N-CSR 1 y00385nvcsr.htm FORM N-CSR N-CSR
 
 
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM N-CSR
CERTIFIED SHAREHOLDER REPORT OF REGISTERED
MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES
Investment Company Act file number: 811-03639
Morgan Stanley Mid Cap Growth
(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)
     
522 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York 10036
(Address of principal executive offices)
    
(Zip code)
Randy Takian
522 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York 10036
(Name and address of agent for service)
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: 212-296-6990
Date of fiscal year end: September 30, 2008
Date of reporting period: September 30, 2008
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 Mid Cap Growth Fund (formerly Morgan Stanley Developing Growth Securities 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.
 
+ The Fund’s name changed effective January 31, 2008.


 

Fund Report
 
For the year ended September 30, 2008
 

 
Total Return for the 12 Months ended September 30, 2008
 
                               
 
                        Russell
    Lipper
                        Midcap®
    Mid-Cap
                        Growth
    Growth
Class A     Class B     Class C     Class I++     Index1     Funds Index2
–28.53%
    –29.08%     –29.08%     –28.39%     –24.65%     –24.16%
                               
 
++  Formerly Class D shares. Renamed Class I shares effective March 31, 2008.
 
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 the 12-month period, the condition of the U.S. economy and financial markets looked increasingly dire. Investor uncertainties over the credit crisis, the health of the financial sector and the weakening economy grew to a full panic by September. Market volatility spiked and equities sold off dramatically as a number of large financial institutions in the U.S. and U.K. were nationalized, forced to merge, or declared bankruptcy. Credit markets froze, with banks refusing to lend to one another and corporate borrowing drastically contracting. The federal government’s rescue bill (passed a few days after the close of the period) failed to soothe fearful investors or stabilize the credit markets. After rising to a new high in July, oil prices dropped on worries about the deteriorating global economy. Recession probabilities increased in the U.S. as consumers and businesses were hurt by the still falling housing market, lack of access to credit, rising unemployment and high energy costs earlier in the year.
 
In our view, market volatility is far greater than fundamental business volatility. The market is fearful and rotational, and there is little differentiation on fundamentals and quality. The investment team continues to focus on quality — evaluating the nature and sustainability of a company’s competitive advantage and balance sheet strength. We selectively have eliminated names that are more cyclical or where we believe there are stronger long-term opportunities. We believe the Fund is well positioned for when the market once again begins to differentiate on fundamentals.
 
Performance Analysis
 
 
All share classes of Morgan Stanley Mid Cap Growth Fund (formerly Morgan Stanley Developing Growth Securities Trust) underperformed the Russell Midcap® Growth Index and the Lipper Mid-Cap Growth Funds Index for the 12 months ended September 30, 2008, assuming no deduction of applicable sales charges.
 
The Fund’s underperformance relative to the Russell Midcap® Growth Index was driven by both stock selection decisions and the resulting sector allocations.
 
In particular, stock selection and an overweight allocation in the consumer discretionary sector was the most significant detractor from relative performance. Here, commercial services, hotel/motel, communications and media, and retail were

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areas of weakness for the Fund. Also hampering relative returns was stock selection in the materials and processing sector, primarily due to agriculture fishing and ranching stocks and building materials stocks. Finally, stock selection in the financial services sector had a dampening effect, although this was partly mitigated by an underweight allocation. Within the financial sector, holdings in commercial rental and leasing services, financial information services and exposure to a Brazilian homebuilder hurt performance, despite better results from financial data processing services holdings.
 
Conversely, the Fund made relative gains in the technology sector, where an underweight to the sector and strong stock selection among the companies the Fund did hold, helped relative returns. Stock selection was especially strong in semiconductor stocks, and an avoidance of the declining computer technology segment also added value. An underweight allocation in the health care sector was detrimental, but this was more than offset by strong stock selection in medical systems and drugs and pharmaceutical companies. Avoiding the health care management services industry group was also advantageous. In the autos and transportation sector, stock selection was favorable due to our avoidance of weaker performing areas such as auto trucks and parts, tires and rubber, and original equipment. Stock selection and an underweight allocation in the producer durables sector also added to relative returns.
 
It is our goal to hold a portfolio of high-quality growth stocks we believe will perform well regardless of the market environment. We continue to favor companies that have some uniqueness or dynamic competitive advantage in their business model, with a high-quality stream of cash flow and earnings growth, and the ability to redeploy capital at a high rate of return.
 
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 09/30/08    
Ultra Petroleum Corp. (Canada)
    5 .1 %
Southwestern Energy Co.
    4 .2
Wynn Resorts, Ltd.
    4 .0
Leucadia National Corp.
    3 .9
Illumina, Inc.
    3 .7
Martin Marietta Materials, Inc.
    3 .1
Tencent Holdings Ltd. (Cayman Islands)
    2 .9
C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc.
    2 .9
Baidu.com, Inc. (ADR) (Cayman Islands)
    2 .7
Techne Corp.
    2 .6
 
         
TOP FIVE INDUSTRIES as of 09/30/08    
Oil & Gas Production
    11 .0 %
Biotechnology
    8 .6
Internet Software/Services
    7 .2
Financial Conglomerates
    5 .6
Other Consumer Services
    4 .8
 
Subject to change daily. Provided for informational purposes only and should not be deemed 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 80 percent of its assets in common stocks (including depositary receipts) and other equity securities of mid capitalization companies. 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 an attractive risk/reward profile. The Fund may also use derivative instruments as discussed in the Fund’s prospectus. The derivative instruments will be counted toward the 80 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 Morgan Stanley fund also files a complete schedule of portfolio holdings

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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 20549-0102.
 
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 Securities and Exchange Commission’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 Securities and Exchange Commission’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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Performance Summary

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

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Average Annual Total Returns — Period Ended September 30, 2008
 
                                     
                                     
      Class A Shares *     Class B Shares**       Class C Shares†       Class I Shares††      
      (since 07/28/97 )     (since 04/29/83 )     (since 07/28/97 )     (since 07/28/97 )    
Symbol
    DGRAX       DGRBX       DGRCX       DGRDX      
1 Year
    (28.53 )%3     (29.08 )%3     (29.08 )%3     (28.39 )%3    
      (32.28 4     (32.34 4     (29.73 4     —       
                                     
5 Years
    9.23  3     8.40  3     8.41  3     9.47  3    
      8.06  4     8.10  4     8.41  4     —       
                                     
10 Years
    7.23  3     6.56  3     6.43  3     7.46  3    
      6.65  4     6.56  4     6.43  4     —       
                                     
Since Inception
    5.58  3     7.38  3     4.79  3     5.81  3    
      5.07  4     7.38  4     4.79  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/msim 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.
 
* 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 (formerly Class D) has no sales charge.
 
(1) The Russell Midcap® Growth Index measures the performance of the mid-cap growth segment of the U.S. equity universe. It includes those Russell Midcap® Index companies with higher price-to-book ratios and higher forecasted growth values. 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 Mid-Cap Growth Funds Index is an equally weighted performance index of the largest qualifying funds (based on net assets) in the Lipper Mid-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 Mid-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 September 30, 2008.

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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 04/01/08 – 09/30/08.
 
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.
 
                         
            Expenses Paid
    Beginning
  Ending
  During Period@
    Account Value   Account Value   04/01/08 –
    04/01/08   09/30/08   09/30/08
Class A
                       
Actual (−17.66% return)
  $ 1,000.00     $ 823.40     $ 4.60  
Hypothetical (5% annual return before expenses)
  $ 1,000.00     $ 1,019.95     $ 5.10  
Class B
                       
Actual (−17.93% return)
  $ 1,000.00     $ 820.70     $ 8.01  
Hypothetical (5% annual return before expenses)
  $ 1,000.00     $ 1,016.20     $ 8.87  
Class C
                       
Actual (−17.97% return)
  $ 1,000.00     $ 820.30     $ 8.01  
Hypothetical (5% annual return before expenses)
  $ 1,000.00     $ 1,016.20     $ 8.87  
Class I @@
                       
Actual (−17.57% return)
  $ 1,000.00     $ 824.30     $ 3.47  
Hypothetical (5% annual return before expenses)
  $ 1,000.00     $ 1,021.20     $ 3.84  
Expenses are equal to the Fund’s annualized expense ratios of 1.01%, 1.76%, 1.76% and 0.76% for Class A, Class B, Class C and Class I shares, respectively, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by 183/366 (to reflect the one-half year period).
 
@@ Formerly Class D shares. Renamed Class I shares effective March 31, 2008.

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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 the 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 Relative to Comparable Funds Managed by Other Advisers
 
 
On a regular basis, the Board reviews the performance of all funds in the Morgan Stanley Fund Complex, including the Fund, compared to their peers, paying specific attention to the underperforming funds. In addition, the Board specifically reviewed the Fund’s performance for the one-, three- and five-year periods ended December 31, 2007, as shown in a report provided by Lipper (the “Lipper Report”), compared to the performance of comparable funds selected by Lipper (the “performance peer group”). The Board also discussed with the Adviser the performance goals and the actual results achieved in managing the Fund. The Board concluded that the Fund’s performance was competitive with that of its performance peer group.
 
Fees Relative to Other Proprietary Funds Managed by the Adviser with Comparable Investment Strategies
 
 
The Board reviewed the advisory and administrative fee (together, the “management fee”) rate paid by the Fund under the Management Agreement. The Board noted that the management fee rate was comparable to

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the management fee rates charged by the Adviser to other proprietary funds it manages with investment strategies comparable to those of the Fund.
 
Fees and Expenses Relative to Comparable Funds Managed by Other Advisers
 
 
The Board reviewed the management fee rate and total expense ratio of the Fund as compared to the average management fee rate and average total expense ratio for funds, selected by Lipper (the “expense peer group”), managed by other advisers with investment strategies comparable to those of the Fund, as shown in the Lipper Report. The Board concluded that the Fund’s management fee rate and total expense ratio were competitive with those of its expense peer group.
 
Breakpoints and Economies of Scale
 
 
The Board reviewed the structure of the Fund’s management fee schedule under the Management Agreement and noted that it includes a breakpoint. The Board also reviewed the level of the Fund’s management fee and noted that the fee, as a percentage of the Fund’s net assets, would decrease as net assets increase because the management fee includes a breakpoint. The Board concluded that the Fund’s management fee would reflect economies of scale as assets increase.
 
Profitability of the Adviser and Affiliates
 
 
The Board considered information concerning the costs incurred and profits realized by the Adviser and 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. Based on its review of the information it received, the Board concluded that the profits earned by the Adviser and affiliates were not excessive in light of the advisory, administrative and other services provided to the Fund.
 
Fall-Out Benefits
 
 
The Board considered so-called “fall-out benefits” derived by the Adviser and affiliates from their relationship with the Fund and the Morgan Stanley Fund Complex, such as sales charges on sales of Class A shares and “float” benefits derived from handling of checks for purchases and sales of Fund shares, through a broker-dealer affiliate of the Adviser and “soft dollar” benefits (discussed in the next section). The Board also considered that, from time to time, the Adviser may, directly or indirectly, effect trades on behalf of certain Morgan Stanley Funds through various electronic communications networks or other alternative trading systems in which the Adviser’s affiliates have ownership interests and/or board seats. The Board also considered that a broker-dealer affiliate of the Adviser receives from the Fund 12b-1 fees for distribution and

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shareholder services. The Board concluded that the fall-out benefits were relatively small and the sales charges and 12b-1 fees were competitive with those of other broker-dealers.
 
Soft Dollar Benefits
 
 
The Board considered whether the Adviser realizes any benefits as a result of brokerage transactions executed through “soft dollar” arrangements. Under such arrangements, brokerage commissions paid by the Fund and/or other funds managed by the Adviser would be used to pay for research that a securities broker obtains from third parties, or to pay for both research and execution services from securities brokers who effect transactions for the Fund. The Board recognized that the receipt of such research from brokers may reduce the Adviser’s costs but concluded that the receipt of such research strengthens the investment management resources of the Adviser, which may ultimately benefit the Fund and other funds in the Morgan Stanley Fund Complex.
 
Adviser Financially Sound and Financially Capable of Meeting the Fund’s Needs
 
 
The Board considered whether the Adviser is financially sound and has the resources necessary to perform its obligations under the Management Agreement. The Board concluded that the Adviser has the financial resources necessary to fulfill its obligations under the Management Agreement.
 
Historical Relationship Between the Fund and the Adviser
 
 
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 Board’s confidence in the competence and integrity of the senior managers and key personnel of the Adviser. The Board concluded 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.

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Morgan Stanley Mid Cap Growth Fund
Portfolio of Investments - September 30, 2008
 
                           
NUMBER OF
           
SHARES           VALUE
        Common Stocks (94.3%)        
       
Air Freight/Couriers (4.7%)
       
  164,454    
C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc. 
  $ 8,380,576  
  152,032    
Expeditors International of Washington, Inc. 
    5,296,795  
                 
                        13,677,371  
                           
       
Alternative Power Generation (1.5%)
       
  178,218    
Covanta Holding Corp. (a)
    4,266,539  
                 
       
Apparel/Footwear Retail (2.4%)
       
  112,453    
Abercrombie & Fitch Co. (Class A)
    4,436,271  
  115,490    
Luluemon Athletica Inc. (Canada) (a)
    2,659,735  
                 
                        7,096,006  
                           
       
Biotechnology (8.0%)
       
  96,705    
Gen-Probe Inc. (a)
    5,130,200  
  264,402    
Illumina, Inc. (a)
    10,716,213  
  106,321    
Techne Corp. (a)
    7,667,871  
                 
                        23,514,284  
                           
       
Broadcasting (1.6%)
       
  111,623    
Discovery Communications (a)
    1,580,582  
  148,813    
Grupo Televisa S.A. (ADR) (Mexico)
    3,254,540  
                 
                        4,835,122  
                           
       
Casino/Gaming (4.4%)
       
  42,822    
Penn National Gaming, Inc. (a)
    1,137,781  
  143,560    
Wynn Resorts, Ltd. (a)
    11,720,238  
                 
                        12,858,019  
                           
       
Chemicals: Major Diversified (1.9%)
       
  305,044    
Nalco Holding Co. 
    5,655,516  
                 
       
Chemicals: Specialty (0.8%)
       
  88,459    
Rockwood Holdings Inc. (a)
    2,269,858  
                 
       
Construction Materials (3.8%)
       
  79,912    
Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. 
    8,948,546  
  50,016    
Texas Industries, Inc. 
    2,043,654  
                 
                        10,992,200  
                           
       
Engineering & Construction (0.8%)
       
  94,015    
Aecom Technology Corp. (a)
    2,297,726  
                 
       
Finance/Rental/Leasing (1.9%)
       
  458,414    
Redecard SA (Brazil)
    5,709,397  
                 
       
Financial Conglomerates (5.6%)
       
  183,143    
Brookfield Asset Management Inc. (Class A) (Canada)
    5,025,444  
  248,647    
Leucadia National Corp. 
    11,298,520  
                 
                        16,323,964  
                           
       
Financial Publishing/Services (2.0%)
       
  106,345    
Morningstar, Inc. (a)
    5,898,957  
                 
       
Gas Distributors (1.3%)
       
  96,599    
Questar Corp. 
    3,952,831  
                 
       
Home Building (2.3%)
       
  147,191    
Gafisa S.A. (ADR) (Brazil)
    3,782,812  
  5,396    
NVR, Inc. (a)
    3,086,512  
                 
                        6,869,324  
                           
       
Home Furnishings (1.0%)
       
  41,959    
Mohawk Industries, Inc. (a)
    2,827,617  
                 
       
Hotels/Resorts/Cruiselines (0.9%)
       
  95,367    
Choice Hotels International, Inc. 
    2,584,446  
                 
       
Information Technology Services (1.0%)
       
  152,739    
Teradata Corp. (a)
    2,978,411  
                 
       
Internet Retail (2.4%)
       
  183,582    
Ctrip.com International Ltd. (ADR) (Cayman Islands)
    7,088,101  
                 
 
See Notes to Financial Statements

12


 

Morgan Stanley Mid Cap Growth Fund
Portfolio of Investments - September 30, 2008 continued
 
                           
NUMBER OF
           
SHARES           VALUE
       
Internet Software/Services (7.2%)
       
  107,694    
Akamai Technologies, Inc. (a)
  $ 1,878,183  
  31,824    
Baidu.com, Inc. (ADR) (Cayman Islands) (a)
    7,899,672  
  42,964    
Equinix Inc. (a)
    2,984,279  
  1,175,600    
Tencent Holdings Ltd. (Cayman Islands)
    8,469,161  
                 
                        21,231,295  
                           
       
Investment Banks/Brokers (1.4%)
       
  50,834    
Intercontinental Exchange Inc. 
    4,101,287  
                 
       
Investment Managers (1.3%)
       
  207,182    
Calamos Asset Management Inc. (Class A)
    3,712,701  
                 
       
Investment Trusts/Mutual Funds (0.9%)
       
  223,440    
Groupe Aeroplan Inc. 
    2,769,249  
                 
       
Media Conglomerates (0.5%)
       
  111,623    
Discovery Communications
    1,590,628  
                 
       
Medical Specialties (3.0%)
       
  16,376    
Intuitive Surgical, Inc. (a)
    3,946,288  
  139,694    
Mindray Medical Intl Ltd (ADR)
    4,711,879  
                 
                        8,658,167  
                           
       
Miscellaneous Commercial Services (3.6%)
       
  116,357    
Corporate Executive Board Co. (The)
    3,636,156  
  259,446    
GLG Partners Inc
    1,406,197  
  112,540    
IHS Inc. (Class A) (a)
    5,361,406  
                 
                        10,403,759  
                           
       
Movies/Entertainment (0.1%)
       
  11,162    
Ascent Media Corp. (a)
    272,472  
                 
       
Oil & Gas Production (11.0%)
       
  70,157    
Petrohawk Energy Corp. (a)
    1,517,496  
  79,797    
Range Resources Corp. 
    3,420,897  
  407,386    
Southwestern Energy Co. (a)
    12,441,568  
  267,926    
Ultra Petroleum Corp. (Canada) (a)
    14,827,025  
                 
                        32,206,986  
                           
       
Other Consumer Services (4.8%)
       
  2,831,400    
Alibaba.com Ltd. (Cayman Islands) (a)
    2,623,284  
  50,747    
New Oriental Education (a)
    3,259,987  
  71,108    
Priceline.com Inc. (a)
    4,865,920  
  16,984    
Strayer Education, Inc. 
    3,401,216  
                 
                        14,150,407  
                           
       
Other Metals/Minerals (0.8%)
       
  77,475    
Intrepid Potash Inc. (a)
    2,335,097  
                 
       
Other Transportation (1.0%)
       
  109,059    
Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacifico SA de CV (ADR) (Mexico)
    2,787,548  
                 
       
Packaged Software (1.6%)
       
  95,081    
Salesforce.com Inc. (a)
    4,601,920  
                 
       
Personnel Services (0.8%)
       
  159,747    
Monster Worldwide Inc. (a)
    2,381,828  
                 
       
Property – Casualty Insurers (1.4%)
       
  10,869    
Alleghany Corp. (a)
    3,967,134  
                 
       
Real Estate Development (1.3%)
       
  125,232    
Forest City Enterprises, Inc. (Class A)
    3,840,865  
                 
       
Restaurants (2.1%)
       
  421,091    
Starbucks Corp. (a)
    6,261,623  
                 
       
Wholesale Distributors (1.7%)
       
  2,050,000    
Li & Fung Ltd. (Hong Kong)
    5,006,654  
                 
 
See Notes to Financial Statements

13


 

Morgan Stanley Mid Cap Growth Fund
Portfolio of Investments - September 30, 2008 continued
 
                           
NUMBER OF
           
SHARES           VALUE
       
Wireless Telecommunications (1.5%)
       
  117,596    
NII Holdings Inc. (a)
  $ 4,459,240  
                 
        Total Common Stocks (Cost $329,311,804)     276,434,549  
                 
        Convertible Preferred Stock (0.6%)        
        Biotechnology (0.6%)                  
  138,620    
Ironwood Pharmaceuticals 144A (b)
(Cost $1,663,440)
    1,663,440  
                 
                           
NUMBER OF
           
SHARES (000)            
 
        Short-Term Investment (c) (5.6%)        
        Investment Company        
   16,369    
Morgan Stanley Institutional Liquidity Money Market Portfolio – Institutional Class
(Cost $16,368,912)
    16,368,912  
                 
Total Investments
(Cost $347,344,156) (d)
    100.5   %     294,466,901  
Liabilities in Excess of Other Assets     (0.5 )       (1,372,891 )
                   
Net Assets     100.0   %   $ 293,094,010  
                   
 
 
     
 
 
ADR
  American Depositary Receipt.
(a)
  Non-income producing security.
(b)
  Resale is restricted to qualified institutional investors.
(c)
  See Note 4 to the financial statements regarding investments in Morgan Stanley Institutional Liquidity Money Market Portfolio – Institutional Class.
(d)
  The aggregate cost for federal income tax purposes is $347,855,525. The aggregate gross unrealized appreciation is $29,441,231 and the aggregate gross unrealized depreciation is $82,829,855 resulting in net unrealized depreciation of $53,388,624.
 
See Notes to Financial Statements

14


 

Morgan Stanley Mid Cap Growth Fund
Summary of Investments - September 30, 2008
 
                 
        PERCENT OF
        TOTAL
INDUSTRY   VALUE   INVESTMENTS
                 
Oil & Gas Production
  $ 32,206,986       10.9 %
Biotechnology
    25,177,724       8.6  
Internet Software/Services
    21,231,295       7.2  
Investment Company
    16,368,912       5.6  
Financial Conglomerates
    16,323,964       5.5  
Other Consumer Services
    14,150,407       4.8  
Air Freight/Couriers
    13,677,371       4.6  
Casino/Gaming
    12,858,019       4.4  
Construction Materials
    10,992,200       3.7  
Miscellaneous Commercial Services
    10,403,759       3.5  
Medical Specialties
    8,658,167       2.9  
Apparel/Footwear Retail
    7,096,006       2.4  
Internet Retail
    7,088,101       2.4  
Home Building
    6,869,324       2.3  
Restaurants
    6,261,623       2.1  
Financial Publishing/Services
    5,898,957       2.0  
Finance/Rental/Leasing
    5,709,397       1.9  
Chemicals: Major Diversified
    5,655,516       1.9  
Wholesale Distributors
    5,006,654       1.7  
Broadcasting
    4,835,122       1.6  
Packaged Software
    4,601,920       1.6  
Wireless Telecommunications
    4,459,240       1.5  
Alternative Power Generation
    4,266,539       1.5  
Investment Banks/Brokers
    4,101,287       1.4  
Property – Casualty Insurers
    3,967,134       1.4  
Gas Distributors
    3,952,831       1.3  
Real Estate Development
    3,840,865       1.3  
Investment Managers
    3,712,701       1.3  
Information Technology Services
    2,978,411       1.0  
Home Furnishings
    2,827,617       1.0  
Other Transportation
    2,787,548       1.0  
Investment Trusts/Mutual Funds
    2,769,249       0.9  
Hotels/Resorts/Cruiselines
    2,584,446       0.9  
Personnel Services
    2,381,828       0.8  
Other Metals/Minerals
    2,335,097       0.8  
Engineering & Construction
    2,297,726       0.8  
Chemicals: Specialty
    2,269,858       0.8  
Media Conglomerates
    1,590,628       0.6  
Movies/Entertainment
    272,472       0.1  
                 
    $ 294,466,901       100.0 %
                 
 
See Notes to Financial Statements

15


 

Morgan Stanley Mid Cap Growth Fund
Financial Statements
 
Statement of Assets and Liabilities
September 30, 2008
 
         
Assets:
       
Investments in securities, at value (cost $330,975,244)
  $ 278,097,989  
Investment in affiliate, at value (cost $16,368,912)
    16,368,912  
Cash (including $4,664 in foreign currency, at value with cost of $5,459)
    4,656  
Receivable for:
       
Investments sold
    1,669,728  
Shares of beneficial interest sold
    101,816  
Dividends
    46,857  
Dividends from affiliate
    30,082  
Prepaid expenses and other assets
    31,068  
         
Total Assets
    296,351,108  
         
Liabilities:
       
Payable for:
       
Shares of beneficial interest redeemed
    1,995,833  
Investments purchased
    767,350  
Distribution fee
    122,469  
Investment advisory fee
    116,404  
Transfer agent fee
    83,139  
Administration fee
    22,694  
Accrued expenses and other payables
    149,209  
         
Total Liabilities
    3,257,098  
         
Net Assets
  $ 293,094,010  
         
Composition of Net Assets:
       
Paid-in-capital
  $ 355,691,278  
Net unrealized depreciation
    (52,878,050 )
Accumulated net investment loss
    (233,464 )
Accumulated net realized loss
    (9,485,754 )
         
Net Assets
  $ 293,094,010  
         
Class A Shares:
       
Net Assets
  $ 232,191,572  
Shares Outstanding (unlimited authorized, $.01 par value)
    9,765,896  
Net Asset Value Per Share
    $23.78  
         
Maximum Offering Price Per Share,
       
(net asset value plus 5.54% of net asset value)
    $25.10  
         
Class B Shares:
       
Net Assets
    $33,658,934  
Shares Outstanding (unlimited authorized, $.01 par value)
    1,578,328  
Net Asset Value Per Share
    $21.33  
         
Class C Shares:
       
Net Assets
    $17,085,297  
Shares Outstanding (unlimited authorized, $.01 par value)
    798,023  
Net Asset Value Per Share
    $21.41  
         
Class I Shares @@:
       
Net Assets
    $10,158,207  
Shares Outstanding (unlimited authorized, $.01 par value)
    414,080  
Net Asset Value Per Share
    $24.53  
         
 
@@  Formerly Class D shares. Renamed Class I shares effective March 31, 2008.
 
Statement of Operations
For the year ended September 30, 2008
         
Net Investment Loss:
       
Income
       
Dividends (net of $68,142 foreign withholding tax)
  $ 2,705,135  
Dividends from affiliate
    648,506  
Interest
    234  
         
Total Income
    3,353,875  
         
Expenses
       
Investment advisory fee
    1,713,053  
Distribution fee (Class A shares)
    663,557  
Distribution fee (Class B shares)
    945,483  
Distribution fee (Class C shares)
    238,676  
Transfer agent fees and expenses
    690,847  
Administration fee
    326,296  
Professional fees
    93,500  
Shareholder reports and notices
    72,852  
Registration fees
    56,474  
Custodian fees
    51,779  
Trustees’ fees and expenses
    12,900  
Other
    37,785  
         
Total Expenses
    4,903,202  
Less: expense offset
    (1,614 )
Less: rebate from Morgan Stanley affiliated cash sweep (Note 4)
    (20,196 )
         
Net Expenses
    4,881,392  
         
Net Investment Loss
    (1,527,517 )
         
Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss):
       
Realized Gain (Loss) on:
       
Investments
    22,888,059  
Foreign exchange transactions
    (143,832 )
         
Net Realized Gain
    22,744,227  
         
Change in Unrealized Appreciation/Depreciation on:
       
Investments
    (145,999,122 )
Translation of other assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies
    (26,806 )
         
Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation/Depreciation
    (146,025,928 )
         
Net Loss
    (123,281,701 )
         
Net Decrease
  $ (124,809,218 )
         
 
See Notes to Financial Statements

16


 

Morgan Stanley Mid Cap Growth Fund
Financial Statements continued
 
Statements of Changes in Net Assets
                 
    FOR THE YEAR
  FOR THE YEAR
    ENDED
  ENDED
    SEPTEMBER 30, 2008   SEPTEMBER 30, 2007
 
Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets:
               
Operations:
               
Net investment loss
  $ (1,527,517 )   $ (469,333 )
Net realized gain
    22,744,227       93,697,465  
Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation
    (146,025,928 )     35,434,085  
                 
Net Increase (Decrease)
    (124,809,218 )     128,662,217  
                 
Distributions to Shareholders from Net Realized Gain:
               
Class A shares
    (22,325,859 )      
Class B shares
    (9,336,232 )      
Class C shares
    (2,308,824 )      
Class I shares @@
    (1,426,466 )      
                 
Total Distributions
    (35,397,381 )      
                 
Net decrease from transactions in shares of beneficial interest
    (21,130,163 )     (94,162,201 )
                 
Net Increase (Decrease)
    (181,336,762 )     34,500,016  
Net Assets:
               
Beginning of period
    474,430,772       439,930,756  
                 
End of Period
(Including accumulated net investment losses of $233,464 and $87,365, respectively)
  $ 293,094,010     $ 474,430,772  
                 
@@ Formerly Class D shares. Renamed Class I shares effective March 31, 2008.
 
See Notes to Financial Statements

17


 

Morgan Stanley Mid Cap Growth Fund
Notes to Financial Statements - September 30, 2008
 
1. Organization and Accounting Policies
Morgan Stanley Mid Cap Growth Fund (the “Fund”), formerly Morgan Stanley Developing Growth Securities Trust (the Fund’s name changed effective January 31, 2008), 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 long-term capital growth. The Fund was organized as a Massachusetts business trust on December 28, 1982 and commenced operations on April 29, 1983. 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. Effective March 31, 2008, Class D shares were renamed Class I shares.
 
The Fund will assess a 2% redemption fee on Class A shares, Class B shares, Class C shares, and Class I shares, which is paid directly to the Fund, for shares redeemed or exchanged within seven days of purchase, subject to certain exceptions. The redemption fee is designed to protect the Fund and its remaining shareholders from the effects of short-term trading.
 
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 asked 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 asked 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 asked 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 asked 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

18


 

Morgan Stanley Mid Cap Growth Fund
Notes to Financial Statements - September 30, 2008 continued
 
general supervision of the Fund’s Trustees. Occasionally, developments affecting the closing prices of securities and other assets may occur between the times at which valuations of such securities are determined (that is, close of the foreign market on which the securities trade) and the close of business on the NYSE. If developments occur during such periods that are expected to materially affect the value of such securities, such valuations may be adjusted to reflect the estimated fair value of such securities as of the close of the NYSE, as determined in good faith by the Fund’s Trustees or by the Investment Adviser using a pricing service and/or procedures approved by the Trustees of the Fund; (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.
 
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. Interest income is accrued daily.
 
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 gain/loss on foreign exchange transactions. Pursuant to U.S. federal income tax regulations, certain foreign exchange gains/losses included in realized and unrealized gain/loss 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 gain or loss. The Fund records realized gains or losses

19


 

Morgan Stanley Mid Cap Growth Fund
Notes to Financial Statements - September 30, 2008 continued
 
on delivery of the currency or at the time the forward contract is extinguished (compensated) by entering into a closing transaction prior to delivery.
 
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 provisions for federal income taxes is required. The Fund files tax returns with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service, New York State and New York City. The Fund adopted the provisions of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Interpretation No. 48 (“FIN 48”) Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes, on March 28, 2008. FIN 48 sets forth a minimum threshold for financial statement recognition of the benefit of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. The implementation of FIN 48 did not result in any unrecognized tax benefits in the accompanying financial statements. If applicable, the Fund recognizes the interest accrued related to unrecognized tax benefits in the interest expense and penalties in other expenses in the Statement of Operations. Each of the tax years in the four year period ended September 30, 2008, 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 requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts and disclosures. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
2. 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 at the close of each business day: 0.42% to the portion of the daily net assets not exceeding $500 million and 0.395% to the portion of the daily net assets exceeding $500 million.
 
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.

20


 

Morgan Stanley Mid Cap Growth Fund
Notes to Financial Statements - September 30, 2008 continued
 
3. 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 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 $30,421,019 at September 30, 2008.
 
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 September 30, 2008, the distribution fee was accrued for Class A shares and Class C shares at the annual rate of 0.24% and 0.97%, respectively.
 
The Distributor has informed the Fund that for the year ended September 30, 2008, it received contingent deferred sales charges from certain redemptions of the Fund’s Class A shares, Class B shares and Class C shares of $883, $55,367 and $2,024, respectively, and received $46,184 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.

21


 

Morgan Stanley Mid Cap Growth Fund
Notes to Financial Statements - September 30, 2008 continued
 
4. Security Transactions and Transactions with Affiliates
The Fund invests in Morgan Stanley Institutional Liquidity 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 Money Market Portfolio – Institutional Class with respect to assets invested by the Fund in Morgan Stanley Institutional Liquidity Money Market Portfolio – Institutional Class. For the year ended September 30, 2008, advisory fees paid were reduced by $20,196 relating to the Fund’s investment in Morgan Stanley Institutional Liquidity Money Market Portfolio – Institutional Class. Income distributions earned by the Fund are recorded as dividends from affiliate in the Statement of Operations and totaled $648,506, for the year ended September 30, 2008. During year ended September 30, 2008, cost of purchases and sales of investments in Morgan Stanley Institutional Liquidity Money Market Portfolio – Institutional Class aggregated $190,104,123 and $195,486,496, respectively.
 
The cost of purchases and proceeds from sales of portfolio securities, excluding short-term investments, for the year ended September 30, 2008 aggregated $232,207,848 and $264,309,831, respectively. Included in the aforementioned transactions are purchases and sales of $7,125,057 and $5,399,402, respectively with other Morgan Stanley funds, including net realized loss of $77,837.
 
Morgan Stanley Trust, an affiliate of the Investment Adviser, Administrator and Distributor, is the Fund’s transfer agent.
 
For the year ended September 30, 2008, the Fund incurred brokerage commissions of $17,858 with Morgan Stanley & Co., an affiliate of the Investment Adviser, Administrator and Distributor, for portfolio transactions executed on behalf of the Fund.
 
The Fund has an unfunded noncontributory defined benefit pension plan covering certain independent Trustees of the Fund who will have served as independent Trustees for at least five years at the time of retirement. Benefits under this plan are based on factors which include years of service and compensation. The Trustees voted to close the plan to new participants and eliminate the future benefits growth due to increases to compensation after July 31, 2003. Aggregate pension costs for the year ended September 30, 2008 included in Trustees’ fees and expenses in the Statement of Operations amounted to $6,017. At September 30, 2008, the Fund had an accrued pension liability of $59,303 which is included in accrued expenses in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.
 
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

22


 

Morgan Stanley Mid Cap Growth Fund
Notes to Financial Statements - September 30, 2008 continued
 
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.
5. Shares of Beneficial Interest
Transactions in shares of beneficial interest were as follows:
 
                                 
    FOR THE YEAR
  FOR THE YEAR
    ENDED
  ENDED
    SEPTEMBER 30, 2008   SEPTEMBER 30, 2007
    SHARES   AMOUNT   SHARES   AMOUNT
CLASS A SHARES
                               
Sold
    2,138,677     $ 60,220,980       458,173     $ 14,179,380  
Conversion from Class B
    554,222       17,445,986       297,723       9,353,226  
Reinvestment of dividends
    628,614       20,744,266              
Redeemed
    (1,777,911 )     (54,088,374 )     (2,035,515 )     (62,773,454 )
                                 
Net increase (decrease) – Class A
    1,543,602       44,322,858       (1,279,619 )     (39,240,848 )
                                 
CLASS B SHARES
                               
Sold
    110,050       3,146,178       135,901       3,857,680  
Conversion to Class A
    (613,402 )     (17,445,986 )     (325,598 )     (9,353,226 )
Reinvestment of dividends
    288,209       8,582,872              
Redeemed
    (2,065,776 )     (50,751,294 )     (1,408,727 )     (39,497,471 )
                                 
Net decrease – Class B
    (2,280,919 )     (56,468,230 )     (1,598,424 )     (44,993,017 )
                                 
CLASS C SHARES
                               
Sold
    59,778       1,718,627       60,286       1,747,439  
Reinvestment of dividends
    69,987       2,091,921              
Redeemed
    (221,948 )     (6,195,293 )     (234,203 )     (6,612,944 )
                                 
Net decrease – Class C
    (92,183 )     (2,384,745 )     (173,917 )     (4,865,505 )
                                 
CLASS I SHARES @@
                               
Sold
    28,158       858,122       63,702       2,017,550  
Reinvestment of dividends
    35,942       1,221,293              
Redeemed
    (273,352 )     (8,679,461 )     (224,928 )     (7,080,381 )
                                 
Net decrease – Class I
    (209,252 )     (6,600,046 )     (161,226 )     (5,062,831 )
                                 
Net decrease in Fund
    (1,038,752 )   $ (21,130,163 )     (3,213,186 )   $ (94,162,201 )
                                 
@@ Formerly Class D shares. Renamed Class I shares effective March 31, 2008.
6. Purposes of and Risks Relating to Certain Financial Instruments
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.

23


 

Morgan Stanley Mid Cap Growth Fund
Notes to Financial Statements - September 30, 2008 continued
 
Forward contracts involve elements of market risk in excess of the amounts 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.
7. Expense Offset
The expense offset represents a reduction of the fees and expenses for interest earned on cash balances maintained by the Fund with the transfer agent.
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 generally accepted accounting principles. These “book/tax” differences are either considered temporary or permanent in nature. To the extent these differences are permanent in nature, such amounts are reclassified within the capital accounts based on their federal tax-basis treatment; temporary differences do not require reclassification. Dividends and distributions which exceed net investment income and net realized capital gains for tax purposes are reported as distributions of paid-in-capital.
 
The tax character of distributions paid was as follows:
 
                 
    FOR THE YEAR
  FOR THE YEAR
    ENDED
  ENDED
    SEPTEMBER 30, 2008   SEPTEMBER 30, 2007
 
Ordinary income
           
Long-term capital gains
  $ 35,397,381        
                 
Total distributions
  $ 35,397,381        
                 
 
As of September 30, 2008, the tax-basis components of accumulated losses were as follows:
 
         
Undistributed ordinary income
     
Undistributed long-term gains
  $ 15,351,143  
         
Net accumulated earnings
    15,351,143  
Capital loss carryforward*
    (24,325,107 )
Post-October losses
    (170,044 )
Temporary differences
    (63,841 )
Net unrealized depreciation
    (53,389,419 )
         
Total accumulated losses
  $ (62,597,268 )
         
 
* During the year ended September 30, 2008, the Fund utilized $7,913,350 of its net capital loss carryforward. As of September 30, 2008, the Fund had a net capital loss carryforward of $24,325,107, to

24


 

Morgan Stanley Mid Cap Growth Fund
Notes to Financial Statements - September 30, 2008 continued
 
offset future capital gains to the extent provided by regulations, which will expire according to the following schedule.
 
         
AMOUNT
 
EXPIRATION
 
$2,270,904
    September 30, 2009  
22,054,203
    September 30, 2010  
 
As of September 30, 2008, 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, due to foreign currency losses and a net operating loss, resulted in the following reclassifications among the Fund’s components of net assets at September 30, 2008:
 
                 
ACCUMULATED
  ACCUMULATED
   
NET INVESTMENT
  NET REALIZED
   
LOSS   LOSS   PAID-IN-CAPITAL
 
$1,381,418
  $ 143,832     $ (1,525,250 )
                 
9. Accounting Pronouncements
In September 2006, Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 157, Fair Value Measurements (“SFAS 157”) was issued and is effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007. SFAS 157 defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. Management is currently evaluating the impact the adoption of SFAS 157 will have on the Fund’s financial statement disclosures.
 
On March 19, 2008, FASB released Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 161, Disclosures about Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities, an amendment of FASB statement No. 133 (“SFAS 161”). SFAS 161 requires qualitative disclosures about objectives and strategies for using derivatives, quantitative disclosures about fair value amounts of and gains and losses on derivative instruments, and disclosures about credit-risk-related contingent features in derivative agreements. The application of SFAS 161 is required for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2008 and interim periods within those fiscal years. At this time, management is evaluating the implications of SFAS 161 and its impact on the financial statements has not been determined.
10. Subsequent Event
Subsequent to September 30, 2008, conditions in the worldwide debt and equity markets have deteriorated significantly. These conditions have had a negative effect on the market value of the Fund’s investments since September 30, 2008.

25


 

Morgan Stanley Mid Cap Growth Fund
Financial Highlights
 
Selected ratios and per share data for a share of beneficial interest outstanding throughout each period:
 
                                                   
    FOR THE YEAR ENDED SEPTEMBER 30,
    2008   2007   2006   2005   2004
                                                   
Class A Shares
                                                 
Selected Per Share Data:
                                                 
Net asset value, beginning of period
    $35.96         $27.00         $25.18         $19.83         $16.53    
                                         
Income (loss) from investment operations:
                                                 
Net investment income (loss)(1)
    (0.05 )       0.05         (0.03 )       (0.14 )       (0.12 )  
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss).
    (9.46 )       8.91         1.85         5.49         3.42    
                                         
                                                   
Total income (loss) from investment operations
    (9.51 )       8.96         1.82         5.35         3.30    
                                         
                                                   
Less distribution from capital gains
    (2.67 )       —          —          —          —     
                                         
                                                   
Net asset value, end of period
    $23.78         $35.96         $27.00         $25.18         $19.83    
                                         
                                                   
Total Return(2)
    (28.53 ) %     33.19   %     7.23   %     26.98   %     19.96   %
                                                   
Ratios to Average Net Assets(3):
                                                 
Total expenses (before expense offset)
    0.99%(4 )       1.01%(4 )       1.04   %     1.09   %     1.01%(5 )  
Net investment income (loss)
    (0.17 ) %(4)     0.15%(4 )       (0.12 ) %     (0.61 ) %     (0.62 ) %(5)
                                                   
Supplemental Data:
                                                 
Net assets, end of period, in thousands
    $232,192         $295,694         $256,512         $262,913         $49,312    
Portfolio turnover rate
    59   %     72   %     59   %     115   %     149   %
(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) Reflects rebate of certain Fund expenses in connection with the investments in Morgan Stanley Institutional Liquidity Money Market Portfolio – Institutional Class during the period. The rebate had an effect of less than 0.005%.
(5) If the Investment Adviser had not waived part of its investment advisory fee, the expenses and net investment loss ratios to average net assets would have been 1.04% and (0.65)%, respectively.
 
See Notes to Financial Statements

26


 

Morgan Stanley Mid Cap Growth Fund
Financial Highlights continued
 
                                                   
    FOR THE YEAR ENDED SEPTEMBER 30,
    2008   2007   2006   2005   2004
                                                   
Class B Shares
                                                 
Selected Per Share Data:
                                                 
Net asset value, beginning of period
    $32.76         $24.78         $23.29         $18.49         $15.53    
                                         
                                                   
Income (loss) from investment operations:
                                                 
Net investment loss(1)
    (0.25 )       (0.17 )       (0.22 )       (0.28 )       (0.24 )  
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)
    (8.51 )       8.15         1.71         5.08         3.20    
                                         
                                                   
Total income (loss) from investment operations
    (8.76 )       7.98         1.49         4.80         2.96    
                                         
                                                   
Less distribution from capital gains
    (2.67 )       —          —          —          —     
                                         
                                                   
Net asset value, end of period
    $21.33         $32.76         $24.78         $23.29         $18.49    
                                         
                                                   
Total Return(2)
    (29.08 ) %     32.24   %     6.40   %     25.96   %     19.06   %
                                                   
Ratios to Average Net Assets(3):
                                                 
Total expenses (before expense offset)
    1.75%(4 )       1.77%(4 )       1.80   %     1.85   %     1.78%(5 )  
                                                   
Net investment loss
    (0.93 ) %(4)     (0.61 ) %(4)     (0.88 ) %     (1.37 ) %     (1.39 ) %(5)
                                                   
Supplemental Data:
                                                 
Net assets, end of period, in thousands
    $33,659         $126,446         $135,254         $174,688         $389,848    
Portfolio turnover rate
    59   %     72   %     59   %     115   %     149   %
(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) Reflects rebate of certain Fund expenses in connection with the investments in Morgan Stanley Institutional Liquidity Money Market Portfolio – Institutional Class during the period. The rebate had an effect of less than 0.005%.
(5) If the Investment Adviser had not waived part of its investment advisory fee, the expenses and net investment loss ratios to average net assets would have been 1.81% and (1.42)%, respectively.
 
See Notes to Financial Statements

27


 

Morgan Stanley Mid Cap Growth Fund
Financial Highlights continued
 
                                                   
    FOR THE YEAR ENDED SEPTEMBER 30,
    2008   2007   2006   2005   2004
                                                   
Class C Shares
                                                 
Selected Per Share Data:
                                                 
Net asset value, beginning of period
    $32.88         $24.87         $23.37         $18.55         $15.57    
                                         
                                                   
Income (loss) from investment operations:
                                                 
Net investment loss(1)
    (0.25 )       (0.17 )       (0.22 )       (0.28 )       (0.24 )  
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)
    (8.55 )       8.18         1.72         5.10         3.22    
                                         
                                                   
Total income (loss) from investment operations
    (8.80 )       8.01         1.50         4.82         2.98    
                                         
                                                   
Less distribution from capital gains
    (2.67 )       —          —          —          —     
                                         
                                                   
Net asset value, end of period
    $21.41         $32.88         $24.87         $23.37         $18.55    
                                         
                                                   
Total Return(2)
    (29.08 ) %     32.21   %     6.42   %     25.98   %     19.14   %
                                                   
Ratios to Average Net Assets(3):
                                                 
Total expenses (before expense offset)
    1.72%(4 )       1.77%(4 )       1.80   %     1.81   %     1.78%(5 )  
Net investment loss
    (0.90 ) %(4)     (0.61 ) %(4)     (0.88 ) %     (1.33 ) %     (1.39 ) %(5)
                                                   
Supplemental Data:
                                                 
Net assets, end of period, in thousands
    $17,085         $29,267         $26,462         $28,754         $29,208    
Portfolio turnover rate
    59   %     72   %     59   %     115   %     149   %
(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) Reflects rebate of certain Fund expenses in connection with the investments in Morgan Stanley Institutional Liquidity Money Market Portfolio – Institutional Class during the period. The rebate had an effect of less than 0.005%.
(5) If the Investment Adviser had not waived part of its investment advisory fee, the expenses and net investment loss ratios to average net assets would have been 1.81% and (1.42)%, respectively.
 
See Notes to Financial Statements

28


 

Morgan Stanley Mid Cap Growth Fund
Financial Highlights continued
 
                                                   
    FOR THE YEAR ENDED SEPTEMBER 30,
    2008   2007   2006   2005   2004
                                                   
Class I Shares@@
                                                 
Selected Per Share Data:
                                                 
Net asset value, beginning of period
    $36.94         $27.66         $25.75         $20.24         $16.83    
                                         
                                                   
Income (loss) from investment operations:
                                                 
Net investment income (loss)(1)
    0.03         0.12         (0.01 )       (0.08 )       (0.07 )  
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)
    (9.77 )       9.16         1.92         5.59         3.48    
                                         
                                                   
Total income (loss) from investment operations
    (9.74 )       9.28         1.91         5.51         3.41    
                                         
                                                   
Less distribution from capital gains
    (2.67 )       —          —          —          —     
                                         
                                                   
Net asset value, end of period
    $24.53         $36.94         $27.66         $25.75         $20.24    
                                         
                                                   
Total Return(2)
    (28.39 ) %     33.55   %     7.42   %     27.22   %     20.26   %
                                                   
Ratios to Average Net Assets(3):
                                                 
Total expenses (before expense offset)
    0.75%(4 )       0.77%(4 )       0.80   %     0.85   %     0.78%(5 )  
Net investment income (loss)
    0.07%(4 )       0.39%(4 )       0.12   %     (0.37 ) %     (0.39 ) %(5)
                                                   
Supplemental Data:
                                                 
Net assets, end of period, in thousands
    $10,158         $23,024         $21,702         $85,887         $85,031    
Portfolio turnover rate
    59   %     72   %     59   %     115   %     149   %
     
@@
  Formerly Class D shares. Renamed Class I shares effective March 31, 2008.
(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)
  Reflects rebate of certain Fund expenses in connection with the investments in Morgan Stanley Institutional Liquidity Money Market Portfolio – Institutional Class during the period. The rebate had an effect of less than 0.005%.
(5)
  If the Investment Adviser had not waived part of its investment advisory fee, the expenses and net investment loss ratios to average net assets would have been 0.81% and (0.42)%, respectively.
 
See Notes to Financial Statements

29


 

Morgan Stanley Mid Cap Growth Fund
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
 
To the Shareholders and Board of Trustees of Morgan Stanley Mid Cap Growth Fund:
 
 
We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities of Morgan Stanley Mid Cap Growth Fund (formerly Morgan Stanley Developing Growth Securities Trust) (the “Fund”), including the portfolio of investments, as of September 30, 2008, and the related statements of operations for the year then ended and 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 September 30, 2008, by correspondence with the custodian and brokers; where replies were not received from brokers, we performed other auditing procedures. 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 Mid Cap Growth Fund as of September 30, 2008, 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
November 25, 2008

30


 

Morgan Stanley Mid Cap Growth Fund
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 annually.
 
The following Policy applies to current and former individual investors in Morgan Stanley Advisor funds. This Policy is not applicable to partnerships, corporations, trusts or other non-individual clients or account holders. Please note that 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. 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, why we collect it, and when we may share it with others. We hope this Policy will help you understand how we collect and share non-public personal information that we gather about you. 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 serve you better and manage our business, it is important that we collect and maintain accurate information about you. We may obtain this information from applications and other forms you submit to us, from your dealings with us, from consumer reporting agencies, from our Web sites and from third parties and other sources.
 
For example:
•  We may collect information such as your name, address, e-mail address, telephone/fax numbers, assets, income and investment objectives through applications and other forms you submit to us.
 
•  We may obtain information about account balances, your use of accounts) 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.
 
•  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

31


 

Morgan Stanley Mid Cap Growth Fund
An Important Notice Concerning Our U.S. Privacy Policy (unaudited) continued
 
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 serve you better and to manage our business, we may disclose personal information we collect about you to our affiliated companies and to non-affiliated third parties as required or permitted by law.
 
A. Information We Disclose to Our Affiliated Companies.  We do not disclose personal information that we collect about you to our affiliated companies except to enable them to provide services on our behalf or as otherwise required or permitted by law.
 
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 services on our behalf, to perform joint marketing agreements with other financial institutions, or as otherwise required or permitted by law. For example, some instances where we may disclose information about you to nonaffiliated 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 these companies, they are required to limit their use of personal information to the particular purpose for which it was shared and they are not allowed to share personal information with others except to fulfill that limited purpose.
 

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 information, and we require them to adhere to confidentiality standards with respect to such information.

32


 

Morgan Stanley Mid Cap Growth Fund
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 (63)
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 and Chief Executive Officer, Nuclear Energy Institute (policy organization) (since February 2005); Director or Trustee of various Retail Funds and Institutional Funds (since August 2006); Chairperson of the Insurance Sub-Committee of the Insurance, Valuation and Compliance Committee (since February 2007); formerly, variously, Admiral in the U.S. Navy, Director of Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program and Deputy Administrator–Naval Reactors in the National Nuclear Security Administration at the U.S. Department of Energy (1996-2004). Honorary Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire.     180     Director of the National Energy Foundation, the U.S. Energy Association, the American Council for Capital Formation and the Armed Services YMCA of the USA.
                         
Michael Bozic (67)
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 Insurance, Valuation and Compliance 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.     182     Director of various business organizations.

33


 

 
Morgan Stanley Mid Cap Growth Fund
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 (55)
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) (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).     180     Director of various non-profit organizations.
                         
Dr. Manuel H. Johnson (59)
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.     182     Director of NVR, Inc. (home construction); Director of Evergreen Energy.
                         
Joseph J. Kearns (66)
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 the Institutional Funds (October 2001-July 2003); CFO of the J. Paul Getty Trust.     183     Director of Electro Rent Corporation (equipment leasing) and The Ford Family Foundation.

34


 

 
Morgan Stanley Mid Cap Growth Fund
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 (49)
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).     180     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 (72)
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).     182     None.
                         
W. Allen Reed (61)
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).     180     Director of Temple-Inland Industries (packaging and forest products); Director of Legg Mason, Inc. and Director of the Auburn University Foundation.

35


 

 
Morgan Stanley Mid Cap Growth Fund
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 (76)
c/o Lumelite Plastics Corporation
85 Charles Colman Blvd.
Pawling, NY 12564
  Trustee   Since
June 1992
  Chairman of 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).     183     Trustee and Director of certain investment companies in the JPMorgan Funds complex managed by J.P. Morgan Investment Management Inc.
                         
Interested Trustee:
                       
                         
James F. Higgins (60)
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).     181     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.).

36


 

 
Morgan Stanley Mid Cap Growth Fund
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 (34)
522 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10036
  President and Principal Executive Officer   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 Inc. (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 (46)
522 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10036
  Vice President   Since June 2008   Chief Operating Officer of the Global Fixed Income Group of Morgan Stanley Investment Management Inc. and the Investment Adviser Inc. (since March 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).
             
Dennis F. Shea (55)
522 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10036
  Vice President   Since February 2006   Managing Director and (since February 2006) Chief Investment Officer–Global Equity of Morgan Stanley Investment Management; Vice President of the Retail Funds and Institutional Funds (since February 2006). Formerly, Managing Director and Director of Global Equity Research at Morgan Stanley.
             
Amy R. Doberman (46)
522 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10036
  Vice President   Since July 2004   Managing Director and General Counsel, U.S. Investment Management of Morgan Stanley Investment Management (since July 2004); Vice President of the Retail Funds and Institutional Funds (since July 2004); Vice President of the Van Kampen Funds (since August 2004); Secretary (since February 2006) and Managing Director (since July 2004) of the Investment Adviser and various entities affiliated with the Investment Adviser. Formerly, Managing Director and General Counsel–Americas, UBS Global Asset Management (July 2000-July 2004).
             
Carsten Otto (45)
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.

37


 

 
Morgan Stanley Mid Cap Growth Fund
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
 
             
Stefanie V. Chang Yu (42)
522 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10036
  Vice President   Since December 1997   Managing Director 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). Formerly, Secretary of various entities affiliated with the Investment Adviser.
             
Francis J. Smith (43)
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 (41)
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.
 
 
2008 Federal Tax Notice (unaudited)
 
For Federal income tax purposes, the following information is furnished with respect to the distributions paid by the Fund during its taxable year ended September 30, 2008. The Fund designated and paid $35,397,381 as a long-term capital gain distribution.
 
In January, the Fund provides tax information to shareholders for the preceding calendar year.
 

38


 

(This Page Intentionally Left Blank)
 


 

 
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
 
Dennis F. Shea
Vice President
 
Amy R. Doberman
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
 
Clifford Chance US LLP
31 West 52nd Street
New York, New York 10019
 
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)  2008 Morgan Stanley
 
 
[MORGAN STANLEY LOGO]
[MORGAN STANLEY LOGO]
 
 
INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT
 
Morgan Stanley
Mid Cap Growth Fund
 
(Morgan Stanley Graphic)
 
Annual Report
 
September 30, 2008

DGRANN
IU08-05814P-Y09/08


 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Item 1 — Report to Shareholders
Item 2. Code of Ethics.
Item 3. Audit Committee Financial Expert.
Item 4. Principal Accountant Fees and Services.
Item 5. Audit Committee of Listed Registrants.
Item 6. Schedule of Investments
Item 7. Disclosure of Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures for Closed-End Management Investment Companies.
Item 8. Portfolio Managers of Closed-End Management Investment Companies
Item 9. Closed-End Fund Repurchases
Item 10. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
Item 11. Controls and Procedures
Item 12. Exhibits
SIGNATURES
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:
                 
2008   Registrant   Covered Entities(1)
Audit Fees
  $ 42,400       N/A  
 
               
Non-Audit Fees
               
Audit-Related Fees
  $ 325 (2)   $ 4,555,000 (2)
Tax Fees
  $ 6,063 (3)   $ 747,000 (4)
All Other Fees
  $                $             
Total Non-Audit Fees
  $ 6,388     $           5,302,000  
 
               
Total
  $ 48,788     $ 5,302,000  
                 
2007   Registrant   Covered Entities(1)
Audit Fees
  $ 40,700       N/A  
 
               
Non-Audit Fees
               
Audit-Related Fees
  $ (2)   $ 5,041,000 (2)
Tax Fees
  $ 5,955 (3)   $ 761,000 (4)
All Other Fees
  $                $            (5)
Total Non-Audit Fees
  $ 5,955     $ 5,802,000  
 
               
Total
  $ 46,655     $ 5,802,000  
 
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.

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(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.

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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

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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

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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 Mid Cap Growth Fund
 
   
/s/ Randy Takian      
Randy Takian     
Principal Executive Officer 
November 18, 2008
   
 
          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 
November 18, 2008
   
 
         
/s/ Francis Smith      
Francis Smith     
Principal Financial Officer 
November 18, 2008
   
 

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