are included within the list of services that have received the general pre-approval of the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee will be informed on a timely basis of any such services rendered by the Independent Auditors. Requests or applications to provide services that require specific approval by the Audit Committee will be submitted to the Audit Committee by both the Independent Auditors and the Fund’s Chief Financial Officer, and must include a joint statement as to whether, in their view, the request or application is consistent with the SEC’s rules on auditor independence.
The Audit Committee has designated the Fund’s Chief Financial Officer to monitor the performance of all services provided by the Independent Auditors and to determine whether such services are in compliance with this Policy. The Fund’s Chief Financial Officer will report to the Audit Committee on a periodic basis on the results of its monitoring. Both the Fund’s Chief Financial Officer and management will immediately report to the chairman of the Audit Committee any breach of this Policy that comes to the attention of the Fund’s Chief Financial Officer or any member of management.
     9. Additional Requirements
The Audit Committee has determined to take additional measures on an annual basis to meet its responsibility to oversee the work of the Independent Auditors and to assure the auditor’s independence from the Fund, such as reviewing a formal written statement from the Independent Auditors delineating all relationships between the Independent Auditors and the Fund, consistent with Independence Standards Board No. 1, and discussing with the Independent Auditors its methods and procedures for ensuring independence.
     10. Covered Entities
Covered Entities include the Fund’s investment adviser(s) and any entity controlling, controlled by or under common control with the Fund’s investment adviser(s) that provides ongoing services to the Fund(s). Beginning with non-audit service contracts entered into on or after May 6, 2003, the Fund’s audit committee must pre-approve non-audit services provided not only to the Fund but also to the Covered Entities if the engagements relate directly to the operations and financial reporting of the Fund. This list of Covered Entities would include:
Morgan Stanley Retail Funds
Morgan Stanley Investment Advisors Inc.
Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated
Morgan Stanley DW Inc.
Morgan Stanley Investment Management Inc.
Morgan Stanley Investment Management Limited
Morgan Stanley Investment Management Private Limited
Morgan Stanley Asset & Investment Trust Management Co., Limited
Morgan Stanley Investment Management Company
Van Kampen Asset Management
Morgan Stanley Services Company, Inc.
Morgan Stanley Distributors Inc.
Morgan Stanley Trust FSB

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Morgan Stanley Institutional Funds
Morgan Stanley Investment Management Inc.
Morgan Stanley Investment Advisors Inc.
Morgan Stanley Investment Management Limited
Morgan Stanley Investment Management Private Limited
Morgan Stanley Asset & Investment Trust Management Co., Limited
Morgan Stanley Investment Management Company
Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated
Morgan Stanley Distribution, Inc.
Morgan Stanley AIP GP LP
Morgan Stanley Alternative Investment Partners LP
(e)(2) Beginning with non-audit service contracts entered into on or after May 6, 2003, the audit committee also is required to pre-approve services to Covered Entities to the extent that the services are determined to have a direct impact on the operations or financial reporting of the Registrant. 100% of such services were pre-approved by the audit committee pursuant to the Audit Committee’s pre-approval policies and procedures (attached hereto).
(f) Not applicable.
(g) See table above.
(h) The audit committee of the Board of Trustees has considered whether the provision of services other than audit services performed by the auditors to the Registrant and Covered Entities is compatible with maintaining the auditors’ independence in performing audit services.
Item 5. Audit Committee of Listed Registrants.
  (a)   The Fund has a separately-designated standing audit committee established in accordance with Section 3(a)(58)(A) of the Exchange Act whose members are: Joseph Kearns, Michael Nugent and Allen Reed.
(b) Not applicable.
Item 6. Schedule of Investments
(a) Refer to Item 1.
(b) Not applicable.

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Item 7. Disclosure of Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures for Closed-End Management Investment Companies.
Applicable only to reports filed by closed-end funds.
Item 8. Portfolio Managers of Closed-End Management Investment Companies
Applicable only to reports filed by closed-end funds.
Item 9. Closed-End Fund Repurchases
Applicable only to reports filed by closed-end funds.
Item 10. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
Not applicable.
Item 11. Controls and Procedures
(a) The Fund’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer have concluded that the Fund’s disclosure controls and procedures are sufficient to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Fund in this Form N-CSR was recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms, based upon such officers’ evaluation of these controls and procedures as of a date within 90 days of the filing date of the report.
(b) There were 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 control over financial reporting.
Item 12. Exhibits
(a) The Code of Ethics for Principal Executive and Senior Financial Officers is attached hereto.
(b) A separate certification for each principal executive officer and principal financial officer of the registrant are attached hereto as part of
EX-99.CERT.

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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.
Morgan Stanley Capital Opportunities Trust
/s/ Randy Takian
Randy Takian
Principal Executive Officer
January 21, 2010
     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, this report has been signed by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
/s/ Randy Takian
Randy Takian
Principal Executive Officer
January 21, 2010
/s/ Francis Smith
Francis Smith
Principal Financial Officer
January 21, 2010

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